Scott turned his head and glanced at Borena in surprise, but first bowed respectfully to Brooke: "Lord Xiuqi...... Long time no see. ”

"Scott Christus!" the steady old man did not hide his surprise, and hurried over a few steps, as if to reach out for a hug, but in the end he only touched Scott's shoulder more solemnly, "Welcome back." ”

Scott looked up, a heartfelt smile on his lips, but also a hint of haste.

"You...... It looks the same as it did ten years ago. Brooke looked at the knight who still looked young, and there was a slight doubt in the final note, but more of it was still from the heart of joy and relief.

“...... I hope so. Scott's eyes flickered, as if he didn't want to face the problem. He looked at Borena again - and Rosa and Sesyana behind him, with a sudden look on his face: "Borena Dejuri...... You were the one who was carried on the shoulders by the big man that night?"

Borena was stunned, but Rosa immediately reacted: "You were the one who set fire to Lockburg that night and helped us escape?"

That night, she wondered how "Irene" could burn so many places alone, and even worried that this was also a conspiracy of the enemy behind the scenes...... Her suspicions were correct, but unfortunately the direction seemed to be completely wrong.

Scott nodded, but didn't seem very happy.

"So, you saved me again. Borena smiled gratefully.

For this priest who did not look like a priest at all, all he knew was his name and the gods he believed in. But his surname is Chrissus, and he is an old acquaintance of Brooke...... Scott Crieses...... He seems to have heard the name.

But he didn't have time to think about it.

"If you know it's you. I'll probably follow you. Scott smiled wryly, his expression darkened, "In that case...... Maybe I can save Lowell, too. ”

Borena's heart sank suddenly.

He was tempted to ask, "Is he hurt?" - he even wished it was. But he knew very well that this was a temple, and Scott was a powerful priest himself, and if Lowell was just injured, he wouldn't have such a heavy expression on his face.

"Lowell Turner...... His soul has returned to the Goddess. The paladin who had brought them finally whispered to them, "We have sent him to the stone chamber......"

Brooke was silent for a moment, closed his eyes, and sighed slightly. A faint sadness was written in his sinuous wrinkles. It made him seem to be much older in an instant.

In the courtyard where flowers are in full bloom and spring is in full bloom, Borena feels like he is in the wilderness of the cold winter of the Northland. Even the blood was frozen.

“...... Where did you find him?" he asked in a low voice, "Did you see the murderer?"

He probably couldn't avenge him at all - just as he couldn't really do it for Hayes, for Greybeard...... Even if he was avenging his father, but he had to at least know who was responsible.

Scott shook his head: "I don't know who killed him. He was hit by two arrows. But the fatal wound was a knife wound to the vest. At that time, he may have been powerless to resist, or he may have been defenseless at all...... I found him in the wasteland outside the east gate of Lockburg last night, when his body ...... He was being dragged to the incinerator by Tabor Winter. ”

There was a strange look on his face when he said this, but Borena could fully understand it—Tabor Winter, the country's lieutenant and one of the king's most trusted men...... Taking advantage of the darkness of the night to burn the corpse of a paladin?

The picture was ridiculous to imagine.

Tarber claimed that he was merely acting on orders...... Whether it's true or not, you all have to be careful. Ante Bofford...... And not to be trusted. Scott looked at Brooke and reminded bluntly.

“...... I thought King Ante was your friend. Brooke sighed. "He always prays for you when he comes here - that's probably his most sincere prayer, in my opinion. ”

"I used to think so, too. Scott's bitter smile seemed to contain something more. "As it turns out, I probably don't have much talent for reading people...... His prayers are probably not for me, I am afraid. ”

He shook his head and ended the conversation, warning Brooke again: "Neither Tarber nor Ante will sit still, you better be prepared." ”

“...... You're leaving?" Brooke apparently noticed that Scott had been isolating himself with "you" all the time, as if he wasn't one of them.

Scott's expression suddenly became a little flustered.

"I ...... There are still some urgent matters. His explanation was vague and hurried, and anyone could see that it was just an excuse.

After a moment of silence, Brooke didn't stop him from leaving, didn't even ask anything, just gave him a simple gesture and gently instructed, "Be careful." ”

The gesture did not come from a priest who gave protection on behalf of the gods, but the blessing of ordinary elders when their children and grandchildren traveled far away.

