Hidden Dragon (Crystal Sword Hunt)

Radasanth's great library towered over neighboring buildings, its stone girth casting a long shadow in the mid-afternoon sun. Intricate masonry around the main entrance detailed the heads of lions and tigers and scaly dragons. The entry hall boasted a floor of well swept marble, with pillars holding up the lofty ceilings and paintings displayed on the walls. Inside the library proper felt much more cramped; large shelves lined the walls and created neat aisles across the many rooms. Well stuffed armchairs occupied free space between the shelves, and in one particular chair beside a west-facing stained glass window sat a young half elf. He wore green sifan clothing and a floppy canvas cap, and had a black silk scarf knotted around his neck.

Jacob Narmolanya removed his cap to scratch his head, unruly dirty blond locks spilling free. The half elf sneezed for the third time in thirty minutes. The whole bloody library smelled like dust, and the odor had grown stronger and more abrasive when he opened the heavy leather bound volume on his lap. Jake disliked being inside, and even more so disliked poring over ancient texts. But he saw no other option, for a mystery had caught his interest, and with nothing better to do Jake followed the clues headfirst.

Since leaving Underwood he'd felt somewhat aimless. In the woodland city he'd barely had a moment to himself, between his duties to the Town Watch and his training under Joshua "Breaker" Cronen. But Breaker had departed Underwood in search of greater things, and Jake could think of no better path than to follow in his mentor's footsteps. He'd journeyed to Radasanth and fought a couple duels in the Citadel, but soon even the legendary battleground became boring to the half elf. He wanted adventure. He wanted action. He wanted romance as well, but tended to get tongue-tied around pretty girls so he decided to stick with the first two.

And then he'd heard tell of the Crystal Swords. A bevvy of rumors had circulated among the taverns Jake frequented, speaking of the ancient, magical blades made from crystal pulled from deep within the Twilight Mountains. Enchanted by elves and forged by dwarfs, the swords had sat in a vault in Alerar until mysteriously disappearing following a great battle. Jake turned a page, holding his breath for a moment so as not to inhale more dust. The volume in his lap was written by an Alerian scholar who had an obsession with the Dragon Blade, also called the Wood Blade. Of all the Crystal Swords, the Dragon had piqued Jake's interest. He had grown up in Concordia, living among the trees, and felt a natural affinity for woods. He was confused as to exactly how the blade could be wood, especially since the book seemed certain the sword was forged from steel.

Jake took a deep, calming breath and instantly regretted it as he sneezed violently. The half elf pulled a handkerchief from a pocket in his sifan jacket and blew his nose noisily, drawing glares from other library goers. He put the handkerchief away sheepishly and closed the volume carefully. He had skimmed through what he hoped were the important parts and actually read the entire final chapter, where the author posited that the Dragon Blade had never ventured far from its birthplace in the Twilight Mountains.

The half elf heaved to his feet and lugged the heavy volume back to its proper place on the shelf, his leather boots whispering across the marble floor. He'd been in the library for the better part of an hour, and that felt like enough bloody research. Jake had never hunted down a hidden sword before, but he had hunted many demons in his young lifetime, and his experience taught him that the best way to find something was to look. He would need to journey to Alerar first though, and for that he would need....

"Pardon me," Jake said, stopping at the long oaken desk that sat beside the entryway, "do you have any recent drawings of Ettermire?"

The librarian looked down her nose at Jake, eyes gazing over the top of her squarish spectacles.

"Are you looking for a picture book?" She asked kindly, pushing curly tresses of blonde hair behind her ears.

Do I seem like I can't read? Jake wondered. He thought he looked rather dashing in his stylish sifan clothing. Perhaps if I show her what a gentleman I am. He swept off his floppy canvas cap and gave the woman a courtly bow.

"That would suffice," he said, choosing his words carefully so as to sound well-read. "Any image of any location in Alerar would suit my purposes, truly. Might you be off assistance?"

The librarian gave him a quizzical look but pushed back her chair and rose, beckoning for Jake to follow. She led him down a long line of shelves and around a corner to an alcove at the back of the room. A lone shelf stood there, somewhat disjointed from the rest of the racks. New looking books and scrolls sat neatly along its length, catalogued according to some order that Jake could not decipher.

"Most of our material on Alerar is here," the blonde woman said. She pulled a thin volume with stiff, new leather binding off the shelf and opened it to a page near the middle. "This edition of Steam Engines and Alchemy contains a few images. There are drawings of a zeppelin, an alchemist's lab, and an abandoned steam shop..." she leafed through the book until she found a two page spread of a large room containing a host of Alerian machines, as well as some more recognizable features like anvils and bellows.

"Perfect!" Jake exclaimed, accepting the proffered volume and examining the image intently. "So this is what an Alerian steam shop looks like. May I take this with me?" He asked, emerald eyes widening with hope.

"You most certainly may not!" The librarian exclaimed, somewhat shocked at the notion, "however you may look over it as much as you like. Now if there isn't anything else, I'd best get back to work." The half elf nodded his thanks and the woman strode away, heeled boots clicking on marble tile.

"Bloody perfect," Jake muttered to himself. He would have to commit the image to memory, which meant more time spent in the dusty building. He returned to his chair and spent nearly another hour poring over the picture, implanting it firmly in his mind. By the time he returned the volume to its shelf and ventured back outside the sun had nearly dipped below the horizon.

"Hello Gunner," Jake said cheerily to his dappled gelding, and got a snort in response. The horse was not fond of being left out in the cold for hours on end, and although the winter was a mild one frost coated the cobblestone streets, and the chill crept through Jake's fine sifan clothing. He packed Gunner's blanket away in his side-bags and swung up into the saddle. He dug his heels into his steed's flanks and the pair trotted away from the library, following a familiar path out of town.

As shadows grew all around him, extending to the point of near darkness, Jake left Radasanth proper and entered the forest on the city's fringe. He found it best not to put his skills on display for just anyone.

Arriving in a shaded woodland glade, Jake jumped out of the saddle and concentrated. His breath misted on a gentle breeze as he recalled every detail of the steam shop he'd seen in the book; the angle of the anvils, the complex machines, and even the tools scattered across workbenches. As the image crystallized in his mind a doorway appeared before him. A simple oak door with a brass knob, which protected one of the half elf's patented portals. He took a deep breath of chilly Corone air and twisted the knob, opening the door and leading Gunner through.

Two leather boots and four iron horseshoes clopped onto the cement floor of an abandoned steam shop in the heart of Ettermire. Jake Narmolanya had arrived in Alerar.

Amari had been left alone in Alerar. She sent Noel, one of the few people she trusted back to the Inner Sanctum with the spoils of their previous escapade into the rocky mountains.

Amari didn't very much like Ettimere, it had a noxious smell to it, no doubt it had to do with the overworked machinery. It was loud and the people were all arrogant. Moreso - she had gained some sort of notoriety within the streets. Her kind deeds did not go unnoticed. Her efforts in handing out the hand woven spidersilk respirators and in healing many of the sick and elderly quickly spread throughout parts of the large town.

As Amari trudged through the streets she was stopped every so often by someone offering their 'eternal gratitude'. It rubbed her the wrong way. It felt unnatural, almost wrong to have people being kind to her, thanking her. She wasn't sure how she felt about it. If Amari had it her way, she'd leave right now and return to the Sanctum, away from the cheery faces and away from the noise. She still hadn't had a chance to rest for more than a day.

