Let go of your fiery hate.

Abandon not your innocence.

Abandon not your soul.

Abandon not each other.

Abandon not love.

Hold fast to these things.

Innocence as it is fleeting.

Your soul as it is eternal.

Each other as you are precious.

Love as it binds all together.

Excerpt from the lyrics to Tears of the Wind,

by the Bard Yin Qua of the Marahari.

Written prior to his execution for inciting

rebellion to overthrow the 23rd Preeminent One.

---

Valith stood behind the King as the birthday commencement was announced. He felt pride as his father announced his victory and the kingdom cheered. Then, when as his father announced his succession, he felt something that had been festering inside him for quite.

He felt hatred: hatred at the older prince for outshining his victories. He felt hatred at the King for lessening his victories and making the preeminent announcement the heirship of the kingdom. He felt hatred at fate for the curse of being born on the same day as his sibling.

It burned in him, gnawed as his insides, until he could no longer hear the words being said. His brow beaded with sweat and his heart pounded in his ears. He felt hatred… so much hatred.

Hadn’t he suffered enough abuse? The horrors of the battlefield haunting him, the constant reminder every year that he was lesser by birth, the lack of favor within the court as the son of the second queen and not the first…

The medallion burned under his shirt where it lay. It made his skin itch. Without a conscious thought, he fingered the cord tied to it.

Why? The thought seemed to whisper itself through his consciousness. Why suffer with no reward? Why continue to fight for a kingdom that wasn’t his, and would never be his?

While smiling outwardly at the cheers, inside he felt like gnashing his teeth. It was all he could do to restrain himself from throwing both the King and his brother to their deaths in the crowds below.

That wouldn’t do though… too many witnesses… he’d be an outcast. How would he manage to kill them and get away with it? He fantasized. Dark thoughts began to form into a plan in his mind. The dark clouds of hatred in his mind began to take shape.

The announcement ended, and he was so lost in thought that he barely remembered being escorted back to his quarters. He soon found himself seated on the edge of his bed. He couldn’t recall taking off his boots. He was tired, very tired. Without thinking, he closed his eyes, lay back on the bed, and drifted into a hated-filled sleep.

‘Mishkala’

Valith opened his eyes. Once again he stood in the cave with no entrance. Shraikar was seated at a desk off to the side of the room, “Ah! Welcome back, young prince!”

“You again… what do you want this time?” Valith frowned at the man.

“Want? Oh, I want for nothing…” He hesitated and looked closely at Valith, “But you, it seems you want for a great deal… Hmmm.”

Valith shifted uncomfortably under the man’s gaze.

“Yes, you want for a great deal, indeed… but you know, I think I might just be able to help you out.”

---

As Valith drifted in a dark vision within his quarters, Lorenth was sitting and eating a small amount of cheese and bread in his. His next stop would be the banquet hall in just over a bell, but supper wouldn’t be until later in the evening, so he staved off the hunger in the best way he knew how.

A knock sounded at his bedroom door and Lorenth bid the individual to enter.

It was one of the castle guards. “My Lord, a merchant has arrived for you. We have had him set his wears up in your foyer for your pleasure. At your convenience, he has asked that you join him.”

Ah, yes! The merchant who fed the orphans. He smiled. “I’ll be right out, just let me grab my purse.”

He quickly walked to a draw next to his bed and grabbed a large purse filled with gold bars. It should be sufficient to buy a few things at the least. Turning, he left his bedroom, crossed the entryway, and entered his quarter’s foyer. Off to one side stood a merchant, a stout man but a pleasant one- if looks could be trusted. A large ornate blanket had been laid out on the floor, on the blanket was the merchant’s goods, though several larger items were displayed in large chests off to each side.

The merchant bowed at the waist, “I have responded to your summons, my Lord.”

Lorenth smiled, “Ah! Good sir, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance! What is your name?”

Brandus smiled as well, “My name is Brandus, your highness.”

Lorenth sat on the floor opposite of him and his products. “Please, sit. Though I’m the Prince, let’s be comfortable, shall we? I’ve never much cared for formality.”

Brandus nodded and sat as well.

“Before I ask about your merchandise, I’d like to know a bit about you. Tell me about yourself. Where do you call home?”

“I’m but a travelling merchant, sire. I’ve not had a permanent residence for many years. Though some would say that home isn’t where one has a house, by where the heart resides.”

“…and where does your heart reside, Brandus?”

“Here in Gandon. Here is where my closest friends live, my liege.”

“I see. Friends like…?” Lorenth beckoned him to continue.

“Oh… yes. I’ve a friend that owns a tavern in the city, and two nephews that work for him. Not nephews by blood, you understand.”

“Not by blood? Then how are they your nephews?”

“They, like myself, were born into poverty and orphaned. My friend, the one that owns the tavern, helped to legitimize them into more than they were.”

“The two that were at your tent then?”

“Yes, those are the two. They help me out when I come to town, and I know them quite well.” Brandus smiled at the thought of the brothers. “Though they may turn out to be better merchants than I am someday…”

“Ah. That explains much… well, I summoned you here because I was impressed with your charity. Not many care for orphans, and fewer go out of their way to provide for them. In addition to the apples, I had some servants ask around… it seems that you’ve provided significant substance for the orphanage over the years. If the records are correct there, I was told somewhere in the neighborhood of 14,000 bars of goods and merchandise… even for royalty, that is a significant sum.

