‘You bond to those neck crystals,’ I said, pointing. ‘You bond to the swords too, don’t you? Is that what this is all about? When Bastille picked up her mother’s sword to fight Kilimanjaro, it interfered with the bond?’
‘That’s not all this is about,’ the oldest knight said. ‘This is much bigger than that. What Bastille did in fighting with her mother’s sword showed recklessness – just like losing her own sword did.’
‘So?’ I demanded.
‘So?’ Draulin asked. ‘Young Lord Smedry, we are an order founded on the principle of keeping people like yourself alive. The kings, nobility, and particularly Smedrys of the Free Kingdoms seem to seek their own deaths with regularity. In order to protect them, the Knights of Crystallia must be constant and coolheaded.’
‘With all due respect, young Lord Smedry,’ the aged knight said, ‘it is our job to counteract your foolhardy nature, not encourage it. Bastille is not yet right for knighthood.’
‘Look,’ I said. ‘Somebody decided that she was worthy of being a knight. Maybe we should talk to them?’
‘We are them,’ Archedis said. ‘We three elevated Bastille to knighthood six months ago, and are also the ones who chose her first assignment. That is why we are the ones who must face the sad task of stripping her knighthood from her. I believe it is time for us to vote.’
‘But—’
‘Lord Smedry,’ Draulin said curtly. ‘You have had your say, and we suffered you. Have you anything more to say that will productively add to this argument?’
They all regarded me. ‘Would calling them idiots be productive?’ I asked, turning toward my grandfather.
‘Doubtful,’ he said, smiling. ‘You could try “nigglenut,” since I bet they don’t know the meaning. That probably wouldn’t help much either.’
‘Then I’m done,’ I said, feeling even more annoyed than when I’d first entered the room.
‘Draulin, your vote?’ the aged knight – obviously in charge – said.
‘I vote to strip knighthood from her,’ Draulin said. ‘And sever her from the Mindstone for one week to remove her taint from Crystin blades that do not belong to her.’
‘Archedis?’ the elderly knight asked.
‘The young Smedry’s speech has moved me,’ the large-chinned knight said. ‘Perhaps we have been hasty. I vote to suspend knighthood, but not remove it. Bastille’s taint of another’s sword must be cleansed, but I believe one week to be too harsh. One day should suffice.’
I didn’t really know what that last part meant, but the big knight earned a few points in my book for his kindness.
‘Then it is up to me,’ the aged knight said. ‘I will take the middle road. Bastille, we strip your knighthood from you, but will have another hearing in one week to re-evaluate. You are to be severed from the Mindstone for two days. Both punishments are effective immediately. Report to the chamber of the Mindstone.’
I glanced back at Bastille. Somehow I felt that decision wasn’t in our favor. Bastille continued to stare straight ahead, but I could see lines of tension – even fear – in her face.
I won’t let this happen! I thought, enraged. I gathered my Talent. They couldn’t take her. I could stop them. I’d show them what it was like when my Talent broke their swords and –
‘Alcatraz, lad,’ Grandpa Smedry said softly. ‘Privileges, such as our ability to visit Crystallia, are retained when they are not abused. I believe we have pushed our friends as far as they will go.’
I glanced at him. Sometimes there was a surprising depth of wisdom in those eyes of his.
‘Let it go, Alcatraz,’ he said. ‘We’ll find another way to fight this.’
The knights had stood and were making their way from the room, likely eager to get away from my grandfather and me. I watched, helpless, as Bastille followed them. She shot me a glance as she left and whispered a single word. ‘Thanks.’
Thanks, I thought. Thanks for what? For failing?
I was, of course, feeling guilty. Guilt, you may know, is a rare emotion that is much like an elevator made of Jell-O. (Both will let you down quite abruptly.)
‘Come, lad,’ Grandpa Smedry said, taking my arm.
‘We failed,’ I said.
‘Hardly! They were ready to strip her knighthood completely. At least we’ve got a chance for her to get it back. You did well.’
‘A chance to get it back,’ I said, frowning. ‘But if the same people are going to vote again in a week, then what good have we done? They’ll just vote to strip her knighthood completely.’