I need information on the rest of those damn swords

The rumour mill was alive and well, and Amari was attempting to gain information. In fact, she was heading toward an old, abandoned steam shop to meet up with someone to discuss the resurgence of another sword within Alerar. The Crystal Dragon Sword.

Amari approached the abandoned place, and instead of walking in shifted to the side to the alleyway. She smirked. It was almost like those old crime scenarios she had heard about. Shady dealings in dark alleys. How cliche'd. She noticed the other figure and gave a nod of her head to him.

"Hey, you're the one with the information?"

The middle aged man, whom was leaning against the wall grinned as she pushed himself off of it. "Aye, Red. I am. I'll tell you all about the location of the Dragon Crystal Sword." Despite their attempts to keep the conversation between themselves, their voices reverberated off the walls. Echoing around them. Amari would have claimed it was a bad idea to meet in such a place, if not for the fact that it was completely deserted.

"Oh? And What do you expect in return?" Amari shot back.

The main seemed taken aback by her rude response. "N-nothing. Miss..." his tone was filled with gratitidue. "One of the sick children you healed. She is my daughter." He reached out and clasped Amari's hand, giving it a tight squeeze. "If it were not for you, she'd have left this world. The information I hold is nothing in comparison to a loved ones life."

Amari grimaced. Great, another one o' these guys She pried her gloved hand away from him and wiped it on her black leather jacket before shoving it into one of her deep pockets. "Right. Right." Amari muttered. "So, tell me what you know then."

The steam shop stank of mildew and more bloody dust. Jake pulled his scarf up to cover his nose and mouth, unveiling twin round white scars on the right side of his neck. A vampire had bitten him nearly ten years ago, when he was a member of the Bandit Brotherhood under the tutelage of Damon Kaosi. Fortunately Jake had slain the beast before it could transfer its plague to his veins. Damon had nearly cut him down for fear he would change.

The half elf allowed memories to flood his mind as he meandered through the shop, towing a grunting Gunner with one hand and holding the scarf over his face with the other. The wove between anvils, workbenches, heavy contraptions and strange devices. Everything looked frosted under the dust. The half elf and the horse left behind prints in sets of six as they found their way to a boarded up front door.

Jake wheeled Gunner about so the horse's rear faced the boards.

“Kick,” Jake commanded with a broad smile. Gunner gave him a level stare.

“Gunner, kick.” Jake said more clearly, pointing at his lips.

The horse snorted and tossed his head.

“Come on boy, we worked on this!” Jake groaned, pressing his palm into his forehead so his cap tipped back. “Look,” he said, reaching toward Gunner's flank, “if you make me, I'll-”

The horse whinnied and kicked with both back hooves, blasting the boarded up door off its hinges. The pile of wood and nails fell flat in the street. Jake and Gunner ventured into the empty street, the sound of horseshoes echoing off high hard walls. For a moment the place reminded him of an abandoned town he'd once visited in Scara Brae. But when he listened he could hear the bustle of people, and the distant whine of heavy machinery.

Ettermire could not have been more alien compared to Corone or Scara Brae, or even bloody Salvar for that matter. He saw poured cement and metal in place of cobbled stone and wood. Towers with rounded architecture in place of squat, squarish buildings. And the air smelled of machine exhaust rather than horse manure. Jake even spotted an airship in the distance as it passed between two towers. The half elf shook his head, wondering what could keep those hulking great contraptions aloft. Perhaps the dark elves secretly were fond of magic, after all.

Jake put one foot in a stirrup and one hand on the pommel and vaulted into the saddle. A faint breeze tickled the dirty blond locks spilling out the front of his cap, but the chill could not bite through his layered clothing. It seemed the winter was even milder here than in Corone. A strong mid-afternoon sun shone through what looked like a perpetual haze of pollution. Jake wondered if he should still be wearing his scarf over his face.

“What do you think, boy?” Jake asked, patting his horse on the head. “Shall we go and find a crystal sword?” He waited for a response, and, getting none, heeled Gunner gently into a slow walk. He had plenty of time to find a tavern before dark, and taverns could be as great a source of information as they were ale. At least, he hoped they bloody well had ale in Alerar.

“Once again, Miss Red - I and many of us here within Ettemire are eternally grateful for you and your services.” The man grasped her hand again in a firm shake. Blissfully unaware that the woman he praised, and the hands he held were involved in many a death, pain, and torture. “Don’t mention it.” Amari retorted. Just as he went to let go she tightened her grip, her parting words a warning. “No realy, don’t. I ain’t the good samaritan you think I am.” The man gave her a curious look as he pulled his hand away.

“I know not of your past, Miss Red - but I know of your actions within this town. I know of your plight against the Cave Spiders, and how you hand stitched each and every respirator you gave out. Regardless of who you feel you are, those actions speak far louder than perceptions or words.” He offered her a warm smile before shifting out of the alley. Sidestepping a man and his horse. “Don’t see that every day…” He mused to himself.

Amari sighed, running her hand through her hair, pushing the crimson tendrils out of her face. Why is everyone saying that lately? She pressed her back against the cool, stone wall, shifting her gaze skyward. Alerar was far different to Salvar, here she could see the bright blue sky, and the soft wisps of cloud that dotted it every so often. “What do they know…” She muttered, pushing herself off the wall.

She knew where she had to go now, this one would prove to be easier to obtain. It was held by a group of bandits along the Twilight Mountains, and boy did Amari know a thing or two about bandits. Amari shifted her gaze to a blonde youth atop a horse.

“What the-?”

It was an odd sight to be sure. Amari stared at him as he passed her with unabashed curiosity. He was insane. The streets here were no place for a horse. She shrugged. It wasn’t her problem. “Dumb ass Bandits probably don’t know they even have a Crystal Sword…” She said as she turned on her heel, following the direction of the out-of-place youth.

The horse stopped, and the lad shifted, glancing over his shoulder at Amari. Sea-green eyes staring at her with curiosity. “Did you just say Crystal….” He trailed off. His eyes narrowed. “Do I know you?” He shifted and slid off his horse as if to approach her.

Amari took a step back. who the hell is this guy? “Awful lotta questions to ask a stranger, don’t you think?” Amari asked. Standing her ground. She shifted her weight to one side, and crossed her arms. There was something oddly familiar about the pointy eared man, but she couldn’t pick it. Perhaps he shared the same sentiments?

“More importantly...why do you wanna know?”

Out of Character:

Amari parts written by Mari.

Jake stared at the confrontational redhead, his brow crinkled. Where have I seen her before? He wondered, she looks Salvic. The last time I was in Salvar...

"By Trisgen's hammer!" Jake exclaimed as he put a name to the face, "Amari?" A look of confusion passed through the woman's emerald eyes, but Jake felt certain. She had ripened with age, becoming more beautiful over the years, but she was the same girl he had met in Salvar some ten years prior. "It's me, Jake!" He said with a broad grin, "Jake Narmolanya!" He stepped forward as if to hug her but stopped short and settled for an awkward wave. If he recalled correctly, Amari's brother had placed enchantments on her which created even more awkward sensations at any touch from a man. And on that note... her brother had been on the verge of killing her when last Jake saw them. "I'm so glad to see you well," he said. He reached back and grasped his steed's bridle. "This is Gunner," he performed an introductory half-bow, "Gunner, meet Amari."

