Knights: Defenders of Ollanhar (Ollanhar Series Book 1) (37 page)

The Lawkeeper waved them away. “That’s your only
proof? The Eye of Divinity is not recognized by Bellis law as proof of
anything. Too little is known about this type of sorcery, and it is too
unreliable. If Lannon saw anything like what he describes, then his mind was
clearly tricked by the Deep Shadow. And the word of a mere boy cannot be
trusted. So you have no proof.”

 
Two Golden Knights
took position behind the Lawkeeper. The two Thallite Giants stood behind the
Guardians, smug looks on their faces. Several warriors trained their crossbows
on Prince Vannas. Lothrin readied his arrow in response, the shaft pointed at
the Lawkeeper.

“Take your lies and go away,” said Ethella.

“What I saw was the truth,” said Lannon.
“And by Dremlock law, you have committed punishable acts. We have the
right to arrest you.”

“You would attempt that?” said the Lawkeeper,
with a look of disbelief. “And risk war coming to Dremlock? You are more
of a fool than I had assumed. But go ahead and do what you must. It won’t be
easy to arrest us. We will fight. And even if we lose, King Verlamer will soon
know of your treachery.”

A moment of tense silence followed.

“Have you even considered,” said the Lawkeeper,
“that these mountains are crawling with various horrors? How do you know
it wasn’t some foul monsters that slew your Knights? Did you examine the
wounds?”

“The bodies were gone,” said Aldreya. “You
burned them to ash.”

“So no bodies,” said the Lawkeeper, shaking his
head. “And it was pouring rain all night, so how could we burn anything?
Your so-called proof grows less credible by the moment.”

“She burned them with sorcery,” said Aldreya,
pointing at Ethella.

Ethella laughed. “Don’t be absurd. I’m not that
powerful, that I can make fire burn in the middle of a fierce downpour. Could
you do that?”

Aldreya didn’t answer.

“You did it somehow,” said Lannon. “The Eye
saw it.”

Unable to contain himself any longer, Jerret growled,
“This is a waste of time. You know what you did, and you will die for it.
Here and now.”

“Silence, barbarian,” said the Lawkeeper.
“Let the intelligent amongst you speak. Go drink some ale or find some
poor man or beast to bully. Go punch someone in a tavern. It’s all you’re good
for.”

Jerret gazed at him coldly, but didn’t reply.

Aldreya pulled Lannon aside to whisper to him. “We
must send a Hawk first, Lannon. If we arrest him, it will mean war.”

Reluctantly, Lannon nodded. The arrogance of the Lawkeeper
and Ethella was maddening, and his heart was flooded with the desire for
justice—but not at the risk of war against a kingdom that nearly ruled the
entire continent.

“Is your business here finished?” asked the
Lawkeeper. “I am a busy man with important things to do—and I haven’t had
my breakfast yet. Hot tea and cake await me in my tent. Either arrest us, or
leave my campsite.”

“You are free to go,” Aldreya said. “For
now. But eventually you will pay for your crimes. Such evil cannot go
unpunished.”

 
Jerret turned his
sullen gaze toward Aldreya. “If we don’t arrest him, I will be forced to
finish this myself.”

“If you do anything foolish, Jerret,” Aldreya warned,
“you will be permanently stripped of your Knighthood. You will lose
everything.”

“Get on your horse, Jerret,” said Lannon.

“Be gone with you, savage,” said the Lawkeeper,
motioning Jerret away. “I have no time to deal with such a dull-minded
oaf.”

“Galvia was worth more than all of you,” said
Jerret, making a sweeping gesture toward Bellis’ fighters. He swallowed,
overcome by emotion for an instant.

“Apparently not,” said the Lawkeeper, “if
she is amongst the dead. Apparently she’s not worth the dirt beneath my boots
these days. She is nothing now.” He grinned.

Jerret sat like a statue, knuckles white as he gripped his
sword. “She was a friend unlike any other. We shared a bond between
warriors that you can never know. And you took that away in the most cowardly
fashion.”

Ethella laughed. “I think the dumb oaf is angry. He
lost his girlfriend and he wants to blame someone for it.”

Jerret didn’t look at her. His gaze was focused on the
Lawkeeper—and there was death in that gaze.

The grin vanished from the Lawkeeper’s face, as he looked
into Jerret’s icy eyes. He turned to Aldreya. “Better rein in your savage
before—”

Jerret’s broadsword cleared its sheath, catching the light
of dawn for a moment before erupting into crimson flames. And then it tore through
the air with a speed that no one—not even Lannon—had a chance to interfere
with.

