I could see the king looked surprised to see me and was probably unnerved by the Raksheesh child standing beside me because he wasn't sure if it was his bastard son or the other Raksheesh boy. I would be shocked if he didn't recognize his own flesh and blood even if he was dressed in shaman's clothing.
"My king," I said bowing pushing Jaspen down into the same position.
"What is wrong, Hassan?" he asked.
His eyes fell on the Raksheesh boy again. I could see the fear in his eyes that after all this time I had broken my promise and told the boy that he was his father.
"It is not how it seems," I said quickly. "The purists are on the rise. Jaspen, show him."
At the mere mention of Jaspen's name, the king turned slightly pale. This was the first time in years he had seen his son.
The boy took the parchment out of his sleeve and presented the rolled up evidence to the king. He scanned it quickly and cursed.
"This puts your family in danger as well sire, possibly."
He nodded mindlessly. I was starting to wonder if bringing Jaspen was such a good idea. I had no idea that the king would be so distracted by his presence.
"We heard screams from the temple on our way here," I pressed on trying to draw him out of his fog.
"Sound the alarm and take a small group to the temple, but before you go, have my son come here now."
His eyes fell on Jaspen again as if peering into the boy's soul.
"As you wish, sire."
I briskly walked out of the king's room with Jaspen at my heels. It was the first time in nine years I'd been in the audience of Ginfried's cowardly presence. On a daily basis, I asked why I was still in his service; why was I a general. I looked at Jaspen and knew why. He was the last remaining piece of Sari on this side of the veil. I resented the boy less as the years progressed. I saw he was growing into man Sari would have been proud of and I had Thekros to thank for that. Jaspen wouldn't have flourished as he had under my care.
We came to the prince's door guarded by Demni.
"Hassan? What are you doing here at this hour?"
I quickly explained the situation and gave him the king's orders before leaving. I headed straight for the guard barracks swinging open the double wide doors in haste with a loud bang against the wall. A few groans were heard.
"I need ten men up and prepared to fight in five minutes. I'll be waiting in the hallway."
I heard boots begin hitting the floor as I walked back out shutting the doors behind me.
"They didn't even question you," said Jaspen awestruck.
"They're soldiers. They do as they are told no questions asked."
In under five minutes, ten men had prepared themselves- two archers, six swordsman, and two spear man.
"What is happening, general?"
"The purists are back. We're a group that has been assigned to go make sure the temple is secure."
Without another word, they set out for the temple.
"Jaspen," I said kneeling. "I need you to go home."
"No," he said curtly. "My friend Omand-"
"I promise you, I will make sure he is okay, but I promise you that death isn't something for a young boy to experience first hand. Go home."
"I'm coming with you."
"No-you-are-not," I growled drawing out every word hoping to make it sink into the thick skull of his. "Go home."
This boy was as stubborn as a green horse. When he put his mind to something, he was dead set on it.
"Hassan, I'm safer with you."
I growled knowing he was probably right, but I didn't know what horrors awaited us at the temple, and I didn't want to traumatize the child.
"Jaspen, go home to your father. Please listen, you're costing me time."
His shoulders slackened. "As you wish, uncle."