To say the General was shocked was an understatement, but as he stood in the door way, watching the pair rush off in the fluttering snow, he found himself mute, and glued to the ground.
Kella wasn't about to question it as she continued to run, breath trailing behind her in a long stream of white breath. She could have cried, perhaps she was, but as they neared the gate, the men all shouted, demanding what was wrong.
"Open the Gates!" Kella shouted, finding a voice within her stronger than she could contain. "The Duke he... he can not remain here!"
And quickly she thought of the reason, and bellowed out, "If he remains, the dangerous curse on his sister will awaken!" And she paused, furrowing her brow before shouting, "Open the gates... NOW!"
And it all moved like a dream, the echoing fade of her voice, the silence that followed, then the slow heavy clicking as the gate lifted. And when she saw it, the world on the other side, she didn't think about anything else but run.