Beniah rode as hard as he could, while keeping Abner alive and on his horse.

He turned as they rode through the haunted forest, the sun going down.

Asahel was on them. His horse like lightning. Gallop after gallop.

Even through the trails and speed and bounce of the ride, Beniah could see the mad rage on Asahel's face.

He turned to his mentor and leader next to him, slumped over.

Abner was not long for this world. He looked beyond his eyes, seeing somewhere else.

Thinking of the fallen kingdom.

Word had spread in both camps.

The barracks went mad.

Larkin looked as people cheered and blew horns and wept and cried.

Swordfall was forgotten. Their king had won.

Larkin thought of how upset her family would be, their king dead.

It didn't matter. She smiled with tears in her eyes.

The soldiers ran around, swords drawn.

Cheering and singing songs.

Some bowed and prayed in thanks.

Others wept.

Many wanted to ride their horses to the next camp and destroy their enemies before they were all in the same army.

The other camp had already been in disarray. A losing battle was easy to see.

But now it was done.

Some cried.

Others quietly grabbed their belongings.

Others waited for their friends to return from Swordfall.

Tents were being taken down.

A soldier or two pulled their own sword and thrust it into themselves, to the horror of everyone around them.

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Fulfilling a broken promise perhaps.

"Abner, stay with me!" Beniah yelled, pulling the reins of his horse.

Asahel was near.

Gallop after gallop.

Joab and Abishai finally climbed from destroyed pool.

They found their horses, with the horses of all whom had died, waiting for their masters.

Asahel threw a dagger.

It struck a tree.

Beniah knew he would have to fight him now.

He spun his horse around and jumped off his horse and drew his sword.

Abner's horse stopped, as he slowly turned the beast with his blood covered hands.

Asahel jumped off his horse while stilling galloping.

"Move," Asahel yelled.

"Me first," Beniah announced.

"This isn't about you," Asahel yelled again.

"He is," Beniah said, nodding towards his leader.

Asahel had enough and ran at Beniah with his speed.

Before Beniah knew it, he was on the ground from a jump kick to the chest, gasping for breath.

Asahel then pulled Beniah's own sword from his hands and knocked him across the face with it.

Beniah took the brutal blow, knocking him senseless and unable to stand.

Asahel looked up to see Abner had somehow dismounted his horse, with sword in hand.

"You coward. You bastard. You disrespect my brother. My family. My brothers in arms. And my king. And now you rule with him?" Asahel spit, angrily.

Abner said nothing.

"Say something before you die!" Asahel exclaimed, tears in his eyes.

"I don't want to hurt you," Abner spoke, bleeding out. "Your bravery and loyalty moves me. But I will kill you right here. Know your place."

Abner's calm voice scared Asahel.

He tried to match it with violent rhetoric.

"Fight me!" Asahel's voice squeaked.

Abner shook his head.

Beniah pulled himself up from all fours.

"Abner," Beniah said, trying to help his friend.

"I'm fine," Abner responded. "Asahel, go back to your brothers."

"No," Asahel said, and ran at Abner with Beniah's sword, in the fastest his feet had gone yet on the bloody day.

Abner's sword went right through Asahel's mid section in a brutal and quick move.

Their faces almost together.

Asahel in shock and agony and pain.

Abner in distress but without remorse.

Beniah looked up in horror at the sight, knowing the newly united kingdoms could split right here.

Abner pulled the sword and knelt with Asahel as he dropped to the ground and bled out and die.

Larkin then felt it.

She cried and wept and tore at her dress.

Some thought it was over her king being dead. Others that she was so happy she was in mourning.

But no. Asahel was dead.