The Last

I am the last, and soon my time will come.

When it began, I was scarcely come to manhood, nervously girding for my first battle. Word came that we would not fight, and I was glad. Hearing of a curse upon us, we laughed at first.

I do not laugh now. I have seen father, uncles, brothers wither away without heirs. Our people have all but vanished from the world, yet they are still caught within its nets. At night I hear them groaning, begging for release.

Soon, I will join them under the mountain. They are waiting for me.