Standard of Honor
Finbar looked out over the wall with a grim expression at the great mass of enemy soldiers. He knew that his men were far outnumbered and that they were running out of supplies. It had been a long and costly war between his forces and those of Lord Gartang the wild.
“Finbar, what are ya doin’ up ‘ere?” said a voice cutting into his thoughts.
“I don’t know, Martin,” Finbar replied glumly. “What are you doin’ up here?”
“I waz tryin’ to find ya to tell ya dat a rat is approachin’.”
“Well, let’s go find out what he wants.”
They hurried to the south gate where the sentries had just let the rat in. He looked at Finbar and sneered.
“‘Y ‘aster the great Lord Gartang the Wild would like to ‘eet you in a duel tormarra outside this gate.”
After having his say, he walked through the gate and back to his camp, leaving behind a puzzled Finbar and Martin.
“I don’t understand, Martin. His forces outnumber us and he has time on his side. Why would he do this?”
“What I ‘ind stranger is dat he didn’t ask ‘or a response.”
“Maybe he plans on double crossing us, but I still think I shall accept.”
At sunrise the next morning Finbar walked outside wearing his legendary blue armor and surrounded by a score of other soldiers. Lord Gartang stood surrounded by two score of his minions. Then soldiers from both groups formed a circle around the two leaders.
“Prepare to die!” yelled Lord Gartang. “I will kill you as I killed your brother a week ago” then he charged. He slashed out but Finbar quickly parried the blow and struck out at his enemy’s head. Gartang quickly ducked the blow and struck back. It went on this way for many hours, and neither one had gained the upper hand. There was silence from Finbar’s men but Gartang’s men constantly taunted Finbar.
“Ha! Me old grandmum could move ‘aster ‘an that.”
Finbar turned and looked at the rat-like minion, who had said that and replied, “Well bless ‘er old eart.”
At noon the duel between Finbar and Lord Gartang still continued, until suddenly an arrow sprouted out of Finbar’s shoulder. He howled with pain and in the same instant Gartang struck out catching him unprepared, and sent him to the ground. Gartang quickly jumped over and held his sword up Finbar’s neck.
“I should have known you were going to double cross me!” cried Finbar.
“That tis what I don’t understand about you; you fail to see the obvious.”
Quickly Finbar knocked the blade away from his throat and leaped up. But before he could strike at his adversary, something struck him in his head and again he fell to the ground.
“Coward!” Finbar yelled, “Stop this and fight honorably!”
“I call it being smart. Something you obviously don’t know a thing about.”
Finbar again stood up and charged his enemy. He battled with everything he had. Thinking about his brother spurred him on, so he slowly began to gain the upper hand. Soon pure adrenaline began to take control of him.
Bit by bit Gartang began to wear out. His attacks were not as strong and his blocks barely saved him. Panic began to grip him. He had not expected to have to fight such a madman. Finbar seemed to be everywhere stabbing, slashing, and dodging.
After a little while Finbar managed to disarm his opponent and without pause, he drove his sword into his opponent, killing him. When they saw their leader dead, Gartang’s men ran for their lives.
*****
Martin walked across the fort wall to the place, where Finbar’s wounds were being treated. When he got there, he saw a bandaged Finbar sitting there, looking glum.
“Now why do we look so glum, master warrior?” he asked.
“I can’t believe I killed him like that. He was defenseless; he had nothing to protect him and I killed him. When I close my eyes I can still see the panicked look on his face. Even though I know he wouldn’t have spared me, I still can’t help feeling guilty because in front of my own men, I broke my standard of honor.”
Finbar continued to talk for a while. And though he had saved his fort from destruction, he felt as if he had lost.
wow this is awesome!!
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