The Death man's Smile

Chapter: 9 The Dead Man’s Smile

Rudravaan stepped forward, eyes narrowing as he took in the frozen pair.

“Hey,” he said flatly, “why are you fighting? And who the hell are you?”

The bartender spat a curse. “I don’t know. He was watching the whole time—then he tried to leave.”

The cloaked man lifted his chin, amusement flickering behind the shadow of his hood.

“You can’t handle the truth, so don’t poke your nose where it doesn’t belong. And who are you to ask?”

Rudravaan’s lips curved into a dry smile. “You can call me a dead man,” he said evenly.

The cloaked man cocked his head. “So—what? You want to fight?”

“No.” Rudravaan’s voice was calm, almost indifferent. “I’m done with whatever I came here for. Leave now.”

The bartender slammed his sword into the floor, furious. “You’ll just walk away? After everything?”

Rudravaan looked back at the cloaked man. “You can leave.” His tone dropped cold, eyes darkening. “But when you said I couldn’t handle the truth—remember this. I will find it. And when I do… don’t regret crossing me.”

For a heartbeat, the cloaked man’s amusement faltered. Then he straightened and turned away, his figure dissolving into the shadows of the ruined hall.

Rudravaan’s gaze followed him, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Interesting, he thought—but he hid it well, letting no one notice.

The tension In the air eased, though the throne room still reeked of smoke and blood. The promise in Rudravaan’s words lingered like a drawn blade.

The bartender turned, voice sharp. “Why did you let him walk away like that? What if he comes back?”

Rudravaan took a slow sip from his bottle, eyes still fixed on the darkened doorway. “You’re already exhausted,” he said quietly. “You’ve won. The kingdom’s yours now. So why keep fighting?”

He lowered the bottle, his tone steady but cold. “Besides… if you really fought him again in your state, you’d lose in no time.”

The bartender’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. The truth in Rudravaan’s words cut deeper than any blade.

Henry, still tending to Fenlor’s wound, looked up. “Why did you come only now?”

Rudravaan shrugged. “I never said I’d join your rebellion,” he replied simply. Then, turning to the bartender, he added, “I’ve already got what I came here for. It’s about time I leave.”

“Hey,” the bartender said, softening a little, “you’re just leaving when we’ve finally won? At least join the party this afternoon.”

Rudravaan paused, then gave a faint nod. “If that’s what you want,” he said, “then I’ll do that.”

The bartender smiled, relief in his tired eyes. Henry finished wrapping Fenlor’s bandages and told him to rest, but the stubborn fighter pushed himself upright anyway.

Around them, the hall filled with the sounds of victory—some cheering, some laughing, others quietly weeping. The rebellion had ended. The kingdom was theirs.

Yet in the shadows, Rudravaan’s unreadable smile lingered, as if he already knew the story wasn’t over.

That afternoon, the streets were alive with laughter. People walked side by side, their faces bright with a joy that felt real for the first time in years. Rudravaan let out a quiet sigh and smiled as he watched them—families singing, children running freely, the air filled with warmth instead of fear.

He found a seat near the square, where tables had been set up across the heart of the kingdom. Platters of food covered every surface, and voices rose in cheerful songs that echoed off the stone walls.

Henry and Fenlor approached through the crowd, both grinning and flushed from celebration.

“Where’s your drink now?” Henry called out teasingly.

Rudravaan tilted his head, reached beside his chair, and lifted a massive beer bottle with a lazy smile.

The two of them burst out laughing. For the first time in a long while, the sound wasn’t heavy—it was pure and alive.

Just like that, the day slowly passed, and one by one, everyone drifted away to their homes, the laughter fading into the quiet of the night. Soon, the streets were empty, and the kingdom finally rested in peace.

But what no one knew was that Rudravaan had no intention of sleeping — he had another plan for how to spend the night.