Aralim came upon a camp as he trudged along the easterly road. It was twilight and the foothills around him cast long shadows as the sun set beyond the Yurna Mountains behind him. A traveller had a small fire burning on the slope of one smaller hill. He saw a few people sitting around it as he approached. Continue reading Aralim 132
Naran’s Terrace had become something of a favourite meeting place for Aralim. The tea brewery overlooking the Ake’ma River waterfront served delicious beverages and baked goods, usually kept some tables free for the nobility—with whom Aralim was somehow included—and seemed blissfully empty of the Emperor’s Aura.
Today’s company at the Terrace was none other than Councillor Soot, the ambitious schemer whom Aralim had recently met following his near-death at the hands of the enigmatic bandit gang. With his ideas of inciting the masses delayed by the Emperor’s considerations, and his staff nearly complete pending the completion of its lantern, Aralim was had little of his “normal” tasks to do. His new undertaking was inspired by the words in Rattar’s secretive letter. Continue reading Aralim 131
“The Body of Gethra has several properties aside from its physical ones which a magician may manipulate,” Therelin read, quietly. He spoke in Common, though the text was in an old ancestral dialect which some scholars still preferred. The codex itself was only from the late 1200s—fairly recent in terms of scholarly texts. Though he thought the confusing phrasing was going to be his biggest issue today, he could not have guessed what would come. “These properties continue to elude the complete comprehension of contemporary sages, though their behaviours can be observed. As any apprentice knows, what can be observed can be manipulated in some manner.” Continue reading Therelin 28
Still unable to use his sword arm for much, Renado armed up with a crossbow. He still wore his blade—and his trusty boot knife, of course—but the trigger-fired weapon was much easier to use. He hooked it to his belt and threw on a loose black cloak. The hood covered his publicly-known features and the returning whiskers on this chin. Prepared for anything, he strode out of the seedy room, down the stench-filled hallway, to the inn’s common room where Asar and Omma waited in similar disguises. Continue reading Renado 80
Kren decided to tag along that afternoon, when Therelin got up the nerve to go speak with Master Byranim. Despite all his recent training, the thought of asking for a weapon still made Therelin uncomfortable. On Keth, only guards carried weapons—and then, only clubs! Continue reading Therelin 27
As Arn had predicted, passing time was all they did in Quenden’s compound. He trained—as instructed—and he waited for the merchant known as Crar to arrive—as he had been ordered. Ships came and went, though only a sliver of the sea was visible from their position inland of Starath. The besieged city smouldered as usual, though sightings of its townspeople drew even more occasional. Arn, still learning the language of the army as quickly as he could, wondered if the people inside spoke a similar tongue, one more familiar to his own speech, or a dialect yet stranger. Continue reading Arn 67
The Sea’s Sword dropped anchor near the border buoys of the Noress-That-Was harbour. The light red mainsail, with its Gallendris coiled sword emblem, was hoisted up and a section of the ship’s side rail was thrown open to allow a rope ladder to be run down the hull. They were taking on more passengers—the delegates who would join Lord Gallendris’ voyage. Continue reading Farek 83
Ren didn’t see Sarim for a few weeks after they had struck their deal. Ren and his men frequented the Komen Commons, which seemed as safe as Sarim had suggested. Disguises remained necessary, but the city guards seemed scant and deeply involved with the various gangs and other groups that frequented the slums. Continue reading Renado 79
Therelin wiped sweat off his brow without interrupting his line of sight. His eyes were locked on Master Igard’s straight sword, as was all the concentration he could bring to bear. The Master strode forward still, though each step was hefty and calculated; Igard moved as though he was carrying a sizeable brick, not a small metal blade. Their mental duel lasted only a few moments longer—when he reached Therelin, Igard let go of his sword. Therelin’s focus had made the weapon as heavy as a slab and it clashed to the dirt with a reverberating thud. Therelin let out his breath with relief; his head hurt, and his vision was swimming. Continue reading Therelin 26
Farek’s visit in Soros was not nearly long enough. He spent as much time as he could with his sisters, visited Norrey’s for two separate and very full evenings, and caught up on his rest in the comfortable bed of his home. He had assured Matriarch Valakono that his quest would begin before the Moon had waned, so halfway through, he began preparations for the venture.
All his loyal guards agreed to join him—even Ralla who was not even officially employed by the Gallendris household. Devender, as he had warned, would soon depart. He told Farek he could accompany them to Sheld, and then go his own way. Continue reading Farek 82