"Excuse me?" Amari said, her emerald eyes still distant, “I suppose I knew a Jake once...the half elf kid from my Birthday?" She uncrossed her arms, at which point Jake realized his gaze had wandered down to her bosom. “It’s Red. Not Amari.” She said coldly, not giving him the reunion he had hoped for. Upon closer inspection of her skin (not her chest), her skin seemed to have black fractures etched upon it. As though someone had dropped her and pieced her back together.

"That's right!" He said, lifting his eyes to meet hers once more. "What are you doing in Ettermire? And what-" he looked around and lowered his voice unnecessarily. The street was still deserted. "What do you know about the Crystal Swords?" He asked in a stage whisper.

"What am I doing? I shan’t think that is any of your fuckin’ business." Amari said rather irritably, brushing a lock of crimson hair away from her face, “As for what I know about the Crystal Swords... well, what do you know? Why should I tell you?"

"I know that the Dragon Blade is somewhere here in Alerar," Jake said proudly, "I came here to learn more and hunt it down." He beamed at her and struck a heroic pose with one hand on the collar of his shirt.

"Oh, Jake," Amari said with snort, "you haven't changed much, have you? Still oblivious to the situation at hand." Her emerald eyes seemed to peer into his soul.

"I've grown enough that you hardly recognized me," the half elf grinned, "what more would you change? Come on," he beckoned with his free hand, "let me buy you a mug of ale. There must be a tavern around here somewhere."

She grimaced at the mention of ale. “Rather not that swill. Though, if you’re offering there is a place just a few streets this way," Amari said, walking at his side and patting Gunner's flank, being far more affectionate to the horse than she was to Jake.

"Whiskey, then?" Jake inquired. His old instructor Joshua Cronen had often praised Alerian whiskey.

"Suppose so," Amari replied. Her expression still seemed guarded, her body language remained tense as the conversation wore on.

Jake tried to chat about inconsequential things as they wound through the grid-like streets to a much more crowded area. Gunner drew many a raised eyebrow, but Jake ignored the strange looks. Hadn't these people ever seen a bloody horse before? Soon they arrived outside a cement building with large, reflective windows. Jake tied Gunner's reigns to a metal post protruding from the ground and led Amari inside.

"You find us a place to sit," he suggested, "I'll get the drinks." They parted ways and the half elf approached the bar.

"One ale and one whisky, please," he said, drumming his hands on the fine mahogany counter. The server gave him a long flat look and then replied in slightly accented Tradespeak.

"Of course, sir." The slender dark elf took his time drawing a mug of ale and pouring a squat tumbler of whiskey. "Will that be all?" he asked as he slid the vessels across the bar.

"All for the moment," Jake replied cheerily. He clapped a thick Coronian crown on the counter and lifted the drinks. The barkeep picked the coin up as if it were a dead rat. "Is something wrong with my money?" Jake asked.

"Nothing, sir." The server said, dropping the crown in a box behind the counter, "it is quite quaint."

Jake nodded his thanks and looked about, spotting Amari at a lonely table near the back of the room. He delivered her whiskey with a flourish and then sat opposite the redhead and took a long pull of ale. It was less full bodied and bitter than the stuff back home, but still wet his lips with a pleasant bubbly sensation. He wiped suds from his mouth with the back of a hand and grinned. What luck, to run into an old friend in this foreign land. And a friend who knew of the Crystal Swords! Jake often felt blessed by the Thayne, but this was something else entirely.

"So," Jake said covertly around another mouthful of ale, "what do you know of the Dragon Blade?"

"Not much," Amari replied. She sipped her whiskey daintily, and Jake found himself examining her full lips as they cradled the glass. He blinked and downed the better half of his ale.

"Come on Ama- I mean, Red... you can tell me," Jake wheedled, "you have heard tell of it, haven't you?"

She shot him a glare, and opened her mouth as if to say something, but stopped. She cleared her throat and re-positioned herself in the chair, leaning forward. "Very well," the redhead took a breath, "All I know is that it may be in the possession of a group of bandits known for marauding along the road to the Mountains of Twilight." She quirked an eyebrow slightly as if wondering what Jake would do with the information.

"That's great!" Jake exclaimed, looking out the window at the sky to thank the heavens, "I can't believe how... HEY! Someone's trying to steal Gunner!" Outside he spotted a female dark elf in a strange uniform working at untying his steed's reigns. Jake slammed his mug down and raced out the door, skidding to a halt at the woman's side. "What are you doing?" He demanded, reaching a hand up to grasp Gunner's bridle.

"Oh," the dark elf said, looking at Jake like the answer to a question that had been bothering her, "sir I'm afraid you can't tie your... vehicle... to this parking meter without paying."

Jake's eyes grew wide. He stared at the uniformed elf, and then at the metal pole. It was a contraption of some kind, with a dial on the front and a slot for coins on the side. Jake clapped a hand to his head and removed his hat, giving the woman an apologetic bow.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't realize," he said. He pulled another Coronian crown from his pocket and jammed it into the machine.

"No sir, please don't-" the elf groaned and knuckled her forehead. "That will have to be repaired now," she said as if berating herself, "it isn't designed for such fat coins."

"Oh I'm sorry-" Jake began, but the woman walked away, muttering to herself and scribbling on a pad of paper.

"Jake," Amari said from behind him, "perhaps we should go somewhere else to talk. You’re making a scene."

Jake agreed and followed her through the streets, estranged whispers still followed the two. The redheaded woman in black who singlehandedly aided a large portion of their sick and dying population and a strange half elf with an even stranger dappled grey horse. It was a good thing that ‘laying low’ was not a priority right now because the two stuck out like sore thumbs. Jake seemed completely oblivious to the attention, either that or he chose to ignore it.

“Where are we goin’ Amari?”

Amari flinched at the use of her real name. She lead Jake down a small alley and quickly turned on him. Her fingers entwined into his soft, black scarf as she pressed him hard against the cold and cracked wall her face mere inches from his. Her eyes, a brilliant green with a gold rim around her iris’ speckled with shards of red stared into his bewildered sea-green gaze. “I fuckin’ told you, it’s Red now.”

“Y-your eyes…” Jake stammered, his gaze dancing over Amari’s facial features. “Y-your skin too.... “ He said seeing the faded cracks that danced across her cheeks. Despite sharing a small drink and the exchange of words it seemed he was only just noticing her, his brows furrowed and his tone turned to one of concern. “What happened to you Ama-Red?” He reached to trace the marred parts of her skin but his hand wavered in the air. Amari grabbed it and slammed it against the brick wall beside his head.

“Cut the damn ‘happy-go-lucky’ act!” Amari snapped. She didn’t like it, she didn’t like that someone from her past just came up out of nowhere. It rubbed her the wrong way. Sure, she remembered him, she vaguely remembered fond memories of him, but she also remembered how he ran away from her, tail between his legs all those years ago.

Amari didn’t wait for a response, she continued her onslaught of questions. “Who are you working for? Why are you looking for the swords? You expect me to believe you ‘just so happened’ to end up in the same place at the same time as me?” Amari lowered her voice to a threatening whisper. “Too much of a fuckin’ coincidence if you ask me.”

