The instructor hesitated. Tension radiated from her, every muscle taut, her eyes darting left as she considered what she could share. When she finally spoke, her voice was low, almost a whisper.

  “Lord Marshal was in his study with Lord Bernard. That was William’s real name, Sir. The curse struck Lord Marshal, but it bounced off him and landed on Lord Bernard, the nearest target.” She swallowed, the gulp loud in the quiet cell. “Lord Silas tried to cure him several times, but his attempts killed the young lord. At least, that’s the official version.”

  She glanced away once more, but then her hesitation vanished.

  “The truth, the real truth that only a few of us faithful retainers know, is that Lord Marshal’s son volunteered for this mission. Lord Silas protested, but changed his appearance, commending his bravery. The William who died this morning was Lord Marshal’s son, Lord Bernard, a Knight.” Her chin trembled as she struck her chest with her fist. “In class and spirit.”

  A solemn silence persisted for nearly half a minute. Stephan’s knuckles popped as he squeezed his hands into fists before he finally spoke.

  “Why are you telling me all this?” he asked, his voice raw and raspy.

  “Like I said, Sir, orders.” She still stood at attention, her eyes trained on Stephan. “Lord Marshal commanded me to truthfully answer all your questions regarding any finished missions and operations you are interested in. I am also to keep silent about the ongoing ones we can still influence. He wants you to know as much as possible without threatening our work.”

  Stephan’s mind spun. This is probably a part of Lord Marshal’s instructions. No doubt the previous Paladin had laid the foundations for his successor.

  He licked dry lips, voice a whisper. “What would have happened to Will—Bernard if I’d never come? Or if I’d arrived in secret?”

  She exhaled, shaky. “I can’t say, Sir. I’m only a captain, not the marshal. But if I had to guess, he’d still be dying a miserable death. Drinking those foul potions, trying to dull the pain. He would have wanted to meet you. Maybe—” her voice cracked “—to have a spar.”

  “You,” Stephan hesitated, but asked the question anyway, “you knew him well, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, Sir. He was my cousin.” She blinked hard, stomping out the tears threatening to run wild. “Lots of Harringtons and Bellas among the officers here. Bellas is the late Lord Bernard’s mother’s maiden name.”

  Stephan felt the world tilt, his chest tight. He couldn’t seem to get enough air, as if all of it got sucked out of the room.

  “And you’re…fine with this?” he stuttered. “Someone he trusted, possibly his own friend, cut his throat and stabbed him brutally heaven knows how many times?”

  The captain’s control snapped.

  “No, Sir,” she barked, her entire body shaking with fury and grief. “But that’s what he chose! His father tried to talk him out of it, but Knights have duties too. And one of those duties, Sir, one of my duties, is to protect you. Even against your will. Even if you don’t want it. Knights have died for Paladins. We have marched to our deaths, knowing what was coming, to buy time, to seal the gap. We have held to the last where others would have fled. That is our duty.”

  Her hands were fists now, knuckles white. “Don’t belittle that.”

  Then she looked at him, the mantle of office gone, tears in her eyes.

  “Just having a class isn’t enough.” The words left her as a whisper. “This is Bernard’s show of devotion. Ours was letting him go through with it. And I will be honest, I would’ve slapped sense into him, had he not made one argument none of us could refute: he was already dying.”

  She was weeping, her voice hoarse.

  “Can you imagine it? The hell which was that meeting? Watching him argue with his father, point by point dismantling the Marshal of the East’s protests, saying that it would be better if one of us… one of our bloody own slashed his throat and murdered him with seemingly brutal hate to make the deception perfect?”

  Her voice and anger faded, despair taking its place.

  “He was happy, if you could believe it. The pain had been wracking his body, day by day, and… And he was happy as he found a way not to waste a Knight with the kingdom already on the brink of collapse. I,” she stuttered, “I used to carry him on my shoulders when he was little. This big. It was unlady-like, but I was already a Knight, not a lady. And now, now those frail, little stick arms and legs are gone.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “At our own hands.” She went down on her knees and broke into sobs.

  Stephan’s own chest ached, tears blurring his vision. He could taste her grief and the horror of everyone involved. It was something he had to correct. Other than Lacy’s, Bernard Harrington’s name was also etched into his soul.

  A good man died senselessly.

  How many others like him are there across the kingdom? There are three more academies, and if the curse struck all the leaders, that means three more Bernards, three more innocent men and women who will die pointless deaths.

  Stephan shuddered.

  “I understand now. I respect and admire Bernard’s resolve. It doesn’t change the fact that he died because I announced my presence by healing everyone I ran into and telling people I was the Paladin. While his death was unavoidable, all your suffering, all of Lord Marshal’s suffering,” he wiped at his eyes, “is ultimately my fault. I’m sorry. I have learned my lesson.”

