Legacy

The Valley of Death was a vast stretch of land that spanned as far as the eye could see. It was bordered on the north and south sides by steep slopes that made fleeing difficult for anyone unfortunate enough to find themselves in need of escape.

Not long ago, the immense plot of land received its name from a horribly bloody battle that took place upon it. An ambitious king had gotten the idea to conquer his neighbors in order to strengthen his own rule and expand his territory. Under the recommendation of his new advisor, the king started a war he was sure he couldn’t lose.

* * *

Thousands of soldiers had flooded into the valley, all in the name of their beloved king and kingdom. The smell of blood permeated in the air like a lingering perfume and the screams of dying men served as music to the day’s horrific festivities. The number of dead rose dramatically with each cruel moment that passed. And with each side so staunch in their objective, it seemed the fighting would come to an end only after one army had been completely obliterated.

Atop one of the slopes stood the power hungry king and his advisor, a man who had no real plans to help the king increase his power, only his own.

It had been all too easy for Shadow Kahn to gain the king’s confidence. Telling the corrupt monarch that someone as wise as he should be ruler of all lands was merely reinforcing what the king already believed. For Shadow Kahn knew that once a man had tasted power, he would inevitably want more. And Shadow Kahn also knew that any man who desired power could never have enough.

“What a fine morning for battle this is,” declared the king. “It won’t be long before I’m the ruler of everything that you see. After all, what good is having power if you don’t know how to properly use it?”

“Yes, this is turning out to be a most prosperous feeding ground,” said Shadow Kahn. “So long have I waited for such bountiful sustenance. Yet . . . I hunger for more.”

“What is this hunger you speak of?”

“Each life that is taken in vain is but another morsel to whet what has become quite the insatiable appetite,” said Shadow Kahn. The fact that he was staring ahead and not at his king made it seem as if Shadow Kahn was speaking more to himself than to the man who had asked the question he was now answering. “I fear I may never get my fill.”

“Are you mad? How can you be taking pleasure in this? Bloodshed is a necessary evil, but one should never revel in it.”

“Do you really think that your opinion counts for anything?”

“You would be wise to bite your tongue,” exclaimed the king. “Your speech is bordering dangerously close to treasonous.”

Sage had appeared from the surrounding woods and quickly made his way behind the king. He swiftly drew his weapon and ran it through the king.

“Your desires and my desires were never one in the same,” said Shadow Kahn, not bothering to look at the man to whom he was speaking. “I merely went along with what you said until I no longer had use for you.”

Sage withdrew his blade, then kicked the dying king down the slope.

A thick fog began to roll into the battlefield, making sight nearly impossible. This brought an immediate halt to the battle, but not the bloodshed.

The sound of flesh being torn replaced the sound of clashing steel.

Neither side was spared, as spears that came from out of nowhere ripped through their targets with deadly precision.

With the battle having taken a horrific turn for the worst, soldiers began fleeing. But their escape would not be allowed.

Spears of a much larger size began thrusting from the ground, skewering the soldiers unfortunate enough to step in the wrong place. Some soldiers were cut completely in half from the larger spears, while others were impaled and left high atop the valley.

With their attention focused so intently on the battlefield, neither Shadow Kahn nor Sage noticed the lone soldier making his way up the slope. “For the king,” he shouted before running his blade through Shadow Kahn.

Rather than focusing his glare upon the soldier, Shadow Kahn turned it on Sage. “I thought you were supposed to be protecting me,” he said.

Having no excuse for his inability to protect his master, Sage lowered his head.

“How I envy those who can still feel pain,” said Shadow Kahn, eyes locked on the soldier who was now trembling before him. He then placed his hand upon the soldier’s face. When he did so, the man’s brains exploded out the back of his head.

Acting as if the sword was nothing more than a thorn in his side, Shadow Kahn removed it and tossed it away. Not bothering to stay for the end of the horrible show, Shadow Kahn took his leave. “Come,” he told Sage sternly.

Having always feared his master’s wrath, Sage did as he was told.

* * *