The Lord Provides by Vincent Crampton

BRUTE BOSS | Pork Chop by RPstaff on DeviantArt.com

War brought hunger. Brannon abandoned the battlefield, walking north through wilderness, eating roots, mushrooms, his boots.

A clearing. Brannon saw smoke, smelled pork.

A cottage. He knocked. A grandfather answered. “Skin and bones you are.”

“Had none to eat.”

“Come. Sit. I’ve plenty, raising hogs for soldiers.”

“How’d you feed hogs during famine?”

Smiling, he brought sizzling chops to the table. “The lord provides.”

Brannon gorged. His belly ached. He farted. “Too much too quickly.”

Grandfather pointed. “Outhouse’s out back.”

Brannon strained over the stinking hole. Grunts echoed below. Tusks rose between Brannon’s legs.

Grandfather heard screams. “The lord provides.”

Castle Keep by Jim Wilsky

King slayer by Suzanne-Helmigh on DeviantArt.com

The siege lasted a fortnight. Now, all had perished except them. He had escorted the Earl, Countess and the boy up the north tower steps. Before dawn, rhythmic pounding and Germanic shouts foretold their doom. Now, a barbarous roar as the tower door below crashes inward.

Sir Gareth of Sussex waits. Across the stone room, the royals cower in a dark corner. The grunts and growls grow louder as they ascend — shouts Edmund doesn’t understand but knows they mean death.

He spreads his stance, gripping the longsword with both hands. The first is nearly decapitated, but there are so many.

Crawl by the Despot

Carrion Crow – MtG by AaronMiller

Jacques awoke amongst scattered bodies. His head throbbed where the mace had struck. Nearby, a crow alit on a dead soldier’s chest, plucked an eyeball, just like Laura would pluck vine-ripened grapes. His hand squeezed bloody muck. He envisioned the rich soil of his farmland. He grabbed limbs of the dead, pulled himself forward. He’d crawl back to Laura.

A boot stepped in his path. “Where you heading, mate?”

“Please,” said Jacques, touching the boot.

“Got a live one ‘ere, Sarge,” called the boot.

“Cap’n said no quarter.”

“Sorry mate,” said the boot, grinding Jacques face into the muck.

Ill Equipped by Adam Francis Smith

Ambushed by Kamikazuh on DeviantArt.com

“This leather is stifling and stinks of sweat,” complained Arlen as he marched.
“Be glad for it,” grumbled his commander, Fagen. “It will save your life one day.”
Suddenly, a volley of arrows arced over the berm and rained down upon the road.
Fagen was taken in the neck, his dying words an unintelligible gurgle.
Twice, arrows bounced off the thick boiled hide that covered Arlen’s chest.
A third, however, pierced his unprotected skull.
Later, as Arlen lay dead, an enemy archer prepared to claim his armor.
“Leave it, Kern,” grumbled Kund, his commander. “Find a helm.”

Sunk by The Despot

Mud Pool by CBasco on DeviantArt.com

“Boy! Give me your hand,” ordered Sir Ballard, knee deep in bog mud.

“You gave me your hand yesterday,” said Haymuth. “Across my face.”

“For impudence.”

“For defending my sister’s honor.”

Ballard’s waist disappeared. “Your sister was a whore.”

“She was a maiden yesterday morning. By noon, a harlot. By evening, a corpse.”

Ballard’s breastplate was engulfed. “I did not kill her.”

“Your lust did.”

“Fetch a rope!”

“My sister used the rope. When I regained consciousness, she was swinging from a rafter.”

“I should not die like this. I’m a knight. Chivalry …” Ballard’s head disappeared.

“… is dead.”

The Golden Cup by Jeanelle Nicole Driver

Assassin by jameswolf on DeviantArt.com

He’d followed her for two days.

The lady who’d read his fortune claimed she’d lead him to his destiny.

He’d jumped at the chance. Who wouldn’t love a beautiful woman?

“Stay out of sight, and you’ll find the treasure you seek.”

The warning was absurd. What harm could come from such a delicate creature?

He made his move in the smoky tavern and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“You were warned,” she said.

“I seek a beautiful treasure.”

“You earned a beautiful death!”

Her knife was sharp, his life faded, and she laughed.

“These men never learn.”