I rip my sword out of the dead man’s chest. Blood sprays onto my midnight armor. My crazed eyes search for another opponent, catching on a tall bearded man in the white armor of the enemy. I stalk towards him, heaving my sword up and behind me into the sheath across my back. Walking faster now I reveal two long knives from my hips. The man sees me now and he twirls his sword readying himself. But instead of immediately attacking me, he speaks. His voice is deep and rich.

“Sael of Qelmsen, a worthy opponent.” I bristle at his boastful tone. As if he were a great, unbeatable beast. And I was something worth playing with. I hiss at him, baring my pointed teeth.

“I see you have slain a mighty number of my men.” I stop, straightening. My men, he hath said. Then this was their great king of Roran.

King Dominic the Merciless. Fear tries to weasel into my heart, but I shove it back killing it. I am not afraid.

“Where is you famed sister? I supposed you would be fighting side by side.” My beloved sister, Gael of Qelmsen. Somewhere in the fray Gael had become lost to my eyes. Then I see the horrible expression scrawled on the kings face. My heart skips a beat. No. He is just trying to find cracks in my armor.

“Gael hath slain countless of your numbers, as have I. You are alone. Surrender.” Dominic laughs, throwing his head back.

“My pride does not let me sink as low as to surrender. It is you who will surrender.” The king lifts his sword ready for a fight. His hungry eyes disturb me. I ready my knives. I am smaller so I will use speed to my advantage. Hence, my using smaller weapons. We circle on another slowly.

A horn blares in the distance, drawing both of our attention. A soldier in white comes running over a nearby hill. He comes up gasping. The king lowers his sword and looks at the soldier, but his guard is still up.

“My lord, it’s your son.” At those words the king stiffens.

“He is battling Lady Gael, and losing terribly my king.” King Dominic’s gaze turns to me again.

“Shall we?” I don’t let him finish. I run for the hill. If Dominic gets to Gael before I do, he will kill her. I will not let that happen.

I hear the kings heavy footfalls behind me, ever coming closer. Smoke from fires burning in the horizon burns my lungs, slowing me. But not significantly. I see the two shapes of black and white. One looks sluggish and their form is terrible. Maybe they are tiring. The other is a whirl of night striking first and striking strong. Gael. I run to her aid, when I eye catches on an archer on a hill. My heart drops.

“GAEL! The archer!” Gael doesn’t hesitate she begins moving faster and moves the fight out of range of any arrows. I smile. Gael heeded me for once. Suddenly a sharp pain in my shoulder causes me to stumble.

“Sael!” My sister screams. In my distraction, I moved into the range of the archer. Cursing myself for losing my concentration, I continue running towards Gael, albeit much slower. The kings catches up, grabbing my shoulders and yanks me back. I hit the ground hard, the air in my lungs leaving me. Gasping I try to stand. The boy who had warned the king push’s me back into the ground. Glaring, I roll away and stand farther away.

“Do not stop him. He will only kill you also.” I jump forward and sink my knives into the boy’s throat cutting him off. He sinks to the ground. I spit the blood out of my mouth and eye the arrow sticking out of my shoulder. I grit my teeth and wrap my hand around the arrow and yank it out. I’ve dealt with worse. I turn towards Gael and the prince of Roran. Gael has tried to knock the prince to the ground, but what the prince lacks in skill he gains in strength. Dominic has almost reached my sister. Panicking, I change course charging towards the archer. Coming around behind the man I swiped a knife across his throat. The archer falls to the ground with a choking, bubbling sound. I grab the crossbow aim haphazardly towards the king and fire. The arrow misses, and the king doesn’t notice. Taking more care, I reload and aim again. This time my arrow flies true, striking the kings lower back. The king crashes to the ground. I aim again, striking the prince through the the heart. The prince’s eyes bug, and he falls to his knees.

“No!” The king roars. He staggers to his feet and limps over to his son. Catching his body before his face hits the soil. I run as silently as I am able over to Gael.

“Well done.” Her smile is tired. We both turn towards the king.

“Surrender, Your Majesty. You have lost.” The king is staring at the ground, unmoving. His eye is twitching.

“I will never surrender.” He whispers. I sheath my knives and draw the sword from my back. Gael stops me. I turn to her, surprised.

“You need to leave, Sael.”

“Wha-“

“Now, Sael.” My sisters eyes are cold steel, “Tell King Gradis of our victory.” My frown deepens.

“Gael we have not won.” Gael looks towards the king again.

“I will finish here.” She nods as if reassuring herself. The king shoots to his feet, but sways.

“I WILL NEVER SURRENDER!” He screams. He grabs Gael and drives his sword into her stomach. I strangled gasp escapes my lips. The king twists and a Gael screams. He shoves her over revealing a freshly bloodied sword. I charge him and body slam him, and he rolls down the hill. I turn back to Gael, her face is quickly losing color.

“Go.” Her breathing is uneven.

“I will not leave you!” My eyes search for something, someone, anyone. Gael grabs my arm then pull me close and whispers.

“Jsoybej fra toteimpal.” Look to the stars, always. She’s puts her hand to her bleeding stomach and drags it down the front of my chest plate. Leaving a smeared bloody handprint. Then she slides one finger from my forehead through my left eye to my chin. The mark of a warrior. I hear the kings labored breaths as he tries to climb back up the hill.

“Stay mighty.” She rises shakily to her feet, “Tell Gradis I died a warriors death.” I nod sharply. Turn and run. Never looking back, not even when I hear her scream.