Brian Anderson - The Sword of Truth

Gewey went to sleep that night feeling determined. He would not fail, and he would not give up.

For the next few days, Gewey trained harder and harder. On three occasions he nearly threw Lee to the ground, once he managed to find Kaylia in the shadows, and he even learned to stay awake after drinking jawas tea-though just barely. Neither Lee nor Kaylia openly showed that they were pleased, but Gewey could tell they were, and it filled him with pride.

As they neared Kaltinor, Gewey noticed the landscape changing. The forest became thinner, and the road was crisscrossed with little streams spanned with wooden bridges, some in desperate need of repair. They passed farms more frequently, but many looked abandoned, their fields untended and grown over with weeds. The air was becoming colder each day, and the sun rarely peeked out from the overcast sky.

“What’s happened here?” Gewey asked Lee the day before they were to arrive in Kaltinor.

“The Dark Knight,” answered Lee. “As his power grows, you’ll see more of this. Even more reason for us to hurry. He’ll bring a hard winter, and bring it early.”

“I wish I knew where we’re going,” said Gewey.

“If I could tell you, I would,” Lee assured. “But there is still a danger that the Dark Knight could enter your mind, and we’ve had to stop your mental training in favor of more practical things. If we did both, you’d collapse from exhaustion and we need you strong.”

“This may not be a problem,” interjected Kaylia. “One of the benefits of jawas tea is that it strengthens an elf’s mental abilities.

Even the strongest mind could not enter uninvited. Though Gewey is not an elf there is a chance it may give him the same advantage.”

Lee raised an eyebrow. “Really? I had no idea jawas had that power.”

Kaylia smirked. “There’s much I know that you don’t, half-man,” she said.

“Perhaps,” said Lee. “Still, I will test if it’s effective.”

That night after Gewey finished his training with Kaylia, Lee beckoned him over. They repeated the exercise Lee had taught him, except this time Lee told Gewey not to try and keep the gate of his mind closed. Much to his amazement, Lee found himself completely unable to enter Gewey’s mind; the jawas tea seemed to work exactly as Kaylia had claimed it would.

“How long is it effective?” Lee asked Kaylia, who was standing nearby.

“One dose will last for at least two days,” Kaylia answered. “But more importantly, it builds in your system. Among my people there are those that can journey inside the mind of another. We use jawas to strengthen that ability.”

“But from what I’ve just seen, it would block minds-not make it easier to enter them,” said Lee.

Kaylia’s mouth twisted in disgust. “If your intention is to invade a mind you’re right, jawas prevents this from happening. But we do not enter uninvited as you might. With jawas, we can touch the thoughts of another with greater ease and also at greater distance.”

“That could prove quite useful,” said Lee, stroking his chin. “How much do you have?”

“Enough to last many weeks,” she answered. “At least six, I should think.”

“Is it hard to find?”

“Not in this area,” Kaylia replied. “I shall gather more for the journey while I wait for you to leave the city.”

“You’ll be coming with us into Kaltinor,” Lee said flatly. “It’s very important we gather information before we continue further west. The Dark Knight’s power grows, and we need to know what lies ahead. This may take a few days, and I might need you with me.”

Kaylia looked concerned. “And what if I’m discovered? That could prove to be a problem.”

“You won’t be discovered,” said Lee. “I have friends in Kaltinor that can hide you if need be, but I don’t think it will come to that. We’ll be staying in the Temple of Ayliazarah, so you can stay silent and hooded the entire time-like a good little pilgrim.”

It was obvious Lee was trying to get under Kaylia’s skin. The two were constantly throwing thinly veiled insults at one another. This time, Lee had the advantage. Kaylia couldn’t hide the fact that the idea of staying in a temple of one of the gods made her uncomfortable.

“I will bow and stay silent,” she seethed, “but if you think I will pretend to worship…”

Lee doubled over with laughter, further fueling Kaylia’s anger.

“Calm yourself, elf,” he said, grinning widely. “Pilgrims do not usually pray until they reach their destination.”

This did little to calm Kaylia down. With her teeth clenched and back straight, she turned and strode off into the night. When she returned, she moved her blanket far away from the others.

The next day, Gewey noticed more travelers along the road.

Kaylia took special care to remain unseen, despite the fact that her hood completely covered her features. As they rode on past midday, the sheer volume of traffic told Gewey that the city was near.

The farms they passed were no longer abandoned, though the fields were empty from the harvest. Along the way, they were stopped by a man driving a wagon loaded with bricks and masonry tools. Thinking them pilgrims from the east, he asked for news. Lee told him that times were dark and getting darker; the man replied that it was the same here, and moved on unhappily. This darkened Lee’s mood, and he hardly spoke for hours.

“I guess our ruse will be put to the test,” Millet said as the sun began to go down.

Gewey leaned forward and saw an encampment ahead. “Who are they?”

“That, my boy, is a group of real monks,” Lee answered. “I can see ten of them from here.”

“Do we have to stop?” Gewey asked, nervously.

“If we don’t, they’ll wonder why,” Lee responded. “Besides, if we can’t fool them, there’s no way we’ll fool the temple.”

Lee pulled off the road to the edge of the encampment. A tall, hooded monk walked up to the wagon next to Millet.

“Welcome brothers…and sister,” he said, noticing Kaylia’s hooded figure in the back. Even through the robes it was impossible to hide her feminine shape. “I’m Brother Salvo. Please take your ease with us. We have plenty to share.”

“Thank you, Brother,” said Millet, taking the lead. “We will be pleased and grateful to share your fire. I’m Brother Milton, this is Brother Leston,” he said, pointing at Lee. “And in the wagon are Brother Gewton and Sister Kaymaya.”

Millet stepped from the wagon and stood in front of the man.

After exchanging a few words, Millet told the rest to climb down and see to the horses and gear. Lee jumped down while Kaylia and Gewey climbed from the back. Gewey was confused by the sudden role reversal, but Lee acted as if following Millet’s orders was second nature.

The encampment was a beehive of activity as the monks and pilgrims prepared supper. No one spoke to them at first, which pleased Gewey. Kaylia was doing everything she could not to get too close to anyone, but eventually Lee leaned over and whispered in her ear. Gewey saw her nod, then walk over and offer assistance to several monks who were preparing bedding for the group.

“This is not a time to avoid contact,” Lee whispered to Gewey as he passed. “That would be noticed.”

Gewey wondered how Kaylia would avoid giving herself away, but no one gave her a second look. Luckily, she was not the only female pilgrim in camp, and Gewey observed that the other women hardly ever removed their hoods or spoke. It seemed as though their ruse was intact, at least for now. By nightfall, several other groups had arrived at Brother Salvo’s encampment; by the time dinner was served, their number reached about thirty. Millet and the others gathered near the wagon to eat and talk privately.