OUR FINAL HOURS
Story By Paul Duggan
Art by Dean Spencer and Zed Nope
Date Unknown, The Age of Absolution
The air was still on the field, not even the wind dared howl as the army stood, a battalion of knights. Ten thousand deep they stood at the ready, their mounts sharing the same silent resolve as their riders - the poor creatures silently stirring, quickly reined by their masters. Not a sound dared make itself present, save for the lone trotting of a single horse; Covered in more decorum than the others, a white steed with gilded armor and laurels that drew the eye, and sat atop was an equally impressive rider, silver armor shined to perfection, accented by gold and a grand plume atop, and their banner, a royal blue with the depiction of an olive branch across a gold chalice, draped over her shoulders like a cape.
As she surveyed her men, silently judging the faceless crowd by their body language, she gave them a curt nod, and turned her attention to the sky. Silently, a gloved hand reached down and from the pack on her horse, she pulled out a periscope, turning it to the sky, face beneath her visor contorted with worry and disdain. The sun herself had gone dark, like an eclipse, but rather than shimmer dim it instead bled a deep crimson that seemed to pulse across the sky. And now, while she looked along the endless horizon, she could begin to see specks form, rapidly closing in; Something was coming, and whatever it was, had already found a way to steal the light from this world. Wordlessly, she stowed the periscope, taking up the reins to walk across the line again, mulling the words over in her mind.
How was she to rally these men to fight something that could kill the Sun? What words could she choose to convince them to ride with her for a battle they most likely never return from? This may be a battle, were it not for the way it looked like the hells themselves had torn a hole in the sky. Something about this march felt…final. Unease stirred within the general as she clenched her reins tighter, doing what she could to steady herself. She looked back to the army before her, men she’d rode with in her career, some old and some new, but her men nonetheless. They’d been with her through battles with dragons, monsters and kings across lands both near and far, delivering her from the brink more times than she cared to count or recall in this moment. Reliable, steadfast, and stubborn to the end, the philosophy that had carried them so far. And now, as the words began to find themselves, she could only pray they would carry them this final stretch, and deliver them from absolution once more. With a hand that trembled ever so slightly, she reached into her saddlebag, fetching a small ivory horn wrapped in mangrove bark that had small illuminated blue runes spinning about them.
Taking a deep breath, the general turned to face them all, towing her steed’s attention, sitting just a little taller to project her voice, “Knights of Elarin,” Her voice sounded off, commanding and authoritative as she drew their attention, the horn aiding her in making sure they all heard well and clear. “I’m sure looking above, as this unknown enemy steers ever closer, we know our enemy and our purpose. to halt this approaching threat on our way of life. With whatever manner of sorcery they possess, they have choked out the very light in the sky and made her submit. For lesser men, I’d have expected nothing less that when I marched us out here before the break of dawn to await their arrival, I’d be riding alone. But I’m not in the company of lesser men, am I?” She gave pause, letting her rhetorical question hang in the air like a provocation, as she flicked her wrist, commanding her horse to begin to trot up and down the company line as she spoke.
“No, I’m amongst the finest men this country has to offer! I’m amongst the finest men this world has to offer! Men who have stared at certain death in the eye with enough ferocity to make it turn and run, tail tucked between its legs! So what if these monsters have strangled the Sun? I believe I prefer the shade! And until she’s the radiant glow we remember her as, we’ll tear through these bastards, taking each piece of her beauty as we do, restoring her to her former glory!” She shouted amongst them, drawing up her blade.
“Because we are not mercenaries who require coin and praise to care! Nor are we the madmen of the North, who pillage, drink and confuse their indulgences with splendor. No, we are righteous and honest men! We answer the call so that others may know our conviction is strong and feel protected behind our shields! We push the dark back to ensure our people prosper! So that our empire may shine for another hundred generations and then some!” By now, as she looked to the sky, she could see them without her periscope, large blocks that had begun to fill the sky, slowly making their way down to meet this army head on.
“And look! Even these monsters know our worth and mettle, they see our worth and wish to test their steel against ours! Only they will find that they are poorly outmatched! We will paint this land red with their folly, and return heroes, just as we have before! They may have stolen the light, but mark my words, this day will be ours!” With this, a cacophonous roar erupted from the troops, shields ringing against swords as they began to shake off their own worry and qualms.
