Clash of Faiths by David Dalglish

Author:David Dalglish
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy, Epic, Fiction
ISBN: 9781463761981
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2011-07-26T04:00:00+00:00

10

They stayed in the homes of people that would take them. For Jerico, that meant he had none, so he slept in the hut that had been his during his injury. He lay inside, feeling drained beyond belief. He’d knelt and prayed with any who would accept it, but even those with severe injuries seemed hesitant. Normally he would have felt anger, but instead he felt only sadness. Shouting to them how he’d been in the right felt hollow, and selfish. No matter his healing touch, he could not bring back the dead, nor remove the painful memories they’d endured.

“I wasn’t wrong,” Jerico murmured, trying to sleep. Night had finally come, and no one had been happier to see the rise of the moon than him. Free of his armor, he tried to relax, and force his mind from the hundred horror stories he’d had confessed to him. He tried to forget Barry’s wail, forget that single look of betrayal Beth had given him when she’d turned his way. Unable to help it, Jerico felt tears slide down his face.

The door to his hut opened. For some reason, Jerico knew who would be there.

“Close the door,” he said. “I would hate for anyone to see you like this.”

Barry stood at the entrance. In one hand he held a bottle, in the other, a knife.

“I ain’t afraid of what they’ll say,” the man said, his speech slurred from the alcohol. “You think I care?”

He stepped further in, and the door shut behind him. Jerico sat up, glancing toward his mace and shield. If he acted quick, he could still retrieve them. But he didn’t.

“What are you here for, Barry?” he asked.

“You,” he said. He sniffed, and his red eyes were heavy with tears. “My Jess ... they say she ran. The others, the ones that didn’t fight it ... but no, Jess ran. Stupid woman, she ran, and now who’ll raise my boys? Me?”

He laughed, the bottle swinging loosely in his hand.

“I’m no good. Never been. Was lucky enough to get Jess. Why’d you do it, Jerico? Don’t you ever think? Every damn peasant boy knows you leave a lord’s knights well enough alone. Boys! But you ... you ...”

He waved the knife, and he took an uncertain step toward him. Jerico remained still, refusing to look away from that pained gaze.

“Are you here to kill me, Barry?”

Barry laughed.

“Maybe. Maybe not. Don’t think even the gods know what I’m gonna do, but I know what I want to do. I want to jam this knife so far down your throat you choke on my elbow. You were supposed to help us, Jerico. You were supposed to help us ...”

Jerico stood slowly to make sure Barry knew he posed no threat. From the corner of his eye he watched the unsteady knife. So far it wasn’t poised to stab. Not yet, but close.

“Tell me what you want,” he said. “Tell me, so I may grant it.”

Barry pointed the knife at him.

“I want you to know you was wrong.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.