…Zeth said unto the King, “I have been sent by Paladin, my father, in the name of the Almighty God to say unto you: Lift up thine gates and ye shall be saved from slaughter. Do it not, and the Lord thy God shall smite thee with the hands of His Paladin before the next light of the moon.”

  The King’s heart was hardened and he said unto Zeth, “I say unto thee, I shall neither open mine gates nor face slaughter, for thine father is a wicked man and a heretic and shall be punished for his sins. Go now and tell him as I have spoken.”

  Zeth did return to Paladin and told him of the King’s declaration. Paladin did as the Lord had commanded and lay siege to the city. For many days, the fighting was great and many good and kindly men shed blood in the name of the Almighty God, but their hearts grew weary for the city would not surrender and the gates would not be breached.

  “Send thy son, Zeth, to the north and have him strike the city with three thousand knights,” the Lord said unto Paladin. And Paladin did as he was commanded and sent Zeth with three thousand knights to the north.

  The King, having seen Zeth and his knights approaching from the north, sent his own. Knowing their lands better than Zeth, the King’s army did encircle him and a long battle began before Zeth reached the walls.

  Zeth, seeing that the King had outmaneuvered him with his army, cried out to the Lord to save him, but the Lord did not answer. Zeth sent a messenger to his father asking for his aid, but Lord commanded Paladin to not aid his son but to send his army to strike from the sea and the Paladin did as he was commanded. Without aid, the King captured Zeth and brought him to the city walls where Paladin could see.

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  “Look upon thine Son, Paladin, and know that thou art a false prophet spreading the words of a false god,” the King called to Paladin. Upon seeing this, Paladin prayed for the Lord to lift Zeth from the King’s grasp and return him, but the Lord spoke and the King slew Zeth and cast his body into the ramparts.

  Outraged, Paladin charged the city gates and climbed the walls. The Heavens did open and Jehovah, Almighty Lord, Holiest of Holy, came upon Paladin with His Holy Light and lifted him upon the walls where he slew the King with the flaming sword forged in the Holy Spirit. On that day, the city of Sofia surrendered to Paladin and it was claimed in the name of the Lord.

  Paladin placed Zeth in a tomb within the reconsecrated grounds of the cathedral. There, he remained for many days in prayer, asking for the Lord to speak to him, but the Lord denied him.

  An angel appeared to the Knight Sasha of Khiev and said unto him, “Go to thine leader and ask him why he no longer listens to his Lord thy God who commanded him to march thine army south and meet the Enemy at the City of Cities, house of the Shrine of the Holy God.”

  Sasha did as he was commanded and Paladin answered, “The Lord has become silent, for I asked of Him that which was not to be given and now I weep for the end of my bloodline, for I am too old to sire another.”

  The Knight Sasha said unto Paladin, “Shall I tell Jehovah, Thy God, that thou art too stricken with grief at His Will to follow His Command? The Lord hath spoken commands and thy heart causes thine ears to be filled with self-pity and unholy pride. You let thine Enemy command you instead. Quiet thine heart and listen as the Lord thy God speaks unto thee.”

  - I Paladinate 16:31-59