"You will finish nothing, boy." The knight pointed at me. "Arrest him."
Chapter 31
A sea of Templars turned my way.
I became acutely aware of my vulnerability in the midst of the tightly packed room. Even with my strength, I couldn't hope to fight my way free of this many trained soldiers, each one with supernatural abilities of their own.
"Arrest me? On what charge?" I said, my voice cracking like the time I'd had to read a love letter aloud in tenth grade English.
"Almost too numerous to list," Artemis said, his voice calm and cold. "The Divinity detailed your most heinous crimes to us. Hers is the absolute authority."
"Then name them." Asshat.
"He hasn't done anything wrong," Elyssa said, gripping my arm.
"So says the one most corrupted by him," the knight said. "You, child, are troubled. This boy has led you down a path of darkness and moral iniquity."
"I will hear no more slander against my daughter," Thomas said. "Not even from a Templar Knight."
"Then it pains me to do this, Thomas Borathen, but your judgment is obviously too clouded where your daughter is concerned." The knight scowled. "I am of the opinion you are no longer fit for command. By the power vested in me, I hereby relieve you of duty and assume command of your legion, effective immediately."
Shocked murmurs echoed throughout the room.
"I completely disagree with this decision," Salazar said, standing. "And I must also point out only the Grand Master and a complete vote by the Synod can relieve Commander Borathen."
The knight nodded. "True, true. But I do have the authority to place him on temporary leave and assume command until a vote is passed."
"If the Divinity has her hooks in you, it's pretty obvious how that vote will go," I said.
Artemis's face hardened. "Why is this boy still in here? Did I not order him arrested?"
Again, nearby Templars gave me uneasy looks, but nobody made a move to restrain me.
"Belay that order," Christian said. His eyes met mine. "Justin, it might be best if you leave."
"You cannot disregard my orders," Artemis said. "To do so invites your own suspension, Commander Salazar."
"You can try to suspend me all you like," Christian said. "But I doubt you'll find many takers here."
A loud cry went up from the assembled Templars. "Hooah!"
Or they might have said "Hoo-hah." I wasn't really sure, but the sudden uproar startled the crap out of me.
Christian raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Answer enough, Honorable Knight?" He stepped forward. "I call for an Imperator Concilium. The leadership of the Synod is in question."
Artemis's face went purple. "To do so would be an illegal order since you are no longer in command, Salazar!"
"You never gave the order relieving me of command, Honorable Knight. Therefore, I have the privilege to call forth a council of commanders." Christian smiled, baring his teeth. "Procedure and Templar law dictate that, should the Synod's loyalty to the cause come into question, the commanders must meet and vote on whether to dissolve the Synod and elect new members."
"This is an outrage," Artemis said. "You can be certain, reports of this treachery will be spread to the other commanders so they can see how poisoned this legion has become."
Grumbles and angry stares from the crowd turned on the knight.
"Poisoned, my ass," said a voice from nearby.
"I'm gonna stick my honorable foot up his honorable ass," muttered someone else.
Christian shrugged. "Since I took the liberty of recording this session, I'll be happy to pass it on to the other legion commanders. In the meantime, Honorable Knight, it might perhaps be best if you took your leave and reported back to the council."
Artemis seemed ready to launch another salvo when the thin man reappeared from the shadows and whispered into the knight's ear. Artemis scowled and straightened. "You can be certain the Divinity will not be pleased. Beware her wrath, Salazar." He stormed up the stairs in the auditorium, long red robe sweeping behind him, trailed only by the thin man. As he passed near me he stopped and glared. "You are the cancer, spawn. May the Divinity wipe your kind from the face of our fair Eden." With that sweet little pronouncement, he turned and left.
The thin man paused a moment. Looked at me, a greasy smile spreading across his face. His skin looked especially pale and doughy in the light. "Good day, Your Excellence," he said, flourishing a mocking bow, and leaving.