“It was a sign of the Dark Knight’s power growing,” Lee continued. “I don’t know much about him, unfortunately, but I know that he’s stolen the Sword of Truth. With it, he’s locked the door to heaven; and as he masters the use of his power, his corrupting influence changes the world.”
“The Sword of Truth?” said Gewey. “I’ve never heard of it.”
“I’m not surprised,” Lee replied. “Knowledge of the sword has been a closely guarded secret for thousands of years. Only a few people—members of certain temples, and perhaps a handful of scholars—know of its existence. I only stumbled upon it by accident, studying from a collection of rare books that Lord Dauvis had left me. Apparently, the sword was forged at the time of creation. It was meant to be a key to the door between heaven and earth. Why the gods would make such a thing, I don’t know. But whoever possesses it acquires great and terrible power—a power not meant for mortal men.”
“How did he get it?” asked Gewey. “You would think a thing like that would be protected.”
“How he got the sword isn’t as important as what he plans to do with it. I believe he’s locked the door to heaven so that he can find a way to rule as a god. With the door locked, the gods are powerless to stop him. If he succeeds, all of creation will be his to control.”
“None of this answers how I got here,” Gewey noted. “If I’m a god, why am I not locked away with the others?”
“Quite right,” Lee acknowledged. “It’s a question I’ve spent many years trying to answer. As near as I can tell, you were brought to the earth and given human form before the door to heaven was sealed. Maybe the gods saw this coming, maybe not. Regardless of how it happened, the fact is that you are here, and you’re the only one who can defeat the Dark Knight and reopen the door.”
“I still don’t understand,” said Gewey. “If I’m a god, then why do I seem so human?”
“Again, I’m not certain. But I think that when you were trapped on earth, it changed you, making you mortal. The gods can take human form. Perhaps when the door to heaven closed, you were locked in this form. You still have your powers, but it seems you’re also mortal.”
“My powers?” Gewey said, sounding doubtful. “I know I’m pretty strong, but other than that, I’m just like everyone else.”
“There’s where you’re wrong,” Lee retorted. “You have abilities that you have yet to discover. Some I know of, and can teach you; others, I can only guess at. Many things you will only discover yourself, through trial and error. You are the only one of your kind, so no one really knows the full potential of your abilities. The good news is that the Dark Knight doesn’t know either.”
“What is he?” asked Gewey. “Is he a god?”
“No,” answered Lee. “He’s a man, or at least he was. All I know is that he was part of an order, charged with protecting the door to heaven. He betrayed them and took the Sword. The order was destroyed, and its temples abandoned.”
“How did he find me in my dreams?” asked Gewey. “And why now? Why not last year, or the year before?”
“You had just found out that you weren’t who you thought you were,” said Lee. “Reading your father’s letter must have awakened something inside you that the Dark Knight could detect. I was lucky to have sensed him before he tricked you into revealing your exact location.”
“So that was you!” Gewey exclaimed. “You were the other voice.”
Lee nodded. “Yes, that was me. I’ve felt his presence once before, and I was lucky to escape. He knows who I am, but I have managed to conceal my whereabouts. I knew that if he found you, he would move against you. The second his mind touched yours, he knew both what you are, and the threat that you pose. Unfortunately for us, he also knows that you don’t yet understand your powers, and he’ll try to kill you before you can discover them. That’s why we must hide for the time being, at least until you’re ready to face him. His power grows stronger each day. Poor Thad Marshall’s wife is all the proof I need of that.”
“You saw her?” Gewey asked.
“Yes,” Lee answered. “It was I who…disposed of her. Not a pleasant task, I might add. Melton Fathing would have discovered me, if he hadn’t been busy gossiping about Thad’s outburst. I was lucky to have seen her in time. I can’t imagine how the people of Sharpstone would react to the living dead.”
“So she was alive?” asked Gewey. “How can that be?”
Lee shook his head. “I don’t know if alive is how I’d describe her. It was as if her spirit had been forced back into her body. I don’t think she knew where she was, or why. What the Dark Knight has done to cause this is a mystery, but there’s no doubt that it was him.”
