"Wake up!" Her voice disturbed my troubled sleep, and I flung myself up. The horror had gone, and she was there instead. "You were having a nightmare."

"What… what time is it," I breathed, still recovering.

"Dawn."

'Ah yes, dawn. Time for training.' I grabbed my clothes and asked, "Turn around please." Saying nothing she did so, and I changed from my old green shirt and trousers into my everyday clothes. Once done, I patted her shoulder saying, "All right, get out the wooden swords." Again without a sound she unwrapped our practice blades from their leather bindings, and tossed one to me. I unbuttoned the tent flap, and climbed out. The sun was shining across the open plains, with only grassland between us and Bern. The air was cool, and I could sense it would be a good day. I walked to the road, and waited for Lyn. I didn't see her leave the tent, and I got a little worried. 'Probably just changing…' I felt a poking in my back. Swiping round with the wooden weapon I clashed with Lyn's. "Heh. How'd you do that?"

Bashing my blade out of her way, she swung round me and jabbed my back with her sword. "Do you surrender?" To emphasise her point, she pushed harder on the blade.

"Umm… yes?" I answered meekly. She sheathed the sword back into its scabbard. Sensing my moment, I swung again, this time connecting with the left of her torso, just under the ribcage.

"Aah!"

"Sorry! Hold on… surrender?"

"Never!" Drawing the sword, she knocked mine out of the way. I strafed left, to avoid the returning sweep. I parried an assault, then counter-attacked by following my block though, striking her right leg.

"Come on, please surrender!" I begged, confident in the knowledge that if we kept going I'd lose horribly. 'I can only win through dirty tricks and lucky hits! She'll annihilate me!'

"No." She raised her sword in a salute, and then charged me again, blade whirling through the air. I tried to form a defence, and knew today's would be a long session.

We were on the road from Bulgar, and no one had talked in quite some time. Lyn decided to break the silence. "Andur, hold a moment, and allow me a short detour."

"Of course, milady."

She frowned, and quietly stated, "You don't have to call me that."

"Oh, thank goodness," I jokingly replied. "I thought that now you were a noble, I'd have to go all 'Yes milady, whatever you wish milady' on you."

She chuckled and joked, "You could do that I suppose…"

"No. Absolutely not," I stated, maybe a little too hastily.

"Oh, all right," she chortled.

I had a laugh for a while then returned to the original topic. "So where to, Lyn?"

"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."

"Oh! How quaint!" Sain said, in what I thought was a mocking tone.

"Shut up!" I commanded rather angry at Sain's apparent view on other cultures. "Quaint, indeed…" If it were biologically possible, I'd be boiling over.

"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," added Kent.

"At least Kent has a good grasp of respect." I ranted, glowering angrily at Sain. He kept quiet as we rode on.

"Then you must hurry and help the priest there," requesting the old woman. "I saw a band of ruffians head in there not long ago. They seemed intent on stealing the altar's sacred sword!"

I stared in shock, and then cursed determinedly, "I'll kill these godless bastards myself!"

"The Mani Katti... They're going to steal it? I cannot allow this to happen!" cried Lyn, readying her sword.

"You look like a virtuous group. Please, help him!" The old lady then took cover in the village, and I saw in Lyn's eyes a feeling I had seen only once before, when she spoke of the bandits that destroyed the Lorca.

Sain sensed this as well, and queried, "Lyndis, what are you planning?"

"If you hope to go to the priest's aid, you'll need to prepare."

"Ah, Kent, ever the voice of reason. I suggest some intelligence gathering," I said, putting on my authoritative voice again.

"You're right... Say, Andur... There are some homes to the south of us. Perhaps we should go there and question the residents."

"Right behind you."

After we found out all we needed from the townsfolk, I gathered our forces. "Right. Lyn and I will approach via the main entrance. Kent, Sain, break down the wall and attack our foes inside, if we haven't already. But I suspect you'll get there first."