Jake's friendly smile fell from his face. Amari had been such a sweet girl when they met all those years ago in Salvar, despite her brother's monstrous ministrations. What could have changed her temperament so violently? The half elf reached up with the hand that wasn't pinned to the wall and gently freed himself from Amari's grip. She let go of his scarf and wrist but did not move out of his space, glaring defiantly into his eyes from a few inches away. The red flecks whirling in her emerald orbs unsettled him, so he looked down and found himself staring at her cleavage again. Bloody hell! He cast his eyes up at the smoggy sky and then down the alley. People passed along the main road but few glanced their way, and those that did barely looked past Gunner, who stood sideways to the street, giving them some privacy. Jake sighed.

"Look, uh, Red," Jake said, "I'm not working for anyone. I heard tell of the Crystal Swords in Corone and came here to find the Dragon." Jake doffed his cap and scratched at his unruly blond locks. "The way I heard it, everyone in the known world is interested in these swords, but only a choice few have the courage to seek them. Maybe it's not a coincidence we met," he said, shuffling his boots and examining the pavement beneath them, "maybe it's fate. Maybe we were meant to seek the Dragon Blade together. I don't know if I believe in that sort of thing, but seeing you... I never thought I'd see you again, Ama--Red."

Jake's green eyes glazed slightly as old memories flitted through his mind. He remembered Amari's kindness, how she had invited him to share her birthday dinner and bathe in her tub, and sleep in her brother's bed. He remembered how her brother had returned to the house unexpectedly and injected her with some sort of serum. The blank look on Amari's face as her brother held a sword to her throat and ordered Jake to leave haunted him. The half elf had fled, to his shame, for he had seen no other way to keep the Salvic girl alive.

Maybe that's why she's mad at me, he reasoned, because I ran away. Jake had been angry with himself for months following that night, but eventually realized he'd done all he could. And then he realized something else. He'd touched Amari when he'd loosened her grip on his scarf, and she hadn't shied away. Maybe the curses her brother placed on her have worn off, or been removed, he reasoned.

Jake's sea green eyes met Amari's emerald ones and held her gaze despite the dancing red flecks. He opened his arms slowly, as if approaching a wild beast, and wrapped them around her shoulders in a long-awaited hug. Her perfume reminded him of the forest back home.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't save you," he whispered, "I don't know what's happened to you over the years, but I'm sorry for that too." If he'd only taken her away, she might have had a better life. Tears welled at the corners of Jake's eyes and he gave the Salvic girl an extra squeeze. "Most of all," he added in a voice so small he had to speak into her ear, "I'm glad you're alive."

“I’m glad you’re alive.”

His voice was a heated whisper on the nape of her neck, his tone spoken in hushed heartache. Amari felt wet patches on her temple where his eyes pressed against her, they trailed down her cheek as he cried. Be it in relief, sadness, guilt, or happiness… those tears were for her. Amari wanted to question why. They had only met the one time and their encounter was a short one, so why was he expressing such strong emotions?

Amari stood motionless in the shadowed alley. Her arms limply at her sides. She could easily wrap her hands around him and sling him to the floor, she could use her abilities and hang him dangling lifelessly above her but she didn’t. Instead she stood still. The lingering scent of diesel hung in the air and the faint sounds of machinery whirred in the background some several blocks away, the town was a bustling hub of commerce. Yet in this moment the two stood in silence, away from the whispers of passerbys and away from the hustle and bustle of the main streets. Warmth leaked from his body into hers as he tightened his embrace around her.

Whatever anger Amari felt trickled away in those moments. Her thoughts briefly thought of Noel, and his words. I’m growing soft. She thought to herself. Amari shook her head to snap herself out of her daze as she took two steps back. Jake reluctantly let her go and wiped his eyes.

Amari shifted her gaze away from him. “I don’t know if I can believe you Jake. A lot has happened and-”

“Tell me! Please!” He interjected as he broached the gap between them again, his hands clasped her shoulders in a desperate attempt to reach out to the closed off woman. “What happened to Amari? What happened to that kind, sweet girl who offered a stranger a place away from the cold? What happened to the girl who fed me and laughed at my jokes? What happened to the innocent naivety of such a kind soul?”

His questions came hard and fast flowing between aching breaths and sobs.“She died.” Amari said quite simply. “Literally.” Amari shifted her tri-coloured gaze toward Jake knowing it was clear he would not let up until she talked. Jake really was lucky, if he had caught her just a week ago he’d be writhing on the ground with severe burns and illness.

“I could show you,” Amari said softly as she reached out to brush blonde locks away from his eyes. “But you will not like what you see, or feel. I’d throw you into snippets of my memories and you’d know. You’d know how worthless it is to bother with such emotions. Those feelings are a waste and the sooner you learn that caring and friendship are nothing more than falsities, the better.”

Her cold, frightful words didn’t deter him like she thought they would. Instead they drove him with an unseen and unknown determination. “Show me!” Jake snapped with ferocity. “Show me why you’d say such horrible things!”

“As you wish.” Amari reached out with her other hand, and her thumbs gently rested upon his temples. She pressed lightly against them and Jake was thrown into a world of darkness.






*******************

FLASH
I was in chains, naked and surrounded by men who were already pleasuring themselves at the sight of me. I had a small kris in my hand and was told to kill the crying noble before me, my neighbour, else he’d be tortured in front of me. “A-Amari...I don’t want to die...please…” My heart ached at his words.

“Please don’t make me…” I whispered.

The noble boy continued to cry I didn’t want to, but the man...that Silver haired demon stared down at me. I knew he’d torture him, I knew that if I didn’t end his life here - he’d have a far worse fate befall him. This man was making me take a life, the one thing I promised I would never do, but what choice did I have?

I drew the blade quickly across the youth’s throat before dropping it. Sobbing into my own hands. My action was met with disapproval, I had been too kind according to the man who forced me to call him Master.

Immediately, the two burly thugs dropped their chains and the corpse slicked into a muddy puddle of his vitae. The men in the room roared with excitement. As the chains were taken off him and clipped to my own bindings, with a click of the silver haired mans fingers, the lewd men charged at me.

FLASH
My vision was blurry as I stared first at a tiefling whose pittiless black eyes looked down upon me with an insatiable hunger as he tore off another section of my flesh with nothing but his bare hands. I writhed, making the bloodless flaying more painful. I shrieked, unable to process the sheer pain that wracked my bleeding body. An odd sensation of pleasurable ecstasy rippled through my body seconds later and I whimpered.

My eyes shifted to a silver haired man who sat leaning over a chair covered in strips of my flesh. A small grin across his pale features.

I gave another scream; the deep throbbing burn of the lacerations in my leg; the nettling fire of being peeled one bit at a time. Even the cool air still managing to slither into the room despite the doors being closed... it was too much...I could feel my heartbeat weaken and finally stop as the suffocating blackness of death took it’s hold.

**********

Amari watched with cold eyes as Jake fell to his knees. Blank eyes staring ahead at the dusty alley wall before him. “Tenderness is nothing more than a weakness to be exploited.” Amari turned her back on him.