Scott was slightly stunned, then bowed his head deeply and said a word.

After Scott left, Brooke stared at the statue of the goddess in the sunlight for a long time. The stone used to carve is not good, after years of wind and rain, the face has long been blurred, and the smile on the face is not known whether it is the original line, or the tenderness polished by time.

"Your Majesty...... How did you meet Scott?", he asked suddenly.

"He saved me a few months ago, in Anktan...... From the hands of a necromancer. Borena replied vaguely, instinctively realizing that it didn't seem appropriate to mention another god at this time.

Brooke looked back at Rosa and asked seemingly casually, "You know Scott too?"

Rosa and Sesyana quickly exchanged a look.

"He also saved us...... From among a group of undead. She said.

Brooke nodded, his expression not changing much, but he seemed much more relieved.

"You...... What's the plan?" asked Borena.

"I will go to Lockburg as soon as possible to ask for His Majesty the King, and then have a good talk with him. The old priest calmly replied, "It's like talking to you." ”

“...... But Scott just said that Ante Bofford is not trustworthy. Borena knew he had no right to stop Brooke, but he couldn't agree with the old man's decision just after hearing about Lowell's death.

"We don't have any conclusive evidence that the king did all this. Brooke looked directly at Borena, his blue-purple eyes strangely reminding him of the starry sky of an autumn night, "As you say, it's quite possible that he's just been deceived, or blinded by his own suspicions." Ante Bofford was indeed suspicious, and had been unnecessarily wary of the temple for several years, but if he was only so jealous of each other, holding any news he received as a secret, and acting secretly on his own speculation, he would only push each other further away because of endless suspicion, and there would be no chance of an honest meeting...... That would make things even more out of control. ”

Borena bowed his head silently. In fact, he had always had the same idea, hoping to have a good conversation with Ante...... But Ante doesn't seem to be going to give him that chance again, and he's starting to wonder if he's being naïve.

Tabor Winter could not have been the mastermind behind this. And he is already in power, who else will obey his orders?

If Borena had believed before, even if waves of men were sent to hunt him down, Ante would have been a victim in a sense...... At the moment, he could no longer find any reason to defend him. Even if Lowell was killed by his soldiers in battle, or had nothing to do with him at all, in the face of a person's death, instead of taking responsibility, not trying to find out the truth, but destroying the body in such a hurry, wanting to cover everything up...... Nor should it be a choice that a king would make.

"But it's possible that he did something he shouldn't have done...... People like him who don't come out on the outside can become desperate when they suspect that their crimes might be exposed. He could have his minister secretly incinerate the corpse of a paladin...... Who knows what else he's going to do?" Rosa took a few steps forward, expressing her objection in more blunt and vehement terms, "Besides, you can't cast spells in Lockburg, and even if you have a paladin with you to protect you, you will be in danger, not even your goddess...... I have no intention of questioning your beliefs, but IMHO it is unwise. ”

Borena could hear her unspoken suspicion - the great goddess of water, Nior, apparently did not protect her loyal knights. Lowell's death was also a heavy blow to her.

Brooke smiled slightly, not caring about the little offense.

"I'm not going to die easily...... If that's what you're worried about. He said.

“...... Lowell said the same thing. Rosa's voice lowered.

Brooke was silent for a moment, then spoke again: "I have lived in this world for almost eighty years. The rest of the day was dangerous for my life. And, perhaps, the sight of me, a gray-haired old man who was powerless to resist, would have made His Majesty let his guard down a little—and he was entitled to an opportunity to explain anyway. We are not gods who know everything, and we cannot condemn a king based on speculation...... Nor should you speculate about the plans of the gods. ”

Rosa frowned, looking like she wanted to say something more. Borena shook his head at her slightly, knowing that no one could stop the gentle but determined old man.

"If it has to be so......" he began, "allow me to go with you." ”

It all started with him...... He couldn't accept that he would continue to put others in danger, but he cowered in a safe place and waited for the wind and rain to stop.

Brooke shook his head and refused: "I understand why you want to do this, but in the current situation, taking you there rashly may be regarded as a threat." In any case, Scott was right about one thing...... "The old man looked again at the gentle goddess among the flowers, "and we should be prepared." ”.

(To be continued......)