3/6/2009
We were at war, and had been for more years than I can remember. Our men were few now and our supplies were low. My wife and sons had all died from the results of the war. But regardless, I had a plan.
A small neighboring country was neutral, but as time progressed, they had become more sympathetic to our cause. My plan was to sneak past the enemy lines and beg them for help. Our enemy’s land, you must understand, was between us and the neutral. There was but one narrow valley between our kingdom and those who might aid in our cause, and that was heavily guarded. Still, I figured, it was our best chance.
My brother, captain of our army which now consisted of less than 100 men, agreed to my plan. Ten of my best men would follow him and I through the valley late at night, in the shadow of the mountain, and would travel to the neutral nation.
That night was the full moon…not a good night for a rogue, as there is little darkness. None the less, we donned our dark garb and set to crossing the border.
My brother led the small group of rogues, and I brought up the rear. I had brought my young apprentice with me, Eric…my godson and now my only family (and his had also passed in the war).
The night was so still, a single footstep sounded like a thousand to my ears. Even my own breath sounded like a hurricane….so much I could scarcely breath.
We were nearly through, and I could almost breath again…nearly past the danger I thought.
But then an alarm sounded.
I threw Eric to the ground, with such impact I should have hurt him. Around me, my friends were writhing and struggling in the snow as arrows rained down on their heads. I looked out to my brother ahead of me.
He was standing out of harm’s way, his arm raised as though to signal the enemy on the mountain side…an ambush, a betrayal….he had never intended to beg our neutral friends for help. He was set to surrender all along, and to bring down me and mine in the process.
With a strangely heavy impact, I felt an arrow pierce my arm and then my leg, but my only concern was for Eric….to get him to safety.
“RUN!” I heard myself say as I shoved him down the slop of the valley. Another arrow pierced my right chest now, but Eric must saved…he was, after all, my only son now.
We half rolled, half slid down the valley, safe out of harm’s way. But I could no longer stand. Though not fatal, I became acutely aware of the arrows in my body.
Eric drew his knife.
I tried to pull myself up, but I was numb…I was in shock…exhaustion, the pain from the arrows, and now the betrayal of my brother…he must have turned Eric against me.
“What are you doing?” I heard myself ask as Eric knelt down beside me. He lifted my head in his hand…almost gently. His knife was to my throat now, I could feel the cold steel, but it wasn’t as cold as the knot in my chest.
Eric only smiled…..
