Nicholas found himself alone in a much quieter bar, later that same night. Though they spent much time together, when it came to looking for romance, he and Conner fished in different ponds. There were a lot of people in the Blue Herron, but the energy was many levels lower than the alehouse they’d started the evening in.
After getting the location of the burrow and as much information on Charity as they could, which was not very much, they moved back towards the center of Merren. They obtained two rooms at a small inn, then parted ways till the morning. They had a couple of drinks, and it was fun terrifying the thief, and hey, he’d gotten his money back, but… he was still in a funk. The room was not the lively type of atmosphere that he used to frequent as a soldier. The were no fights, no loud stories, usually told by him, to the delight of the crowd. There were women, but not the easy kind that he often wound up taking to his bed. Nicholas had no difficulty finding female companionship, but in his present state, he couldn’t muster the energy it took to be his normal charming self.
“Can I get you another?
Nicholas started at the voice and looked up. The server was a woman older than him, by perhaps a decade. She was tall and had a nice figure that was buried beneath a conservative smock and apron. Golden hair cascaded over her shoulders and a few loose curls fell down her forehead and into her field of vision. She was pretty, in a very ordinary way.
“You’re at the bottom of your mug. Can I get you another drink?”
“I guess so. I’m starting to lose the enjoyment I used to get from a night out and a warm ale.”
“Going through some things, eh love?” She smiled knowingly at him, “Let me bring you something special. Sometimes all you need is a little variety in life. Just you wait here.”
A little variety. That sounds good, he thought. Instead of checking out her ass as she walked away, he stared straight ahead, lost in thought. Variety. He had been chasing a payday for years, doing the same work he did in the army, though he did have more autonomy now. His skill with a sword was unmatched, except maybe for his friend and traveling partner Connor. He was well known in some circles in Kronos, known as someone to call when a tough and dangerous assignment needed to be carried out. It was all starting to seem pointless. Defeat an enemy? More are around the corner, just waiting to try and kill you. You get money, good money, but it spends like water and is gone. And what do I spend money on? He thought to himself. Wine, women, games of chance. He spent every penny he made, as fast as he could earn it. Saving for the future never crossed his mind. He had no illusions that he would live long enough to retire to the countryside with a wife and children.
That’s what Landis did though. Landis Stone was a sellsword like Connor and him. He lived a life of adventure, a life lived one day at a time, one battle at a time. Three years ago, when the whole world had teamed up against the Lords of Shadow, he’d lost the use of his arm, lost the blessed blade that he carried, and the decision to cease fighting had been made for him. What he had that Nicholas didn’t was something to fight for, something to die for. His second go at wife and children had gone well and continued to do so. He had married a black warrior woman from across the sea, and now they had several children together. He was never afraid to risk his life in the service of the kings of Kronos, but he didn’t risk his life carelessly. Nicholas had no motivation, save his desire to avoid death and even more so, boredom.
“Here you go,” she said as she placed a glass in front of him. Glass cups in a bar were rare as they were quickly broken by rowdy patrons. He jumped at the sound of her voice, as the container contacted the tabletop.
‘Uh, um, what?” he asked, his mind still in a fog.
“I promised you something special. Try this refreshing elixir, I concocted it myself. I call it ‘Ambrosia’,” she said, smiling at him sweetly. “Give it a try, it will help with your crisis of faith.”
He looked at the multicolored liquid in the clear glass. It swirled clouds of deep red and brilliant yellow, there were streaks of cobalt blue and forest green. He held the glass up for a sniff and then wrinkled his nose. He looked up at the hostess.
“See! No strong smell, but trust me, the flavor is out of this world.”
Nicholas put the glass to his lips and took a light sip. His expression lightened, and then he broke into a wide grin. He took a healthy sip before giving in and gulping the drink to the bottom. Setting down the empty vessel, he looked at the woman with a look of wonder on his face.
“That was… incredible! I’ve never had anything like that before.”
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“No, you have not. It’s a one-of-a-kind, something that I made just for you.”
“I’ve been so rude. I didn’t catch your name.”
“I go by many names. Can I join you? Just for a minute?”
He waved his hand at an open chair next to him. His entire mood had changed and now he felt like his old self, optimistic and carefree. She took the seat and turned it so that they were facing each other. Reaching out, she took his hand in her own.
“You find yourself at a crossroads these last few months. Not sure what the future holds for you and what your place is in this new world.”
“How can you know that?” he asked, genuinely astonished at her seeing through to his very soul. Unable to meet her gaze, he lowered his eyes, “We’ve only met… and yet you are pretty accurate in your judgment of me.”
