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Unintended Consequences IV
The dark barn was illuminated by the setting sun on the horizon. The light strayed on a familiar silhouette, which Ivan immediately identified as his wife. She was laying on the ground, tied to a chair with a rough and splintered rope. The legs of the chair were broken, and her face was bloody and swollen. There were black and blue marks around her neck in the shape of a large pair of hands and her dress was ripped up and muddy.
Ivan’s heart ached at the sight of Ursa. How could he have let this happen on his watch? How did these scum get into his palace and steal his wife away? Ivan slowly approached her body, cutting the rope with his sword. Ursa’s eyes fluttered and her mouth parted in surprise.
“... You?” she asked, her voice raspy and broken. Ivan carefully slid his hands underneath her body to pick her up. <
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