We returned to Morganna's tower thereafter.778Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9jUGVVSZW
"You may stay for the rest of today. After that, you must go," she told Marius and Veran. "I will provide you with supplies, and a medallion blessed by Grindyr so that you may pass by the Guardians unharmed."
"Guardians? The tall, slender creatures that chased us down the mountain?" Veran asked, a hint of disgust in his tone. I couldn't blame him. Calling such beasts a guardian was abhorrent.
"Yes. They were created by the dragons as a gift to the elves, so that they might protect the Weygates of the mountain passes. They are bound to the arches, and thus confined to the area. They... get restless often, and confuse travelers as threats to the weygates. They will sense the medallion's power and won't hurt you."
"Too bad we didn't have that on our way here," Veran commented dryly. He had voiced what we were all thinking.778Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcDxPWvmHN
"I wish you would have," Morganna replied, her tone soft. She moved over to the display case that held the blade of Stormbringer. She slid back the glass opening, and gently picked up the blade. "I'll have to find a proper wrapping for this. But otherwise, this belongs to you now." She held out the blade to Marius with both hands.
As he took the blade, I swore I could have seen the runes flash a faint blue. Or maybe it was my imagination.
"Thank you," he told her.
~
That day, Marius and I wandered around the valley for a while, admiring the sights. And that evening, we had a small feast of soup, roast duck that Veran had hunted down at Voemm lake, and some cookies that Morganna had baked. It was the best I had eaten in forever.
That evening was when it had really hit me that Marius and Veran were leaving in the morning. The three of us sat on the couches around the hearth. I remembered what Marius had said about his sister.
"You'll get to save your sister now at least," I remarked.
"Indeed," Marius murmured. "I hope she is still well."
"I'm sure she is fine," Veran said. "If she's half as smart as you make her out to be, she could outwit those mangy mutts of the west."
"Still. Even a sharp wit cannot always save you from a sharp blade," Marius replird.
"She's fine," I said firmly. "You have to believe that."
"You're right," Marius paused to take a drink from the mug of ale he had poured earlier. "We should devise a plan for meeting somehow. Six months from today, what's the date Veran?"
We all looked at Veran, who briefly closed his eyes to count in his head. He had a knack for remembering things like that.
"The 39th day of Warm Tides."
"So, the 39th day of Bare Branches, right before winter settles, I will find a way to send a message back here."
"That sounds like a plan." I crossed one leg over another, leaning back into the couch. "And then when I am finished here, I will retake the north from the scoundrels who've taken advantage of our darkest hour, and together we will bring the fight to Emperor Nautilus." If I was being real with myself, I was anxious about the words coming out of my mouth. What if I wasn't able to keep my promise? Six months was still a long while to wait on a queen. A lot could happen in six months. Especially during the summer, when there wasn't the risk of freezing to death to deter men.
"Indeed. Then, if things work out, we'll be ready to face whatever disaster that Grindyr is predicting."
"Aye, if things work out."
~
Marius's Point of View
Later that next morning, I sat on the small porch outside of the tower, cleaning down my blade. It was about ten minutes or so until we all had to meet out here.778Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG6JHFPfGN
A hand on my shoulder startled me. My gaze snapped up to see Zara standing over me, a solemn smile on her lips. A small part of me was saddened that she wouldn't be joining us on the trip to the Western Isles. Our conversations were something I had grown to cherish over the time we'd spent traveling together.
"Promise me that you will stay safe? And keep Veran alive?" She was worried? I stood, sheathing my blade, before turning to face her directly.
"I swear that we will try our best to be safe."
"Good." Zara folded her hands together, looking out over the valley. "I can't believe that I'll be learning magic. Real magic."
"Hah, how do you think I feel? Son of a god. It still seems a little ridiculous to me, between us."
"Do you think this revelation will make fighting against your father any easier?" I scrunched my phase up in thought for a second. 778Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiNbWeim2l
"No, not much. While there is no doubt that he is a monster, he was still my father. There were times, as rare as they might have been, that he's shown compassion towards me." I locked eyes with Zara. "But my resolve to see justice done outweighs any of my feelings. I promise to you that when I sit on the throne, you will have your father's cloak returned to you, and every northern slave will be set free." I knew that freeing the slaves would be a long, tedious process. 778Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rOZCyuj16
"Thank you, Marius." She smiled, tilting her head.778Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqgDZQE7b2
I stepped forward, wrapping her in a hug. "You're welcome." She returned the hug, her cheek resting against my chest for a brief moment, until we parted. "I'll miss you Zara," I admitted a bit sheepishly.778Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsxGwDZTdY
"And I will miss you." Her smile was warm. "I hope that you are able to find your sister along the way."778Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSEHJNQwqD
It was that moment, Morganna and Veran came from the tower. She held out a silver medallion engraved with foreign letters. As my fingers came into contact with it, I could feel the thrum of power coming from the relic. I tucked it into a pocket of the furred tunic, then hefted my pack with a grunt. From it, extended the very top of the wrapped blade of Stormbringer. Veran and I moved away from the tower, standing side by side. I stopped to wave back at them, my eyes on Zara. She nodded at me, waving back in return.778Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXZ0oWUn0N
"Farewell," I said to her, and then to Morganna I said, "thank you once again for having us, Morganna."778Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUqpRarG3E
"It was my pleasure, truly. Stay safe you two, and may the winds be at your back."778Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qOeJrtmI5
Then, we were off.778Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3IJMLKrO3
