A red sun rose over the sky that morning as the wind howled.

Jehair watched it rise, her braids flying around her as the window howled, leather looking very good on her as she polished her scythe. Frowning, she turned to William. A robin landed on her shoulder and was chirping in her ear, and her expression went mournful. "The birds tell me of battles along the border and in Ascorn. Nobles have been slain."

"Nobles?" asked William. "Which ones?"

"Birds can't say that much," said Jehair. "They don't see nearly well enough.

"But they spear of growing darkness. Powers of evil are rising."

It was a crossroads of sorts to symbolize one thing or another.

William wondered if the days would wear on like this much longer, or if they would come to a pleasant end. Jehair was beautiful, at least, and he had felt her gaze on him once or twice.

"Are you certain this chimera is coming, William?" asked Jehair after a moment.

"Yes, I'm quite certain," said William, smiling at the idea that Massacre belonged to him in any way. "I don't want to get too far ahead of her, she knows my music well."

"It is fine music indeed," said Jehair. "Did Rusara teach you?"

"Yes, actually," said William. "It was one of the things she instructed me in, as well as several of the lesser spells."

"Ah, you must be one of her favorites then," said Jehair, smiling. "Music she teaches to many, but spells are reserved for those who have her favor."

"You speak as though she were a god," noted William.

"Well, she has a level of power comparable to some deities," said Jehair. "Not in the personal sense, but she has friends everywhere."

"Mighty is not a word I should call him, though I suppose it fits," said William.

"And what would you call him?" asked Jehair.

"Wise, reasonable, cunning, powerful perhaps," said William.

"Scheming," said Felix suddenly.

"Scheming?" asked William, looking back.

"Schemes are not necessarily a bad thing, William," said Felix. "We're enacting schemes right now. Elranor as well."

"I suppose he does," said William. "Elranor does not usually make open displays of power. I've only ever seen one when he killed Laughing Wraith."

"It must have been very personal for him," said Jehair.

"What is personal for you, Jehair?" asked William.

"I believe the universe has a way of changing to suit your nature," said Jehair. "When you invite a thing into yourself, it naturally attracts things like it. If you perform good deeds, they will be drawn to you. If you perform acts of cruelty, they are naturally drawn to you as well."

"I believe in entering the darkness to kill it," said William.

"Well, for my part," said Jehair. "I prefer the part of the well-intentioned bystander."

"Do you hate what I stand for, Jehair?" asked William.

"In a word, yes," said Jehair. "You certainly fight for what is right, but you hold to absolutes even as you do so. You may work to amend problems that happen as a result of the human class system. But you seem zealously devoted to defending it.

"What is your plan?"

"Force the abusive factions of Antion into a stalemate," said William, thinking about it. "At the same time, encourage action to chip away at the foundation of their power.

"Which would force our enemies to try and redeem themselves."

"What makes you think Atravain won't just wipe out Tavish's people?" asked Jehair. "Their power is not in military means."

"Felix, if you would?" asked William.

"The Paladin Order is focused on the plague, and it will take some time to get rid of the Healer's Guild," said Felix. "Tavish is sure to know what they are doing long before they even begin to muster. Armies are obvious. And William judges Luke to be a good person.

"As for Tavish, he'll know he can't fight them, so he'll want to get his money out and go."

"What if he decides to kill the slaves?" asked Jehair.

"It would be a stupid move," said Felix. "Tavish is not stupid. He can't strike at Atravain from any direction save the moral high ground."

Elranor had been setting things up very well lately.

"What is Kafka's connection to any of this?" asked William.

Jehair smiled.

"You know your relationship with Tanith?" asked Jehair.

"What of it?" asked William.

"Would you be able to keep her in line if she was the highest-ranking person in your group?" asked Jehair.

William thought about that. "I might. It would depend on the nature of the situation. Tanith respects tradition, and I might be to channel her. She also is loyal to Harlenor.

"I don't think she'd do the kind of bloodletting you describe among Harlenorians. She loves her country."

Jehair seemed irritated by the answer. "Why are you so dead set on not avenging those atrocities?"

"It isn't my place to seek vengeance," said William. "And it goes against the basic principles of House Gabriel.

