in danger, let me tell you that I already know. War is decimating Rogdon, the situation of the Kingdom is critical, thousands of Rogdonians have died and the survivors are behind the walls of Rilentor, fleeing from the death and destruction which stalks the realm. We’re on a mission for King Solin.”
“Yes, my inexperienced bear cub, I know what Haradin and the King have asked you: to find the other two Bearers and lead them back to Rilentor. That’s not why we’re here, you and I. Although… perhaps… in part… a part of something altogether more crucial.”
“I can’t follow your thoughts…”
The Silver Witch giggled.
“Since you left our little village in search of your personal vendetta, you’ve been very busy, haven’t you? What’s that hanging round your neck?”
Komir began to explain: “It’s a…”
“I know what it is, boy,” she interrupted. “I’ve been watching you as often as I could. I know your adventures well, and those of your companions. So don’t try to hide anything from me. I might be a half-crazy old witch and perhaps a tad senile, but my mind still runs astonishingly fast for my age.”
“I can well believe that you see everything and that your mind is as quick as always. But why would I hide anything from you?”
“Hah! The heart of men has a natural tendency to get confused when it comes into contact with power. The yearning for power, greatness, dominion, will corrupt the purest soul. That Ilenian medallion round your neck has such an amazing power I doubt whether you can ever come to understand it.”
“It’s a charmed medallion, and it’s saved my life several times. That’s all I know and all I care about.”
“Ah, now right there, in those words, lies the essence of what I’m trying to tell you. A medallion or any other Object of Power can’t save anybody, it’s just an object. My panther can save you, I can save you, but a magical object can’t. It’s just an object with one purpose, to be used by someone.”
“Well, this object has saved me, that’s all I can say.”
“And that, my bear cub, is precisely what’s important. That Ilenian medallion is linked to you, to your destiny. Otherwise you wouldn’t have found it, and it would never have acted to save your life.”
“What destiny are you talking about? That one you warned me about when I left the village or a different one? I’d remind you that you never mentioned either the medallions or the Ilenians. You told me to go to the Egia Lighthouse and on another occasion to go East, and that’s what I did.”
“And what did you find in the course of both searches?”
“Very nearly death both times…”
“There’s no reward without risk, young warrior. On both occasions you found Ilenian medallions. First the one you’re wearing and later those which two Bearers who were returning from the East are now wearing, a certain Aliana… and Asti… if I grasped it right.”
At the mention of the Healer’s name Komir tensed, and a bitter pain clutched his chest.
“I did what you asked me to. I don’t know the reason. But it didn’t lead me to the end I was after. I still don’t know who’s responsible for the death of my parents. I still haven’t been able to gain justice for them. But at least now I have the medallion, and I’m sure it will help me.”
“Ah, the eternal search for revenge your soul craves! A vain search and a senseless one, but your search nevertheless. As for your Destiny, it’s one and one only. It’s true I didn’t mention anything about the Ilenians, because my talent didn’t let me see any of them. Most likely because of the powerful Ilenian magic which hid them from my Gift. But don’t be mistaken, Komir, your Destiny is clear and still the same one I foretold to you back then. Evil is on its way; it’s very close, an evil carrying infernal suffering to all Tremia. I’ve used my Gift and traveled along the threads of Destiny, navigating the
“Yes, my inexperienced bear cub, I know what Haradin and the King have asked you: to find the other two Bearers and lead them back to Rilentor. That’s not why we’re here, you and I. Although… perhaps… in part… a part of something altogether more crucial.”
“I can’t follow your thoughts…”
The Silver Witch giggled.
“Since you left our little village in search of your personal vendetta, you’ve been very busy, haven’t you? What’s that hanging round your neck?”
Komir began to explain: “It’s a…”
“I know what it is, boy,” she interrupted. “I’ve been watching you as often as I could. I know your adventures well, and those of your companions. So don’t try to hide anything from me. I might be a half-crazy old witch and perhaps a tad senile, but my mind still runs astonishingly fast for my age.”
“I can well believe that you see everything and that your mind is as quick as always. But why would I hide anything from you?”
“Hah! The heart of men has a natural tendency to get confused when it comes into contact with power. The yearning for power, greatness, dominion, will corrupt the purest soul. That Ilenian medallion round your neck has such an amazing power I doubt whether you can ever come to understand it.”
“It’s a charmed medallion, and it’s saved my life several times. That’s all I know and all I care about.”
“Ah, now right there, in those words, lies the essence of what I’m trying to tell you. A medallion or any other Object of Power can’t save anybody, it’s just an object. My panther can save you, I can save you, but a magical object can’t. It’s just an object with one purpose, to be used by someone.”
“Well, this object has saved me, that’s all I can say.”
“And that, my bear cub, is precisely what’s important. That Ilenian medallion is linked to you, to your destiny. Otherwise you wouldn’t have found it, and it would never have acted to save your life.”
“What destiny are you talking about? That one you warned me about when I left the village or a different one? I’d remind you that you never mentioned either the medallions or the Ilenians. You told me to go to the Egia Lighthouse and on another occasion to go East, and that’s what I did.”
“And what did you find in the course of both searches?”
“Very nearly death both times…”
“There’s no reward without risk, young warrior. On both occasions you found Ilenian medallions. First the one you’re wearing and later those which two Bearers who were returning from the East are now wearing, a certain Aliana… and Asti… if I grasped it right.”
At the mention of the Healer’s name Komir tensed, and a bitter pain clutched his chest.
“I did what you asked me to. I don’t know the reason. But it didn’t lead me to the end I was after. I still don’t know who’s responsible for the death of my parents. I still haven’t been able to gain justice for them. But at least now I have the medallion, and I’m sure it will help me.”
“Ah, the eternal search for revenge your soul craves! A vain search and a senseless one, but your search nevertheless. As for your Destiny, it’s one and one only. It’s true I didn’t mention anything about the Ilenians, because my talent didn’t let me see any of them. Most likely because of the powerful Ilenian magic which hid them from my Gift. But don’t be mistaken, Komir, your Destiny is clear and still the same one I foretold to you back then. Evil is on its way; it’s very close, an evil carrying infernal suffering to all Tremia. I’ve used my Gift and traveled along the threads of Destiny, navigating the
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