The strike was going to be precise – get in, grab the major, get out. And from the start, it went well. The major was easy to free – there was little resistence, and those who resisted were dropped or chased away. Even the added order to retrieve the woman Fox was an easy extension. She was quickly through a gate to safety, and the troops rallied outside the keep at the colonel’s command.
“Winterfell has made a most grievous mistake this day. Let her be an example to those that mean to cross the Rose.” The speech was fairly ordinary. They all knew what coming there had meant, and they had done their job well. But just as they expected to hear the order to return home, the words took them all by surprise. “Lieutenant, finish off the surviors….”
Anne didn’t even register Kenyon’s questioning “Sir?” Stunned, she and the others looked to the colonel in astonishment. That wasn’t part of the plan! But the colonel rode off, leaving them in the shadow of the keep with only that final order. Sighing, the lieutenant drew his sword and stepped away. Dazed with disbelief, Anne wanted to yell for him to stop. They had done what they needed to do. But the words didn’t come, and in the split second of her indecision, her training snapped into control. Lifting her own blade, she followed the lieutenant and barked over her shoulder, “Move it out!”
Then the slaughter began.
****************
That night, Anne drank for the first time in her life. Tucked in a corner of the roof, out of sight, she emptied a full bottle of whiskey and tried to lose herself in a drunken stupor. Head bowed on upbent knees, she wavered between anger and tears as the burning liquid slowly dispelled the cold sickness gripping her gut. Her unbloodied sword lay on the stone next to her, but the images of frightened and unarmed faces flitted before her eyes.
Fighting the guilt, she told herself again and again, “It is my duty to follow orders. I did what I had to do. It is my duty to follow orders. I did what I had to do….”
The words faded into silence as blessed oblivion overtook her.