Robert Keller - The Heart of Shadows

"I will," said Lannon, only wanting the meeting to end. He could not relate to the restless dead, and he found the conversation deeply disturbing. Everything about Thrake was bleak, cold, and strange.

But Thrake smiled. "Do not despair, Lannon Sunshield." He held up his lantern. "I have a light to guide me through the fog. My tiny blue light that is deeper than the Deep Shadow itself. It is the light of truth."

"I'm glad to hear that," Lannon mumbled, gazing at the cold lantern and wondering what truth its glow revealed to Thrake. To Lannon, it was a light that glittered like frost and offered no comfort. "So when you free yourself, where will you go? Will you find peace and rest?"

"I will find spring," said Thrake, still smiling. "The snows will melt at last and the ice will fall from the boughs. The rivers will thaw and sparkle in the sun. I will come to understand that the endless winter does in fact have an end, and warmer weather lies beyond."

"I don't understand," said Lannon, sighing. "About the winter, I mean. It is springtime right now, and the snows will soon melt away."

"Your world is no longer my home," said Thrake, "and you are not meant to understand what I experience. Every path is different. This is my journey alone, old friend. Yet perhaps we may meet again…at the journey's end. I'm sorry I tried to kill you, Lannon. The Deep Shadow hates you above all others, and thus I too harbored vicious hated for you. But I don't hate you anymore, and I'm glad you live on. For now, I must say farewell and begin my long walk."

"I hope we do meet again," said Lannon, relief flooding through him as he realized Thrake's tormented shade would not be visiting him again. This encounter had brought a sort of closure to Lannon, and he was grateful for that. "And I forgive you for attacking me. I won't forget you. You were a great Knight and a great mentor to Jerret. Goodbye, Master Thrake."

Thrake turned away and walked into the grove of pines, leaving no footprints in the snow. He soon vanished from sight. A cold wind blew through the area, and ice rattled on the boughs. Lannon shivered beneath his fur cloak and felt like he was in a dream, perhaps under an illusion that the Eye of Divinity could not see through. He wondered if he'd really even spoken to Thrake or if it had been a strange game played by the Deep Shadow-perhaps for its amusement. He gazed at the moon for answers, for he knew from Knightly teachings that looking at the moon would reveal whether or not one was under a dream spell. He found he was wide awake.

Lannon stood before Taris' tent, wondering if the Tower Master was asleep. It was around midnight. The guards were still watching him, but they didn't question his actions. However, one of them had gone and scouted around where Lannon had been talking to Thrake's shade. The Knights were well aware that the Eye of Divinity was something they could never understand and that Lannon was assigned an investigative role at Dremlock. They were also aware of Lannon's importance and rank as a member of the Divine Shield.

"Taris is awake, Lannon," of the guards said. "He is expecting you."

Lannon stepped into the tent, to find Taris sitting cross-legged in the lantern light with his hands folded in his lap as if in prayer. The scent of a strange incense filled the tent's interior. Taris' cloak hood was drawn back, his pointed ears and scarred face revealed. The tent's interior was warm thanks to Taris' burning dagger, which was laying on a metal chest. Lannon marveled at Taris' ability to keep the dagger burning without touching it, a feat Lannon had never seen before.

"Sit down, Lannon," said Taris. He poured water from a steaming teakettle into a cup. "Would you care for some tea?"

Lannon sat down across from him. "Yes, thanks."

Taris poured Lannon a cup of tea, and the Squire took a sip. It tasted like blackberries and Lannon found it delicious.

"What business brings you here beneath the moon?" Taris asked.

Lannon described his encounter with Thrake's shade. The incident was still vivid in Lannon's mind and he was able to reveal it in great detail. It seemed that whenever Lannon used the Eye of Divinity to view something, the memories of it were etched deeply into his brain right down to the smallest details.

Taris took another sip of tea and sat in thoughtful silence. At last he said, "I believe Thrake's spirit spoke true. I believe he was attempting to redeem himself by warning us about the Dragon bones, and this incident will receive mention in Dremlock's official records."

"But what happens now?" asked Lannon.

"I will send two messengers to Dremlock," said Taris. "One of my Knights and an Elder Hawk." He lowered his voice. "They will carry instructions to Furlus to bury the bones in a secret location that shall never be revealed. The danger of keeping them for study is too great. It has already cost us Thrake Wolfaxe, one of our greatest warriors, and it nearly cost us the White Flamestone and the Eye of Divinity, which would have been devastating to our kingdom. We can't afford to have any more of these Dragon Knights roaming around."

Lannon nodded. "But what about Shennen?"

Taris shrugged. "I will inform Shennen of my decision after the messengers have already departed. Meanwhile, you will keep quiet about this whole affair. Shennen is too obsessed with those bones, and I fear he will share Thrake's fate. He has become pale and angry. He no longer looks or acts like a Birlote. Even though his heart remains uncorrupted, the bones have clearly affected him. I have no idea how he will react to my decision, but better he finds out later-after the Dragon's remains are gone from sight and mind forever."

"But what if Shennen blames me?" asked Lannon.

"He won't," said Taris. "You simply informed me of Thrake's warning. Shennen will blame me for giving the order to bury the bones."

"What about Thrake's words concerning the fall of Dremlock?" said Lannon. "I once heard Trenton speak similar words when he was dazed."

"It may be a sign that Dremlock is in grave danger," said Taris, "but nothing is certain. Ghosts sometimes possess knowledge beyond that of the living. And sometimes bits and pieces of the future are revealed to Knights through dreams that are possibly sent by the Divine Essence. But they are only observations of what might come to pass. I do know that the war against the Deep Shadow has escalated in the past decade and our foes have grown stronger."

"But we slew the Dragon," said Lannon, "and captured Dorok's Hand. Also, Tenneth Bard is dead and Vorden is gone from our world."

Taris nodded. "Great accomplishments, certainly, but no guarantee of victory in this war. Even the acquiring of the White Flamestone and the Eye of Divinity are not guarantees. We sought you out of desperation, Lannon-in spite of knowing what had become of the Dark Watchmen. We welcomed you into the kingdom, even though some on the High Council feared what you could become if the Deep Shadow found its way into your heart. And the fact that the Divine Essence gave a piece of itself to foolish mortals like us is a sign of our god's fear for the future."

Lannon was puzzled. "Shennen told me I need to train as the Dark Watchmen once did-that I will likely end up dead if I don't. But shouldn't I avoid anything related to the Dark Watchmen?"

"Shennen has no patience these days," said Taris, his face darkening. "He tries to push things ahead too quickly. He has grown cynical toward the fate of our kingdom. But he is correct in his belief that one who uses the Eye of Divinity properly will learn to focus it as the Dark Watchmen once did. The Eye is not simply about seeing deeper truths or moving objects. It is a tool designed to enhance the skills of a Blue Knight. However, learning to control your power comes through experience, and you must be allowed to grow at your own pace and not be forced into anything too soon. Shennen doesn't agree with me on that and seeks to bypass my authority."