Brian Anderson - The Sword of Truth

Kaylia’s face shifted from amusement to rage as she realized Lee was serious. “You speak the truth.” Her hand touched her sword, but she did not grab it. “I must ponder this. Go back to camp. If you see me in the morning, I expect you to tell me all that you know.”

“And what if we don’t see you?” Gewey asked. “I can’t help what I am, and I didn’t ask for it. I would never do anything to

harm you, or your people.”

Kaylia said nothing.

“Come,” Lee said, lifting Gewey to his feet. “Leave her be.” Lee guided them back to the camp where Millet sat by the fire waiting.

“How did it go?” asked Millet.

“Not as bad as it could have,” Lee answered. “We’ll know by morning.”

“Things will work out,” said Millet. “Don’t worry.”

“Lee-” Gewey started, but Lee immediately cut him off.

“Go to sleep,” he advised. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Gewey lay down, but was unable to stay asleep for more than a few minutes at a time. He kept hearing Kaylia’s story in his head, and seeing the rage on her face when she found out what he was.

‘How could the Gods do this to her people?’ he thought. ‘I’ve got to find a way to make it right.’

Gewey was awake to see the dawn. Lee and Millet were still asleep. He hoped to see Kaylia, but she had not returned. He hated himself for telling her. He hated himself for what his kind had done.

Most of all, he hated the Gods for creating this mess in the first place.

“I’ll hear your tale, young one.” It was Kaylia. She was standing by the wagon, her eyes fixed on Gewey.

Gewey got up and began to walk toward her.

“Stay where you are. I said I would hear your tale, not suffer your company.” She paused. “At least, not yet.”

Gewey looked at the others still sleeping soundly. If Kaylia decided to attack, there would be nothing to stop her.

Kaylia sensed his fear and said, “I have no intention of harming you. I gave you my word, and I’ll keep it. But know this. If my people find out about your existence, they will hunt you down until the end of creation. Whether or not I will tell them depends on you.”

Gewey nodded slowly and began telling his story, leaving out no detail. He told her about how he grew up, about his father, about how he found out about his true nature and, of course, about the Dark Knight. When he finished, Kaylia looked at him thoughtfully and walked over.

“I find no guilt in you. I will help you complete your task. I swear to this.”

“Thank you,” said Gewey, clearly relieved. “But why? Won’t your people kill you if they find out?”

Kaylia smiled. “They’re going to kill me anyway,” she said. “And I can only die once. Besides, from what you have told me, it is unlikely I will live to face their judgment.”

Gewey bowed his head and sighed with relief. He heard Millet stir.

Millet rose and turned toward Gewey, stretching the stiffness from his joints. “Up with the dawn, I see.” He noticed Kaylia standing there and smiled. “I see you’ve decided to join us. Wonderful,” he beamed. “Absolutely wonderful.”

Lee was the last to rouse. He pretended not to notice Kaylia’s return, but Gewey suspected he had been awake to hear their whole conversation. After eating, they packed up and continued on their way to Kaltinor.

Gewey returned to his seat in the back with Kaylia. He kept the conversation light, telling her about his youth and life in Sharpstone.

To his surprise, she seemed to take great interested his past, asking questions about the way he lived and the people he knew. Gewey had never thought of village life as anything other than dull and common, but Kaylia seemed to enjoy hearing about it.

“It must have been difficult to leave such a wonderful life behind,” said Kaylia.

“Actually, I’ve just learned to appreciate what I’ve lost,” Gewey admitted. “Still, I don’t see how my life would impress you .”

Kaylia leaned back and explained, “A simple existence is what elves long for, though it doesn’t surprise me that humans find such a life common and unfulfilling. But then, you aren’t human, are you? Perhaps there is hope that you can learn to appreciate simple things.”

“The simple things will have to wait,” interjected Lee from up front. “He needs to learn to tap into his power. From now on, midday meal will be preceded by lessons, as will supper. Your training has been delayed far too long, and we’ve got a lot of catching up to do now that you’re more or less healed.”

“I would be happy to assist,” Kaylia offered. “I may not be a half-man, but I am not without skills.”

“Your help will be welcome,” said Lee. “And you,” he said, turning to Gewey, “will do as I and Kaylia instruct. Do you understand?” Gewey nodded happily, beaming with anticipation.

“You may not be so excited when you find out what’s in store,” chuckled Lee.

Kaylia giggled almost girlishly, but with a sinister grin on her face.

“Elf training is hard, young one. Believe me when I tell you that if you were human, you would never survive it.”

“That settles it, then,” Lee said. “We start today.” Gewey could hardly contain himself. Finally, he would learn to fight. He had grown tired of feeling as if he was weak and helpless. If danger came, he needed to be able to fight, and he was determined to prove himself. Whatever the future held, he would be ready.

When they stopped for midday meal, Lee told Gewey to follow him into the woods. He was already out of the wagon when he remembered his sword and started back for it.

“You have your sword ready when I’m ready, or not at all,” yelled Lee and marched into the woods.

Gewey obeyed and followed Lee, unarmed.

They soon found a clearing and Lee came to a halt. “Attack me,” he said.

Gewey stared but did nothing.

In a flash Lee stepped forward, moving his leg behind Gewey’s and bringing his arm hard across the boy’s chest, sending him to the ground. “I said attack me,” he yelled again. “Or I swear you’ll wish you were never born.”

Gewey jumped up angrily and ran straight at Lee. With uncanny speed, Lee stepped aside, grabbed Gewey’s shoulder, and jerked the boy’s head and torso backwards. Gewey’s feet flew into the air, and he landed in the grass with a soft thud.

Lee looked down at Gewey and shook his head. “Pathetic,” he growled. “You will not touch a sword until you throw me to the ground at least once.” He took several strides, then turned to face his young pupil. “Again.”

Gewey was still dazed, but he got to his feet. Again and again he came at Lee, and again and again he was sent sprawling. This went on for the better part of an hour, until Lee motioned for Gewey to halt.

“I hope you show Kaylia more than you’ve shown me,” Lee muttered.

When they returned to the wagon, Millet and Kaylia had already eaten and were waiting nearby. Millet had two plates of dried meat and a large piece of flatbread set aside for them.

“We’ll eat as we travel,” said Lee, taking the food from Millet.

Millet nodded curtly, handed Gewey his food, and climbed into the wagon. Gewey could feel the soreness sinking in from the dozens of falls he had taken at the hands of Lee, but he didn’t complain. He got in the wagon and went over in his mind each time Lee had thrown him, trying to work out his mistakes.

Kaylia smiled slightly and said, “That’s good. Think about what you did wrong. See it in your mind-each motion, every shift on your feet. Remember the feeling in your muscles. Feel the sensation when you lost your balance. What brought you to that point? When did you lose control? Most importantly, how could you have stopped it?”