"Systems work at their best when every person in the system has a stake. If everyone has a reason for the system to continue, you won't have much in the way of rebellions. That is the guiding principle behind House Gabriel's rule.

"And it has worked enormously well. So powerful that several nations spanning conspiracies joined forces to take us out. And we've wiped them out without even knowing they were there.

"Slavery is precisely the antithesis of this philosophy.

"A household slave might have an incentive for the household to function. They are seen by their master and can be rewarded. But the slaves being worked to death in the fields have no incentive. They have every incentive to rebel and kill their master, and no amount of preaching will get past that.

"As a result, any nation that uses a lot of slaves must spend vast amounts of resources ensuring they don't rebel. In the end, you might make a short-term profit, but you'll only destroy yourself. Just look at how much trouble Atravain's actions have cost her.

"We don't need to kill slavery, merely contain it until it eats itself alive.

"Also, it would be a stupid move."

Jehair looked at him for a moment and finally laughed in a slightly bitter fashion. "I knew you were cleverer than you led on to be, William. I wonder why it was you were chosen as a Paladin and not some other career."

"Being a Paladin does not mean being a fool," said William.

"What about the Islands of Power?" asked Felix suddenly. "No collapse has happened there."

William remembered all he had read of those places. By all accounts, the sugar plantations were very profitable. Father had talked to many and focused on honey instead of sugar, but it distressed him what he knew of them. How best to account forth their horrors?

"Those colonies are isolated areas that need constant resources from Sorn," said William. "And they aren't really colonies at all, more military outposts which oversee harvests. Those outposts operate in secluded areas that cannot be accessed save by sea or air. When transplanted to Harlenor, the results can be seen all around us.

"Once it becomes clear how unworkable slavery is, the institution will be abandoned. All you need do is convince enough people to stop buying the luxuries they make; they would fail very quickly."

"Easier said than done, child," said Jehair. "I have heard of Vanion's efforts in that regard. It made him an enemy of many Sornian merchants. Yet how do you know they won't simply lighten to the load as you have?"

William felt like he was being interrogated and he wondered how to respond.

"It's a slippery slope," said William. "Once you admit that the best way to motivate a worker is to pay him, him being a slave is not an asset. The further you go down that path, the more you realize you have to set them free."

Jehair laughed, and it was a nice laugh.

"What's funny?" asked William.

"You're an optimist," said Jehair. "What do you intend to do for the ones that become attached to slavery? Who likes having power over their inferiors and fighting tooth and nail to protect the system?"

"Crush them," said William. "Discipline is an important quality of making a good person. And pain is a form of discipline."

"Are you sure of that?" asked Jehair, raising an eyebrow.

"You astonish me," laughed Jehair loudly with a tinge of self-hatred. "To make a callous disregard for life a virtue is an achievement only a serpent could make.

"I have not laughed in a long time."

"Thank you," said William. "I am pleased to entertain a Lady. Do you know my mentor, Raynald?"

"Yes," said Jehair. "I would consider him the most dangerous man in Harlenor. I am glad Rusara is able to restrain him a bit. Before he met her and Vanion he was... destructive. Now he is channeled toward more productive ends."

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"Raynald is a great man," said William, not sure he liked her answer. "He defeated the demons in Khasmir and taught me everything I know of swordplay. Though Mother taught me to wield my shield and Maria tried to teach me to use a bow.

"And he is the greatest swordsman who ever lived."

Jehair smiled and there was real warmth.

Then Massacre loped down the path, looking very pleased with herself. On her back was Grace, clad in a more practical white set of pants and a red cloak. As she approached, she landed, her ample breasts bouncing with the movement as her hair flowed. She smiled brightly as she saw them.

"William! I've got bad news!" said Grace.

"What is it?" asked William. "Why did Massacre let you bear her?"

Grace pet Massacre affectionately. "I have good contact with woodland creatures." She halted. "Um, Lord Rius is dead."

"What?" asked William. "How?"

"There was a rebellion," said Grace. "Apparently, Tanith was deliberately excluded from important meetings with people from Haldren. Then Rius broke his word to the Furbearers and duped Anborn into talking to him alone.

