Part 43 (1/2)
”You've had a harsh guide on the path to redemption,” Blaze said. ”But perhaps not unjustified.”
Lock raised his mug to the redhead. ”That's right enough.”
”Still, many men would have taken the first s.h.i.+p back to the Archipelago,” Rain reflected. ”And the Lock the White we heard of never would have risked his life to rescue a bunch of drowning men he didn't know.”
Lock gave a wry chuckle. ”Or who he did know.”
”We've lost many this year because of Zaltana,” Torn said. ”And we have few s.h.i.+ps and fewer able sailors. We could use a man with your skill.”
”Have you thought any more about joining the Knighthood?” Rain asked. ”I think Erik might have been right about you.”
Lock shook his head. ”How can I be a Knight?”
”Why not?” Sparrow asked quietly. ”You're a great sailor, a master of hand-to-hand combat. Your skills are wasted here, Lock. I've always known that.”
”Erik raved about your prowess in the ring,” Blaze said.
”He knows a fighting form similar to yours,” Sparrow explained. ”I once saw Knights give a demonstration at a palace in the North.”
Blaze smiled. ”Yes. I remember now. I...Fourth daughter. Princess.”
”Not anymore,” Sparrow said.
”The spirits spoke. I would offer condolences for your family's fall, but you're content without the royal robes.”
”Yes, I am.”
”They say you speak in many ways.”
”Speak in many...Yes.” Sparrow understood. ”I'm fluent in ten languages-actually eleven, since I spent time living with the gypsies.”
Rain whistled. ”You'd be a help when we travel. Too bad you're not a man. Ever think of becoming a Dame in the Opal Order?”
”No. That's not for me. I want to be a wife and mother, though the traveling part sounds interesting. Could you Knights use a female amba.s.sador?”
Torn looked thoughtful. ”I'll discuss it with Mahir. If you're interested, Lock, I can arrange for a meeting with our leader and an evaluation.”
”Wait a moment.” Lock stood and paced the room. ”I can't be a Knight. You know what I've done in the past! You stand for righteousness, goodness. You stand for those I crushed. I can't join you.”
”Do you think we're all pure?” Crag curled his lip. ”Far from it, I a.s.sure you.”
”Even the purest among us have regrets,” Blaze stated.
”Lock,” Crag stood and faced the pirate, ”before I joined the Order, I was a Captain in the Zaltanian army. I know about slaughter. I was part of it.”
”Now he stands among the madmen of our Order.” Blaze nodded toward Crag's green sash and touched his own.
”What does that mean?” Lock asked.
”The green sash faction goes into battle without weapons.” Rain shook his head. ”They don't kill and are the best healers in the Knighthood. Blaze leads them. He's third in command of the entire Order. There are only about ten of them who wear that sash, and if you ask me, they are madmen.”
”I wouldn't go that far,” Lock said. ”Nor would I ever join that faction. When I'm fighting, give me a good blade.”
”Here, here!” Rain punched Lock amiably in the leg.
”Training for the Order is rigorous,” Blaze said. ”But I sense you're accustomed to hards.h.i.+p.”
”Work doesn't bother me, and learning keeps you young.”
”You will be separated from your wife for a time while you train,” Torn said.
Lock glanced at Sparrow, and she told him, ”I understand. To see you using your talents will be worth it. No matter how happy we are here, Lock, part of you needs adventure. And I'll always be there when you come back.”
Torn nodded, his expression solemn. ”You both should travel to the Order with us.”
”You'll be given a quick evaluation,” Blaze said. ”Torn is second in command.”
Lock and Sparrow exchanged looks then glanced at the dark-haired Knight's smooth, attractive face and slightly protruding front teeth.
”I'm sorry, but you look so young,” Sparrow said.
”Torn was raised in the Order. Mahir, our leader, is his foster father,” Rain said. ”He didn't get any special privileges, though. Torn's one of the toughest men you'll ever meet, in the Order or anywhere. There are stories of his deeds-”
”That can be saved for later.” Torn shook his head. ”One thing about most of these Knights. They talk too much.”
”To keep us busy when you station us in the field for weeks on end.”
”Better to be a madman than a crone,” Blaze murmured.
Rain growled, ”If my leg wasn't bad, Blaze-”
”He'd kick your tail like he did last week,” Torn said. ”Enough of this. It's late and we're keeping our hostess up. We can all use some sleep.”
Lock and Sparrow retired to their bed. She lay in his arms and whispered, ”Do you think you'll be happy as a Knight?”
”If I have what it takes to become one.”
”I don't have a single doubt.”
Chapter Twenty Seven.
When Lock, Sparrow, and the Knights finally reached the Ruby Order's fortress in their kingdom of Rubys.h.i.+re, the families of several of the Knights awaited them in the courtyard.
Sparrow looked around the Knights' home. A ma.s.sive stone wall surrounded the inner palace. The courtyard was vast and filled with trees and flowers. Windows of many chambers shone in the high walls. Outside in the fields, Knights had been training with weapons and on horseback while others farmed with their families. The Order was completely self-sufficient, a small world of its own.