again for the trees.
      The ravens upon the summit croaked and beat the breeze with fluttering wing, yet staid their perch.
      Almost weeping in relief, Longshanks breathed a word of thanks to whoever watched over such spectacles, and returned his attentions to the castle wall. He did so in time to see disaster strike.
      One of the mailed figures to the north, their leader perhaps, nodded to herself, once, almost as if in approval.
      O'Cuire had, in some way, felled the second man-at-arms, and was now advancing past his motionless body, intent upon engaging the black mailed knight, who had raised his 'bastard' sword in salute. The two were about to enter into a duel of what could only be described as of epic proportions. More guards issued out onto the rampart behind them both, and even now held back to watch the spectacle about to take place.
      Unbeknownst to the cocky Rogue, how-ever, the soldier he'd thought fallen rose

 
 
silently up, like a spectre from a barrow, and brandished his weapon at Timeras' unprotected back. The flanged mace rose and fell in a deadly arc, striking O'Cuire and smashing him into the granite wall even as Longshanks's shout of warning rang out, a moment too late.
      The Rogue crumpled to the battlement, and the echoing alarum died with him. Silence ensued as his sword clattered from lifeless fingers, ringing faintly in the absence of din, to lie beside his body.
      Time, for a moment, stood still...
     
..."NOOOOOO!!!"

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