Because no mercy was ever shown to me.
My blade goes through another chest. I cut down all the warriors, one by one, focusing only on the path of my sword.
I’m following orders. It’s my duty. It’s my role.
And I’m good at it.
In the end, when everyone is dead, I portal their bodies away, to Nightshade, so our people can see our strength, at my father’s command. Some say it’s cruel not to allow bodies to be buried.
Perhaps they’re right. But since I became heir to the throne, I’ve never pretended to be anything less than a monster.
I stride through the halls of the Nightshade castle, my armor scraping together, my boots echoing against the black stone floor.
My father is sitting on his throne made of twisted, whispering calcified shadows. He nods at me, a single dip of his chin, the only acknowledgment he’ll allow.
I bow before him on one knee.
“Five hundred thirteen,” I say, counting the dead. Counting the kills on my blade.
He frowns. “They should surrender,” he says. “Why haven’t they?”
I stand.
“It’s the commander. The Sunling prince.”
The second son. He leads the armies. He, with hisspeechesandhopeandfire, has rallied men beyond just soldiers.
My men fight out of fear of my father.
The Sunling’s men ...
They fight out of love for their home, for their people.
Love is for fools, and it has made all of them foolish. It has made thousands rush into battle, with barely the right equipment.
It’s idiotic.
Though ... it has made them stronger than anticipated. Harder to beat.
My father scowls. “A second son is besting my heir? Not even the firstborn?”
My back teeth grind together. If my father actually took to the battlefield, if he didn’t refuse to stay here until the very end of the war, then maybe it wouldn’t have lasted this long.
I could have ended it a long time ago, with the strength of my shadows. But that would have required opening back up my emotions. Dredging up that pain. It’s the one thing I refuse to do. Luckily, my father hasn’t suspected I’m holding back.
I’ve tired of battle. I might be good at killing, but I take no enjoyment in it. And with each life taken ... I feel that wall around me breaking. My buried emotions stirring. It’s time for this to be done, once and for all.
“This was one of their strongest stands, and they lost. Tonight, while they recover, we’re going to make a go at the castle.”
He stands.
“So, it’s time?” he asks.
I nod. “It’s time.
It’s time for the king of Lightlark to die.
He’s dead, along with his wife.
