Albrek's Tomb - Forman Mark L - Страница 19

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A look of pain crossed Bane’s face. He stared at the table in front of him, lost in thought. When he spoke again, his voice was tight, and he had some difficulty with the words.

“I learned to be cold and cruel,” he said. “In war, the ruthless often have the advantage. Under the training of my new master, I learned to put aside my own feelings, to do what needed to be done—no matter what. It was a hard lesson for me to learn because, up until that time, I had always thought that mercy and honor had a place on the battlefield.

“I did things that I will never speak of, things that should not have been done. My master praised me and my actions, but deep in my own heart, I knew I had done wrong. I hid my doubts and buried my feelings deep. If I did evil, it was only to bring about a greater good, or so I told myself at the time. If the innocent had to pay the price for our victory, well, that was not my concern because only our final victory mattered. The innocent would be taken care of once my master was king of all the land.

“It was during this time that I began to understand what evil really is. My master seemed to change as time passed as well, becoming more desperate to win battles and less careful with his army. We were coming to the end, but I could not see it. All that mattered to me was that we fight. Victory could still be ours, if only we could keep going.

“The end of that time in my life is a bloody story, and I will not retell it now. Simply know that the end did come, and when it did, I was at my master’s side, though even then I did not realize what was truly happening. I was blinded by the hate he had poured into me.”

Bane paused, taking a few deep breaths and running his hands through his hair.

“The end came,” he repeated grimly. “We were caught by our enemies. I tried to help my master escape, tried to run to the hills and start again. We would rebuild our army, even if it meant traveling to another land. But our attempt was in vain. We were cornered. Not by soldiers, but by wizards.

“Four wizards—true wizards like Master Taylor here—who did not seek power for themselves, but justice for the people of Goval. I was bound by their spells and made to watch what they did to my master. At first I thought they would torture him and make him pay for the dark deeds that he had done and that others had done in his name. Torture was not what the wizards were about, and that was something I had not expected.

“They spoke a magic spell together, and a shadow of darkness tore away from my master’s body. I did not understand what I was seeing. I knew little of magic and even less about the dark creatures that exist in the known lands. The shadow spoke to the four wizards, but I did not hear what it said. Before the wizards could capture or destroy the shadow, my old master rushed at them, distracting them from their final task.

“The old man was destroyed, but the shadow that had been inside of him escaped. I thought the wizards would destroy me as well, but they did not. With a few kind words, they removed the darkness and shadows from my mind so I could see the truth, so I could understand the evil that had been done. I could finally understand what I had done in the name of victory, and, for the first time in years, I could feel with the emotions of a man.

“It was an act of kindness, but still the guilt for my evil deeds overcame me. For a long time I wished for death, but that was not to be. The wizards helped me overcome my guilt and found ways to heal the wounds I had inflicted on the land and people of Goval. I traveled for many years in the company of one or another of these wizards, until finally the four of them came together once more.”

Bane closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. He shook his head as if trying to wake himself from a dream.

“These four great men asked me to take on a final quest,” said Bane, half-smiling as he spoke. “They explained to me what the shadow I had seen was, though words fail to express its true nature and horror. I will simply say that it was a shadow of evil that could posses a person and use that person for its own ends. I have heard it called by many names in many lands, but the result is always the same: war and pain.

“I accepted the quest, thinking it would be a way to repay some of the evils I had done. I did not know then that my quest would last so long, but even now, I feel the punishment is light compared to my crimes.”

Bane stopped as a sudden cough racked his body violently. It was several minutes before he caught his breath again, but no one said anything or even moved.

“So, my new masters gave me power,” said Bane, rubbing his chin. “They passed some of their own power to me and sent me into the known lands as a paladin. Now I hunt the shadow that possesses men, and my quest will not end until I find it and destroy it, or it destroys me.”

There was a long silence as Bane finished speaking, and the only noise came from the fire burning in the hearth.

Alex considered Bane’s story, remembering something his own teacher, Whalen Vankin, had told him.

“I see now why my friends were so concerned when I wanted to confront you,” Alex said at last. “I did not recognize you for what you are, and I did not understand what they meant when they called you a paladin.”

“A name for common people to use,” said Bane.

“Yet I know another name, a name that I will not speak in this company,” said Alex. “If I had known that that was what you are, I would not have confronted you as I did.”

“And yet you proved the stronger,” said Bane, a look of wonder on his face.

“How long have you been on this quest?” Arconn asked quietly.

“A long time,” Bane answered. “Sometimes it feels like forever, and I think the quest will have no end. But I cannot give it up.”

“Your story rings true,” said Thrang after a moment. “I will gladly ask King Thorgood to assist you in your quest.”

“You are most kind,” said Bane, inclining his head to Thrang.

“I think I may also be able to assist you,” said Alex. “Perhaps more than the libraries of Benorg, unless I miss my guess.”

“You know of the creature? The shadow of which I spoke?” Bane questioned, a hint of excitement in his voice.

“I believe I do,” said Alex. “If it is the same creature, and I feel sure that it is, I have confronted it twice.”

“Twice?” Bane repeated in amazement.

“It tried to tempt me,” said Alex. “It wanted me to join with it. It made me promises of power, wealth, and fame.”

“Promises it could not keep, unless it used the power in you to bring such things to pass,” said Bane. “Will you tell me where these meetings took place?”

“The first was in Vargland,” said Alex, glancing at his friends. “The shadow was controlling several wraiths there. I was not yet a trained wizard and did not understand what I was facing. It nearly destroyed me, and I was saved only because my friends called me back from the wall.”

“More than one called you back?” Bane questioned in surprise.

“I called him back partway,” said Arconn, a pained look on his face. “I did not have the power to call him back completely.”

“Perhaps not,” said Alex. “But you had the presence of mind to take me to one who could call me back—or, as you once said, demand that I return.”

“A close thing, even for her,” said Arconn.

“Yes, it was,” agreed Alex.

“So you escaped it once when you were not trained, and then you met it again?” Bane asked.

“By chance, it traveled with an adventurer who was part of the company I had joined,” Alex explained. “I was still being trained and had not yet taken my staff so I did not see or feel the shadow until it was almost too late.”

“The adventurer—were you able to save him?” Bane questioned in a worried tone.

“I was not,” said Alex sadly. “He was lost, and the shadow escaped. That was in the far north of Norsland, not long ago.”

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