PULP & POPCORN

Page 49
Noel looked at the children, all of them dumped together in a weeping heap in the
middle of his court, holding one another, terrified and powerless, and he shook his head,
refusing to accept this monstrous prospect. “I’ll not be a party to such a thing.”
Now the Magician regarded him skeptically. “I deliver your heart’s true desire, and you
would deny me?”
“I am no killer of children.”
“They would grow into adults one day, and you have killed plenty of those. This is no
different.”
“That was in battle. There was honor in that.”
“There is even greater honor in eternal life.”
Noel considered it, looked around at his loyal men, at these frightened children, and
he was filled with strength born from the shame he felt at his own weakness. He shook his
head. “No. Not this way.”
“YOU WILL NOT DENY ME!”
The doors to the court suddenly slammed, locked as if sealed, and a wind ran through
the court, putting out several lanterns and pushing Noel back on his heels.
Noel put one hand on his sword in its hilt and saw Black Peter and his warriors do the
same. “Do you order me, Magician? In my own court?”
“I order you to listen to the voice inside yourself! I order you to take up arms against
death! I order you to do what you must do!”
“Men have died for less impudent displays.” He gestured to Black Peter. “Take him.”
The Magician made a single gesture, and everyone in the room found themselves
immobilized. There was no fight to be made. Black Peter’s sword was half-drawn, yet useless
to Noel nonetheless.