“What?” Jerico asked. “Why? If I’m to be a martyr, just say so, and I’ll do it gladly.”
“Not a martyr,” Darius said, shaking his head. “Just remember, you are never alone. Even among the lost there are men of faith. Do not hate them. Let go of your sadness and pride, and above all…trust me.”
Darius turned and began walking toward the river, his royal blue cloak billowing behind him.
“Wait!” cried Jerico.
Hearing him, Darius turned, and he gave the paladin a smile.
“Go easy on Kaide, too,” he said. “There’s hope for him yet.”
A white dove flew over him, and its feathers billowed in the wind, multiplying with unnatural means until all Jerico saw was white.
And then he woke to the warnings of a rider approaching from the Castle of the Yellow Rose.
Two hours later, long after the rider had left, Lord Arthur summoned Jerico to his tent. Jerico, left uneasy by his dream, made sure he was in his full armor, his shield on his back and his mace clipped to his side. Getting to the tent involved traveling through a large group of Kevin Maryll’s troops, and the icy glares they gave him made him wonder. The guards at the entrance looked tense, but they let him in without attempting to take his weapon.
Inside, Jerico found Arthur and Kevin waiting for him. Arthur sat at his small desk, and he looked greatly troubled. Kevin, meanwhile, had a smile on his face that made Jerico want to punch him. No reason in particular, other than to see his fist wipe away that smirk and replace it with shock. But that was a juvenile thought, and Jerico chastised himself for it.
“I saw the rider,” Jerico said when neither seemed ready to start the conversation. “What word from Sebastian?”
“The rider was not from my brother,” Arthur said, leaning back into his chair. “No, it seems that priest, Luther, has done what you feared. He defeated Sebastian and his men and then seized control of the castle.”
“Then your path is clear,” Jerico said. “If Luther’s claimed control, send word to all the other lords of Mordan, and to the King himself. This outrage will not…”
“There’s more,” Arthur interrupted. He glanced to Kevin, whose smirk grew.
“Sebastian’s still alive,” Kevin said.
Jerico frowned.
“I don’t see how that changes things.”
Kevin rolled his eyes, all too eager to make the paladin seem unintelligent.
“Luther has offered a trade,” he said. “He’ll turn over control of the castle, as well as spare the life of our lord’s brother. In return, he asks for only one man’s life.”
Jerico felt his breath catch in his throat. No matter how unintelligent Kevin might think him, it took very little imagination to know who Luther requested. Kevin realized it too, and his hand drifted down to his sheathed sword. From all around the tent, Jerico heard the movement of armor. They were surrounded by men loyal to Sir Maryll, no doubt. Again the words of the dream haunted him, and he looked into Arthur’s eyes. A dozen things he wanted to ask, but instead he kept his voice calm.
“Will you say yes?” he asked.
Arthur met his gaze despite his obvious guilt.
“Leave us,” he ordered Kevin.
“Milord, he is a dangerous…”
“I said leave!”
Kevin bowed low, and then he left, his hand still on the hilt of his sword. Arthur mumbled after his leaving, then grabbed a cup of ale and downed it all in one gulp.
“Damn it, Jerico, couldn’t you at least yell at me?” he asked.
Jerico remained silent.
“Luther’s messenger said they’ll kill Sebastian by the end of tonight,” Arthur continued. “There’s no time to send word to anyone, no time to rally an army large enough to storm the walls. They claimed to have a thousand men loyal to Karak, and after what I saw at my own castle, I find that believable enough. My brother’s life may not be worth much, but he’s still family. And more importantly, Luther’s promised to hand over the castle. I can retake all the North without a single drop of blood spilled.”
“Other than my own, of course,” Jerico said. “Why tell me this?”
“Because I want to know if it’s the right thing to do,” Arthur said. “You’d follow your conscience, and I’d follow mine, is that not what we promised? And right now, my gut screams this is wrong, screams it loud enough I’m surprised the rest of my army can’t hear it. But you know how strong an army we face. This isn’t just Sebastian’s pathetic remnants. Luther’s men could storm out of those gates and kill every last one of us, without need for towers and ramparts. We have no hope here, none. Kevin practically threatened treason if I turned down this deal, saying he wouldn’t risk the lives of his men just to save yours. What choice do I have, Jerico?”