Ch 14 – The Hero's New Sword

Paladin stepped back out into the light and the warm breeze of Lookout Point, holding the Fire Heart. He'd just come from a rather…interesting experience. The Prophets of the Fire Heart evidently had had plenty of time to brush up on their wit and humor. Though, to be fair, they had been in there since just before the fall of the Old Kingdom. He looked around and saw Weaver coming from the Guild hall, followed by Briar Rose; both looked rather distressed.

Paladin grinned at them. "Weaver, Rose. Hey, Rose, why are you trying mar your pretty face with such an ugly scowl?"

Normally, such a comment would have lightened the mood. This time, though, Briar Rose wasted no time with pleasantries. "From what I've been reading, those Summoners are bad news. In fact, that's what those Minions back in Darkwood were trying to summon. It's too bad you didn't keep the Sword of Aeons. We could really use it."

Paladin vehemently shook his head. "No. The price for it was too high; I'd have had to kill Theresa to wield its power."

Briar Rose grimaced. "You're right – too high a price. I guess we're stuck then."

"Maybe not." Paladin and Briar Rose turned to Weaver as he continued, "There have long been legends of a powerful sword somewhere on the grounds of the Heroes Guild. Maze was quite interested in finding it; we know why now, of course. But his notes were in his quarters. Unless you removed all the books, Paladin, they should still be somewhere in there."

Paladin thought. "No, I thought about it, but decided it could wait until I came back full-time."

Briar Rose spoke next. "That settles it. We'll start the search in your quarters."

Paladin and Weaver looked at each other with a wry expression at her words. Briar Rose looked puzzled at this at first, then realized just what she'd said. "I-I didn't mean that the way it sounded!" The two men burst out with laughter at her flustered state.

After a couple of minutes, during which Briar Rose turned red as her armor, Paladin finally calmed down and spoke. "Come on, Rose. Let's go find that book."

Briar Rose was still too embarrassed to speak; she just mutely followed as he walked into the Guild. They had just reached the tower when she stopped and looked around. It was Paladin's turn to be perplexed. "What are you doing?"

"Think about it. Briar Rose is going into Paladin's personal quarters. If others see us go up, well…the rumors will run in the vein of my misspoken statement earlier. That wouldn't be very good for your reputation." She turned and started up the stairs.

He smirked and teased, "Oh, I don't know. Being the guy who won over Briar Rose would probably enhance my reputation quite a bit, actually."

Her only response was to roll her eyes and keep walking upstairs. They stepped into the dusty, cool room and looked around. The fire had gone out; with the Leader of the Guild not staying in these quarters, no one had kept the fire alive. Everything had a layer of dust that proved nobody had been in this room since Paladin had left. The books still sat on the shelf on one side of the room. Briar Rose stepped over to the bookcase and began perusing the volumes there in search of something that might contain the information they sought.

Paladin joined her and took a volume of the History of the Guild from one shelf. There were some papers stuffed into the book, with notes covering each page from top to bottom in Maze's sharp hand. Opening the text, he saw the entries that had evidently been Maze's reason for keeping the tome – they spoke of a weapon known as Avo's Tear. The legend apparently stated that Solcius, one of the Guild's greatest Will users, had taken the blade of a fallen Guard and centered his whole Will power into it, then used it to seal a vortex that would have destroyed Bowerstone. The feat had killed him; but the legend of a powerful blade came to life. The entries further stated that one had to go to the graves in the Courtyard and stand before a certain one to receive it…if the Heroes of the past deemed that one worthy of the blade. Maze's notes indicated he'd deduced where to go, and attempted to acquire it, but had been unworthy of the sword. He had lamented that he was trapped in Jack's thrall forever.

"Not forever – just until Jack or a true Hero killed you." Briar Rose's voice dripped with venom. Paladin glanced over at her to see that her face was a mask of disgust and anger.

"Rose, look at these entries, and consider that he didn't intend for anyone else to be reading this." He pointed to one of the notes. "He was trying to get the sword to use against Jack, or at least give to someone else who would use it so."

Briar Rose thought for a moment, then her expression softened. "I suppose you're right. Doesn't mean I have to like him, though."

Paladin looked over the entries and notes once again. "Now, if we can recreate his line of thinking, we can find where Avo's Tear is. All we know for now is that we need to go to the Courtyard graves."

Briar Rose looked over the material, then pondered. "You know, of course, that one of them is empty. These phrases look as though they could possibly refer to that."

Paladin considered the idea. "Okay, let's try it. After all, it's not as though we have any other ideas."

"Oh, thank you. It's nice to know that my idea is just being used because you haven't got one. Actually, I'm impressed that you troubled your tiny little mind over it." The friendly smirk across her face robbed the sarcasm in her words of its edge.

"Yes, I did; and let me tell you, it was a lot of effort! My head hurts now." How Paladin was able to say something like that with a straight face, Briar Rose had decided some time ago, would go down as one of the great mysteries of this age. For now, she simply laughed at the remark as they headed downstairs.

Paladin continued into the Courtyard; Briar Rose first scanned the area for anyone who might take their return from upstairs in an inappropriate manner, then walked over to the bushes near the empty grave. Paladin stepped up to the grave, and read the inscription on the stone in front of it. The idea did make sense.

Suddenly, he and Briar Rose heard a voice, telling him that he'd been watched and observed; his sacrifice of the Sword of Aeons had not gone unnoticed. Because he'd turned his back on its power, he, above all others, was worthy to wield Avo's Tear. A formidable blade appeared over the end of the grave, radiating strength and might.

Paladin grasped the handle and looked the sword over; then he gave it a couple of practice swings before sheathing it on his back. Then he turned to Briar Rose, who was still staring wide-eyed at the events she'd just witnessed. "Are you all right?"

She shook off her stupor enough to mutely nod before finding her voice again. "Yes; are you ready to go?"

Paladin recalled a promise to one of his renters to check something in a home he owned. "Not quite; I have some quick business to deal with in Oakvale."

Briar Rose nodded. "Very well; I guess I'll get back to my books then. Meet you in Hook Coast?"

It was Paladin's turn to nod. The two parted ways; he headed for the Cullis Gate. The last thing he saw as he disappeared in the haze of teleportation was Briar Rose watching him go from the door of the Library.