"And just how will be break down the wall? With our fists?" Sain guffawed.

"If you like. However it would save you much hassle if you used your weapons instead," I coolly retorted. Sain shut up. I took Lyn's arm and walked off toward the hills, and I imagined Sain steaming behind me. The trek was hard, as the hills slowed us considerably.

After a while I had to sit down. "Hey Lyn, wait a moment, I can't keep up." Lyn was moving rather quickly.

She sighed and came to sit with me. She put her arm on my shoulders and dispassionately declared, "I'm sorry. I'm just… so worried."

"You don't sound it."

"Don't I?" she said in the same, dull tone. "I'm sorry."

"I'm not asking for an apology, I'm asking for an explanation. I thought you were outraged at these fiends."

"I suppose… all my anger is already used on our assassins." I was unsure of this answer, but said nothing. I felt my strength return to me, and I pulled her up as I stood.

"Come on, let's go."

Her anger returned in the fight. Glass? Fits. His body was destroyed in Lyn's assault. Kent and Sain burst through the wall to see badly carved pieces of meat and bone littered with various other bits and pieces of him. Sain almost vomited. I saw the intense anger in her expression and stance, and put my hand on her shoulder. I comforted gently, "Calm down… it's over. Calm down." Her breathing slowed, and she tuned and fell on me, exhausted. I wrapped my arms tightly around her. "It's over, Lyn," I whispered.

An elderly priest emerged from a hidden corridor in front of me. "Ah, your clothing... Are you of the Lorca tribe?" he inquired.

She tried to compose herself, so I let go. "I'm Lyn, the chieftain's daughter. Are you hurt, sir?"

"Thanks to you, I am unscathed. You have my gratitude."

Lyn suddenly recalled something and desperately asked, "And the sword? Is it safe?"

"Yes, I have sealed the sword safely 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's face beamed with happiness as she cried, "Oh, thank you so much!" Both Kent and Sain remained respectfully silent. 'Odd. Maybe I was wrong about him. Maybe I took his words the wrong way earlier.' She grasped the sword slowly, and laid it in her hands. At first, I noticed something. A shining. Not sunlight, something else. I peered closer, and light shone from the sacred blade.

"What? Did-- The sword... It's... glowing." Lyn droned in her emotionless tone I'd heard earlier. 'Doesn't she know what this event means? She should be happier than this! What's wrong with her?' I asked myself. 'I'll ask her later. Something's wrong.'

Strangely the priest looked just as oddly dispassionate as her, like he'd seen this sort of thing everyday. "Ah. Hm... It's the power of the spirits. Lyn, they have looked into your soul, and they call out to you."

Lyn almost stammered. "What does that mean?"

"You are its rightful owner. You are to wield the Mani Katti."

Now Lyn had no chance against total surprise. "No... I can't... I couldn't..."

"It is the sword's wish. If you require proof, draw it from its sheath."

She tightened her grip on the hilt, and pulled with all her might. It proved to be unnecessary. "Um... It came out... effortlessly," she tonelessly remarked.

Suddenly emotion appeared on the previously corpse-like priest's expression. "I never dared to hope that I might meet the wielder of the Mani Katti in my life. I am indeed fortunate to see your sword reach your hands." He seemed to express joy as though he'd never felt it before.

"My sword?" she asked, dumbstruck.

"It is time for you to go, Lyn. You face a great many ordeals. Grip this sword, and meet your destiny head-on," compelled the strange old man.

"Yes... Yes, sir!" she acknowledged, somewhat hesitantly. As she said it, I know she still was in shock. I needed to talk to her alone later.

"So this is the Mani Katti. A blade with no equal." Sain seemed in awe of this blade in a great contrast to his earlier attitude.

Lyn gazed down at the blade now tied to her waistband. "This is all so unbelievable. Perhaps the most famous sword in all of Sacae... in my hand." If emotions had tastes, what she just said would taste like water.

