Al'zhaïghul rested as he had indicated. Vyrdein wrestled with the situation: in his own establishment was the nameless warrior who had swept aside the forces of the Rune-Blades and confronted the King himself an stood his ground against his majesty. If word of this got out, he'd be arrested for complicity with an enemy of the Kingdoms. Rumors that the Nameless Warrior was still alive were therefore well-founded. This same man, was sleeping in one of the rooms of his inn !
Vakyr, who knew what he was up against, was fascinated by Al'zhaïghul. He was a Rune-Blade and had always dreamed of becoming one, and now one of them was under his roof! Vakyr was in the midst of a strange dream, for this same man was also a skeleton.
- He seems rather calm and gentlemanly." said Vakyr.
- Perhaps, but remember that he was a servant of the Empire." his father reminded him seriously. He was working for the enemy! For that Rasnar*!
- Not quite, if I may intrude on your conversation ?
Al'zhaïghul had woken up and heard Vyrdein's words, turning pale of terror.
- Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you." exclaimed Al'zhaïghul. I've heard such talk in many places, even from within the Empire.
- In that case, if I may say so, my lord." said Vakyr. Why did you take their defense and fight us?
- An excellent question, young man." replied Al'zhaïghul. Well, it's quite simple: they paid me.
Vyrdein and Vakyr opened their eyes wide in astonishment.
- They..... paid you!?!!" stammered Vakyr.
- Yes." replied Al'zhaïghul. I needed to pay my debts for drinking a little too much at an inn not far from the valleys of Orberia. I'm originally a mercenary. I must admit my death wasn't too useless since I'll be able to keep a few pennies in my pocket since he probably thinks I'm dead.
Vyrdein looked at Al'zhaïghul in confusion. The fact that a man had practically decimated the army of the Rune-Blades to pay his debts to an inn seemed completely insane to him.
- But what is your goal in life, what are you trying to achieve?" asked Vyrdein.
- I have none." replied Al'zhaïghul. I travel, that's all, and I used to look for enemies worthy .of me, but not anymore. I've had enough.
- So what are you going to do now?" asked Vakyr curiously.
- Well, I'm going back to the Sanctum." replied Al'zhaïghul. I've got some questions that need answering.
- The Sanctum?" wondered Vakyr, surprised that he didn't know the place, even though he was good at cartography
- This is a place none of you would know about, my boy." exclaimed Al'zhaïghul. The Sanctum of the Elements, where each of the most powerful Elemental Runes-Masters has passed through. There are 5 people there with a wisdom and understanding of the elements beyond human comprehension. It's there that I've learned I had a runic connection to the four elements.
- 5 people full of wisdom and who understand the nature of the elements!?!" exclaimed Vakyr, his eyes wide with surprise.
- How..... how come we've never heard of them?" asked Vyrdein in a daze.
- Well, it has to be said that they don't want to be known." replied Al'zhaïghul. Most of the Rune-Blades they've trained believe in keeping their identities secret, but I honestly don't give a damn! As long as I don't tell the Empire. If you must know, even Ernasel the Aegis was a Sanctum apprentice.
Vakyr remembered Ernasel the Aegis well. A powerful Rune-Blade master of the wind, with which he created a gigantic wind barrier and then unleashed terrible tornadoes. He'd read about him many times in storybooks.
- Did you know him." asked Vakyr?
- I'm not that old, my good boy." replied Al'zhaïghul. I'm only 24, but I must admit that he was the inspiration for my Wind Shield, took me some time to adjust these runes on my etheriast armor.
As Vyrdein pondered these revelations, a question nagged at the back of Vakyr's mind. Al'zhaïghul realized this and asked him:
- What is it, young man?
Vakyr hesitated no longer, and his question burst from his mouth like lightning from a storm.
- If I could find this place,..... could they make me a Rune-Blade ?
Al'zhaïghul was surprised by the question and just as he was about to answer, Vyrdein exploded in anger.
"NO! You'll never become a Rune-Blade ! You'll stay here until this war's over !
- BUT FATHER !" exclaimed Vakyr. If I become a Rune-Blade, I could help the kingdoms and I wouldn't have to fear the Imperials!
- Rune-Blade training has a much higher mortality rate than any form of battle!" continued Vyrdein.
- How do you know?" replied Vakyr.
- Because he's an ancient Blade-Rune, isn't he? asked Al'zhaïghul.
Vakyr didn't immediately understood Al'zhaïghul's sentence, then looked at his father, who had a look of regret and embarrassment on his face.
"That's in the past, and I'll never speak of those days again !
Vakyr was about to burst with anger, but held back and went off to his room.
- So, Rune-Blade, you were, but what happened to you ? because I can't feel the slightest trace of runic energy in you." asked Al'zhaïghul.
- Well, it's a long story," replied Aguertay in her husband's stead. That's how we met."
Aguertay told him the story of how they had met. The two were very much in love, but she had been promised to a Rune-Lame count. They had decided that she would run away and they would run away together, but the Count found out and had Vyrdein captured. The Count decided that if he couldn't have Aguertay's heart, he had to have something. He stole Vurdein's runic powers and exiled Aguertay and Vyrdein.
-That's how Vyrdein and I met.
- A magic Stealer?" wondered Al'zhaïghul. Interesting power.
- He stole my powers to have his due, and so I've been able to live with Aguertay and have a good life. I don't want Vakyr to live this life of peril."
- But it's not your choice to be made old man." said Al'zhaïghul. It's his .
- ( he sighed), I just ... don't want that boy to end up like me, or die an horrible death chasing an impossible dream." Replied Vyrdein.
- Well, I plan to go to the sanctum, maybe I could bring him there safely and watch over him ?" asked Al'zhaïghul.
- You would, you would do that for a complete stranger like him ? Like us ?" asked in return Vyrdein.
- Well, you did offered me a bed and didn't said a word to the army about my presence so I owe you a bit. And I see this as my perfect chance to help you, to help that kid.
- Well, that's an offer to consid..." started Vyrdein
- When are we going ?!!
It turned out that Vakyr was behind the door the whole time, and after hearing Al'zhaïghul's proposal for help he became hyped and felt ready.
- Well i'm disapearing tonight Vakyr so if you want to come with me, you should already start to get your things ready ! We won't come back here for a long while .
- Okay sire !" while he was about to close the door, he looked into his father's eyes and hesitated. But :
- Go kid, go chase that dreams of yours." said Vyrdein.
- Okay dad."
Vakyr closed the door .
To be continued in the next chapter !
*Rasnar : grave insult used in the Kingdoms of Jonea to talk about an horrible person.