Chapter Twenty-Six
The Voice of The Halberd
“RHOIN,” PAETORIC SAID, quietly, to gather Rhoin’s attention. “I have to tell you something.”
Rhoin, who had recovered from the effects of the Death Eye much quicker than Torius had, because of his Element and the shorter duration of the effect upon himself, had been several paces away, turned to Paetoric and approached him closely, curiously. “And what is that?”
“Last night,” Paetoric began, an excited look in his eyes, but still with quiet voice, “When I used the halberd – or it itself acted up in magic, whichever way you wish to describe it yourself – I heard the halberd speak to me.”
“What do you mean ‘speak to you’?” Rhoin asked, baffled. “What did you hear it say?”
“Well, when my vision went white from the blast, a face appeared – a face I have not seen anywhere before, but a man’s face, as young as you or Torius – and it was filled with anger and pain. I was filled with anger from myself before the halberd generated that lightning attack. I think it corresponded to my emotions, my anger and his power’s anger. And the vision said aloud to itself, not to me: ‘Brother’. What do you think that could be? Perhaps a soul trapped inside this weapon? Maybe a wizard’s?” He looked down at the halberd he had laying across his lap.
Rhoin likewise looked down at the halberd. He bent down and picked it up from Paetoric’s lap, turning the halberd in his hands, examining its head. He placed one hand upon the halberd head, and closed his eyes in Spirit Elemental concentration. After brief moments, he opened his eyes, with no answer apparent in them. “I do not understand this halberd, Paetoric,” he said, handing it back down to Paetoric, who grabbed onto it, his treasure, securely. “It does appear full of anger somewhere inside of it, but, and I did verify, there are no souls trapped inside of it. I would have been able to see them. I am still as confused as you are about the voice you had heard. But we do know that, despite it’s appearance, it definitely is powerful, and it apparently can release its power in your possession. Take care of it, Paetoric – perhaps it is the key to great secrets, and it’s key is apparently possibly within your reach, in the future, we can suppose.”
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Chapter Twenty-Seven
An Adventure’s End
And An Adventure’s Beginning
BEREFT OF THE LADY Arigwhen, Drewth bearing alone a dwelling hatred, and suffering infliction of the Darkened Light element, knows neither his journey nor his fate, having only insatiated vengeance possessive of his heart and mind. Dante, living a deceptive and mischievous but secluded life before, has his trained wits drawn into the beginning of this adventure. Paetoric and Seften likewise are bereft of lives they lived before, having eventfully escaped the wrath of a Dark wizard and his minions, and Paetoric having learned that his halberd has secrets and yet even more incomprehensible secrets to learn. Rin, the enslaved Driadon, will, through the help of the Me’Aers, reveal the corrupt intentions of Syndirin, in an attempt to thwart his destructive actions, and has as a goal to himself the possible freeing of his enslaved peoples.
Rhoin, having learned the purpose of this secretive enemy across the waters, must return with this data to his Master, but alone, once again leaving his brothers.
Syndirin, once respected superior of but now bitter enemy to Drewth, has cunningly began creation of a new plot, staging all of the intentions and actions of this party of adventurers as the controlled movements of mere pawns upon his side of the field, not hindering, but quickening the execution of his campaign for war, with mystery’s veil still drawn around his truer ends…
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew Legend is a writer and illustrator from Racine, Wisconsin. He has been creating the Esperynzian adventures for years, and now has begun to produce them in written form, starting with this first adventure.
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This is the first book of many. I am currently working on the second book.
Please feel free to communicate to me!
~ Andrew Legend.
The Knight of Darkened Light Page 27