“If you still want to find the sword, I’ll be at the Inn on corner of 3rd and 5th. Room 405. Knock three times. Until then, goodbye Jake.” She wiped her hands on her leather coat. She didn't like reliving the worst of her memories, but the youth needed to see the world the same way she did. There was no escape, no choice. Nothing but cause and effect.

Amari shifted past the horse, offering it a wry smile as she patted its flank. "Easy, now."

Amari was sure that the youth wouldn't follow her after such a mental ordeal which meant she could find another Crystal Sword in peace.

As Amari walked away Jake slumped backwards and leaned against the alley's cement wall. His body felt numb and disconnected from his mind, as if he were floating somewhere far away. In a pool composed of pain. He shuddered violently from his scalp down to his toes. The violence Amari had been forced to endure... the humiliation, the violation. Jake could not have fathomed anything so terrible. He pressed the heels of his hands into his misty eyes until he stopped crying, and fished the handkerchief out of his coat pocket. He wiped his eyes and blew his nose and sat there, head hanging, lost in the past.

If only I'd taken Amari away from her brother, he told himself over and over again, none of this would have happened. Jake had relived that cold night in Salvar many times over the years, and it stabbed at his heart along with every horrific image Amari had shown him. For a long while he sat slumped against the wall, trapped inside a bubble of anguish with barely air to breathe. And yet as the minutes ticked by another well-practiced thought poked into his mind.

What would Josh do? He wondered, thinking back to his teachings under the demigod known as Breaker. In addition to training Jake in many forms of combat, Josh had taught the half elf to have a resilient mind.

You cannot always control your thoughts, Cronen had told him, so if you're stuck in your mind, focus on what you can control. Your actions. Do something good, and feel how it influences your thoughts.

Like a walking corpse Jake rose and paced to Gunner's side. The horse snuffled and nuzzled his shoulder affectionately. Jake took a moment to hug his steed and then searched through the saddlebags. He extracted a light feedbag full of oats and strapped it around Gunner's nose, and then found the horse's brush and set about wiping down the dappled grey coat. The long, slow strokes of the brush calmed Jake's overstimulated mind and brought back positive memories. Of riding through the great forest Concordia, of tickling and kissing the serving girls in Underwood, of picking people's pockets as a young boy. By the time he finished brushing Gunner's coat the half elf felt whole again. He stowed the feedbag and the brush and looked Gunner in the eye.

"Amari's been through an awful lot, boy. I don't know if I can help." Jake sighed and scratched the scars beneath his scarf. They itched from time to time.

Gunner stared flatly and licked his large square teeth with a long, heavy tongue.

"You're right boy!" Jake said, brightening up. "As terrible as it was, she opened up when she showed me her memories. That's got to be a good thing." He stroked Gunner's lengthy nose. "If she can trust me enough to show me all of that, I suppose she can trust me to seek a sword at her side." Jake felt his spirits soar once more as the call of adventure tempted him. "We'll tackle those bandits together! Maybe if we make some good memories, she won't be so stuck in the bad..." For a moment the darkness of Amari's past enshrouded him, and he saw the platinum-haired man that haunted her so. If I ever find that monster, I'll kill him. Jake vowed silently. He put one foot in a stirrup and gripped the pommel and heaved himself into the saddle.

From his lofty perch atop Gunner Jake had an excellent view of the numbered streets. He walked his horse to the corner of 5th and 3rd and had little trouble locating the behemoth of an inn. Its poured cement walls were colored and sanded to look like marble, and ornate windows peered in on a neat and tidy common room. The place had no stables, and no posts outside except the strange parking meters. Jake had no desire to revisit that particular ordeal, so he meandered down the alley next to the inn and found a side door. He dismounted and dropped Gunner's reigns.

"Stay here, boy," he said firmly, "I'll be back before long." He patted Gunner's nose and got a grunt in return, and then pivoted and entered the inn.

The side door led directly to a cement staircase, and Jake climbed four flights until he found the right floor. His footsteps echoed quietly as he strode down the hall, watching his shadow grow and shrink as he passed the flickering oil lanterns either side of each door. After a few minutes of searching he found room 405 and took a deep breath. Lifting a lightly clenched fist, he knocked firmly three times on the door.

Amari sat at the edge of her bed, wearing nothing more than a thick, plush white towel. She ran her hands over the now smooth skin of her legs and arms with a small frown upon her face. The black cracks, she swore there weren't that many of them this morning. Was it because of the memories she had forced Jake to see? Did that spark some sort of reaction with her physical body? "Mmm..." Amari wasn't sure why she was letting it concern her she never had a problem with the abrasions till Noel mentioned them. "Dammit Noel." She muttered.

Amari pushed herself off the bed and slipped on the lacy black underwear Ulroke had 'gifted' her. It would be nightfall soon and she wanted a decent rest before heading out in the morning to find the sword. Amari doubted Jake would bother showing up especially after what she had shown him. Those memories were two of her worst experiences.

' Knock, Knock, Knock'

Amari's eyes shot up to the door. Well, guess the boy has a stronger will than I assumed. Amari thought to herself as she stood to answer the door. Modesty not at the forefront of her mind. She adjusted her towel so it sat firmly over the curvature of her breasts before opening the door a sliver. Seeing Jake she opened it, grabbed his collar and heaved him into the room. Locking the door shut behind her.

"Didn't think you'd bother." Amari said in a matter-of-fact tone as she turned to sit back on the bed, crossing her legs then her arms she sized him up. "Right, enough tit-for-tat Jake. You're looking for the Dragon Crystal Sword. I'm looking to expand my collection. Seems like we both want the same thing. So - why are you searching for the Crystal Sword?"

Jake's eyes travelled slowly up her exposed legs and arms. "I uh-" He pulled his eyes away from her form and scratched the back of his head. He let his eyes focus on a ridiculously ornate lamp within the lavish room. "I want to do something significant with my life. Dragon Blade sounds cool, and well - the whole wood aspect of it reminds me of home."

Amari quirked an eyebrow. "That's....oddly simple of you." She loosened her arms and stood approaching him. "I've already obtained one Crystal sword, so I suppose I could help you get this one but I'd need something in return for my services...what would you offer?"

The room displayed the type of finery that Jake had only seen when sneaking into expensive homes to liberate golden trinkets. He examined the lamps, the wall hangings, even the bed covers in an attempt to keep his eyes off Amari's pale skin. I suppose that's one thing about her that hasn't changed, he thought. The Salvic girl had always been shameless about her body... an image of her sitting in the bath naked from the waist up wafted through Jake's mind, and he swiftly refocused on the conversation lest his breeches grow any tighter.

"You already have a Crystal Sword?" Jake asked, his eyes growing wide. He tugged at his scarf and paced the length of the room to keep blood flowing throughout his body. "That's amazing, Red! Good for you." Jake paused and leaned on a sturdy bookshelf stacked with leather bound volumes.

"I'd certainly appreciate your help searching for the Dragon Blade," the half elf said with his most winning smile, "but I'm sure that's not what you meant." He scrutinized Amari for a moment, peering into the endless emerald depths of her expectant eyes. She didn't seem like she'd be interested in learning to use the sword or bow, or how to hunt wild game. Jake had a feeling he would need to offer his highest-value service in exchange for a little of the Salvic girl's time. Of course, he would have offered it freely even without the trade, but this new Amari did not seem the type of woman to deal in favors.

