Knights: Book 02 - The Hand of Tharnin by Robert E. Keller Page B
Authors: Robert E. Keller
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instantly. The man would lose an arm--but gain his freedom."
Vorden started to speak, but Taris motioned for him to be silent. "This is for the Knights to decide alone. We will bear this burden."
"If we remove the gauntlet," said Thrake, "we can dispose of it in some deep, secluded place where it will never be seen again. The threat to Dremlock will be ended and the demon man will be free of his curse."
Lannon wanted to voice his opinion--to tell Taris that he couldn't let a chance at a cure escape him. He felt it was unfair that he had no say, considering he'd gone ahead and faced the demon man in combat. But a Tower Master of Dremlock was not to be questioned by a Squire, so Lannon kept quiet.
"Rest assured," said Thrake, "the cut would be swift and painless. It is indeed a grim task, but I'm sure he would feel nothing but gratitude later upon awakening--if in fact his mind has been enslaved by the device as we suspect."
"I hate to bring harm to Vellera," said Taris. "Especially if he is truly an innocent puppet of Tharnin. However, we find ourselves in a perilous situation. I believe we should go ahead and remove the device."
"But the gauntlet is part of him, in a way," said Jace. "To remove it by force might kill him. The sorcery is in his very blood."
"What are the chances," said Thrake, "that he will awaken and escape his bonds? That alone should be the deciding factor."
"My blows caught him off guard," said Jace. "I believe they did significant damage to his ability to remain conscious. I suppose it depends on how fast he is able to heal. But Dremlock hired me as an expert on magical relics, and I'm giving you my expert opinion. This man could very well die if we remove the device by force, leaving us with no chance to question him. It would be a terrible waste of an opportunity--and a waste of an innocent life."
Taris bowed his head in thought. At last he said, "Very well, Jace. I will trust your wisdom in this matter. I too want to see Vellera live. However, if the demon man begins to awaken, can you put him to sleep again?"
"I would have to strike a defenseless man," said Jace, raising his eyebrows "and I'm not very fond of that notion. Not in the least."
"It's either that," said Taris, "or Thrake must do his grim work and remove the gauntlet. We simply cannot risk the demon man breaking free."
"Either choice is barbaric," said Jace. "If I were to strike him too hard, or release too much sorcery, I could cause him to suffer permanent madness--or I might even accidentally kill him. Sadly, I don't have a great deal of control over my attack method. It just doesn't work that way. Besides, Birlote rope is very stout. With his hands bound, he might not even be much of a threat."
"I'm afraid you must choose one of the two options," said Taris. He took a step toward his horse and winced, holding his ribs. "And choose quickly, for I am growing quite weak. I don't like this anymore than you do, Jace. But the demon man could awaken at any moment, and I'm not convinced the Birlote rope can hold him. He is simply too dangerous to be taken lightly."
Jace muttered something under his breath, then said, "I suppose I will watch over him, and if he begins to awaken, I will attempt to carefully send him back to sleep with a tap on the head. But it will be a risky move."
"I don't like it either," said Thrake, looking troubled. "But what choice do we have? If he awakens, he could destroy Dremlock. We were lucky to defeat him once, and we don't yet know the full power of the gauntlet."
"When Dremlock is at stake," said Taris, "we do what we must. Life doesn't always present us with a clear, honorable choice. Sometimes every path is ugly. As old as you are, Jace, you should know this."
Jace swung onto his horse, his face sullen. "I can only hope he doesn't awaken, then," he said, glancing over at Lannon. "I firmly believe Vellera is an innocent victim, and I may already have wounded him beyond repair."
Lannon nodded, but
Vorden started to speak, but Taris motioned for him to be silent. "This is for the Knights to decide alone. We will bear this burden."
"If we remove the gauntlet," said Thrake, "we can dispose of it in some deep, secluded place where it will never be seen again. The threat to Dremlock will be ended and the demon man will be free of his curse."
Lannon wanted to voice his opinion--to tell Taris that he couldn't let a chance at a cure escape him. He felt it was unfair that he had no say, considering he'd gone ahead and faced the demon man in combat. But a Tower Master of Dremlock was not to be questioned by a Squire, so Lannon kept quiet.
"Rest assured," said Thrake, "the cut would be swift and painless. It is indeed a grim task, but I'm sure he would feel nothing but gratitude later upon awakening--if in fact his mind has been enslaved by the device as we suspect."
"I hate to bring harm to Vellera," said Taris. "Especially if he is truly an innocent puppet of Tharnin. However, we find ourselves in a perilous situation. I believe we should go ahead and remove the device."
"But the gauntlet is part of him, in a way," said Jace. "To remove it by force might kill him. The sorcery is in his very blood."
"What are the chances," said Thrake, "that he will awaken and escape his bonds? That alone should be the deciding factor."
"My blows caught him off guard," said Jace. "I believe they did significant damage to his ability to remain conscious. I suppose it depends on how fast he is able to heal. But Dremlock hired me as an expert on magical relics, and I'm giving you my expert opinion. This man could very well die if we remove the device by force, leaving us with no chance to question him. It would be a terrible waste of an opportunity--and a waste of an innocent life."
Taris bowed his head in thought. At last he said, "Very well, Jace. I will trust your wisdom in this matter. I too want to see Vellera live. However, if the demon man begins to awaken, can you put him to sleep again?"
"I would have to strike a defenseless man," said Jace, raising his eyebrows "and I'm not very fond of that notion. Not in the least."
"It's either that," said Taris, "or Thrake must do his grim work and remove the gauntlet. We simply cannot risk the demon man breaking free."
"Either choice is barbaric," said Jace. "If I were to strike him too hard, or release too much sorcery, I could cause him to suffer permanent madness--or I might even accidentally kill him. Sadly, I don't have a great deal of control over my attack method. It just doesn't work that way. Besides, Birlote rope is very stout. With his hands bound, he might not even be much of a threat."
"I'm afraid you must choose one of the two options," said Taris. He took a step toward his horse and winced, holding his ribs. "And choose quickly, for I am growing quite weak. I don't like this anymore than you do, Jace. But the demon man could awaken at any moment, and I'm not convinced the Birlote rope can hold him. He is simply too dangerous to be taken lightly."
Jace muttered something under his breath, then said, "I suppose I will watch over him, and if he begins to awaken, I will attempt to carefully send him back to sleep with a tap on the head. But it will be a risky move."
"I don't like it either," said Thrake, looking troubled. "But what choice do we have? If he awakens, he could destroy Dremlock. We were lucky to defeat him once, and we don't yet know the full power of the gauntlet."
"When Dremlock is at stake," said Taris, "we do what we must. Life doesn't always present us with a clear, honorable choice. Sometimes every path is ugly. As old as you are, Jace, you should know this."
Jace swung onto his horse, his face sullen. "I can only hope he doesn't awaken, then," he said, glancing over at Lannon. "I firmly believe Vellera is an innocent victim, and I may already have wounded him beyond repair."
Lannon nodded, but
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