SCARS

For her. It’s for her. Only for her. His skin is full of scars. Now that he lies on the battlefield with nothing but a shield and his leathern trousers and boots, his enemies can see his pain. His power. His strength mirrored from his skin. Another ninaim tries to attack him. But he quickly stands up and swallows his axe in its skull. Dark creatures those ninaims… With pale violet skin and only half a body and half made out of shadows, humanlike hands with small blades instead of fingernails and shoulder shields with poisoned metal spikes, these creatures are the most dangerous enemies of the northmen. One last time. Our victory is coming. For her. He looks at his medallion hanging around his neck. A silver plate with her Initial. An E. For Eudora.

The next moments pass in brutal fights and screams from both – humans and ninaims. Axes, swords, shields and blades clanged at each other. Cries of pain so loud that they could be heard all the way up to the gods. Then suddenly there was silence. A head falls down to the muddy ground. It’s the head of their commander. The little amount of nimains disappeared within seconds into the darkness of the night. This time it’s a win for the humans. Never forgetting Eudora, he calls his men together. They will rest for the night in the ruins of crains, an old castle.

The sun arises and in the air is a light smell of spring, even though spring begins to bloom in over a month. With the first sunlight falling through a glassless window the northmen make their way back. On their way back to the snowy mountains none spoke a word about the battle the day before. They lost good fighters and loyal friends. But still it was a win. Their mates died with honour. I will tell Eudora and his father. With this fight, I’m worthy of marrying the woman I love.

Sadly, the northmen never really arrived their home. Shortly before their kingdom the ninaims lurked out for them. The only thing that arrived their folk was his medallion. With his last breath he gave his lucky charm to a raven which flew it to Eudora, but it was too late to warn her. This night the ninaims took over their kingdom and with them, the children which was growing in Eudora. As painful as his scars, his love died a painful death.