Brian Anderson - The Sword of Truth

“Lord Starfinder,” said the girl. “It’s the elf. Something’s wrong. You need to come quickly.”

Lee bolted down the hall and back to the healing chamber. Two women were holding Kaylia in their laps, while his mother had her eyes closed, and her hand on Kaylia's head

“What happened?” he cried.

His mother opened her eyes and rose to her feet. “I don’t know- at least, not for sure. I came to check on the boy before going to bed, and I found her lying on the floor unconscious.”

“Can you help her?”

“I think she managed to reach Gewey,” Selena said. “If that’s so, then there is nothing we can do, but hope they both find their way back together.”

Lee walked over to Kaylia and knelt down beside her. She was drenched in sweat, and her body twitched every few seconds. He brushed back her hair and kissed her forehead.

“She is with him,” Lee said somberly. “She fights alongside his spirit, just as she said she would.”

Selena immediately ordered a bed be brought in for Kaylia. The bed was set directly next to Gewey’s, and they gently placed Kaylia’s limp body on the mattress. Lee sat next to them, staring into nothingness, barely noticing when Dina pulled a chair next to his.

“Lee,” Dina called gently. Lee looked up with a blank expression. He wrapped his arm around Dina, and she put her head on his shoulder. They sat for hours, saying nothing. Lee’s mother checked in on them from time to time, despite her obvious fatigue. She had water brought for them to drink, but neither he nor Dina touched it. Night turned into dawn, and still neither Gewey nor Kaylia had moved. Selena came in and sat on the edge of the bed to examine their two fallen friends.

“Ertik told me you have brought the Book of Souls,” she said as she checked Gewey’s bandages. “Is that true?”

“We think so,” answered Lee. “The box is unbreakable, so there’s no way to know for sure.”

“You must give it to me,” she said. “If I can find a way to open it, there may be something within the pages that can help your friends.”

Lee nodded and got to his feet. “I’ll bring it here now,” he said, and quickly left to retrieve the book from his room.

“Do you really think you can open it?” Dina asked.

“I don’t know,” Selena replied. “But it’s either that, or simply wait and do nothing.”

Lee returned with the box and handed it to his mother. She looked at the lid intently, then turned it over.

“This is the Book of Souls,” she said finally, and sat it gently on the bed.

“Can you open it?” Lee asked, hopeful.

“I don’t know. I will try, but it will take time. I need to contact Althetas; there’s an elven sage named Theopolou that might be able to help. I’ll need to send word to him. Of course, when he finds out we have the Book of Souls, he very well might try to kill us and take it for himself. The elves have been looking for it since the Great War. How did you come by it?”

“Dauvis Nal’Thain had it,” Lee explained. “It was among his possessions when I claimed my inheritance.”

“You took his name, then?” she asked.

“I did,” Lee admitted. “He was good to me. When he died, he left me his title and position.”

“Lee Nal’Thain,” she whispered to herself. She cleared her throat and wiped her eyes. “Well then, I need to get word to my contacts in Althetas right away. They will know how to find Theopolou. It will probably take him many days-if not weeks-to get here, so please make yourselves at home. Explore the temple if you wish. Dina, am I correct in remembering that you wish to become a historian in the order?”

“Yes, High Lady,” Dina replied earnestly. “Very much so.”

“Then you shall be. As of now, you are a cleric of Amon Dahl, but the formal ceremony will have to wait.”

Dina’s eyes shot wide. “I…I don’t know what to say.”

Selena smiled warmly. “Say that you will be truthful in all your accounts. You live in historic-though terrifying-times, and an honest account will be important. You travel with my son and he trusts you; that is enough for me to know your worth. I hereby welcome you, young cleric.”

“Your son?” Dina exclaimed in shock.

Selena smiled. “I’m sure Lee will tell you all about it. For now, I think both of you should get some rest.”

“We will, Mother,” Lee said. “But I think I’d like to sit here for just a while longer.”

“I’ll stay with you,” Dina offered.

“You can tell a person’s value by their friends,” Selena remarked. “You, my son, have great value from what I can see.”

Lee smiled and Dina bowed low.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, son,” she said as she left.

“Your mother?” Dina said incredulously. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“I just found out,” he replied.

Dina looked at him in wonder. “You are full of surprises,” she said. “I must say, meeting you has been an experience of a lifetime.”

Suddenly, Kaylia shook violently. Lee reached out to grab her, but she stopped shaking just as he touched her arm.

“I hope this Theopolou can help,” Dina said as Lee wiped the sweat from Kaylia’s brow.

“So do I,” he replied gravely. “So do I.”