The Union

As Rickard pushed his legs into a leap, the Spectator"s words echoed in his ears.

No, he declared with an adamant resolve. He cannot. He cannot let go of the past. Even though Cecile, Marco and Veni hoped for him to do so, he simply cannot. It was too much to ask. Even though he may die today, at least he would take King Timothy with him. He may have failed in erasing the idea of chivalry, but he was sure that others would follow his footsteps.

He sheathed his hand inside his bracer and revealed a dagger. His hold on it was firm- like that of his resolve.

The others followed, loyal men who were loyal to their ideas. Just like him these dozen or so men had also been deceived by the idea of chivalry- and paid the heavy price for it.

The royal guards were fast and apprehended his men almost immediately. The thrashing sound behind indicated that most of them had already been neutralized. Rickard might have been the only one who could still reach King Timothy.

He looked forward. Just a few more paces. A few more paces and he could reach him.

King Timothy. A G.o.d-like existence above all others. Powerful, smart, beloved by all- one word from him and thousands will die, one gesture and thousands will perish. The crown on King Timothy"s head was a symbol of power. But crowns can"t protect one from a dagger"s kiss. All men bleed and all men die, for a dagger doesn"t bow to crowns.

The Vanadian Queen shielded King Timothy with her body. Such an touching scene. Well if that"s her choice then Rickard would have to kill both of them.

He prepared his arms for the moment. He had taken lives before- of peasants and n.o.bles and knights- but never had he taken the life of a royal. This would be his chance to do so.

But before Rickard could reach the royals, a young man in armor blocked his way. The young man had a gold chain dangling across his chest- an indication that he was a Marquis.

Rickard halted, clicking his tongue upon knowing that he failed. The young Marquis was holding a sword, ready to strike. And then realization occurred to Rickard. A Marquis huh? A young Marquis that somehow had burning anger towards him. He knew the ident.i.ty of the young man.

"Marquis Erik" Rickard smiled. The royal guards had already surrounded him. "Here to avenge your father?"

**********

He was uglier than he expected.

Erik couldn"t believe that his father, Benedict Connel, was killed by an ugly man. Hooked nose, puffy cheeks, and abnormally wide chin.

"Leave him" he commanded the royal guards who were slowly tightening the wall of halberds around General Rickard.

The royals guards were not under his direct command and only the King had sole ownership of their loyalty. But the guards seemed to respect him enough that they stopped.

"General Rickard. I, Marquis Erik Connel of Greenwater, challenge you to a duel. With the Omniscient as witness, let us resolve our differences by the way of the sword"

"Erik" Timothy voice from behind "Don"t do this. If avenging your father is what you want, then we could capture him and you could be the executioner."

Erik did not look back and fixed his gaze on General Rickard lest the ugly does something underhanded.

"Your Majesty I need this. My father taught me that honor is everything. Getting justice for Benedict Connel by killing a criminal in cold blood would only dishonor his name. I want justice just like how my father would have wanted it- through a duel. Don"t worry, this will be the last stupid thing that I do"

There was silence. Timothy did not give his immediate blessing. Erik became aware that what he was asking for might be too much.

"But if you order me to stand down, I will follow the will of the King. But I..."

"Do it Erik" Timothy interrupted "Avenge the late Marquis with honor. I give you my consent"

Erik smiled- a questionable smile coming from a fool who might die today. But he was happy.

"Give him a sword. That dagger he"s holding would not even be able to scratch my armor" Erik commanded the guards as he unsheathed his own sword.

A sword was thrown near General Rickard and the General picked it up.

"Are you sure boy?" General Rickard said while inspecting the sword. He lifted the sword and inspected the balance. He then mocked Erik with a sneer "The last time I faced a Connel, I made him cry while begging for his life."

"The last time I faced a man as ugly as you..." Erik paused and smirked "Well.. to be honest I haven"t met someone as ugly as you"

"Sharp tongue. Let"s see if your sword is sharper. I will put and end..."

General Rickard lunged at Erik mid-sentence. Erik was surprised and could only parry the strike at the last moment. He was forced to take a few steps back.

"I killed him" General Rickard talked again. I stabbed my sword through his back and he stopped..."

The General again did the same trick- lunging at Erik without warning. But this time Erik was more prepared. He redirected the blow to the left and punched General Rickard in the face.

The General staggered backwards, swinging his sword all the while to prevent Erik from striking.

Erik gave no ground. He pushed his advantage and lunged forward. Strike after strike he gave. General Rickard managed to parry some while some hit his armor.

Cornered by Erik"s relentless attacks, General Rickard gave one last powerful stab. The General"s sword came for his neck. Erik was wearing a coif but such a strong stab could break apart the links of the armor and puncture his neck. He tilted his body a little and let the stab fall on his chest. His breastplate absorbed the stab well.

With his opponent"s weapon occupied, he saw an opportunity. The General was wearing light armor, probably because of his plan of sprinting towards Timothy. Poor choice in a duel. Erik jabbed the pommel of his sword towards the General"s chest which was protected only by mail. The impact winded the General. Staggering backwards, General Rickard curled his body and was gasping for air.

Erik again angled his sword. He aimed for the General"s neck. His stab was fast, deadly and true. The sword stabbed through General Rickard"s neck.

It was over. Although General Rickard was still on the process of drowning on his own blood, such a wound meant death. Erik let go of his sword. His hands had become sweaty, his breathing was deep.

As he watched General Rickard breathing his last breaths, he was engulfed in a certain feeling of liberation. His father"s killer was no more. The debt had been repaid with blood.

**********

The war was over. The fake knight lay dead.

Timothy watched the duel and Erik won honorably.

n.o.body uttered a word and the only sound were General Rickard"s futile last gasps. And then there was complete silence. General Rickard stopped breathing.

"He"s dead" a voice said, the speaker was one among the thousands of people who watched the duel.

Timothy looked at Lucia. She nodded at him as if saying that it was time to end this messy war.

Timothy stepped forward, the gra.s.s sc.r.a.ping against his boots. The wind was not strong but not placid either. All eyes were on him.

"It"s over" he said with booming voice. He looked towards the Tulosans. "General Rickard is dead. His ideas and philosophy are dead. We are all tired of this. Thousands have died and countless have grieved. I say we"ve had enough with this. With General Rickard"s death we shall fight no more!"

The mellow sunlight hit his eyes. It was still silent. He could hear the wind"s brush on the ground.

"No more" a voice said from the Tulosans, followed by similar utterances.

"No more" They repeated, silently, calmly and with weariness.

"No more" the two words were repeated by thousands.

As Timothy looked at the resting General Rickard, he couldn"t help but feel the exhaustion. But at last the war was over.

He sighed and also uttered the words

"No more"