-Link-

If there was ever a moment in the history of the War of the Seven Kingdoms that would define the ending of an age and beginning of a new one, if there was ever a moment worthy of being frozen, it was this. Generations of war, many hundreds of thousands of lives, all led to this singular moment. In reality, it lasted all of two seconds, but to those that witnessed it, it lasted years. They would go to the grave never forgetting the sight. Years from now, they would remember it as freshly as it happened, but history books would record it as a single line.

Riboku killed Ouki Mitagi.

Ouki coughed up blood, and his spear fell from his limp fingers. Harken pulled his blade from Ouki's chest, and blood fell from the open wounds. A quick sprite of a young man appeared between them, picked up Ouki's spear, and swung it at Harken. Harken neatly caught it in his hand. Meanwhile, the Englishman, drunken with fury, rode in and swung his sword at Harken. Harken had far more difficulty with the Englishman, as the man was incredibly skilled, but Harken tripped the horse out from under him, kicked his sword away, grabbed the man by the throat, and held him up.

The spell that froze everyone broke, and a complete frenzy erupted. Every man went for them. Every Qin either tried to grab Ouki or kill Harken. Every Zhao tried to mutilate Ouki while riding on the breath of Harken's strength.

Battle clashed all around the leading figures of the war.

Yet just as quickly as the battle recommenced, it stopped again when Harken dropped the Englishman, traded the spear burning his hand for his sword, and swung. In that single sweep, Harken's blade extended and cut down twenty Zhao. It was broken but could still extend a short distance.

"Enough..." Ouki whispered. "You won..."

"No. I didn't," Harken huffed. He briefly glanced at Ouki before baring his teeth at the Zhao. With each breath, his anger grew. He was fuming. He was angry. "They took my victory from me! They took you away from me!"

...Then I'll take you from them," Harken declared.

"You would betray your own men?" The Englishman wondered.

"You're making it sound like I'm supposed to care," Harken grunted. "They took his head away from me, so I will take it away from them. Bring him to die where he chooses, but do not let them take him. Do not give them that."

He walked into the ranks of Qin. The Englishman, Link, and Ouki were stunned silent. Harken didn't raise a hand; he simply walked past them and slowly moved into the Qin. Ouki's forces looked to each other with both confusion and fear, and they moved aside. A gap appeared before Harken and he strode through. Blood poured from his neck, his shoulder barely had any flesh to hang onto his torso with, his skull was cracked, and his body was burned and cut, but he was a Dragmire.

"How can he do this?" A man asked. "How can he just... ignore us... and betray them? It makes no sense. He acts like winning is a bad thing."

"He's a Dragmire," The Englishman said as if that was the answer to everything. Considering their family history, perhaps it was.

A moment later, when Harken quietly passed through the Qin ranks to where they fought the Zhao, he broke into a sprint and crashed into the Zhao ranks like a rhino. Men flew into the air or were trampled into the ground. Swords, spears, shields, and strength meant nothing to him. He was a force of nature unto himself.

Without Harken there to stop them, the Qin surrounded Ouki protectively. Seeing a chance, the Englishman did not miss a beat. "Get him on a horse!" He said. "We're getting Lord Ouki Mitagi out of here!" The men promptly grabbed Ouki and lifted him onto a horse. He was heavy: it took several men to lift him with his thick armor on. "Link, get on the horse with him."

"Wha?" Link stuttered.

"Do you think he can ride himself?" The Englishman asked.

Link looked at Ouki as he was being put on the horse. Link saw how he wavered, how his arm dangled, and his head rolled around. Blood flowed down Ouki's chest and Link could clearly see through the holes. Tears welled up in the Englishman's eyes.

The Englishman continued, "He can't... he doesn't have the strength to talk, to walk, to ride, or to lead the horse. You're the only one light enough to be on the horse with him. We need you to hold the reigns and help make sure Ouki does not fall off."

Link gulped. He was needed. With a little aid, he was placed on the horse just in front of Ouki. Ouki immediately fell forward, and Link struggled to keep from being squashed under him.

The Englishman put a tender hand on Ouki's face, "Ouki, stay with us. We're going to get you out of here." Next, the Englishman helped move Ouki's horse the first few steps before getting on one himself. "Everyone! We're going to charge them directly and shift towards the left side! Line up! We still have some strength left in us!"

"Where?" Link wondered. "Look around: we're all walking dead."

"Not all of us," The Englishman pointed to the left and Link saw where. Moubu, enraged by the words he heard in the wind, had grabbed the last of his men and charged the Zhao head-on along the far left side. "Men! We are going to ride the wave of his energy!"

