The Sword of Truth

fade into the darkness.

Lady Fritzina struggled to her feet. In front of her was a crater ten feet wide and three feet deep. The mangled body of Harlondo lay a few feet away from her, alongside a pale and lifeless Gewey. She stared at the scene in horror. Kaylia lay on the ground next to her, struggling against her bonds. She picked up her dagger and pulled Kaylia to her knees.

“I could kill you,” Fritzina warned. Her voice trembled with fear and shock. “But if you promise that your friends will leave me alone, I will let you live.” She pulled off Kaylia’s gag. “Swear to it!”

“I swear none of my companions will touch you,” she said, her voice dripping with malice.

Lady Fritzina slowly backed away, then took off into the night.

Kaylia struggled to her feet and hopped to where Gewey’s sword lay, working the rope that held her against the blade. Once her bonds were cut, she ran to where Gewey lay. She put her hands on his face and closed her eyes. His life force was faint and fading. She put his sword in its sheath and attached it to her belt, ignoring the searing pain it caused as it touched her skin. Tears fell down her cheeks as she pulled his body upright. Using all of her strength, she threw him over her shoulder. The mile-long walk back to the city gate seemed to take a lifetime as she felt Gewey getting weaker. By the time she arrived, he was barely breathing.

The city was in turmoil. The guard post was empty and the gate had been left open. Kaylia found an abandoned wagon and put Gewey in the back. Panic in the streets made it difficult to maneuver, but eventually she arrived at Lord Ganflin’s manor. The gatekeeper was trying to fix the broken gate when Kaylia jumped from the wagon.

“Help me!” she commanded.

The gatekeeper looked in the wagon and gasped. “Was he hurt in the earthquake?”

“Are you deaf?” she screamed. “I said help me.” The gatekeeper flinched, but obeyed.

They hadn’t gone more than a few feet when Dina and Ertik came running from the house. They gingerly lifted Gewey from the wagon and rushed him inside. As soon as Martin saw what they were doing, he directed them to a nearby study where they laid Gewey down on a couch. Kaylia knelt down beside him, holding his hand.

“Get me something to make bandages,” she cried. “I must stop the bleeding.”

Martin went to a closet and retrieved a linen sheet. Kaylia began to tear it into strips and bind Gewey’s wounds.

“I’ll fetch a healer right away,” Martin said, bolting from the room.

“What happened?” Dina asked. “Who did this?”

“It was Harlondo,” Kaylia told her. “He is an agent of the Dark Knight.”

“Where is he now?”

“Dead,” Kaylia answered.

“Are you sure?” Ertik asked.

Kaylia shot to her feet, suddenly noticing the new face among them. “Who are you?’ she demanded.

“It’s alright,” Dina assured her. “He’s a member of my order. He’s here to help.”

Kaylia looked at him for a moment. “Do you have skills as a healer?”

“No. But if we can get him to Valshara, there are those that can help him. We have the best healers that have ever lived.”

“How far is it?” Kaylia asked as she knelt back beside Gewey.

“We can be there in two days,” Ertik replied.

“We leave as soon as the local healer arrives. Go get the carriage ready.”

“We should wait until he’s been treated,” Ertik advised. “That will take time.”

“No need,” Kaylia replied. “Whoever Martin brings will be coming with us.” She brushed back Gewey’s hair. “She can treat him on the way.”

“Kaylia,” Dina said. “We should-”

“I said get the carriage ready,” Kaylia yelled, cutting her off. “Now.”

Dina nodded and left the room. Ertik followed.

A few minutes later, Lee came running in. He saw Kaylia kneeling down at Gewey’s side, her eyes closed. “How is he?” he asked softly.

“He lives,” Kaylia answered. “But not for long if he doesn’t get help.”

“Dina said a healer is coming. She also told me you plan to take him to Valshara tonight.”

Kaylia nodded.

Lee stood there for a long moment, considering. “You need to tell me exactly what happened. I’m sorry, but I need to know before we leave.”

Kaylia recounted what happened. She was unable to hold back her tears when she told him of the fight between Gewey and Harlondo.

“Then I should make ready,” Lee said once she finished. “Harlondo may be dead, but there’s no guarantee he’s alone. I’ll gather your things as well. Don’t worry, he’s strong. He’ll make it.”

“Thank you,” Kaylia said, wiping her tears. When the healer arrived, she told everyone to get out.

Kaylia resisted, but Lee assured her it was for the best.

“I need to treat his wounds before he is moved,” the healer explained. “Otherwise, the wounds may open on the road and he’ll bleed to death. How he’s alive now, I have no idea, but don’t worry- I won’t leave him until he is stable.”

“Then you will accompany us,” Kaylia said flatly. “We leave in two hours.”

“You’re joking of course,” she said, not amused.

Lee reached into his belt and pulled out a pouch. “This should compensate you adequately,” he said, handing her four gold coins.

The woman stared at Lee and then the gold. “Well then. My name is Ezmerial, from the temple of Helenasia, goddess of Healing and Knowledge, and I am at your service.” She bowed. “Now get out.”

Lee, Dina, and Kaylia waited just outside while Ezmerial went to work. Ertik left for his home to gather his belongings.

“It must have taken great strength to carry him to the city gates,” Lee remarked. “Let me find you a chair, you must be exhausted.”

“I don’t need to sit,” Kaylia said, as she anxiously paced back and forth.

“Please,” Dina said, grabbing Kaylia’s hands. Kaylia winced in pain. Dina saw the burns made by Gewey’s sword.

“It’s nothing,” Kaylia said sharply, shaking herself free of Dina’s grip “I’ll be fine.”

“It’s not nothing,” Dina replied, then turned toward Martin. “Please, bring us some water so that we can get her cleaned up.”

Lee brought a chair from the next room, and Dina sat Kaylia down to clean the dirt and grime from her burns.

“How will you be traveling, my lord?” Martin inquired. “Should I ready your horses?”

Lee thought for a moment, then nodded. “Yes. Gewey, Sister Ezmerial, and I will ride in the carriage. Ertik can take my horse for now. The one remaining will stay here until it can be sent back to Lord Broin.”

Martin nodded curtly and left.

“How were you captured?” Lee asked Kaylia.

Kaylia scowled. “She must have had something on her gloves; she took my hand just before she led me outside. By the time I got to the door, I could barely stand. The next thing I remember is lying on the ground, bound and gagged, in a clearing.”

Lee nodded and put his hand on her shoulder. “It’s not your fault. It could have easily been Dina or me. You couldn’t have seen this coming.”

“I should have,” she spat, shrugging off his hand. “The bond between Gewey and me has blinded me.”

“That bond is what gave you the strength to save him,” Lee said. “While I don’t understand elf ways, I do know that with injuries like those, Gewey should be dead right now. And if it wasn’t for you … he wouldn’t have made it.”

“If it wasn’t for me, he would have never been there in the first place,” Kaylia shot back. “They used me to get to him.”