Yaroslav laid in his bed, barely holding eyes open. He felt his death was coming soon, but he wasn’t afraid. These bedridden weeks full of pain and agony made him wish for quick death. The only thing that annoyed him that he won’t die an honorable death on the battlefield like his ancestors. A death by that damn yeti would have been better than this slow decay in bed.

Everything was dark and gloomy around him, even though many candles were lit by his sides. He was covered with many blankets, but his body was becoming colder nonetheless, especially his hands. But even in this half-dead state, he could feel the presence of one man in the room. His strong perfume smell, the noise of his light footsteps and a strange aura around him.

-“D-Dmitry…” uttered Yaroslav. Soon he felt a warm hand on his cold still hands.

“You and I were never really on the same page and you probably hate my guts since I joined your court, but still…” Dmitri paused and and let out a dramatic sigh “…to think that you would actually try to assassinate me. Me, the most capable man in whole principality? I thought you loved your people and cared for them. I’m really dissapointed, Yaroslav.

-“How… dare you…” Yaroslav’s face was still and without expressions, but inside he was burning with anger. He came here without permission and is also giving him nicknames. The fact that he was so weak to do anything made him even more furious.

-“Hey, hey, don’t waste your nerves yet, because now the best part comes; your two successors, that brute Kiril and upstart Aleksandr are dead.”

Yaroslav’s eyes lit up and he turned his head towards Dmitri. Dmitri could clearly see shock on his lord’s face.

“But do you know, what’s the best part, Yaro?” He started chuckling to himself “It wasn’t me who killed them, it was the yeti. Yup. The same one that put you in this bed. With their deaths, my ascension to your position is inevitable. There will be stiff resistance,of course, but as of right now, I’m the most powerful man here and people with any sense of reason will follow those who have power.”

Yaroslav’s eyes were slowly filling with tears and his hands started shaking.

“How does it feel, Yaro?” Dmitri continued. “To have your whole legacy swept away like a dust. But it’s all your fault for pushing me aside, trying to put restraint on me. Thanks to that wonderful yeti, new regime will become reality once you die.”

There was no reaction from Yaroslav at first. Satisfied, Dmitri decided to leave chambers as his lord seemed too sick or maybe even too shocked to speak. As he walked out of chamber, a cackling could be heard from inside, which quickly turned into maniacal laughter. Maidens and servants rushed to see what was happening while Dmitri went back to his quarters.

-“So, you’ve finally lost it, m’lord. How pitiful.”

-“ I SEE IT! A BOAR! A mighty boar that will take control of this city and send you all to hell. Hahahahahahahha! Do you hear, me Dmitry! A boar will break he city walls and purge all vultures from this city!!”

***

Kiril slowly opened his eyes, looking around in confusion to see where he was. It was dark and humid cave, its walls covered with spiky stalactites. Beside him, laid another man, still in deep sleep. He tried to get closer to that man, but his whole body hurt and he could barely stand up. He gave up in frustration and returned to his makeshift bed made of some wooden planks and straw.

“Who would actually want to live here”, he thought to himself, “And how did I even got here in the first place?

-“Ah, you’re finally awake.”

He jumped out of bed in surprise and turned to see the source of that voice. A familiar face stood in front of him.

-“Kiril, was it? That’s how your um… I was going to say a friend, but your words back there weren’t too kind for him.”

Kiril’s memory started kicking in, all those violent and bloody scenes with that monstrous yeti.

-“You’re that shaman that used magic on the yeti. What happened? I can’t remember anything after that magic ball you shot.”

-“Well, it’s not actually magic, but… Anyway, I did hit it, but that beast did manage to survive. It was your, uh, comrade over there who killed it.”, shaman pointed the finger at the man still sleeping in his bed. Kiril instantly recognized his long brown hair and the armor that he wore. Kiril clenched his fist in anger and the shaman noticed it.

-“I don’t know what’s going on between you two and I don’t want to interfere. However, he is my guest just as you and I will heal both you so you can return to your homes.”

Kiril was furious, but he couldn’t anything about it, as the old shaman’s staff still looked dangerous so he cursed under his breath and sat on his bed and looked towards the exit. It was chilly inside and sun was just come out, which means they spent whole night in here. And then he remembered.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

-“W-where is Viktor? Did he die?”

-“You mean the one with mustache? I healed him first so he can go and find someone to pick you up. It’s been two hours since he left.”

-“What about yeti?”

-“Probably eaten. I saw a pack of wolves not so long ago going to the valley you fought.”

-“What?! Are you serious?”

-“Shhh! You’re gonna wake him up-”

-“I don’t care if he wakes up! How could you let the body just get eaten like that? You could’ve at least preserved it’s head!”

-“W-why would I do that?” Kiril scowled.

-” You idiot! Just leave me alone!”

This was Kiril’s chance to prove his strength and competence to Yaroslav and others, and now it was gone. And what’s even worse, Aleksandr was the one who killed it. Now he wished he died back there. He buried his head in his hands, unable to think straight.

-“Listen”, said the shaman, “I’m preparing a potion that will quickly heal both of you. Just stay here while I get some more ingredients.”

Kiril didn’t respond, still sitting in the corner in depressed state. The shaman wasn’t sure why is Kiril in such mood, but decided not to question it and left in hurry. Kiril turned his head towards Aleksandr.

-“Why, why of all people you had rise above me?”

A mixture of anger, depression and resentment started filling inside him. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

-“NO! I can’t let him take my place! Never!”

