Nixon, seeing the moment for what it was, only looked on. What had he been through, and what did it have to do with Aryu? Nixon knew of Aryu’s quest, knew he'd not been home in a year. What little Aryu had told him led him to believe they had a childhood rivalry, but nothing more. Why must every new moment bring more unanswerable questions? They were starting to grate on Nixon’s nerves.
He let the moment pass, admiring Aryu’s strength and intelligence in not confronting Esgona. Aryu saw the situation for what it was and chose wisely to step away and not antagonize him. A lesser man would not have. Proof positive that he was more of the man he said he was than Nixon had originally believed.
“What is your plan with us, Nixon of the Great Fire and Ash?” Esgona asked, turning from Aryu and meeting Nixon’s eyes.
Nixon was cautious. “Well sir, if we can find a town nearby, I'll leave ya to yer own devices. Ya should know tha' it was only by luck, should ya see it good or bad, tha’ ye were saved at all. Ya were there and ya couldn't put up much of a fight.” Esgona looked back over his shoulder at Aryu, finding the statement either amusing or insulting. “I saved ya because tha' is my charge and tha' is my way. Aryu and I 'ave business far from 'ere and I 'ave no intention of draggin’ ya along.”
“Ha. Luck.” Esgona looked back to Aryu. “Anywhere you have to go with this 'man' is certainly in for the bad kind. It seems to follow him lately.”
“Look Esgona,” Aryu could stay silent no longer, “I don't know what you think I'm guilty of, but I haven't been back home for more than a year. I walked into this situation just a few days ago. I didn't know about any of it until then, so don't go blaming me for your problems. I've lost just as much as you have.”
He raised the sword again, waiting for the fight, but once it was at eye level, Esgona instantly turned away. “Put that thing away. I'd rather look at your face than the images in my head that thing gives off. You claim to be innocent, but you carry what looks like a very powerful weapon of the Embracers.”
Both Nixon and Aryu were once again speechless. Nixon stepped forward first. “'Ow do ya know its power?”
No answer from Esgona, only blank silence. Aryu lowered the sword and Esgona relaxed. Remembering what Nixon had said about the ancient blade and its ability to bombard someone’s mind with its history in images, but only if you were wise enough to see it, he wondered again what Esgona had been through in the last year.
“You two really don't know, do you?” he said at last. He looked at Nixon.
Nixon shook his head. “I'mma man out of place and time, Esgona. When it comes t’ information, I am currently lackin'.”
“That figures,” Esgona spat with contempt at both of them.
“Listen and listen well,” Nixon shot with sudden impatience and fiery eyes that began to burn into them both. “I am sorry fer both of yer losses, but right now there is a very powerful army on the way north with terrifyin' weapons in their possession, and I will not sit by anymore while you two mope about what ya canna’ change. Now, t’ go back to my original point, are we close to yer town, Aryu??”
Aryu looked to the far west. “Yes. Do you see that large peak?” Nixon looked; Esgona stared at nothing, not willing to listen to anything Aryu had to say.
“I do. Wha’ of it?” Nixon knew that mountain very well.
“Near it, in the foothills to the south. That’s where it is. A town with a bar that had forbidden machines in them to pour drinks.”
Nixon knew the place right away. The bar with the old man and his story. A man he was sworn never to meet with again. “I know of it. Lights on the spouts. An ol’ fat bartender named Ollie.”
Ollie! That was his name. “That's the one. It can't be much farther away. Maybe a few hours if you can carry Esgona?”
No motion at the mention of his name. Esgona was as far away from these two as his mind could take him.
“Perhaps, but ya should know I canna’ return t’ tha’ town any time soon. I made a promise to tha’ end, and I canna’ break it.” Aryu looked at him, confused, but Nixon wasn't up for another story right now. “It's the truth. Deal with it. I canna’ go there. I can get ya close, if that's alright with ya, Esgona?”
A soft shrug. No more.
“A yes it is.” Nixon looked hard and intensely at Aryu. “I'll have t' leave yer company while ya go into the town, but ya know wha' will happen if ya run?”
Aryu nodded, making no mistake in his actions. “You don't have to worry about me. I'll be back as soon as possible to stop you from killing me.” Levity, but seriousness as well. Nixon saw it and thought it to be the truth. “If I'm right, that would be where Johan should be by now, if he’s still fine and going north like we planned.”
Esgona snapped out of it, brought about by something suddenly. “Who… who did you say?”
Aryu looked exasperated. “Johan. We went together if you recall. I left him behind to make it back home faster. I agreed to go with Nixon if we could meet up with him first. I need to be sure he’s alright.” He left out the part about wanting to leave Esgona with Johan. One
