Ballad of the Red Paladin

Chapter One

Jack wondered what it said of him that he was so impatient for his own execution. He opened his eyes as the first rays of the new dawn entered his cell. The new day sunlight reflecting off the dust as it danced around him in the air. It was a nice cell or so Jack thought anyway, even with the dust. It was the first cell he had ever stayed in and he knew that most didn't have rugs on the floor while tapestries hung on the wall. It had taken an entire hour of prayer to sort through his feelings this morning, and most of that time for him to realize it was anticipation that was dominating his emotions now.

Boneyard had laid quietly in the corner of the cell during the prayer, but now that Jack had finished, the old wolf got up and walked over to face him. His fur was a glistening dark grey in the morning sun. Boneyard sensing some of Jack's feelings, placed one of his snow white paws on Jack's bare chest. The feel of his friend and Companion pressing against him brought comfort, even with Boneyard's claws digging into him.

"No tears for me you mutt," Jack said fondly as he scratched behind Boneyard's left ear.

He stood up from kneeling, knees aching as he arose from the floor. He dusted off the loose linen pants he wore and wondered how anyone could pray all day without losing the ability to walk, or why they would want to. He doubted if any of the Aspects truly cared about the prayers of mortal men, even a Blessed man, and if they did, would they even carry it to All-Father for him. He had prayed to the All-Father himself although only priests were supposedly the only ones who should. It was the day of his execution and Jack didn't feel like going through intermediaries with his Gods. He stretched trying to work loose some of the pain in his knees and feet.

Boneyard turned his head to the door moments before it opened behind them. Jack turned to see that it was Henry Stormbrother, one hand holding a plate of food and the other a porcelain wash bowl, with steam rising from both. Jack opened his mouth to speak but quickly shut it. It was not proper to talk to a prisoner on the morning of his execution. He would not make Henry feel obligated to break custom. Henry placed both the items on a small oak table near the door while a young boy that Jack had not noticed before quickly placed a bowl of food on the floor next to the table and left the room. Before he left, Henry paused and made eye contact with Jack and slowly nodded his head. With that he turned and locked the door behind him.

That was enough thought Jack. It was good to see a friend, especially Henry, before they marched him out in front of everyone.

"Come on, Boneyard," Jack said as he sat at the table, "let's get washed up and eat. You don't want to die dirty and hungry do you?"

He looked himself over in the small mirror on the wall; a tall, fit man in his twenty-fifth year with short black hair. Add the scars by his left ear, his crooked nose, and a weathered face from his years out on the Border or some gods-forsaken ship, and it meant he was not the most handsome of men, which Jack had accepted a long time ago. His looks had never worried him since he would never have married for love. The Order would have chosen a wife for him and he would have obeyed.

They had refused him his armor but had given him his dress uniform to wear. As outfits went, it wasn't a bad one to die in he thought, as he straighten his double breasted dark blue coat with silver trimmings and buttons. The coat along with the dark blue pants fit well and Jack knew he struck an imposing image in this uniform. With the large Silver Fist of the Order on one sleeve and his lieutenant rank on the other. All-Mother forgive him, it was the same uniform he had been wearing when this whole mess started.

They came for Jack an hour after the morning meal with the sun just cresting the eastern mountains. Henry Stormbrother, now also in his dress uniform, opened the door to the cell and waited for Jack to step out. Henry, with two of the Ordained in their full grey plate armor standing behind him didn't say a word when Jack stepped out of the cell with Boneyard following him, his Companion unaware of their looming deaths.