"Tanith challenged Rius to single combat. She killed his guards without armor or weapon, and Suran fought as his champion. But then Rius went after Tanith with a crossbow. Once he did that, Sokar, the Furbearer's leader, executed him for crimes against the people."

"Why?" asked William. "Rius seemed to understand his own city well enough. So why would he make that kind of move against House Telus unless...

"He was planning to turn on them." He took a deep breathe. "Don't panic. King Gavin would not desire war. There is a chance to avert this.

"Still, at this point, we can do nothing. Everything will be resolved long before we get back. Our course now heads to Brisgald, the realm of my family. I'm not going to be around when this situation becomes a full-civil war.

"But I can talk with my uncle, Arthur. We'll take the King's road as far as we can. We need haste here."

At that moment, around the corner came Janice, a gray cloak flowing behind her. "William, your life is in danger."

"Janice?" asked William.

Janice halted. "You can't take this way. Lamech is waiting up ahead to ambush any Paladins or Knights who go by. He has already killed three and hung their shields from the trees. As well as the weapons of their entourage."

"What?!" said William.

"He has set out a challenge on the road and made his whereabouts known in the lands around," said Janicem brushing a strand of white hair from her face. "He is trying to lure you, or Lord Dunmoore out. Several Paladins have set out to kill him and tasted death."

William drew his sword. "Then I'll deal with him myself."

"You're a fool then," said Janice. "Lamech fights like a god; he recently fought it out with six knights at once."

"I'm a Paladin," said William. "Playing the part is part of the job. Come, let's see to this."

"I say we gang up on him and hack him to pieces," said Felix.

"I agree with your servant," said Janice, then. She and Grace shared a look and looked over one another for a moment too long. Then they continued.

"We'll deal with that when the time comes," said William.

William walked down the road, paying heed to an abandoned farmhouse that had been burned. The crops, once growing high, had been hewed to worthlessness. And whoever lived there had fled or died.

And at last, they came to the tree. Sure enough, the shields were hanging from it, and the weapons planted around it like a dark shring.

And there was the dark shield, sable and unblazoned on the branch. And standing beneath the tree was Jaina, sitting in the shade and resting, a blue hook pulled over her head. Her legs were crossed, and her bosom rose and fell lightly as she read a book. Looking up, her blue eyes widened. "William, wait, it's a trap!"

"Jaina, you're here too?" asked William, noticing Janice and Grace's eyes lingered on her.

"Yes, Lamech is up that way," said Jaina. "He's hung the shields of three knights and six others."

"Who were they?" asked William.

"Erm..." Jaina haltered. "Members of the Paladin Order who had taken liberties with their duties while in my Mother's lands. As well as several knights who have been abusing the population especially badly.

"Dunmoore and he are both on Prince Bor's council, but there has been some kind of falling out. So now Lamech is luring men out to kill them."

"You've been orchestrating the assassination of your political rivals again," said Grace with a sigh. This was not the first time this had happened?

"No," said Jaina defensively. "Well, yes, but none of them are from this world. Lamech has deliberately targeted Paladins from Kadan. You see, Dunmoore uses them as enforcers.

"He brings them over from Bretus. Things are more ruthless there and use them to handle the nobility's problems. They have no personal connections out here, so he can rely on them. Paladins in Bretus tend to have to flee into exile a lot, so they owe him everything."

William raised an eyebrow. "And you have allowed this?"

"Lamech was going to do it either way," said Jaina. "I gave him the means to do it in a way that spared my people. Anyone who comes from my camp, I warn off.

"Now that Rundas has been shut out, Dunmoore basically runs the church. If his influence isn't checked, he'll run the heartlands. And none of them have to accept the challenge."

"You've been killing Paladins," said William, shocked.

"The Paladin Order is due a reckoning, William," said Janice. "And Farwa just tried to take over Ascorn.

"Do you know that one demanded payment after taking out the Healers Guild. Hundreds of gold coins in exchange for doing his job. Another completely abandoned his responsibilities as a healer because it was boring. All of these people were refusing to do their work, so I gave them new work. I sent them here to kill Lamech.

