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 willkill 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 weptbecause 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.
Chapter Twenty-Two
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.
“That's far enough, human,” said the elfjust beside Theopolou. Her strong, feminine voice echoed throughoutthe room. She pulled back her hood revealing long, elegant features.Her skin was the same dark bronze as Kaylia's, but her hair was jetblack and wrapped tightly with silver ribbons. She glared down at theduo, not attempting to mask her disgust. “I am Lady Bellisia,Chief Elder of the clan Hastriatis. You know Lord Theopolou. To myleft are Lord Chiron, Lord Endymion, Lord Syranis, Lady Leora, andLord Aneili. We are here to determine whether you are to givetestimony on behalf of Lord Theopolou, who has been called tojudgment, according to our laws.”
“That has already been decided,” correctedTheopolou. “Do not taint my house with deceit.”
Lady Bellisia glared angrily at Theopolou. “It wasnot my intention to deceive,” she said. “I merelymisspoke.” She turned her attention back to Gewey. “I doadmit that some of us were curious to see you.” She glanced atKaylia. “The human who could ensnare one of our people in thebond.”
“I was not ensnared,” barked Kaylia.
“Silence, girl,” Bellisia commanded. “Youhave no right to speak.”
“That’s odd,” said Lord Chiron. “Ithought this was an open forum. Or have the rights of an elfchanged?”
“Just because you support Theopolou and thismadness,” shot Bellisia. “do not think I will tolerateyour insults, even within these walls.”
“I give no insult,” Chiron retorted. “Butas you well know, Kaylia has been invited to these proceedings. Shehas the same right as an elder here… as does the human.”
“I mean no disrespect,” said Gewey. “butI am called Gewey Stedding. You may use my proper name.”
“Indeed,” said Bellisia. “So GeweyStedding, Lord Theopolou has told us that you are quite remarkable,for a human. And he says you saved the life of one of his escorts.”
Gewey nodded. “We were attacked by Vrykol.”
Bellisia laughed. “Yes, I've heard. The ancientevil of the Gods returned to plague the world. What is next? Shallthe Elder Race return to reclaim the world?”
“Once again, you name me a liar,” saidTheopolou. “You have all seen the head.”
“I do not call you a liar,” Bellisiareplied. “I merely say that you have been deceived. Thecreature you showed may or may not be what you claim. Perhaps it isan abomination created by human hands in order to cause fear amongus.”
“And how would they have done such a thing?”Theopolou asked. “Could they create a creature that is as fastas an elf, and will only die when you take its head?”
Bellisia paused. “We are not here to discuss theVrykol.” Her gaze returned to Gewey. “And now that youare in our presence, I have a question. What are you?”
A chill crept into Gewey’s stomach. “I don'tunderstand what you mean.”
“Do you not?” Bellisia pressed. “It'sa simple question. We can all feel the flowthat saturates your being. Humans cannot do this. So I ask again…what are you?”