“Being suspicious is part of life. Blind trust is dangerous. Particularly with one you would never suspect.” - Toren Eringer

“NOOOO!” The girl stared at Eringer’s opponent, eyes wide and mouth open. In a moment, she seemed to steal her resolve, lingering only for a second before sprinting away. A tear dropped as she fled.

What was that? Who was he? Who was that girl? And what did you do to me? The questions hung in the air as Eringer remembered the Councilwoman. “Naylene!”

He dropped to the ground at her side, collecting her in his arms. He started the incantation to bring her back, but quickly realized it was too late. “I am so sorry!” The grief was enough to hold the pain at bay, for the moment.

The girl! Chase her!

Eringer could feel his body shuddering. Whatever the mage had done, it had taken its toll, opening wounds long since healed. The blood flowed from several previous injuries, while his muscles swelled and bones ached.

“What? Why?”

She saw what happened!

He looked about, finding no one in the street. It will look like I did it…

After her!

As he rose, Eringer placed his hand over the worst wound on his side, pouring all his reservoir of healing into it. It was just enough to stem the bleeding, but there were a dozen other wounds trickling blood. “I cannot catch her.”

Then run, Eringer.

“Run?”

You cannot continue to follow my guidance if you are imprisoned. We may lose the connection.

He sheathed the sword and donned a new magical disguise as he limped away from the bloody scene.

“You! Stop!” A shaky voice called out. Eringer saw a man standing in the middle of the street now, pointing at him. “Murder! That man murdered the guards and that woman!”

Eringer took another step, quicker than the last. He did his best to pick his feet up as fast as his injured body would allow. The pain was initially excruciating, but it turned to numbness after a few blocks.

Turning down alleyway after alleyway, he altered the guise while hidden several times in case anyone was trying to follow. "Damnit! Where can I go now?" he thought aloud, half asking himself and Kraelyn.

The docks, Eringer.

"The docks? If I leave the city, whatever they were trying will work."

It already has. They got what they needed from the Councilwoman.

She is probably right about that. "Perhaps I can prevent it, if I find a place to lay low."

Doubtful, my champion. Everyone will be looking for you. Disguises or not, they will eventually find you if you remain here. Flee, and you live to find a solution later.

The fight, as well as what was said, bounced around Eringer's mind as he ran. What if I have been... Alarms began to be raised as people shouted and horns blasted.

Faster, Eringer.

From his side where the blade hung, a warmth radiated that filled his body, similar to that of the one that helped him close on the mage. He sped up, even more numb with magic pulsing through his beleaguered body.

He caught a glimpse of random passersby looking his way as he skirted through alleyways and sidestreets, but none followed that he could tell.

Within a few minutes, he was at the nearest dock and looking up and down for a ship. His eyes settled on a moderately sized cargo ship.

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The magic wore off, leaving him lethargic. Even more apparent, was that the pain was returning. He changed his disguise one last time, to that of a middle aged laborer.

Eringer spotted who he assumed was the captain directing people to load the ship, and made his way straight to the man. "Excuse me, Captain?"

The dwarf twirled around. His right hand was stroking a spectacular pointy red beard with some gray hairs. "Yes, lad?" He looked the disguise up and down, "Something wrong?"

"Just exhausted, sir. May I hitch a ride with you? I will work for a small room and passage."

The man began shaking his head, as if to say no.

"Coin, as well, of course."

"How much coin?"

Blast, I do not have much. He pulled out his coin pouch and handed it over. "And four times that when we get there."

The man took it, looking inside and weighing the purse in his hand. "Lad, you don't even know where we are going. How do I know you'll make good on that promise?"

Eringer leaned in a few inches in a determined manner, "I always do what I say, Captain."

The dwarf looked him up and down once more. "Very well. Head up there and my first mate will show you a room to leave what little you have, then come back down to help these men out. Gods know I can use the help."

"Thank you, Captain." Eringer slid past him, walking the angled plank up to the deck.

-

Eringer...

For a week he worked, avoiding holding the blade, despite its calls. He left it bundled in a sheet under the cot he slept on. Eringer’s thoughts swirled as he pondered his actions since first laying eyes on the sword, then much later once he took it up to defend himself.

Whatever it is, it cannot be Krealyn. Eringer worked by instinct, doing the tasks by muscle memory now as his thoughts revolved around the sword.

"The sea... it belongs in the sea."

"What does?" The man nearest him asked, as Toren realized he was speaking aloud.

"Sorry, I was thinking to myself. Nothing important."

"If you say so." The man started unwinding the rope to pull out the sails. "Give me a hand, will you?"

"Sure thing."

Tonight, I will be rid of it. Toren worked the rest of the afternoon until he was exhausted. He had dinner with the others, then retired to his room until almost everyone was asleep.

For the first time in a week, he uncovered the sheathed blade from its hiding place. He determinedly walked up to the bow of the deck, where no one would be.

Emerging on the swaying deck, a chill ran through him. Though the air was calm, the temperature was a stark difference from the shelter below.

You will regret leaving me.

"I believed in you... You made me believe… Believe that I was following Kraelyn's will."

Does it matter? Together, we can do the work you sought to do with Kraelyn. I should also not have to remind you that you promised to do what I told you, without question.

"I should have known then."

Perhaps, but the promise remains. Unless you now wish to start breaking your word?

"That promise was made to a different person."

It was always me, even if you did not know it.

"I still do not even know who, or what, you are. The mage said 'Brius,' which makes me think of the ancient black dragon. I know no other famous Brius."

Sounds like you have figured it out, then.

"How is that possible? And if you really are Brius, why would I wish to help you, knowing your past enslavement of the city I just tried to save."

In time, all will be revealed. I have learned from my mistakes. A hero, not unlike yourself, struck me down with the very weapon that now holds my consciousness.

"If I destroyed this, then, would you truly die?"

By all means, you may try. I think you will find it impossible.

"Well, I could drop this in the sea, then. No one will ever find it there."

You are wrong. There are plenty of humanoids that would be able to reach me. The best thing, for both of us, would be to continue working together. We can right the wrongs of others, set the nations on a better path.

"Why should I believe you? You brought misery to a city, a nation, for more than a century!"

I cannot change the past. All I can do is try a better path. You have the will, skill, and determination to carry out what needs to be done. Your power grows each day you have me by your side. The choice is yours, Eringer."

He held the sword out over the water, staring at the blade deep in thought. It would be so easy to leave this behind…

In what seemed like only moments, or perhaps an eternity, light flashed on the horizon behind the ship. The blade was still held out over the stern wooden railing, perpendicular to his body.

Perhaps Brius is right. Who knows what will happen if this sword gets into the wrong hands? If I have it, I will always know where it is and what the ancient dragon’s plans are… And if I am making a mistake, I can research how to destroy it, should I need to.

“Kraelyn? Can you give me a sign? What should I do?”

“Ehmm.”

Spinning around, startled, he found the Captain of the ship. “You alright there, son? Be careful with that sword there, looks expensive. Wouldn’t want that falling into the sea, you’d ne’er see it again!”

Looking down at the pristine blade and polished hilt, despite its recent use, he made up his mind. “Yes, Captain. I should be more careful.” Eringer sheathed the blade, retying the strap to his side. “Are we almost there?”