"Help me find the Dragon Blade," Jake said, pacing to the middle of the room, "and I'll be your doorman. Anywhere on Althanas is only a step away when you travel with me!" He waved his hands dramatically (and unnecessarily) and summoned an oaken door with a simple brass knob to the space between them. The door opened to the alleyway below and Gunner stuck his head through the portal, snorting and snuffling in the heavy atmosphere of the room.

"Good to see you too, boy," Jake said, "I'll be down shortly. Don't run off!" He pushed Gunner's head back through the doorway with some difficulty and allowed it to dissipate. The half elf shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands. "So what do you say?" He asked, "will you help me find the Dragon Blade? And, which sword do you have? May I see it?"

Amari couldn't help but let a prideful smirk slip through her usually snippy demeanour as Jake congratulated her on finding one of the swords. "Yes, well..." She paused as she flicked her hair over her shoulder and crossed her arms over her chest. An action Jake was sure to notice. "I'm not that pathetic waif you once knew Jake. I'm quite capable now." Her smirk dissipated as Jakes' excitement got the best of him, and he practically begged her to see the weapon.

"You can't see it. It's with one of my subordinates on the way back to the compound." Amari held her arms out wide in front of her, flat palms facing each other. "It's about this big and has a crimson blade, beyond that I don't know much else about what powers it holds."

Amari shifted as she fixed the towel that was wrapped tightly around her form. Ignoring the erratic hand gestures as Jake flailed wildly, almost knocking over an oil lamp in the process, it rocked back and forth on the small end table before returning to its original position. He was a fire hazard. "Jake! I-" Exasperated Amari took a few steps forward to stop him, but a giant wooden door blocked her way. Amari had to stop herself before she stepped straight into it. Jake grinned, and opened it up.

How peculiar... and useful Amari thought to herself as her tri-coloured eyes watched as his grey horse shoved its head through the door and gave an indignight neigh, stomping his hoof before retreating. Amari smiled at the turn of events. Actually smiled, no smirk no grimace no forced actions. Just a genuine smile, probably the first in a very long time. Sadly, it did not last. Just as quickly as it appeared it had disappeared as her towel began to slip.

"Ugh - hang on." Amari said as she stopped it before she exposed too much of herself. Amari bent down and picked up the remnants of her clothes from up off the plush carpeted floor. "Stay there." She commanded as she waltzed into the adjacent bathroom, slamming the door behind her to get changed.

Minutes later she returned. Wearing loose fitting slacks and a white cotton shirt as sleepwear. "I'll help you, Jake. First thing tomorrow morning we can be off to find the sword. If I have your word." Amari held out her hand toward him. "Before you agree, know that crossing me is a big fuck tonne of shit you do not want to deal with. Now, deal?"

"Deal!" Jake exclaimed, clapping his palm to Amari's and giving her hand a firm shake. "Of course you have my word," he added with a grin.

"Good," Amari said with one of her odd smirks, "now, I'm going to bed. You may sleep on the floor." She waved a careless hand at the room's thick carpeting and pulled back the covers.

"I uh... I'd best see to Gunner first." Jake said. Once again he summoned a doorway to the alley and opened it.

"Can you portal your way back in?" Came Amari's sleepy voice.

"Of course!" Jake said, his breath steaming in the night air that flowed through the doorway.

"Good," came the muffled response.

Jake stepped through the portal and allowed it to dissipate, leaving him standing next to Gunner in the darkened alleyway. The horse snuffled softly and nuzzled the half elf's shoulder.

"Alright boy," Jake said, patting Gunner's nose and gripping his reigns, "let's find you a place to spend the night." He had to search through three of the numbered street blocks, but eventually he found a small stable that catered to travelers. Jake paid a few gold coins and in exchange Gunner was given a berth for the night, as well as a fresh water trough and some rolled oats. The streetlamps made Jake's shadow mingle with itself as he journeyed back to the alleyway and summoned the same portal he had twice before.

The oaken door closed behind Jake and he stepped into Amari's room on light feet. Soft, regular breathing noises emanated from the bed, signifying that the Salvic woman was asleep. The half elf doffed his boots and cap and jacket and piled them all together on the soft rug to make a pillow, and then curled up on the carpet like a cat. He'd slept in far worse conditions in his lifetime.

Between the long, adventurous day and Amari's regular breathing Jake soon found himself drifting off to sleep. But before slumber could claim him the sounds coming from Amari's bed changed. Her breathing became hoarse and frantic, and the half elf thought he caught murmured words between breaths. Concerned, Jake rolled over and crawled to the bedside. His pointed ears quivered.

"No..." Amari breathed. Although the word was barely audible, Jake got the idea she was shouting in her dream. "No... no, please!" The Salvic girl's face became drawn in horror and she thrashed beneath the covers.

"Red!" Jake whispered. After getting a glimpse of the girl's past, he could only imagine what terrors visited her in her dreams. "Red, wake up! You're having a nightmare." He reached out a hand, and then hesitated. Hadn't he read somewhere it was a bad idea to wake someone from a nightmare? The half elf bit his lip, and then pulled back from the bed, suddenly indecisive.

Jake put on his boots and jacket and sat in the middle of the thick rug, crunching his cap between his hands. He'd been so happy to see Amari again that he'd ignored a slew of warning signs. She seemed different - dangerous, even. Not dangerous like a skilled swordsman, but rather like a keg of black powder set too close to a candle. Jake sighed. Could he truly trust her on a mission as important as seeking the dragon sword? She had made him swear to uphold his side of the bargain, but she had made no such oaths herself. Jake twisted his hat back and forth, and his stomach churned at the idea of abandoning Amari again. Would she ever stop being angry at him? He pondered the thought for a moment and then realized she was angry at him still. She seemed angry at just about everything, and Jake did not know where to begin to help her. The half elf sighed again and stood up.

"Your name is Amari," he whispered in the darkness, "Amari L'Olfsden, and you're a beautiful, kind woman. Don't you ever forget it." He knew she had forgotten though, and was unsure that she wanted to remember. With one last look at the slumbering lass Jake created a portal and stepped through to the alleyway below.

The night chill nipped at his neck and he pulled the collar of his jacket up as he strode through the streets. The night attendant at the stables was surprised to see him, but had no issue with releasing Gunner from his berth early. The horse snorted contentedly at seeing Jake, and nuzzled the half elf affectionately. Why can't everyone be more like you, boy? Jake thought as he rubbed his steed's nose.

It took only a half hour of riding at a trot to get out of Ettermire proper. Jake followed the metallic signs easily and found the road to the Twilight Mountains before long. As they rode tall grasses and bushes began to border the road, and soon the scrublands gave way to a proper forest. Jake felt at home riding Gunner along a road bordered by trees swaying slightly in the breeze. Dawn broke and the rising sun warmed his back, causing him to undo the top few buttons on his jacket.

The road was empty, perhaps because of the early hour or perhaps because of the rumors of banditry that circulated. Jake took deep breaths of fresh air, appreciating the difference between the woodlands and the city, and undid the clasp of his recurve bow's case. He took a quiver of arrows out of his saddlebags and strapped it onto his hip. He had a plan, and it all revolved around being ready when the bandits accosted him. He reached down and eased his tonfa in its straps alongside the saddlebags. With each step that Gunner took the tension grew, and soon Jake was seeing bandits around every bend.

