Rising Up

As long as we live, the city stands! (Conclusion of Uprising — a six-part serialized fiction story)

( Need to catch up? Read From The Beginning | Read Episode 5 )

The poison had entered the King’s bloodstream as quickly as the dagger that bore it had entered his leg.

He had soon felt dizzy and breathless, his leg swollen, his head in agony. He had clung to life out of pride, desperately wishing to live long enough to see his victory. He had seen it, and it had proven shallow. He sat now, rigid, eyes of glass, and not a prideful word would come again to his blue lips.

The High Commanders soon held council. The men of the Sargathian forces must not know of the King’s death, they vowed. The city was vanquished, burned, sacked, and so will the scribes and bards tell it. The King would die, officially, upon his return to the Sargathian capital, where his young son would be crowned King. The Night Queen and her page were beheaded hastily, their heads left on pikes where the Sargathian camp had stood. The army left by morning. No pillage, no loot, no treasure went with it. Sullen soldiers marched home from Ulliah.

As morning broke, the ragged remnants of Ulliah’s army rose over the parapets, and rejoiced beyond rejoicing at…