Knights: Book 03 - The Heart of Shadows by Robert E. Keller Page B
Authors: Robert E. Keller
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"I won't be an assassin for Dremlock. I would rather leave
the kingdom." Lannon didn't feel that Taris was suggesting he become an
assassin, but the Squire wanted to make his intentions clear.
"Would
you like some more tea, my friend?" asked Taris, a hint of amusement in
his eyes. "It really is excellent tea. An old Birlote recipe."
Lannon
hadn't expected that response, but he wasn't about to press the issue. Taris
knew where he stood. "Yes, thank you. It is quite good."
Taris
filled Lannon's cup. "At any rate, you must focus more on your training as
a Blue Squire when you get the chance. Concentrate on learning to be a Knight
for now, and worry about your missions later. Other than that, you're doing
fine and shouldn't worry about what Shennen said."
"But
Thrake almost killed me," said Lannon, his cup trembling a bit in his
hands as he took a sip. "Maybe the path I'm on is a dead end."
"Don't
concern yourself with it," said Taris. "The life of a Divine Knight
is always dangerous. You will never truly be safe as long as you are at war
with the Deep Shadow. In fact, be prepared to die in the service of your
kingdom. You may die young, but to die as a Squire or Knight of Dremlock means
you have lived a good life and deserve your eternal rest."
"Sorry,
Master Taris," said Lannon, "but I don't find that very reassuring. I
understand the truth in it, but I guess I don't feel it."
"Fear
of death has no place in the heart of a Knight," said Taris. "All a
Knight should be concerned with is obeying the Sacred Laws, avoiding the
clutches of the Deep Shadow, and helping the people of this land have better
lives. You are very privileged to be a Blue Squire at Dremlock. Few are ever
called upon to serve the Divine Essence and battle the forces of darkness.
Embrace that way of life with passion and vigor and without fear."
"I
will do my best," said Lannon.
Taris
smiled. "When I was your age, though, I too was afraid. I didn't want to
die without experiencing my share of life. I wanted to get married someday and
raise children. Then when I became a Squire, I wanted to survive long enough to
retire from Knighthood and see my dream come to pass. But as I got older, I
lost interest in that dream and came to embrace the life of a Divine Knight
with true passion. If I died tonight, my spirit would have no regrets."
"Thrake
has regrets," said Lannon, his mind wandering back to the haunted shade in
the moonlight.
Taris
nodded. "Because Thrake found a fate worse than death. It is the
power of Tharnin--of that foul Dragon--that keeps his restless shade bound to
this world. If you must fear anything, fear the Deep Shadow."
Having
finished his tea, Lannon rose to leave.
"Eventually,"
said Taris, "I will tell you the full story of the Dark Watchmen. It is a
bizarre and sad tale, but you might learn something from it."
Lannon
bowed. "I look forward to it."
"You're
a strange and stubborn lad," said Taris, grinning.
"What
do you mean?" asked Lannon, taken aback by Taris' unexpected assessment of
his character.
"Just
what I said," Taris replied. "You're stubborn and difficult to
understand. I believe your stubbornness could easily be mistaken for arrogance.
Yet you don't insist on doing things your way because you think you know
better. Rather, it's simply your nature to remain true to who you are, and
clearly you have no desire to change. I wonder why the Divine Essence chose
you."
Lannon
was at a loss for words.
"Goodnight,
my young friend," said Taris, still grinning.
Again,
Lannon bowed. "Goodnight, Master Taris." With that, he left the tent,
wondering, as Taris obviously did, why the Divine Essence had blessed him with
his gift when there were plenty of warriors throughout Silverland eager for
bloodshed.
Chapter
6: Goblin Town
The
next day, Lannon did as ordered and said nothing to Jerret about his encounter
with Thrake's shade. He felt guilty for keeping it a secret. Jerret remained
sullen and withdrawn, speaking
the kingdom." Lannon didn't feel that Taris was suggesting he become an
assassin, but the Squire wanted to make his intentions clear.
"Would
you like some more tea, my friend?" asked Taris, a hint of amusement in
his eyes. "It really is excellent tea. An old Birlote recipe."
Lannon
hadn't expected that response, but he wasn't about to press the issue. Taris
knew where he stood. "Yes, thank you. It is quite good."
Taris
filled Lannon's cup. "At any rate, you must focus more on your training as
a Blue Squire when you get the chance. Concentrate on learning to be a Knight
for now, and worry about your missions later. Other than that, you're doing
fine and shouldn't worry about what Shennen said."
"But
Thrake almost killed me," said Lannon, his cup trembling a bit in his
hands as he took a sip. "Maybe the path I'm on is a dead end."
"Don't
concern yourself with it," said Taris. "The life of a Divine Knight
is always dangerous. You will never truly be safe as long as you are at war
with the Deep Shadow. In fact, be prepared to die in the service of your
kingdom. You may die young, but to die as a Squire or Knight of Dremlock means
you have lived a good life and deserve your eternal rest."
"Sorry,
Master Taris," said Lannon, "but I don't find that very reassuring. I
understand the truth in it, but I guess I don't feel it."
"Fear
of death has no place in the heart of a Knight," said Taris. "All a
Knight should be concerned with is obeying the Sacred Laws, avoiding the
clutches of the Deep Shadow, and helping the people of this land have better
lives. You are very privileged to be a Blue Squire at Dremlock. Few are ever
called upon to serve the Divine Essence and battle the forces of darkness.
Embrace that way of life with passion and vigor and without fear."
"I
will do my best," said Lannon.
Taris
smiled. "When I was your age, though, I too was afraid. I didn't want to
die without experiencing my share of life. I wanted to get married someday and
raise children. Then when I became a Squire, I wanted to survive long enough to
retire from Knighthood and see my dream come to pass. But as I got older, I
lost interest in that dream and came to embrace the life of a Divine Knight
with true passion. If I died tonight, my spirit would have no regrets."
"Thrake
has regrets," said Lannon, his mind wandering back to the haunted shade in
the moonlight.
Taris
nodded. "Because Thrake found a fate worse than death. It is the
power of Tharnin--of that foul Dragon--that keeps his restless shade bound to
this world. If you must fear anything, fear the Deep Shadow."
Having
finished his tea, Lannon rose to leave.
"Eventually,"
said Taris, "I will tell you the full story of the Dark Watchmen. It is a
bizarre and sad tale, but you might learn something from it."
Lannon
bowed. "I look forward to it."
"You're
a strange and stubborn lad," said Taris, grinning.
"What
do you mean?" asked Lannon, taken aback by Taris' unexpected assessment of
his character.
"Just
what I said," Taris replied. "You're stubborn and difficult to
understand. I believe your stubbornness could easily be mistaken for arrogance.
Yet you don't insist on doing things your way because you think you know
better. Rather, it's simply your nature to remain true to who you are, and
clearly you have no desire to change. I wonder why the Divine Essence chose
you."
Lannon
was at a loss for words.
"Goodnight,
my young friend," said Taris, still grinning.
Again,
Lannon bowed. "Goodnight, Master Taris." With that, he left the tent,
wondering, as Taris obviously did, why the Divine Essence had blessed him with
his gift when there were plenty of warriors throughout Silverland eager for
bloodshed.
Chapter
6: Goblin Town
The
next day, Lannon did as ordered and said nothing to Jerret about his encounter
with Thrake's shade. He felt guilty for keeping it a secret. Jerret remained
sullen and withdrawn, speaking
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