Dies Irae screamed, cried, and clutched the stump of his arm. Blood covered him. His griffin clawed Benedictus's side, pain blazed, and Benedictus kicked. He hit the griffin's head, crushing it. The griffin fell. Dies Irae fell. His brother hit the ground, screaming. His griffin lay dead beside him.
Benedictus landed on the ground above his brother.
The battle froze.
The soldiers, knights, and griffins all stood still and stared, as if in shock. Benedictus stood panting, blood in his mouth, blood on his scales, and gazed down at his brother. Dies Irae looked so pale. Blood covered his golden armor and samite robe.
"My daughter," Benedictus said, voice low. "Where is Gloriae?"
"Please," Dies Irae whispered, lips pale, face sweaty. "Please, Benedictus. My brother. Please."
Benedictus growled. He spoke through the blood in his maw, voice hoarse and torn. "You destroyed us. You butchered a million souls. How dare you ask for mercy now? Return me my daughter."
Dies Irae trembled. Suddenly he looked so much as he did years ago, a timid and angry child, a scorned brother cast away from his father's court. "Please," he whispered, clutching his stump. "Please."
Benedictus raised a clawed foot, prepared to strike down, to kill the man who had hunted his race to near extinction. Dies Irae shut his eyes and whimpered. His lips prayed silently and his blood flowed.
Benedictus paused.
He looked around him. No more Vir Requis flew. Their war had ended. The time of Requiem had ended.
It is over, Benedictus knew. No. I will not end it this way, not with killing my brother. It is over already.
With a grunt, Benedictus kicked off the ground, flapped his wings, and rose into the air.
Men and griffins screamed around him.
"Kill him!" Dies Irae shouted below. "Don't let him flee! I want him dead!"
Benedictus would not look back. He could see only the thousands of bodies below. I will find you, Gloriae. I won't forget you.
His wings roiled ash and smoke. Arrows whistled around him, and he rose into the clouds. He flew in darkness. Soon the screams of men and griffins faded into the distance.
Benedictus the Black, King of Requiem, disappeared into the night.
Blood of Requiem (Song of Dragons, Book One) -- available at all ebook stores for $2.99
Table of Contents
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
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12
13
14
15
16
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18
19
20
21
22
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24
Epilogue
Paladins: Book 03 - The Old Ways Page 26
