Death and Honor: Book 1 of 2 (22 page)

“What makes the imp’s poison so dangerous is its magical nature. The dark magic that is the demon’s essence enhances the venom’s power. Within these walls the Bright Shield grants me a portion of his strength. I used that strength to purify the wound. I then gave him an anti-venom elixir. What happens next is up to Gabriel. If he has the strength to fight through the pain he’ll live, if not.” Solan let that final word linger for a moment before he continued. “If he survives this it will take weeks, perhaps months before he makes a full recovery.”

“Can I look in on him?”

Solan nodded, eyes closed. Griff got up, walked back to the bedroom, and pushed the door open. On the priest’s small bed Gabriel thrashed under the covers, his face covered in sweat. “Hang in there, partner.” He backed out and shut the door

“So what now?” Griff asked.

“Now we wait.”

“I should tell Lord St. Jaques. Do you need me to bring back anything?”

“No, thank you. I’ll watch over him. You go on, I’m sure his father will want to hear what’s happened.”

Griff left the church, somewhat reassured by Solan’s words. If it was a question of willpower he had no doubt Gabriel would make it. He glanced up at the sun, surprised to find it noon had come and gone. If he remembered right Gabriel said Lord St. Jaques usually had lunch at home, if he hurried he might catch him at the mansion.

A few minutes of jogging and he stood at the front gates. The guards recognized him and waved him through. Steeling himself Griff went through the gate and knocked on the front. An attractive young woman in a servant’s uniform opened it.

“Can I help you?” she asked, a bright smile on her face.

“I have an urgent message for Lord St. Jaques. Is he in?”

“My lord is finishing his lunch. Please come in and I’ll tell him you’re here. What is your name please?”

“Griff, miss, uh that is Griffon—”

“Oh you’re Gabriel’s partner,” she said. “He speaks of you all the time. I’m sure his lordship will want to see you. Wait here please.”

The servant left him standing in the entryway. How long would he have to wait for the Lord Mayor to grant him an audience? Not long it turned out. Gabriel’s adopted father came striding through the same door the servant had left through. A step behind him was a cute blond girl. If Gabriel’s description was accurate she had to be Amanda Cariden. Griff started to bow but Lord St. Jaques waved him off.

“You have a message for me?”

Before he could answer the girl said, “Is Gabriel okay?” she was quiet pale and trembling.

“No, ma’am, he’s not. He’s been poisoned.”

“Poisoned?” Amanda gasped.

“What happened?” Lord St. Jaques asked. “Quick man, for the gods’ sake speak. Where is my son?”

“I’m here, father.” A young man stood at the top of the steps.

Lord St. Jaques glanced up. “Not you, Morgrin, Gabriel.”

The boy’s lip curled. “Of course, why should I imagine you’d be interested in your actual son?” Morgrin stalked off without another word.

“Gabriel’s at the Church of the Bright Shield and High Priest Solan can better explain the situation than I. He’s with Gabriel now.”

“What are we waiting for? Fetch my carriage!” Lord St. Jaques bellowed to no one in particular.

Someone must have heard as minutes later they sat in a lavish carriage thundering though the streets. Griff couldn’t have felt anymore out of place than he did surrounded by silk, velvet, and gleaming hardwood.

“Why did you take him to a priest instead of a healer?” Lord St. Jaques asked.

“He told me to before he passed out. Gabriel’s saved my life twice, so I figured I owed him that much obedience. I admit I was sorely tempted to disobey.”

“How is he now?” The fear in Amanda’s voice touched Griff. It was clear she loved his partner.

“He was alive when I left. Beyond that I can’t say.”

The carriage clattered to a stop and Lord St. Jaques leapt out without waiting for the driver to open the door, Amanda a step behind. Griff held back to give them a little privacy. When he entered the church Amanda was rushing to the back room while Lord St. Jaques stood beside Solan. The old priest was explaining a demon had attacked Gabriel. By the scowl on the Lord Mayor’s face he wasn’t taking the news well.

When Solan finished Lord St. Jaques said. “There are no such things as demons and certainly none flying around my city.”

Griff hesitated for a moment before he approached the two men. “All due respect, my lord, but I saw it, my sword bounce off without drawing blood. Whatever that thing was it was not of this world.”