He stood up and got close to Aleks, who still seemed to be in deep sleep. He turned around to see if old shaman was gone and then turned back to Aleks, staring at him with livid red eyes. He put his trembling hands around Alekse’s neck, ready to choke him to death.

“I’m sorry Aleks, but this is the end for you.”

-“Is it?”

Aleks opened his eyes and saw a face of a man frozen in fear and shock.

-“Y-You bastar-”

A kick to the jaw sent Kiril to the floor. Hazed and furious, Kiril got up on his feet, blood dripping from his mouth.

-“You really are the biggest scum” said Aleks while he tried to get up from bed, still wounded from the hunt, “I feel sick just by standing next to you.”

This harsh words now really infuriated Kiril who charged at Aleks, still reeling from that kick. Aleks pulled a sword from his straw mattress, which was dull and bloody stained, but still sharp enough to cut. Kiril stopped and jumped back. Wiping the blood from his mouth, a malevolent smile showed on Kiril’s face.

-“What’s so funny?”

-“You, Aleks. You think you’re just gonna kill me here like a dog? Did you forgot your place, you piece of shit!? I’m the number one in military and eventually number one in all of Malensk!”

-“You were number one, once.” Aleks started to walk slowly towards him, his sword pointed at Kiril. Kiril meanwhile was retreating towards the exit. “But then you started gambling and drinking all day. And look at you now - fat, lazy scum. No wonder Yaroslav wanted you gone.” Kiril stumbled back, still feeling a great pain in his legs. Eventually he just collapsed to the grass, unable to move anymore.

-“Oh yeah? So why don’t you make him happy and kill me now, right here?

Aleks was furious and felt like that he could kill him on spot, but what would that really accomplish? Kiril seemed so weak and pathetic that he actually felt pity for him. If Kiril’s company finds out about their master’s death they’ll just report him to the rest of successors and then it’s over for him. Aleks lowered his sword.

-“Get up. There won’t be any blood spilling today.”

Kiril slowly got up, breathing heavily and sweating cold sweat. He straightened up and turned to Aleks.

-“Y’know, I always taught you were the smarter one in our group… but it turns out… I was wrong…”

-“What are you-”

Kiril threw a a handful of sand in his eyes, blinding Aleks and then tackling him to the ground. Aleks tried to threw him off of himself, but Kiril’s weight just proved too much for him. His left hand still held a sword but Kiril’s grip on his hand was too strong and he he dropped it. With other hand Kiril started choking Aleksandr, whose face started turning blue.

-“Yes, just a little more…” Kiril could feel how weak Aleks’s grip and his breathing currently were.

-“Not…yet…” With his free right hand Aleks squeezed the stitched wound on Kiril’s left side, opening it with his fingers. Kiril screamed in pain, but he still tried his hardest to choke Aleks before the wound gets bigger. Aleksandr’s vision started getting blurry and with his remaining strength kept pushing his fingers in Kiril’s side. Kiril let go of Aleks’s left hand and instead took by the throat to speed up suffocation. But As the long, painful seconds passed, his grip grew weaker and weaker and with his now free right hand, Aleks started gouging Kiril’s eye, causing him even greater pain. Kiril’s grip eventually loosened up completely and Aleks who was gasping desperately for air, pushed Kiril aside, who tried to cover his opened wound with his hands. Aleks’s laid on the grass, breathing heavily and barely able to move. He could barely keep his eyes open, as he believed he would pass out if he closed it just for a second. He could hear Kiril dragging himself in pain beside him, probably trying to find something to cover his wound. After catching his breath, Aleks slowly got up on his legs, only to find Kiril in front of him with his sword in Kiril’s hands. Kiril’s bloodied face was twisted in pain and wrath and he could barely stand upright, let alone hold the sword.

-“I’m probably going… to die…” said Kiril, “but you’re coming… with me…”

- “Oh, shut up. You can’t even… lift my sword.”

-“Why, you!”

Kiril roared and lifted his sword in the air but the heavy longsword proved too much for weakened Kiril who lost the balance immediately and he fell on the grass, sobbing in pain and rage. Seeing his former master sobbing like this made Aleks feel some pity for him, but not for long as Kiril started throwing insult at him. Aleks sat lifelessly beside him, unable to move anymore and waiting for Kiril to stop cursing his name. Kiril cursed Aleks with his every breath, but eventually, his swearing become quieter and quieter until it stopped. Aleks ignored his insults and instead watched a cloud of dust coming in their direction, just several miles from the cave.

-“So, they finally found us.” But I have no idea how to explain this mess.

Aleks was getting nervous about Kiril’s company seeing their boss on the grass beaten to a pulp and there could be a serious fight between his and Kiril’s company.

-“Hey, Kiril. Get up. If they see us like this we’ll have another fight.”

Kiril didn’t respond, still lying with his face on the ground.

-“Come on, fatass. Move!”

No response from Kiril. Aleks started getting nervous.

-“Hey turn around. Hey!!”

Again, no response from Kiril. Aleks crawled to him and turned him to the side, only to see Kiril’s lifeless eyes. His hands were cold and his clothes were soaked in his own blood. Aleks backed away in shock, realizing what he has done. The wound he opened with his fingers proved to be more lethal than he anticipated.

He killed him. He killed a successor to the throne of his principality, his home. And he robbed the man he once looked up to a honorable death on battlefield. He sat on the grass, tears streaming down his cheeks and only one question occupying his mind:

“What now?”