Instinctively, though, Brother Odd knew it was the wrong move. He knew what the men coming to the island would do. Hed been those men, and he knew how they thought. Men like the abbot were normally blessed that they had never known thoughts like that, but here… here it was a curse. They didnt know what it was like to be a man who would see innocent people as an enemy to be crushed, who would kill for the least provocation. They couldnt see the true danger coming for them.

Yet what could he do? The abbots instructions to him had been clear. Breaking them wasnt something a monk could do, and Brother Odd was a monk, not the man he had been.

I am not that man, he thought.

But are you a man who lets his friends, good men, be slaughtered? another part demanded.

I am Brother Odd, a loyal monk, he insisted.

But that was not always your name.

Brother Odd wrestled with it, fought with it, but he already knew what the answer was. With limbs already cramping from the kneeling, he stood, lifting the rake and considering it.

It will have to do, he said, and set off in the direction of the docks.

***

The run down from the monastery to the docks was a short one, but by the time he got there, Brother Odd could feel his breath coming shorter. He was out of condition, not used to this.

Youre not supposed to be used to this, he reminded himself.

Ahead, he could see the spot where one of the ships had docked next to the island, a gangplank down to let down a cluster of soldiers who looked like beetles in their steel and leather compared to the monks. There werent many on the shore yet, but it was already too many, especially when they made no pretense of keeping their weapons sheathed.

As he got closer, Brother Odd could hear the abbot talking with their leader, a man with the design of a leopard on his shield.

And I say to you that we are a holy place, Captain. We must not be used for war, lest it anger the gods.

It is King Ravins anger you need to worry about, the man said, in the thick accent of the southerners.

Kings swear to uphold Leveross neutrality when they are crowned, the abbot pointed out. All the time, Brother Odd was making his way forward, hoping he would make it there in time. Hope that he wouldnt be needed at all were long gone by now. As many of our monks come from the south as from the north.

Then they will have told you that a kings power is absolute, the captain said. Merely by refusing, you are traitors, and will suffer a traitors end. He turned to the others with him. Kill them all!