Robert Keller - The Heart of Shadows

Galvia shrugged. "In ways I won't talk about, so don't bother asking."

Jerret rolled his eyes. "Come on, we're all friends here."

Galvia hesitated, then said, "I had a hard life on the boats, if you must know. Too many drunken men around who care nothing for the welfare of others-especially women. I had to learn to protect myself from an early age, because my father seldom protected me." She bowed her head. "It doesn't matter now. The Knights took me away from there and now I have a home and a purpose."

"I'm sorry to hear about your childhood, Galvia," said Aldreya.

"Me too," said Jerret, with a troubled expression.

Galvia gazed at Jerret. "So what about you, Jerret Dragonsbane? What kind of life did you lead before Dremlock?"

Jerret looked uncomfortable. "Mine was boring. Very boring."

"Then by all means keep it to yourself," said Prince Vannas, yawning. He leaned back on his elbows. "I'd rather not hear a boring story."

"I want to hear it," said Galvia.

"Trust me, you don't," said Jerret. He shifted about, almost appearing to squirm. "It will put you to sleep."

Galvia gave him a curious stare.

Lothrin sheathed his dagger, his green eyes gleaming in the lantern light. The lean Squire sat with his legs crossed, some jerky on one knee and his sharpening stone on the other. His long, silver hair partially concealed the strange, leaf-shaped birthmark on his face. "The past doesn't matter now, because we're here together. We can make our own destiny."

Vannas held up the pouch containing the White Flamestone. "My destiny is this, cousin. The only destiny I want or need."

Lothrin shook his head. "Your destiny is not a stone, oh prince. That's just a weapon, like my dagger."

"Not just a weapon," said Vannas. "The ultimate weapon."

"Don't be a prisoner of that stone," said Lothrin, frowning.

"Prisoner?" said Vannas. "Hardly. This Flamestone is bonded to me. It is a part of me now and a part of my future."

"You're a man," said Lothrin. "Flesh and blood, and nothing more. Be a simple man who holds a great stone, not a great man who holds a great stone-or that stone will crush you with the weight of its burden."

Vannas laughed. "You and your silly riddles. I always did like that about you. It amuses me."

Lothrin chuckled. "Glad I can entertain, at least."

Lannon considered the meaning of Lothrin's words. Vannas seemed obsessed with the White Flamestone and terribly overconfident-not hesitant in the least to brag about his power, as if he'd forgotten it all came from the stone. He seemed too caught up in his own greatness and sense of destiny. Lannon wondered why the Eye of Divinity had never had that same effect on him. Lannon had always been fearful of the Eye, and though his confidence in using it had increased, the fear and uncertainty remained. The Eye of Divinity seemed darker than the White Flamestone and laced with peril, having led the Dark Watchmen to a bad end. On the other hand, perhaps the power of the White Flamestone seemed incorruptible to Vannas-and perhaps it was incorruptible, but Vannas himself was not.

Thrake Wolfaxe stepped into the tent, rain dripping from his beard. He sat down and smiled. His huge, muscular form shivered beneath the fur cloak he wore over his armor. He seemed to take up half the tent. "Greetings, Squires."

They greeted him in return. Aldreya quickly moved to his side to dry him with her dagger, but Thrake seized her arm. "None of that," he said gruffly, pushing her away. "I'll take care of it myself."

Aldreya bowed and sat back down.

Thrake drew his own dagger and set to work drying himself off with the mystical fire. "You should be able to rest easy, Squires. You're very well protected. No foe can get to this tent without a serious fight on his hands."

"Thank you, Master Thrake," said Jerret, who idolized the Red Knight and seemed to think of him almost like an older brother. "I know that with you guarding us, we have nothing to fear."

For an instant, a shadow of doubt settled over Thrake's face. Then he gave a weary smile. "I hope that's true, Jerret."

"Thanks to you and Master Shennen," said Prince Vannas, "I can sleep in peace." He hesitated, then said, "Master Shennen is guarding us as well, right?"

Thrake frowned. "Yes."

"Is something wrong?" asked Vannas, his eyes narrowing.

"Nothing I will speak of," said Thrake.

"It's about Master Shennen," said Aldreya. "Right?"

Thrake glared at her. "Did you not hear what I just said, Birlote? I don't care to speak about this topic."

"My apologies," said Aldreya.

Thrake slapped his knee and sighed. "I didn't come here to be harsh with you Squires. Rather, I just wanted to tell you all how proud I am of you. I've never seen a finer or more talented group of Squires in all my years. And I would gladly die protecting you, as you are the future of Dremlock Kingdom."

The Squires exchanged delighted glances (with the exception of Lothrin whose face betrayed no expression) and thanked the famed Red Knight for his kind words. Jerret looked especially pleased.

"Master Thrake," said Jerret, "you're the greatest Knight of all."

Thrake chuckled, his face reddening a bit. "No, Jerret, that praise belongs to our Lord Knight, Cordus Landsaver."

"But you'll be Lord Knight someday," said Jerret. "I know it!"

Thrake gazed at Jerret in silence for a moment. Then he said, "If I had a son, I would want him to be like you, Jerret."

Jerret bowed, a broad grin on his face. "I appreciate the kind words, Master! I've learned a lot from you and…and I owe you so much. The training you gave me in Dorok's Hand did wonders for me."

Thrake shook his head. "You owe me nothing, Jerret. But you owe it to yourself to become a great Knight, my young friend. Even if your color class does have to be Blue." He scowled as he spoke that last statement, then winked. "Not that Blue isn't a fine class, of course."

Jerret sighed. "I'd rather be Red like you."

"You still might get your wish," said Thrake. "Clearly, you were not meant to be a Blue Knight and this could be a temporary assignment."

"I can only hope," said Jerret.

"Anyway, I'm so very proud of all of you!" said Thrake. He drank deeply from a flask, and the smell of wine was strong in the tent. "Our future is bright, and we will triumph over the Deep Shadow!"

Prince Vannas clapped his hands together. "Well said!"

"Agreed," said Lannon, his mood soaring. He suspected the wine had softened Thrake's normally cold and gruff personality, but he deeply appreciated the Red Knight's kind words and optimism.

"I have something else to tell you," said Thrake, a troubled expression settling over his face. "I want you to beware of…"

Thrake let his words trail off as Shennen stepped into the tent. The Lord of the Blue Knights gazed sternly at Thrake-his shining Birlote eyes contrasting his pale face. "What going on in here?"

Thrake shrugged. "Just having a friendly chat with the Squires and drying myself off. Nothing important."

Shennen's eyes narrowed. "You're supposed to be standing guard outside, Thrake, not sitting in here indulging in comforts."

Thrake nodded. "Sorry, Shennen. But what does it matter? If I'm in here, I'm still guarding them."

"Because I want the Squires in this tent alone," said Shennen. "You may check on them briefly through the entrance."

Thrake looked troubled. "Why?"

Shennen hesitated. "Reasons of my own, and none of your concern."

"I'm part of the Divine Shield," said Thrake, glowering. "So it is my concern! I find your insistence on the Squires being alone in here to be…unsettling. I realize there was that assassin at Dremlock, but still…"

Shennen glowered back. "I am the Lord of the Blue Knights, Thrake. Are you the Lord of the Red Knights? No, there is someone ranked above you named Furlus Goblincrusher. So therefore, I am also ranked above you, Divine Shield or not. So therefore, you will submit to my commands. Is that understood?"