Kargaroth
Page 68
He shuffled lightly on his feet and crossed his arms behind his back. “I come from Leprue’s chamber. He just passed away.”
“I am sorry to hear.”
Atheme gave an optimistic shrug. “We knew it was only a matter of time. The Sword of Serral’s magic has been fading on him for a long while now, and he was growing weaker every morn. Tomorrow night will be the first Grand Council meeting since he got sick. Leprue never missed one in his life. He served the Council until his final moment. We should all be lucky to offer so much in a single lifetime.”
Atheme had also changed his attire. Relm had finally talked him out of his old red uniform, and he had traded up for a royal blue outfit befitting the Lord Councilor. He had even been given a new ceremonious sare, made of silver with blades of gilded gold, and a new sword hung at his side next to his old Morabet.
“I see he gave you the Sword of Serral,” Abaddon remarked.
“Aye. He said that since Kargaroth was yours now, the Serral should become the new honorary weapon of the Lord Councilor. I don’t think I’ll carry it around as much as he did, but I’ll certainly keep it and honor his tradition.” The two were silent for a few minutes, just staring into the forest and enjoying a warm summer breeze. Atheme glanced over and stared at Kargaroth. The beautiful sword’s hilt, cross-guard, and decorative black spikes had all been wrapped in old dirty bandages, a few strands of which dropped limply down the length of the blade. Atheme was the only person who knew the reason behind Kargaroth being bound so. He never forgot the words Abaddon had said as he had wrapped it long ago.
When I could not use my arm, I bound it in bandages. When the bandages were removed, it was time to use my arm once more. I have decided to use this sword no more, but fight only with my fists, with my body, using the techniques I learned from Tenkahn’s people. Perhaps a day will come when I will again need the sword again. If that proves to be the case, then I will remove the bandages and once more become The Destroyer. Until that day, I shall remain only as I am now. I will fight only as Abaddon.
“Ab, what’s on your mind? It’s not like you to come out to the front of the city like this.”
“There is a road laid out before me. It runs from my feet into territories that I cannot see, and areas I do not know. I can stand where I am, where I’m safe, or I can step forward and see where that road might go. I came here because I wanted to see it. I wanted to see the road, to feel my options. I wanted to be certain of my decision.”
Atheme gave a sad nod. “You’ve decided to leave Felthespar.”
“This city has been home to me for a long time now, and I have been happy here. But it is not where I belong. My talents are of a specific nature. There’s only so much I can do for any place, and Felthespar does not need my special skills anymore. Already the people begin to whisper horror stories to their children, telling them of the dreaded Daemon, the monster who threatened to destroy the city, and how the brave Atheme Tethen subdued and slew the beast.”
“They’re rumors, Ab. They can be easily dispelled. If they’re bothering you, I’ll make it my personal business to—”
“No. They do not bother me. It is not important to me, they are merely signs of changing times here. War is becoming a rumor used to frighten children. The people do not want to live in times of war and battles anymore. They do not want to live with me anymore.”
“Abaddon...”
“My departure from Felthespar is overdue. I remained because I did not wish to be the first to break the Grand Council. We were comrades, the seven of us. I would not break the circle. Now Leprue has passed and the circle is broken. It’s time for me to go.”
Atheme let his head droop in shame. “I just can’t live with the fact that you’re being driven from your home by the ungratefulness of our people. It’s disgraceful that you should not be shown proper respect after everything you have done for them! For all of us.”
The Champion smiled and patted his friend on the back. “I told you, Atheme, that is not important to me. There is something deeper. Four years ago, during our adventure on the continent of Arkalen, I was more powerful than I have ever been, and almost certainly more powerful than I ever will be. The monsters we fought on that continent were different from any I have found on Itrius. I long to go back there, to that untamed wilderness, and fight those powerful creatures once more. There’s an entire continent there and we don’t even know how large it is. There may be people that I could help, that I could save. It’s a place where I would once again have a purpose.”
“I understand. In truth, I miss our journeys myself. I would like to go with you and relive some of those times again.”
“This place is still your home. Your first love is here, and your second. You could leave neither Relm nor Felthespar.”
“You know me too well, old friend. I would like to go with you, but I never would. Not again. It is not for me.”
“Cildar and Myris, however, have decided to come with me.”
Atheme opened his eyes wide. “Oh? I find that surprising. What about Jessandra? Is something wrong between Cildar and her? Has he decided to leave her?”
“No, neither of them wish to leave Felthespar for good. We will probably go over and stay for a year, maybe a little more, and then we will return. I, to say my final goodbye to you and the city, Cildar and Myris to settle down and live the peaceful life. They desire one last journey before retiring.” There was another short pause. “I do need one more favor from you, I fear.”
“Whatever you need that is within my power, I will give.”
“I will need the Calvin, and I don’t know for how many years.”
He laughed softly. “That will take some work, since it’s the only ship Felthespar holds to its own name. But I can make it happen. When do you depart?”
“Actually,” he turned his face away, “Cildar and Myris are already waiting for me in Jegan. I’ve made the necessary preparations and told them we were borrowing the Calvin for official Knighthood business. I leave today. I leave now. I simply did not know how to say goodbye.”
Atheme paused for a few seconds before responding, “Between those who have been through things such as we have together, there are no appropriate goodbyes.”
For nearly an hour the two stood there, neither ready to leave his brother’s side. No more was said. Atheme’s words hung in the air—there were no appropriate goodbyes. Once the sun was settled well into the morning sky, a trader riding a cart pulled by two peists appeared on the road, heading their way. They waited as long as they could, until the peists were nearly on top of them, then separated silently. Atheme turned back into Felthespar, walking quickly into the depths of the city, heading home to find his wife and tell her the news of the already eventful morning. Abaddon stepped into the Ducall, a light of anticipation glinting in his eyes as he placed his feet on the road they so desperately yearned to walk.
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