“Hasty, Starfinder,” taunted Yanti. “Mindthe things you have learned.” But he made no move to counter.
Lee cursed himself for such an arrogant and foolhardyattack. Yanti was no ordinary opponent. He should have suspected asmuch.
This time Lee attacked with more caution and finesse.Short, powerful strokes rained down on Yanti, as he attempted tothrow him off balance, but to Lee's dismay, Yanti parried each bloweasily. Lee became concerned by Yanti's lack of aggression. The manhad not made a single move to attack, seeming to be content to fightoff Lee's onslaught.
“You're trained well,” admitted Lee, takinga step back. “But if you think to tire me out, you'll find thatwill not happen.”
“No, no,” replied Yanti, still smiling. “Ionly wish to admire your skill. You have indeed been well educated inthe art of the sword. It is a pity you won't allow my master to makeyou even more powerful… as he has done for me.”
With those words, Yanti charged, bringing his sword downon Lee’s. A deafening clang of metal on metal shot through theair, causing a flash of sparks to fly. Lee was only barely able toraise his sword in time. The second blow whizzed by his ear and hewas forced back, nearly losing his footing.
Now Yanti began to toy with him, slashing and feigning.Lee tried to regain advantage, but Yanti kept forcing him back andback, until finally, Lee dropped to one knee from the force one ofYanti's blows. Lee pushed with all his strength and gained his feet,but he knew Yanti could finish him at any time. He glanced over longenough to see Dina and Millet still on their horses, staring inhorror.
“Ride, you fools,” he shouted. “Beforeit's too late.”
“It is already too late, Lord Starfinder,”said Yanti, pointing to Jacob, who had a bow drawn and pointed atDina's head. “At that range he won't miss.”
“If you let them go, I will do what you ask,”said Lee bowing his head.
Yanti laughed softly. “Being that you are in noposition to bargain, I cannot help but be amused. Still, you haveshown courage. A quality my master values greatly… as do I. Still,I am not foolish enough to simply kill you and allow your companionsto roam free.”
Lee tensed, ready for another assault. “Then weend this.”
“Indeed we do,” Yanti agreed.
In a flash Yanti raced forward. Lee attempted to sidestep and counter, but Yanti was too fast. His own blade had barelymoved when he felt Yanti's blow strike home on the back of his skull.He fell to his knees with a grunt and his sword flew from his hand.Lee's head swam, as he looked up to see Dina weeping and Millet insilent prayer. He marveled that he still lived. His head should havebeen split in two. Then he realized that Yanti had hit him with thehilt of his sword and not the blade.
“You fought well.” Yanti's voice sounded faraway. Then he felt his entire body jar as Yanti delivered one finalblow. His last thoughts before darkness took him were of his wife. Hehad failed her.
Chapter Twenty-One
Consciousness came slowly… and painfully. The worldaround Lee spun violently. Realization washed over him. Feelinganything at all meant he was still alive. Yanti must have spared him.But why?
He opened his eyes and let the light filter in. Thewound on the back of his head throbbed, but he knew he had to sit up.He had to find out if Millet and Dina still lived. He took a deepbreath and struggled to his knees. As his vision cleared, he saw thatthe horses had been tied to a fallen log and their gear neatly placedbeside them. Millet and Dina were tied and blindfolded just off theroad. Jacob was bound and blindfolded just like the others, onlyjudging from the bruises on his face, he had been beaten.
“Millet… Dina,” called Lee. “Are youhurt?” He struggled to his feet and stumbled towards them.
“We are both fine, my lord,” said Millet.“Yanti decided to leave us unharmed.” Lee was about tosearch for a knife in the gear, but saw that his weapons had beenplaced beside Millet. He cut their bonds and helped them to theirfeet. Dina immediately noticed Jacob and ran over, seething withfury. She stood over him momentarily, then spat on the ground.
“If he wasn't your son,” said Dina. “I'dslit his throat here and now.”
“I wouldn't blame you,” admitted Lee,gingerly touching the back of his head. “But his fate is in myhands, and I alone must decide what to do with him.”
“Well, that can wait,” said Millet. “FirstI must treat your injuries.” Lee didn't protest and allowedMillet to examine his wounds.
“Your skull is made of stone to have taken such ablow,” Millet muttered. He retrieved some medicine and bandagesfrom their gear and finished the dressings.
“What happen after I was knocked out?” askedLee.
Millet's face twisted in anger then relaxed as heregained his composure. “He told Jacob to bind and blindfoldus. After that I heard Jacob arguing with him that he should kill usall and be done with it. But Yanti just laughed at him. Next thing Iheard was a thump and what sounded like a body hitting the ground. Ican only assume it was Jacob. After that, he must have tied off ourhorses and searched through our gear. Before he left, he told us thatyou were still alive and once you woke up there would be a giftwaiting for us. I suppose he was referring to Jacob.”
“How could your own son betray you like that?”asked Dina, still furious. “And his own mother…”
“I know,” snappedLee. “I know,” he repeated, this time more calmly. Milletplaced his hand gently on Lee's shoulder. “What will you do?”
“I'll keep my word,” Lee replied. “Iwill save my wife.” His eyes fell on Jacob. “And he willgo with me.”
“You can't be serious,” Millet protested.
Lee never took his eyes off his son. “I've neverbeen more serious. Yanti knew what he was doing, leaving me alive.”
“What do you mean?” asked Dina.
Lee glanced sideways her. “He wants me to gonorth, and wants me out of the fight. If I am captured attempting torescue my wife, then they will try to turn me. If the Dark One wasable to empower Yanti so much as to make short work of me, his ownpower must be unfathomable. If I went with him willingly, he wouldworry about treachery along the way. This way I deliver myself intotheir hands. And he knew exactly what he was doing by leaving Jacobbehind.”
“I still don't follow,” said Dina.
“By doing so,” Lee explained. “Heleaves me with an impossible choice. If I decide to return to Gewey,and continue aiding him, I will be forced to kill my own son. Icannot trust Jacob, therefore I cannot take him with me. Nor can Isimply let him go.”
“Why not?” argued Dina. “He clearlywants you dead. Why not just leave him to return to his masters?”
Lee looked at Dina angrily. “He's my son.He is what he is because I abandoned him. I'll not simply leave himto his fate. No. If I can save him, I will. And if we are killed,we'll die together.”
“And I will go with you,” said Millet.
Lee smiled at the man with intense affection. “No,my friend. You must continue what I cannot. You must return and aidGewey, as best you can.”
Millet opened his mouth to protest, but Lee held up hishand, silencing him.
“You must do this,” pleaded Lee, his eyeswelled with tears. “I have never given you a command, dearfriend… until now. I must break the oath I made to Gewey, so youmust have more honor than I. You must keep the word of the houseNal’Thain, as you are bound to do. But you will not do so as myservant.” He walked over to his pack and retrieved a sealedparchment. “From this moment on you shall be known as MilletNal’Thain. I empower you with the rank and privileges of Lordand Patriarch of my family. I officially step down from all titlesand pass them to you.” He held out the parchment.
Millet took a step back. “My Lord,” hecried. “You cannot do this. I am your servant, and shall remainso. I refuse this.”
Lee smiled and pressed the letter into Millet's hand.“You cannot refuse. As the Lord Nal’Thain, it is my rightto choose my successor. You are the only man I can trust with thechallenges that lie ahead. And I am sorry. I leave to you a brokenhouse of a broken land, and it will be up to you to heal them andrestore our honor. I likely ride to my death and even should Isurvive, I cannot return to my former life. I beg you to do thisservice.”