AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You cheer disobedience from a clan warrior? If he cannot be trusted to follow orders, how then do his fellow warriors trust him on the battlefield?”
Several of the clan warriors pounded the table where they sat in agreement with Varrick.
“You dishonored the clan, Brock,” Varrick said. “You will no longer fight alongside the clan’s mighty and renowned warriors, but that is not your punishment. I have yet to decide on that. Brother Luke step forward and receive your punishment.”
Brock stepped back, anxious to take his leave.
Varrick was aware that many believed Brother Luke tried to help the clan and did not deserve to be punished. Varrick did not agree.
“My word is law here, Brother Luke.” Anger filled Varrick’s every word. “You obey it, or you leave, and since you failed to obey it, you are no longer welcomed here.”
Brother Luke was as shocked as were others, several loud gasps circling the room.
“I beg of you, my lord, please do not cast me out in the snow and cold,” Brother Luke pleaded. “Please. Please send word to Abbott John and see if he will allow me to return.”
“You can go ask him yourself,” Varrick said, having no pity for the man.
Brother Luke continued to beg. “Please, my lord. I will mind my tongue while you wait word from him.”
Varrick gave it thought and knowing monasteries were often helpful to him and his warriors when he traveled and battled, he did not want the mistreatment of a monk to follow him. “If you fail to do so I will throw you out into the snow myself.”
“Aye, my lord. Aye,” Brother Luke said and bobbed his head before hurrying off.
“Listen well,” Varrick called out so all could hear him. “My word is to be obeyed without question. If you disobey my word, my laws, you will suffer dire consequences. Now go and tend to your tasks.”
* * *
“She winsthe favor of the clan with what happened in the woods,” Argus said a couple of days later. “Most believe she can cure or curse anyone or thing. And they are not happy that you delay her return to the woods.”
Varrick could not argue that as he approached the healing cottage and saw that the two warriors he had left to keep watch over Fia were keeping keen eyes on all that surrounded the cottage.
The clan did not hide their displeasure with him, wearing it boldly on their faces nor could the unease that permeated the village be ignored. And it annoyed Varrick that it had affected his warriors, something that Argus also felt.
“The men grow uneasy. They wonder why you wait to return Fia to the forest when she has proven her power with the hounds from hell.”
“The warriors are not to question. They are meant to obey as they have always done,” Varrick reminded.
“Aye, but that was before the God of Death showed up,” Argus argued. “When in battle they see the face of their opponent. With the God of Death, you do not see him coming for you. You cannot fight an enemy you cannot see. You have tried summoning Arawn, but he pays you no heed. So, you did what any wise leader would do, you hunted down a person better to battle him. Let her do what you brought her here to do before it is too late.”
“Was the tracker able to follow the tracks of the wild hounds that the hell hounds’ howls chased off?” Varrick asked, tired of Argus reminding him of what he needed to do, and what he expected himself to do.
“They split after a distance and disappeared into the section of the forest none will dare venture into.”
“Odd that we have not seen such a pack before now,” Varrick said.
“What has not been odd of late?”
“True enough,” Varrick said, having seen numerous people waiting to seek her care. “But who is truly to blame? The God of Death or someone unknown and unseen to us? I have made many enemies.”
“Wehave made enemies; you, me, Marsh, Corwin, Lloyd, and many more of our warriors,” Argus corrected.
“But I lead. I rule, and that makes a difference. I wonder if there is more to our problems than we allow ourselves to see.”
“Arawn has been seen. He makes himself known, and Brock and Lady Fia did not imagine the hell hounds,” Argus reminded.
“I do not argue that, but why would the God of Death poison the animals found at the castle wall when he could simply snuff out their lives as he did to those in our clan who died?”
“I never thought of that,” Argus admitted. “So, you believe we have two enemies who challenge us, Arawn and an unseen one?”