  The sword instructor dragged herself upright, face stained with tears.

  “Forgive my unsightly display, Sir. You are fully within your right if you wish to chastise me.”

  “What? No need. What’s your name?”

  “Captain Anita Bellas, Sir.”

  Stephan nodded, regaining control of himself. “Captain Anita, why does Lord Marshal seem to trust me so much?”

  Anita stared at him, baffled, as if she didn’t understand the question. “Because you are the Paladin, Sir? Comrades, children, lovers can betray; the Paladin cannot. The Paladin has to work in mankind’s best interest, giving everything he has for the cause. And he has to do it in a just manner. The Paladin does not order or scheme; he requests, and those of us true to our oaths obey. Even squires learn that before they swear the knightly vows.”

  Stephan frowned. I think your expectations are too high. Did Bernard also believe I was like that?

  He steadied his breathing. “Was there anything else you had to tell me? Because I really have a lot I need to consider right now.”

  “I am only supposed to answer questions, Sir.” She drew a pair of swords she had in scabbards hanging off her belt, the metal singing softly as they left their sheaths. “But I was told that it was time for weapons training once you were done asking your questions.”

  “I’m not fit for training.”

  “Yes, Sir, Lord Marshal said you wouldn’t be. He also said that’s why you have to do it. Our enemies rarely pick a time when we feel like fighting and prefer to attack while we mourn or sleep or celebrate.”

  She threw a sword at Stephan, who snatched it out of the air. “Now, do your best, Sir, but I have to tell you, learning to fight through gaining skills is different and inferior to real training. You have the technique, but no experience, and things like feints are beyond you.”

  She lunged, disarming him in two blinding moves.

  “Pick it up.” She pointed at the dull sword. “Just attack me, vent your anger as much as you can.”

  Stephan screamed and started smashing at her with his sword. There was no skill to it, no finesse. He was bashing away with the sword as if it were a club, rage and grief pouring out in every blow, until his strength left him and his throat felt sore.

  Finally, completely drained, he sank to the floor, panting for breath, sweat stinging his eyes.

  “Better?” Captain Anita asked, her voice gentle.

  “No. I’m feeling horrible. This,” he vaguely gestured with his hand at the world at large. “All of this is madness. Why do we even need the Paladin? Why can’t people just act decently and get along?”

  She snorted softly at the childish words. “Those are difficult questions, Sir. Ones Lord Silas is better suited to answer, but I will do my best. We need the Paladin to protect us from evil. As for why we can’t get along, well, people are greedy or twisted, fiends and dragons see us in the same way we see cows and pigs. And fae, well…”

  She chuckled darkly. “With all due respect, Sir, fae are batshit crazy. Equally possible to break into your room, steal your dirty laundry, then wash and return it pressed and folded, as they are to dig out your liver and eat it while you’re still breathing because you didn’t leave them a bowl of milk as thanks for their effort.”

  She paused and looked at him seriously. “And that’s a true story. Happened to a man my cousin’s uncle knew.”

  I wasn’t really expecting an answer. But getting one did spark Stephan’s curiosity.

  “And what about stalkers of dreams?”

  “Don’t know much about them, Sir, save that they are weirder than fae and that they don’t leave their dens as long as you clear them regularly.”

  They rested in silence for a while, Stephan’s mind drifting, wandering in all directions just to move away from the uncomfortable questions Bernard’s death raised.

  “Are all Knights so good with the sword?”

  Captain Anita smiled, the first real smile he’d seen.

  “No, Sir. Lord Marshal chose me as your instructor specifically because I am outstanding,” she said without a hint of false modesty. Or modesty of any sort. “When I was sixteen, I unknowingly showed kindness to the wandering Swordmaster. He taught me the sword a bit, but a casual lesson from a figure such as he is a lot. Because of his interference, I got the Knight class naturally over Courtier. My parents were outraged, but my talent with the sword was undeniable, and so I entered the academy. I hope I’ll one day be worthy of evolving my class into Swordmaster, but it’s a unique class, and I hope my teacher leads a long and happy life.”

  [Stephan Cobblerson, Paladin level 10

  Class skills: In Living Memory XVI, Blessing of Healing I, Blessing of Arms I, Smite I, Blessing of Protection I, Inspiring Aura I, Blessing of Conviction I, Blessing of Intuition I, Blessing of Health I, Bane of Darkness I, Mercy I

  Attributes: Agility: 18, Charisma: 18, Composure: 20, Dexterity: 18, Endurance: 19, Intelligence: 15, Luck: 17, Perception: 17, Presence: 18, Strength: 19, Toughness: 19, Vitality: 20, Willpower: 19, Wisdom: 18]