A small altar lies on the outskirts of Bulgar. This ancient temple, sacred to the people of Sacae, has long been known for its powerful bond to the world of spirits. Before starting their journey, our travelers come here to pray for their well being. At this altar, Lyn's hand is directed to a grand inheritance.
Morning arrived, and Sion slowly opened his eyes and pushed his hair out of his eyes. He sat up and stretched as he looked over to the east. The sun had just barely come out, and the sky remained in shades of purple and pink. He turned and smiled, facing Kent, Sain and Lyn.
"Good morning everyone!"
Sain replied with a loud snore as Sion clasped his hands on his ears, then turned to Lyn. She still was asleep under the blankets. Kent was also sleeping inside his own tent. A little disappointed, Sion began a small walk and sat down a few yards away from the campsite. Sighing, he looked up to the sky.
"If Lyn was kind enough to tell me her story, I suppose I must tell her mine... But, would she still see me the same way?"
Lost deep in his thoughts, he grew a bit nostalgic and smiled again.
"She opened up to me...The Caelin Knights told us their story, I suppose it's only right that I share mine."
Sion stood up and wrapped his ripped cloak around his neck a little tighter as a small breeze blew. All, of a sudden, he heard a loud shriek and whirled.
"Father, Noooooo!"
Sion's heart began racing as Lyn began to scream and thrash in her sleep. As Sion ran towards her, he also quickly realized that she had begun to wake up Kent and Sain.
"Mother! No! Stop it, please!"
Sion kept running to Lyn, who was now sweating as she kept screaming. He finally reached her, followed by the knights and held her by the shoulders.
"Lyn! Lyn, wake up! Wake up now!"
"Stop!" Lyn kept yelling as she kept throwing herself around, hitting Sion hard against the face. Sion, ignoring the sting, pinned her down and shook her.
"Lyn! Calm down! You're having a nightmare!"
Lyn snapped her eyes open and saw Kent and Sain above her with worried looks, and Sion, who also looked worried, but had a red mark on his left cheek.
"Sion? Did...Did I?
"It was only a nightmare. Don't worry about it. I've had worse Lyn. I'm glad you're awake now."
He smiled and softly let go of Lyn's shoulders as he got up to walk. All of a sudden, they heard a loud growl. They all turned to Sain, who was looking at his stomach.
"Uh...I'll go make breakfast."
Everyone laughed as Sain and Kent went hunting, then after they left, Sion turned and talked to Lyn.
"Lyn, I need to speak with you."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Well, you told me your story, and I will tell you mine. It all started when I was a little boy, and my father read me a book. It was about The Scouring. The story of dragons and men fighting fascinated me. My father was a warrior, and he also admired the fighters in the book. My mother, was a fair lady. Kind, beautiful, and she always devoted herself to us. We were happy, until my mother fell ill. My father left to seek help from a physician, but he never returned. Two weeks passed and then, a neighbor told us that my father was robbed and murdered in the woods. My mother, she lost all hope after that. She took care of me, but I knew deep down she was lonely. One day, she held me tight, she told me, 'Son, I will always love you, always. Take after your father, and make yourself as happy as you can be. I am sure, you will be happy in the ways of war, as he was.' The day after, she died, and I buried her with my own hands. I lingered home for a week, and then left on my own and joined a band of fighters for several years. I eventually became their leader and strategist, but I was missing a friend, no one to talk to. So, I passed my title to someone else and left. I was on my travels, and an angry member of that clan hunted me down and hit me with an arrow. And that's when you found me."
"Sion...I had no idea..."
"You needn't feel bad. It's life, sometimes its good, sometimes its bad. Sometimes it can't be helped. Anyway, I've spoken enough." He smiles at her. "Why don't we go have some food?" He pointed at Sain an Kent, who had come back with fowl. Lyn began to cook as Sion finally began to speak to Sain and Kent.
"I must apologize about my behavior in Bulgar, I'm sorry."
"None taken, Sion. Sain can be quite irritating at times."
"What's that supposed to mean!" Sain asked as he elbowed Kent. Kent just burst with laughter wit Sion at Sain's red face.
"Breakfast is ready everyone!" Lyn said as she served everyone. They all began to sit down and eat together.
1 hour after breakfast...
Sion had put another vulnerary and a bottle of wine he had purchased from Bulgar in his satchel. He then shut it, then looked behind him as the knights put away their tents. He turned to Lyn as she began to walk towards him.
