The Sword of Truth

“How did he find me in my dreams?” asked Gewey. “And why now? Why not last year, or the year before?”

“You had just found out that you weren’t who you thought you were,” said Lee. “Reading your father’s letter must have awakened something inside you that the Dark Knight could detect. I was lucky to have sensed him before he tricked you into revealing your exact location.”

“So that was you!” Gewey exclaimed. “You were the other voice.”

Lee nodded. “Yes, that was me. I’ve felt his presence once before, and I was lucky to escape. He knows who I am, but I have managed to conceal my whereabouts. I knew that if he found you, he would move against you. The second his mind touched yours, he knew both what you are, and the threat that you pose. Unfortunately for us, he also knows that you don’t yet understand your powers, and he’ll try to kill you before you can discover them. That’s why we must hide for the time being, at least until you’re ready to face him. His power grows stronger each day. Poor Thad Marshall’s wife is all the proof I need of that.”

“You saw her?” Gewey asked.

“Yes,” Lee answered. “It was I who…disposed of her. Not a pleasant task, I might add. Melton Fathing would have discovered me, if he hadn’t been busy gossiping about Thad’s outburst. I was lucky to have seen her in time. I can’t imagine how the people of Sharpstone would react to the living dead.”

“So she was alive?” asked Gewey. “How can that be?”

Lee shook his head. “I don’t know if alive is how I’d describe her. It was as if her spirit had been forced back into her body. I don’t think she knew where she was, or why. What the Dark Knight has done to cause this is a mystery, but there’s no doubt that it was him.”

Gewey rubbed his temples in disbelief. “What did you do with her?”

Lee shot Gewey a look that said not to ask that question again.

“Say I buy all this,” said Gewey. “What do we do now? Where do we go?”

“For now our destination must be a secret,” Lee responded. “Even from you. I can protect your mind when you sleep, but if we’re separated and he finds you while you dream, he could force you to give yourself away. I was only barely able to intervene the last time. But the closer we are to each other, the more I can help. In the meantime, I’ll start training you to shield your mind.”

It was fully dark by then, and the stars were shining bright in the heavens as they neared the river. Two lights from the ferry could be seen in the distance. Gewey knew about the crossing, but he’d never used it before, and being on the water at night unnerved him.

“Wait here,” said Lee. “I’ll secure the ferry for us.”

Half an hour passed and Gewey began to get nervous. Finally, Lee returned with a scowl on his face.

“Let’s go,” Lee growled. “He’s agreed to take us across. And of course he’s charging double to do it at night. The oarsmen want an extra copper each.”

“Can’t say I blame them,” said Gewey.

Lee shot Gewey an angry look. “Just be quiet and let me do all the talking,” he said. “Last thing I need is you saying something stupid and giving us away.”

Gewey wanted to respond, but held his tongue. He followed Lee to the waiting ferry, which was nothing more than a large wooden raft. The ferryman was making ready to cast off, grumbling and cursing about being wakened from his bed, and muttering something about ‘good for nothing foreigners.’

“Well, come on you two,” said the ferryman. “The sooner we get across, the sooner I can get back to bed. Why you can’t wait ‘til mornin’, I don’t know.”

Gewey boarded as Lee secured the horses and helped the ferryman untie the raft. The crossing made Gewey nauseous, and he was relieved when they reached the opposite bank.

After they disembarked and settled their fee, Lee led them south along the western bank of the river for the next few hours, until they came to Far Run Road.

“We’ll take the road for a while,” Lee explained. “When it gets close to dawn, we’ll find a spot to camp. The village of Terriston is about two night’s ride, so we can travel the road until then.”

“Great,” Gewey said, clearly relieved. “By then, I’ll be looking forward to a soft bed.”

Lee laughed. “We won’t be visiting; we’ll be going around. We’re still too close to home to risk being seen.”

Gewey’s heart sank. He hated sleeping outdoors, and he realized the days of comfortable beds and hot meals were gone…at least for a while.

“You’re going to have to toughen up, boy,” Lee scolded. “Believe me, a few nights sleeping under the stars is nothing compared to what is in store for us.”

“Yeah,” Gewey replied, smirking. “But we sleep under the sun, don’t we?”

“Don’t get smart with me,” said Lee. “The last thing I need is for you to start acting your age.”

Gewey suddenly filled with rage. He hated being reminded of just how young he really was. It wasn’t his fault he looked like a grown man. He never wanted to be robbed of a childhood. He never wanted to be forced to live the life of someone ten years older. He certainly never asked to be the savior of the world, or to be hunted down by an evil, sword-stealing knight.

Lee could seemingly feel Gewey’s mood change, even in the dark. “Calm yourself. You need to learn to control your anger.”

Gewey took a deep breath and let his anger subside. The rest of the night they traveled in silence, leaving the road before sunrise to make camp. Lee unpacked some bread and dried meat and gave some to Gewey who ate it gratefully; they had only stopped a few times that night, and they hadn’t eaten. Belly full, Gewey lay on his blanket and enjoyed the remainder of the cool night.

“Tell me about my father,” Gewey said, finally.

Lee was laying a few feet away. “I’m not sure what to tell you. I didn’t know him that well. He was brave and honorable, that’s for sure. After I moved to Sharpstone, I tried to keep my distance. I didn’t want to interfere with him raising you.”

“You traveled together for a year,” Gewey pointed out. “You must have gotten to know him a bit in that time.”

Lee rolled over and faced Gewey. “He was my bodyguard, and our interactions were based on that relationship. Besides, I was studying swordsmanship and battle strategy for most of that time. It left little room for bonding.”

“You sent me to be raised by him,” challenged Gewey. “And you’re telling me that you didn’t know him? I don’t believe you.” Gewey rolled over, sulking.

Lee sighed. “I had good reasons to send you to Harman. He saved my life without even knowing me, and in the year he was with me, I never heard a dishonest word pass his lips.”

Gewey closed his eyes and tried to picture his father’s face. “That can’t be the only reason.”

“No, it wasn’t,” Lee admitted. “One of the things you’ll discover is that if you try hard enough, you can look into people’s hearts and see them for who they really are. I looked into Harman’s heart, and knew the man he was. Of all the people I’ve known, his heart was the most pure. When you were first brought to me, I knew there was only one man I could trust to protect you.”

This made Gewey smile. He suddenly felt whole again as he let the love for his father rush over him, and sleep began to take him.

The next evening passed uneventfully. Gewey’s heart felt light as Lee told him stories of his travels to pass the time. He asked Lee to retell the story of how he met his father, and Lee was happy to oblige, this time adding a few extra details about Harman’s heroism.

“We need to train you to close your mind,” said Lee, after they had made camp. “This won’t be easy, but you’ll have to trust me.” Lee motioned for Gewey to sit across for him.

Lee reached over and grabbed Gewey’s hands. Gewey felt the same shock of recognition the moment his hand touched Lee’s, but this time it was more intense. He felt the presence of Lee’s mind pressing in on his.

“Keep me out,” Lee instructed.

“How?” asked Gewey. Beads of sweat were forming on his forehead.

“Picture your mind as a gate that you have to keep closed,” he replied. “Keep me out.”

Gewey tried, but Lee’s will was too strong. Slowly, Lee forced his way into Gewey’s mind until he had complete control.