"Don't be makin' any sudden movements, and ye' may just live to tell this tale," the bandit said. The tall, lanky dark elf had a flintlock pistol aimed at the half elf sitting in the saddle. "Reach down to your saddlebags slowly," the bandit instructed, "and throw all yer' valuables in the dirt."

The brigands had accosted Jake in a clever spot. Just as the half elf had rounded a sharp bend in the road, the elf with the flintlock had stepped out of the trees and hailed him. At the same time, three more bandits with muskets had popped up out of the ditch, giving them a different angle on their victim. The sounds of even more bandits lurking in the forest reached Jake's pointed ears.

The half elf made an effort to hide his smile. Everything was going according to plan.

"Nice an' easy now," the dark elf with the flintlock said, advancing slowly, "no need fer' anyone to die today, boy. Just give us the-"

Jake kicked his heels into Gunner's flanks. The horse leaped forward and reared, a heavy hoof crushing the dark elf's skull. Jake reached down and seized his bow from its case, drawing three arrows from his quiver with his other hand. He controlled Gunner with his knees and heels, wheeling his faithful steed about. Muskets roared and Gunner screamed, and then Jake's world tumbled upside down.

Gunner's pained whinny echoed off of tree trunks as the horse collapsed in the road. Jake was thrown sideways by his steed's fall. His well trained instincts kicked in and he rolled across his shoulders several times before coming to a halt on one knee. Anger and anguish flashed across his reddening face. Gunner writhed on the ground, bleeding from three separate musket wounds, already knocking at death's door. Every part of Jake wanted to race to his steed and hug the friendly beast one last time, but his body was already in motion.

Jake sighted on the three musketeers, who were frantically reloading their weapons in the ditch. The half elf brought his bow up and clapped the first arrow to the string. Thifft. The first musketeer fell as a steel broadpoint bit between his eyes. Thifft. Jake fired the second arrow just as swiftly, and suddenly the shaft blossomed from the second musketeer's throat. Thifft. The third arrow impaled the last musketeer's chest and he crumpled, clawing at the length of wood that would end his life.

Crack! Jake fell to his knees as a cudgel collided with the back of his head. A swift kick in the back drove him face first into the dirt, and he lost his grip on his bow. He groaned and rolled over as the bandits from the trees encircled him. There were four left - they'd been a crew of eight all together.

"What a cheeky boy we have here!" A short, scarred dark elf said gleefully. "He's killed our mates, leaving us all a larger share of the spoils. Shall we thank him?"

"I'd like to thank him with a dagger to the heart," said the dark elf wielding the cudgel. The tall brigand stood over Jake menacingly, one hand still holding the thick club, the other resting on his belt knife's hilt. "Could have been any of us he killed."

Jake fought back tears. Gunner was still dying, making the most horrible sounds he had ever heard as the wounds in his flank sapped his life. He steeled himself against his sorrow and forced words to flow from his lips.

"Don't kill me!" He said, showing them his empty hands, "I'm worth much more alive than dead!"

"How so?" Demanded the tall elf with the cudgel, peering down at Jake with icy blue eyes, "are you worth some sort of ransom? You don't look too wealthy to me." The elf turned his head and spat in the bushes.

"No..." Jake said, "I can make portals. Portals to take you anywhere on Althanas in a single step. I'm a thief, myself. Imagine the riches you could make with my skills under your control."

The leader of the brigands considered the offer, looking up at the sky and rolling his head from side to side. He took his hand away from his dagger and shouldered his cudgel.

"Can you show us one of those portals now?" The bandit inquired.

"Not just now," Jake said, casting his gaze downward to hide the rage in his eyes. Gunner's whinnies had faded to a faint whimpering. "You just about scrambled my brains with that cudgel. Give me an hour to gather my thoughts, and I'll be able to show you."

"Right, we're taking him with us," the bandit leader said, hanging his cudgel on his belt. He gestured in turn at each of his three remaining followers. "You, bind the boy's hands and bring him along. You two, gather up his belongings and our fallen comrades' weapons. We'll leave the bodies here for the crows and ravens."

I promise I'll come back to give you a proper burial, boy. Jake thought as he was led away. He sniffled. This wasn't part of the plan.

The bandits escorted Jake down a hidden path, through layers of trees and bushes, and around a large foothill that bordered the Mountains of Twilight. With much unnecessary pushing and prodding they brought their prisoner to the old castle that served as their hideaway. It was small, as castles go, barely a proper keep, but it had stone walls and short watchtowers and a large oaken gate. The lead bandit banged three times in a particular pattern and the gate opened from within.

So there's more of them, Jake thought, keeping his eyes and ears open. The tall leader gripped the cord that bound the half elf's hands behind his back and steered him through the door to the castle's main hall. Torches guttered in wall sconces, casting long flickering shadows over the wooden tables and chairs that dominated the center of the room. The bandit sat Jake forcefully in one of the chairs and then leaned against a table, facing his captive.

"So you say you can make portals," the bandit leader said, a disdainful smirk on his narrow face, "show me."

Jake took a deep breath and listened hard. He could not hear any of the other bandits - they must have all gone off to other parts of the castle. Jake wanted to smirk but with Gunner's death so fresh in his mind the best he could do was bite back tears.

"Give me a moment," the half elf said, screwing up his eyes. The air to his right shimmered, and then an oaken doorway appeared. The door's twin appeared just behind the tall bandit's head. His icy eyes widened.

"That easy?" the bandit demanded, rubbing his hands together, "and the portal is behind the door?"

"Yes," Jake said, "I need only to activate it... like THIS!" He kicked the door open forcefully with both legs. Behind the bandit, the door's twin swung open simultaneously. The heavy oaken timbers collided with the back of the bandit's head, sending him slumping to the floor without a sound.

Jake allowed the doors to dissipate. What a moron, he thought as he conjured a handful of fire. He singed his jacket sleeve in the process, but managed to burn through the ropes that bound his wrists with little trouble. Still carrying a handful of fire to light his way, the half elf ducked deeper into the castle, on the hunt for the Dragon Blade. He entered a long musty corridor, the corners of which were filled with trailing cobwebs and scurrying spiders. The hall led to a staircase that spiraled downward into the earth. If I was going to hide something of value, Jake thought, I'd certainly put it below ground. Holding his handful of fire aloft, the half elf descended into the darkness.

The spiraling stairs went down surprisingly deep, and by the time Jake's boot touched solid stone floor the smell of mildew had grown unbearable. The half elf pulled his scarf up over his nose and proceeded down a long hall. The flame in his hand flickered, illuminating ancient oil paintings of dwarfs and dark elves, perhaps of those who had built the castle. Further along Jake came to a crossroads, with three distinct tunnels branching off from the one he'd exited. He paused and listened, pointed ears quivering, and heard the rumbling of conversation down the corridor to his left. He followed the faint voice, soon finding himself at a heavy wooden door. Two voices emanated from within.

Jake twisted the door's knob and pushed it open slowly, allowing the voices to cascade out into the hall.

"'Twas a decent haul, for a lone rider," one bandit was saying.

"Aye," the other replied, "some of his belongings will fetch a decent price at market. Pity those idiots shot the horse though - it would have been worth more than this lot combined."