With the Zhao on the front lines distracted by Harken, the Qin rallied everyone and moved left. The infantry was gathered and rushed into line behind the cavalry as they moved towards the Zhao's thinner left flank. The Zhao saw and rushed away to pierce Ouki further. Were Link's hands not on the reigns, he might have been able to do something. However, someone else did for him. As a spear flew in, an officer rode into its path and knocked it aside. Another spear pierced his side, and the man was dragged off his horse, thrown into the Zhao ranks, and torn apart.

"G-go, boy!" The dying man yelled. "We must protect Ouki at all costs!"

The Englishman and other riders surrounded Link and Ouki to lead their way.

-Riboku-

Riboku saw the arrow strike and Harken dealing the finishing blow. Satisfied, he turned and rode back to the Zhao army.

"You did it?" Kaine asked.

"I did," Riboku confirmed. His expression was down, almost sad. "I pierced Ouki with an arrow and Harken stabbed him twice through. No one, not even he, could survive that."

"Are you sure?"

"Men greater than he have died from less."

"Sir!" Someone rode up from the front lines. "I bring a report! Harken Dragmire has broken ties with us and is coming straight for you! We are trying to slow him down, but... nothing short of Ouki seems capable of stopping him. Also, a small army under Moubu has appeared on the right side and is on its way to us!"

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I see," Riboku replied. He put up his glass and peered through it. As he watched, Harken Dragmire barreled through the Zhao lines and was nearly was out into open country. A few moments later, he did arrive and charged the Zhao army alone across open terrain. Riboku peered right and saw General Moubu on his way. Riboku then turned his glass to where Ouki was. The Englishman was rallying them to join up with Moubu.

"Even though Ouki is dead... they are doing all they can to allow him to escape," Kaine pondered.

"It is because they know that Ouki's body would be subject to defilement were it to fall into our hands."

Kaine gulped. She glanced at Riboku, "If we were in their position, we'd probably turn into demons too. We'd fight without even being scared of death... They truly loved him. It's enough to make your heart bleed."

"This is why I dislike war. Were there a path forward without it, I would prefer so... but this is the time we live in. We cannot open a path forward with sentiment alone. If Zhao is to survive, we must rid ourselves of obstacles and become strong once more."

Riboku put out his hand to gain the attention of his officers, "All men, prepare to fall back!"

"Sir! We can take them!" An officer argued.

"Yes, but at what cost," Riboku replied. "Sure, we can pummel Harken with arrows, but he will take tens of thousands of men with him. And what of Moubu? What of Ouki's remnant? They are not in despair. They are in fury. They will die, sure, but they will take many lives with them... too many lives for us to spare. Duke Hyou is on his way. We had better return to Zhao before he arrives. We are not here to kill Qin for the sake of it. We are here to preserve Zhao. Remember that. Every life matters."

"What of the men on the front lines?" Kaine asked.

"Get word to them to fall back as well... But I feel it will be too late. The Qin are no longer concerned with fighting. Just tell our men not to chase and instead rally with us. That will be enough."

-Link-

"Oh shit..." Link muttered. The Englishman broke off briefly with the men to stop a group of Zhao, and he left a few horsemen back with Link.

A few Zhao broke through and pierced the horsemen in front, bringing them and their horses to the ground. Link's horse jumped over the bodies and continued, but the damage was done. There was no one left to protect Ouki. A group of Zhao horsemen broke off from the Englishman and charged at them. Link tried to swerve, but it was too late to avoid a collision.

Ouki's spear swung ahead and shattered the Zhao that had come close.

"Ouki! You're alive?!" Link gasped.

Ouki did not respond. Instead, he sat up straighter so his weight was no longer on Link and put a hand on his shoulders to steady himself.

"Where?" Ouki whispered. He took short breaths.

"We are in retreat from the Zhao," Link said. "We thought you died..."

"Yes..." Ouki murmured. He blinked in memory. He had briefly blacked out. He could feel it in the dulling of his senses and the weakness in his body. He should be dead with as much blood as he had lost, but it looked like there was an ounce of vitality left in him.

"You ride well..." Ouki commented.

"N-not really... the horse is doing most... all of it. But don't talk. We will get you to a doctor and-"

"Link," Ouki whispered. "I want you... to sit up straight... close your eyes... take a deep breath."

"This isn't the time for!-"

Ouki chuckled. He pinched Link's neck between two fingers and squeezed slightly.

Link flinched, "Ow! Ow! Uncle! Aunt! Uncle's aunt! Alright! Stop it!"

Link straightened as best he could. With Ouki no longer collapsed on him, Link actually could sit straight up. He closed his eyes and took deep breathes. Link felt his mind slightly calm down after taking a moment to breath.

"Link," Link heard Ouki whisper. "We don't have much time... so listen... This is a general's steed... You are riding... through this battlefield... atop the steed... of a true general. If you understand, open your eyes... take a good look."

Link opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the back of the horse's head and further were masses of men fighting.

"Feel the strong heart... of the horse... beneath you."