I was about to speak, but Kent started first. "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."

'He's talking out of his arse. I felt no such thing. But…' "He's mostly right, you know. It was meant for you. I could see it in the way you handled the blade," I corrected.

She surprised me with her sudden angry outburst of, "Stop it! I... I'm nothing special!"

"Think of it this way. Some weapons feel more comfortable in your hand, right? Well, the Mani Katti itself feels very comfortable with you. Does this make it any easier for you to accept? It doesn't appear that either of us can use it."

I was struck by a sudden panic. 'I don't believe it. The moron had a good idea. This can't be real. This is a nightmare.'

"It... does feel right in my hand. A blade that only I can wield. That seems reasonable enough. I can understand that."

I screamed in my mind, 'Oh sweet Elimine, NO!'

"Look at it, Andur. This is the Mani Katti. This is... my sword. I must care for it well."

"And so you shall. You now have much more responsibility than you did before, Lyn," I encouraged. "You'll do fine, I know it."

"Yes," she replied absently, "I will." It was then that I realised that what I said was entirely wrong.

The night fell quickly, and I was finishing grilling the food. I had caught some fish from a nearby stream, and they seemed to be cooking well over the fire. At least I'm a good cook. "A gratifying meal," Kent complemented.

"Very good," agreed Lyn.

"'Tis a most flavoursome cuisine!" said the fool. "But tomorrow night I shall dazzle you all with my most wondrous culinary talents!" Which I doubted very much. "But for now let us retire!"

'Thank goodness, now I don't have to listen to him.' I started to put out the fire after cleaning the cooking utensils, and Kent had set up the now two tents and was already asleep in his and Sain's tent. Sain remained on watch, and Kent would replace him at midnight. Lyn had gone for a stroll, which she heavily debated with Sain until he relented and let her go.

When I had finished, I went to Lyn's and my tent. Sain walked up to me and I thought I should just kill him now before he said anything. No one would mind. Especially me. "Why do you sleep there good sir?"

Bewildered at this question, I slowly answered, "Because… I sleep here."

"But why? Are you and the fair lady Lyndis…"

"No!" I hastily answered. "No, no. We have separate bedrolls. I mean, I don't ask if you and Kent are-"

"What!" Sain shuddered and his mouth hung open wider than I thought possible without dislocating his jaw.

"Well, you do share the same tent…" I reasoned.

"But… but!"

"Well, it's the same logic you used with me. Good night." I stepped into the tent and closed it, leaving a very distressed green knight on the other side.

Later that night I had noticed that Lyn was still missing from the tent, but as soon as I was about to get up, she returned. I asked very seriously, "Where were you?"

"Oh… I was just getting a few things into perspective."

"Well, at least you're not alone anymore."

She seemed to snap out of a daze I hadn't noticed she was in until then. "What?" she asked, looking at me strangely.

"Well, you have family now."

"Yes… but one is attempting to kill me."

"So? You've still got a grandfather!"

"That's true, but-"

"No buts!" I snapped. Realising the harshness of what I'd just said, I calmed down.

"You have a relation. Who isn't a power-hungry tyrant. And you'll see him soon. Okay, Lyn?"

"Really? Do you promise?" she asked hopefully.

"Promise. I haven't let you down so far, have I?"

"No… Thank you, Andur."

"No problem. Are you okay now?"

"Yes… I believe so. I'm tired though."

"Then sleep. You'll be all right. It'll work out, trust me." She slipped into her bedroll and began to sleep. But I was unsure of her sincerity. I could sense she didn't mean what she said earlier. She wasn't okay. I lay awake all night, watching her disturbed rest. She wasn't okay at all.

Green Paladin: If you think Lyn is a bit out of character here, don't worry. There's a reason.

Green Blackguard: Yeah. But I haven't written anything yet!

Green Paladin: Don't worry my evil chum; you'll get to write a chapter eventually.

Green Blackguard: Grumble… better be soon…