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But now he knew that no et her tears

What a narcissistic fool he had been She didn’t need his apology--to apologize to her noould be wholly selfish, just Roland seeking relief for his guilty conscience And opening her wounds anew There was nothing he could do or be for Rosaline any man looked lanky and uncoordinated as he approached the stable where Roland waited He carried his hel his face exposed Roland studied it He hated and respected this ht Could honor and duty mean more to him than love? Or maybe this confusion of honor and duty was love--paradoxes piled higher than the furthest reaches of the stars

Who would want to go to war and leave a loving family?

"Soldier," Roland called to Alexander when he was close enough to recognize the torment in his eyes "You are Alexander, kin of my lord John, who holds the title of this fief?"

"And who are you?" Alexander stepped across the threshold of the stable His pale brown eyes narrowed as they took in Roland’s formal armor "What battle have you come from, dressed like that?"

"I have been sent here to take your place in the can"

Alexander stopped "My wife sent you? Her father?" He shook his head "Step aside, soldier Let ned You know the terrain in this vicinity better than erous times may be upon us if the battle does not favor us in the North If we retreat, you will be needed here to guard the city from intruders"

Alexander tilted his head "Show your face, soldier, for I do not trust a man who hides behind a mask"

"My face is no concern of yours"

"Who are you?"

"Ayour family All the spoils of war matter not in the face of true love and familial honor Now, stand down if you wish to live"

Alexander let out a soft laugh, but then his expression changed into so harder He drew his sword "Let’s have it, then"

Roland should have expected this And yet it galled hi her? Roland would never leave her!

And yet, of course, he already had Abandoned his one true love like a callous, stupid fool He had been alone ever since Solitude was one thing, but it warped into ugly, wretched loneliness after the soul had tasted love

No h his jealousy, Roland could see that It fell to hihed inwardly, and drew his sword It was ahis heart at having to confront this man "Soldier," Roland said flatly "I do not jest"

Thehis sword aardly Roland deflected it with an effortless flick of the wrist The blades clashed dully

Alexander’s slid earthith the lightest guidance frolanced off the wet hay on the floor of the stable

"Why would you so willingly ride to your own death?" Roland asked

Alexander grunted and lurched back into fighting position, raising his blade chest high "I am not a coward"

Perhaps not, but he was exceptionally unskilled He had probably picked up so at haystacks at summer festivals with his boyhood friends He was no soldier He’d be dead in an hour on the front

Or Roland could kill him now…

In thatdeftly down on this man’s bare neck The shock of a severed spine and the slick red blood dripping from the steel onto the dirt

How easy to end this man’s short life Take his place up in that tower and love her as she needed to be loved Roland kne to do it now

But then he blinked and saw Rosaline The baby

Do not slaughter, he reminded hihtly, swinging his sword toward Alexander, who scra wildly away This time he avoided Roland’s blade by sheer luck

Roland laughed and his laughter tasted bitter "I a you a boon, soldier--and I proe Know that I will not dishonor your intentions Let o to war for you"

"You speak in riddles" Alexander’s fear had stretched the skin around his ht as a leather drum "You cannot replaceelse, at least I know that"

In a burst of violence, Roland forgot his purpose He went at Alexander with the fury of a lover scorned In the face of Roland’s blade, Alexander stood rigid, sword extended To his credit, he did not back away But with another clash of their swords, Roland had disar ht would yield He would accepthis hohbors when they need protection" Roland sed "Do you yield, sir?"

Alexander gasped for air, unable to speak He kept casting his eyes doard to the blade at his neck He was terrified He nodded He would yield

A calm came over Roland, and he let himself close his eyes

He and this paleThey could not be enemies It was then that Roland chose his side He would not spare Alexander’s life for Alexander’s sake, but for Rosaline’s

"You are a braverenough to love Rosaline when Roland was too afraid "Eht and return to your family" He had to work to keep his voice steady "Kiss your wife and raise your children That is honor"

They held each other’s gaze for a long, tense an to feel that Alexander could see through the slit in his visor How could Alexander not feel the ache in the air between the hi his place?

Roland withdrew his sword from Alexander’s neck He sheathed his weapon, ht