more than blue light.
‘Why don’t you go and find out?’ Hirandar whispered. ‘I’ll be on your shoulder.’
Taem’s heart pounded as he advanced towards the blue light. He slid along the side of the passage, his back flat to one of the walls, melding his outline with the side of the tunnel. As he crept closer, he saw that the blue light was coming from a column of blue flame, burning at the end of a cave. Taem realised there were shadowy mounds scattered all over the chamber. He crept forward, feeling afraid. Taem froze, when he realised the mounds were skeletons. His heart missed a beat. The cave was littered with long dead skeletons! Most were still wearing rusted armour. The closest one was leering at Taem through its ancient helmet.
‘It’s a trap!’ Taem stood statue still, and held up a hand to stop Hirandar.
‘The fire killed all these men,’ Hirandar murmured, and Taem could hear her voice was full of dread.
‘We should get out!’ Taem stared at the blue flame, expecting it to reach out and burn him alive.
Hirandar hesitated. For the past twenty years, she had been waiting for this moment. She had been certain Taem was the one to retrieve the sword. But now it came to it, the Wizard was no longer sure at all. Hirandar had thought it would be so easy. She would take Taem here, and Taem would just take the sword. But it was not that simple, was it? What if Taem was not the one? What if she had brought Taem here to die?
‘Hirandar?’ Taem whispered, ‘did you not hear me? We have to get out!’
‘Taem, my boy,’ Hirandar stopped staring at the blue fire, and put her hand on Taem’s shoulder. ‘Inside the blue flame, there lies a sword. A Sodan sword from a time of legends. It has lain here, bathed in blue flames, for a thousand years. Waiting for someone who is worthy to claim it,’ Hirandar nodded her head at Taem.
Taem swallowed hard, ‘You think I should try to claim it?’
Hirandar exhaled. She was no longer sure at all.
‘Many have tried before,’ Hirandar gestured at the long dead skeletons scattered all over the cave. ‘But all have been consumed by blue fire.’
‘Then why should I try?’ Taem shook his head at the Wizard. ‘What if I am burnt to death?’
Hirandar felt her resolve faltering, as Taem looked at her with his innocent blue eyes. But Hirandar’s own research, the prophecy, her gut instinct – everything said Taem was the one.
‘This is v ery powerful magic,’ Hirandar said. ‘Deep magic that cannot be unwoven, except by one whom the sword deems worthy.’ The Wizard’s voice sounded far more composed than she felt. ‘Many have tried, Taem, and they have all been consumed by blue fire the instant they touched the flames. Only one who seeks truth, and comes with virtue in his heart, will quench the blue fire. Long have I thought about this, and not lightly would I bring you here. I cannot tell you to reach for the sword, only ask if you feel it is within you to try.’
‘Hirandar,’ Taem stared into the blue fire, ‘it cannot be me. I’m no great hero, and I’ve never done anything worthwhile in my entire life–’
‘You have more worth than you dare give yourself credit for,’ Hirandar remained calm, and tried not to show the sadness she felt when she heard Taem be so despondent.
Taem dropped his head, ‘Logan is a great warrior, why not ask him to retrieve the sword?’
‘Logan is the greatest warrior in Hathlore,’ Hirandar looked Taem straight in the eyes, ‘but he’s humble enough to know the sword is not for him. All those who’ve tried and failed before were all great warriors, and they were all vainglorious fools.’
‘Hirandar,’ Taem murmured, ‘I’m not ready. Maybe in a few years, but not yet. I’m not good enough...’
‘Oh Taem, my boy,’ Hirandar smiled, ‘that’s why it must be you! Do you think all these mighty warriors that died here ever thought they were not good enough ?’
‘No,’ Taem shrugged his
‘Why don’t you go and find out?’ Hirandar whispered. ‘I’ll be on your shoulder.’
Taem’s heart pounded as he advanced towards the blue light. He slid along the side of the passage, his back flat to one of the walls, melding his outline with the side of the tunnel. As he crept closer, he saw that the blue light was coming from a column of blue flame, burning at the end of a cave. Taem realised there were shadowy mounds scattered all over the chamber. He crept forward, feeling afraid. Taem froze, when he realised the mounds were skeletons. His heart missed a beat. The cave was littered with long dead skeletons! Most were still wearing rusted armour. The closest one was leering at Taem through its ancient helmet.
‘It’s a trap!’ Taem stood statue still, and held up a hand to stop Hirandar.
‘The fire killed all these men,’ Hirandar murmured, and Taem could hear her voice was full of dread.
‘We should get out!’ Taem stared at the blue flame, expecting it to reach out and burn him alive.
Hirandar hesitated. For the past twenty years, she had been waiting for this moment. She had been certain Taem was the one to retrieve the sword. But now it came to it, the Wizard was no longer sure at all. Hirandar had thought it would be so easy. She would take Taem here, and Taem would just take the sword. But it was not that simple, was it? What if Taem was not the one? What if she had brought Taem here to die?
‘Hirandar?’ Taem whispered, ‘did you not hear me? We have to get out!’
‘Taem, my boy,’ Hirandar stopped staring at the blue fire, and put her hand on Taem’s shoulder. ‘Inside the blue flame, there lies a sword. A Sodan sword from a time of legends. It has lain here, bathed in blue flames, for a thousand years. Waiting for someone who is worthy to claim it,’ Hirandar nodded her head at Taem.
Taem swallowed hard, ‘You think I should try to claim it?’
Hirandar exhaled. She was no longer sure at all.
‘Many have tried before,’ Hirandar gestured at the long dead skeletons scattered all over the cave. ‘But all have been consumed by blue fire.’
‘Then why should I try?’ Taem shook his head at the Wizard. ‘What if I am burnt to death?’
Hirandar felt her resolve faltering, as Taem looked at her with his innocent blue eyes. But Hirandar’s own research, the prophecy, her gut instinct – everything said Taem was the one.
‘This is v ery powerful magic,’ Hirandar said. ‘Deep magic that cannot be unwoven, except by one whom the sword deems worthy.’ The Wizard’s voice sounded far more composed than she felt. ‘Many have tried, Taem, and they have all been consumed by blue fire the instant they touched the flames. Only one who seeks truth, and comes with virtue in his heart, will quench the blue fire. Long have I thought about this, and not lightly would I bring you here. I cannot tell you to reach for the sword, only ask if you feel it is within you to try.’
‘Hirandar,’ Taem stared into the blue fire, ‘it cannot be me. I’m no great hero, and I’ve never done anything worthwhile in my entire life–’
‘You have more worth than you dare give yourself credit for,’ Hirandar remained calm, and tried not to show the sadness she felt when she heard Taem be so despondent.
Taem dropped his head, ‘Logan is a great warrior, why not ask him to retrieve the sword?’
‘Logan is the greatest warrior in Hathlore,’ Hirandar looked Taem straight in the eyes, ‘but he’s humble enough to know the sword is not for him. All those who’ve tried and failed before were all great warriors, and they were all vainglorious fools.’
‘Hirandar,’ Taem murmured, ‘I’m not ready. Maybe in a few years, but not yet. I’m not good enough...’
‘Oh Taem, my boy,’ Hirandar smiled, ‘that’s why it must be you! Do you think all these mighty warriors that died here ever thought they were not good enough ?’
‘No,’ Taem shrugged his
Similar Books
