The Lafayette Sword Read Online Free Page A

sliced his leg. The blood was spreading on h is pants.
    â€œStop. This is going too far.”
    â€œI told you. We don’t want any black sheep. We’ve made it harder to join now. I’ve been given the responsibility of changing the initiation ceremony. You must tell me your true motivations.” He let his voice trail off, allowing a moment of silence before saying, “When I believe you’re telling the truth, you will come out of the black passage.”
    Gabriel’s head was spinning. His wrist was throbbing, and his leg hurt. He had underestimated the brothers’ investigation. They knew about his past and wanted a confession. So this was a trap. He sat up straight and cleared h is throat.
    â€œI am here in search of t he truth.”
    The man twirled the blade elegantly and brought it down on Gabriel’s cheek, leaving a deep cut. Gabriel twisted in pain but couldn’t escape. His eyes filled with tears. He was ve ry afraid.
    â€œYou’re crazy. Stop this crap. Le t me out.”
    The man in black smiled for the first time. He played with the sword, his back to the wall. “Give me the right answers. Free yourself of your metals, and the sword will return to it s sheath.”
    He set the weapon down and walked behind Gabriel. He put his hands on the initiate’s shoulders. His voice softened.
    â€œI wasn’t so altruistic when I joined either. I also had self-serving goals. Free your conscience before the Great A rchitect.”
    Gabriel was shaking. He didn’t want to spend one more minute with this freak. “I want… I want to make friends. I want connections to help my career… I regret my mistakes. I want t o change.”
    The man patted his shoulder. Gabriel felt the blood streaming down his cheek and wished he had a free hand to assess h is injury.
    The man’s voice rang out in the silence. “I congratulate you for being so honest. You will now enter the temple. I’ll get rid of t he cuffs.”
    Gabriel heard the clatter of metal falling to the floor. The man slipped his hands under his arms to help him up. He handed the initiate a compress for his wounds. Gabri el swayed.
    â€œThat’s an impressive test. You really scared me. Wha t’s next?”
    â€œI’ll lead you to the temple, where you will face other tests. Open your shirt and expose your shoulder. Then stand against the wall. I’ll place the tip of the sword on your heart to symbolize that you have let go of your profa ne fears.”
    Gabriel was feeling relieved. This part of the rite agreed with what he had read in the book. He did as he was told. The man in the apron picked up the sword and placed the tip on the initiate’s pectoral.
    â€œAre you ready to leave darkness and obscurantism and enter the light as a free man?”
    â€œI am.”
    â€œLook me in the eyes. Are you ready to die to be born again? You can still turn back and return to t he world.”
    â€œI am.”
    The man in the apron grinned. He pulled the sword back and plunged it into Gabrie l’s chest.
    â€œYou asked for it. Let the lig ht enter.”
    Gabriel opened his eyes wide as the cold metal entered his heart and pain spread through his chest. He tried to grab the sword, but he couldn’t move. He couldn’t even scream. All he saw was the huge shadow of the skull dancing on the wall. And then nothing but darkness.

    The killer wiped the blade on his cotton apron and returned it to its sheath. He looked at h is victim.
    â€œYou little shit. There are too many pathetic candidates like you. The brothers will thank me. I am the Sword of Light.”
    He wrapped his hands around the skull and placed it on the profan e’s chest.
    â€œI kill, and I a m reborn.”

8
    ÃŽle de la Cité
    March 13, 1355
    T he torturer couldn’t distinguish the lord’s facial features. All he could make out was the light patch of beard. The wood crackling