War Through Love

2. Chapter

Hector

For the third day now, we've been marching with the army toward Raventree Hall. My father and brother think that the Blackwoods don't know about us... but one would have to be blind not to notice us. I'd bet that Lord Blackwood has received at least a hundred ravens about our movements, and with each passing day, they get closer and closer.

We were just discussing our next steps when an arrow whizzed past my head. I immediately turned around and saw an archer reloading her bow for another shot.
"Watch out!" I yelled, grabbing a wooden shield to protect my father.

"ATTACK, THEY'RE HERE, TO ARMS!" the shouts began to spread, accompanied by the clanging of swords across the camp. Another arrow struck the shield directly, and I could already see the army emerging from behind the hill, bearing the familiar red-and-black crest.

"Those bastards. How did they find out about us?" I had to smirk at my brother's surprise.
How indeed?
But I didn't have time to dwell on it. I drew my sword and ordered the guards to protect my father.

I barely had time to rush out of the tent before an enraged soldier was upon me, swinging his sword around like a three-year-old toddler. One swing from my sword, disarmed. Second swing, head down. I fought my way to the old mill where the woman had been shooting from, but at the entrance to the tower, a small surprise awaited me.

Two Blackwood soldiers were standing there, and one of them was even Lord Blackwood's bastard. This wouldn't be easy.
"Gentlemen... could I ask you a favor?" I gestured with my hand for them to step aside, which, of course, they didn't. The smile on my face deepened as both drew their swords and took up fighting stances.

"Gentlemen, let's be reasonable and strike a deal. You let me in, and I won't kill you."
One of the soldiers swung, and the fight began.

At first, I only dodged blows, trying to wear them down as much as possible. But my patience ran out when the bastard slashed my arm. I hissed a little, "You shouldn't have done that." Now, I let my anger take over completely, and if it weren't for that fool, I would have won.

My brother decided to join the fight, just as one soldier lay dead on the ground and the Blackwood bastard had lost his sword. At that moment, I heard Amos's voice shouting something, followed by a thud. With a final blow, I knocked the bastard out and looked at my brother.

He lay there, lifeless, with an arrow buried deep in his chest. I looked up at the tower, but it was already empty; that bitch must have fled.

"Hector..." he started coughing blood, and I knelt beside him.
"Hector, I... I killed him." Confused about what to do, I nodded, "Who did you kill?"
"B- Black... Blackwood." Then he started choking, and there was nothing I could do.
"Hector, I... I don't want to die." Tears welled up in my eyes. "You won't die." I shook my head and pulled him close. "Promise?"
"I promise." He started coughing blood again, but this time, he exhaled one final time. I knelt there with him for a moment, feeling my sorrow slowly turning into uncontrollable rage.

I'll kill them, I'll kill them all!
I stood up, intending to kill that bastard... but he was already gone.
I looked around, hoping to find him, but all I saw was a bloody field littered with corpses.

With a cry of despair, I threw down my sword and shield, which shattered into pieces as it hit the mill.
"Blackwoods..." I muttered through clenched teeth.