What I saw next sent a shiver down my spine. Sioni’s profile at the window.

“Go, Snowstar!” I urged my horse forward, and when we were near enough, I jumped off in a haste. I kicked open the tidy little door.

“Sioni! Get out of here! RUN !” I clasped her hand and took her away from the woman’s table. Her eyes widened in surprise.
Then I noticed my beloved’s ragged looks:

She was dirty, torn and bleeding from several cuts. Her usually beautifully braided hair was now tied around her waist. It didn’t matter, though.

“Out! Close the door, quick!” I slammed the door behind us.
“Alfred?! What are you doing? Why are you here?” she exclaimed.
“Aren’t you happy to see me?” I asked, dismayed.
“Of course I am! But those people were very nice! They-”
“Nice, my foot! Those are the two most notorious murderers in town!” I told her.

Sioni yelped.
“They came here because they had nowhere else to hide to. They drove out the original occupants: The Twelve Months.”