“It impressed me, at the very least. You are a kind man.”

Brandus flushed a little, “Has it really been that much? I suppose that they need it more than I do… I just try to provide what they need…”

Lorenth laughed, “Hah! I wish more would try to fill needs as they see them, instead of turning a blind eye to the things around them. Well done. I’m a firm believer that such acts of magnanimity deserve a reward. Now then, let’s discuss your products.”

Brandus told Lorenth about each of the items he had brought with him, covering their origin, manufacture, and function. Even Lorenth, though used to handling fine products, was impressed by the quality and sheer scope of the items. There wasn’t better products to be found in the castle treasury, than those spread out before him now. It was truly a display of talent for this man to have managed to acquire all of these items within a single lifetime. It was quite apparent that these products were the culmination of his life’s work… and that he honestly enjoyed the trials of procuring such fine things.

Once Brandus had covered the merchandise, which took the better part of a half bell, Lorenth nodded in thought, “I’m astounded at your fine inventory. To be honest, I’d love to purchase it all. However, I’m afraid that I don’t keep the sum of money needed to give you a fair price on me.

“That said, for now, I’d like to purchase this sword. What price are you asking?” He gestured to an ornate blade.

It was one of the finest things Brandus had brought with… not only was it outstanding functionally, with incredible steel, but it was also ornately inlaid with precious stones on the pommel, perfectly balanced, and the sheath was even more ornate. Unlike Kae’lo’s axe, this had legitimately been found in a Carhndroc’s den, encased in stone. It had taken Brandus many trips and hundreds of sales to afford the sword. It had taken more years to find a way of extracting it from the stones melted around it without risking damage. It was of ancient design and manufacture. So phenomenal it was, Kae’lo’s axe looked awkward in comparison. “My Lord, I couldn’t even begin to formulate a price for that sword. It is the best weapon I’ve ever seen. I’ve never even told anyone that I have it for fear of being murdered in my sleep.”

Lorenth thought for a moment, “How about this…” He took the purse out containing the gold and simply tossed the entire thing to Brandus. “It contains 40,000 bars. I know that isn’t enough, but consider it a down payment. I’ll have a guard escort you to the royal treasury. There you’ll present them with a note from myself. You will be given another 80,000 bars for the sword.”

Brandus’ breath caught in his throat. 120,000 bars! He could buy Kae’lo’s inn fifty times with that amount.

Lorenth continued, “Unless I miss my guess, the rest of the items here are worth about the same in total. Is that correct?”

“Yes, sire, that is about right.”

“That seems fair to me. I will also have them provide you another 120,000 bars for the remainder.”

Brandus legitimately didn’t know what to say or think. He could buy a small town or two for less than that amount…

“Will that suffice?” Lorenth grinned at the flabbergasted merchant. He’d have to explain a purchase this large to his father, as it was probably about a tenth of the total in the royal treasury, but he had no doubt the items before were worth at least that much if not significantly more. This was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and Lorenth knew it.

Brandus seemed to shake off a bit of his astonishment and held out his hand which shook slightly at what had just happened, “Yes! That is more than sufficient, thank you!”

Lorenth stood and went to a writing desk off to the side of the room, penned the required documents, and sealed them with his signet ring. Then he called a guard and asked him to take a few other guards and escort Brandus to the required destinations for compensation. “Oh, one more thing, please stay for the banquet and festivities. I’m certain they will be all the better with you there.”

Brandus, head still slightly spinning, turned while being escorted out, “As you desire, your highness.” With that he left the room and was on his way.

Lorenth stood for a moment and considered the items on the floor before carefully reaching down and picking up his new sword. It was indeed the most amazing thing he had ever seen in person, but it wasn’t the first time he had seen it. It was a Caldorian sword. While Caldorians didn’t often practice smithing, but they used to wear swords very much like this one- generally obtained from Dwarfs, or even the ancient Elves back when they wandered the land before vanishing into mists of time. It was beautiful, but one thing struck Lorenth as slightly peculiar. Curling up the outside of the scabbard was an ornate inlay of a dove carrying an olive branch. Green gems had been carefully cut and inlaid for the dove’s eyes, and other larger green gems fashioned to look like leaves on the branch. The dove itself was of some white material, similar to bone, but showed no signs of yellowing with age as bone was inclined to do.

Lorenth drew the sword, and it made a gentle sigh that faded into a bright clean ringing. The noise hung in the air for longer than it seemed possible. The blade was flawless, and obviously made of the highest grade metals possible. Painstakingly etched along the blade was a large striped cat, it stalked towards the hilt through ornate flames that didn’t appear etched, but rather appeared as dark swirls engrained in the actual metal itself. Both sides of the blade were absolutely identical.

The cross-guard was fashioned from the same metal. The grip was made of a rich brown leather that was flawless from defect and felt like it nearly molded itself to his hand. The pommel of the sword was a large red gem. Peering into the gem, Lorenth could see more of the same eddied metal and an engraving of two initials- an ornate T and E.

He smiled. This was a sword for an emperor, a king of continents and nations, and it was his to wear. He strapped it on and looked in the mirror. It was so excellent, that it in fact made him feel a bit like he was being worn by the sword, and not the other way around. Even his best clothes were inferior to the blade hanging at his side.

With that, there was a knock, the door opened, and his escort to the banquet hall arrived.