Brian Anderson - The Sword of Truth

“A man gave me this a moment ago, with instruction to give it to you,” Harlondo said, handing Gewey an envelope. “Who knows you’re here?”

Gewey felt a chill. “No one,” he said as he opened it and removed a small note from within.

‘I have your elf woman. Meet me one mile south of the city wall.

There is a path. Follow it until you see a clearing. I will be waiting.

Come alone or the last thing she will feel is my knife sliding across her throat.’

“Kaylia!” Gewey gasped.

“I saw her leave with Lady Fritzina a little while ago. She seemed well at the time, though not very happy.”

“Did you see what direction they went?” Gewey cried, grabbing him roughly by the shoulders.

“I’m sorry. I only saw that they walked out together.”

Gewey ran to the door, sending unwary patrons flying as he passed. The street was busy as Gewey searched the crowd, hoping to see Kaylia.

“What has happened?” It was Drantolis’ voice, coming from behind. He stood with his two companions, long knifes drawn. ”Where’s Kaylia?”

Gewey knew he had to think fast. The note said to come alone, and he wouldn’t risk the elves insisting on coming with him. “She left with Lady Zina,” he said, trying to sound calm. “I think I upset her earlier.” Drantolis looked hard at Gewey, and then sheathed his blade.

“Find her, then. There is nothing worse than an angry elven woman.” The others laughed heartily and turned back to the tavern.

Gewey sighed with relief. He checked his sword and bolted toward the city gate.

Lee and Dina’s coach had just entered city square, when Dina called for the driver to stop.

“Wait here,” she told Lee. “One of my people is near.”

“How can you tell?”

“When we bond to the medallion, it gives us the ability to sense others of the order when they’re close by. So long as they’re also wearing their medallion,” she answered. “Give me a few minutes.”

Lee waited, watching the people of Althetas through the window.

It pleased him to see that the darkness had not spread so far as to kill the spirit of such a great a city. He thought of his childhood, when his father had brought him here for the first time. His home village was only a five-day ride to the south. Once a year, his father made the journey to Althetas to attend the annual meeting of the fisherman’s guild. It was the month before he died that he took Lee along. His mother had said she wasn’t up to the trip, and at first he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to go, but his father looked at him and said, “A promise is a promise. Just you be sure to do as you’re told.” Lee could remember how excited he had been-just him and his dad for the first time.

His father had taken him on a walking tour of the city, even talking their way into one of the tall buildings, so that they could look out on the city from the balcony. He’d asked his father if they could come live in the city. His father had simply smiled and mussed his hair. It was the best time Lee could remember.

Lee’s musings were interrupted as the door to the coach opened, and Dina got in, followed by a gray-haired man in a plain tan shirt and trousers.

“This is Ertik,” Dina said in introduction. “One of my Order. He needs to speak with you.”

Lee held out his hand, but Ertik simply scowled and sniffed.

“We know who you are, Starfinder,” he said briskly. “And your presence is unwanted.”

“That may be,” Lee replied, withdrawing his hand. “But it’s necessary. The Dark One moves, and I have with me the only hope for victory.”

“You think that being the child of Saraf will save us?” he scoffed.

Lee was taken aback.

“Yes,” Ertik laughed. “We know all about you. We’ve followed your progress for years.”

“Then why haven’t you contacted me?” Lee asked with irritation. “Angraal is on the move. I would think you would gather allies where you can.”

“I suppose you think that being half-god would be a boon to us, but you put us in danger simply by being here; the Dark Knight can sense your kind. If I bring you to the temple, it would endanger the lives of more than a hundred men and women, not to mention risk the destruction of the one safe haven we still have.”

“Safe haven?” Lee retorted. “There are no safe havens anymore. The evil is spreading as his power grows. He already has agents openly dwelling in the northern kingdoms, and it won’t be long before they come under his rule. The dead rise from the earth, their souls forced into decaying bodies. His agents and soldiers have assaulted us less than seven days east of here. All this, and you dare speak of safe havens ? How long do you think it will be before he finds your precious Valshara?”

“We know all of this,” Ertik replied calmly. “If you think we have been idle, you’re wrong. We haven’t the power to face him openly. If you expose us too soon, then the last hope of regaining the sword will die with our destruction.”

“You are not the last hope,” Lee countered. “I have brought the last hope. And he is the only reason I have sought you out.”

“Not another half-god,” Ertik sneered. “Even a thousand of your kind would not be able to defeat the Dark Knight; you truly don’t understand the power he wields.”

“No, not another half-god,” Lee replied sarcastically. He glanced at Dina, who nodded slowly. “I have brought the only child born from the union of two gods.”

Ertik laughed at first, then stopped. “You’re not serious. There is no such creature. We would have known.”

“We did know,” Dina said. “Or at least, we knew there was something the Dark Knight was after-something he would do anything to get his hands on. Why else would the High Lady have sent word to be on the lookout for them?”

“She has her reasons, I’m sure,” Ertik maintained. “But if you expect me to believe that you travel with a god…You have proof of this?”

“I have all the proof I need,” Lee answered. “My kind can recognize each other by touch. I know what he is.”

“Do you think the Dark Knight would go to all this trouble just to kill a half-god and his companions?” Dina asked flatly. “The Dark One is aware this God exists, and if he succeeds in killing him, then all hope is truly lost.”

“If he is a god-” Ertik began, “and I’m not saying he is-but if he is, then death cannot touch him.”

“He was bound to earth when he was a baby,” Lee revealed. “How and why is still unknown, but it makes him very human in many ways. He is only now discovering his power. If The Dark Knight finds him before he’s ready, then he’ll kill him-or worse, capture him and break his mind.”

Ertik looked hard at Lee, then got out of the coach.

“Is that how you expected it to go?” Lee asked.

“I was hoping for a bit better,” Dina admitted, forcing a smile.

A moment later, Ertik returned. “Take me to him,” he demanded.

Lee told the driver to take them back to the Frog’s Wishbone.

“How did you discover all this?” Ertik inquired. Lee recounted the events leading up to the night when the Oracle’s messenger entrusted him with Gewey as an infant. He also told Ertik about his subsequent move to Sharpstone, and Gewey’s upbringing in the Stedding household.

“I assume you’ve been training the lad?”

“I have,” Lee replied. “Along with Kaylia.”

“Kaylia?”

“An elf woman we are traveling with,” Dina explained.

Ertik rolled his eyes. “Just how many of you are there?”

“Four now,” she answered. “There were six when we began, but two are off on an important errand. They will be joining us as soon as they are able.”