Two Knights of Indulgence Read Free Page B

had spent years honing
Nicolas to be a strong fighter, but there still lay something softer inside the
younger man.   He was not
as strong a fighter as Matthias, nor would he ever be, as Nicolas could
not turn the switch off in his mind and become the thoughtless killer Matthias
could.   Matthias had spent the years
carrying the larger load, hoping Nicolas would never become what he was.   Death incarnate.
    Matthias pushed down the fear that rose in his belly,
knowing it would become a liability if he allowed it.   Nicolas had fought many a battle, and if this
was the day he would meet his maker, then so be it.   A blade in his hand, the sun settling down
over his body, the Lord above smiling down on them as they fought for the name
of all Christendom, this was the way a Templar Knight was meant to face his
end.  
    Even as the thought crossed Matthias’ mind, he knew it
to be a lie.   Nicolas was more than a
friend, more than a brother.   Matthias
wasn’t ready to say goodbye, nor would he ever.   Nicolas might have been more a lover than a fighter, but he balanced
Matthias.   He was the light to his
darkness, and Matthias was bound and determined to keep it that way.   Fear spiked a bit more, and his sword swirled
through the air, ripping through the necks of two more of the Turks.   The heathens might be ruthless and hardy, but
no fighter was more ruthless and bloodthirsty than Matthias.
    The last standing of his five stared at him, fear
beginning to shine in the Turk’s gaze.   “You are a white devil,” he spat, his words deeply accented from his
native language.
    A smile twisted Matthias’ lips.   “You have not seen me at my best yet, Turk.”
    The man barely had time to run before Matthias’ blade
sunk deep into his chest.   Matthias
wasted no time, pulling the blade out and jumping in to fight the two left
standing around Nicolas.   His friend had
felled three, but was showing signs of fatigue.   Matthias caught the first unaware, slicing through his throat as he
awaited his chance to sink his blade into Nicolas.
    The final Turk suddenly realized he was the lone
survivor.   He spun in a circle, gazing at
his fallen comrades.   He then looked to
Nicolas and Matthias, his eyes wide, the whites glowing brightly against the
light brown of his skin.   The bonfires
surrounding them glistened in his stare as he watched them intently.
    “You knights have killed too many of my people.”
    “We had no fight with you tonight.   You brought it on yourselves.   We only sought safe passage.”   Nicolas stood tall, his stance still wide and
ready to pounce.
    “You kill our people.   You take our cities.   You stroll
through like kings, and we are to simply let you pass?”
    Matthias saw the uneasiness settle across Nicolas’ face.   Stories of what some of the Templars and other orders had done to some of these people
held truth in them.   They both knew there
was corruption within their group, but they had no proof.   There was little they could do but stand tall
and not compromise their vows.  
    “We had no fight with you.   You could have just let us pass .
We had to protect ourselves.”
    “We avenge our fathers and brothers.   Our mothers and sisters.   Our pride and our respect.   We avenge that which you have taken from
us.”   The Turk lifted his sword, a
maniacal glow lighting his gaze as he began to run in their direction.   Matthias lifted his sword and turned to see
Nicolas at ease.   He wasn’t raising his arms
to protect himself.
    “Fight, damn you.   Raise your weapon.”
    “I have no fight with him.”
    Matthias pushed in front of Nicolas, sliding his sword
deep into the Turk’s chest.   He held the
man close, the propulsion of his run pushing him even deeper onto the blade.
    “We will have vengeance on you both …”
    Matthias yanked his weapon from the man and laid his
dying body on the ground at their feet.   He wiped the blood from his blade on his under