"Sweet cakes? In battle?" The Shadow Knight sheathes his sword at his back and pauses an arm's length from me.

"We were about to die. It was kind of like a last wish."

If I didn't know better, I'd think he's surprised right now. His eyes narrow and he rests his hands on his hips, intense gaze on mine. It's enough to make me blush self-consciously. After a long look, he faces the squire.

"Where is your sword?" he demands.

"G-gone, sire." The boy ducks his head.

"'Twill not happen again."

"Aye, m'lord."

Even I flinch at the dangerous tone. I can't help but pity the kid. He's not exactly cut out to fight battles. His ears are red with embarrassment.

"He did his best," I say, wanting to help the kid.

"His best?" The Shadow Knight swivels his boar's head in my direction. "You do not win wars by trying, witch! You win by killing. The next time you decide to help me fight a battle, kill them! Save me the trouble of feeding slaves and paying for their journeys to the edge of the world!"

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Furious, he marches away.

Ouch. That was totally not called for. You're welcome, dick.

The squire sneaks a look at me, a faint smile on his features before he ducks his head again. Waving for me to follow him, he leads me back towards the Black Moon Draw horses.

Adrenaline starts to fade, replaced by fatigue. Not all of the men we step over are pinned in place. Some are dead, having suffered barbaric deaths at the hands of the Shadow Knight's men.

I can't stand the sight of blood. One part of the battlefield is soaked with it, the ground squishy with mud created from the red liquid. Nauseated by the sight, I cover my mouth.

I can't do this. My heart hurts for these men, even if they wanted to kill me.

The tears start when I see the pile of heads the Shadow Knight's men are making, and I turn away.

"What saddens you, witch?" the squire asks tentatively.

"Battle," I say, sniffling.

One of his eyebrows goes up quizzically. "Oh."

"It's okay if you don't understand. I don't like seeing people hurt is all."

He gives one of his half-nods, the one that makes me think I'm speaking a different language. "We are learning together, witch," he says with the confidence of a teen that's never seen how mean the world is.

"Thanks." I offer a watery smile. "I think I need to be alone."

He moves away obediently and I sink to the ground, mentally smashed by today. I really hope things here get easier soon. I thought my real life was rough, but this place takes it to a whole new level.




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