Double-Edged Darkness

Double-Edged Darkness

"Set forth and lay waste to their armies! Crush everything in your path and make them pay for what they've done to us! For Cronia!"
The king turned to one of his captains. "As for whoever is in charge, bring him to me, alive."
The massive Cronian army rolled out fully armed and mounted on horses. A horse for each and every one of them. Lord Crone was a wealthy man. One that had earned all of it, all by himself, as for his parents were mere farmers. Crone had always wanted to be a powerful man and was determined to live like a king. This he had accomplished by assassinating the previous king of Cronia, formerly known as the Wolfsgrace kingdom. The people of Cronia followed him without much thought, instilled with fear they executed their Lord's will.

"ATTACK!"
The Cronian army infiltrated the peaceful lands that were once part of the Cronian Kingdom, slaughtering any civilians that stood in their path. The attack was swift, ruthless, and merciless.
"Citizens of Old-Cronia! Welcome home! You can either comply, or you shall be executed on the spot", one of the captains said.
The doors of the houses near the captain opened. From the houses emerged civilians, trembling, cowering in fear.
"Bow down to your true king!"
The civilians kneeled before the captain, who bore a Cronian flag. All kneeled, except for one man. He must've been in his seventies. It was quite rare for a human to reach that age in these times. It was a peaceful existence, but peace cannot exist without conflict.
The old man spoke up. "I... I will not kneel for this... tyranny."
The captain stared him dead in the eyes.
"Men, I fear the gray one here has trouble with his knees. Help him out will you!"
Two knights emerged from the pack, both carrying a morningstar. The old man tried to back up but was caught in the pack of civilians.
"I... shan't... comply."
Without speaking a word the knights swung their weapons, breaking the old man's knees, causing him to fall forward.
"I see you've finally come to your senses", the captain said mockingly. The old man lay on the floor, slowly bleeding out and preparing to breathe his last breath.
"Father, no!"
A woman stood up and ran over to the old man.
"I... I'm sorry Kayla." He reached for her cheek and looked her in the eyes as his body went into shock.
The woman shed a tear, which landed on the old man's forehead.
"You monster!" She stood up and faced the captain.
A loud bang echoed through the village. The woman fell to the ground.
"Well if you truly care, I'm sure you'd rather join him", the captain said as smoke emerged from the barrel of his gunblade.
The dying woman folded her hand into her father's. "I'm sorry father, I'll be joining you soon."

The civilians all remained silent, shocked by the horror they had witnessed.
"Hear that men? Here they come. The thieves!"
Up ahead in the distance, the captain spotted a shimmering light.
"Ready your arms!"
The Cronian army got back in formation and unsheathed their weapons at the sight of the storm that was closing in fast. A horde of knights mounted on white horses, all bearing a white plume on their helmets, approached the village. Unlike the Cronian army, the Swansgrace army was small, however, it consisted of incredibly well-trained warriors. What they lacked in quantity, they made up for in quality. The Cronian army charged directly into Swansgrace's, which was being led by their very own king. This was not an uncommon sight. Seeing the king ride into battle gave those under his rule a sense of security, like he was always watching over them. Besides, the king could very well hold his own in battle. As the Cronian army drew near the king slowed down. Heavily armed riders quickly formed a line in front of him, ready to catch the opposition's charge. Swords clattered and spears shattered as the two armies reached each other. The Cronian knights aimed for their opponents' heads, unlike the Swans, who prioritized the opponents' rides. For every Swan that fell, five Cronian horses were injured, and their riders would soon follow. The civilians watched in awe as their ruler came to free them. The Swans were powerful, but the sheer amount of riders charging in from Cronia was enough to overwhelm them. After many riders had fallen, the king moved in. The Cronians were expecting a speech, but the king was not one who liked to spend words where a blade could do the talking. Wearing a bright silver helmet with a decoration shaped like a crown, the king charged directly into the unsuspecting Cronians, cutting them down one by one. His riders soon joined in. More and more blood was spilled. The king rode into battle on a white horse but would leave on a red one. With more reinforcements streaming in from Cronia the Swans started dropping fast, until none but their king remained. Cronian riders swiftly surrounded the mighty Swansgrace ruler, who dismounted from his horse and raised his hands behind his head.
"This battle is over! Victory for Cronia!"
The riders cheered as they restrained the now powerless ruler and heaved him onto a horse.
"Kill it", a captain said, pointing at the king's battered horse. "Glacia..." The king closed his eyes and shed a tear inside his helmet as he listened to the sound of his dying steed. A horse that had stood by his side since childhood. A horse he grew up with and was willing to die with. But no, somehow, he was spared. Spared by the Cronians. The savages.