The gritty, red colour of the light eradicated the green glow of the cell instantly; it also stung her eyes, blinding her for a moment. When she could see again, she took a few frightened steps back towards the safety of the room. The entire sky shone a dangerous crimson and the sun glared at her like a bloodshot eye even though it was high overhead. The plain under that angry stare was a vast field of white grass bending in the warm wind, and on that ashen grassland stood a terrifying army, great in number and many in unfamiliar races. She stumbled back, that strange weight still pulling her down, as every soldier watched her clumsy steps, and then the entire horde man and beast alike erupted with the thunderous roar of victory. The very force of it pushed her back another step and under that horrendous onslaught she turned and fled to a corner of the chamber, crouched and cried tears of shock, not caring that the dampness of the wall was soaking through her nightdress, sucking the very warmth from her body.
The noise continued unabated until her eyes were dry and a vital calm settled the shaking in her shoulders. She looked up with a detached anxiety as the tainted light parted with a silhouette and an eerie quiet followed the pounding in her ears. The shadow seemed almost demonic with the ruby aura surrounding it, and as it advanced on her, she saw a massive, broad-shouldered man emerge from the darkness. He towered over her and bore a resemblance to how she always imagined a barbarian would look. He reached out a bare, amazingly muscular arm and spoke in a coarse voice with no discernable accent.
Come.
At first she hesitated, but not having much choice in the matter she moved to take his hand. Before she got that far though, he grabbed hold of her wrist and pulled her to her feet with cruel indifference to the jolt of pain that pierced her shoulder. She tried to resist his overwhelming strength but he drew her inexorably towards the light as if she were no more than a troublesome child.