Swallowing a lump that formed in his throat at the mention of Gunner, Jake pushed the door open all the way. He found himself staring at what had once been a dungeon. The large, square stone room now held a number of tables, racks, and shelves, all of which were decorated with arms and armor. Jake saw rows upon rows of swords, daggers, bows and arrows, even crossbows and some Alerian powder weapons. At the far end of the room the two bandits stood with their backs to him, sorting through his stolen belongings.

Jake seized a sword from a nearby rack - a slightly curved longsword - and slid it out of its leather sheath. He gripped the pommel in both hands and took one silent step toward the bandits.

"It is a pity you killed my horse," he said, and their heads whipped around, "for now I must kill you both."

One of the bandits picked up a flintlock pistol, while the other went for the dagger on his belt. Neither got very far. Jake leaped between them like a cat and slashed twice with his new sword. The bandits fell in tandem, their heads barely attached to their bodies. Jake grabbed the corner of a cloak which hung from a nearby rack and used it to wipe the sword clean. Beneath the blood the blade was green, its hilt cool blue steel, and intricate carvings were etched along the length of the blade. Jake blinked, scarcely believing his eyes. Of all the weapons in this room full of treasures, he had picked up... the Dragon Blade.

Jake returned the sword to its leather scabbard and strapped both on his left hip, adding them to his broad leather belt. He could scarcely believe his good fortune. It would have taken him hours of searching the room to find the Crystal Sword, and yet instead it was the first thing he picked up. I truly am meant to wield this blade, he told himself as he gathered his belongings and slung his saddlebags over one shoulder. He paced back to the crossroads of the tunnel, past the walls full of paintings, and up the spiral staircase. Eventually he found himself back in the castle's main hall. The bandit leader still lay slumped on the floor, a trickle of blood trailing from his ear.

If he lives, perhaps he'll change his ways, Jake thought as he pushed through the large double doors into the courtyard. A part of him wanted to portal directly home now that he had the Dragon Blade, but he had made a promise to Gunner. And so he would need to fight his way out of the bandits' keep.

The courtyard yawned out to the inside of the castle's walls. Low parapets stretched along the walls' length, the boards cracked with age. Two guards lingered atop the parapet on either side of the gate, but they were watching outwards, not inwards. Jake dropped his saddlebags and uncased his bow, drawing two arrows from the quiver on his right hip. He held the arrows between his fingers as he bent the bow, and then nocked the first one, sighting along its oaken length. He let fly at the first guard.

Thifft! The arrow met the bandit's spine and he fell from the parapet with a scream. His partner spun about, bringing his fearsome musket up as his eyes lit on Jake.

"Hoi, you there!" The bandit cried, "put up your bow, or I'll-" Jake's second arrow skewered his throat. He fell to the ground amidst a ribbon of blood, gurgling away his last few breaths.

Jake cased his bow and shouldered it along with his saddlebags. He strode to the gate and found the latch, leaving the keep open behind him. Perhaps some weary travelers would find it one day and take shelter there. Perhaps some opportunistic thief would find the treasure trove of weapons in the basement and loot it. Jake had been tempted to fill his saddlebags with precious artifacts from the loot room, but he felt satisfied with the acquisition of the Dragon Blade, and in any case, he had more pressing matters to attend to.

The long walk back to the road where Gunner lay saw Jake's shoulders slumped in sorrow. His faithful steed still lay on the edge of the road, the dirt next to him stained dark brown with blood. Jake got down on his hands and knees in the ditch and dug a shallow grave, and then scampered up onto the road and tipped Gunner into the ditch. He covered his fallen friend's body over with a cairn of stones, affixing the final rock at an angle so that any who passed by would be sure to see it, and possibly pay their respects.

As the sun reached its zenith Jake stood by Gunner's impromptu grave, holding back tears that shone in his eyes. He plucked sadly at the strap of the saddlebags over his shoulder, and touched the hilt of the Dragon Blade on his hip.

"Goodbye Gunner," he said, nearly choking on the words, "you were the best horse and the best friend a half elf could hope for. You were always there for me in my times of need, whether to whisk me away from trouble or provide comfort with a simple nuzzle. I took vengeance on those who killed you, and I'll never forget the time we shared." He sprinkled a final handful of dirt over the cairn and then sighed and summoned a portal, stepping through it and back into the library in Radasanth.

"Sir," the librarian said crossly, "there are no swords permitted in this building. And no portals, either," she sniffed. She peered scathingly over her spectacles at the familiar half elf who had appeared quite suddenly in front of her desk.

"I'm sorry," Jake said, looking down at the Dragon Blade on his hip, "I just needed a familiar place to travel to, and since I was here yesterday..." he trailed off beneath the librarian's stare.

"Well, you'll just have to march right out the door," the librarian scolded, turning back to her paperwork and mumbling to herself, "I mean really... first he wants to take our reference books, and then he's bringing bloody swords into the building..."

Jake's ears and cheeks glowed red, and he hastened down the marble corridor and out into a Coronian early evening. On instinct he turned toward the post where Gunner would have been tied, and a pang of sorrow echoed throughout his body and mind. Gunner... gone. His closest companion and dearest friend.

In a sudden fit of emotion Jake sat down on the library's stone steps and buried his face in his hands. The tears he'd been hiding finally came, flowing thickly between his fingers to spatter on the cobblestone street. How could he have been so careless? Why had he brought Gunner with him to Alerar in the first place? It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but the horse had only been out of place in Ettermire, and now he was dead... dead and gone forever. Jake wept bitterly, soft sobs wracking his shoulders and stomach. He knew he could get a new horse but... it just wouldn't be the same. Gunner had been by his side since he was a young boy.

"Excuse me, are you alright?" Asked a kind female voice. Jake looked up, drying his eyes hastily on his silk scarf.

"I'm fine," the half elf said, scooting to one side, "sorry if I blocked your way." On an ordinary day he would have been entranced by the woman's fine pale skin and lush auburn hair, but at the moment she only reminded him of Amari, and that made him think of Gunner all over again.

"It's alright," the woman said, taking a seat beside the half elf. She smoothed her long blue skirts over her knees and leaned close to say in a soft voice, "I just came to the library to do a little research, but I fear it may be frightfully boring."

"What did you come here to research?" Jake sniffled, looking into the woman's deep dark eyes.

"The Crystal Swords, have you heard of them?" she asked, "it's probably silly, but I've heard so many stories about them recently that I wanted to learn a little more. They seem to have fascinating stories attached to them.

"That they do," Jake said, his spirits finally lifting somewhat, "and I could tell you the tale of how the Dragon Blade was found, if you'd like to hear it." He touched the sword on his hip, a shy smile quirking the corners of his mouth.

"I should love to!" The woman exclaimed, "who needs a dusty old library? Let me buy you a mug of ale to wet your throat while you tell me this tale..."

Out of Character:

Spoils request: Jake receives the Crystal Sword Dragon, the Wood Blade. It is a slightly curved steel longsword with a green blade and a blue hilt, valued at 150 GP. I am willing to sacrifice GP and EXP if necessary to gain this spoil. Jake also loses his horse, Gunner.

Jake Narmolanya receives 1580 EXP, 35 GP and the Crystal Sword, Dragon!

Mari receives 835 EXP and 80 GP!

This thread will now be submitted for peer review in the workshop!

All rewards added!