Tower of Winter (The Traveler's Gate Chronicles: Collection #1) by Will Wight Page B
Book: Tower of Winter (The Traveler's Gate Chronicles: Collection #1) by Will Wight
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Authors: Will Wight
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with the strength of Benson’s steel, he leaped forward.
The white eagle squawked and flapped its way backwards, but it wasn’t fast enough. Denner landed on its back and grabbed the Traveler by his collar. With one hand, he hauled the man over the towering drop to the forest floor.
The Traveler kicked and screamed, and the eagle bucked under Denner’s feet, but thanks to the steel he ignored it all.
“I’d still rather this not end in violence,” Denner pointed out.
The other Traveler nodded vigorously, his feathered helmet flapping.
“I love to see a peaceful resolution,” Hariman said. “This reminds me of one of Valin’s first battles after…”
Denner let him ramble. With any luck, the eagles would fly away that much faster just to escape the lecture.
***
When the High Watcher felt her way into her tent that night, using a cane to feel her way inside, Denner was waiting for her.
“You didn’t tell me she was just a girl,” Denner said. He didn’t sound as angry as he felt.
The High Watcher froze, fear flashing across her face.
The mighty warrior of Valinhall, Denner thought, assassin of children and bane of blind old women everywhere. Angry as he was, he still had to fight an urge to help her into a chair.
After only a second, she mastered herself, and her cane came down to rest on the ground. “That should not have mattered to you, killer that you are,” she said. “We told you enough to recognize her. Isn’t that enough?”
Denner’s anger flared up again. That was how she saw him, was it? Willing to kill anyone, anytime, with or without justification?
He supposed she had reason to think so. Valinhall had a certain reputation, after all.
And that reputation was not without its uses.
“Well, she’s dead,” he said. “Give me my money.”
The High Watcher nodded, though she was looking at the wrong corner of the tent. “Do you have any proof?”
“No,” Denner said.
He summoned Diava, laying it across his lap. He knew she wouldn’t be able to see it, but he had prepared for this eventuality: he pulled an ordinary rock out of his pocket.
He began to draw that rock across his sword. It produced the distinctive ring of a blade being sharpened.
Diava was made of Tartarus steel, tempered in the forges of Valinhall. He couldn’t sharpen it; all this would accomplish was grinding down the rock.
But it sounded intimidating.
For about half a minute, Denner sat there, drawing the rock across his blade, filling the silence with the sound of steel on stone.
Then the High Watcher pulled out her purse.
You show true loyalty when you remain dedicated to those who have turned their backs on you. If they reject you, you need not reject them in return.
One may remain loyal to a cause even when all others have forsaken it.
-Elysian Book of Virtues, Chapter 2: Orange
T HE C RYSTAL F IELDS
A Traveler of Lirial would tell you that intelligence and quick wits are the most valuable tools in the Crystal Fields. These are indeed admirable traits, but a would-be master of the Silver Light requires something deeper.
-Elysian Book of Virtues, Chapter 3: Silver
This story has been passed down to Lirial Travelers since the dawn of Elysia itself. As it was told to me, so I will tell it to you.
This is the story of Korriphus, the best of all Lirial Travelers. He was known as a wise and learned man who served the Elysians well. It was he who gave us the first moon charts, who outwitted the first Lirial Incarnation, and who organized teams to explore the tombs of the Daniri, seeking their treasures. Truly, he was a great man.
And none knew the greatness of Korriphus better than Korriphus himself.
In those times, Lirial Travelers were plentiful, so they built cities for themselves among the Crystal Fields. One day, a white ape with six eyes walked into the greatest city in Lirial, where Korriphus ruled. None had ever met this ape, but they treated him with respect, for Lirial Travelers
The white eagle squawked and flapped its way backwards, but it wasn’t fast enough. Denner landed on its back and grabbed the Traveler by his collar. With one hand, he hauled the man over the towering drop to the forest floor.
The Traveler kicked and screamed, and the eagle bucked under Denner’s feet, but thanks to the steel he ignored it all.
“I’d still rather this not end in violence,” Denner pointed out.
The other Traveler nodded vigorously, his feathered helmet flapping.
“I love to see a peaceful resolution,” Hariman said. “This reminds me of one of Valin’s first battles after…”
Denner let him ramble. With any luck, the eagles would fly away that much faster just to escape the lecture.
***
When the High Watcher felt her way into her tent that night, using a cane to feel her way inside, Denner was waiting for her.
“You didn’t tell me she was just a girl,” Denner said. He didn’t sound as angry as he felt.
The High Watcher froze, fear flashing across her face.
The mighty warrior of Valinhall, Denner thought, assassin of children and bane of blind old women everywhere. Angry as he was, he still had to fight an urge to help her into a chair.
After only a second, she mastered herself, and her cane came down to rest on the ground. “That should not have mattered to you, killer that you are,” she said. “We told you enough to recognize her. Isn’t that enough?”
Denner’s anger flared up again. That was how she saw him, was it? Willing to kill anyone, anytime, with or without justification?
He supposed she had reason to think so. Valinhall had a certain reputation, after all.
And that reputation was not without its uses.
“Well, she’s dead,” he said. “Give me my money.”
The High Watcher nodded, though she was looking at the wrong corner of the tent. “Do you have any proof?”
“No,” Denner said.
He summoned Diava, laying it across his lap. He knew she wouldn’t be able to see it, but he had prepared for this eventuality: he pulled an ordinary rock out of his pocket.
He began to draw that rock across his sword. It produced the distinctive ring of a blade being sharpened.
Diava was made of Tartarus steel, tempered in the forges of Valinhall. He couldn’t sharpen it; all this would accomplish was grinding down the rock.
But it sounded intimidating.
For about half a minute, Denner sat there, drawing the rock across his blade, filling the silence with the sound of steel on stone.
Then the High Watcher pulled out her purse.
You show true loyalty when you remain dedicated to those who have turned their backs on you. If they reject you, you need not reject them in return.
One may remain loyal to a cause even when all others have forsaken it.
-Elysian Book of Virtues, Chapter 2: Orange
T HE C RYSTAL F IELDS
A Traveler of Lirial would tell you that intelligence and quick wits are the most valuable tools in the Crystal Fields. These are indeed admirable traits, but a would-be master of the Silver Light requires something deeper.
-Elysian Book of Virtues, Chapter 3: Silver
This story has been passed down to Lirial Travelers since the dawn of Elysia itself. As it was told to me, so I will tell it to you.
This is the story of Korriphus, the best of all Lirial Travelers. He was known as a wise and learned man who served the Elysians well. It was he who gave us the first moon charts, who outwitted the first Lirial Incarnation, and who organized teams to explore the tombs of the Daniri, seeking their treasures. Truly, he was a great man.
And none knew the greatness of Korriphus better than Korriphus himself.
In those times, Lirial Travelers were plentiful, so they built cities for themselves among the Crystal Fields. One day, a white ape with six eyes walked into the greatest city in Lirial, where Korriphus ruled. None had ever met this ape, but they treated him with respect, for Lirial Travelers
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