Chronicles of Kings and Knights/9

Chapter 36
The magical vortexes had stopped for some time now, the only lights in the sky were the dragon's breath of fire. The wizard must've been inside the tower. The battle was won. Hobenrûd was still holding her shoulders, Marin realized. Was it sweat or tears below his eyes?

The soldiers that went up the tower left it now, they were carrying a woman, three peasants, and four unarmed prisoners walked with them.

"The wizard wasn't...!" a soldier yelled, while running to Marin's position.

"Anita!" Marin yelled, and went to see her friend, "What happened to you?"

"Just...my knee. They took me as prisoner...after I fell and...ungh..." she was in pain, that was obvious, and her knee looked quite bad.

"Take her to a physician!" Marin ordered the soldiers, "And take care with that knee. Free the prisoners, but ask if they want to join us. Let the peasants go," the soldiers made a salute and went to look for a medic in the back of the front.

"I can't believe it," came the surprised voice of Hobenrûd, from behind her, a man, wearing a black hood was limping toward them, "Gilbert! What the hell are you doing!?"

"I did what I told you to do. The wizard is dead. I hope not too late," he said, not even looking at Marin.

"Then thanks for your help, sir Gilbert. This battle could not have been won without you," Marin tried to compliment him, but he didn't answer. Still looking at Hobenrûd, he told him:

"I don't want to be a larger burden to this movement. I did what I could when I was useful, now I will leave and try to find something better to do in the meantime." Hobenrûd tried to protest but was cut short, "They must be needing professors of military strategy in Sardina. Goodbye, old friend, if your stupidity doesn't kill you too soon, we might meet again," and chuckled.

Hobenrûd smiled wanly as Gilbert left, chaos visibly swirling within him, and as the chaos of the battle subsided, the people assembled around them saw Marin collapse onto a kneeling position before the strategist. "I...I uh, I am sorry. I--I don't know more I can say, but--I just don't want to bear the thought of your leaving--.... what I mean to say, is...uh, just please--give us one more chance. Will..will you? For my sake? Please?"

Gilbert stopped in his tracks as he heard those words, and looked at Marin with new eyes. For a split second, his eyes flared with renewed hope. But then, he realized the true face of the situation, and drooping his head, he passed through the crowd of soldiers which had formed around them, not even turning around to face her as the limping man said, "I... Sorry." Another delayed pause later, he stopped for a moment to say, "Oh, and your highness. By what I could see of your abilities, in the time I knew you...I believe you'll be a reasonable political asset to this kingdom." And this was the best compliment he could manage to give.

Marin remained on the ground even after the others had dispersed, deep in thought and remorse. As the sun set across the horizon under the darkening gloom, Hobenrud finally helped the princess to her feet, and together they returned to their camp. Marin had a single glistening tear on her cheeks. With Gilbert gone, it seemed as if... a chunk of herself, however small, had also gone.

"I... understand what you're thinking, your grace, but it's time," noted Hobenrud along the way.