head.
“What happened to the armor, anyway?” asked Luke. “The rumors said that you had taken it for yourself after…”
After killing an Arbiter.
“The rumors say many things about you as well, Hero of Kantor.” Kaoru smiled. “In this particular case, the rumors are true. I was hiding it in the guild hall on Wrye Island. The Arbiters recovered it, I believe.”
“That’s a shame,” said Silverstrike. “Having a set of it around would be a great tool to use to inspire rebellion, or whatever it is we’re getting ourselves into.”
“If everything goes according to plan, we will not be lacking in tools of inspiration.”
The morning sky was clear and bright by the time the three of them reached the Sarchia Desert. Luke could feel the air warming up quickly and it sapped his stamina. He began to yearn for the water of the oasis and shade of the palms in Dunidan’s Rest.
“I’ve been through your zone many times before,” said Kaoru as they approached the walls of the settlement. “It’s the crowning jewel of the desert.”
“Flattery isn’t going to get you anywhere, Kaoru,” said Luke. “If you want to sell us on your plan you’re going to have to be more direct.”
“But of course.” Kaoru leaned forward, swinging his arm in front of him in a mock bow.
The gate opened and Luke led the group in. Tess and some members of Athena’s Wrath were milling around the new smithy. Anna, the newly appointed blacksmith, was working the bellows of the forge and talking to the girls at the same time.
“Hey,” called Luke. “We’re back. And we brought company.”
Tess turned. She’s been smiling with the other girls, but when she saw Luke, the expression on her face shifted.
I never responded to her letter. I’m still not sure what to say back.
“Hello. I’m Kaoru.”
Tess looked at Kaoru with cautious eyes.
“This is Tess,” said Luke, cutting through the silence. “And these are members of our allied guild, Athena’s Wrath. Tess, is Katrina around?”
“She said she’d be logging back in sometime soon.” Tess crossed her arms and frowned. “It shouldn’t be long if you don’t mind waiting.”
Luke wanted to pull her aside and talk to her, but the moment wasn’t right. They needed a chance to talk on their own, to really talk, to close the gap that had slowly formed in between them.
Hang on, Tess. Just give me time to get my life sorted out.
As if on cue, Katrina appeared over by the oasis, glancing around and going through the motions of taking stock of her surroundings after logging in. She saw Luke and Kaoru, and slowly began walking over.
“Kaoru, this is Katrina,” said Luke. “Katrina, meet Kaoru. He’s got a… proposition for us.”
Luke chewed his lower lip.
We’ve reached a crossroads. I’ve already put Dunidan’s Rest in danger just by bringing him here. Now we have to decide just what we’re willing to risk.
“Well, that’s certainly an interesting introduction for a new arrival.” Katrina was smiling as she walked over to Kaoru, giving him a curious look. “So, Kaoru, just what-”
“Uh, there’s another player approaching on the horizon.” One of Katrina’s lookouts called out to them from the wall. “Were you guys expecting more company?”
“What?” Luke hurried over, hand on his sword hilt. He climbed the steps up to the wall and squinted into the sun.
“Who is it, Luke?” asked Silverstrike. “Maybe Megwin decided to start the trade negotiations.”
“No.” Luke took a deep breath and then pushed it out. “It’s an Arbiter. We must have been followed.”
A murmur passed over the group. Luke closed his eyes and balled his hands into fists.
I’m not going to back down. Not this time.
“Kaoru!” Luke waved him over, and then leaned in close so that only the two of them were in the conversation. “How did you do it? How did you kill the Arbiter before?”
Kaoru frowned.
“I’m a Nightblade, Kato,” said Kaoru. “A
“What happened to the armor, anyway?” asked Luke. “The rumors said that you had taken it for yourself after…”
After killing an Arbiter.
“The rumors say many things about you as well, Hero of Kantor.” Kaoru smiled. “In this particular case, the rumors are true. I was hiding it in the guild hall on Wrye Island. The Arbiters recovered it, I believe.”
“That’s a shame,” said Silverstrike. “Having a set of it around would be a great tool to use to inspire rebellion, or whatever it is we’re getting ourselves into.”
“If everything goes according to plan, we will not be lacking in tools of inspiration.”
The morning sky was clear and bright by the time the three of them reached the Sarchia Desert. Luke could feel the air warming up quickly and it sapped his stamina. He began to yearn for the water of the oasis and shade of the palms in Dunidan’s Rest.
“I’ve been through your zone many times before,” said Kaoru as they approached the walls of the settlement. “It’s the crowning jewel of the desert.”
“Flattery isn’t going to get you anywhere, Kaoru,” said Luke. “If you want to sell us on your plan you’re going to have to be more direct.”
“But of course.” Kaoru leaned forward, swinging his arm in front of him in a mock bow.
The gate opened and Luke led the group in. Tess and some members of Athena’s Wrath were milling around the new smithy. Anna, the newly appointed blacksmith, was working the bellows of the forge and talking to the girls at the same time.
“Hey,” called Luke. “We’re back. And we brought company.”
Tess turned. She’s been smiling with the other girls, but when she saw Luke, the expression on her face shifted.
I never responded to her letter. I’m still not sure what to say back.
“Hello. I’m Kaoru.”
Tess looked at Kaoru with cautious eyes.
“This is Tess,” said Luke, cutting through the silence. “And these are members of our allied guild, Athena’s Wrath. Tess, is Katrina around?”
“She said she’d be logging back in sometime soon.” Tess crossed her arms and frowned. “It shouldn’t be long if you don’t mind waiting.”
Luke wanted to pull her aside and talk to her, but the moment wasn’t right. They needed a chance to talk on their own, to really talk, to close the gap that had slowly formed in between them.
Hang on, Tess. Just give me time to get my life sorted out.
As if on cue, Katrina appeared over by the oasis, glancing around and going through the motions of taking stock of her surroundings after logging in. She saw Luke and Kaoru, and slowly began walking over.
“Kaoru, this is Katrina,” said Luke. “Katrina, meet Kaoru. He’s got a… proposition for us.”
Luke chewed his lower lip.
We’ve reached a crossroads. I’ve already put Dunidan’s Rest in danger just by bringing him here. Now we have to decide just what we’re willing to risk.
“Well, that’s certainly an interesting introduction for a new arrival.” Katrina was smiling as she walked over to Kaoru, giving him a curious look. “So, Kaoru, just what-”
“Uh, there’s another player approaching on the horizon.” One of Katrina’s lookouts called out to them from the wall. “Were you guys expecting more company?”
“What?” Luke hurried over, hand on his sword hilt. He climbed the steps up to the wall and squinted into the sun.
“Who is it, Luke?” asked Silverstrike. “Maybe Megwin decided to start the trade negotiations.”
“No.” Luke took a deep breath and then pushed it out. “It’s an Arbiter. We must have been followed.”
A murmur passed over the group. Luke closed his eyes and balled his hands into fists.
I’m not going to back down. Not this time.
“Kaoru!” Luke waved him over, and then leaned in close so that only the two of them were in the conversation. “How did you do it? How did you kill the Arbiter before?”
Kaoru frowned.
“I’m a Nightblade, Kato,” said Kaoru. “A
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