My steps quickened as I headed for Krista and the horses. I saw Rugar off to the side holding open one of the doors. The bodies of several guards littered about his feet. As I got closer to Krista the crowd started to break out of the trance they had been locked in.
One of the high officials of the city stood up and gestured madly at us, "Stop them! Stop them! They cannot be allowed to escape!" He screamed as he jumped up and down excitedly.
Dazed looking guards, who had been posted all around the sides of the arena rushed in towards us. They only managed to take several strides towards us when they stopped in horrified wonder and then screamed out of abject fear, as they watched and felt their bodies turn into sand, which fell trickling to the arena floor as they melted into indistinguishable piles of sand. Their clothing, weapons and armor disappeared into the sand, as if it was a quick sand mire.
The crowd erupted into shrieks of terror at the site of the disappearing men. Some of them even fainted so great was their horror at what they had just seen. Their terror knew new heights when slowly the entire arena began to crack and grumble as it started to slide down into the sand.
The people broke and fled for their lives. Unhinged by the day's recent events they trampled over each other in their eagerness to flee from the hungry sands of the arena.
I met Krista and the horses still carrying Zarsha in my arms. Krista was as white as a sheet, and she held onto the horse's reins with a death grip. I reached Flin and I placed Zarsha on him and then I turned back to Krista.
She was staring at me as if I wasn't quite human and looked more eager than even me to be free of the sinking arena. I reached out a hand towards her and she jumped away reflexively.
"It's okay Krista. I know you're scared, but it is really me I promise."
"What's happening? What happened? Is your God going to kill me too? Why aren't we sinking? You were both dead I saw you! And now you're alive! How is that possible?"
"I will answer all of your questions later in the meantime let's get out of here before we do sink into the sand."
I reached out and she let me pull her towards her horse without further resistance. I helped her up onto her horse relishing the feel of touching her and having her close to me again. I settled into my saddle and Zarsha's arms closed around me like a vise. I directed Flin towards the still open and unsunken doorway of the arena and passed through it. As Krista passed through she looked down at Rugar still standing there holding the door open as the rest of the arena was now disappearing rapidly into the sand.