“The situation was still very raw then.” Pettibone blinked and pain showed inhis unwavering gaze. “We had lost so much and things were confusing.”
“And that’s changed?”
“It’s more settled these days.”
“Yet I don’t see Templar in the streets fighting the demons.”
“Not to be disrespectful, but you’re not massing an army against themeither,” Pettibone said. Hurt pride tightened his jaws.
Touché, Simon thought.
“You know as well as I do, because your fatherGod rest himand I taught youtactics. Grand Master Sumerisle tried routing the demons through sheer numbers. That didn’t work then, and that was when there were more Templar to go to waragainst the demons. Now it’s the demons numbers that have increased, and they’re increasing every day. We haveto pick and choose our battles.”
“I pick and choose mine,” Simon growled. “And I see my warriors falldefending innocents or striking against the demons where we can. When was the last time High Seat Booth took up a sword or pistol against a demon?” From whathe had heard, Booth hadn’t left the Underground except to come strip Macomberaway.
“That’s disrespectful,” Pettibone protested. “Your father would never haveacted in such a manner.”
“You’ve known since the day you started training me that I was my father’sson but not my father.” Even during those early years Simon hadn’t meeklyaccepted anyone’s teaching. He had challenged Pettibone on several issues andhad tried the man’s patience severely. “Tell Booth that I decline hisinvitation. You may even tell him I did so respectfully if you wish.”
“Lord Cross…”
Simon turned on his heel and walked back to his ATV. “We’re leaving, SergeantPettibone. I wish you a safe return.”
“High Seat Booth offers you the Flag of Honor,” Pettibone said quickly.
Without turning, Simon stared into the sergeant’s face on the HUD.
“That’s right,” Pettibone continued when Simon didn’t respond. “House Rorkeextends the Flag of Honor.”
The Flag of Honor hadn’t been used in over a hundred years. It had first beenestablished to settle the grievances between rival Lords of a House shortly after the Order had gone into hiding after Phillip the Fair denounced them as heretics. Despite how close-knit the Order was, there were sometimes personality clashes or debts of honor over the hand of another Templar woman that had to be settled.
The Order had wanted those clashes set aside so the Houses wouldn’t bedivided or conflicted within. It had been a similar clash that had caused House Pherral to fall during the Great War over a hundred years ago. As a result of Lord Pherral’s actionsand Simon didn’t know what they were because thoserecords were sealedHouse Pherral was stripped of its powers and privilegeswithin the Order.
While growing up, Simon had known Rorke Pherral, one of the Fallen House’sdescendants. Pherral had been in line under his father to become the next High Seat if the House had stood. But that line had died when the father and son had died at the Battle of All Hallows’ Eve.
“A Flag of Honor guarantees you safe passage,” Pettibone said. “And it willgive you a chance to be heard before all the Houses of the Order.”
“This is about the Goetia manuscript, isn’t it?” Simon asked.
Pettibone hesitated. “The High Seat wants to see that manuscript.”
“How did he learn about it?”
“High Seat Booth convinced Professor Macomber to tell him about it.”
“How?”
“Macomber saw the Templar Underground. He knew the secret would be safe withHigh Seat Booth. The High Seat sent a team to Akehurst Sanitarium, but it was plain that someone had already been there. Given the damage done to the dead demons that we found, we knew it was Templar that had killed them.”
“That still doesn’t explain why Booth has offered the Flag of Honor,” Simonpointed out. “Booth could have petitioned the Order for an army to attack thestronghold we have.”
“They’d have had a bloody fight on their hands if they’d tried,” Nathanquietly promised.
“The High Seat didn’t want to do that. You’ve become something of a popularfigure among the Underground. He felt that many wouldn’t agree with that choiceof action. Even with the Goetia manuscript and the secrets it holds at stake.”
Simon couldn’t believe that.
“There are a lot of people who are pulling for you, Lord Cross,” Pettibonesaid. “They don’t necessarily agree with what you’re doing, especially with theyoung Templar that have slipped away from the Underground to join you like some Children’s Crusade, but they know you’re out here making a difference.”
Simon thought about that and was sorely tempted to agree to the offer. Even though he believed in what he was doing, he also knew he was dragging his father’s good name down with him while he did it.
The Flag of Honor would give him a chance to set that right.
Nathan dropped a hand on Simon’s shoulder and switched to privatecommunication. “Don’t do it, mate.”
“It’s the Flag of Honor,” Simon said.
“But it’s Booth that’s extending it. I’d feel better if it was some otherHouse making this offer.”
“I’m sworn to House Rorke.”
“And you’ve gone rogue of late, mate. We all have. We don’t belong to a Houseanymore. Besides that, there’s bad blood between you and Booth, and Booth’s notone to let go of something once he’s got his teeth in it.”
“Booth can’t do anything to me under the Flag of Honor. The Order won’t lethim.”
“You’ll be stepping right into the spider’s web, mate.
That’s never a good thing. We won’t be able to protect you there.”
“Nathan, I appreciate what you’re saying, but I’ve got to do this. The peoplethat have come to us, the civilians and the Templarincluding those kidscoulduse the resources of the Templar Underground.”
“They need you, mate.” Nathan’s face was somber on the HUD screen. “Ifthey lose you, then they’ve lost more than they could ever replace.”
“They could lose me tomorrow,” Simon said softly. “I’m one man, Nathan. OneTemplar. The next battle against a demon could be my last.”
“Simon, you’re my friend and I love you for the courage and good heart thatyou have. I swear to you that on any battlefield you
