Long shadows were being cast outside the shrine of Baltoth, Lord of Order. The sun was setting over the capital city of Eastern Kalthak, Khasina. Here, Kushina, Priestess of the Lord of Order, was entertaining a special guest.

It was not a guest she desired to meet. She had not liked the man for years, but he was her superior. And he had desired to look at the relic Kushina guarded. He had passed the guards of King Asim without incident, for none could oppose him even if they had dared. Not that they had seen him walk like a shadow. Kushina had only known to look for him because a spirit of Baltoth had brought the warning. The Blade of Chaos was as elaborate as the legends Kushina had heard when she was a girl. It had an unholy green glow around the blackish-jagged metal. Its edges were serrated, and the eye upon the pommel followed her wherever Kushina walked. It hated her as it hated all the servants of Baltoth. You could tell Tuor was fascinated by it.

Tuor, tall, broad-shouldered, with tan skin. He looked at it fascinated, his eyes distant with the faraway memories of endless ages. Once those eyes had been those of a mortal man of thirty, when Kushina had been only a girl, now all traces of that man seemed gone, just as Sahshir was gone. His white garments believed the blue-eyed serpent within. A smile played across his face, and not a pleasant one. Kushina remembered why she had never liked or trusted him, even when he was Aresh. He reached out with scarred fingers so that they were mere inches from the blade. Kushina lowered her staff and set it to his hand in warning.

The Disciple of Baltoth he might have been, but that was too far. Tuor drew his hand back and looked at her. His eyes were far older than his body. He was almost forty, though his body showed no signs of weakness. "The Blade of Chaos. It was wielded by the champion of Typhos long ago. Entire armies have been laid to waste by this blade.

"And now it stands within this shrine. Waiting."

"You hold that blade in too much fascination, Tuor," said Kushina, wondering if he had some other agenda. She knew that Tuor's ways were not always those of Baltoth. He was a disciple, but what made him such was his status as a foil. "It is the nemesis of Order." Fascination was an understatement; the gleam in his eye could not be trusted.

"Chaos and Order are but two aspects of a greater whole, Priestess Kushina," said Tuor with a shrug. He reluctantly turned from the sword, and Kushina wondered why it fascinated him. "One without the other leads to weakness and oblivion."

"A perfect Order would lead to a paradise," said Kushina, voice cold. "An imperfect one may be lightened. But perfect Chaos would destroy all. Why did you wish to speak with me?"

Tuor turned and walked further up the great hall before looking at a suit of armor that once belonged to him. Raising a hand, he summoned the light of the moon's spirit to illuminate the place. His eyes were sad and younger for a moment, but the moment passed. It had been in another life, and for a moment, Tuor looked like that other life. He seemed Aresh again for a moment, the kindhearted man Kushina had grown up with.

Then he turned around. "Calisha is waning. New enemies have come to replace the old. The children of Baltoth bicker and fight with one another for power. We thrive from the splendor of a great past rather than in pursuit of a better future."

"There is much that is still great and may become greater," said Kushina. So, where was he going with this?

"Yes," said Tuor. "If it is allowed to flower."

"Speak plainly," said Kushina.

"The inevitable truth is that Order is temporary," said Tuor with a shrug of broad shoulders. "All systems, no matter how well designed, eventually fail. The virtue of those who created it gives way to the degeneration of the next generation. Or, in the case of immortals, virtue fails, and vices take shape.

"So all orders must change with time or be overcome.

"I ask you this: if Chaos is inevitable, why should we not use the chaos to advance the cause of Baltoth?" There seemed wisdom in what he was saying, but Kushina did not trust it or him. She kept a few weeks away and wondered where Schazara, her sister, was.

"You suggest using the Blade of Chaos?" asked Kushina. Was he mad? Perhaps he was. He had the memories of hundreds of lives in his mind. Disciple of Baltoth he might be, but his agents enjoyed a great deal of autonomy.

"Of course," said Tuor. "Typhos' has awoken from her long sleep. With her waking, the sword has begun to grow in power again.

"Were a worthy wielder found for it, we might use the blade. Imagine it, Priestess. Two warriors of unsurpassed skill, one wielding the Blade of Order. The other is the Blade of Chaos. How we would drive the armies of Harlenor before us and retake Artarq from their degenerate grip.

"Or, if Baltoth judges it, we might turn or gaze east instead. To Dinis, and the consorts of Zigildrazia. Too long has their depraved empire stifled the power of those within.

