In the pitch blackness, the three trudged away from the makeshift memorial, marked by the large sword dug into the ground, standing upright, the camp still a good deal away. They figured Sutebenu would appreciate the peace and solitude. The soil had been hard, impossibly difficult to dig in, but after several hours of working in silence, they’d finally been able to lay their friend’s body into the hole and return him to the earth.

“Won’t someone notice you’re gone?” Devis asked, looking up at Skye. He didn’t seem like such a bad person. He didn’t have the same feeling about him as the other guy. Skye shook his head.
“Alden can keep people plenty distracted, I can assure you of that much.”
“So what are we going to do now?” Kris asked, muttering the first words he’d said since the chat with Devis just before…
“We really don’t have any choice. We’ll have to fight him face to face.”
“Oh, is that what my pet really thinks?” Skye jumped. Even in the darkness the younger boys could see the color drain from his face. Skye spun around, drawing his sword halfway when a hand stopped him. Alden’s pale face grinned menacingly at him in the darkness. “If that’s the case then it looks like I have little other choice,” he sighed, sounding almost amused, Kris thought.
In an instant Skye had been thrown backwards and Alden was nearly on top of him when the dark haired man sidestepped, parrying a strike that might have left his legs standing and his torso in the dirt. Kris watched wide-eyed, whishing that he’d brought along his own sword. As it stood he was completely useless. His eyes darted around, searching for Devis, but it was almost impossible to see. But then he did see. Someone was running towards him. He could barely make out the shape of a sword in their hand.

Skye parried to the left, then above his head, using footwork to keep up with the quick strikes. To stay alive. Had he not already known this man’s potential, Skye thought, he’d already be dead. Underestimating one’s opponent usually ended that way. As Skye struggled to keep up, frustrated that he was stuck on the defensive, Alden seemed to be fighting effortlessly, one strike after another, each just as strong as the last. Once over his head he blocked , and found himself only inches from Alden’s face.
“So very arrogant,” Alden sneered, licking his lips. Then suddenly his expression changed. The red eyes widened, jaw dropped open in a silent scream. Behind him, Kris held the heavy sword with both hands, resting it against the ground. But just as quickly as he’d been caught off guard, Alden leapt towards Kris who, by some miracle or bit of luck, managed to raise the heavy sword just in time, narrowly avoiding decapitation.
And in a second’s time Skye rushed towards the man’s turned back, but he was not quick enough.
Alden shouted, changing his attack back to the other man. Kris was astonished. No one should have been that fast. No one could cover themselves from all sides at once. But somehow he could. Once he locked on to a target, he was invincible. Kris, lost in his thoughts, was nearly caught by surprise again, saved only by Skye’s swing at Alden’s torso that maneuvered him just out of reach.

Devis watched, breathless from the run back to the grave. Sutebenu’s steel was considerably larger and heavier than Kris’. The wound on his front had opened again and oozed blood, but he didn’t pay any notice. Before him was a two against one scuffle, and the one was winning. Then is struck him. He was no warrior or knight or skilled fighter, but he had his own skills.

“You’re slowing down!” Alden laughed, his relentless attacks aimed once again at Skye. “Slow like blood and honey.” Kris tried to keep up the best he could, but was no match for the seasoned fighters. His arms and his chest ached. At the very least, if they fell, it would become obvious that a traitor was among them and it could be stopped. Out of the corner of his eye something moved low to the ground. Turning his head, he gasped. Devis crept carefully closer to them, heading straight towards the flurry of blades. If Kris called to him he’d be caught for certain. If he tried to do anything Devis was as good as dead. Once more he only found himself to watch helplessly.

There was nothing to hide behind. He had to be careful, making sure he stayed to Alden’s back, which was no easy task as much as the two moved around, almost like it was a dance. When he was finally in a position that he was comfortable with, he knelt down, untucked the dagger from his pants once more, and took his chance. This time the metal dug deep into Alden’s shoulder. Devis released the handle, leaving it stuck where it was as he stumbled backwards. Alden had begun to laugh “I’m invincible!” . His voice was high, piercing and terrible. Skye didn’t like it one bit, and conveyed this point by jamming his own sword into one of the albino’s lungs. Then the other. And finally through his gut before lopping off his head, sending it rolling across the dust, mouth still open in a manic smile.

After recovering from the shock, Kris rushed to his servant’s side, providing him support with his arm. Some people would have expected Devis to smile triumphantly, but Kris knew better than that. Pulling the other boy in close, he kept Devis’ head against his shoulder, holding him tightly.
“I think it’s time that we go.”
“I agree,” Skye said in an anxious voice. “But you know that you can’t go home.”
“Why not?” Devis asked.
“We’re deserters,” Kris replied calmly. “They’re going to look for us.”
“But now that the war is over, that shouldn’t be much of a problem for long,” Skye pointed out. Kris gave him a curious look.
“What do you mean?”
“The king is dead. The prince is a good man. I just hope he will be able to withstand a crumbling empire long enough to rebuild it. In any case I don’t care to return.”
“You killed Alden,” Kris cut in. “Surely if you did return your reward would be tremendous.”
“Politics is even messier a business than what you’ve seen here. I intend to get out of it altogether. There’s more to do out there than killing, and more to gain than money. I just never really thought to look for it before.” Skye started walking, talking back over his shoulder. “You want to get out of here before you’re caught? Then you’d better follow me. And hurry.”
Devis raised his head, looking into Kris’ face.
“Are we going to go?” he asked quietly. Kris smiled back.
“Of course. This is the opportunity we’ve been waiting for.” He eased Devis out of his hold, turning to follow Skye, holding Sutebenu’s sword at his side.
“Kris…” Devis called after him, jogging to catch up. The blonde stopped, looking back. “I think… well, I love you.”
Kris frowned and Devis felt suddenly nauseous.
“Damn it,” Kris muttered. “You beat me to saying it.”