"Just as Jaina sent Lamech here to kill them. It's just that Lamech keeps winning. It's not my fault if they can't do the job they insist on taking."

"You have been killing Paladins," said William.

"You have to understand," said Grace. "Dunmoore is a terrible person.

"Yes, I know he seems very noble and reasonable. But the truth is that he's part of crime syndicate. His job is to be the face of the organization, so nobody rocks the boat. The reason all these Paladins are coming out here is that Dunmoore put a hit out on Lamech."

"Dunmoore didn't support taking out the Healer's Guild because it was evil," said Janice. "He did it because it was already losing. By putting his seal on the operation, he can take control here."

"I suspect that Dunmoore fell from grace a long time ago," said Jaina. "It's the only explanation for why things have gotten this out of hand. Prince Bor gave him that position so he'd keep control of the Guild while we phased it out.

"Now, look what has happened."

William halted and tried to find the words. "I would not presume to pass judgment in this situation. So I'm just going to do what I have to." And he moved toward the tree.

"No!" said Grace, stepping in front of him with arms out in a cross, her hair flowing behind. "Just pass the shield by; he can't go after you unless you hit it.

"It's the rules." Her blue eyes were wide with concern, and he realized she was afraid for him. They all were.

But why?

William walked up to the shield and saw a hammer hanging by it. "Standards for knights in seem to have dropped greatly. So, they will have to be raised again."

"They never really existed," said Felix.

"They did once. For a brief and fair time, long ago," said Jehair sadly. "It won't come again, though."

"Don't be absurd," said William. "A man of chivalry is perfectly attainable. You merely need discipline tand compassion." Granted, he had no personal experience, but there were plenty of indications.

"'Strike this shield, and things will go ill,'" read William. Then he thought about what he would do if he were a Blackguard. "Felix, hand me a rock."

Felix picked one up and tossed it to him, and William stepped back. Then, distancing himself, he threw the rock. It hurtled through the air and banged off the shield. There was a flaring of magic, and nothing happened.

All of a sudden, a darkness fell over the sun, and William saw, walking toward him, a foul fiend. Lamech, he might have been called, but this was not he. His armor had become the form of a demon, and his eyes were now flaming with yellow. His skin was almost a shadow. In one hand was gripped his great sword so that he towered over others. At his side was a quiver full of pears.

For a moment, William considered making a run for it. Then, considering that he could not abandon those here, he resolved to stand his ground. Laughter came from Lamech as he neared, and William drew his sword.

"So, you saw the spell," said Lamech. "You are more intelligent than I thought."

"Spell," said Jaina. "But...

"But how? I checked both sides! I saw this shield painted! I know there is no magic on it! All of them had a fair fight!"

"And then I swapped it with a perfect replica I had put together in advance," said Lamech. "Sable and unblazoned, as is my custom. And no man may tell me my custom.

"Wouldn't you agree, Paladin?"

William stood his ground. "That custom will be amended."

"You defend it with your every breath," said Lamech.

"Throw me a spear if you are not too great a coward to face me fairly," said William.

"As you wish," said Lamech. "You are the challenger. To you went the first blow!"

Then, snatching up a spear, it burst into flame in his hand, and he cast it at William. Raising his shield, William felt the impact as the spear landed. It pierced through over his arm. And another was thrown soon as well. This one William moved aside from as he drew his sword, and a spear lodged in the sand.

"Lamech," said William. "You stand on a highway of King, patrolled by the righteous! Even I fall, another will slay you in my place!" But, though William would admit, he was enjoying it.

"Perfect," said Lamech.

Then he laughed and hurled another spear, and it shot toward William in new flame. He ducked, but it glanced off his helm, and the strength of it stunned him. The helmet became steadily hotter, and it pained him badly. Falling back, William pulled off the helm and saw another spear coming at him.

Raising the shield, the spear went through it again. This time, it grazed his hand; though it did not pierce the armor, its force hurt. Throwing aside his shield, he aimed for Lamech's shield. Then William knocked aside a spear and then moved toward Lamech. Yet Lamech stabbed down at his foot, and when he moved aside, he pulled the spear through the earth. The force of it nearly knocked William off his feet.