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"For Chaos is not in itself evil. But, when a system exists, one that stifles greatness rather than inspires it. When tyrants without virtue preside over a people, they seek to keep them in bondage. Is this not the time when Chaos must reign?

"We may conjure a great fire in Dinis to consume them! And from the ashes will arise a more magnificent civilization!

"And if none within Dinis prove worthy to rule, why not Calisha?"

"You remember the old days of Kalthak," said Kushina, thinking back to those far-off times. She wondered if her soul had existed then. It was a matter of speculation whether the number of souls in the universe was static. Or if it was constantly changing. There were too many worlds to form a proper census, and Kushina had never decided. "The days of the God Wars.

"I have read enough history to know. Blood ran in rivers. Brother murdered brother. Whole cities were burned. Monsters roamed the wilderness, devouring as they willed.

"Change is necessary. But it must be done naturally with one small action at a time. A small stone cast into a serene pool may create many ripples. But when thrown into a raging ocean, it merely sinks."

"But if the water does not shift, it will grow stagnant," said Tuor. "Disruption of things as they are is essential."

"What you speak of is not disruption. It is mass destruction," said Kushina.

Tuor remained silent for a moment. "What you say is true. But Dinis is our enemy. Their loss is our gain. In any case, I have certain plans in motion. Plans that the Blade of Chaos may be valuable in-"

"Do you?" asked Kushina, not letting him finish. "Well, it does not matter. Aresh might have had the authority to give such orders. But Aresh left this place long ago, leaving the village to fend for itself. So your son has grown up without you. And since you have left Khasina, I do not acknowledge you as the King.

"The Blade of Chaos will not be used. Not unless you can get authorization from the Emperor himself."

Tuor remained silent for a moment. He seemed to be struggling with something, and Kushina saw a glimpse of Aresh. Then he looked down. "...So be it.

"But there remains the question of what we are to do. The sword's power was waning for centuries. Yet I have read the strands of fate. Typhos is rising. With her return, it may well call all monsters to it. Do you believe you will be able to contain it forever?

"How long until it calls out to other powers? One less moral than ourselves?

"Something must be done. Would it not be better to choose where that great rising occurs?"

"Something may be done," agreed Kushina. Then she looked to the blade by Tuor's side, and the obvious presented itself. She felt the will of Baltoth and heard his voice. And she knew what must be done. "Give me your sword, Aresh."

Tuor looked down at the blade at his side. It was as simple as the Blade of Chaos was complex. There was no adornment of any kind on it. But Kushina could see an unworldly light within it. To Kushina's surprise, there seemed to be hesitation, for he had wielded it a long time. "The Sword of Order? You would have me relinquish it?"

"It was gifted to Aresh," said Kushina. "But now you are Tuor. The God of Order forged it to counteract the blade here. If the guardians of this shrine have it, then the watch will be that much stronger."

"You wish it for yourself?" guessed Tuor, an edge in his tone.

Typical of him. "I am but a priestess," said Kushina. "The sword is not mine to wield. However, I will give it to your son. As Aresh's heir, it is only right for him to wield it."

Tuor narrowed his eyes. "I have seen his progress. But, he still has much to learn."

"How much have you taught him, Tuor?" asked Kushina.

Tuor shifted beneath his cloak. "...Less than I should. I am the Disciple of Baltoth. I have many duties far away, and my place is away. Even if my heart once was.

"Still, perhaps he could train among my subordinates?"

"To what end?" asked Kushina. He was angling at something.

"Sometimes a different approach to the same problem yields better results," said Tuor. "Sahshir has not prospered here. So let me try my hand as a mentor, if not a father."

"And I will keep the Sword of Order here for him?" asked Kushina.

"Until such a time as you deem him ready to claim it," said Tuor.

Kushina kept Tuor's gaze for a time. Considering the angles, she sighed.

"Agreed," said Kushina. "Should the worst occur, I can use it." Or so she hoped; Schazara was too young, only twelve, and Sahshir might never get the chance.

Tuor looked away. "I do not like leaving a woman with the blade. But we have little choice."

"When will you leave?" asked Kushina.

"At once," said Tuor. "Many matters require my attention."

"Should you not say goodbye to Sahshir?" asked Kushina.

"I will leave a letter explaining the matter to you," said Tuor.

Kushina ought to have known that would be his response. Aresh had been a kind man. Tuor was a beast. "That is, of course, your choice."

She would speak to Sahshir soon.