The fight raged on and on. The devastation was horrific! Even greater than that which City Crusher alone would left in his rampage. Their combined furies were unbelievable. The once mighty forest was now a blackened nightmare. The homes which the old knight had tried so hard to save were falling even to his own magical blasts! But the two continued on.

The damage the two inflicted upon one another was beyond belief, yet they continued on. An old and honored families farm now lie at their feet, no more than an almost forgotten memory now. The old knight valiantly tried to stop his old friend/foe. But the two continued on.

The two were finally out of magic, the fight would now get bloody, and personal. The first thing to feel this new assault was the old knights trusted companion, Bruno, his war-horse. City Crusher swung his mighty tail in a powerful arc that slammed into both the old knight and his mount. Both were sent flying into the remains of an old building. City Crusher halted, breathing deeply, he let out a terrible roar, then slumped to the ground.

The old knight awoke not knowing how long he lay. His first thought was for his old friend and companion Bruno. Bruno was named for an old and long gone dear friend whom had taught him much as a page of KORT.

"Bruno. Come." the old knight managed to get out as he tried to get to his feet. The pain was excruciating! He surely had broken all the ribs on his left side. He examined his left side as stood and discovered that indeed the whole of the left side of his beautiful armor was destroyed. The skin torn away and ribs exposed. The wound gave the appearance of one whom had had his heart torn out. Which it was about too.

"Bruno! Come!" he managed to shout through the pain. It was then that he spied his old friend, crumpled, grasping for breath through his now unrecognizable muzzle.

"Tyr save him." The old knight pleaded as he made his way to his wounded friend.

He dropped to his knees as he surveyed the damage to his long time companion. There appeared not to be an unbroken bone, not one! "Tyr! Take me instead!" he pleaded. "Twas I whom caused this! He but went where I bid. Never questioning me, only trusting in my judgment." He cried openly as he tried in vain to comfort his dying mount, friend, and companion.

The old knight cursed himself for not learning the ways of healing as he had oft thought to do, but there was never time! Time, the healer of all things had failed this time! It had not allowed for the very thing that might save his friend. He had only thought of himself when deciding not to take the time to learn the healing craft. It would have taken him away from his vain attempt at glory. Would have pulled him out of the glorious light with which he was so used to being surrounded in! If only he had taken the time, maybe..maybe he could have saved his friend whom now lay dying at his side.

Stroking his old friend, the knight looked around at the devastation that surrounded them. It was then that he noticed where they were. Twas the very place of Bruno’s birth! The farm which he had just aided in destroying was Bruno birthplace! Shaking his head and pounding his bloodied fists into his thighs he thought of something told him once, ‘Life is a circle. We come from whence we came’.

"Now I have killed you my old friend" he said through tears so long forgotten now. Bruno’s breathing became labored and raspy. The death gurgle was apparent. The one good eye of his dying companion locked onto his. Was there disbelief there, anger, pity, sorrow, or just pain. What was he thinking! The old knight knew he could not bear to see his long time companion stay in such pain.

It was then that he made the hardest decision of his life. He must end the life of a friend! Slowly he got to his feet and searched for his trident, another old companion. This one he had named Giantkiller after another friend of old. He soon found his trusty weapon, and as if Tyr was punishing the old knight, it too was destroyed! His magical weapon that had withstood the harshest of battles lay in pieces!

"Tyr! Thy punishment is complete indeed." He thought as he picked up the pieces and returned to Bruno. Laying the pieces reverently beside his dying friend, he withdrew his dagger of slaying so long forgotten in it’s place at his side. He had not used it since he was but a page. Twas the first weapon he had used as a page. "the circle again" he thought.

He kneeled at the head of his old friend, knife poised over his temple. He looked into the now glazing eye, "I will end thy pain my friend." His tears flowed anew. " I can not bear to see thee in such pain." Bruno eye seemed to clear for a moment. There he saw understanding and sorrow. Again the old knight wished he knew the mind of his old friend.

With all the strength he had, he plunged the dagger into the brain of his friend! The n he said a prayer for his fallen companion.

"Tyr take this one unto thy breast. For he was more a knight than I. He wanted naught but to help others. Was true to the end. Cared not for his own glory! Riches! Or LIFE! Let him run free with no pain. Mend his broken body. You need not bother with the heart for tis strong and true. Tyr be blessed."

Miraculously his spell empty mind was filled again. He walked backwards, never taking his eyes off his two life long companions. The spell came to mind without bidding. A mighty fire blast roared at his friends. Twould have been a thing to marvel at had it been on another occasion. For it was powerful enough to completely vaporize both. "Tyr has taken you both entirely unto him" he thought as he looked up in praise. A long forgotten memory of a warm touch came over the old knight, and his pain was gone, his wounds healed, his thoughts clear. But not his heart, that was still broken. Even Tyr could not fix this injury……….Now to another old friend.