Editing The Anointed (section)

==The Raid and Arania==

On the way back to the shuttle craft, Matthew and the others encountered a raid underway. Members of the Duke's forces were systematically attacking a small village and driving the inhabitants out of their homes or murdering them.

Among them was [[Arania]] a relatively low-ranking member of the local temple of [[Alazara]].  matthew noticed her leaving the village while being pursued by some of the raiders.

In a misplaced sense of duty, he rode down into the village, despite warnings from Linskens and Moctatso. He quickly overtook the raiders chasing Arania, but not before they had injured her.

Matthew came to her rescue, dispatching the two soldiers and preventing their plans to kill her. She fell unconscious from her injuries and Matthew loathe to leave her, managed to get her on the horse and brought her along.

It was originally his plan to release her when she had recovered, but there was a strong attraction between them and once they had managed to establish communications, it was apparent that they had fallen in love.