I have no enemies

In the distant past, A great warrior once said "I have no enemies" but his son unable to learn this lesson before it's late, learns it the hard way

My father told me that we are born into this world without enemies, it was a lesson that I never undestood when I was young. I was raised in the mountains north of the country, my father was a great warrior, one who was feared among men. But in our village, he was a kind man who was willing to help anyone that came our way.

One day, our village was being raided by bandits. My father, with cat-like reflexes, nimble with a sword and he killed two of the bandits in the blink of an eye. Suddenly, a rain of arrows showered upon us, many of them piercing my father. “Father!!” I screamed out, he was dotted with arrows and was not moving but still standing, he turned around to look at me before falling over. I ran out from the cover of our house to my father’s body, “Father! Father!” I shouted while shaking his body.

“What do we do with the boy?” One of the bandits asks, “Leave him, are there any women?” A bandit who seemed to be the leader asked, “No, they seem to have all left, looks like the boy wanted to be with his papa” the bandit underling jeered. The bandits left but not before burning down the village.

Many years later, I’ve joined as a mercenary under the king’s flag and I’ve honed my skills with swords and bows as much as I could. I’ve hunted down the remainder of the bandits who killed my father. One day, I found the leader but something has changed about him.

I found the leader of the bandit in a house in the forest but something has changed about him, he has a family now, he has two daughters with a wife. I stepped onto his property, drew my sword and pointed at him. “You! Remember me? You killed my father when you attacked my village” I shouted, “Please, lay down your sword, I have a family now.” The former bandit leader said, “I will never forgive you for taking my father, I’m sorry but you are the enemy therefore you must die for what you’ve done to me.” I shouted.

Before he could say another word, I pierced my sword through his chest and he fell to the floor soon after. I sheathed my sword and walked away while the former bandits family screamed in horror at the sight of their dead family member. I walked away thinking it would make me feel alive yet I don’t feel anything, I was as empty as my waterskin, I roamed the forest of the countryside before my father’s voice echoed in my ear.

My father’s lesson to me was taught to me when I held his sword in my hand, “Who do you intend to kill with that sword? Who’s life do you intend to take? A sword is a tool meant for killing.” My father said, I stuttered out “The enemy” “Oh? What enemies do you have?” My father asked, “The enemies you have, father.” I nervously said. My father puts his hand on my shoulder and looks me in the eye and says, “I have no enemies, my son. I choose not to have enemies, everything I did was to protect my family, you have no enemies. Don’t forget that.”

At that moment, I realised what my father’s lesson was but it was too late. I had taken the life of a man who had changed and was no longer who he was, soon guilt and regret entered my body. Every fibre of my being wished to take back what I’ve done but it was too late.

For years, I’ve carried that guilt, on that day I renounced violence and led a peaceful life, herding sheep and cows in the countryside. One day I will have to accept my punishment for taking that poor man’s life, to have my life taken by a mercenary. No, but by the daughters of that man’s life I had taken. “Come out this instant old man!” A voice shouted, I closed my eyes for a brief moment, I accepted my faith before opening the door.

The End