LITMIR.BIZ

      It was still dark when he awoke to screaming. His parents started upright, taking poor Briar with them. All of them took a reflexive breath, and started to cough and choke.

      There was smoke everywhere. His parents were both touching him, but he couldn’t see them at all. Everything was a grey blur even worse than darkness.

      ‘Down!’ his mother croaked, pulling Briar with her as she slid off the bed. ‘Smoke rises! The air will be better by the floorboards.’ There was a thump as his father rolled out of bed on the far side, crawling over to them.

      ‘Take Briar out the window,’ Relan said, coughing into his hand. ‘I’ll get the others and follow.’

      ‘Into the night?!’ Dawn asked.

      ‘We cannot stay here, beloved,’ Relan said. ‘The wardposts in the herb garden are strong. It’s only twenty yards from the house. You can make it if you are quick.’

      Dawn grabbed Briar’s hand, squeezing so hard the boy whimpered. ‘Wet the towel by the washbasin and put it over your mouth to hold out the smoke.’

      Relan nodded and put a hand on her shoulder. ‘Be careful. The smoke will draw many alagai.’ He kissed her. ‘Go.’

      Dawn began crawling for the window, dragging Briar after her. ‘Take three deep breaths, Briar, and then hold the last. Keep it held until we’re out the window, and as soon as we hit the ground, run for the garden. You understand?’

      ‘Yes,’ Briar said, and then coughed for what seemed forever. At last the wracking ceased, and he nodded to his mother. On the third breath, they stood and Dawn threw open the shutters. She lifted Briar in her arms, swung her legs over the sill, and dropped to the ground with a thump.

      As Relan had warned, there were demons in the yard, flitting about through the drifting smoke. Together, they ran for the garden before the corelings caught sight of them.