Chapter 3: Chapter 3 – The Sojourner

"Assassins?" the diviner said in dismay, "Why are assassins coming for me? And...h-how many?" She stood face-to-face with whoever was in the mirror, her fingers tapping her elbows as she awaited a response.

A raspy and hoarse voice that sounded of old age responded, "I'm afraid I can't say. During one of my divinations, I uncovered dark tangled threads and could not sift through the knots properly. The only thing I do know is that they converge to you, and most certainly not with positive intentions."

"I see..." the Diviner paced around the room before she took a deep breath and exhaled. "What should I do?"

"Bring what you can and come to me. As you do so I'll try to find out the catalyst of this all. Though bold those assassins may be to go after a servant of a god, I doubt they would be willing to do their business here."

Without hesitation the Diviner went to work and snatched a brown animal-skinned traveling bag as well as a bow and quiver from beneath her desk. She then ran from shelf-to-shelf in a quite composed manner despite the circumstance surrounding her. And like an herbalist picking good berries from the bad, the Diviner chose books on each shelf as if already knowing which to bring.

"Assassins, huh. I suppose it's my cue to leave," I said.

As I got up from my chair and picked up the golden coin on the desk, the voice in the mirror asked, "Sefya, who is that with you?"

The person addressed momentarily stopped and looked at me. "He..." she began, but couldn't finish as she realized she couldn't answer the question. Of course she couldn't. I didn't get the chance to introduce myself.

My mouth formed a grin.

"My adventures, abundant. My achievements, plenteous. Though I possess many titles unborn from my own words, I do go by one title of my own." I flipped the coin in my hand. "I...am the Sojourner. One who has traveled the realms afar and beyond. A name most travelers know."

"Ha! Haha! Hahaha!" What started out as a small laugh quickly intensified to an unending stream of laughter I wouldn't have believed possible for a beaten-down voice. It continued for a short while and once their bout finished, they inhaled deeply and said, "I wish I could say it was a blessing of Fate that he's there, but that may not be true. Sefya, at this point in time the god of luck smiles...no, embraces you in her arms. To think that the Seven Scabbard Fool would be there."

"Seven Scabbard Fool? I did say I possessed many titles, but I don't believe that was among them," I said slightly insulted.

"Never mind that Fool, I have a deal for you," the voice said. "If you escort dear Sefya to me, I will see to it that you get a reward."
I put my hand to my chin. "Ah, interesting proposition. I think I'll pass on that offer." I dusted my clothes and made my way towards the door.

I think I've heard something similar to that offer: Bring a Coin of Fate to a Diviner and you'll be rewarded. Taking the offer after my question went unanswered would make me an actual fool. And besides, I don’t have time to waste on another fruitless endeavor.

"I wouldn't be so quick to refuse, Seven Scabbard Fool."

I put my hand to the door.

"If I recall correctly, you still don’t have all the swords. How unfortunate would it be that I could offer you the lost keys to your quest, but was refused so carelessly?" she scoffed.

My ears perked up like a wolf on a hunt who had just found its prey.

"All right, you crone." I spun around and walked up to the mirror which I could now see reflected a person whose hood hid their face. They wore a robe similar to the Diviner's but with much more elaborate gold lacing. "If you know who I am, then you know what I want."
"How does the location of two swords sound?"

"Enticing."

"One is hidden in the dungeons of the lost kingdom, Vandir. The other I'll tell you once you bring Sefya to me. So, will you accept?"
I held up a finger. "You wouldn't mind me taking a small detour to Vandir while I escort your precious soothsayer will you?"

"Feel free to do so. But remember, I need Sefya alive. It’s your choice to take her where you will with the risks that follows along."

"Then we have a deal.”

My question may have been unanswered, but I could finally see a ray of light on the road I follow. For once, I could feel hope begin to beat within me. At the very least I could see the road that can be trodden yet. But still…to offer me that which the gods would never give me, who was it that I was escorting?

"Overseer Blithe, surely you don't expect me to travel with this…stranger?" the Diviner asked beside me. She had the bow and quiver slung across her back and traveling pack slung across her side. It was filled to the brim to the point that the latch could barely close it. By the looks of it, she was ready for the journey ahead (that is, if that bag isn't full of books). "And you still haven't told me where you are?"

Blithe chuckled.

"He's your hero," they said, though I'm most certain it was with a hint of mockery. "As for where I am, you will find me at-"

The next words never reached my ears; what replaced it instead was the sound of wood bursting, books burning, and the mirror shattering into a million pieces. The musty smell of the abode turned into ash and smoke.

The attack was so sudden I found myself lying on the floor after I blinked, and saw a gaping hole on the tree house whose edges were on fire. If I had to guess, we were struck by a fireball. I looked for the mirror only to find out it was in front of me. It was indeed shattered, as my ear had rightfully heard so.

