“Pearlescent”

Glistening needlepoint, torn threadbear by verbalized knife fights. Battle banner waiving tattered in the winds of change. Barely bold enough to be deciphered, it’s crest and code, color and crown...still intact.

The soldier underneath it lay slain. Armor askew, chain mail in tatters and flesh marred in all directions. His left hand grasping the bottom of his banner post, holding on for all he was worth. His right, empty short of a small oval stone. It’s glimmer shows under few cracks of light in an overcast sky.