Round 97

As the stormy atmosphere clung to them like a damp shroud, Sister Hale pulled Gravedigger Renn back from the alley wall, shielding him with her body just as a figure emerged from the shadows near the alley entrance. The rasping voice fell silent, replaced by the distant rumble of wheels and shouting guards, their heavy boots pounding the ground in unison. The air grew thick with ash, and Sister Hale's grip on Gravedigger Renn's shoulder tightened as she whispered, "Now."

Gravedigger Renn cowered beneath her protection, his fear evident in every tremble of his frame as he clutched the unholy symbol at his belt. Sister Hale's eyes darted between the alley entrance and the approaching guards, scanning the street for any sign of danger. The ground shook violently, spewing forth in rhythmic bursts of ash and smoke that shook the earth with every explosion.