Betrayed
“May I speak with you, my Liege?”
“Come in, Deacon.”
“I am troubled.”
“What troubles you?”
“I have not received my promotion.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“You seem grieved.”
“Have I not served you well? Have I not labored for you?”
“You have labored.”
“Then am I not ready to enter further in?”
“How so?”
“Have I not pleased you?”
“You have pleased me considerably.”
“But then why have I not gone up? Why am I still posted here? Am I not ready for greater things?”
“Perhaps. But I wish you here close beside me. Does it not please you to be near?”
“My Lord, nothing pleases me more. But certainly, surely you must know how hard I have worked, how much I have desired this promotion, that I have made myself ready expressly for this?’
“You are ready?”
“My Lord, I am. “
“Are you? Then I am glad.”
“And certainly, this promotion would mean that I could now manfully serve you. What glory would this win for you!”
“Would it?”
“But of course! I would ride through your wood and clear out many of those who have so stubbornly filled this forest of late. I would guide those lost within your realm. And as I rode, I would sing with a clear voice your high praises.”
“Would you? That would be something! But are you quite sure you are ready?”
“My Lord, you are a man of authority. You need only say the word and I would be.”
“This is true.”
“What in me has so displeased you. Others have gone on and go up. I have seen them. And others I have seen who have ridden in the Great Patrol from the beginning. Why not I Lord?”
“I love you.”
“Then why may I not ride with the Great Patrol?”
“You are not for the Great Patrol.”
“But my Lord, only lend strength to my arm and it would carry a lance like any of your knights. Lend but the least wit to my mind and it would remember the courses of the wood, the codes set down of old, and all the signs by which to know your will. Lend a bit more charm to my brow and I should please every young man and lady whom I passed. Then they might not weary or wander, but they would lean upon my understanding and be lead in the straight and narrow way. I would teach them to sing your praises with me. My Lord, shed just the least grace upon me and I shall unfold your rule, I shall win hearts unto you, I shall shine as a precious stone among your kingdom.”
“Do you not already shine?”
“I do not think so.”
…
“Will you do nothing for me?”
“Not nothing. I will do all things.”
“But not what I ask?”
“I think not.”
“You would not have me for one of your picked men then.”
“You are one of my picked men, chosen and beloved.”
“But my Lord, how can such labor go unrewarded. I cannot believe you would leave me in such lonely and unlovely mediocrity. How can it be? If one of your sheep limped, you would bind its leg with a splint. If one of your horses had something in its hoof, you would have that thorn out. There is not a rider of your Patrol who speaks with a lisp, who lacks self-command, who is not clothed with a thousand graces by which to serve you. Enlarge my heart and I would be gentle and forgiving, strong and magnanimous. A man of war who lived for peace.”
“Have you none of these graces?”
“My Lord, do not be so cruel. Look at me.”
“I do.”
“And will you not…”
“I am afraid that this promotion you ask for, that these graces you beg would not be meet unto my purpose.”
“You cannot make a silk purse from a sow’s ear?”
“I certainly can! But you, Deacon, are no sow’s ear. Yet these graces do not befit you.”
“But you could fit me…”
“To what purpose?”
“I would be steadfast, and humble. I would be faultless in reason, ready in memory, charming to make known your greatness.”
“I am afraid I would lose you.”
“But I would be loved. I would be known. I would be remembered and appreciated.”
…
“My heart breaks, Lord.”
“Let it break then. But serve me and offer up that broken heart unto my service. Indeed, your works shall shine forever like that jewel you speak of. You shall shine brighter yet, for then you will not obscure your own brightness. The rough way shall be made plain! And no man in my service shall lack his need. Receive my hand, receive my heart, receive my commission, this same commission anew, and labor not for promotion any longer. Labor for me and you will have what it is you long for. For he that has not, even what he has shall be taken from him. And he that has, shall receive yet more abundantly.”
…
“Yes, my Liege.”
Same & Other 