Tear Jerker / A Scotsman in Egypt

• The deaths of Edward and Edmund Canmore...
  • Edmund is the "last" victim of the last huge battle with the Mongols, taking seven days to succumb to his injuries...
  Edward: Edmund, if ye do nae believe in God.... what do ye think will happen to ye when ye die?
  Edmund: Who knows. (surprisingly peaceful) I have studied much of death, one can hardly live in Egypt and nae. Some believe the mind plays a final trick, creating infinity in a moment, giving a man more joy than we can believe exists and distracting him from the end. Others think we just...stop. Others believe our bodies return to dust, and eventually the dust becomes something again—an animal, a man, who knows, maybe a tree! (laughs playfully) I dinnae know, and I honestly dinnae care. I have lived more in my life than 1000 men, and I have confessed my only regret to the only man whose opinion matters. I sit here in a City we conquered, my sons' futures assured and my life lived well. I sit in the sun with my beloved brother, and I think to myself...this is nae a bad way to die at all. Nae, it's nae a bad way to die at all.
  Edward and Edmund sat in silence for several minutes watching the sun set, and when Edward finally turned to speak again, he saw Edmund sitting with a small smile on his face, staring with unseeing eyes into the desert.
  Edward: Nae Edmund. It's nae a bad way to die.
  • About a month later, Edward goes to bed and after a little bit feels like he's on a boat. Turns out what Edmund said about "a final trick" came to pass...
    Young!Edmund: King Edward...
    Edward: (smiling regardless) Edmund, what is this?
    Young!Edmund: God is calling ye home, Edward. And I have been waiting for ye.
    Edward: Nae, nae! It's nae the right time, I still have so much work t—
    Young!Edmund: Ye work is done, and others remain to finish it for ye. (puts a hand on Edward's shoulder) Now it is time for the Canmore Brothers to go on one last great adventure.
    • And they Go into the Light with one incredibly awesome thought:
      Edward: Edmund?
      Young!Edmund: Aye, Edward?
      Edward: Do you think there'll be women?
• The death of Domnall as well, especially when combined with "The Eldar".
  Domnall: "I'm so proud of the man ye became Aodh, and Father would be too.. and Uncle... but the story of my death is the story of my life.... I was nae Edward Canmore."
  Aodh: "Aye... ye were better."
• Nevin of Shetland's death.
  "I will see ye again, Nevin of Shetland," Aodh insisted, and Nevin nodded weakly,"I WILL see ye again!"
• In Chapter 20, there's a brief scene showing two grizzled old Scottish Highlanders, who were cousins that part of the force that stormed Jerusalem. One of them has died in battle, and the other is weeping over his body, while he himself bleeds from a mortal wound that he's refusing to acknowledge. Its one of the quieter but most powerful scenes in the story, that serves to remind the reader that these battles involve people.