Chapter 20 Beret’s Quandary
The events leading to the death of Master Ladris had been slowly taking its toll on Beret. He least expected that his return to their hometown to mourn the death of Durem’s father would lead to their discovery of a possible conspiracy that involved secrets leading back centuries before. What disturbed him was the question of the involvement of his Order. He will have to discover the truth for himself, he thought.
What he could not erase from his mind was the memory of seeing Misara crying as she lay beside the body of Master Ladris. She seemed guilt- ridden because of her apparent inability to save the dying scholar. He worried about her constantly now.
Beret also observed that Misara seemed to have grown fond of Aisha. Aisha’s presence appeared to have distracted Misara from what had transpired in Hedak. But a distraction can only go so far, Beret thought. She may just be hiding what she truly feels.
And now they had to consider the recent portent in the night sky. Is this the comet that Master Ladris had mentioned? Beret wondered. If it is, then the prophecy is about to be fulfilled.
Centuries-old secrets, conspiracies, assassinations and prophecies, all these seemed too much for the newly knighted Beret. The only thing he desired was to serve their king and to follow the Code. He felt ill-prepared to face all that they have so far uncovered. He desperately wanted to return to Arkam, to his structured routine and his disciplined life among his fellow knights.
And yet despite all this, what was foremost on his mind was the serenity he felt in the presence of Misara. He longed to just be able to gaze at her from a distance and to hear her voice. This, Beret felt was enough for him. But was it really? The more he thought about it the more his feelings for Misara grew.
As a knight, he now had to discern what his real duty was in all of this. For now, he contented himself with keeping Misara safe. That is my duty, Beret told himself.