oath

The screams of the dying were all around him.

Kargon struggled to kneel in his weighted armor before the golden statue of the God, Parkath the Bold. Parkath had stood alone against the Descent of Stars and been burned alive by their sulfuric outer shell. As he had died, Parkath had bent his back over the Children of Wisdom as they escaped their enemies. One of those children had been Kargon and the screams of his people were bringing back the memory of Parkath’s torture as he bought their lives with his. If he ever needed the bravery of Parkath, it was now.

The Fractures were descending on his planet with a ruthless bloodshed. They had come in the Season of Darkness. Not one of his soldiers believed that their enemies would attack at the time of the burying of the dead. It had not been done before. The brilliance and pure heartlessness of the act was unmatched in the planet’s history. It was in this desperation, that Kargon took a moment from the carnage to make a vow.

“Parkath the Bold. If you can find a way to give me this victory over the Fractures, I promise to give you a sacrifice, a blood sacrifice of the first person to find their way into my embrace when I return to my home. I seal you this bond.” Kargon made a fist and double tapped it on his metal-covered chest. Even in the chaos outside, the sound was loud in his ears.

He lifted the flap of the tent, took a large breath, and stepped into the fray.

The Fractures were loathsome people who drank the blood of the dead. They were vicious in a fight because they were made up mostly of Cold Hearts – a people who felt nothing for the sanctity of life. They were face-blind and without empathy. They killed for the prize. The only way to end the fight was to provide them with a prize more valuable than their pay.

Many things had been tried in their history. Several other planets had given the Fractures more than they could afford to give them for freedom and are now their servants. A fate more miserable than death.

Kargon had an idea. It was worth trying. He knew they did not have another choice. He gathered what soldiers he could around him especially the women and the young. They had one bag of Kizreth diamonds left. It would not be enough to bribe all of them but maybe, just maybe, he could turn them on one another.

He sent the women and young children out among the fighting Fractures with strict instructions. They were to tell the fighters that one was being honored because they stood out in form and strength. They poured the Kizreth diamonds into the open palms of the “rewarded” soldiers. In almost every instance, fighting ceased and the nearby soldiers would stop to watch as the gift was given. And without fail, the soldier with the prize would puff up like a Wildwall flower at sunrise. And those around him would find themselves jealous of his reward.

Kargon’s plan worked better than he imagined it would and soon the Fractures were fighting with a desperate intensity for the diamonds. They were killing one another to take home the prize.

He was dispersing the women and children back to safety and lining his soldiers up several rows deep to defend them as they fled to shelter. All these measures were unnecessary. When dawn rose, the carnage was desperately one sided for the Fractures.

Kargon was desperate to get home. He stood at the gates of his property and held his breath. He had missed this beautiful land! Although he loved being a soldier, there was nothing so powerful as returning to those who loved him without censure.

As was his custom, when he returned home, he knelt to share his gratitude with his God Parkath the Bold for his life and safe return.

It was then he remembered his covenant. He had given Parkath his word that if he gave him the victory, he would give Him a sacrifice of blood.

As the weighted elm door to his home swung open, he held his breath to see who would run to him first. And yet, he could not watch. He closed his eyes tightly.

He could hear her tiny footsteps before he felt her in his arms. “Daddy!” she squealed. “You are home.” She whispered with intensity.

Kargon spun with her in his arms as was their custom at the gate. He buried his face in her bouncing, golden locks so she could not see his tears. How could he keep his promise?

How could he not keep his promise when he felt that Parkath was his inspiration for the diamonds that had saved his life and brought him home?

He took his youngest daughter Kartheryn by the hand and they walked together into the stone castle.

She had never been the first to meet him at the gate. This was the first time. The worst first time.

Kargon’s heart was in his throat. He could put his sword through a man until his fist hit muscle and pull a bloodied sword back out. He could stand a wall until his feet and knees ached with the tension of the muscle silence. He had buried his wife with his bare hands following the illness that had her vomiting blood in his weathered hands. But this was unbearable. If only his wife, Unicaryn, were still alive. She would know how to appease the God and keep his child.

Kartheryn was gathering the others for dinner. Kargon could not put food in his mouth, or his stomach would betray him. His four children were surrounding him and eager to catch him up on all that had happened. He listened and nodded. All while his mind was racing. He had given his word. He was a man of honor and of his word. He was a man of Faith and Parkath had blessed him with a success that may have saved the boarder from complete annihilation.

He told them all about the battle at the fireplace before taking them to bed.

The oldest was first. He took his son into his room. He always teased his father that he was too old for this ritual, but he never stopped him from following him into his room. They hugged. He was impressed how his oldest has grown into his shoulders and for the care he took of the castle when battle took him away. It would not be long now before he would be leaving on battles of his own. Captains had asked for him.

The second oldest was his oldest daughter. She refused to be the princess she was. She had spent her life learning to fight like her oldest brother and Kargon was incredibly proud of the fact. He had not told either of them, but Captain’s had asked for her also. He could not let her go too soon. Unicaryn would never forgive him.

His second son was not a fighter in the least. However, he was the castle’s greatest artist and had painted many murals for his father including one of his mother in the room they had once shared. Kargon often spoke to her image about these children before he crawled into his empty bed.

And then there was Kartheryn. Everything about her was a reflection of her mother. Including the piercing and honest blue eyes. He always tucked this little one into her covers by tucking them tight around her. She giggled with delight. He made sure to tell her how much he loved her. And he blew out the candle beside her bed.

He gave her a kiss on her forehead. One last kiss.

He was a man of his word.