------
Vedran is numb after witnessing such carnage. He watches as his men haul the limp form of the Marshal over to a cart and throw the body in. Others have begun to treat the wounded or haul away the dead. A handful act as a form of crowd control, driving away any curious soldiers woken by the sound of violence.
The prince looks away from the dead and takes a deep breath. Truthfully, he thought it would have been easier after participating in Belos's Sally. But horror still fills him.
He looks down at the old man kneeling on his left. Vedran's hands no longer press the dagger to Darin's throat. His hands are shaking too much. The old man looks up at the prince and says through bloodied lips, "Come on… get it over with."
Vedran freezes. He looks down at Darin, then at the soldiers slain by the Marshal, and then back to Darin. The warrior chuckles darkly. "Can't even kill an old man?" Darin tilts his head to the side, exposing his throat. "Come on… I's make it easy for ya."
The prince presses the shaking blade to Darin's skin. And then he hesitates. Nausea overwhelms Vedran, and he lowers the dagger.
Darin laughs darkly as Vedran pushes him to the ground. The prince takes a step back and gestures for a pair of nearby soldiers to take him away. The old warrior puts up no resistance.
Vedran stands frozen for a few more moments as he surveys the bloodshed. He wipes a hand across his face and blinks back tears.
A single thought dominates his mind.
I don't want any more people to die.
Next