Bartimeas-Voltaire-P

Come here. Listen for a moment, Imagine with me. There sits a little house full of darkness, Devoid of life Full of pulses, Only one walks around. Sit here. Ponder for a while, Imagine with me. There sits a house full of women, Broken hearts Empty tears Only one still loves. Lay here. Hope for a while, Imagine with me. There sits a house full of blood, Absent of health Glutton of pain, Only one still bleeds. Sleep here. Pretend for a while, Imagine with me. There sits a house with one man, Missing his heart Loving their pain He is the one who sees-

"Come child." As the Elder spoke he was already turning away, motioning passively with his hand for her to follow. "There is much I need to show you, and too little time in this life." the child scrambled to her feet to follow, not entirely comprehending the meaning of his words, but he was an Elder, whatever it was must have been wise. "Your lives will be many, and not always long. Your mother-" "My mother?" That was something the child did understand, this Elder was the first person who would admit to her even having a mother. Everyone else either refused to speak of the subject, or never said more that she had been found and brought back

No less than fifty men stood before the Elder, their armor battle-worn but well maintained. The one carrying the standard was sitting atop a horse and looking smug, better armored than his men. The Captain planted the standard in the ground before trotting forward. “Stand aside old man; I have no time for this foolishness.” His voice was strong, overconfident and arrogant. The Elder leaned heavily on his staff as he spoke, “I have seen enough soldiers pass this way M’Lord, there is plenty of room for you to go around.” His voice sounded frail, nothing like it was a few moments before. The Captain sneered, &ldq