The Glaetherin broadsword passed through the Lawkeeper’s
neck. His body collapsed, as his head rolled down the rocky slope.

A gasp arose from the onlookers.

Ethella lunged at Jerret with her glowing staff—but Lannon
was there in an instant, his sword blocking her attack.

Ethella backed away from Lannon, a look of fear in her
eyes.

“Order a retreat!” Lannon commanded. “Or you
will all be arrested!”

Prince Vannas rode forward, the White Flamestone blazing.

Bellis’ warriors had started forward, but Ethella waved
them back. “I am in command now,” she told them. “We will not
fight.”

Reluctantly, the warriors lowered their weapons.

Ethella sneered at the Lawkeeper’s body. “I hated that
old fool anyway. I’m glad he’s dead.” Laughing, she motioned the Divine
Knights to leave. “Ride away, little Knights. Your time will come soon
enough.”

As the Knights departed, Aldreya’s face showed deep
disappointment.

***

When they reached camp, and dismounted from the horses,
Aldreya took a deep breath, turned to Jerret, and said, “For violating the
Sacred Laws of Dremlock, I call for a vote to expel you from the Divine Order
of Red Knights and from the Council of Ollanhar.”

The other Knights looked dismayed.

“Is there a way I can avoid this?” Jerret asked
quietly. “Make amends?”

“No,” said Aldreya. “What you have
done—risking war with Bellis to satisfy your lust for vengeance—is not the
way of a Divine Knight. You will never be a Knight of the Order again, for as
long as you live.”

“Then I await the vote,” said Jerret.

“He should be given another chance,” Vorden said
to Aldreya. “Jerret has served Dremlock honorably, and the Lawkeeper
deserved to be executed for his crimes. Yes, Jerret should not have done it.
But why deprive him of his Knighthood over the death of a wretched fiend like
that? It makes no sense.”

“Dremlock does not execute people,” Aldreya
replied. “The Sacred Laws forbid it. Even our worst enemies—should they
surrender—will face only imprisonment for their crimes. This is the will of
the Divine Essence. Jerret slew the Lawkeeper without warning—and after no
trial took place. His crime is so severe that we cannot in good conscience
allow him to remain a Knight.”

“How is that different than an assassination?”
asked Vorden. “And we know Dremlock sends forth assassins.”

“Assassinations are allowed,” said Aldreya,
“when very specific criteria is met and the High Council has voted. That
is not the case here. Jerret took matters into his own hands. This was nothing
but an execution.”

Lannon looked on in helpless frustration, knowing he was
powerless to prevent this. Jerret had simply gone too far, and his career as a
Divine Knight was finished. No other outcome was possible.

Dallsa was summoned from the wagon, and the voting began.

The Council gathered in a circle. “All in favor of
banishing Jerret from Knighthood,” said Aldreya, “speak now.”

Without hesitation, Lannon said, “I vote for
banishment. The Sacred Laws demand it, and in this case it is truly justified.
I’m terribly sorry, my friend. But you left me with no choice.”

 
Jerret shook his
head, looking disgusted. “I guess I’m not your friend after all, Lannon. I
thought for sure I would at least have your vote.”

“You’re being unfair to me,” said Lannon. “I
must vote with my conscience. One cannot be a Divine Knight halfheartedly. I am
in it all the way, Jerret.” But Jerret’s words stung deeply, and Lannon
wondered if he was making the right choice, Sacred Laws or not.

“I vote for banishment,” said Dallsa. “And
shame on you, Jerret, for stomping on your friendship with Lannon over this. It
was your choice to…to cut off that man’s head, and while he deserved it, that
is not our way of things. You have to live with this always, and I hope you
eventually find peace.”

“I vote to award Jerret a Medal of Divinity,”
said Daledus, his face sullen and defiant. “Taking the Lawkeeper’s head
was justified.” He fixed his grey eyes on Jerret. “You may lose your
Knighthood, but you have earned the respect of this Dwarf. Vengeance was ours
today. I will say no more.”

Aldreya sighed. “Who’s next?”

“I don’t like what happened,” said Vorden.
“Not at all. I’m glad the Lawkeeper is dead, but that just wasn’t right.
However, I also believe people make mistakes out of wild emotion—sometimes
truly wretched ones—and that forgiveness is possible. Jerret is an amazingly
talented fighter and he has a noble heart. Therefore, my conscience dictates
that I vote for him to remain.”

