"Your squire's poor discipline speaks volumes about you, bastard," Iceheart said. "You train whiny toddlers rather than faithful men. They will break when they face adversity for they know you will coddle them in their cowardice."

"The men you call faithful will abandon you at the first chance they have," Zander growled. "They'll cheer for your downfall, betraying you when you need them most."

Zander touched hand to hilt and Werner's hand went below the table toward his. Kenneth drew his blade. Asa lifted her staff out of its loop on her back.

"Do it," Iceheart said, his voice so low you had to strain to hear him.

Kenneth looked to Zander for guidance. Asa held, the tent growing darker as she channeled Norali's light. Zander kept his hand on the hilt, knowing that there was no return if that sword left scabbard.

"As you can see," Zander said, far slower than his heartbeat hammering in his chest, "my allies would follow me into Zamael's own Hells because they feel something for me that nobody will ever feel for you, you divinedamned monster."

"And yet, you balk, because you fear me."

Werner pushed his chair back, scraping it against the ground. He stood, trying to intimidate with his meladonite plate and blade. It wasn't fear of Werner that kept him from drawing the blade. With Asa and Kenneth's help, in this tight space, Werner's visor open, Zander was confident he could kill him. But there was too much doubt about what came next.

Iceheart strode around the table, his hand running along the edges of each chair. His blade stayed sheathed, but Zander waited for Iceheart to give him the reason to pull his bastard sword from its scabbard. Anything that could make it look like self-defense.

Iceheart stopped in front of Kenneth. Werner Bearbreaker was no taller than Kenneth of Bear's Crossing, but he was stouter. "Would you die for him?"

Kenneth met Iceheart's glare, sword still held tight. "I got no plans on dyin', shitehead."

The noralistone on the pavilion's ceiling faded, leaving Asa's silver glow the only light within as she harnessed whatever divine energy she could find. Outside, the night was pitch black, only torches on the road casting an orange glow on the tent's exterior. Thunder boomed. Without the patter of rain on the canvas to soften the sky's anger.

Iceheart didn't reach for his sword. His fingertips hovered over his knife. "You do not fear him," Iceheart whispered. His lips rose into a mocking smile. "You may like him, but not enough to die for him. If he needed you to do something that terrified you, you would abandon him."

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Zander wanted to rip off Iceheart's oversized ears and bludgeon the sneer off his face. "This boy will fail you when you need him most. My men would run into an inferno because they know my wrath would be worse."

Iceheart turned his back to them. He locked his hands together behind him. "It's a treacherous world, Zander of Mirrevar. You won't find any friends among the Sapphire, no matter how much you want to believe the Bluerose bitch is some fabled hero. Do you really think you'll be able to keep your dirty, little meat purse safe from Bluerose's knights?"

Zander sensed the trap. Werner wouldn't turn his back on him if he didn't think he'd already assured his victory. Zander's gaze drifted to the curtain that sealed off Werner's bedchamber. How many loyalist knights were back there, waiting to be called in? He gripped his locket to keep from drawing his blade. Zander prepared his next sentence, carefully crafting it to escape the tent with Asa.

Kenneth was less patient. "We'll strike down anyone who threatens her. No matter how high and mighty they think they are."

Zander tugged on Kenneth's shoulder, drawing him toward the exit. To Asa, he tilted his head toward the curtain that divided the tent and her eyes widened in understanding.

"Come on, Kenneth," she said, her voice soft. "Let us leave this pathetic man to himself. For he will always be alone, no matter how many people he coerces into his bedchamber to fill the void. He will never know what it feels like to be together, with people you love. I would pity him, if I didn't despise everything about him."

Kenneth sheathed his sword. "Another point for Shiny."

Trembling, Asa took his hand and guided him out of the tent. Zander brought up the rear, shielding them the best he could.

Iceheart's voice trailed behind him. "I could have you executed or pilloried and whipped for your insubordination."

Zander laughed, drawing it out, letting it rumble deep from his chest. "You could, Iceheart, but you won't." He smiled, giving Werner one of his own icy sneers. "How would it look if you pilloried a man the same day he defeated you in a sparring match? Werner Bearbreaker, the laughingstock of Leveria. I've already rubbed your face in shit today, boy, don't soil yourself again so soon."

Werner's face betrayed no emotion. "Guard your witch, boy. Guard her well."

Zander narrowed his eyes. "That is one order I would never dream of disobeying. Even from you."

Iceheart raised his eyebrow. The flicker of a smile passed over his lips before being replaced by a deadly snarl. "You will learn. If you survive long enough and fight enough battles, you may end up sitting in this seat yourself, staring down the next idealistic fool and wondering how innocent you were to ever believe the asinine shit that kid spouts."

Zander shook his head, letting out a snort. "Hope is greater than fear. Love is greater than hate. Peace is greater than war. I will never sit in your chair, Iceheart."

Iceheart snorted back at him. "I would pity you … if I didn't despise everything about you."

One foot outside the tent, Kenneth and Asa urging him to follow them down the road, Zander said, "That would be mutual, Iceheart. I would say 'until next time', but I suppose I would welcome 'never again.'"

"May the Thirteen be so kind," Werner retorted.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.