Knights: Legends of Ollanhar by Robert E. Keller

Vannas.
    "Without a doubt," said Lothrin. "Those who
embrace evil embrace their own doom. They are to be pitied."
    "Okay, so it is a Birlote thing," said Galandra.
    But oh so true in way, Lannon thought. If he
couldn't find a way to resist the Deep Shadow, it would indeed doom him. It was a trap--and one that countless people had not managed to escape. You could
prosper for a while, but eventually the beast would turn on you and drag your
soul into despair.
    "I'm not going to sit here," said Dallsa,
"and feel pity for the killers because they have tainted souls or
whatever. I feel pity for this family, who were terrorized and murdered. And
right now, someone is getting away with it."
    "I agree," said Lannon, sighing.
    "We should seek vengeance," said Jerret.
"Surely the killers couldn't have gotten too far. Let's track them
down."
    "Exactly," Daledus agreed. "Let's take some
heads!"
    No one answered. Although the desire for vengeance had
already gotten Jerret expelled from the Divine Order, no one felt like
reminding him of that. They were too angry to dispute his words. They too
wanted vengeance. Lannon told himself it was justice he sought, but his hand
had tightened around his sword hilt and a dangerous mood had overtaken him.
    Prince Vannas held up the White Flamestone. "By the
Divine Essence, I swear the killers will burn in white fire!"
    "So much for pitying them," said Galandra,
looking amused.
    "Put that away," said Lothrin. "It isn't
needed right now."
    The prince glared at Lothrin. "Make me."
    "We need to calm ourselves," said Aldreya,
"and focus on our mission. We're Divine Knights, remember?"
    "Not all of us," said Jerret.
    "Incorrect," said Aldreya. "You're being
employed by Dremlock and Ollanhar, and you're required to obey the Sacred Laws
and behave like a Knight. Otherwise you will be in breech of your contract.
Jerret, you are what is called an Acting Knight and must uphold
the duties of the Order."
    "We get it," said Brakthas. "We're all
Knights, for now. So therefore my opinion must hold some weight. And my opinion
is that we should turn back. Otherwise things are probably going to get very
bloody in Malva."
    "That's cowardly," said Jerret. "These Blue
Vultures need to be dealt with. Don't you feel sorrow for this family?"
    "Sure I do," said Brakthas. "I have a soul, don't
I? I feel terrible about it. I wish they had never come here. I would feel the
same way if bears or wolves had done this. Or Goblins. These Blue Vultures are
like animals. They don't fear anything and don't know the meaning of pity or
mercy. If we go up against them, some of us are going to die. At least one or
two of us. Maybe all of us."
    "Not necessarily," said Lannon.
    Brakthas shook his head. "You don't get it. You don't
understand the Blue Vultures. There's no way to explain it to you. Once we get
in a fight with them, they'll never let us rest. They don't know how to let go
of a grudge. And considering the mission we're facing, we don't need
this."
    "I'm with Brakthas," said Galandra. "I say
we turn back."
    "We're going ahead," Lannon commanded. In spite
of Brakthas' dire warning, he wasn't backing down from a potential
confrontation with the Blue Vultures. Someone had to take a stand against this
evil. The dead family in the mud could not be ignored. They were Divine
Knights, and their sworn duty was to protect the innocent and punish the
guilty, even if strange lands. It was a complicated situation, but Lannon was
going with a simple solution--do what he felt was right and hope for the best.
    "Are you sure this is wise?" asked Brakthas, his
face tense.
    "No, I'm not sure," said Lannon. "It might
be a big mistake. But I'm not letting this go. If I have to, I will go to Malva
myself."
    "But what about your mission?" asked Galandra.
"Shouldn't that come first, with so much at stake? Are you going to risk it
all in search of justice? And what will you do if you find the savages? Will
you kill them all? You may be a powerful swordsman,