A true understanding of the martial path will forever elude the one who seeks only the journey’s conclusion. It is in the depths of study and the intricacy of the reasons behind each step along that path that enlightenment and mastery are truly found.
- The Living Sword by Fen Vaigorus circa 520 AC.
The first meal of the day was a light breakfast of fruit and lightly salted meat on saffron rice. At first, we ate in silence, our expressions dour, fueling ourselves for what was to come. But with his ever-rogueish grin, Elwin mentioned Ansan and our time together as slaves.
This opened a floodgate of memories. We spoke of the little things, of past adventures and shared experiences.
And of vanquished foes and challenges overcome.
Our words danced on the edge of bittersweet nostalgia, each tale a thread of our shared history. The conversation was a gentle stab at, and poignant reminder of, our past. It infused the space between us with a quiet, unspoken understanding. The meal made me almost feel that we were saying our goodbyes.
*****
“I’m saying this just pretty much for the sake of saying it, but like, you sure about this?” Elwin asked with only the smallest of hints of nervousness.
“I’m as sure as can be. This is destiny… I can feel it.”
“You know, I heard a lot of people saying this and saying that about destiny and fate and all that malarkey. Just saying, and just saying, mind you… most of them ain’t on this side of the Shallow River,” the Rogue remarked.
Kidu placed a massive paw on Elwin’s shoulder. “If Gilgamesh feels this is the best course of action, then I place my spear with his. He has not let us on the wrong trail yet.”
“Yes, Elwin. If we wish for power we must take it!”
“Quick reminder though. Just so you know and all, that really isn’t one of my wishes, if you’re thinking of granting it.”
I drew myself up, straightened my shoulders and looked him square in the eyes. “Why were we made slaves?”
“Got a bad roll of the dice.”
“No, Elwin. It was because we were powerless. Would you have that happen to us again?”
“But a practitioner of the dark arts an’ all? Really, now?”
The large hunter snorted at this. “There are things that the Wise Ones do that you warm landers would call dark arts. Ignorant, you are. Minds inflexible, like heartwood.”
Thank you Kidu, perfect timing.
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“But the little man, womanly as his words sound, may have a point. When dealing with other tribes, one must be as careful. Are they friend or foe?”
“As you say Kidu. But I have spent a lot of time thinking about this. I believe the opportunity outweighs the prevalent risks.”
“Sounds like famous last words to me,” Elwin cut in.
Regardless of Elwin’s trepidation, it was time to cross the threshold. I knocked twice on the door to the Necromancer’s chambers and waited for a few moments before a voice called out that I could enter. Pushing against the dark wood, I could not help but marvel at how smoothly it opened.
“One sees you have brought company,” the walking cadaver of a man greeted me. Vincenzio seemed hardly off-put by the presence of Kidu and Elwin.
“You sure about this, Gil? I mean this looks dodgy as hell, like,” commented the Rogue sarcastically.
I shook my head in mild consternation. “Vincenzio has treated me well so far. Forgive the cliche, Elwin, but one should not judge a book by its cover.”
“Mild insults aside. Who are these two?” the Necromancer asked. “Talking of covers, they do not look to be of the cultured sort.”
“They are my companions and good men. They are sworn to me and I trust them with my life,” I stated firmly. Kidu snorted in response, that simple act more menacing than if he had drawn a weapon.
“More importantly, they can keep a secret,” I made sure to add.
The sallow man looked my companions over. “Very well then. I know that Visitors have a strange habit of picking up the strangest of companions. It is part of their glamor. Also, one supposes that a few more pairs of trusty hands can only help,” he remarked offhandedly, throwing me a small purse that jingled as it flew through the air.
I checked its content, noting, much to my surprise, that it was filled with slightly tarnished silver coins.
The Necromancer looked me steadily in the eye. “Payment for your time. Excuse the coins, habit if nothing else. One still doesn’t trust those slips of paper. Also, the Milander, as you know, was an excuse,” he stated.
I gave the purse to Elwin, who readily accepted it with his greedy hands. Kidu just looked on steadily, his presence a solid rock.
“Your master…” the Necromancer began to explain, only to be interrupted by Kidu.
“Not master,” the giant of a man stated simply, his voice a rumble of challenge.
“Very well, leader then,” Vincenzio accepted with a small smirk on his face. “Requires power to overcome the challenges that await him in the future…”
There was a pause, a slight relaxation, as my companions took in his words. I had almost expected the Necromancer to divulge my origins.
“Are you a Windspeaker that can see the path between the storms, to make such a claim?” asked Kidu doubtfully.
Vincenzio answered patiently, “One does not need the gift of the River to foresee as such…”
“An’ more importantly, what’s in it for you?” cut in the Rogue with a sharp question.
“We have an accord. A common purpose. Would it suffice to say that it is for reasons akin to revenge?” replied the pale man.
“Not really, not got any idea what you are talking about…” remarked the Rogue.
“I want his magic scroll to further my path,” I said quietly. “So first, I must help him with a few things.”
The Necromancer's scroll was important. It held the possibility of overcoming Death itself, and I was certain Vincenzio has already achieved such a feat.
The Rogue placed his hands behind his back as he started to wander around the workshop. “Sounds fair enough… but these things are?”
“The death of Kaila… Kaila de Arancrai, among a few others,” was Vincenzio’s flat response.
I could not help a small grin steal across my face. “What for? I have encountered that one already. It did not go well for her.”
He raised an eyebrow. “That should not have been a surprise. You Visitors are drawn to each other by the threads of fate. She possesses a power that none should have…”
Again Elwin cut in saucily, “I have a feeling that Visitor has a bit of a deeper meaning than a gal just passing through.”