Oathkeeper
The troop transport came to a halt on a high landing platform, the one closest to the bridge of General Marcus’s headquarters. Guy was the first to come striding out, the rest of his men trailing behind. As they disembarked a pair of fighters came screaming past, flying high into the atmosphere, ready to join Marcus’s assault on some other fortified enemy position, the one which would be last to fall in this particular conflict. The day of the great general’s triumph would be his last.
Guy turned to face his men and raised his arm.
“I thank you all for bringing me this far. If it wasn’t already obvious, we are marching headlong into the enemy’s fortress. We’re not all going to make it. Know as well that this isn’t going to bring the nation back. This is a mission to avenge the nation and my father, and it’s my duty to execute, not yours. I won’t hold anything against you if you want to turn back, you’ve already done a great deal for me. If you don’t want to face your end here, get back on the transport before it leaves. It’s a brutal road ahead.”
The men stood silent and waited to see who would go. Tom looked behind the men and reported proudly.
“No one has fallen out. Are you all prepared?”
The men roared in assent and drew their weapons. Guy smiled warmly.
“Prepare to move. Those taking the side routes like we planned should fall out now.”
The crowd split into three parts, two of which entered the spire. The rest organized themselves while Tom took Guy aside.
“You can leave your father’s armor behind if you want. It won’t change if he’s dead or not regardless of if you have it with you.”
Guy clutched his bag tightly.
“It does make a difference. He broke his oath and killed my father, so his son is going to strike him down in the same armor. If you think I’m here for my own benefit or I have some illusion of bringing this nation back together, you know I’m not that foolish. I’m here because Marcus is an oathbreaker. I’d never have the right to respect myself if I didn’t bring him low. It’s my duty to.”
Seeing the trouble on Tom’s face, Guy eased his expression and placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder.
“Heaven looks down warmly on those who perform their duty.”
Tom reciprocated for his friend’s sake, not wanting to shake him, but inside he was still in anguish.
“Can I allow my friend to throw his life away like this?”
One of Marcus’s aides came to him as he was watching the progress of his forces.
“Sir, there’s an irregularity in troop movement.”
Marcus rose from his seat and turned to look at the aide. The aide visually choked up a bit from being stared at by the general but continued.
“There is no effect on the current assault however a troop transport has unexpectedly dropped men off at the spire and then left for its normal position. I haven’t been able to identify the cause. It’s possible it was for medical reasons, but it wasn’t a medical transport.”
Marcus rolled the issue around in his mind.
“Is there any evidence of sabotage? Is security not sufficient?”
“No, sir, and we are currently taking the necessary precautions however, if I may, I would suggest that you retreat to a secure position and allow your officers to finish the battle in your stead. The siege is already practically won, why expose yourself to unnecessary risk?”
His aide’s counsel was wise, but still…
“I will stay. I have complete faith in you and the base’s security personnel. Keep me updates if anything changes.”
The aide bowed and departed. Marcus took his seat and looked back at the screen but something new troubled him.
It didn’t matter if he had taken an oath or not, whether he was loyal to the man. He did what he did for the greater good, regardless of what came after. He wouldn’t run, criminals run, and he was no criminal. He’d stand and face that prince when he came to him, if he made it to him.
Guy and his men were stopped at a bulkhead by two bored door guards.
“It’s 100% ID check right now. Nobody can get through except for bridge officers and people with valid orders. If you’re trying to get through to the third deck, then just…”
Two adventurers in Guy’s retinue immediately drew rifles and cut down the two guards. Seizing their access cards, they threw open the gate. A runner went out to hand the extra to one of the teams going down the sides. Going under cover had gotten them half of the way there, now they had to cross the second half.
Tom grabbed Guy’s shoulder. “It’s not too late to turn back, you don’t have to die here; is heaven going to stop you from getting shot?”
Guy shook off his arm, spitting back at him. “The favor of God has nothing to do with avoiding death.”
He turned and rallied the men, leading them in the charge. Tom fell to the back.
“How could he think it’s worth his life?”
The group forced its way forward and troops on both sides fell to the ground. Each room they entered the guards immediately fell to veterans with heavy rifles. Sometimes though, someone would get hit in the shoulder, or in the chest. Regardless, they pressed on. Guy spurred them constantly. Nobody in that mass would let himself fall behind in fear of letting that man down. Only Tom felt so conflicted about their mission.
After a brutal firefight, unmarked by the men but noticed with horror by Tom, Guy clutched his shoulder and winced for a moment before drawing his hand back and telling his men to hold. Carefully, he removed his bag and handed it to Tom.
“Help me put it on. Now’s the time.”
Mortified, Tom began to sputter out “but you’re- “
“The royal color is red. Just do it.”
The group burst onto the bridge. Both Marcus and Guy signaled their men to hold their fire, though their weapons stayed trained on each other. Guy stepped forward boldly and lifted his finger at Marcus.
“You broke your oath to my father. Your day has finally come.”
Marcus’s eyes shot fire, and he replied harshly.
“I did what I had to for the greater good. Your father was driving this world towards ruin. Someone had to step up. I’m the only honorable one here.”
Marcus drew his sword and took another step forward.
“An oath is sacred, the greater good has nothing to do with it. Besides, is this what you call the greater good? Murder? An endless war over the shattered pieces of the nation? You have a hell of an idea of what’s right.”
Marcus’s breaths became pointed.
“Have you got no fear of death?”
Guy smiled as Tom looked on with agony on his face.
“Everyone fears the end, but your life is only worth what you spend it on. What’s the point of living on if you’ll never respect yourself?”
The general had no more patience for this foolish prince.
“Now!”
The room erupted into battle. The remainder of Guy’s men fought valiantly against the officers and an endless tide of Marcus’s soldiers. No one hung back, Marcus and Guy both took lives, and Tom directed the men with all his wits, desperate to save Guy.
Despite his efforts, Guy was struck straight through the armor, three times in the stomach. The men fought on around him, but Guy was faced by the fate he always knew was coming but somehow still caught him off guard. Forcing himself back on his feet, he steadied his sword and charged headlong at Marcus, nothing left to defend, nothing left holding him back.
With one last cry inside, Guy begged the heavens to grant him victory, and to take care of his men once he was gone. Nothing for his own sake, everything for duty and his people.
The blade rammed deep into Marcus’s stomach, punching through the plate with inhuman strength. Guy deftly forced the blade upward with every bit of strength he had left, tearing through as much flesh as he could.
Blown backwards by the force of the blow, Marcus plummeted onto his back, striking the ground hard. He bounced limply as Guy fell to his knee, resting on his chest. With one last move, Guy wrested the blade back out and hoisted it into the air, staggering to his feet over the dying Marcus.
Marcus looked up at the face of the son, and he rasped out a question.
“I could only see your father coming for me, I was numb, I couldn’t move. Will you forgive a foolish old man?”
Guy nodded, and Marcus died. Tom rushed to Guy’s side.
“Are you alright? Guy, will you survive?”
Guy shook his head, smiling warmly. Tom supported him as he began to droop.
“Have you completed your duty? Will you die happy at least?”
Guy nodded. Tom supported the young prince as the survivors on both sides ringed around them. The prince silently bade them all farewell, then faded away. Tom pointed at an officer.
“Organize him a burial with full honors.”
The officer bristled at this.
“Who the hell do you think you are?”
Tom simply lifted his finger to the sky and the whole building began to shake violently. The officer finally relented and gave the orders.
Tom hoisted the prince’s body and carried him off, ready to give him final honors.