The Deadwalk by Stephanie Bedwell-Grime

anonymity within the ranks. In the center of the commotion, Larz held one of the
men at the tip of his sword. But the look of repulsion on the Captain's face was
directed at the ranks of the dead who milled behind them aimlessly, awaiting new
orders. Rau swore.
    Dismounting, he bore down on the hapless soldier like a bull intent on
skewering his foe.
    Larz whirled to face him, quickly smothering the look. “Your Highness?”
    The Captain seemed genuinely embarrassed to see him. Though the young soldier
looked up at him in utter terror, there was defiance in his eyes as well.
    “What seems to be the problem, Captain?”
    Larz shifted his weight uneasily. “The problem has been dealt with, Sir. No
need to trouble yourself.”
    Rau's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Before he could speak, the soldier shook
himself from Larz's grasp. Dismayed, the Captain lunged after him, but Rau held
up his hand.
    “I refuse to ride with the likes of them!” With a wide sweep of his arm, the
soldier indicated the army of cadavers.
    Horrified by his man's insurrection, Larz reached out a hand to haul him back
under his control. Rau stepped between them, his movement lithe as a panther.
The Captain read the warning in Rau's stance and paled.
    “Your Highness--”
    “Silence, Captain. I believe the soldier has a complaint to register.”
    Falsely encouraged, the man continued. “The stench, Sir, it's too much to
bear. The men have nightmares. No one should have to endure this!”
    Rau smiled down at him. Larz shut his eyes and prayed.
    “I take it you'd like a transfer,” Rau said.
    The soldier smiled back. “Yes, Sir!”
    Amber flashed in the midday sun.
    Much too late, the soldier saw the downward stroke of Rau's arm. He tried to
bolt from the path of the amber missile headed for him. Rau reached out, seizing
the soldier by the scruff of the neck. With one lighting strike, he drove the
amber deep into his brain.
    The soldier crumpled to the ground, the stake protruding from his eye like
the horn of some twisted unicorn.
    “A transfer you shall have,” Rau snarled, wiping the blood from his hands.
    He glowered up at the ring of soldiers standing in open-mouthed shock. “And
so shall anyone else who wants one.”
    With covert glances of horror in Rau's direction, the army melded back into
formation and went about its business.
    Rau grasped Larz by the arm and pulled him after him. “Captain, if you
please.”
    Larz swallowed hard. With a furtive glance in the direction of the fallen
soldier, he swung up on his horse and followed Rau along the staggering line of
the dead army.
    #
    Could they not see the beauty in it? Rau wondered as he inspected the ranks
of his cadavers with Larz at his side. Could they not fathom the cruel yet
wonderful irony of the fallen, rising up to conquer their own cities and then
condemning their neighbors to the same fate?
    They had no vision. Not his father, not the council, not even his loyal
friend, Larz, though he'd never admit to it. Rau had seen the look of terror and
repulsion on the Captain's face. He sensed the hateful looks his men shot at his
back. No matter. His demonstrations had their purpose. Others must understand
the true glory of the amber.
    His fingers stroked the jewel at his neck. For a moment memory sucked him
back down into those dark winding caverns that led to the Amber's tomb...
    The stench of sweat and fear had hung heavily in the narrow corridor. They
hammered incessantly against the crystal barrier, sleeping in shifts. Three
nights and four days passed. Men eyed each other nervously and wondered when
they'd go mad in the confines of the narrow space.
    Crystal shattered. The wall collapsed beneath them. Shoving men aside, Rau
tumbled through the maw of jagged rock. He had to be the first to lay eyes upon
the Amber. No one must touch it but he.
    The entire cave vibrated with its own pure tone. He reached out a tentative
hand.
    All sound ceased. Even