He bore Lord St. Jaques glare without flinching. “A demon?” he said at last.

Griff nodded.

“How many are there?” he directed this question at Solan. “And why is this the first I’m hearing about it?”

“There are three I’m aware of operating in this kingdom,” Solan said. “The demons also control, openly or otherwise, many criminal enterprises, less now thanks to Gabriel and Griff.”

“The blood ruby thing?”

Solan nodded. “I suspect the loss of such a large source of income was the final straw. As to why I haven’t told you before this, it was for your protection and the protection of this kingdom. Had you known of the situation you would have raised an army to confront a force you’d have no chance of defeating.”

“You’re damn right I would have and now that I do know that’s what I’m going to do. I’ll raise everyman under my command and we’ll wipe these creatures out once and for all.”

“Your intentions are good, but every man under your command wouldn’t be enough to defeat even one of these creatures much less three. If I tell you where my scout says they are hiding one of two things will happen. One, they will simply leave for places unknown or two they will slaughter your men leaving the city undefended. The only chance you would have is if my Lord came to your aid himself.”

“Would your god aid us?” Duncan asked.

“No and if he did it would be the worst possible result.”

“Worse, how could it be worse?”

“If my Lord were to involve himself directly then the demon’s patron will be free to do the same. It would be a clash of such magnitude the kingdom would be razed, tens of thousands would die.”

“Why explain all this?” Duncan asked. “Even if I believed everything you said I can’t sit still and do nothing with this threat to the kingdom on my doorstep.”

“I’m explaining,” Solan said with infinite patience. “Because I can’t let you do something that will end up doing more harm than good.”

“Let me? Who are you to let me do anything? I rule this city and I will do what is best for it and the kingdom.”

Solan surged to his feet, white light surrounded him. Griff winced, remembering Mooche’s story about the leg breakers. “And I will not allow thousands to die for one man’s ego!” Solan’s voice thundered and shook the church. Lord St. Jaques fell to his knees. “We’ve worked too hard to allow one man’s ignorant willfulness to undue it all. If one must be sacrificed to save many so be it.”

A
manda left
Duncan and the others talking in the chapel and hurried down the short hall the priest pointed out. It was only a couple steps down the hall to an open door. She poked her head in; a heavyset man with a dour look in his eyes tended Gabriel. The man looked up when he entered.

“You must be Amanda,” he said.

“That’s right. Are you a friend of Gabriel’s?”

The man got up from the chair beside the bed. “He saved my life. I expect you’ll want to be alone.”

Amanda stepped aside to let him pass then sat in the chair. Gabriel’s skin was flushed and covered in sweat. She found the cloth the man had been using to dry his forehead. When she touched him a spasm went through his body.

She dried his face then took his hand in hers. “Gabriel? Can you hear me?”

When he didn’t respond tears filled her eyes. “Please, if you can hear me, come back. I love you, Gabriel. Please.”

Perhaps it was wishful thinking but she imagined his hand tightened around hers for the briefest of moments. A couple minutes passed and she got up and walked to the kitchen and filled a bowl with water. Amanda moistened the cloth and swabbed Gabriel’s forehead with the cool water.

“That won’t help.”

Amanda started and looked behind her. The high priest stood in the doorway. He had dark circles under his eyes. “Why not?”

“The fever is his body’s way of fighting the poison still in his system. If you cool him it will only take longer for him to heal.”

Amanda looked down a Gabriel’s sweat stained face. “I want to do something to help.”

“I know, but only he can fight this battle. You’re welcome to stay the night if you wish.”

“Thank you.” Duncan should have been there too. “Have you seen Lord St. Jaques?”

“He looked in on you a few minutes ago but didn’t wish to intrude. He went home to tell his wife what happened, and will return in the morning.”

Amanda nodded her thanks and looked back down at Gabriel who was trembling again. She bit her lip and squeezed his hand tighter.

“Gabriel’s strong,” Solan said. “He’ll pull through.”

The priest’s eyes seemed to glow with an inner light, warmth filled her and her worry faded a little.