“I vote for Jerret to remain,” said Jace, with a
shrug. “He let his anger get the best of him, and put us at great risk for
war, but he is an exceptional fighter and will be needed in the days ahead.
Banishing him is pointless.”

“Banishment,” said Prince Vannas. “The
Sacred Laws cannot be compromised. This was an arrogant and blatant violation
of all that Dremlock and Ollanhar stand for. It simply must not go
unpunished.”

“I vote to give him another chance,” said
Lothrin. “But it doesn’t matter, because the majority has already spoken.”

Aldreya stepped close to Jerret, face to face. “Jerret
Dragonsbane, by official vote of the Council of Ollanhar you are hereby
banished forever from the Divine Order. You are no longer a Knight. However,
you will still receive payment for past services rendered, which you can
collect at Ollanhar Tower. I will also allow you to keep your horse until you
can purchase a different one. Then the Greywind must be returned to Ollanhar
where it belongs.”

“Then I guess it’s truly over,” said Jerret, with
a huge sigh. His sword slipped from his fingers and clattered to the rocky
ground.

Lannon couldn’t imagine the despair Jerret was feeling—but
it was his own fault. He had made his decision and would have to live with it.

“I guess I’ll be leaving then,” said Jerret.

No one answered, their hearts heavy with sadness.

Jace, however, seemed in a cheerful mood. He picked up
Jerret’s fallen broadsword with its wolf-head hilt and examined it.
“Excellent blade,” he said. “The Lawkeeper never stood a
chance.”

“I had my revenge,” said Jerret, “but my
future is lost. Would I do it again? Yes, but right now I feel…wretched
beyond belief.”

Jace shrugged. “Don’t feel bad. Futures come and go.
I’ve lost my future many times—and found a different one to replace it.”
He smiled. “I have a suspicion that Lannon needs to hire a henchman. Isn’t
that right, Lannon?”

“I don’t know,” said Lannon, caught off guard by
the suggestion. “Am I allowed to? Jerret just beheaded the Lawkeeper
without warning. Once word gets to Dremlock, he could even face a criminal
trial for his actions.”

“Well, it was rather impulsive of him,” said
Jace. “But it’s not like that vile puppet of Bellis didn’t deserve to lose
his head. Let’s not be too judgmental here over a bit of vengeance from a Red
Knight. You know how they are. As the High Watchman, you have the right to hire
some muscle—and Jerret has a lot of that. I say go ahead and put him on the
payroll. Do you really think the High Council of Dremlock will interfere with
your decisions? If so, you haven’t been paying attention.”

“I forbid this,” said Aldreya, her face stony.
“You are attempting to persuade Lannon to get around our decision. That is
unacceptable.”

Jace bowed. “Of course I am. Uncle Jace is full of
such schemes—all for the greater good, of course. I must point out that the
High Watchman has final say over who he hires. This isn’t about Dremlock, but
Ollanhar. It is not your decision, Aldreya. And bear in mind that I too was
banished from Knighthood—yet here I am, riding with Divine Knights and serving
so well.”

Aldreya turned to Lannon. “Then what is your
answer?”

Lannon sighed. “I like to keep things peaceful, of
course. But…Jerret is a great fighter and certainly needed. For now, Jerret
can ride with us and be paid for the trouble. It’s too dangerous to be alone in
these mountains anyway.”

Aldreya seemed about to reply. Then she simply walked away.

Jace handed the sword to Jerret. “I guess you’ll still
be needing this.”

Jerret took the sword. “I suppose I always will need
it.” He gazed into the distance. “Somehow I went wrong and forgot
what it means to be a Divine Knight. Now I’m nothing but a barbarian, killing
in the name of vengeance.” He shrugged. “If that’s what I am, then so
be it. I don’t really have any skills beyond the use of my sword. I will remain
a warrior for hire—if not with Ollanhar, then somewhere else. Now that I’ve
lost my Knighthood, I realize how important it was to me. Galvia wouldn’t have
wanted this for me.”

“No, she would not have,” Lannon agreed. After he
spoke, though, Lannon found he wasn’t so sure. The Grey Dwarves were not shy
about claiming vengeance when necessary (much to the disappointment of Dremlock
at times). As far as Lannon knew, Galvia’s soul might have been cheering Jerret
on. There was nothing more to be said. Jerret was a different type of warrior
than Lannon—a Red Knight to the core—and Lannon could never understand his
ways.