The Hero

Prologue: The Army

 This was it. It wasn't a matter of how or if, but when. Just when. And how much time remained. Sekure was standing motionless on the battlements for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. His hands felt numb against the chilled stone, and the silent breeze toyed lazily with his cloak and hair. The army camped solidly on the outskirts of his beloved town... a mere half mile away from him...and his people...his home. Ten thousand. Ten thousand ruthless killers. Raised from the dead to serve the frozen menace, stood at the ready just within reach of the city walls.

"Captain," Sekure turned to face the young general. "The Baron asks of you," The general saluted awaiting a response. Sekure stared the young man down for a short period before answering. How much time did he have left? Hours? Minutes?

"Very well, go with honor soldier," Sekure saluted briskly and moved past the general with the practiced formality of a strong leader. Sekure pondered as he walked. He thought about the events to come. He thought of his life and all the adventures and hardships he had experienced and endured. He became even more depressed as he witnessed children weeping in their mothers arms. He knew they were capable of imagining the outcome of the massacre that was to be. Sekure's cloak swept the ground as he slowly trudged onward through the town. He tried to hide his obvious sadness as a group of soldiers saluted... with so much hope. They counted on him to know what to do... as they always have. They looked up to him, he knew, but this time he was incapable of providing what he always had before. It wasn't fair was it? No. It wasn't. What had Sorain always said? " Life is like a game of dice, roll and hope for the best." Shitty roll Sekure. Shitty. Fucking. Roll. He decided last minute and turned into the abandoned florists. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light he noticed various boutiques and petals strewn about the floor in a disheveled manner.  He rested his arms on the splintered counter. What had Twindaley always bought? Those blue roses that grew so plentifully in the valley. Sekure's eyes glazed over as he recalled the countless times the cheery old woman had distributed the flowers all over the town square. Sekure sighed and continued through the town. His chest tightened as he neared the Baron's keep. How can I keep myself together when everything and everyone will cease to be? He asked himself. He held back tears as his face contorted slightly. Sekure took a breath, straightened himself, and continued on. A group of Ravens sat peering at him through the leafless branches of an old oak as if asking,

 "What will you do? You cant save them, not this time.  You're helpless Sekure, give up, break down, weep, scream, curse the world for it's cruelty." And he wanted to do all of those things. The ground became steeper as he climbed the hill to towards the keep. The gates raised as he strode up to them, weakly nodding at the saluting soldiers above. 

"Ah, the Baron is expecting you Captain." The chancellor bowed dramatically as Sekure passed him. The nobility of Vitherak, as self righteous as ever. His worn boots clapped against the cobbles, echoing around the barren courtyard. Each step becoming heavier than the last. He temporarily cast the shadowing cloud that was his fear, anxiety, helplessness, anger...Time left breathing... aside. He entered the keep and quickly reached the Baron's office.

"Ah Sekure, the men have gathered at the town gates. I will be departing... I have no intention of staying." The Baron quickly throwing valuables into a travel pack, his cowardice filling Sekure with hatred and disgust.

"Enjoy freedom while an entire town is slaughtered and pillaged of its innocents." He retorted, his face was dark with rage and eyes boring like daggers into the Baron's heart. Sekure fought every screaming inch of his body, yelling to break the greasy fuck's nose.

"Sekure," He dared " You're smarter than this, come with me, the mage can bring us both to StormWi-," The Baron's nose caved like mud as Sekure's gloved fist came crashing down in a brutal crack. The Baron back pedaled holding his broken and gushing wound. Blood spilled and trailed after the Baron as the sad excuse for a Human crawled away not daring another word. Sekure spat and turned on his heel walking briskly towards the gates. He swiftly made his way through hopeful gazes and hushed pleas. " Save us." His heart caved as the cloud of emotions returned to sit heavily on his conscious. He made his way up the battlements and turned to face the measly thousand Soldiers and brave souls who brandished make shift weapons in a desperate attempt to do anything... anything other than await their deaths like cowards. The common folk. Honest People. Brave people. Loyal people... His people.

"Listen!" His voice rang out clear and determined across the entirety of the town. People ceased their weeping and prayers to raise their heads in attention to Sekure. " The enemy that camps outside our walls, our town, our home. They are stronger," his voice a roar over his people. " I cannot, and do not, have the heart to tell you that we are capable of standing a chance against this horde that has found themselves at our doorstep. No. We will not be victorious this time. You will, die today." A single tear rolled silently down his solid face, but his voice and resolve unwavering. "But, we are not cowards. No. We are men, woman... children. We are united. We are united in battle. We are united in life. And we are united in death!" His voice cried out, seeming to come from somewhere deep inside his being, his soul. Somewhere strong and undying. " Today, we stand as one!" cries and cheers spilled out across the town. A tidal-wave of sheer vocal power radiating from the teared and tired faces of the towns inhabitants. Sekure felt more ready than he ever had in his life. He was ready to face what was to come. He was ready to face death. He stepped into the mass of his men and mounted his grey mare as the gates were raised for him and his Army. 

"Today we march men, to our glorious deaths, but not ours alone, NO. Many enemies shall be vanquished. Many. FOR THE ALLIANCE!" His battle cry seemingly lifting his men off the ground in a spectacular charge. With his Sword drawn he led his Army like a silver tipped arrow into the night. The cold, dark night. The dash reached the enemy all too fast. Sekure was pinned hard against the cold, solid, soil as his mount collapsed mid gallop from an unseen force, its body frozen and decaying. He watched helplessly from his pinned position as his men dropped like birds from the sky, some were frozen, some were brought down by invisible plagues, boils and welts festering upon their bodies, as they screamed in agony. Others were snatched like fish from a lake by dark and wicked hands that sprung from the enemy's dark magic. Those who were unlucky enough to find themselves face to face with the scourge were cut down and dismembered by black and lethal blades. Sekure managed to push the now decayed and withered corpse off him and rise to shivering and broken legs. The stench of blood already unbearable. He hefted his heavy blade in both hands and stood determined as the scourge advanced. Sekure managed to cough out a half yell in defiance. 

"Fight! But not for you! For Justice!" The last word coming out as startling scream. An icy voice rang across the battlefield, heard by all. 

"THIS ONE SHOWS WILL. I'LL ENJOY SQUEEZING IT FROM YOUR PITIFUL FORM." The deep and jagged voice finished with a laugh so void of warmth that Sekure felt his heart freeze over. Sekure stumbled to his knees, losing grip of his weapon as countless men were decimated. Mangled and rotted corpses joined the dark knights ranks. Shredding and devouring his men.

"I'll die before I served you!" Sekure's weak voice croaked out as he slumped to his hands, succumbing to the intense and colorless cold. A black armored, and cloaked soldier approached him, his dark and runic blade glowing with icy power.

"My lord would prefer it that way." The soulless eyes that stared straight through his soul, were no longer that of a living creature. Sekure stared back, throwing his head back unflinchingly as the vicious steel edge pierced his heart. Sekure screamed out, emptying his lungs even as his blood drained from his body, soaking the earth with his rich and dark life force. Sekure screeched out his final breath, and toppled to the ground as the corrupt mass of metal was wrenched sickeningly from his still heart. As his body began to shut down his final thought rang out in a telepathic force.

"Light shall prevail."

"WE WILL SEE HERO. WE WILL SEE." The icy nail like laugh echoed through-out Sekure's empty mind as his soul slipped away from his corpse.