Link felt every breath the horse took in his legs, as well as every gallop, and every heartbeat. The horse had a strong heartbeat, stronger than any man. Its muscles were firm and built. It was strong, powerful, fast and disciplined. Link was putting no effort into leading the horse. He only listened to Ouki, but the horse still knew what to do.

"Feel that strength... pushing you forward. Feel the strength... of your allies... opening you a path... Feel their hope..."

Link saw the Qin around them leading the way as best they could and protecting the two with their bodies. They were covered in blood, wounds, sweat, and tears. They were desperately pressing forward.

"The enemies' masses. The enemies' faces," Ouki whispered.

Link saw Zhao on the right side trying to get to him. They were full of frustration in their attempts to kill. But there was something deeper than frustration in them... pain. The Zhao were full of pain, haunted by it, and were lashing out. The deaths of their loved ones in Chouhei filled their souls to the brim and they were as men haunted and fanatical.

Ouki ignored them, "See the high sky. See the strong earth. This is what a general sees."

Link, no longer concerned with what was immediately before him, saw everything. He saw the ranks of the Zhao and Qin moving throughout the canyon. He saw commander Matsubi far off holding Zhao back. He saw Kei Ki was outriding the Zhao and pummeling them with arrows to poke through their lines. He saw the Englishman was clearing a path forward. Lastly, he saw Qin surrounding him, pushing him forward, and telling him he was doing a good job or that they would gut him if he let Ouki fall.

Ouki chuckled, "So... how is it? Can you comprehend it?"

"I... feel like I have a small grasp of something," Link replied.

"A general's eyes... see many things... For instance, look there," Ouki pointed afar off to where Link could see a clash. "An escape... which didn't exist before... is opening... before us. Moubu... and his men are using... their last reserves of strength. It's an extremely... narrow path... but as expected of Moubu, it will be plenty."

"I see it."

"Good," Ouki patted Link's shoulder. "Now... General, lead us there... Ride the wave of his strength."

-Riboku-

Under Riboku's orders, the Zhao forces collectively made room. They were not fast enough to move all one-hundred thousand out of the way, so the Qin clashed into their outer wing, tore through, and ran out the other side towards the canyon.

Riboku watched as the Qin fled.

"Why are we not pursuing them!?" Commander Mangoku barked as he approached from the front lines. He had lost an arm in battle, but seemingly he hadn't cared. He tied the remainder of the limb up with cloth and held a crazed look in his eye. "Why are we not committing our entire forces!? If Ouki were to escape from us, what purpose would we have died for!? What is the point of our vengeance for Chou-Hei!? It is meaningless if we cannot bring his head back with us, hang his entrails from the highest tower, and humiliate the Q-"

"Rather than defiling a corpse, is it not far more important for us to avoid sacrificing more of our soldiers needlessly?" Riboku rebutted.

He raised his voice and said, "Brothers! I know of your pain. I have not felt it, but I can see it in your eyes. I see it haunt you in your every waking moment, but there is no point in this war if we seek death for ourselves as much as our enemy."

"Let me tell you all something. There are two kinds of generals. The first are those who when slain result in their men losing morale so the battle ends right there. This is known to you, as the general who fell at Chou-Hei was this kind. He died early, and though we had still four armies of one-hundred thousand, it all mattered little. The other kind of general becomes a symbol of martyrdom and causes their soldiers to fight to their deaths, taking as many with them as they can. Ouki is clearly the latter. As you have spent time clashing with the Qin forces under him, I'm sure you are aware of his strength and that of his commanders. If you were to enrage those commanders into an even greater fit, what do you think will happen when they mount an attack without any regard for their own lives? What if they take that rage against Zhao? We, as you want to do, would rather poke our opponent while they are down and bring them into a feral rage!"

Riboku took a moment to catch his breath, "This war was not to invade Qin nor to annihilate their army. Were it up to me, I would rather there had been only one death: Ouki's. Our objective is his death. So with that said and since we have now achieved that, there is no longer the slightest reason for bloodshed beyond vengeance. These are now pointless deaths not just for Qin, but for us. That is one thing I will absolutely not abide."

Mangoku resisted, "But surely we can chase them with a-"

"The battle ends here, Mangoku. The war is over," Riboku declared. "Let's go home."

Riboku ordered for the Zhao to regroup and march home. Mangoku clenched his teeth furiously. He had slain many Qin, but still his soul was not satisfied.

"And what of Harken?" Kaine asked.

"What indeed?" Riboku mused. He looked to where they kept him.

It had taken a little improvisation, but they had managed to contain him. It took many arrows tied with ropes to hold him down. The red-haired man was reduced to a pincushion of ropes tied to horses. Riboku had to give the man credit: Harken was far stronger than Riboku ever expected. He literally refused to die.

Riboku said, "Leave him. Without his prize, he will return to wandering once more. He is a broken hermit. He was useful while he lasted."