A True Knight

"You will never reach them in time to defend it, brother. These powers will not let you. This crusade will not let you. I will not let you. Do you think the archives of future generations will look upon you kindly for your absence?"

He paused, wiping away a fresh trickle of blood, "Or will the human descendants of this empire look to your legend and whisper of doubt? Will they ask why you were not present to defend the throne, and speak likely lies that perhaps the Lion was not as loyal and true as they once believed? Perhaps the Lion and his knights waited in the deepest reaches of hell, watching, listening, and deciding to join the fight only when an obvious victor emerged." My brother's eyes glinted again, with both amusement and sorrow. "That is your fate, Lion. That is your future."

"Forgive me, brother." He turned his head to me, this being the first time he heard me talk since.. I don't remember.

"For what?"

I never answered him as his face contorted into one of both pain and betrayal, for my blade was buried up to its hilt in his stomach. More than a foot of bloodstained steel thrust from the back of his armor.

"For such a dishonorable blow," I whispered to his pale, bleeding face.

"I do not care who knows the truth now, tomorrow, or in a thousand years. Loyalty is its own reward."