"Sion, hold a moment, and allow me a short detour. There is a sacred sword enshrined in an altar east of here. The people of Sacae go there to pray for safety at the onset of a long journey."
Sion opened his mouth reply, but Sain interfered.
"Oh! How quaint!" Sain said.
Kent spoke, "The teachings of Elimine have the most followers in Elibe. It is nice to see that, here at least, the ancient customs are still observed."
Sion finally got to speak. "If it makes you happy Lyn, we will go."
At the altar...
An old man, about the age of 70, was praying when all of a sudden, a younger man pushed him and threatened.
"Old man! Stay where you are, and hold your tongue!"
The old man, replied calmly, as he moved in front of the sword in the shrine.
"Threaten me as you will, but I'll not give up the Mani Katti. The Mani Katti is a sacred blade under divine protection. It cannot be moved from its place of rest!"
The younger rogue retorted, "You're a fool, old man. What good's a sword if you don't use it?"
The man, in a wheezy, loud voice yelled.
"Use it? In combat? Sacrilege!"
The rogue continued on.
"Sacrilege? I am Glass! The god fear my name! My swordplay is peerless! And if I want this sword, then this sword I shall have!"
He grabbed the elder's shirt and growled.
"Now, get out of my way!"
He tossed him aside, then turned to face the Mani Katti with an evil grin.
"This is it! It's more magnificent than I'd imagined! This sword was made for a swordsman of my skill."
Glass walked to the Mani Katti and tried to remove it from its resting spot, but failed.
"Hmm? What's this? I can't...draw the sword...from its scabbard?"
The old man spoke.
"The spirits of the blade have judged you. You have been found wanting. They have rejected you."
In anger, Glass whirled upon the elder.
"What? Listen, you senile old fool. If you value your own life, you'll get out of my sight!" He screamed.
The old man then scrambled out far from the altar. Glass was very frustrated.
"Curses! Miserable spirits! I care nothing for you! I'll tear this altar down stone by stone!"
Back to our travelers...
Lyn, Sion, Kent and Sain were now about 30 yards from the altars distance when Sion spotted someone running toward them.
"Lyn, there's someone over there."
The lady finally caught up to Lyn and began to speak.
"I beg your pardon, milady. Are you headed east? To the altar?"
Lyn answered. "Yes, we are indeed."
The lady spoke with urgency now. "Then you must hurry and help the priest there. I saw a band of local ruffians head in there not long ago. They seemed intent on stealing the altar's sacred sword!"
Lyn began to worry. "The Mani Katti...They're going to steal it? I cannot allow this to happen!"
The elderly lady smiled. "You look like a virtuous group. Please, help him!"
With that, she kept on running, then Sain went up to Lyn.
"Lyndis, what are you planning?"
Kent spoke, "If you hope to go to the priest's aid, you'll need to prepare."
Lyn answered, "You're right..."
She turned to face Sion.
"Say, Sion...There are some homes to the south of us. Perhaps we should go there and question the residents."
"Sounds good, Lyn. But, we need to get to the altar as soon as possible. Kent, Sain...You two have horses, you can travel faster than us. By the time you finish interrogating all the residents, we will be at the temple. Your horses won't be able to make it over the mountains by the entrance, you'll have to go around. Go."
Kent and Sain parted and Lyn and Sion started for the temple. Lyn and Sion were able to take down a few bandits, and after the knights finished interviewing, they caught up with them.
Kent reported. "Lyn, we found out that there was a crack in the wall. If we can attack it with our weapons, we can get in from the side and annihilate any remaining bandits and deal with their leader."
"At this rate, its better than nothing. Let's do it!" Sion shouted as he cleaned his dagger.
Everyone ran to the crack and attacked. Eventually, it broke and they all swarmed the altar.
Lyn spotted Glass and confronted him with her steel sword drawn.
"Stop right there! How dare you threaten the Mani Katti!" Lyn screamed at the top of her lungs at Glass.
Glass, annoyed, yelled back at her.
"Who so you think you are? What chance do you have against me?"
"You arrogant fool!" Lyn yelled as she thrust her blade into his throat, a critical blow.
Struggling to speak with the blade in his throat, he stuttered.
"You...You...Urr...urgh..."
With that, Glass died, and Lyn drew her blade.
Sion, impressed at how fast she killed Glass and how determined she was, remained silent.
The elder, the priest, returned to the altar to speak with Lyn. He looked her over.
