A Warrior's Redemption (The Warrior Kind)

A surge of pain wiped the grin off his face. He looked around at the beautiful mountain scenery. "Well I guess this is as good a spot as any to die."

Looking up at me he said, "See you in hell, Roric."

With that last comment said, which felt like a bad stain on the beauty around us, he breathed his last. Shaking my head sadly I reflected on the wasted life that lay extinguished before me. A man that with his dying breadth had wished me to go to hell. Hell thankfully wasn't my likely destination anymore and nothing that anybody could say could ever make it so again.

I wanted to see what lay beyond the array of vibrantly shimmering colors of that doorway in the clouds I had seen. To be surrounded by people like the Kurts and my own parents, but most of all I wanted to forever serve the Creator, who cared enough about me to extend an invitation to me even after all the evil I had done to close the door.

Moving towards Flin I started to mount him, when I noticed his ears flicker and his head turn towards the path we had come through to reach this alpine valley. Moving around Flin's head I took in the unpleasant sight of a long line of at least eighty mounted riders, who were stretched out across the narrow valley.

The line continued to advance as I mounted Flin. Sensing the tension in the air I could feel Flin tensing up to make a run for it, if I needed him to. "It's okay Flin." I said leaning forward and patting his neck. Obediently, he stopped nervously prancing and remained still waiting for direction from me, one big mass of bunched up muscles. The riders drew closer and I saw that they weren't Zoarinians.

They were Valley Landers. I relaxed even more, as I saw Seth and Rolf in the column of riders. The latter two rode out to me at a full gallop followed by the other riders at a more reserved pace. Seth leaped off his horse and I got down too. He embraced me in a bear hug that I was ill prepared for and grimacing slightly I returned it painfully. Rolf, still seated on horseback nodded his head silently in a welcoming gesture that I returned back to him.

"Seth, stop mobbing him! Can't you see he's injured?"

Seth stepped back and spread my vest back from the wound. Whistling through his teeth he shook his head, "Nasty, but not life threatening unless untreated. Here sit down on this rock and we'll get you fixed up in no time boss."