***
When they reached camp, and dismounted from the horses, Aldreya took a deep breath, turned to Jerret, and said, "For violating the Sacred Laws of Dremlock, I call for a vote to expel you from the Divine Order of Red Knights and from the Council of Ollanhar."
The other Knights looked dismayed.
"Is there a way I can avoid this?" Jerret asked quietly. "Make amends?"
"No," said Aldreya. "What you have done--risking war with Bellis to satisfy your lust for vengeance--is not the way of a Divine Knight. You will never be a Knight of the Order again, for as long as you live."
"Then I await the vote," said Jerret.
"He should be given another chance," Vorden said to Aldreya. "Jerret has served Dremlock honorably, and the Lawkeeper deserved to be executed for his crimes. Yes, Jerret should not have done it. But why deprive him of his Knighthood over the death of a wretched fiend like that? It makes no sense."
"Dremlock does not execute people," Aldreya replied. "The Sacred Laws forbid it. Even our worst enemies--should they surrender--will face only imprisonment for their crimes. This is the will of the Divine Essence. Jerret slew the Lawkeeper without warning--and after no trial took place. His crime is so severe that we cannot in good conscience allow him to remain a Knight."
"How is that different than an assassination?" asked Vorden. "And we know Dremlock sends forth assassins."
"Assassinations are allowed," said Aldreya, "when very specific criteria is met and the High Council has voted. That is not the case here. Jerret took matters into his own hands. This was nothing but an execution."
Lannon looked on in helpless frustration, knowing he was powerless to prevent this. Jerret had simply gone too far, and his career as a Divine Knight was finished. No other outcome was possible.
Dallsa was summoned from the wagon, and the voting began.
The Council gathered in a circle. "All in favor of banishing Jerret from Knighthood," said Aldreya, "speak now."
Without hesitation, Lannon said, "I vote for banishment. The Sacred Laws demand it, and in this case it is truly justified. I'm terribly sorry, my friend. But you left me with no choice."
Jerret shook his head, looking disgusted. "I guess I'm not your friend after all, Lannon. I thought for sure I would at least have your vote."
"You're being unfair to me," said Lannon. "I must vote with my conscience. One cannot be a Divine Knight halfheartedly. I am in it all the way, Jerret." But Jerret's words stung deeply, and Lannon wondered if he was making the right choice, Sacred Laws or not.
"I vote for banishment," said Dallsa. "And shame on you, Jerret, for stomping on your friendship with Lannon over this. It was your choice to...to cut off that man's head, and while he deserved it, that is not our way of things. You have to live with this always, and I hope you eventually find peace."
"I vote to award Jerret a Medal of Divinity," said Daledus, his face sullen and defiant. "Taking the Lawkeeper's head was justified." He fixed his grey eyes on Jerret. "You may lose your Knighthood, but you have earned the respect of this Dwarf. Vengeance was ours today. I will say no more."
Aldreya sighed. "Who's next?"
"I don't like what happened," said Vorden. "Not at all. I'm glad the Lawkeeper is dead, but that just wasn't right. However, I also believe people make mistakes out of wild emotion--sometimes truly wretched ones--and that forgiveness is possible. Jerret is an amazingly talented fighter and he has a noble heart. Therefore, my conscience dictates that I vote for him to remain."
"I vote for Jerret to remain," said Jace, with a shrug. "He let his anger get the best of him, and put us at great risk for war, but he is an exceptional fighter and will be needed in the days ahead. Banishing him is pointless."
"Banishment," said Prince Vannas. "The Sacred Laws cannot be compromised. This was an arrogant and blatant violation of all that Dremlock and Ollanhar stand for. It simply must not go unpunished."
"I vote to give him another chance," said Lothrin. "But it doesn't matter, because the majority has already spoken."
Aldreya stepped close to Jerret, face to face. "Jerret Dragonsbane, by official vote of the Council of Ollanhar you are hereby banished forever from the Divine Order. You are no longer a Knight. However, you will still receive payment for past services rendered, which you can collect at Ollanhar Tower. I will also allow you to keep your horse until you can purchase a different one. Then the Greywind must be returned to Ollanhar where it belongs."
"Then I guess it's truly over," said Jerret, with a huge sigh. His sword slipped from his fingers and clattered to the rocky ground.
Lannon couldn't imagine the despair Jerret was feeling--but it was his own fault. He had made his decision and would have to live with it.
"I guess I'll be leaving then," said Jerret.
No one answered, their hearts heavy with sadness.
Jace, however, seemed in a cheerful mood. He picked up Jerret's fallen broadsword with its wolf-head hilt and examined it. "Excellent blade," he said. "The Lawkeeper never stood a chance."
"I had my revenge," said Jerret, "but my future is lost. Would I do it again? Yes, but right now I feel...wretched beyond belief."
Jace shrugged. "Don't feel bad. Futures come and go. I've lost my future many times--and found a different one to replace it." He smiled. "I have a suspicion that Lannon needs to hire a henchman. Isn't that right, Lannon?"
"I don't know," said Lannon, caught off guard by the suggestion. "Am I allowed to? Jerret just beheaded the Lawkeeper without warning. Once word gets to Dremlock, he could even face a criminal trial for his actions."
"Well, it was rather impulsive of him," said Jace. "But it's not like that vile puppet of Bellis didn't deserve to lose his head. Let's not be too judgmental here over a bit of vengeance from a Red Knight. You know how they are. As the High Watchman, you have the right to hire some muscle--and Jerret has a lot of that. I say go ahead and put him on the payroll. Do you really think the High Council of Dremlock will interfere with your decisions? If so, you haven't been paying attention."
"I forbid this," said Aldreya, her face stony. "You are attempting to persuade Lannon to get around our decision. That is unacceptable."
Jace bowed. "Of course I am. Uncle Jace is full of such schemes--all for the greater good, of course. I must point out that the High Watchman has final say over who he hires. This isn't about Dremlock, but Ollanhar. It is not your decision, Aldreya. And bear in mind that I too was banished from Knighthood--yet here I am, riding with Divine Knights and serving so well."
Aldreya turned to Lannon. "Then what is your answer?"
Lannon sighed. "I like to keep things peaceful, of course. But...Jerret is a great fighter and certainly needed. For now, Jerret can ride with us and be paid for the trouble. It's too dangerous to be alone in these mountains anyway."
Aldreya seemed about to reply. Then she simply walked away.
Jace handed the sword to Jerret. "I guess you'll still be needing this."
Jerret took the sword. "I suppose I always will need it." He gazed into the distance. "Somehow I went wrong and forgot what it means to be a Divine Knight. Now I'm nothing but a barbarian, killing in the name of vengeance." He shrugged. "If that's what I am, then so be it. I don't really have any skills beyond the use of my sword. I will remain a warrior for hire--if not with Ollanhar, then somewhere else. Now that I've lost my Knighthood, I realize how important it was to me. Galvia wouldn't have wanted this for me."
"No, she would not have," Lannon agreed. After he spoke, though, Lannon found he wasn't so sure. The Grey Dwarves were not shy about claiming vengeance when necessary (much to the disappointment of Dremlock at times). As far as Lannon knew, Galvia's soul might have been cheering Jerret on. There was nothing more to be said. Jerret was a different type of warrior than Lannon--a Red Knight to the core--and Lannon could never understand his ways.