The Forever Knight: A Novel of the Bronze Knight (Books of the Bronze Knight) by John Marco Page A

not?”
    “I still haven’t heard a good reason why I should.”
    “Because I’m rich,” said Fallon. “And I can make you rich, too.”
    “Not interested. Marilius should have told you I’m not a mercenary anymore.”
    “He’s a knight-errant,” said Marilius sarcastically. “Lukien wants to do good, Anton.”
    “Well then, it’s killed people,” said Fallon, dangling that fact like a treat. “Not just soldiers but townspeople too. Almost a dozen now.”
    I tried to look unmoved. “Maybe the townsfolk should leave.”
    Fallon grinned. “Or maybe you’re afraid, Sir Lukien?”
    “I’m not afraid of anything, Fallon. Not dying and certainly not your monster. I just don’t want us involved.”
    “Bullshit,” said Marilius. “You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t want to get involved. You came to the Bitter Kingdoms looking for trouble, Lukien, you and that sword of yours. You want to prove what a big man you are? Here’s your chance.”
    “Marilius, I don’t think I’m the one trying to prove himself here,” I said with a wink. “Besides . . . my business is in Akyre.”
    “Oh, right,” said Marilius. “Time for a rematch with Wrestler. Go ahead, take Cricket to Akyre. Get your neck broken again. But just remember those people you saw on the road, Lukien. That’s what Diriel is like. That’s what you’ll be riding into if you leave here.”
    “Or you can stay!” said Fallon brightly. He reached a hand across the table toward Cricket. “Let me help you figure out who you are, child. You’ll be safe here.”
    “
If
you help us beat this monster, Lukien,” said Marilius.
    Now they had me stumped. Fallon, Marilius, even the servants—they all waited, staring like helpless kittens. But the only one I really cared about was Cricket.
    “Cricket, walk with me.”
    I got out of my chair and started toward the other side of the pool, where the sea lapped into the palace. Cricket quickly followed. Out of earshot I said, “I’m lost here, squire. I can’t make this decision without you.”
    “What about Malator?” she asked. “What’s he think you should do?”
    “I haven’t asked him, and I’m not going to. These are our lives, Cricket. We can leave right now. We can head back toward Akyre and take our chances, maybe try to find that waterfall of yours, shake lose some of your memories.”
    “We could,” agreed Cricket. “But I know you, Lukien. You want to fight this thing because no one else can beat it. And you want to pay your debt to Marilius for saving us.”
    “Cricket, Fallon is out of his mind. And I can’t be sure, but I think he and Marilius are lovers.”
    “What?” Cricket stifled her laugh with her hand. “Honestly!”
    I just shook my head. “This is madness. Malator showed me a monster before we left Jador. And I saw a monster in my dreams. It’s all connected, Cricket—the monster, the Legion of the Lost, everything.”
    “Then that’s your answer, Lukien. You found your mission.”
    “I already have a mission, Cricket. You.”
    “Oh, I’m not going anywhere, Lukien, don’t you worry. I’m your squire. I want to see this beasty for myself!”
    I didn’t tell Cricket why I really wanted to find this monster. I didn’t tell her that day or any other day. This monster stalking Anton Fallon, this unnamed, unseen thing—how could it not be the same beast Malator had drawn? It wasn’t just after Fallon, it was after Cricket, too. And if it was after Cricket, that meant it had to die.

12
    W e rode out from Isowon at dawn the next morning, the new day’s sunlight gleaming off my old bronze armor. Cricket had spent much of the night making it ready, insisting I wear it to battle the beast. She had polished the breast plate into a satiny mirror, removing every bit of grime. She worked proudly, like a real squire, and rode at my side on her well-groomed pony, her cape of rass skin on her shoulders like a trophy.
    Marilius rode at point, leading us east