Page 4 of The Anointed's Paladin

I met his gaze and relented, nodding. We went up the stairs and to the main office. I sat on the bench, as any of the other chairs wouldn’t fit me.

Mortimer poured himself some tea, offering me some, but I shook my head. Ravenshaw paced the room, face red. Ambrose tapped her finger on the desk.

“Would you care to explain yourself, Talon?” Mortimer took a sip of his tea. “Have you forgotten Guild protocol?”

“I didn’t forget,” I said tersely. “But I had a change of heart. I didn’t think it was fair to leave without these people knowing what I risked keeping them safe.”

“I doubt a giant hellspawn bringing a bloody monster corpse to our doorstep made anyone feel safe,” Ambrose said, and Ravenshaw scoffed.

“I almost died today.” I pulled my sleeve back, showing them the mark.

“You’re not special, boy,” spat Ravenshaw.

“No,” I snapped, not letting him continue. It was my time to talk. “I’m notspecial. No matter how hard I work, no matter how manymonsters I kill or people I keep safe. Perhapsyouwould like to explainyourselves? Why did it take you ten years to accept my membership? Why am I routinely omitted from honour call, despite my impeccable record? Why can’t I walk in the front door, like everyone else?”

“You’ve heard our reasons,” said Ravenshaw.

“Bullshit.” I jumped to my feet, causing the teacup on the desk to rattle. My control on Mirilith’s fervour was hanging by a very thin thread.

Ravenshaw flinched backwards, and Ambrose’s hand flew to her sword. Mortimer steadied the cup and took a sip of tea.

“I’mdone. I’m done risking my life for people who hide me away, like I’m some shameful secret, who demand I work withdiscretion. I have done everything you demanded and done it better than anyone else. I’ve been a saint. And I realised today how worthless that is.”

I swear I saw Mortimer smiling behind his teacup. Bless him. His presence was the only reason I hadn’t completely lost my temper.

“You are lucky we accepted you at all.” Ambrose glanced at Mortimer. “It seems it was a mistake.”

“Yes, it was,” I said. “Consider this my resignation.”

“Resignation?”spluttered Ravenshaw. “Resignation?You insolent—! You don’tresignfrom the Guild!” He turned to Ambrose. “I told you! An enferni Paladin? It’s like putting a crown on a rat and calling it king.”

He rounded back to me, derision on his face, but before he could get out another word, my vision turned red, and my fist crashed into his jaw with a satisfyingcrack. He stumbled backwards, falling onto the stone floor and letting out a howl.

I reined in the fervour, reassuming control over my rage. Oops. Shouldn’t have done that, no matter how satisfying it was to see Ravenshaw writhe on the floor like the snake he was.

“You can cross my name off the registry yourself if you want,” I said coldly. “Talon Nyxmire. They only just got the spelling correct. Now, I’ll take my cut for my last job, then never darken your doorway again.”

Ambrose started to speak, but Mortimer stood, cutting her off. “Very well. Come with me, lad, and I’ll get you sorted.”

“You can’t let this happen, Mortimer!” Ravenshaw pulled himself up from the ground, holding his jaw. Blood dribbled down his chin as he spat out the words. “We can discharge people from the Guild, but resigning is unprecedented!”

“There’s a first time for everything,” Mortimer said cheerily, and I followed him from the room, returning Ambrose’s and Ravenshaw’s dark looks. He led me to the back room, where the lockbox was kept.

“You know, I was the one who got your application accepted,” he said, stopping and resting a hand on his large belly. The storm inside me was quelling, leaving me with a burning sense of shame.

“Yes, sir. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry if this reflects badly on you.”

He shook his head. “This reflects badly on all of us at the Guild. I hoped your addition would open some minds, prove the doubters wrong. I am sorry that didn’t happen.” He looked at me, sadness in his eyes. “It seems all I did was subject you to a rather unpleasant trial.”

I shrugged. “It’s all I ever wanted, to join the Guild. I thought, maybe, people would look at me differently.”

He sighed, reaching into his pocket and taking out a key. He unlocked the lockbox and retrieved a pouch. “There. Your final cut, and a little extra for your troubles.” He chuckled, then took some coins from his own pocket and slipped them in. “That’sfor punching Ravenshaw. Gods, I’ve been wanting to do that for years.”

I felt my face redden; it wasn’t my proudest moment. I took the pouch. I held it for a second, staring at it, trying to come up with the courage to say the next part aloud.

“Mortimer, I…I’m not a Paladin anymore. My oath is broken. It’s hollow, and I can’t use its magic.”

My hands shook, and my eyes burned as I kept them firmly fixed on the pouch. A Paladin was what Iwas.Something beyond just an orphaned enferni. Now I didn’t have that, I was sure what I had.

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