“I’ve known you forever Nicholas. Since before you were born and I’ll be with you when you eventually die. I am as responsible for your creation as were your parents. They gave birth to you as I gave birth to this world you call Xoran.” The girl’s golden locks bounced as she cheerfully explained the nature of the universe. I don’t know if you are starting to see me for who I really am…”
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” he said, still cheerful from the ambrosia.
“I think you do. Your people call me Magnus.”
“Magnus is the ‘father’ of the gods. You’re a woman.”
“I’m neither male nor female. I’m not human or Telnor, not Vinkul or Goran. I appear to you in this form because it is convenient and because she has a face that reminds you of your long-lost mother.”
“I don’t remember my mother, and I don’t believe you are ‘the creator’.” Nicholas was feeling obstinate, despite the warm and comforting feeling that he was still feeling from the drink.
“Look around you,” she said waving at the restaurant. Dozens of men and women were frozen in time like insects trapped in Amber. He hadn’t noticed how the soft murmur of conversations; the buzz of activity had gone silent so that they could share a moment. “Only your creator would have the power to stop time itself.”
He didn’t want to believe, but time had indeed been halted and there was no other way to explain something that incredible. He wondered if he should be more awestruck, sitting at a table with God.
“I assume that you want something. How can I serve you?”
“You don’t offer your service from a place of love, or fear, or even thankfulness. I ‘do’ want your service, but I won’t accept it as you offer it now.”
“I’m not good enough for you? That’s not surprising.”
“You are good enough. If you were not, we would not be having this conversation. I have frozen time and space so that we can speak privately, but still, I sense that you do not believe that I am your creator. You’ve been hurt by those who were supposed to take care of you, those who were charged with your welfare. All you remember of your father is the many beatings you received. Even as you try right now, you can’t picture his face in your mind. In your whole life, only Connor has been a good and true friend to you.”
Nicholas looked down, unable to meet Magnus’ eyes. Everything she said was true, and he was flooded with the memories of his rocky childhood. He was not one to cry, but the sadness he endured at that moment was unlike anything he’d felt in ages.
“I choose those who are worthy to be my sword and shield in this world. Kronos is currently without a champion. I want you to be that champion.” She placed her hand on Nicholas’ shoulder and his whole body relaxed as the tension left him. He didn’t see how it happened, but there was a sheathed sword on the table before them. He touched the leather-covered wood scabbard and felt energy flowing through its lacquered surface. He pulled the blade out slowly, taking it in, inch by inch. When it was fully exposed, he could see the lightest glow dancing on its surface. Ancient runes were etched deeply in the fuller, nearly from the point to the shoulder.
“This is Soulbane,” he said, still mesmerized by the blade.
“It is. Landis Stone was a good and faithful champion, and I owe him a debt that can never be fully paid. With this sword in his strong right arm, he saved all of Kronos on more than one occasion, and with help from the other champions, he saved all of Xoran. He paid a price that my champions have paid for thousands of years. He lives, and that pleases me very much, but he can no longer fulfill his duties, and a replacement must be found.” She took his chin in her hand, pulling his gaze to meet hers. “Accept this gift and become my servant.”
“Are the Lords of Shadow coming back? Is there a great battle looming where tens of thousands will die?”
“There is always some danger in the future, some new threat looming around the corner, but Kronos needs a champion and sometimes, it takes the unbreakable will of a single man to fight the day-to-day evil that infects my creation.” Nicholas was touching Soulbane’s hilt with one hand and stroking the blade with the other. “I need you and Connor to root out evil where you find it and punish those who would victimize the innocent. You seek a higher purpose to your existence… this is it, my child.”
“Why not Connor? He’s as good of a swordsman as I am, maybe better.” He thought about it for a minute, “Okay, not better, but on par with me. He is of high character, higher than me to be certain.”
“Kronos needs both of you, but there can be only one champion. I chose you because as much as Kronos needs a defender, you need to be needed. With every life you save, every wrong you right, you will know the peace that you seek.”
“I suppose that I am destined to become your champion. You know the future?”
“I know all things, past, present, and yes, future. You have a great part to play in the future history of Kronos and your name will be known in all of Xoran. Some day.”
“Do I have to give up drinking? Women?”
“I’ve been accused of being an absentee god before, but never a cruel one.”
“Where do I start?” Nicholas was resigned, and yet a weight seemed to be lifted from his shoulders.
“You are currently on a mission to curb the crime wave in Agron. You’ll find that the rot goes much deeper than what you will see on the surface. My people are sick, you must be part of the cure.” Standing, she kissed him on the forehead and walked away.