she was fixed to the birch , the ropes wrapped round her body would hold her upright , already the first faint licks of flame were beginning to catch alight . but when he had had a few drinks he could threaten her physically . he nudged off his shoes as he backed toward the bathroom . instead , she just looked out of the window and imagined what her life now had in store . she tossed the sword to the side and stepped to the edge of the fire tower , looking out over the land of the dead fondly . 