I heard the whistle in the air, only just, of a fast-approaching missile. Instinctively, I jerked my head back, and watched as a flame-tipped crossbow bolt pierced the air in front of me, missing my neck by inches. I snapped my head to the side, cast aside the ashen flask into the same unknown depths as its fiery twin, and raised my shield protectively. Where had the bolt come from?

There! A shadow in the distance, beyond the ruined arches, up the shattered stairs and between the headstone-crested cliffs. A faint flame illuminated its features as it set another flaming bolt to its slender crossbow. Its nose was torn away, all the flesh around its mouth simply... gone. A sudden fear gripped my stomach as he raised the crossbow to fire. I screamed and ran. The bolt shot in front of me. I kept screaming and ran for the nearest shelter I could find, beyond what I recognized now to be a crumbling Lordvessel. The Astoran knight's position there would need to be considered more deeply later; for now, I—agh!

Another bolt, this one slamming into the shield just inches above my hand and jerking my arm painfully. I hissed through my teeth and jumped forward into a sliding leap behind the broken belltower. I could hear a third bolt whistle through the air, even felt it toss my hair, as I finally hit the safety of the sheltering stonework.