The Union

A shrill alarm spread in the air. He knew that alarm. It was the one being used by the navy to indicate an attack.

He looked towards his ships docked in the harbor. The sailors he left to guard the ships were waving torches.

His men on sh.o.r.e started to murmur. They were afraid.

Veno looked at the barrels again. If they were h.e.l.lfire, they would have already burned so hot that part of the shipyard would have melted.

But nothing was happening. The barrels didn"t contain h.e.l.lfire. This whole thing was a trap and he just stepped right into it.

"Go back to the ships" He said. It was almost a mutter so n.o.body heard his command.

Veno turned his head to the left, towards his marines. "Go back to the sh-"

His mouth froze. His body stiffed. In the darkness to the left he saw flags raised. They were flags of Vanadis. Soldiers in thousands marched towards them. They were steady in their pace. Their movements suggested that they were also from the Vanadian Navy.

He turned to the right and the same scene greeted him. The two forces outnumbered his lads and they are closing in.

"Get back!" Veno shouted on top of his lungs.

He ran back to their ships. His men followed behind. They had been discovered. They had fallen into a trap. Fighting would be futile now.

But they were too slow and their enemies were fast. Some of the enemies had already boarded his ships. The marines he left to guard the galleys were overwhelmed. He shed a single tear hearing their cries for help.

But he couldn"t do a thing. He was trapped himself. His galleys belonged to the enemies now.

"Hold your ground! Formation!" Veno shouted to his men. The lads were shaken but they managed to make a crude defense.

He stood in the center with his sword unsheathed and raised. Their enemies crept closer from all sides. They must have outb.u.mbered them at least two to one.

"Steady" he said "We are the righteous ones. We must never fear for justice in on our side. The Omniscient shall guide our swords"

And then the enemies stopped. It was a sudden stop with a single unison clank. A person from the line of enemies stepped forward. The street lamps made it possible for Veno to see his face.

Bisham. The great Captain Bisham who is famous for leading the slaughter of pirates in the battle of Salam. Captain Bisham was also famous in the battle of the plains where he led Vanadian-hired mercenaries to reinforce the Castonians.

Bisham"s face was riddled with wrinkles. His white hair was combed back. The clothes and armor he wore were that of the navy. On his hip hung a sword.

Veno swallowed his saliva. His legs trembled. There was only one person in the navy that is senior to him- and that was this man. Veno both feared and respected him.

"Look at the flags you fly and the coat of arms on your uniforms" Bisham said with disgust in his voice "Aren"t they of Vanadis? The ships you sail, aren"t they built here in this shipyard- the same shipyard you are trying to burn. Dishonorable. All of you are dishonorable. You raise your swords against the Queen- the same Queen who is trying to protect you!"

"The Queen sold Vanadis to Castonia. We are just taking it back!" Shouted Veno.

"Is that you Veno? No wonder this whole affair reeks of stupidity. Better shut your filthy mouth Veno. You were not there when the Wismarines attacked us in the Castonian palace. You were not there when King Timothy rode night and day just to rescue our Queen. You were not there Veno. You did not see how Vanadians and Castonians fought side by side in the Battle of the Plains. You don"t know what we can do -what we can accomplish- if we just join forces with the Castonians!"

Bisham unsheathed his sword and pointed it towards them "The Queen is merciful. She forgives despite your deeds not worthy of it. Surrender and the Queen promises clemency. Struggle and we, the Vanadian Navy, will annihilate you without remorse. Drop your swords rebels"

Hearing the word rebel put an ache into his pride. He was no rebel. Everything he did was for Vanadis.

"You must be mistaken..."

He was interrupted by the sound of metal hitting the cobbled dock. Several iterrations of the same sound followed. His men were dropping their swords and running towards the enemies.

His breathing got louder and a surge of pain jolted him. His eyes narrowed. His head shook sideward in disbelief. He thought they would join him to death. He thought they were men of courage. Never had he felt more alone.

Those who surrendered were disarmed. Only a little more than a hundred remained by his side.

"Your decision is to die. I respect that" said Bisham "A shame you will not see the future"

And then their enemies advance unto them. Veno held his sword.

**********

"What is that smell?" asked the soldier beside him.

The Captain of Moon wrinkled his nose and the odor also reached his senses. It was a sharp smell but a little mellow after a while. It smells like a mixture between lamp oil and wax.

"Probably your own breath. Your nose is just above your mouth!" jested another soldier.

A lively laughter ensued. But he was not laughing. Silverback"s absence coupled with the strange smell brought him worry. He had heard about the Castonian King"s might before. He was awed listening to tales about how Timothy Castonia defeated armies sent to fight against him. Timothy Castonia and his legions were undefeated.

"Sir" A soldier called for his attention. The lad was kneeling and patting the ground. He smelled his hand "I ain"t sure sire but this snow smells funny"

He also knelt cupped the snow. It felt different. It was a little slimy and oily. He immediately knew what it was.

"Run!" he shouted.

The others looked at him with confusion.

""Retreat!" he shouted again and now they were starting to move.

But just then several hors.e.m.e.n rode towards them. They were carrying lamps. The hors.e.m.e.n threw the lamps towards the ground.

The snow burned.

**********

Veno thrust his sword into an enemy. His strike was blocked by armor. He ducked to evade an attack and thrust again in between his enemy"s breastplate and arm guard.

The familiar feeling of slicing flesh reverberated through his arm. Upon retracting his sword, the tip was drenched in blood. His opponent cried in pain and Veno moved for the kill. He aimed and he thrust his sword.

But Veno was bashed from the side by another enemy with a shield. He staggered back. h.e.l.l fell and he felt dizzy. One of his allies defended him.

Veno sat on the ground, still recovering. His brave men were being butchered. They were dying left and right. It was horrifying. He was shaken.

He smiled bitterly. The King and the Queen bested him- bested them. What was supposed to be their surprise became a surprise for them. They had failed and he was going to die.

Bisham was standing not far from the fighting. The old veteran was watching him. He must be amused, Veno thought. Unlike his uniform and armor already soiled with blood, Bisham"s were clean. And unlike his fate, Bisham would live.

He looked towards the cowards who surrendered earlier. They were sitting in the snow with their hands tied. He had high hopes for them. He thought that they would fight to the death just like him. He also thought that the citizens of Holm would rise in rebellion once they attack. He was wrong. He overestimated their patriotism.

He grabbed his sword again. Bringing only swords to fight armored enemies was really stupid, he mused. They could have brought spears or hammers at the very least. He will die with his sword.

Veno supported his body to stand. He held his sword with both hands. He spotted a target- a green boy whose fighting stance was wrong. With his body leaning forward, he rushed to the boy.

And then light. There was light in the darkness. It wasn"t blinding but it was big. The light was followed by cries at the distance. His feet stopped. He almost dropped his sword as he faced the north where the light originated.

Around him the fighting was put into a standstill. Everybody knew what it was. All of them were in the navy so they knew the only thing that could burn that bright.

h.e.l.lfire. According to the location of the fire, Veno realized that the mercenaries in front of the gate were doomed.

"Sir I think I now know where the h.e.l.lfire is!" said one of his men. The lad was a halfwit and Veno would always scold him for doing and saying stupid stuff.

But for the first time Veno laughed to the lad"s stupid words. He knew that it was truly over for them. He was amazed by the Castonian King. Timothy Castonia, he thought, such a mind he has.

His sword fell followed by his b.u.t.t. He sat in the snowy harbor drenched in sweat and blood. He was laughing. After a while his laugh was interrupted by multiple spears piercing his body.