I looked into his eyes, hoping to see a glimpse of whatever he was seeing of the realms of Shamayim but it was to no avail. His eyes refocused onto seeing only me and he said with a soft smile, "Thank you for teaching me and showing me the way back to the beliefs of my fathers', long since passed." And with that said he was gone from the land of the living, the smile still on his face but his crushed body devoid of its soul.
I laid his hand to rest on his chest and rose up to my feet. Everyone was looking at me. I had a nation at my feet, but I was a man without desire for such a responsibility and yet it had always been that way. Ever since my days with Kuri, more and more had been asked of me.
"See to removing the King's body from the city and the withdrawal of our troops before the fires become too great."
The Knights leapt to obedience, even as I made my way away from them.
*****
I climbed up the battlements that I had taken an hour or so before and stared out into the night. I was now the king of an entire nation. What did that really mean?
Why was I so little enthused by the prospect of being a king? Susori would be ecstatic. She was forever about my advancement, but all I really hungered for was a simple life far from the maddening crowd where I could live and raise my children in peace.
Now the responsibility of not only the men who pledged themselves to me, but that of an entire nation, weighed on the decisions I made. El Elyon give me strength as this was all just too much to bear!
My attention was gained by light given off by torches that flared brightly in the darkened valley below the city. Who was this rushing in the night towards the scene of conflict and war?
The group of riders boldly approached the city and I made my way down off the battlements. The party of riders was put to a halt by surprised Knights not expecting the appearance of a third-party.
As I approached the riders I pondered on who they could be. As near as I could tell they were all warriors of which several were women. I came to a halt before the lead rider, a woman.
There was something familiar about her and then she spoke and opened up old memories to me, "Kuri sends his regards."
She smiled as I exclaimed, "Mayrin?"
She nodded, still smiling, but then her face sobered, "It's time. Kuri wants you to face the witch of Vella in his stead and convince her to let the Yesathurim people under her control go. They are the last of the tribes to be gathered."