Spoilers: None

Alanna's POV during one of the last battles of the Scanran War

If only I owned them....

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A horn sounds

a warning of danger

They are crossing

the river

a giant, screaming mass

weapons held aloft


What a choice.

to fight and risk death

to stay back as commanders should

to honor my oaths to king and country

to fight any enemies

to honor oaths to my family

to come home alive


I am a legend

men look to me;

pulling on my armor,

I wonder if its smarter

to not wear my trademark

gold-washed.


No time

they are here

grabbing my bare sword

jumping on my horse

offering a quick prayer

off to battle


Darkmoon rears, striking out

down a body goes

the sun low in the sky

glinting off metal

my armor

my sword

swinging this way and that

blood flows

men scream

the river turns red

for a moment

all is quiet


I look around sword lowering

dismounting

seeing my men safe

we walk through the blood and mire

pausing to end

the lives of those dying

friend and foe

rounding up

those alive for George

wryly

I think

they will wish they died


The ground is stained

deep red

the pyres are ashes

why is it that

it is longer to clean

than to fight?


No doubt George

will have heard by now

I write to him and send

it with a spell

he needs to know

I am alright, or alive at least.


I walk outside

the moon and stars

soft and clear

I hear the men in the mess

drinking

to victory, to the kill


I join them as expected

to drink to victory

to forget the killing

to the end

success

the end of the death