The wind as always was with its procession of gentle sweep. Its chill sending bone tingling shiver. Yet this time, it bore within it the stench of a finished flesh -- a corpse. This once sweetening breeze had become threatening, for it bore witness, and in its sweep it roared the tales of my fate -- my doom.

In my hands the lifeless body of my wife was laid upon my squat position. For days I had remained in that position, without motivation to accept the truth that stared me in the face.
 
The left of the servants and my comrades had come the room -- pay their respect to the sleeping princess. Howbeit, though loyal they be, none of them was motivated as myself to bear the stench of the rottening body, save a handful of my men that appeared fanatics.

Sometime around midday, days after Keiya had passed and the rest host of Kedrone army had arrived Kryrone Castle...the great Karmadin appeared.

While Karmadin, and his sons gushed their way in to behold what sad reality abounded Kedrone....the current me was not certain of what true feeling to wrap on.

Bad news always had its way of spreading through as a wild fire in harmattan. Through gossips and little chat from cell of gatherings, the news of my wife's demise would swim through Kedrone...perhaps beyond her even.
And perhaps yet it was this same news that had drawn back the ambitious Karmadin.

Beholding the lifeless body lain upon my laps, their weeping ensued, yet I spared none of them a gaze.

   "Mager!" Suddenly, Karmadin's call rang through death stenched room. In that same moment Karmadin's man, moved up to him.

  "Get the master embalmers, let the corpse be ready for burial...one fit for my dearest daughter."
 
With a snap of fingers, Mager had commanded few more men unto the room, and upon his gesture, they were tending to rid me of the lifeless Keiya.

A sudden wave of anger surged through my veins. All the hate I had tended for days, in a split second exploded out.

  "Get your filthy hands off her." I cursed upon deep growl.

The men could feel the rage I emited, and it was without telling that the current me was gore seeking. Not intending to throw their lives in a mere gamble, the men affirmed my threats with prompt response.
 
The man Mager shifted uncomfortably and even Karmadin and his sons could tell how perilous my current state made me.

  "Dorack!" Karmadin called, yet I spared him no answer.
  "Let the body free. Please." He spoke again.

  "Her place is beside me, and here shall she remain forever." I told.

  "I would not have to fight with you over this. We are all in mourning," Karmadin spoke this time in a harsh tone.

  "Dorack," Another voice broke in. Brone. "its been almost four days now. Can you not even feel the stench?" He spoke in his style to urge, still no one dared come close.

  "Would you dishonor your wife in this manner -- to allow her rot as a mere person. Even peasants and lowlifes understand when to lay their dead and put their spirit at peace. How much more Keiya: a daughter to royalty; Karmadin the great. And wife to a mighty warrior." Karmadin growled then took a brisk break, while allowing his nerves calm.

    "Allow this men do their work in peace. Please." He begged truly.

Sipping slowly Karmadins words, it was just then for the first time in days, I felt the offensive smell emanating from the corpse.
I was indeed dishonoring my dead wife in this manner.
 
Without struggle this time, I allowed Magers men with the body. They bounded it and ushered it out through the mass of people who remained outside the chamber.

An outburst of wail and cries, as a tornado followed, till the harmony of all wails had become a magnificent orchestration.

In the chambers, I remained settled at the marbled floor, my hands engulfed in crimson fluid, while I stared blankly at the almost dried up pool of my dead wife's blood. In that same moment, the newly comes comforted themselves in their own way.

   "Excuse us!" Suddenly Karmadins order rang through the room. He was rightly speaking to his men and my fanatical comrades.

  While they moved out, his weeping sons took to position in the chamber; all three of them.

   "Dorack!" Karmadins soothing voice rang through stench fading room.

I gave no answer and he pressed with his speech anyways.
 
  "We are at war, and this is the sacrifice that comes by." He told.

  "Such huge sacrifice to give." I frowned.

  "It wasn't given, it was taken. You all my sons must motivate yourselves in this loss, and learn something from life. Life never offers a bed of roses. If it did, then all men would wear a crown." Karmadin spoke
  
   "Dorack...you did all you could, but Keiya yet is gone. Console yourself in this." Prince Jeron spoke.

  "Try and forgive yourself my son." Spoke Karmadin again.

  "How can I come to forgive myself when I can't even forgive you!" I grunted soberly, and then turned to him.

He was a bit astounded by my words as the other men in the chamber. But he seemed very much to have expected it.

  "You forced me to join your raid..." I said again.

   "It was your duty as a Captain and soldier." Commander Girod, present responded.

   "If only I had remained back with her..." I wept, unable to finish the bitter words.

  "You too would have been dead flesh." Karmadin broke in with a solid roar.

   "Have you yet not learnt anything. Keiya's fate was sealed from the moment Dakor cast eye on her. We were only delaying the inevitable." Prince Brone took in too.

  "It was a damn infiltration. A massacre! A slaughter! All the Royal Guards and Palace Garrisons were dead or close to what seemed so...and you would have been no different." Karmadin growled.

   "Then I should have been there....to die by her side, and erase her loneliness and fear." I said in grief.

   "If so, then who would have to avenge Keiya?" Karmadin broke again.

   "Don't let this fate make you stupid brother. You are wiser than this. "Jeron spoke now.

I shot my head up instantly. What was this; a gang up debate? Still, looking  into Karmdins eyes I saw every truth to his words....and even more. I saw the shadow of guilt and sadness.

I had not been fair to the man. No one truly cherished Keiya as much as he did....not even me! How now was he dealing with the pain of such loss?
 
But now he was seeking to urge me with an intent that had been endlessly running through my mind...and now he was hinting that it was possible.

  "I know the anger you feel inside. I feel it too.  Still, there is only little I can do. But you Dorack, are a war marshal. I want you to put yourself together for the running of this very last battle. For in truth, it would be the only way to honor and avenge Keiya." Karmadin spoke again, amidst the pronged silence.
  
I remained silent all the while he spoke, gradually drinking his words like a lost pup.
His words were persuasive, and with each syllable that drove from his lips, I was more than ready to oblige. It was as though I had been under the influence of an hypnotism. But no, I was in my right senses, and I was thinking his words through.
  
The best way indeed to wrath true vengeance, was by annihilating completely our enemies -- in a calamitous war.
  
A wind of purpose hit me now. What was I doing laying by the lifeless body of my wife, when I should be seeking absolute vengeance for her soul?

I took to gaze at the great man Karmadin and the three young men present in room with us....and I could see same fire emanating from the.

It was indeed time to pay respect to the sleeping princess, in burial and retribution for her unjust death.