Background

A long while ago, I wrote a short passage of something for some writing club thing.

It's about a holy warrior in a desert kingdom watching over a temple. Or something like that. Enjoy!

----

Retribution

They gathered on the horizon, swiftly approaching. Those foul creatures would be here in only a few moments, and there was so little time to prepare. Luckily, thanks to the foresightedness of the elders, we'd known- vaguely- about the events to come. If we hadn't, there would have been no way to adequately evacuate every level of the monastery before those monsters got here. Now there was only one thing left to do; commence battle with the enemy so that one day, all of the innocent will be able to return to their home, as if nothing ever happened. I was most definitely up to the task of banishing whatever evil dared to set foot in my home, however, I could see that some of my brothers-in-arms were having trouble accepting their duties. So, as I had grown accustomed to during many great battles of the past, I began to give a great speech to rouse the noble spirits of my peers.

"As you know, there is a great force of evil creatures approaching outside, brothers." I began. A sacred silence fell over the crowd of men clad in glittering, silver armor. They all looked to me, their leader, expectantly. "This army of evil is like nothing you will have ever faced before. They are not mere kobolds or undead. They are... something quite different and far more powerful. You may have heard of them in the ancient legends before. They are the Nightmares--" There were murmurs of dissent in the crowd from some of the newest recruits. "--creatures of Shadow and Death, from the darkest reaches of Inferna."

One of the senior members, looked up at me with eyes hardened by years spent and lost within the heat of battle. If I remembered correctly, he was a quiet sort that only spoke when he deemed it necessary. I suppose he thought so now as he addressed me.

"Sir, how are we going to fight these creatures? We've never fought anything like them before." He asked.

"A wise question," I answered, pausing slightly for effect before continuing, "but there's no need to fear. Like everything else we've fought together, the Nightmares can be killed too, if not indefinitely, then banished for a number of years. And never forget, my brothers, that we are paladins. We possess abilities granted by our god to vanquish our enemies with his righteous fire! So long as we remain true to him, we will never be beaten by the forces of darkness."

It's amazing how such simple words can have an effect on them. Even if they didn't believe me, they wanted to, and that's what mattered. Just that belief would provide them with a little bit of morale for the coming battle. Perhaps, if they were lucky, that little bit of confidence would save their lives. Of course, like my peers, that little speech cause me to take heart, also. Hopefully, I'd survive to lead my Order, but that was up to the gods.

A shrill, piercing shriek that emitted from one of the recruits stirred me from my- almost- optimistic thoughts. He pointed down towards the main courtyard below, where one single creature stood all alone. How he'd gotten inside was a complete mystery to all of us, myself included.

A voice, deep and melancholy, seemed to come from everywhere and yet nowhere in particular- though it was quite obvious that the creature had created it- spoke. I sensed the morale in of all the paladins plummet as the creature addressed us all.

"Ah yes, the noble paladins of the Order of the Golden Sun, hiding out in a tower while they discuss plans to quell my people," the creature said, "before you decide to go to war with us, may I have a word with your leader, the noble and just Commander Safir?" It requested politely.

I hesitated for a moment. The holy vows I'd sworn to uphold demanded that I slay this nefarious abomination at the first chance I got. However, there was a slight chance I could bargain with the anathema down there and save the lives of my men.

"If you're having problems justifying speaking with me, then I believe your 'Paladin Code' permits parley with the enemy, yes?" The being said.

I nodded silently. He was right. I could parley with him, not that it did any good. I still had to kill him at the end.