I am a knight leading those under my command through a mountain forest in the fall. I see the ambush before we walk into it and go ahead on my own. The traps of vines and snares go off around me but I nimbly (or so I like to ftter myself) evade them, even as the elven woman who set them confronts me.

  This is not the first time I’ve encountered her or those under her command, but neither of us are truly out for blood anymore. This mountain pass and the nds immediately on either side have traded hands between her nation and mine repeatedly over years of pointless conflict. We’re both tired of it.

  She’s frustrated though to see me once again. While we go through the motions of fighting, she berates me for not having done more to stop things on my side. I say that while I have some rank and reputation it’s not enough to make anyone above me change. She calls me out for making excuses.

  Our forces break off in a mutual retreat. None are severely harmed today.

  That evening I sit alone on a fallen log at the edge of an alpine ke and pray to The God That Was Once Human for guidance. They rarely answer prayers, but this time they do. I’m told that I already know what I need to do.

  The next day I announce to those under my command that I am done with fighting a needless conflict and will have no more part of it. I bid them all to do the same and to spread the word.

  If I cannot convince those few above me, perhaps I can at least set an example for everyone else to follow.

  Afterwards I take the coward’s way out and disappear into the mountains, hoping that will add mystique to the nascent movement. I’ve long since lost the stomach to fight, even for a more just cause.