[Nuranar]

Morn was, on ordinary occasions, the most placid mare Lissie had ever met. Unfortunately, this was no ordinary occasion. There was no need to urge her
to a gallop as they fled from the house; indeed, the frightened mare did her best to pass North. But Lissi just let Morn run herself out. She had other things to think about. Her eyes kept her sons always in view and glanced from crevice to shadow, looking for danger before it found them. Even as Morn leapt debris and rounded corners at breakneck speed, Lissi rode with superb balance, only her left hand on the reins. The hilt of Faerim's sword, tied above the sack on the right of her sidesaddle, was within hand's reach.

Despite her vigilance, Lissi knew nothing of the Witch-King's coming until his cry split the air, echoed appallingly by a horse's terrified scream. For an instant Lissi knew blind panic, as her body felt the chill of horror and the world around her darkened. Morn swerved violently and reared, and Lissi's muscles tightened instinctively. Her reason returned as she fought the plunging mare to a trembling halt. She couldn't afford to look up, but even in the midst of the struggle she was thinking. They were ahead of me, and so was He... He's closer to them... He's between us and the Sanctum!

"Mother!" Lissi's head snapped around at the urgency in Faerim's cry, but she gasped in relief as Faerim and Brander rode to her side, uninjured. "Mother, I must...there is a woman, and a child, they have been left there. I must...I..." he pleaded, eyes strangely compelling. Lissi hesitated for but a moment. If he feels it's his duty, I cannot stand in the way. She nodded quickly.

"Go, go!" Wait!... "But Brander-" Faerim started to say something, when Brander himself spoke. "I will go, Mother and I must get to the Inner Sanctum."

Good boy! Lissi thought. Quickly they shifted Brander over to sit behind her; instantly he wrapped both arms around her waist. "No, I'm not big enough to hold you on!" Lissi said urgently, guiding his right hand to a grip on the saddle. If he's only holding me and he starts to fall, he'll drag me with him. She glanced up the street. Orcs were fighting with the men of the rearguard, driving them slowly back. I'll need every bit of balance I've got as it is, if we're to get through - she shook off the thought - WHEN we get through! We'll be waiting for Faerim when he comes. Lissi drew Faerim's sword with an instinctive flourish and turned Morn's head. Faerim was still beside her, and she glowed with pride as she saw him. Abruptly he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead, then turned and galloped back. Lissi's eyes filled with tears as she cried out to Morn and kicked her into a canter.

Swiftly they fled through the chaos of soldiers, fighting and fleeing. Somehow they passed the shadowy horror unharmed, although Morn tried to swerve and Lissi felt Brander trembling. One orc, hearing her approach, turned to brandish an oversized battle-ax; Lissi shouted to her horse and ran the orc down, swinging the sword at another nearby. The very desperation of her onslaught was an advantage, as some of the enemy gave way and others were outdistanced. Morn developed an unexpected ferocity, now that the Witch-King was out of sight, striking down orcs in their path.

Lissi raised her eyes for an instant and sighted the gate to the Inner Sanctum. "We're almost there!" she cried to Brander. Abruptly they burst into their own rearguard, and Lissi had to rein in her mount to let the soldiers make a path. They rode up through the gate, into the chaos of companies and officers, dead and wounded. At any other time Lissi would have been fully aware of her appearance; as the only women in sight, on horseback, a boy behind her, and a blood-spattered sword in her hand, she made quite a picture. But to all this she was oblivious. Even as Morn shoved on through the press, she was looking back. Please, Eru, let him live!