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"That's...unfortunate." I turned beside me and found the Diviner staring disappointingly at the scattered shards as well.

Some ash stained part of her face and clothes, but other than that she seemed relatively unharmed. She pointed through the newly created windows of the abode and said, “Don’t you have some business to attend to?”

A quick glance revealed that I did. The burning windows provided a view of a docked boat and three figures who had finished disembarking and who most likely launched the fireball at us. They each wore cloaks that seemed to swallow the sunlight and pinned on their right chest was a badge marked by a crossed bloodstain. The Brotherhood of Blood.

I leapt through the hole to greet the new arrivals.

…

“Hello assassins, I would like to offer a truce,” I said, meeting them on the shore.

“You missed. Now we have to stay here longer,” said a bulky lizard-man whose cloak was much too small to hide the bulk of his muscles.

“You try...using magic...after getting clawed by a Shadow-lurker,” replied a figure leaning upon his wooden staff. His left leg was mangled and the wrap that covered it bloody. His heavy heaves between words almost convinced me his lungs could spew out at any moment. “But you can’t use magic. So-”

The assassin ahead of them held up his hand and silenced them and then said, “A truce is unnecessary, Sojourner. We weren’t after you, but rather the one you just requested service from.”

“My offer still stands then.” I eyed them. The red-scaled lizard had a hammer as his weapon of choice. The one leading them wore half a mask and had no blades in plain sight. The wizard seemed too weary to engage in combat. “I recently accepted a request to escort the Diviner, and I’m afraid it means I’m unable to let you do your work. Furthermore, I have an aversion to fighting and I would gladly agree upon a scenario without confrontation.”

Their leader stood in silence as he pondered my request. Wind blew and the scent of the misty lake wafted in the air. It was only until the wizard let out a blood-spilling cough that a decision was made.

“I accept your truce,” the leader finally said and he gave a shoulder to his wounded brother.

As they turned around to leave, I did as well.

But then I heard the kick of dirt. And that was all I needed to unsheathe a sword. My blade collided with a hammer that by all means looked as if it should’ve shattered my sword. The lizard’s weapon of choice matched his bulk; its head was massive and crude. If it didn’t have the gleam of metal, I would’ve believed it to be a chunk of rock attached to a handle the height of a man.

In contrast to his crude weapon was the beautiful and delicate craftsmanship of my sword. The slightly curved blade was a blue more soothing than the sky. However, depending on the power its wielder wished to unleash, its color can change to a dark red reminiscent of a phoenix's flame. But when the sword didn't look as fierce, it was pleasant to the eyes and gazing upon it reminded me of a tranquil forest. It was in those time the sword truly suited the dancer for whom it was crafted.

“What happened to my truce?” I said as I sidestepped the next effortless swing of the assassin. The hammer missed my shoulder by a hair’s breadth and displaced the dirt beside me, leaving a crater in its wake.

“You must be one the most foolish people I’ve met, believing the words of an assassin so carelessly.” He lifted his hammer up to his shoulder. “But you’re not bad with a blade.”

His muscles tightened for a moment and then the hammer smashed down upon my sword in the blink of an eye. My arm vibrated to the bone, causing me to nearly lose my grip.

This can’t go on any longer.

I channeled the energy within the sword, blue lightning cackling around it as I did so, but then I saw something of interest.

“Hey, your brothers are leaving you.” I pointed behind him.

“Yeah, and the Diviner is leaving you.” He pointed behind me.

We kept our hands on our weapons, unwilling to fall prey to such pitiful tricks...but we eventually succumbed. I turned around and it was true. Standing upon a ghost-rowed boat and traveling through the ghastly fog was the Diviner. He too, looked behind him and saw a scene similar to mine.

“What?” He said, and lugged the hammer on his shoulder as he ran to his brothers.

When he was far and well off, I turned around and looked to the distant boat which carried my escortee. Huh, well this is going to be harder than I thought.

I sheathed my blade and started to walk to the edge of the island before being brought to my knees. Flashes of memories replayed in my head. I was reminded of a pitch-black night penetrated by the blaze of burning houses. Then the sound of a child’s ear-piercing shriek, whose father lay dead beside them, sprouting ashen horns from their head. Then the smell of a river mixed with ash and blood. Then another scene. And another. And another. And another. Each time a memory played, an emotion stronger than sorrow gripped my heart threatening to crush it. My hand clutched my chest but no comfort could come of it. I could only kneel on the floor while the wave of emotion engulfed me in its ice-cold hands. What was most worrying was the blanket of darkness that sought to spread beyond my heart, attempting to take advantage of my vulnerable state. It was only for a few moments that I had fought, yet punishment still befell upon me.

I have to get those swords before it's too late.

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