Wicked glee in his voice, Kazi said, “I’m going to dig out each one of your teeth, slowly. After that, I’m going to saw off your little legs. Oh, but don’t worry I won’t kill you. I’ll make sure you can still beg from the street corners the rest of your miserable little life; a pathetic sight for all to see.”

  Satchel fought to get away but to no avail. Kazi thrust him into the seat of the nearest pew and gripped his mouth with one hand, forcing it open.

  “Now then, open wide,” Kazi said and readied the knife.

  Suddenly, a crossbow bolt plunged into Kazi’s dagger arm. The blow made the Komji cry out in pain and stagger sideways as he fell over. He let go of Satchel’s mouth. Satchel looked in the direction of the shot and saw Jarek standing there with a trained crossbow.

  A wave of relief washed over Stachel. “Jarek!”

  “Get over here, Satchel,” the old thief responded.

  As he ran, Satchel saw Basco right behind Jarek, pistol in hand. Basco cut Satchel’s bonds then handed him a knife.

  “How did you find me?” Satchel asked.

  “We followed an Arns?than,” said the Scholar.

  “Loth? He’s here?”

  Basco shook his head. “Right now, he’s tackling a small army of those demented monks. After we snuck into the Lady’s mansion, he dispatched one her head bodyguards and I used this on him.”

  Basco produced the Memory Sphere, still in its black bag, from his pocket. Satchel began to laugh, but Jarek cut him off.

  “There’s time enough for talk later,” said Jarek as he reloaded the crossbow.

  Basco returned the Sphere to his pocket.

  “You’re right,” said Satchel, “we need to get out of here. The Knight’s supposed to be here soon.”

  “That so?” Satchel detected a hint of glee in the old man’s voice. “Then we have an opportunity. I say we end this here and now. Hey, Komji, where is your master?”

  Kazi had gotten to his feet and stared in horror at Jarek. “You! What are you doing here?”

  “Pointing a crossbow at your head. Now, answer my question.”

  Kazi laughed. It was a nervous, crazed sound. “You think that little toy is enough to kill my master? He had the power to restore my arm. What chance do you have?”

  “All this talking isn’t answering my question.”

  A voice, smooth and steady, filled the cathedral as it said, “Then I will give you an answer.”

  A bright light shone from high up in the apse above where the black altar stood. The light illuminated the entire sanctuary, and Satchel had to shield his eyes from its brilliance. It dimmed as it slowly descended to the altar, revealing that it was not a light, but a man dressed in plate armor of the purest white. The heavy breastplate and pauldrons hugged his body, and his arms and legs were well protected, even at the joints. Even so, his movements remained fluid, like he wore no armor at all. Long white hair flowed out from his head. His face was as smooth and featureless as a marble statue.

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  He regarded each of them, stopping finally at Jarek. “I am the White Knight. I have to come just as you asked. What was it you wished to do about it?”

  Jarek glared at him. “Only this.” He took quick aim and fired at the Knight.

  The Knight snatched the bolt inches from his face. He frowned as he said, “How rude. This is not the way to open negotiations. But I shall respond in kind.”

  With the flick of his wrist, he whipped the bolt back at Jarek. As it pierced his right shoulder Jarek cried out in pain.

  “Jarek!” yelled Basco and Satchel simultaneously.

  “Now that’s out of the way,” said the Knight. “I believe we can begin the parley, gentlemen.”

  The Knight floated down from the altar and landed several feet from the group. He eyed Basco and then said, “My lord, I am surprised to see you here. If I remember correctly, the last time we met, you killed one of my pet projects. I suppose I should thank you. Do’Grum had become such a headache. You did me a service when you sliced that fat ogre’s neck open.”

  Basco grunted. “Had I known I was helping you, I might have left him alive.”

  “Now, now. Don’t be so bitter, it’s unbecoming of you. You’ve had a wonderful life thanks to me. But then your temper is well known, isn’t it?” A wicked smile crossed the Knight’s face. “Maybe we could ask your son. Oh wait, we can’t, can we?”

  Basco’s knuckles whitened as his grip on the pistol tightened and his face flushed, but Jarek’s hand staid him.

  “He’s goading you,” said Jarek.

  Kazi took this moment to step forward. “Master, it is good to see you.”

  The Knight regarded his servant. “Kazi, you have performed your duties well in all regards. That is, all except for two.”

  “Two, my lord?” Signs of worry crept into Kazi’s voice.

  “Firstly, I told you I wanted to question the boy. Yet, I find that you were about to...what was it? ‘Dig out each one of his teeth?’ I can’t very well ask him anything if he can’t talk.”

  Kazi’s worry turned to fear as he said, “But, my lord, he tried to escape!”

  “Which brings us to number two. Are you telling me the child was difficult to subdue?”

  “No, my lord! I only meant-”

  “Kazi, I do not need for any more of your excuses. You were to obey me unquestionably and you have failed me twice more.”

  The Knight aimed a finger at the Komji. Kazi screamed and turned to run, but not quickly enough. Lightning shot out from the Knight’s finger. Kazi jittered and shook violently as his skin began to cook. The man dropped to his knees, then to the floor. Smoke rose from his body.

  “Monster,” said Basco. “You say ‘parley,’ but you just fried one of your own men.”

  The Knight eyed Basco. And then, as casually as he would discuss the weather, he said, “Simple housekeeping. I learned a hard lesson with Do’Grum. To you, I may appear to be a monster. But you must understand, I’m not a bad person. All I want is what’s best for this world.”

  Satchel said, “You have a funny way of showing it.” Satchel did his best to hide his fear, but he could tell by the Knight’s amused expression that it had not worked.

  “What I do is not to be judged by the likes of you or the other simple-minded inhabitants of this world. Along the way to achieving purity, sacrifices must be made.”

  Jarek said, “I understand you plenty. I spent my life fighting against people like you. The world has its fair share of problems, but I can’t abide bullies and tyrants who think they can manhandle the solution. The people must be allowed to flourish and fall on their own.”

  The Knight laughed mockingly, “Oh, so the master thief has an opinion on how to make the world a better place? The ignorance and stupidity of humans continue to astound me. Do you not see the poor and destitute lying in the streets? Are there not wars that ravage the countryside, destroying the lives of thousands? The creatures of this world do not deserve what the gods above have given them. This place is forsaken and must be wiped clean to make way for a new world. One of order and purity.”

  “The kind that you decide, I take it.”

  “Someone must take up the mantel. The All Father’s creation has corrupted itself, and the Order of Arx Niveus is the sword that will undo that corruption.”

  “Then why chase us?” asked Jarek.

  The Knight smiled. “Ah, now we’re getting to the point. You possess two magical artifacts. Artifacts that could advance our goals and, as such, require investigation.”

  “What artifacts?”

  “Oh, come now, don’t insult me. You know what I speak of. The spyglass and the parchment. I know that you have them. Tell me where they are.”

  No one dared say anything.

  The Knight spoke again, this time with a slight edge to his voice, “I say again, tell me who has the spyglass and parchment.”

  “These two know nothing,” Jarek said.

  The Knight smiled a wry smile. “Somehow, I don’t believe you. However, I am not without understanding. I will amuse you. You know where they are?”

  Jarek nodded. “I do.” He took a breath. “And I want to make a deal.”