repeatedly. Even as a ghost they hurt him. This was her intention.
His sunken eyes flash. “Come to take more of my spirit?”
“All of it.”
He says nothing. She stares back.Finally, he responds, “It won't last. The power will wane in a year or two. They will know you're a fraud, no more talented than dozens of other skalds roaming the land. They will figure out who you are and what really became of me.”
“I have no choice. The Witch-King Khuar-na has returned. The West has already fallen.”
“Truth?”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
“Not even when you said that you would kill me. I just didn’t believe you had it in you.”
“You made me what I am.”
"Can the East stop Khuar-na?”
“We are united, but I have my doubts if it will be enough.”
“I am impressed. Honestly. You took little of my spirit last time. Your skill has improved.”
“I have more confidence. And the Goddess gifted me some power along with a prophecy.”
“That's not a good sign, you know that?”
“I know.”
Bregissa draws forth a metal amulet, savoring the moment as fear flickers along his ghostly face. "True death comes for you at last. Father. "
She plunges hand and amulet into his spirit. Orthinn screams.
***
Kerenthos never intended to honor the bargain with Bregissa. But he knew it would be easiest on her if he simply showed up with the army, days out on their march, at a time when it was too late to go back. That way, she wouldn't have to worry about it.
The time has come to tell her , he thinks, I have no choice.
Bregissa is standing beneath the shade of a scraggly oak, humming a tune beat into her by Orthinn, long ago. Hiding behind a nearby wagon of supplies, Kerenthos watches as a scout runs up to Bregissa and reports: "The Witch-King is only a day away, my lady."
"What does Lord Tantren think of the land here?" The Kings had elected Lord Tantren as the army's tactical and strategic commander.
"I don't know, my lady."
Kerenthos steps out from hiding. "Tantren thinks this is as good a place as any on the plains to face the Witch-King. I was just speaking with him not half an hour ago."
Bregissa spins. Her eyes flare. Her lips draw in. Anger flickers across her face, then vanishes. She turns to the scout and says calmly, "We shall make our stand here. Let it be known to Lord Tantren and the Kings of the East."
The scout hurries away and Kerenthos limps toward her. She turns away and gazes across the plains again.
"I'm sorry, Bregissa. I had to come. I had to protect you." You are all I live for. I couldn't stand to face another day without you. I could have lived as a king, forever. I chose you instead.
She doesn't answer him.
"You are angry with me?"
"Should I be?" she replies, languidly.
"I lied to you."
"Was it a lie if I didn't believe you?"
"You knew I was with the army?"
He spots a brief flicker on her face, a smile almost. "I did not. I thought you had kept your word. I am … surprised."
You're hurt but you will never admit it.
"I hope you will forgive me."
"There is nothing to forgive. You have been true to who you are, and I love you."
"But you won't face me? You won't greet me with a hug or a kiss? You must miss me as I miss you."
"I am angry for now. Maybe I will look at you tonight, over our last meal before the battle. I think it's gruel again."
He chuckles. "We're on campaign. It's always gruel."
"War really is distasteful then."
"Your humor is poor."
She shrugs.
"Since there's so little time left for humor, perhaps you should leave what's left to me."
That does make her smile, for a moment, and he knows that in an hour or two, she will no longer be mad at him. That is good, because he fears he will be too exhausted to stay awake through dinner.
***
The Scorch-Walker rocks beneath him. In the distance, parched grasslands burn. Desert spreads behind him as the energy flowing from his iron amulet dries streams and withers all verdant things. He does,
His sunken eyes flash. “Come to take more of my spirit?”
“All of it.”
He says nothing. She stares back.Finally, he responds, “It won't last. The power will wane in a year or two. They will know you're a fraud, no more talented than dozens of other skalds roaming the land. They will figure out who you are and what really became of me.”
“I have no choice. The Witch-King Khuar-na has returned. The West has already fallen.”
“Truth?”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
“Not even when you said that you would kill me. I just didn’t believe you had it in you.”
“You made me what I am.”
"Can the East stop Khuar-na?”
“We are united, but I have my doubts if it will be enough.”
“I am impressed. Honestly. You took little of my spirit last time. Your skill has improved.”
“I have more confidence. And the Goddess gifted me some power along with a prophecy.”
“That's not a good sign, you know that?”
“I know.”
Bregissa draws forth a metal amulet, savoring the moment as fear flickers along his ghostly face. "True death comes for you at last. Father. "
She plunges hand and amulet into his spirit. Orthinn screams.
***
Kerenthos never intended to honor the bargain with Bregissa. But he knew it would be easiest on her if he simply showed up with the army, days out on their march, at a time when it was too late to go back. That way, she wouldn't have to worry about it.
The time has come to tell her , he thinks, I have no choice.
Bregissa is standing beneath the shade of a scraggly oak, humming a tune beat into her by Orthinn, long ago. Hiding behind a nearby wagon of supplies, Kerenthos watches as a scout runs up to Bregissa and reports: "The Witch-King is only a day away, my lady."
"What does Lord Tantren think of the land here?" The Kings had elected Lord Tantren as the army's tactical and strategic commander.
"I don't know, my lady."
Kerenthos steps out from hiding. "Tantren thinks this is as good a place as any on the plains to face the Witch-King. I was just speaking with him not half an hour ago."
Bregissa spins. Her eyes flare. Her lips draw in. Anger flickers across her face, then vanishes. She turns to the scout and says calmly, "We shall make our stand here. Let it be known to Lord Tantren and the Kings of the East."
The scout hurries away and Kerenthos limps toward her. She turns away and gazes across the plains again.
"I'm sorry, Bregissa. I had to come. I had to protect you." You are all I live for. I couldn't stand to face another day without you. I could have lived as a king, forever. I chose you instead.
She doesn't answer him.
"You are angry with me?"
"Should I be?" she replies, languidly.
"I lied to you."
"Was it a lie if I didn't believe you?"
"You knew I was with the army?"
He spots a brief flicker on her face, a smile almost. "I did not. I thought you had kept your word. I am … surprised."
You're hurt but you will never admit it.
"I hope you will forgive me."
"There is nothing to forgive. You have been true to who you are, and I love you."
"But you won't face me? You won't greet me with a hug or a kiss? You must miss me as I miss you."
"I am angry for now. Maybe I will look at you tonight, over our last meal before the battle. I think it's gruel again."
He chuckles. "We're on campaign. It's always gruel."
"War really is distasteful then."
"Your humor is poor."
She shrugs.
"Since there's so little time left for humor, perhaps you should leave what's left to me."
That does make her smile, for a moment, and he knows that in an hour or two, she will no longer be mad at him. That is good, because he fears he will be too exhausted to stay awake through dinner.
***
The Scorch-Walker rocks beneath him. In the distance, parched grasslands burn. Desert spreads behind him as the energy flowing from his iron amulet dries streams and withers all verdant things. He does,
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