I've decided to post Mordzar Malthus' death, written by JesterheadJohnSnow. It's been an honor having you in the Games, and I think this is a very bittersweet, yet perfect ending for Mordzar. 

"For King Vaxon."

Mordzar jolted as the ice cold blade pierced him in the chest.If it hadn't been for the masked Glynmore guards holding him up, he would have fallen onto his back.

"How...could...you..betray..me?" Mordzar asked between gasps. Blood was seeping out of the corners of his mouth. What's more? His breathing was becoming heavily labored.

His aunt just sneered.

"How could you live with yourself knowing you caused the deaths of your family members?" she retorted.

" It..was...not..intentional," Mordzar replied. His aunt then pulled out the blade, causing Mordzar to convulse mildly. The guards let him fall to the floor.

" Very good, Gwyndolyn. I must say you have the most brilliant ideas. I, myself, can never conjure plans like these."

Mordzar painfully craned his neck to the side to see who spoke. If he wasn't immobile on the floor, he would have done a double-take. Standing right next to his aunt was none other than Lord Iwhan Dragunov! Mordzar recognized him by his normal dark attire and features. Lord Dragunov gazed down at Mordzar with his icy blue yes.

" How does it feel, knowing that you are about to meet your demise?" the sadistic lord sneered at him.

"Shut...up!" Mordzar said through gritted teeth. He then began to cough up some blood.

"If I were you, I would not waste what is left of your energy," Dragunov laughed. He then turned toward Gwyn. " What is the status of the remaining Malthus soldiers?"

"My archers were able to nail most of them, but there were a handful who had escaped," Gwyn Glynmore informed Iwhan Dragunov.

"Fear not, as we speak, my soldiers are hunting down those Malthus soldiers like ducks," Lord Dragunov grinned. " Now, Sapphire Manor is ripe for our taking.I am elated that for once , we get to eradicate the Malthuses once and for all. My father would have been pleased to hear this."

Mordzar clenched his fist in anger. How dare they think that they had him nailed! Willing what was left of his strength, Mordzar tried to pull himself up, but even that was too much of a labor. He fell back down, gritting his teeth in pain. He also noticed that right under him was a puddle of an ever growing crimson pool of blood. His own blood!

Zounds! Am I losing that much blood at that rate?

Mordzar began to feel nauseuas. No,I must stay awake! He felt four pairs of hands grab him and lift him up. Dazed, he noticed that each of the four men that were taking him away were wearing black armor and their helms had horns sticking out of them. They were no doubt the Dragunov warriors.

"Where...are..you taking..me?" Mordzar asked between coughs. He felt blood dribbling down the sides of his mouth . He was then put onto the back of a carriage with black and red coverings-the colors of the Dragunov family.

"What do we have here?"

Mordzar heard footsteps and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a young woman who seemed about his age appear in front of the soldiers. She had piercing green eyes as well as long auburn curls. Mordzar saw her stare down at him with a creepy sneer. Is that some trademark of the Dragunovs?

" Mordzar Malthus, it is good to see you again," Elza Dragunov crooned. She ran her hand down the side of his face. Mordzar cringed as the she-devil touched him.His breathing started to become even more labored.

"You have beautiful eyes, you know," the Dragunov woman grinned. "Once you die, I will keep them for myself."

It took him all of his will not to gag. Must I spend my last moments with this creepy lady? It seemed like death would be a more viable alternative for the ailing metal mage at this moment.

It seemed like an eternity before the Dragunov lady left him. Two Dragunov guards were left to watch over him. Mordzar's body gave an involuntary twitch. He could also feel his consciousness slowly leave him.

"Let's do it!" One of thew guards nodded and they both grabbed Mordzar carried him away.

"W-where..a..are..you..taking..m-me?" Mordzar asked.

"Save your strength, sir," one of the guards replied. "You are going to be needing all of it if you want to survive."

Mordzar seemed puzzled that the guards would take him away from the carriage. Did Lord Dragunov change his mind? They then appeared in a clearing where two people waited. Upon closer inspection, Mordzar recognized the people as Lord Gregor Forster and his daughter Taleen. Mordzar had a befuddled expression on his face. Why are Dragunov soldiers taking me to Lord Forster?

"Set him down in the carriage gently," Lord Forster ordered the guards. "Have the healers tend to him immediately."

As they set him down, Mordzar had many questions running through his head. He watched the dawn break across the dark blue sky. He had never noticed before, but it looked really beautiful. He heard footsteps and saw Taleen Forster appear next to him, her blonde curls showing darkly against the pale dawn.

"In case you are wondering, my father had some of our soldiers pose as Dragunov guards to spy on their every move. That is how we stumbled upon you," she smiled down at him.

" T-thanks," Mordzar croaked.

"No need to say anything, you must save your breath. You are going to need to every last one," Taleen informed him. She gripped his right hand tight. "You will survive, I assure you of that. However, you must will yourself as well."

Mordzar knew she had a point. Taleen had tried distracting him as the healers began to work on him.

"I know you lost your family and friends, but there must be someone out there that you are willing to live for," Taleen continued. "You have a significant other, yes?"

Mordzar quietly nodded, feeling more nauseous by the second.

"Perfect, then use that thought to fight for your life! Come on, Lord Mordzar, you can do it! I know you can." She clasped his hand tighter.

As she continued babbling, Mordzar looked up and noticed various shapes appear in behind Taleen and the healers. His eyes widened thrice their size upon recognition. Mother? Father? Myra?

His older sister smiled at him as she extended a hand toward him. Feeling overwhelmed with emotion, Mordzar reached out to her. Once his hands clasped around his sister's, he started to feel all his pain disappear. In fact, a sense of comfort began to envelop him until it took over his whole body.

Taleen watched as the metal mage extended his free hand into the air and whisper something inaudible to her. Then, his really bright sapphire blue eyes began to dull to a metallic shade. She could feel his hand go limp. In a split second, his labored breathing stopped. Fearing the worst, Taleen Forster shook him violently, but the metal mage remained as still as a rag doll.

"It is no use," one of the healers told her. "We lost him."

Taleen felt a sob take ahold of her. The last of the Malthuses, her liege lord, was gone for good. She felt her father wrap his arms around her.

"They did the best they could do," Gregor assured his daughter. " Unfortunately, Lord Mordzar was beyond saving with all the blood he had lost."

Gregor Forster turned to the nearest soldiers.

"Quick, alert the others!" he shouted. "We must raise the banners. The Dragunovs and the Glynmores will be punished for their treachery!"

With that said, the next conflict between the Houses would erupt in no time.