Brian Anderson - Of Gods And Elves

“How could your own son betray you like that?”asked Dina, still furious. “And his own mother…”

“ I know ,” snappedLee. “I know,” he repeated, this time more calmly. Milletplaced his hand gently on Lee's shoulder. “What will you do?”

“I'll keep my word,” Lee replied. “Iwill save my wife.” His eyes fell on Jacob. “And he willgo with me.”

“You can't be serious,” Millet protested.

Lee never took his eyes off his son. “I've neverbeen more serious. Yanti knew what he was doing, leaving me alive.”

“What do you mean?” asked Dina.

Lee glanced sideways her. “He wants me to gonorth, and wants me out of the fight. If I am captured attempting torescue my wife, then they will try to turn me. If the Dark One wasable to empower Yanti so much as to make short work of me, his ownpower must be unfathomable. If I went with him willingly, he wouldworry about treachery along the way. This way I deliver myself intotheir hands. And he knew exactly what he was doing by leaving Jacobbehind.”

“I still don't follow,” said Dina.

“By doing so,” Lee explained. “Heleaves me with an impossible choice. If I decide to return to Gewey,and continue aiding him, I will be forced to kill my own son. Icannot trust Jacob, therefore I cannot take him with me. Nor can Isimply let him go.”

“Why not?” argued Dina. “He clearlywants you dead. Why not just leave him to return to his masters?”

Lee looked at Dina angrily. “He's my son .He is what he is because I abandoned him. I'll not simply leave himto his fate. No. If I can save him, I will. And if we are killed,we'll die together.”

“And I will go with you,” said Millet.

Lee smiled at the man with intense affection. “No,my friend. You must continue what I cannot. You must return and aidGewey, as best you can.”

Millet opened his mouth to protest, but Lee held up hishand, silencing him.

“You must do this,” pleaded Lee, his eyeswelled with tears. “I have never given you a command, dearfriend… until now. I must break the oath I made to Gewey, so youmust have more honor than I. You must keep the word of the houseNal’Thain, as you are bound to do. But you will not do so as myservant.” He walked over to his pack and retrieved a sealedparchment. “From this moment on you shall be known as MilletNal’Thain. I empower you with the rank and privileges of Lordand Patriarch of my family. I officially step down from all titlesand pass them to you.” He held out the parchment.

Millet took a step back. “My Lord,” hecried. “You cannot do this. I am your servant, and shall remainso. I refuse this.”

Lee smiled and pressed the letter into Millet's hand.“You cannot refuse. As the Lord Nal’Thain, it is my rightto choose my successor. You are the only man I can trust with thechallenges that lie ahead. And I am sorry. I leave to you a brokenhouse of a broken land, and it will be up to you to heal them andrestore our honor. I likely ride to my death and even should Isurvive, I cannot return to my former life. I beg you to do thisservice.”

By this time, Millet was weeping openly. “I cannotrestore your honor. I could only maintain it. The honor of Nal’Thainis embodied in you. I will not fail you, my lor-” He took astep back and bowed. “Lee.”

Lee smiled, then bowed low. “I know you won't, mylord.” Jacob began to stir. “You must leave before hewakes,” said Lee. “I don't want him to see what directionyou are going.”

“What about Yanti?” asked Dina. “Doyou think he will follow us?”

“I doubt it,” Lee replied. “He doesn'tconsider you a threat. The only reason he left you alive was toconfuse and hinder me, making my choice more difficult. If he hadplans for you, he would have taken you with him. No doubt, he has themeans to transport you north or have you imprisoned here. Still Isuggest you ride hard until you can take rest within a temple.”

Jacob groaned.

“Now go,” Lee commanded. He embraced themboth and helped them repack their mounts. Millet glanced back onelast time before they spurred their horses to a run. “Goodluck, old friend,” Lee whispered.

“Wh..what's happening?” Jacob moaned,struggling with his bonds.

Lee took a deep breath and knelt down beside his son.“What's happening is that you've been abandoned, left in thehands of your foes. Lucky for you, that foe is also your father.”

Jacob stiffened. “Yanti… that dog. I will killhim for this.”

“Shut your mouth, boy!” barked Lee. “Youhave much to answer for… both of us do. If you choose, I will giveyou a chance for redemption.”

“Just kill me and get it over with,” Jacobgrumbled.

“Why do you think you deserve such a kindness? Youhave betrayed your mother, you have betrayed your father, and youhave dishonored your family name.” He cut Jacob's bonds.

Jacob pulled down his blindfold and rubbed his wrists.“And what have you done, Father? What crimes have youcommitted? How are you any better than me?”

“I have committed crimes I can scarcely describe.And for those crimes I suffer, and will continue to suffer.”Lee stood and offered his hand.

Jacob stared at Lee, and then sneered. “You shouldkill me now. If you don't, I will kill you.”

“And in whose name will you kill me?” Leeasked. “Will you kill me for the Dark Knight, the Reborn Kingof Angraal? The one who just left you behind, now that yourusefulness is over? Or perhaps you will kill me in the name of yourmother? Or do you mean for her to die? Do you? Has the Dark Oneblackened your heart so much that you turn your back on the one wholoves you the most?”

“Loves me?” he roared. “She lovesyou… not me. She never loved me!”

“Of course she does,” said Lee, withdrawinghis hand. “I have never known her to love anything more thanyou, and if you don't see that, then you are as blind as you arefoolish. You think she wept for me?” He paused. “She weptbecause she knew you had to grow up without a father. She weptbecause of my absence in your life. She wept because I had stolen something precious from the true love of herlife. Did she love me? Yes. And I love her still. But you do not knowthe depths of your mother as I do. The moment you came into thisworld you became her reason for living. It was I who was second inher heart, not you.” He re-extended his hand. “Come withme to Angraal, and I'll prove it.”

Jacob hesitated a moment, then allow Lee to pull him tohis feet. “I'll go with you,” said Jacob. “If onlyto take my revenge.”

“That's good enough for now,” said Lee. “Ifyou can refrain from killing me, at least for the time being, I mayeven be able to show you a thing or two about the power that flows inyour veins.”

“As I said,” he replied. “I'll go withyou. I promise nothing else.”

“I suppose that will do,” said Lee. “Perhapstogether we will both find retribution and redemption.”

They loaded the horses and began making their way north.Lee whistled a traditional Hazrian travel song. Jacob did not join inat first, but after a time started to hum along.

Gewey's heart pounded as he passed through the massivedouble doors. Kaylia followed close behind, and though she didn'tshow it, he knew she was nervous. Once inside, Gewey was amazed tosee a room that looked like a theater. On either side of the room,rows of marble benches curved along the walls, forming a semi-circlethat met at the back of a raised, stone platform. The ceiling wasvaulted and covered with the familiar orbs that lit the room sobrightly; it took Gewey's vision a moment to adjust. Standing acrossthe stage, tall and proud, a group of six elves stood, arms crossedand hoods drawn. Theopolou was already atop the stage, and had takenhis place beside the other elders. Gewey and Kaylia walked down thenarrow center isle until they were only a few feet away.