From beneath her visor, she smiled, honest and genuine, stowing the horn as she let out a small sigh, while her words may have not steadied her, the faith her troops had in them just might have managed. As the roaring died down, one sound could be heard, a lone pair of hands clapping, coming from behind her. Her body tensed as she quickly pulled the reins, the horse quickly turning as she looked at the source of the noise. And the first thing she felt was…confusion?
Standing in the grass alone, was what looked like an imitation of a man. It wore a dark leather ten gallon hat with some sun damage, putting on full display a face made of steel, lifeless red eyes and a cut in the face where a nose would go, thin black spools of what looked like thread to her, spilling out the back of its head and travelling down behind the jacket it bore. Its body was similar in that sense, overlapping plates made to mimic flesh and muscles, and strangely enough, though it did its best to hide it from how it stood, she could make out the secondary pair of arms.
“Well golly gee, miss,” It spoke, with a thick accent she was unfamiliar with, a pitch made to imitate a man she presumed. “I oughta say, I always do love the speeches y’all come up with, really do get the ol’ goosebumps a poppin’ yanno?”
“State your business or begone from my sight, golem,” She replied coldly.
“Golem? Golem? You racist f-” He gave pause, making some sort of contorting noise akin to that of clearing one’s throat. “Ma’am I take offense to that, this is a pristine model I gots right here, worth every cent, an’ I won’t sit here and take no nonsense on that matter.”
She didn’t reply, only glowering at him as her hand gripped her sword like a vice.
“Geez Louise, you are a bundle of fun, aintcha? I guess everyone can’t be interested in good ol’ fashioned wordplay, huh?” He asked rhetorically, and upon getting no response, cleared his throat. “Right, I’m here on official business to discuss the terms and conditions of your surrender if you and your company wish to live.”
“Excuse me? How dare–”
“Now now, don’t get your straps in a bunch just yet, lady,” He began. “Look, Imma just lay it out all flat on the table, nice and fair, see?” He began. “We outnumber you, and we have more than enough power to blow you all out the water, like shooting fish in a barrel. Hell, I coulda blasted this whole army while yous was still yapping along about your ‘ensured victory’. But, seeing as you’re still standin’ around, I didn’t, cause I’m nice, and as the gentleman I am, I’m offering y’all a proposal.” He offered a hand out. “You can come ride with us, as some of my personal soldiers, or you can fertilize the land you stomp your feet and huff about on, how’s that sound? Hm?”
She stared down at him in disbelief, “You would be so bold as to march into our army alone, and demand our surrender to serve you?” She asked.
The machine looked left, right, and then back to her, “Yes.” He spoke plainly. “Seeing as you ain’t got a hoot in hell if you think you’re beating me, walking up and talking to y’all is the least I can do. Job’s only to conquer this place and drag it down below, ain’t nothing ‘bout killin’ everyone.” He trailed on, pacing in a small circle as he talked. “Besides,” He added, back turned to her as he outstretched his arms to the red sky. “This is a great opportunity for y’all! You could see everything and more! Fight in glory across the cosmos! Live wealthier than any emperor you ever met and die with splendor! Ain’t that better than any honor or justice nonsense?” He asked, looking over his shoulder to her.
“You’re a monster.”
“I am an opportunist, and clearly you don’t wanna do this the easy way. Guess my friends an’ I will show y’all the hard way,” He sighed, lowering his head as if pretending to show remorse.
As she tensed up, a low chittering sound could be heard from all around them, thousands of creatures making this low clicking noise that sounded off almost like a whirring of unease, which quickly amped up to howling and bestial roaring, as if mimicking their cheers from before.
She went to turn back to her men to shout an order as their line broke up into disarray to ready themselves for whatever the hells were to drag from the foliage - there was this shooting pain that ran through her arm, sending her clean off the horse and into the grass below, she looked up to find this strange automaton sat atop her horse, one leg crossed over the other. She began to rise, reaching over for her sword. “You will not have this day, tin man.”
“Oh darlin’,” He cooed, like a parent to a confused child, as he presented this small silver contraption with a barrel, and leveled it at her eyes. “It’s already mine.”