Lady Marie's intent had honed in the thick of combat, readying her to deliver a fatal blow to the soldier pursuing her. In a few heady, adrenaline-filled moments, she had been wrapped into her fantasy of being a glorious hero, dueling brigands atop a magnificent steed.<br/><br/>With a slip of her blade, the man saw his demise, and in his eyes Marie saw tragedy that twisted into her as she drew her sword out. The wound that sunk into her was beyond words, and Lady Marie hid it into where all sorrow went to sort out later.<br/><br/>Wasting no more than a moment, Lady Marie dismounted and kissed her mare, giving her a sad, grateful look before launching herself onto the just emptied saddle and unfamiliar horse.<br/><br/>Steeling herself, she wiped off her weapon onto an upturned patch of the saddle bags and took off, racing toward Avonleigh to report the ambush and see to her father's health.<br/><br/>Glory and worry grasped her heart tightly as she turned over the thrill and ache in her chest.