Gewey rubbed his temples in disbelief. “What did you do with her?”
Lee shot Gewey a look that said not to ask that question again.
“Say I buy all this,” said Gewey. “What do we do now? Where do we go?”
“For now our destination must be a secret,” Lee responded. “Even from you. I can protect your mind when you sleep, but if we’re separated and he finds you while you dream, he could force you to give yourself away. I was only barely able to intervene the last time. But the closer we are to each other, the more I can help. In the meantime, I’ll start training you to shield your mind.”
It was fully dark by then, and the stars were shining bright in the heavens as they neared the river. Two lights from the ferry could be seen in the distance. Gewey knew about the crossing, but he’d never used it before, and being on the water at night unnerved him.
“Wait here,” said Lee. “I’ll secure the ferry for us.”
Half an hour passed and Gewey began to get nervous. Finally, Lee returned with a scowl on his face.
“Let’s go,” Lee growled. “He’s agreed to take us across. And of course he’s charging double to do it at night. The oarsmen want an extra copper each.”
“Can’t say I blame them,” said Gewey.
Lee shot Gewey an angry look. “Just be quiet and let me do all the talking,” he said. “Last thing I need is you saying something stupid and giving us away.”
Gewey wanted to respond, but held his tongue. He followed Lee to the waiting ferry, which was nothing more than a large wooden raft. The ferryman was making ready to cast off, grumbling and cursing about being wakened from his bed, and muttering something about ‘good for nothing foreigners.’
“Well, come on you two,” said the ferryman. “The sooner we get across, the sooner I can get back to bed. Why you can’t wait ‘til mornin’, I don’t know.”
Gewey boarded as Lee secured the horses and helped the ferryman untie the raft. The crossing made Gewey nauseous, and he was relieved when they reached the opposite bank.
After they disembarked and settled their fee, Lee led them south along the western bank of the river for the next few hours, until they came to Far Run Road.
“We’ll take the road for a while,” Lee explained. “When it gets close to dawn, we’ll find a spot to camp. The village of Terriston is about two night’s ride, so we can travel the road until then.”
“Great,” Gewey said, clearly relieved. “By then, I’ll be looking forward to a soft bed.”
Lee laughed. “We won’t be visiting; we’ll be going around. We’re still too close to home to risk being seen.”
Gewey’s heart sank. He hated sleeping outdoors, and he realized the days of comfortable beds and hot meals were gone…at least for a while.
“You’re going to have to toughen up, boy,” Lee scolded. “Believe me, a few nights sleeping under the stars is nothing compared to what is in store for us.”
“Yeah,” Gewey replied, smirking. “But we sleep under the sun, don’t we?”
“Don’t get smart with me,” said Lee. “The last thing I need is for you to start acting your age.”
Gewey suddenly filled with rage. He hated being reminded of just how young he really was. It wasn’t his fault he looked like a grown man. He never wanted to be
robbed of a childhood. He never wanted to be forced to live the life of someone ten years older. He certainly never asked to be the savior of the world, or to be hunted down by an evil, sword-stealing knight.
Lee could seemingly feel Gewey’s mood change, even in the dark. “Calm yourself. You need to learn to control your anger.”
Gewey took a deep breath and let his anger subside. The rest of the night they traveled in silence, leaving the road before sunrise to make camp. Lee unpacked some bread and dried meat and gave some to Gewey who ate it gratefully; they had only stopped a few times that night, and they hadn’t eaten. Belly full, Gewey lay on his blanket and enjoyed the remainder of the cool night.
“Tell me about my father,” Gewey said, finally.
Lee was laying a few feet away. “I’m not sure what to tell you. I didn’t know him that well. He was brave and honorable, that’s for sure. After I moved to Sharpstone, I tried to keep my distance. I didn’t want to interfere with him raising you.”
“You traveled together for a year,” Gewey pointed out. “You must have gotten to know him a bit in that time.”
