The Godling Chronicles 02 - Of Gods And Elves (27 page)

“
I still don't follow,” said Dina.

“
By doing so,” Lee explained. “He
leaves 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. I
cannot trust Jacob, therefore I cannot take him with me. Nor can I
simply let him go.”

“
Why not?” argued Dina. “He clearly
wants 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 him
to 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 aid
Gewey, as best you can.”

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

“
You must do this,” pleaded Lee, his eyes
welled with tears. “I have never given you a command, dear
friend... until now. I must break the oath I made to Gewey, so you
must have more honor than I. You must keep the word of the house
Nal’Thain, as you are bound to do. But you will not do so as my
servant.” He walked over to his pack and retrieved a sealed
parchment. “From this moment on you shall be known as Millet
Nal’Thain. I empower you with the rank and privileges of Lord
and Patriarch of my family. I officially step down from all titles
and pass them to you.” He held out the parchment.

Millet took a step back. “My Lord,” he
cried. “You cannot do this. I am your servant, and shall remain
so. I refuse this.”

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

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

Lee smiled, then bowed low. “I know you won't, my
lord.” Jacob began to stir. “You must leave before he
wakes,” said Lee. “I don't want him to see what direction
you are going.”

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

“
I doubt it,” Lee replied. “He doesn't
consider you a threat. The only reason he left you alive was to
confuse and hinder me, making my choice more difficult. If he had
plans for you, he would have taken you with him. No doubt, he has the
means to transport you north or have you imprisoned here. Still I
suggest you ride hard until you can take rest within a temple.”

Jacob groaned.

“
Now go,” Lee commanded. He embraced them
both and helped them repack their mounts. Millet glanced back one
last time before they spurred their horses to a run. “Good
luck, 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 the
hands of your foes. Lucky for you, that foe is also your father.”

Jacob stiffened. “Yanti... that dog. I will kill
him for this.”

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

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

“
Why do you think you deserve such a kindness? You
have betrayed your mother, you have betrayed your father, and you
have 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 you
committed? 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 should
kill me now. If you don't, I
will
kill you.”

“
And in whose name will you kill me?” Lee
asked. “Will you kill me for the Dark Knight, the Reborn King
of Angrääl? The one who just left you behind, now that your
usefulness is over? Or perhaps you will kill me in the name of your
mother? Or do you mean for her to die? Do you? Has the Dark One
blackened your heart so much that you turn your back on the one who
loves you the most?”

“
Loves me?” he roared. “She loves
you... not me. She never loved me!”

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

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

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

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

“
I suppose that will do,” said Lee. “Perhaps
together 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 in
at first, but after a time started to hum along.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Gewey's heart pounded as he passed through the massive
double doors. Kaylia followed close behind, and though she didn't
show it, he knew she was nervous. Once inside, Gewey was amazed to
see a room that looked like a theater. On either side of the room,
rows of marble benches curved along the walls, forming a semi-circle
that met at the back of a raised, stone platform. The ceiling was
vaulted and covered with the familiar orbs that lit the room so
brightly; it took Gewey's vision a moment to adjust. Standing across
the stage, tall and proud, a group of six elves stood, arms crossed
and hoods drawn. Theopolou was already atop the stage, and had taken
his place beside the other elders. Gewey and Kaylia walked down the
narrow center isle until they were only a few feet away.

“
That's far enough, human,” said the elf
just beside Theopolou. Her strong, feminine voice echoed throughout
the room. She pulled back her hood revealing long, elegant features.
Her skin was the same dark bronze as Kaylia's, but her hair was jet
black and wrapped tightly with silver ribbons. She glared down at the
duo, not attempting to mask her disgust. “I am Lady Bellisia,
Chief Elder of the clan Hastriatis. You know Lord Theopolou. To my
left are Lord Chiron, Lord Endymion, Lord Syranis, Lady Leora, and
Lord Aneili. We are here to determine whether you are to give
testimony on behalf of Lord Theopolou, who has been called to
judgment, according to our laws.”

“
That has already been decided,” corrected
Theopolou. “Do not taint my house with deceit.”

Lady Bellisia glared angrily at Theopolou. “It was
not my intention to deceive,” she said. “I merely
misspoke.” She turned her attention back to Gewey. “I do
admit that some of us were curious to see you.” She glanced at
Kaylia. “The human who could ensnare one of our people in the
bond
.”

