come to understand that the endless winter does in
fact have an end, and warmer weather lies beyond."
"I
don't understand," said Lannon, sighing. "About the winter, I mean.
It is springtime right now, and the snows will soon melt away."
"Your
world is no longer my home," said Thrake, "and you are not meant to
understand what I experience. Every path is different. This is my journey
alone, old friend. Yet perhaps we may meet again...at the journey's end. I'm
sorry I tried to kill you, Lannon. The Deep Shadow hates you above all others,
and thus I too harbored vicious hated for you. But I don't hate you anymore,
and I'm glad you live on. For now, I must say farewell and begin my long
walk."
"I
hope we do meet again," said Lannon, relief flooding through him as he
realized Thrake's tormented shade would not be visiting him again. This
encounter had brought a sort of closure to Lannon, and he was grateful for
that. "And I forgive you for attacking me. I won't forget you. You were a
great Knight and a great mentor to Jerret. Goodbye, Master Thrake."
Thrake
turned away and walked into the grove of pines, leaving no footprints in the
snow. He soon vanished from sight. A cold wind blew through the area, and ice
rattled on the boughs. Lannon shivered beneath his fur cloak and felt like he
was in a dream, perhaps under an illusion that the Eye of Divinity could not
see through. He wondered if he'd really even spoken to Thrake or if it had been
a strange game played by the Deep Shadow--perhaps for its amusement. He gazed
at the moon for answers, for he knew from Knightly teachings that looking at
the moon would reveal whether or not one was under a dream spell. He found he
was wide awake.
***
Lannon
stood before Taris' tent, wondering if the Tower Master was asleep. It was
around midnight. The guards were still watching him, but they didn't question
his actions. However, one of them had gone and scouted around where Lannon had
been talking to Thrake's shade. The Knights were well aware that the Eye of
Divinity was something they could never understand and that Lannon was assigned
an investigative role at Dremlock. They were also aware of Lannon's importance
and rank as a member of the Divine Shield.
"Taris
is awake, Lannon," of the guards said. "He is expecting you."
Lannon
stepped into the tent, to find Taris sitting cross-legged in the lantern light
with his hands folded in his lap as if in prayer. The scent of a strange
incense filled the tent's interior. Taris' cloak hood was drawn back, his
pointed ears and scarred face revealed. The tent's interior was warm thanks to
Taris' burning dagger, which was laying on a metal chest. Lannon marveled at
Taris' ability to keep the dagger burning without touching it, a feat Lannon
had never seen before.
"Sit
down, Lannon," said Taris. He poured water from a steaming teakettle into
a cup. "Would you care for some tea?"
Lannon
sat down across from him. "Yes, thanks."
Taris
poured Lannon a cup of tea, and the Squire took a sip. It tasted like
blackberries and Lannon found it delicious.
"What
business brings you here beneath the moon?" Taris asked.
Lannon
described his encounter with Thrake's shade. The incident was still vivid in
Lannon's mind and he was able to reveal it in great detail. It seemed that
whenever Lannon used the Eye of Divinity to view something, the memories of it
were etched deeply into his brain right down to the smallest details.
Taris
took another sip of tea and sat in thoughtful silence. At last he said, "I
believe Thrake's spirit spoke true. I believe he was attempting to redeem
himself by warning us about the Dragon bones, and this incident will receive
mention in Dremlock's official records."
"But
what happens now?" asked Lannon.
"I
will send two messengers to Dremlock," said Taris. "One of my Knights
and an Elder Hawk." He lowered his voice. "They will carry
instructions to Furlus to bury the bones in a secret location that shall never
be revealed. The
fact have an end, and warmer weather lies beyond."
"I
don't understand," said Lannon, sighing. "About the winter, I mean.
It is springtime right now, and the snows will soon melt away."
"Your
world is no longer my home," said Thrake, "and you are not meant to
understand what I experience. Every path is different. This is my journey
alone, old friend. Yet perhaps we may meet again...at the journey's end. I'm
sorry I tried to kill you, Lannon. The Deep Shadow hates you above all others,
and thus I too harbored vicious hated for you. But I don't hate you anymore,
and I'm glad you live on. For now, I must say farewell and begin my long
walk."
"I
hope we do meet again," said Lannon, relief flooding through him as he
realized Thrake's tormented shade would not be visiting him again. This
encounter had brought a sort of closure to Lannon, and he was grateful for
that. "And I forgive you for attacking me. I won't forget you. You were a
great Knight and a great mentor to Jerret. Goodbye, Master Thrake."
Thrake
turned away and walked into the grove of pines, leaving no footprints in the
snow. He soon vanished from sight. A cold wind blew through the area, and ice
rattled on the boughs. Lannon shivered beneath his fur cloak and felt like he
was in a dream, perhaps under an illusion that the Eye of Divinity could not
see through. He wondered if he'd really even spoken to Thrake or if it had been
a strange game played by the Deep Shadow--perhaps for its amusement. He gazed
at the moon for answers, for he knew from Knightly teachings that looking at
the moon would reveal whether or not one was under a dream spell. He found he
was wide awake.
***
Lannon
stood before Taris' tent, wondering if the Tower Master was asleep. It was
around midnight. The guards were still watching him, but they didn't question
his actions. However, one of them had gone and scouted around where Lannon had
been talking to Thrake's shade. The Knights were well aware that the Eye of
Divinity was something they could never understand and that Lannon was assigned
an investigative role at Dremlock. They were also aware of Lannon's importance
and rank as a member of the Divine Shield.
"Taris
is awake, Lannon," of the guards said. "He is expecting you."
Lannon
stepped into the tent, to find Taris sitting cross-legged in the lantern light
with his hands folded in his lap as if in prayer. The scent of a strange
incense filled the tent's interior. Taris' cloak hood was drawn back, his
pointed ears and scarred face revealed. The tent's interior was warm thanks to
Taris' burning dagger, which was laying on a metal chest. Lannon marveled at
Taris' ability to keep the dagger burning without touching it, a feat Lannon
had never seen before.
"Sit
down, Lannon," said Taris. He poured water from a steaming teakettle into
a cup. "Would you care for some tea?"
Lannon
sat down across from him. "Yes, thanks."
Taris
poured Lannon a cup of tea, and the Squire took a sip. It tasted like
blackberries and Lannon found it delicious.
"What
business brings you here beneath the moon?" Taris asked.
Lannon
described his encounter with Thrake's shade. The incident was still vivid in
Lannon's mind and he was able to reveal it in great detail. It seemed that
whenever Lannon used the Eye of Divinity to view something, the memories of it
were etched deeply into his brain right down to the smallest details.
Taris
took another sip of tea and sat in thoughtful silence. At last he said, "I
believe Thrake's spirit spoke true. I believe he was attempting to redeem
himself by warning us about the Dragon bones, and this incident will receive
mention in Dremlock's official records."
"But
what happens now?" asked Lannon.
"I
will send two messengers to Dremlock," said Taris. "One of my Knights
and an Elder Hawk." He lowered his voice. "They will carry
instructions to Furlus to bury the bones in a secret location that shall never
be revealed. The
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