To Whom the Honor Falls

A Fantasy Short Story

Bitter snow settles on the solitary silk village of Rámzs, rendering blood to ice.

Mercenaries besiege Rámzs and hold its people captive, but they’re after more than gold. Enter the renowned swordsman, Sir Istvan. He may be dishonorable, greedy, and arrogant—the antithesis of an ideal knight—but he’s the villagers’ only hope. As Istvan delivers bloody justice, his discovery of a mysterious motto on the mercenaries’ pearlescent cloaks leads him to second-guess their motivations . . . and the empire itself could be at stake. Mercenaries outnumber Istvan, but he’s far from outmatched. Does he have enough honor left to do what’s right, or will he sink into a darkness deeper than those he set out to destroy?