For the next two days Amanda seldom left Gabriel’s bedside. Sometimes he would mumble in his sleep, often calling for his family, especially his brother. Occasionally he squeezed her hand, but other than that nothing made her hopeful of his recovery. Late in the evening of her third night Solan brought a tray with two bowls of soup and some rolls.

“Still no change.” She accepted the meal and sat back down.

The old priest sighed and sat across from her with his own dinner. “Patience, my dear, his pulse and breathing are still strong. Eat now and keep your strength up. When he wakes he’ll need to draw on your strength until he regains his own.”

“As long as he wakes up he can have all my strength.”

Later than night, long after Solan had left her, she fell asleep. It seemed her eyes had barely shut when something woke her. She lifted her head off the bed and found it empty. She must be dreaming. Amanda fell back asleep.

G
abriel had to be dreaming
. He walked through the church. It was night but white light filled it. Perhaps he died and this was heaven. All he remembered was a pain in his neck. Now he walked though some ethereal version of the church.

When he reached the chapel a figure towered before the altar. It wore archaic plate armor, the great helm almost brushing the ceiling. It, for it was no man, glowed with the same light that filled the church. In its right hand was a sword of light and in its left a rune engrave shield. Gabriel understood.

“Are you?”

The great helm nodded once.

Gabriel stood before the Bright Shield. He felt no awe, or fear, nothing but a gnawing curiosity and a strange déjà vu, like he encountered this being before.

The Bright Shield beckoned him to the altar and Gabriel obeyed, moving in slow motion, like he was underwater. When they stood side by side the Bright Shield reached out and placed a glowing hand over his heart. Gabriel gasped as a cool, pure energy filled him. When the god took his hand away he gestured toward the altar. The rune engraved sword Gabriel had long admired now glowed with the same white light.

He knew, with absolute certainty he knew, that the sword was meant for him. He looked at the Bright Shield and the helm nodded once more. Gabriel reached out and ran the tips of his fingers along the length of the blade, the power radiating off it made his fingers tingle. He grasped the hilt and lifted the sword form the altar. He felt whole, like a piece of him he didn’t even know was missing had been restored. The Bright Shield nodded for a third time and vanished.

A
manda woke
, her neck stiff from sleeping in the chair. After she worked the kinks out she leaned forward to check on Gabriel. She started; he was lying on top of the blanket with a sword in his hand. She touched his forehead. It was cool and dry, tears filled her eyes, the fever had broken at last. He slept peacefully for the first time in three days.

She leapt up and rushed out to tell Solan the good news. Amanda found him kneeling before the altar. “Solan! The fever’s broken at last.”

“That’s wonderful. Is he awake?”

“Not yet.”

Solan got to his feet, bowed to the altar, and said, “Let’s take a look.”

Amanda led Solan back to the bedroom. They found Gabriel sitting up in bed, the sword leaning against the frame in easy reach.

“Morning,” Gabriel said. “Could I get something to eat?”

Amanda cried, through the tears she saw the priest smiling. “You gave us quite a scare my young friend,” Solan said.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be a burden. How long have I been out?”

“I’ll let Amanda fill you in while I fix us some breakfast.” Solan left Amanda alone with Gabriel.

She sat on the edge of his bed, a little self-conscious now that he was awake. “Thanks for staying with me,” he said.

“You knew I was here? I thought you were unconscious.”

“It was like I was underwater at night. Sometimes I got near the surface and when I did I felt your hand in mine. It was like a life line. Every time I thought I was going under I held on as tight as I could, knowing if I got back to the surface you’d be there waiting.”

“Gabriel…”

“When this mess is sorted out we should get married. What do you say?”

Tears streamed down her face but she’d never been happier. “I love you. Whenever you’re ready I’ll marry you.” Amanda laid down beside him and put her head on his chest. He put his arm around her and gave a weak squeeze. She realized then how much strength he’d lost. They lay together for a few minutes before Solan cleared his throat from the doorway.

Amanda got up and took the tray from Solan. She set the tray on Gabriel’s lap, poured three cups of tea, and handed a cup to Solan. They watched, their tea growing cold, as Gabriel devoured the toast one small bite at a time. He swallowed the last bite and smiled. “Tasty.”