Legends: The Knight of Helm (#1)

Chapter 39

Cladius walked into the Fort, every soul on their knees worshiping him. In his arm was Agular, a three hundred pound man. Cladius held the dead body as if it was nothing, and to such as him, it was. Even the queen was seen bowing. Her eyes weeping with joy and on the god's finger was the ring of kings. The same ring, his king had given him before his departure, the same ring giving him right and authority to rule in the throne. He was not only their salvation, he was their king.

Cladius heart was heavy, and he couldn't help but ignore their politeness with the recent death of his friend. His face was covered in blood, guts and dirt, his tears, slowly washing them away. He held a firm face, even in his sorrow. Almorah was weeping off into the corner, as soldiers moved to the side. Cladius made his way towards her. The woman was sitting down, defeated, too emotional to give a proper bow. Cladius stood in front of her as he spoke softly.

"Almorah, please stand, if you would." Cladius asked.

Almorah replied, under weeping eyes, "I cannot my lord, for my sorrow over takes me."

"May I bury him?" Cladius questioned.

Almorah nodded unable to look at her dead brother any longer, or even up at the god. It felt as if someone had cut open her chest and ripped her heart out, stomped on it, and put it back. She had been shattered in mind, emotion, and spirit. She was finished, she felt as if her life no longer mattered, that every moment would be living hell. Her brother never said much, but without his support, she didn't know how she would be able to make it. She had no one.

Cladius walked off back to the path, everyone still bowing as they watched him bury the man. Many knew the man he buried as Agular, others only a farmer, and even fewer, just another soldier. After ten minutes had pasted, Cladius turned back, not expecting everyone to still be bowing.

"Rise, go about your way, let me grieve alone." Cladius said politely, "Your dedication is much appreciated."

Each man quickly dispersed, Nerus walked towards the knight as Almorah simply watched the man from behind bury her brother. She had not recognized him yet. She hadn't even seen his face. Yet his voice was familiar to the woman, she knew it as a voice she could trust, rely on.

Cladius knelt down next to the tomb, as Nerus placed his hand on his shoulder.

"It is never easy to watch good men fall, but the greatest thing we can do for them, is to live for them, to not let their legacy fade away, but to continue as they would, aiding others for the betterment of all mankind." Nerus said.

Cladius had no reply; they just stood there for a good minute before the general left the young man to mourn. Almorah had approached from behind the man, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"He was my brother, he meant everything to me. Thank you, thank you for burying him; I barely have the strength to stand."

"I understand, my heart is also heavy, the many deaths bring their own toil but this," Cladius paused, "we lost a good man, a man that can never be replaced."

"I remember when we were just children, and I was bullied for my unnatural eyes and hair. He stood up for me, when I was afraid to do so for myself. He believed in me, when I couldn't believe in me; he was always strong when I was weak. He was there when I lost my greatest friend. He never faltered, he never failed. It's not fair that he is taken like this from me." Almorah said, a lump forming in her throat.

Cladius turned back to meet the woman's eyes. Her pupils grew smaller, as her golden eyes grew wide. Her mouth opened, and her aching heart felt some form of relief. She had not realized until now, that this man was Cladius of Helm. He had a roguish beard, and his hair was tied back, she couldn't believe her eyes. She nearly leaped forward, hugging the man. His embrace was like no other, filling a hole in her heart she had felt for so long, yet it was only to be replaced by the death of her brother.