Chapter 44: Part II-2

“He said you were a true friend of the Paladins, although it seems your affection has faded.” “Times change, Paladin. Pirama’s not the city it once was. It’s not even the city it was six weeks ago. I am not as ardent a supporter as I used to be, I suppose, but I’m no fan of the Uriel either.” Tristan lowered his voice. “What know you of the Uriel, Master Byrd?” John jerked his head towards the far right corner of the tavern. “There’s a table of Uriel men over there, Paladin, if you’d like to find out for yourself. “You serve the Uriel?” Sam asked, aghast. “These days, I serve whoever pays my bills.” “Fair enough,” said Tristan, shooting Sam a quelling glare. “We’ll take that bread and jam now.” The innkeeper nodded and disappeared into a back room. Tristan turned to his trainees. “It’s time for a bit of reconnaissance. Follow my lead.” Tristan strolled over to the table of Uriel. Sam and Braeden trailed behind him like obedient puppies. He draped his arm across the back of an empty chair. “Good evening, gentleman.” Two burly men rose from their seats and assessed them coolly. “Sit,” one of them said finally, sinking back into his chair. A slow, amused smile spread across his scarred face. Tristan felt an answering tug on his own lips. “Thank you.” He stuck out his hand. “Tristan.” After Sam and Braeden made their own introductions, he asked, “And you?” The scarred Uriel returned his grip. “Adelard.” He flicked his companion’s elbow. “And this hulking brute is Donnelly.” “Hullo,” said Donnelly, his soft voice at odds with his beefy build. Though his body was large and well-muscled, his boyish face put him of an age with Sam or Braeden. “What brings you to Pirama?” asked Adelard. “Just passing through,” said Tristan. “It seems like the city has fallen on hard times.” “So it has,” said Adelard. “I’m surprised we haven’t heard the bell yet this eve.” “The bell?” “Aye. The old Paladin had it installed as a warning system when the demon attacks started to become more regular. The bell’s gone sour it’s been rung so often.” Tristan nodded. The Center had a similar warning system in place. “So you must have known Paladin Reynard. Have you been in Pirama long?” Adelard shook his head. “I never met Reynard, though I’m acquainted with his replacements. I came to town a month after he left. And Donnelly’s only been here two weeks.” “Aye, I just moved from the Uriel base in Luca,” said Donnelly. He clapped his hand over his mouth. “Sorry, sir.” Adelard patted Donnelly’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Donnelly. They already know who we are.” “The Uriel?” asked Tristan, feigning ignorance, not that it was much of a stretch. Adelard gave Tristan a dirty look. “Don’t be coy, Paladin Lyons. It doesn’t suit you.” Sam gasped aloud, and Tristan resisted the urge to thump his head against the table. The fool boy had as much as confirmed the Uriel’s indictment. No point in refuting it now. “What gave me away?” Tristan asked at last. Adelard’s gaze swept over him. “Golden hair, overlarge sword at your hip and arrogant enough to go by your real given name. Your reputation precedes you, Paladin Tristan Lyons. You can’t think to hide among fighting men.” Tristan might be arrogant, but in truth he hadn’t realized his reputation extended beyond the Paladins. He colored slightly. “I confess you have me at an advantage, Adelard. Or is it Uriel Adelard? I know little of your people.” He tried for honesty. “I hadn’t known about the Uriel base in Luca.” “Adelard is fine. We don’t stand on formalities. And we’ve nothing to hide, Donnelly or I or any of the Uriel. We’re not interested in playing your High Commander’s power games.” Tristan bit back a few choice words. “What are you interested in, then?” The Uriel’s dark eyes gleamed, and he leaned forward. “To protect the people of Thule. Our goals are not so different.” Sam, who had been unusually quiet up to that point, spoke up, a scowl on his face. “What need has Thule of you when they have us?” Tristan really had to teach the boy a lesson in subtlety. “Ignore him.” Adelard waved his hand dismissively. “It’s good to question, to never accept at face value. It’s that basic principle that instigated the establishment of the Uriel.” He sat back in his chair. “Come to our encampment in West Pirama tomorrow morning. There, you can ask all the questions you’d like.” “You would open your doors to a Paladin?” Tristan asked incredulously. “We close our doors to none except demons, Paladin Lyons.” Braeden lifted his head, the faint glow of candlelight accentuating the contrast of his slit black pupils against the white of his irises. “And to me?” Adelard looked at him consideringly. “You’re no demon. I’ve fought and killed enough to know.” He drained his cup of wine and pushed back his chair. “Should we expect you on the morrow?” “We’ll be there,” said Tristan. Adelard helped Donnelly to his feet and offered Tristan his hand once more. “Until tomorrow, Paladin.”