David Dalglish - Clash of Faiths

Mallak led her from the sacrificial circle to where he had tethered his horse at the base of a tree.

“Indeed, he does,” said the paladin as he untied his mount. “But he has much to atone for. I’m sure the guilt of his failures weighs heavy on him, and will until he executes the paladin… what was his name?”

“Jerico.”

“Yes, Jerico. With his death, Darius’s atonement will be complete.”

Valessa accepted his offered hand, and she sat behind him as he rode out to where she had tied her own horse, following her quick gestures to lead him there.

“But what of Nevek? Pheus? Lars? I heard rumors of other dark paladins going missing, too. What of those potential murders?”

Mallak stopped his horse so she could dismount. As she untied her horse, the strong rope wrapped around a low branch, she heard the paladin draw his blade.

“This fire is for healing as much as cleansing,” she heard him say. She turned about, and the frightening power in his eyes sent her to one knee. “We lost good men to him, but I will not lose another if he has truly returned. Let him fight. Let him suffer, and walk Karak’s hard road. But should he stumble, or turn against all Karak holds dear

…”

He swung the sword once, cutting the tree limb Valessa had tied her horse to. It fell to the ground with a thud, having barely slowed the blade as it cleaved through the air.

“I follow your orders, not those of the prophet,” she said, her head bowed. “Speak the word, and I will turn on Velixar himself.”

“I know, girl. Now hurry. I saw an inn a mile back, and I would like to sleep on a soft bed while I still can.”

She mounted her horse, tightened her cloak about her, and then let him lead the way.

*

Kaide was surprised by Jerico’s silence as they rode back toward Stonahm. He’d expected questions, doubt, maybe even rudimentary discussion of battle tactics. But instead the paladin remained lost in thought, and this made him wonder. When required, the two traded their mounts for fresh horses at a nearby village, with every farmer eager to help out with Arthur’s war, as they called it.

Arthur’s war. Only now did they accept it, even though he’d spent years spilling the blood of Sebastian’s men. Sure, they’d given him their support, but only when he dumped bags of stolen gold at their feet. At every village, he told them of the coming conflict, and made a quick speech rallying them to battle before moving on, trusting them to find and link up with Arthur’s vanguard.

“We’re making good time,” Kaide said as they rode out from another village, saddled up on yet another new pair of horses. Kaide’s was a chestnut mare, and he liked the beast’s energy.

Still Jerico said nothing.

As they camped for the night, only a two day ride from Stonahm, he finally asked Jerico what was the matter.

“You badgered me into talking,” he said, grinning at the paladin. “I think it’s my turn, now.”

“Ashvale,” Jerico said, still staring into their fire. “What happens to the people there if we win?”

“When we win, I suppose I’ll leave that up to Arthur.”

Half a smile cracked on the paladin’s face.

“I’m no fool, Kaide. Arthur will give you what you want as reward for helping him sway the people to his cause. What will you ask of him? Will you butcher the people who live there now? Send them away without homes? What?”

Kaide leaned back and tossed another stick onto the fire. He watched it burn as he chewed on his words.

“You want to know what kind of man I am,” he said at last. “That’s what this comes down to, isn’t it?”

When Jerico nodded, he sighed.

“I don’t know anymore, Jerico. There was a time I’d have burned down every building with the people inside to reclaim my home. But we’ve made a new home now. It’s only the fire in my gut that urges me on. I may never take back Ashvale, just as I will never bring my wife back to life. But I can hurt the man who did it. I can make him suffer, as I suffered. He took away my home, my lands, and my wealth. I’ll do the same to him.”

“Revenge is never-”

“Spare me,” Kaide said, glaring. “I know what revenge is. I live with it night and day. What will you tell me, that I’ll feel hollow inside when I’m done? You’re wrong. I’ll feel elation. I’ve lost friends, family, and spilled sweat and blood to achieve what Arthur now marches toward. I’ll feel complete, paladin. Does that answer your question?”

Jerico nodded.

“Sadly, I think it does.”

He stood to leave, but Kaide stopped him with two words.

“The Citadel.”

Jerico glanced over his shoulder, and he stood very still.

“What does that have to do with anything?” he asked.

“You are no different than I. You lost your friends, your home, everything you’d ever known. Would you tell me that, if given the chance, you wouldn’t hunt down and kill the man responsible? Would anything I said change your mind?”

The paladin fell silent. Kaide knew he’d struck home. He wouldn’t lose a valuable ally, not now.

“You feel it burning in your gut, don’t you?” he said quietly. “I know the feeling. Let me give you what you want. The people talk to me, tell me whispers of stories they might be afraid to speak in the daylight. I know the name of the man who destroyed your home. Stay with me, and I’ll tell you. Then you can decide for yourself just what type of man you are.”

Jerico brushed his red hair away from his face, then touched his shield as if needing its strength.

“I’ll help you,” he said. “I still think you’re in the right, and I’ll pray to Ashhur that when the battle is done, you’ll be a better man than I fear. Just promise me one thing.”

“And what is that?”

Jerico looked him in the eye, and there was a force there that made Kaide’s throat tighten.

“Never, ever, tell me that name.”

“I promise.”

“Good.” Jerico smacked him upside the shoulder, and he grinned as if a heavy weight had left his chest. “A few days more until Stonahm, yes? I hope you realize that I barely had time to teach your men how to hold a blade, let alone kill anyone with it. You better have something in mind for them other than standing in the front lines when Sebastian’s knights come crashing in.”

“One of these days you’ll stop thinking I’m a fool,” Kaide said, tossing a nearby stone at him. It clanked off the paladin’s armor.

“One of these days it’ll be right do so, but until then, I work with what I have.”

Another rock, this one larger. Jerico failed to duck in time, and as he rubbed his eyebrow, Kaide laughed.

“You may be a big lug in armor,” he said, “but even this fool knows to strike where a man’s weakness is.”

“Mine’s my forehead?”

“It’s big enough.”

Jerico smiled.

“When the battle starts, you stay at my side,” he said. “I’d hate for you to get killed off on your own.”

Kaide shot him a wink.

“We may lose this entire war, and I’ll still survive. Trust me on that. I’ve eaten the flesh of the dead. Sebastian has nothing, nothing , that can frighten me now.”

“You’ve really done it now,” Bellok said, the wizard looking positively annoyed.

“Is that so?” Kaide asked, grinning as the rest came up to greet them.

“You started a war without me. I’m disappointed.”

The two laughed, and then louder as Adam and Griff wrapped them in bear hugs.

“We get to fight!” they cried in unison.

Jerico slipped to the side, content to let them celebrate. He caught Beth watching him while waiting for her father to be free. He smiled at her, but she looked away. When Kaide called to her, she ran and wrapped her arm around his chest, hugging him tightly. Her stump remained at her side, as if she were afraid to touch him with it.