Deathstalker 06 - Deathstalker Legacy

the Arena . . . He didn't execute them so justice could be served. He killed them because he took their assault in his territory as a slap in the face. He butchered them all in cold blood because they made him look bad."
    "That's a bit harsh, isn't it?" said Lewis.
    "Is it?"
    "Finn's a good man, at heart," said Lewis. "A bit cold, yes. Not the easiest of people to get on with. But he really is the greatest Paragon we've ever had. No one can match his record."
    "And none of that means anything if he did it for the wrong reasons," said Douglas. "Finn's a killer, Lewis; so he went where the killing was. The Arenas could never satisfy someone like him. Because when he kills someone in the streets, they stay dead."
    "That's a terrible thing to say!"
    "Do you doubt it's true?"
    Lewis shook his head slowly. "So . . . you didn't choose me just because I'm a Deathstalker?"
    "No," said Douglas, smiling. "I chose you because you're Lewis. Because there's no one else I'd rather have at my side."
    They smiled at each other for a long moment, two old friends, still partners, setting out on a great new adventure; then Douglas went back to looking through his last few papers. Lewis looked around the room, pulled irritably at his collar again, and sighed just a little moodily.
    "Even so," he said. "It feels weird, just standing around like this. Usually by this time of the day we'd be on our third case, and already falling behind schedule. Never thought I'd miss getting up far too early in the morning to go out on patrol . . . And speaking of that, there's one thing I've been worrying about . . ."
    "Only one?" said Douglas. "I don't think you've been paying attention, Lewis. There are dozens of things worrying me."
    "This one is particularly close to home," said Lewis sternly. "There used to be three Paragons guarding and patrolling Logres. You, me, and Finn Durandal. Now there's just the one; Finn. One man, to handle all the evils this world can throw at him. And God alone knows what state of mind he's in, now he isn't Champion after all."
    "God help whoever he takes it out on," Douglas said easily. "Bad time to be a criminal on Logres, I would have thought."
    'Has anybody spoken to Finn yet? I tried, but he won't take my calls."
    Douglas shrugged. "I looked for him after the Ceremony, but he'd disappeared. I tried to reach him later, on my private channel as well as my new official one, but he's screening all his calls. All I got was a terse recorded message, and a plug for a new website. The man's just sulking, that's all. Doesn't want to talk to anyone because he doesn't trust his temper yet. He always did think too much of himself. He'll get over it.
    Eventually. He's still officially the greatest Paragon of all time, and with you out of the way he'll have less competition for the title. I wouldn't worry about him, Lewis. Finn has a way of bouncing back. And don't worry about Logres, either. With all the Paragons who turned up to witness my Coronation, the planet's never been better guarded. And I've already arranged for a permanent replacement, once they're gone; a second Paragon for Logres, to take up the slack in our absence." "Anyone I'd know?" said Lewis. "Oh, I'd say so. Emma Steel, from Mistworld."
    "Damn! Oh yes, she'll do very well here!" Lewis couldn't keep from grinning. "The media's going to love her. Hard but fair, but mostly hard." "Growing up on Mistworld "will do that for you," said Douglas.
    "She's a real scrapper; just what's needed. She was wasted on Rhiannon anyway; Logres will be much more of a challenge for her. And it'll do Finn good to have someone with as big an ego as his to deal with."
    Lewis grinned. "Is Logres big enough to hold two egos that size?" "Steel and the Durandal will make excellent partners," said Douglas. "If they don't kill each other first."
    "It's still only two Paragons, not three," said Lewis. "And you can bet the ELFs will be planning something really nasty in retaliation . . ."
    "Don't worry about it, dear," said Jesamine, moving over to join them. She perched herself daintily on the arm of Douglas's chair, and smiled sweetly at Lewis. "Logres survived perfectly well before you came here as Paragon, and it will do just as well now you've moved on. You men always think you're indispensible."
    "We are now the Empire's King and Champion," said Douglas, slipping an arm around her waist. "That makes us indispensible, by definition."
    "Not necessarily," said Anne. She turned her back on