Roel raised his head in alarm but quickly looked back down. This was an unprecedented decision. Only high nobility, such as dukes or well-respected marquesses, could command the kingdom’s armies. Especially in a war of this scale.

There were low murmurs around the room. He wasn’t the only one who was surprised, and it seemed as if the king had come to this decision on his own.

“Your Highness, I beg your pardon, but this would be a disastrous decision,” Cardinal Télesphore said. “At most, paladins are supposed to rank as high as an earl. If we place the 58th in charge of the army, that will create massive unrest. Not just from the high nobility, but the lower as well. I thought we agreed that Joseph Chastain would lead the army.”

“It is a daring and wise decision, Your Majesty,” said one advisor obsequiously. The man had long oil-black hair and gray eyes. “But is it a task that we can entrust to the 58th? Perhaps if it was someone higher-ranked and with a greater reputation. Someone like the 12th, who will already be accompanying the army.”

“He might not be as strong, but is he not the man with the greatest reputation at the moment?” Cardinal Eudes had an amiable smile on his face, but his words had a sharpness to them. “He is the Hero of Rove and someone who had been by the prince’s side when he passed. Furthermore, the good deeds he committed when he was riding back to the palace are already spreading. Perhaps in a few months, his renown will decrease, but why not make use of it now instead of letting it dissipate?”

“But why should he lead an army?” cried another of the advisors. “A paladin, especially one who was lowborn, is no –”

“Might I remind you that paladins have no past?” Cardinal Eudes said. “Isn’t that right, Cardinal Télesphore?”

“Aye, upon ordainment, a paladin’s past is erased, and their presents and futures are pledged to the service of the kingdom,” the older cardinal said slowly. “But that does not mean they can lead armies.”

Cardinal Eudes didn’t waver. “Sir Roel has commanded an army before. I, too, would like to repress the memory of the 13th’s betrayal, but who was it that led us to victory at the Wetshard Lands?”

“Happenstance,” Cardinal Télesphore said with a scowl. “That was only because Duke Pinabel was murdered by those traitors. This is completely different. His Majesty himself would be recognizing the paladin as a commander equal to a duke.”

“A paladin’s worth is comparable to at least five hundred soldiers,” Duke Donat joined in. “Peerage aside, a paladin is best for fighting and not leading.”

“He’d be no worse than your older brother,” the curly-haired advisor spoke up with a wide grin. “Led a whole battalion into a massacre a few years ago, didn’t he?”

“How dare you, Thierry?” Duke Donat thundered, his eyes wide with anger.

“Just stating facts. As for myself, I think the king’s decision is an exciting one,” Duke Thierry said, ignoring Duke Donat’s glare. He was much younger than the rest of the men in the room, and his youth could be heard in the inflection of his voice. “But this whole thing stinks of you, Cardinal Eudes. Your idea, wasn’t it? How long have you been planning this one? Must’ve been before the whole siege even kicked off.”

“You overestimate me,” the cardinal said with a laugh. “I only made the king a proposal in favor of my champion, Sir Roel.”

“We have given it much thought,” King Mathieu said, and the whole room fell quiet. He had been sitting back the whole time, watching the men bicker with no change in his expression. “I have heard it said that Graecian commanders follow their men into battle.”

“That’s because the Graecians are bloodthirsty savages, Your Highness,” said Cardinal Télesphore, a dark expression on his face. “We can’t do as they do. Your father, King Maxime, stuck to clear principles when it–”

“If you want to serve my father so badly, Cardinal Télesphore, perhaps you would like to follow him to the grave?” the king said quietly.

The cardinal’s face became pale. “No, forgive me, Your Highness.”

“Good. We do not plan to rule as he did.” For a moment, there was bitterness on the king’s face, but it quickly disappeared. “But as you were saying, King Maxime believed that the kingdom’s greatest weapons should be wielded from a distance.

“We, however, think it is important to elevate the status of the Divine Paladins. They are the ones who fight for us, and they are the ones who the people put their hopes in. At the very least, we cannot have a repeat of what happened at the Wetshard Lands.”

Some of the advisors exchanged uneasy looks at the mention of the battle.

“Although experience in battle does not necessarily equate to experience in leading, we decided that Cardinal Eudes’ proposal was worth trying,” the king continued. “If successful, it could serve as a precedent for more paladins to lead armies. We will not allow any further comments.

“Do you understand your orders, Sir Roel? Sir Orlando will join you once he returns from his mission. You have the winter to become acquainted with your troops and military strategy. Come spring, you will bring the kingdom vengeance.”

Nothing had changed. The only thing he could do and was expected to do was bow his head and obey orders. It didn’t matter that the news would create discord among the nobility nor that their anger would be directed to him.

Bitterness, acrid bitterness. It was no surprise that Ghislain had wanted to sail away from it all.

“Your Majesty, if I am permitted to know, what will become of Marquis Joseph and Duchess Marianne?” he said as steadily as he could.

He saw a flash of surprise in Cardinal Eudes’ eyes as he spoke. The king observed him carefully, and he knew the other advisors were doing the same. For twelve years, he had done nothing but bowed and obeyed.

“It would be good to know what to expect when I return to the duchy,” he added. “Since the prince has passed.”

“Yes, that’s a fair question,” the king said slowly. “It will become known soon. We have decided to reward the marquis for his leadership at the siege and loyalty to the prince. Since the prince had no heirs, Joseph shall be the new Duke of Brackith, and we have already sent him a messenger to notify him. Under normal circumstances, he would arrive at the palace for a ceremony, but time is of the essence.”

He was surprised but happy for Joseph. Usually, it required years of loyalty or great acts of valor for nobles to rise in rank. To go from marquis to duke within a single generation, especially if the rumors that Joseph fled from Arthain were true, was extremely rare. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed too good to be true.

“As for the dowager duchess, she is allowed to remain in Calorin or return to her home, the northern isle of Aarel. However, Aarel relies on its alliance and trade agreements with us, so we expect that she shall remain in Brackith. At the very least, she won’t risk travel during the winter.”

“I see.” A pitiable woman. Not only had she lost her husband, but she also couldn’t go home without putting her country at risk.

“Is that all you wish to know?” the king said.

Roel knew those words were just a formality. If he asked any more questions, that would only draw irritation or suspicion from the council. As Cardinal Eudes had said, each secret had a weight, and he didn’t have the strength to hold the secrets he sought.

But he had seen it many times over his life. Strength was weak to preparation and planning. After all, the Divine Paladins did the fighting, but it was the nobility who ruled.

Nothing had changed since he had last spoken to King Mathieu. How could it? Tonight, he would fall into a restless sleep as he usually did, and in the morning, he would put on his silly, elaborate armor as he usually did.

But he’d promised: he’d try a little harder. The hill, more of a mountain than a hill really, was steep and rocky, and the hunters had set their traps and snares. But there were herbs, shrubs of sage that grew at high altitude. In the distance, if one really squinted through the fog, he could now see the faint outline of a ship sailing away.

“No, thank you, Your Majesty.” He gave a low bow. “I will carry out your orders to the best of my ability.”

“See that you do. We have great expectations for you.”

And with that, he was dismissed from the council chamber.