War of the Fathers by Dan Decker Page A

of cologne. His gaudy sword hung at his side
and he wore a triumphant look.
    It took everything Jorad had not to punch the idiot.
He didn't know for sure if Erro had been spreading lies about him, if he did,
it would have been much harder.
    “Here’s the man you want,” Erro said.
    Several of Neberan’s town guard had approached as
well. Jorad recognized Thon Reaver, who nodded, but without his characteristic
friendliness. Thon was a decent fellow, who stood a head taller than Jorad and
had broader shoulders. The man always reminded him of an ox. Instead of the
open smile that Thon usually wore, he was tight lipped and scrutinizing Jorad’s
face. His thick sword, that was more club than sword, was strapped to his back.
    Thon looked like he was trying to decide if Jorad had
done something wrong. Erro was doing his best to hide a smile. What was the
fool grasping at now?
    Jorad clenched his fists. The last thing he needed to
do right now was get in trouble with the town guard watching. He made a
commitment to himself that the next time he had trouble with Erro that he was
going to give the fool a thorough beating.
    “Erro--” Soret said.
    Erro interrupted her and she scowled. “It’s not about
you,” Erro said. “Jorad is wanted for murder.”
    That got Jorad's attention. At least Erro had decided
to make accusations to his face now. The treatment Jorad was getting from
Soret's parent's made more sense with this little tidbit coming to light. He
tried to refrain from sneering, but he only half succeeded.
    “I’m not a murderer,” Jorad said. “Keep this up, that
could change.”
    Thon smiled and the other guard—Sein wasn’t
it?—laughed. Erro pulled a folded piece of paper from his coat pocket. It was
old and creased in multiple places. Jorad tried not to look anxious, hoping it
wasn’t what he thought.
    How had that followed them here? Colonipo was half a
continent away and it had been several years. Would that afternoon ever stop
haunting them?
    “You go too far,” Soret said.
    Jorad agreed, he’d been too patient. Erro was spoiling
for a fight and maybe it was time he obliged. Thon continued to stare at Jorad,
at least that made sense now.
    “Here, let me see that little paper again.” Thon took
the paper and held it up, comparing it to Jorad, who smiled toothily.
    Jorad hoped he never ended up on the wrong side of
Thon, who was a dangerous enough man without a weapon. The thick sword just
made him all the more formidable. Jorad had seen him practicing with it one day
several weeks ago. The man moved it with the ease a normal size man handled a
regular sword. Thon passed the paper to Sein, who switched his staff to his
other hand so he could take the paper and hold it up for comparison. Jorad
continued to smile. Let them see this doesn’t bother me.
    “This has been a waste of time,” Sein said, handing
the paper back to Erro. For his part, Sein looked relieved. There was a visible
relaxing of his narrow shoulders and the grip on his staff lessened as well.
“That drawing could be anybody. Even you Erro.”
    “You’re right,” Thon said. “Sorry for the confusion
Jorad. Just a mistake, that’s all.” He put out his hand to Jorad, who took it.
“Enjoy the rest of your morning.”
    “But it’s him!” Erro held the paper up so that Soret
could see it. “You deserve to know the truth.”
    Jorad relaxed. It wasn’t the one he’d been thinking of,
if they’d had that one, Thon and Sein might not have been so easily convinced.
    “I’ll never come back to you,” Soret said.
    Erro choked on his words as his jaw clenched. “He’s a
murderer.”
    “If Colonipo wants him, they can come get him,” Thon
said. “Until then this piece of paper isn’t enough to ruin a man’s life.”
    “You can’t just let him walk free.”
    “He’s killed nobody here,” Thon said. Erro grabbed the
paper back from Soret and stuffed it into his pocket before leaving.
    Jorad turned to talk with Soret but