“
I was not ensnared,” barked Kaylia.

“
Silence, girl,” Bellisia commanded. “You
have no right to speak.”

“
That’s odd,” said Lord Chiron. “I
thought this was an open forum. Or have the rights of an elf
changed?”

“
Just because you support Theopolou and this
madness,” shot Bellisia. “do not think I will tolerate
your insults, even within these walls.”

“
I give no insult,” Chiron retorted. “But
as you well know, Kaylia has been invited to these proceedings. She
has the same right as an elder here... as does the human.”

“
I mean no disrespect,” said Gewey. “but
I am called Gewey Stedding. You may use my proper name.”

“
Indeed,” said Bellisia. “So Gewey
Stedding, 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 ancient
evil of the Gods returned to plague the world. What is next? Shall
the Elder Race return to reclaim the world?”

“
Once again, you name me a liar,” said
Theopolou. “You have all seen the head.”

“
I do not call you a liar,” Bellisia
replied. “I merely say that you have been deceived. The
creature you showed may or may not be what you claim. Perhaps it is
an abomination created by human hands in order to cause fear among
us.”

“
And how would they have done such a thing?”
Theopolou asked. “Could they create a creature that is as fast
as an elf, and will only die when you take its head?”

Bellisia paused. “We are not here to discuss the
Vrykol.” Her gaze returned to Gewey. “And now that you
are in our presence, I have a question. What are you?”

A chill crept into Gewey’s stomach. “I don't
understand what you mean.”

“
Do you not?” Bellisia pressed. “It's
a simple question. We can all feel the
flow
that saturates your being. Humans cannot do this. So I ask again...
what are you?”

“
You do not have to answer,” said Theopolou,
just as Gewey was opening his mouth to speak.

“
Do you seek to deceive us, Lord Theopolou?”
Bellisia asked. “Do you seek to bring danger among us?”

“
The boy is no danger and you know it,” said
Theopolou.

Bellisia crossed her arms. “Is that so? I think
you are hiding something, and if he is not a danger, then there is no
reason not to reveal his origins.” She looked at the other
elders. “We all know that this Gewey Stedding is no ordinary
human. How could he be? Perhaps he is a half-man, or perhaps
something else. Whatever the case, do we not have the right to know?”

“
You do not,” announced Gewey. “As I
understand it, you are asking me to testify for Theopolou and that's
all. I see no reason to explain myself to you, or anyone else. If you
no longer want me to testify, I will respectfully take my leave. I
have urgent matters to attend to, and time is short. ”

Bellisia raised an eyebrow. “And you think you can
just leave? You think we can allow you to wander the world, bonded to
one of our own?”

“
Do not threaten my guest,” boomed
Theopolou. “I have given them both sanctuary.”

Bellisia smiled innocently. “I make no threat. And
your offer only extends as far as your domain. Unless you intend to
have them reside here forever.” She waived her hand
dismissively. “In any case, the boy can keep his secrets... for
now. But he must be guarded if he is to accompany us to the Chamber
of the Maker.” She looked down at Gewey. “Do you agree to
this?”

Gewey nodded.

Bellisia looked up and down the group of elders. “Are
there any objections?” She smiled with satisfaction when there
were none. “Good. Then we depart at once.” Theopolou
turned and walked off the stage, pushing past Gewey and Kaylia, who
followed close after him. The other elders lingered until they had
left the chamber, their eyes following them out.

“
She is up to no good,” Theopolou muttered.

“
What do you mean?” asked Gewey.

“
There was no reason for this meeting in the first
place,” he explained. “The questions she asked were
meaningless. A guard would have been put on you regardless, and you
had already agreed to come. I thought she simply wanted to see you
out of sheer curiosity, but now I suspect she may be hiding
something.”

“
Do you think she knows about Gewey?”
whispered Kaylia.

“
Perhaps,” Theopolou replied, thoughtfully.
“If she does, there is only one way she could have come upon
this knowledge, and that worries me.”

Thoughts of the Dark Knight exploded in Gewey's mind,
and he remembered the dream he had the night he left Sharpstone.
“What should we do?” he asked.