Lee rolled over and faced Gewey. “He was my bodyguard, and our interactions were based on that relationship. Besides, I was studying swordsmanship and battle strategy for most of that time. It left little room for bonding.”
“You sent me to be raised by him,” challenged Gewey. “And you’re telling me that you didn’t know him? I don’t believe you.” Gewey rolled over, sulking.
Lee sighed. “I had good reasons to send you to Harman. He saved my life without even knowing me, and in the year he was with me, I never heard a dishonest word pass his lips.”
Gewey closed his eyes and tried to picture his father’s face. “That can’t be the only reason.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Lee admitted. “One of the things you’ll discover is that if you try hard enough, you can look into people’s hearts and see them for who they really are. I looked into Harman’s heart, and knew the man he was. Of all the people I’ve known, his heart was the most pure. When you were first brought to me, I knew there was only one man I could trust to protect you.”
This made Gewey smile. He suddenly felt whole again as he let the love for his father rush over him, and sleep began to take him.
The next evening passed uneventfully. Gewey’s heart felt light as Lee told him stories of his travels to pass the time. He asked Lee to retell the story of how he met his father, and Lee was happy to oblige, this time adding a few extra details about Harman’s heroism.
“We need to train you to close your mind,” said Lee, after they had made camp. “This won’t be easy, but you’ll have to trust me.” Lee motioned for Gewey to sit across for him.
Lee reached over and grabbed Gewey’s hands. Gewey felt the same shock of recognition the moment his hand touched Lee’s, but this time it was more intense. He felt the presence of Lee’s mind pressing in on his.
“Keep me out,” Lee instructed.
“How?” asked Gewey. Beads of sweat were forming on his forehead.
“Picture your mind as a gate that you have to keep closed,” he replied. “Keep me out.”
Gewey tried, but Lee’s will was too strong. Slowly, Lee forced his way into Gewey’s mind until he had complete control.
“Stop!” Gewey screamed.
Lee released his hold. “You’ll have to do better than that, boy. That’s just a taste of what’s to come.”
Gewey collapsed on his back, breathing heavily, his head pounding.
Lee helped him to his feet. “Steady,” he said. “It’s a shock when someone seizes your mind, but you must learn to keep me out.”
“I can’t,” Gewey gasped. “You’re too strong.”
Lee suddenly slapped Gewey’s face. “Never say ‘I can’t’ to me again. You can, and you will. Dig deep. Find the strength. You’re a god, so act like it.”
Gewey’s ears were ringing. “What was that for?” he yelled. Rage filled his chest.
“That was for weakness,” Lee replied as he sat back down. “Come, try again.”
Gewey fought the urge to strike back. He sat down and readied himself for another assault. It was midday before Lee allowed him to sleep. By then, Gewey was nearly blind from exhaustion, and was asleep almost before he rested his head.
They repeated the lesson the next night, but this time Gewey was able to keep Lee out a bit longer. Lee, however, showed no sign of being pleased at Gewey’s progress. He shouted and cursed each time Gewey failed. A few times, they nearly came to blows, but Gewey managed to check his anger and frustration.
The third night they made their way around the village of Terriston, being careful to avoid encountering anyone along the way. Being inconspicuous, Gewey found, meant a day without Lee’s harsh training; their lessons could get quite loud at times, and they couldn’t risk attracting attention.
It was well into the fourth night before they were back on the road again. Gewey wasn’t looking forward to camp and the subsequent lesson, but he had become determined to beat Lee. The previous night had been uneventful, but Lee still seemed on edge. He and Gewey had hardly spoken, and when they did, their interactions were short and unpleasant.
When they made camp, Lee only unpacked their blankets and a bit of bread and dried meat. That night’s lesson was the harshest yet. Gewey felt as if his mind would break, but in one instance he almost managed to keep Lee out. He laid down to sleep when it was over, but noticed Lee sitting up staring into the brush.
“What’s wrong?” asked Gewey. “You seem upset.”
“I’m not sure,” Lee replied. “I think we’re being followed.”
