A young face caught Barric’s eye. He shooed a crow away and crouched down for a better look. The man had hazel eyes staring between streaks of matted brown hair that escaped from under his half helm. Barric slipped the half helm off, and his head just fell back against the ground. Barric nervously stuck two fingers on the young man"s neck. He held his breath and lightly felt around until he found the faint drumbeat of a pulse. It was faint but clear, he could even feel heat coming off the boy’s skin. He quickly pulled his hand away and climbed back to his feet.
He looked back to see Anika staring up at him. “It had to be done,” she said. He stood and stared out over the field, thousands fallen, without a drop of bloodshed. Over half the army had been entranced before the king had called h