"Ah, your clothing...Are you of the Lorca tribe?"
"I'm Lyn, the chieftain's daughter. Are you hurt, sir?"
"Thanks to you, I am unscathed. You have my gratitude."
Lyn eagerly asked, "And the sword? Is it safe?"
"Yes, I have sealed the sword away. Until I remove my spell, the sword cannot be drawn. Now, as a token of my gratitude, I shall allow you to lay hands upon the Mani Katti. Touch the blade's pattern, and pray for a safe journey."
Lyn beamed and jumped. "Oh, thank you so much!"
Lyn put her hands upon it, but no sooner she had touched it, it glowed. Lyn and everyone stared in awe.
"Hm?", went the priest.
Lyn, confused, asked. "What? Did-"
The sword glowed again.
Lyn whispered. "The sword...It's...glowing."
The priest smiled. "Ah. Hm...It's the power of the spirits. Lyn, they have looked into your soul, and they call out to you."
Sain, confused, scratched his head. Sion just kept looking on.
Lyn asked, "What does that mean?"
The priest answered. "You are its rightful owner. You are to wield the Mani Katti."
Lyn, in awe, uttered, "No...I can't...I couldn't..."
The priest continued, "It's the sword's wish. If you require proof, draw it from its sheath."
"Um..." Lyn, started, but after an approving nod from Sion, she went on.
Lyn drew the sword from its sheath and gasped.
She panted, "It came out...effortlessly."
The priest spoke, "I never dared to hope that I meet the wielder of the Mani Katti in my life. I am indeed fortunate to see your sword reach your hands."
Lyn answered, "My sword?"
Sion said, "That's what he said."
The priest continued, "It is time for you to go, Lyn. You face a great many ordeals. Grip this sword, and meet your destiny head-on."
Stunned, Lyn managed to say, "Yes...Yes, sir!"
She then tucked the Mani Katti under her belt, then they all parted from the altar of the Mani Katti.
Outside the altar...
Sain asked, "So this is the Mani Katti... A blade with no equal."
Lyn said, "This is all so unbelievable. Perhaps the most famous sword in all of Sacae... in my hand."
Sion held her hand and smiled, "Lyn, quite an accomplishment, milady."
Lyn turned slightly red, then turned to Kent as he began to speak.
"It's not so strange. In fact, many legends tell similar tales... Special blades all over the land call out to their proper owners. And yet, when I saw you draw that blade, Lyndis... I felt something extraordinary. That sword was waiting for you. You were meant to draw it."
Lyn, extremely red at the face now, spoke, "Stop it! I...I'm nothing special!"
Sion went, "I beg to differ, Lyn!"
Kent laughed a bit, then continued, "Think of it this way: Some weapons feel more comfortable in your hand, right? Well, the Mani Katti itself feels very comfortable with you."
Sain also began to talk, "Does this make it any easier to accept? It doesn't appear that either of us can use it."
Lyn, smiling dreamily, began, "It...does feel right in my hand. A blade that only I can wield. That seems reasonable enough. I can understand that."
She turned to Sion with a sincere smile.
"Look at it, Sion. This is the Mani Katti. This is... my sword. I must care for it well."
Sion smiled for Lyn and her accomplishment. But, inside, he wished someone would care for him as Lyn cared for the Mani Katti.
He then looked up at the sun and noticed it began to set.
"We must keep going. It will get dark soon. After about an hour's worth, we'll set camp for the night."
With that, Sion and Lyn, tired from the fight, shared horses with Kent and Sain and rode off.
At Castle Caelin...
"What? Madelyn's daughter is still alive?" An old nobleman yelled to a Caelin soldier.
"Uh...Yes, Lord Lundgren. The girl is traveling with Kent and Sain, and a tactician as well, but we have yet to figure his name. What are your orders? If we let them be..."
Lundgren interrupted.
"Bah! I've heard that northern Bern is full of bandits. She's just a girl. She'll not survive her journey here. I'm more concerned with my older brother. His life must be ended quickly. The poison...There must be no blunders."
The soldier dutifully answered, "Yes, m'lord. He suspects nothing and continues to drink it. The marquess' death, no doubt to 'sudden illness', is not far off."
Lundgren laughed, "Heh heh heh. Soon... Soon Caelin will be mine!"
Closer friendships forged between the four travelers, however, will that be enough to save them from the plotting Lundgren? Will the Mani Katti be enough? Keep reading in the next chapter, Band of Mercenaries.