“Followed?” said Gewey, startled. “By who?”
Lee shook his head. “I don’t know, but I think we’ll stay off the road for a few days.”
Gewey nodded. The idea of being followed disturbed him; that Lee seemed worried disturbed him even more. Sleep came slowly, and he did not rest well. The next evening, they packed up and headed deeper into the woods.
The Forest of Simon Bal was one of the largest in the world, and it spanned hundreds of miles in every direction. There were no trails, and it didn’t take long for Gewey to miss the comfort of the road. Lee changed directions so often that Gewey no longer knew where he was.
It was an hour before sunrise when Gewey heard it. It was the sound of a horse walking over uneven terrain. Lee drew his sword and motioned for Gewey to do the same. They waited for a time, trying not to make a sound. After a few minutes, the sound of the hoof beats faded.
“Who was that?” whispered Gewey.
“I don’t know,” said Lee. “But one thing’s for sure: it’s no accident that whoever it was is traveling the same way we are. I left a trail so confusing that only an experienced woodsman could follow it. We’ll stop here for now. Hopefully, it will seem like our trail has disappeared and our pursuer will be thrown off.”
Finding a nearby hill to wait out the coming day, they didn't bother to unpack the horses. Both of them kept their swords close.
Chapter 5
They barely slept the next day, and hardly spoke a word to each other. Lee waited until it was fully dark before they continued. They zigzagged through the forest for hours, stopping from time to time to listen for signs of pursuit; much to Gewey’s relief, there were none. After a time, the flat ground transitioned into steep wooded hillsides, which made changing direction increasingly difficult.
“You do know where we are, don’t you?” Gewey asked, breaking the silence.
Lee scowled. “Would you rather guide us?” he replied irritably.
Gewey shook his head and kept quiet.
It was about two hours before sunrise when Lee brought them to a sudden halt and leapt from the saddle, drawing his sword. He motioned for Gewey to stay still, and disappeared into the night. Gewey’s heart was pounding and he drew his own sword, peering into the darkness. Ten minutes later, Lee reappeared.
“What’s going on?�
� asked Gewey.
“There’s an encampment just ahead,” Lee whispered. “Looks like bandits.”
“Bandits?” said Gewey. “What are they doing?”
Lee mounted his horse and urged them forward. “Not noticing us, apparently. It looks as if they’ve found some sport, so I doubt they’ll see us pass.”
“What kind of sport?” Gewey inquired.
“They’ve captured an elf,” Lee responded. “How that band of morons managed it, I don’t know, but I imagine they’ll be busy with her for a while.”
Gewey halted. “It’s a woman? What will they do to her?”
Lee turned. “It’s not a woman; it’s an elf. And you don’t want to know what they’re going to do.”
“You don’t mean to let them kill her, do you?” Gewey asked, appalled.
Lee reigned in his horse. “That’s exactly what I mean to do, boy. We don’t have time for heroics, and even if we did, she’s a bloody elf.”
Gewey got down from his horse. “I don’t care what she is,” he said determinedly. “I’m going to save her. You can help me, or you can sit here and do nothing. I don’t care either way.” Gewey began to creep off into the darkness to look for the bandits’ camp.
“Fool,” Lee grumbled. He dismounted and caught up to Gewey.
“You’re not ready for this, boy.” Lee grabbed his shoulder and pulled Gewey behind him. “Just stay in the brush and let me take care of it.”
Gewey followed behind Lee as quietly as he could. They had only walked a few yards when they heard the yells and curses of the bandit camp. The glow of the bandits’ fire became brighter as they approached. Gewey could smell the stench of unwashed bodies, mingling with scorched, burnt meat. When they got close enough, Gewey could make out six bandits, each with a long knife at their side. A few bedrolls were cast carelessly about, and a single bandit guarded six horses tied off several yards from the fire. The rest were gathered around what appeared to be a young woman. She was on her knees, gagged and bound, with her wrists tied behind her back. A man that seemed to be their leader was squatting in front of her, while the rest passed a large jug of wine around, laughing hideously.
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