105 Fall (1/2)

The sun was almost at the horizon. A sunset will soon come into being. With droplets of sweat skidding down their faces, he and his men were looking at Knightsend from a small hill.

It was over. As he looked at the swarm of Tulosans pouring into the castle, Kristof knew that there was no saving Knightsend now.

”I've warned him. Many times I have warned him.” he said as wind blew past them. ”I told him that the mercenaries can't be trusted. I told him!”

He paused to catch his breath. ”He did not listen. He did not even believe that such a betrayal is possible. He and that outdated warrior spirit of his. War is fair my ass. War is not fair!”

A hand patted his shoulder. ”Let's go Prefect. We can't help 'em now. Knightsend is fallen. I am sure that most of our brothers will live. The Sire will protect them.”

Kristof nodded. More than anything, he wanted to dip his hands into some Tulosan blood. But he had to remember his position as Prefect. The lives of his men were his load to bear. Furthermore, he was confident that the Marquis will be alright. Even if Knightsend fell, the Tulosans wouldn't waste a valuable hostage like Marquis Benedict.

He tugged the leather reins of his mount and angled the horse towards the east. His men followed.

**********

The Castonians presented a solid wall of defense against the Tulosans and the mercenaries. They were Benedict's remaining men - a force heavily trimmed by the earlier onslaught.

He held the flag of Castonia on his left hand. On his right was his sword, a steel broadsword that had been with him for the longest time.

Meanwhile, the enemies were trying to nip away the defenders. Rocks, arrows and other deadly projectiles were being flung towards them.

A man on horseback then arrived and the hostilities ceased. The white feather crest on top of the man's helm put emphasis into his rank. If Benedict was to guess, the person was General Rickard.

”The great warrior, Marquis Benedict Connel!” General Rickard shouted. ”I've watched the play many times. Such a wonderful tale. Moving. I must admit. I love the part when you told Captain Cooke, 'Leave her alone! Sword to sword face me. Love shall be my strength.'”

”If you watched the play then you must have already known what I did to that pirate.” he said as a warning.

”Of course! You are a legend Marquis Benedict. Your skills in bleeding men is a legend. Many of my people are afraid that you will hack them to death. Unfortunately Benedict, you have lost.”

Benedict's anger surged. ”Lost!? You tricked us. Dishonorable! Where is your warrior spirit Rikcard? Using underhanded methods to open the gate. That wasn't a battle. That was a trick!”

”And that's why you lost. You are too consumed by this idea of a fair battle. Fairness doesn't exist, Benedict. Not anymore. Men with outdated views. You and that weakling Sigurd both. Also that's hypocritical coming from you. What about Timothy Castonia? Didn't he use underhanded tricks to defeat Sigurd? Is he dishonorable too?”

The question gathered grunts from the Castonians.

”Shut your mouth!”

”King Timothy ain't dishonorable!”

They shouted. It took a while for the angry murmurs to subside.

”Leave our King alone Rickard. King Timothy has more honor that all of your Knights combined” Benedict said.

”Perhaps” Rickard smiled. ”I don't care anyway. Your foolish King will soon die- trampled beneath the hooves of our mounts”

The remark again stirred the Castonians. Benedict saw that some of his men were grasping their swords.

Benedict decided that it was time to face the truth. He lost. Fairly or not, he lost.

”We surrender Rickard. There's no point in fighting. You were right. We lost. Just take me as hostage and imprison my men.”

He then addressed the Castonians. ”Drop your weapons. I assure you, King Timothy will come for us.”

He could see their reluctance. Some of them struggled to let go of their weapons. It's not that he doesn't understand how they feel. He does. A warrior's surrender was a sacred, given only to those who deserves it. The Tulosans don't deserve their surrender.

But they must. There was no way out of this. It seemed that they have to sit on the sidelines for the rest of the war.

Some of his men were still holding their weapons tight. Benedict led the surrender himself. He dropped his broadsword from his right and reached the cloth of the flag with his left. He personally folded the flag, neatly and with care. He then gave the flag to one of the soldiers for safe keeping.

Seeing that the flag was no more, the Castonians disarmed themselves. The Tulosans started to tie the hands of his men.