A pale woman with redish-brown hair sprints through the cobbled streets towards the central fountain of Thruf, fingers cramping around the butt of a knife in the red sleeve of her right arm.
Behind her a bronze armored guard shouted, "Stop that woman! She's stricken!"
She couldn't help but scowl at the guard's comment.
Being ukitu isn't a disease you-
Her thoughts were interrupted when two more guards cut off her escape. Without slowing down, she grabbed a bewilderd citizen to redirect herself towards an allyway.
"After her!"
She spied an open window at the end of the ally leading into an old home and leapt feet first through it. A woman shrieked as she landed right in her kitchen.
Eira, what the (&!^ have you gotten yourself into!?
She couldn't slow down to apologize. She needed to move. Through the house Eira ran, ducking past the two men who rushed to the woman's aid, and bolted up the indoor stairs towards the second floor. She heard the residents chasing after her. The guardsmen shouted from outside.
At the top of the stairs, she found herself in a bedroom, four open windows, one door, a handrail outside. Without thinking she kicked the door open.
"Up there!"
Slings snapped and stones whistled by as she raced down the balcony and leapt onto the roof of the neighboring building. Before she could make it across, another guard was lifted onto the roof from the allyway.
Guards back home were never this persistent!
He was faster than she expected too as he managed to reach her right as she got to the edge of the building and tackled her off the side. She managed to twist them in the air and used the guard as a cushion when they hit the streets below.
Winded, she broke free from his grip and continued to run.
He got up like he wasn't even phased.
How the (*@^!? That's not fair!
They chased her through the streets and allys, always spotting her when she thought she was clear. Impossibly coordinated. Her heart pounded. Her lungs burned. And yet they wouldn't stop.
She eventually ended up cornered in a tucked away street. Five guards surrounded her and blocked her only exit. They weren't even winded.
"Nowhere to run, stricken."
The guard was right. There was no chance of escape without a fight.
"Then... I guess... I'm done running... You should have... left well enough... alone... because now I have to kill... every single one of you."
The guardsmen laughed.
"You really think you can take five of the best of Thruf in your state? Give up now and we'll make sure your punishment is merciful."
"My mission is too important to surrender."
"Then you leave us no choice."
Eira grit her teeth.
And neither do you.
She raised her hands as power filled her from within.
This chapter helps the reader understand much better what is happening and what are the stakes