Falling down, William landed and saw Lamech raising his sword for the kill. Rolling aside, William rose up and grabbed Lamech by the belt. Then, pulling himself up, he smashed Lamech with his blade across the shoulder. His enemy stumbled back. A cheer came from the three maidens, but now Lamech became angry.

He attacked aggressively, and William, without a shield, had to meet him in pure strength. And Lamech was the stronger. His power was immense. Back he was forced, and their duel waged, striking the other many times. Yet neither could gain the advantage.

"You are formidable, I'll admit," said Lamech. "A suitable starting point. Once I have finished you, I'll have no need to remain in this place. I've gotten what I came for."

"Oh, have you?" asked William, circling around toward the unblazoned shield. "You can't even defeat your opponents fairly."

"Only a fool gives up an advantage when it is available," said Lamech. And he rained a blow that William halted with the flat of his blade. It nearly took him off his feet, and dust was thrown up by it. "This was no duel; it was a hunt. The idiots accepted the surface appearance. They walked to their death by striking the shield. I should think you would appreciate that."

"Do not confuse an intelligent man with a monster," said William, dodging another blow. Lamech stepped away with lightning speed and struck back. It nearly took off William's head.

"As you like it, fool," said Lamech. "Walking into a trap to remove a threat to your own kind is not good survival tactics." Then with a laugh, he attacked head-on, striking with vicious strikes. William yielded ground, seeing the tree behind him. Backing toward it, he parried and blocked until he was very near.

Too fast and he'd hit it, too slow and Lamech would cut him to pierced.

William backed away, then sprang aside like lightning as Lamech struck hard. "How do you explain yourself then!"

Lamech struck his own shield. The ringing of it resounded through the trees and the fields and across the Black Mountain. And the noise was brought back by a gust of wind. Screaming in agony, Lamech reeled back. He was more hurt by his own nature than William had ever been by the Mirror of Laevian. And falling to the ground, his sword fell from his hand.

"It wasn't that strong before," said Jaina, shifting her hips as she moved forward. Was she trying to attract his gaze?

"The spell was unleashed when I hit it with the stone," said William. "Then again, when I hit it with my shield. But it had nothing to go into. So he got a triple dose.

"One for every Paladin he tried to murder. A wicked man in his own trap. See to it he lives, Jaina, and keep him guarded."

"Let's have his head and be done with it," said Janice, stretching her shoulders. She did it in a way that sent her breasts bouncing, almost by intention. Why was William noticing these things more? "He's outlived his usefulness, and he'd do the same to us."

"You can't do that, Janice. He was working for you," said Grace, moving very near Janice with swaying hips. Then she looked to William as though for approval. "That makes him our responsibility. And the duels were fair, for the most part, and he's been paid out for his cheating. We should heal him, give him back his sword and escort him out of here."

"A punishment for the nobility," said Jaina.

"Why should the commoners be the only ones to suffer?" asked Janice.

"No," said William, sheathing his sword. "I want Lamech taken to the most secure dungeons you can find. He is to be interrogated, given no special treatment. He should be given to the Paladin Order.

"Whatever use he had to us was done out of a desire to enact his dark impulses and designs. He cannot be allowed to remain free. And should not work with this man again lightly."

"Well, it was a very good fight if it's any consolation," said Jaina, moving near and almost brushing him.

"And let the shields be given to Lord Dunmoore, that they might be given a place of due honor," said William. "And tell him what part you had in this.

"We shall keep no secrets in this matter." Then he looked to Grace, who was unsteady. "We need someone to take him to. He'll wake up soon."

"I think there is a meeting of clergy down the road," said Janice. "I was going to meet him before I was turned back by Lamech."

"What are you, mad?" said Janice, leaning on her staff. "Rundas will let him go and ask for a favor later."

"Enough," said William. "We will take him to Dunmoore and tell him of the shields. You may use this to patch up this conflict. We can't afford to let this escalate."

Jaina sighed. "As you wish. I suppose the message has been sent."

"You're pleasant to talk with," said Grace.

"Is that sarcasm," said William.

"Not at all," said Grace.

And on they walked. And William had to wonder at these threes fixation on him.