Ballad of the Red Paladin

Chapter Three

Jack found himself alone holding the reins to a horse in his left hand and a red leaf in his right. Still in his dress uniform, he wasn't sure what he was doing here. He was standing just off the roadway looking back up towards the gates of the Citadel. It was a massive structure. A single building four stories tall except for the Grand Hall that towered another four stories above the rest of the Citadel. Its gray old walls dominating the Low Valley as far as you could see. It looked more mountain than it did something made by the hands of man.

Boneyard was laying on a bit of grass a little closer to the road and watched as the daily traffic made its way to and from the Citadel. The story would be spreading now by horse back and humming bird of how a condemned Paladin was spared by the All-Father Jack thought as he stood there waiting. If only he knew what it meant.

The last hour had been a vague whirlwind and Jack was not quite sure how he had ended up standing here. All he really remembered besides his tumult of emotions was the look on the High Paladin's face. One of shock and guilt, Jack thought. He recognized the face well, he had seen it in the mirror for the last four months. He remembered the scene almost as if time had slowed. Looking up in time to see the High Paladin bringing his sword down to his side and letting it fall to the ground as he stepped backwards off the dais. The High Priest falling to his knees in prayer and then suddenly Marian and Henry with swords in hand, lifting him off his knees.

Then as if time had to correct itself, everything moved faster than he could remember. There was shouting and pushing all around him and then a fast walk to the grand courtyard. They had ordered a horse saddled and sat him on a bench in the stable. When the horse was ready, they had walked him out here. Marian had stood with him for some time not saying anything, until something drew her back to the Citadel.

Alone, it took him a few minutes to refocus and come back from wherever his wits had gone. He had been squeezing the leaf in his right hand the entire time, not wanting to look at it. Afraid that if he opened his hand to look, it might be gone. He knew that fear was not rational but still, his fist was closed tightly around the leaf, he could feel it in his hand, its velvet nature and the warmth it gave off. He held it there squeezing it every few seconds.

Sometime later, Jack spotted Marian exiting the Citadel still in her plate armor and leading another two horses. Jack wasn't sure if it had been minutes or hours since she last left, but she came back now leading pack horses loaded down with three travel chests. When she had made her way down to him, Boneyard ran up to her sniffing at the pack horses and then falling in besides Marian.

She pulled off the road leading the two horses to where Jack was standing. He saw that she had removed her helm and gauntlets. When she reached him, she very gently cupped Jack's face in her right hand.

"Have you returned to us, Jack Sweetwater?" Marian asked.

Jack let go of the reins to the horse he was holding and buried his face into her hand. He could feel the calluses on Marian's well-worn hand, but still felt the warmth and gentleness of Marian as she held his face. He lost himself in that feeling for a second when suddenly a surge of energy came from that hand into him. It seemed to push out the fear and confusion. Refocusing the world behind it. Jack took a step back and fell to a knee, sicking up in front of Marian.

"You were still in shock it seems, almost lover. Now get up and stop wasting my time," Marian said in her best impatient voice.

Jack cleaned his mouth with the sleeve of his jacket and raised one finger.

"Wait, Marr. I'm having a disagreement with my morning meal."

"There's our Jack." Marian said with relief in her voice. She dropped the reins of the pack horses and helped Jack to his feet. He gladly accepted the help.