Siege
By: K.D.
June 24, 2013

	The castle had been under siege for months.

	The King looked over the ramparts with a heavy heart. Legions of wicked, barbaric, invading soldiers and their siege engines were encamped outside the walls, extending all the way to the horizon – in all directions. 

The future outlook was grim. It wouldn't be long before his castle – and with it, the scant remnants of his entire kingdom – would fall to lack of food and supplies, trapped inside their own walls. Even a miraculous victory at this point would be of questionable worth. The land was utterly pillaged. The citizens who hadn't been maimed during the exchanges of missile fire would be beyond destitute.

Even so, surrender was simply out of the question.

Victory or death. 

Neither a great outcome, but so many alternatives were worse. 

The King turned back to the army captains that had lined up before him. "Gentlemen," he said, "As you know, my general was killed earlier this morning when a catapult's boulder destroyed the building he was in. I need a replacement for him. I need a man who is fearless and assertive – a man with ability to rally the troops and do what needs to be done in the face of these barbarians."

A long moment passed in silence, until, at last, a young captain stepped forward. "I can be your general, my liege," he said, bowing deeply. "I know our situation. I know that we are all dead or worse. I will see to it that we fight to the last man, and make these bastards pay dearly before they take our castle."

A second captain stepped forward as well. "I can be your general, my liege," he said, standing with tall confidence. "Maybe it's heartless to say so, but it's just as well that the last general died. We got into this mess on his watch, but I'm just the one to get us out of it."

The King considered both applicants, and finally pointed to the second captain. "Very well. You are now the general of my army."

Not delaying for even a heartbeat, the new general strode past the row of captains, threw open the castle gates, and shouted to the encamped enemy army, "Get off your lazy butts and get on with it, already!"

Fin.