Chapter 400 The Oath (2/2)
”So what's the third source of power?” he asked instead ”Magic?”
At this, the Governor shook his head ”Magic is but a manifestation of power, not its source” His expression turned thoughtful, as if he was trying to find words for what he wished to explain Finally, he continued in an uncertain voice, ”Ours is not the only world that exists There are others — as many as there are stars in the sky, some say — and just as our world holds power, so do these other worlds To use ic is to draw that power into our oorld and wield it as a tool — or a weapon”
Arran nodded thoughtfully Though the old man's words resembled what he already knew, he could not help but suspect that his own knowledge — on both the topic of ic and that of other worlds — already exceeded that of his host
Rather than trying to learn ic from a Darian, he turned to a topic the man should know ic?”
The Governor sround ”As the priests would have it, to draw unnatural power into this world is an aboainst the will of the Gods”
Arran looked at the old man with narrowed eyes ”But you don't believe that?”
”I believe it is irrelevant,” the Governor replied ”Aboic is beyond question Just look at the Blightspawn Magic has twisted the ere once men and women into monsters that know only hatred and violence”
”But not all es are like that,” Arran countered ”To the east of the Ies are little different from normal people”
”For now,” the Governor said ”But how long until they stuhtspawn?” His voice grew louder, and the fire of conviction filled his eyes ”How long until they, too, become a threat to all they encounter? And when that happens, ill not have the Desolation to protect us How long, then, until the entire world is overrun by twisted monstrosities that seek only to destroy?”
The outburst took Arran by surprise The Governor's earlier seeiven him some hope that perhaps peace between the Shadowflame Society and the Imperium was possible, but in an instant, that belief had been shattered
If anything, he now suspected that the oldthe disquiet in Arran's eyes, the Governor slowly shook his head, then continued in a calmer voice, ”There's no need to worry I will not blame you for the few steps you have set on that path To be curious is only natural But when you have seen the Desolation with your own eyes, you will understand that ic is a path that leads only to ruin”
Arran cast a glance at the table, where the oath disc still lay ”What would happen if the Blight found the path to Enlightenrim ”Then all would be lost”
For several minutes, they sat in silence From the dark look in the Governor's eyes, Arran understood that this ht to gain the Iainst the Darians
Finally, Arran could bear the oppressive silence no more ”What is the Desolation, exactly?” he asked, as enuine curiosity as to break the silence
The old ave him a wry look ”Another question I cannot answer The priests have their theories, but I will not bore you with ends What I can tell you is what the Desolation does — which is to suppress all power, both ical and natural”
”All power?” Arran narrowed his eyes ”You mean the Desolation also suppresses Body Refinement? And bloodlines?”
”Just so,” the Governor answered ”Once you step into the Desolation,will retain reatly dian, but he stopped htenreehtspawn, but while it suppresses raer, it does not suppress knowledge In the Desolation, insights are htenment is more valuable still That is why their attacks have yet to break us”
Though some pride sounded in the Governor's voice, Arran could not help but feel a shi+ver of worry He'd long relied on the Blood Ruin and his physical strength, and if both were suppressed, es would disappear And not just that — it seeth
The Governor, however, gave hi look ”Do not worry While you will lose sohtenment will es and those who rely too heavily on bloodlines, but for one such as you, it's a blessing”
Arran ed an aard smile ”I suppose there's only one way to find out”
”Indeed,” the Governor agreed ”But I see that you have finished your meal Before you leave, one matter remains — the second debt I owe you” He reached into his robe and produced a jet-black amulet, which he handed to Arran ”This is a Warlock's amulet, taken froe it once you reach Sacrifice”
”Thank you,” Arran said as he accepted the amulet He'd half expected that the old man would consider his wisdom the second favor, but instead, it seeible
”A word of caution,” the Governor continued ”The church offers many rewards, and none areFor each bloodline you take, the next will cost you twice as much”
Arran frowned ”Why?”
”It isn't stinginess on the priests' part,” the Governor explained ”Not entirely, at least Rather, each additional bloodline one receives requires a greater aain more than a handful of bloodlines is beyond even the wealthiest Lords in the Imperium”
A wry smile crossed Arran's face Another setback, then With as ain the ine how difficult it would be to gain any others
But that was soe, and he did not dwell on it If he would have to win ain his bloodlines, that htspawn — a task he would gladly accept
A quarter-hour after Arran said his goodbyes to the Governor, he stepped out of the keep, thoughts still abuzz with the events of the past few days
Just his encounter with Panurge was enough to raisethese was how— of the dream had been true But as much as he hoped that it was just another trick, he had a faint feeling that this tiht not have lied
Yet if Panurge's vision was discoe could intrude upon his dreams Worse still, he half suspected that the self-proclaimed God are of his every move, and could choose to interfere at any s the Governor had revealed Once Arran stepped into the Desolation, htspaould be weakened even more, the same would not be true for any Darians he faced
Yet despite these questions — and the hts kept returning to a single h it see that the discs in both the Shadowflame Society and the Iht be, they had crafted a deadly trap for anyone who tried to join both sides
As Arran considered it, he found only a single possible reason for anyone to lay such a trap — whoever had crafted it was deter both sides' secrets
Which meant he had an enemy And not just any enemy, but one whose influence extended to both the Shadowflame Society and the Imperium, and whose skill at seals dwarfed his own
It was a disquieting thought, and the only thing that brought Arran soh he did not knoho this enemy was, the reverse held true as well
But he also realized that when he returned to the Ninth Valley, that ained the Darians' secrets, then whoever had laid the trap would likely soon learn of his existence
At that moment, a voice sounded in the distance ”Wait! Please!”
Arran turned around with a start, quickly realizing that while he was absorbed in thought, he'd already left the city's upper levels behind And as he looked, he saw that the person who had called out was a er in a shabby uniform
The man came approached hiirth, and as he came to a stop before Arran, he took several moments to catch his breath Not an accomplished Body Refiner, then
”What is it?” Arran asked, eyebrow raised in wonder as he peered at the er see than to battle
”I wanted to thank you,” the Ranger said, still panting as he spoke
”For what?” Arran almost felt worried as he looked at the man Red-faced and still out of breath, he appeared as if he could keel over at any moment
The man took several deep breaths Then, a look of reverence in his eyes, he said, ”What you taughtany further But now… I can feel I'h”
Arran understood that thistoward his own breakthrough, and he gave the lad it was helpful to you”
To his surprise, the Ranger responded with a vehement shake of his head ”You don't understand… For twenty years, I…” Again he shook his head, then fumbled for his coin purse, which he shoved into Arran's hands ”Take this It's all I have”
Though Arran was teht end the increasingly aard encounter — a single glance at the Ranger was enough to tell him that the man had no treasure to spare Even the blade at his side was noring the Ranger's protestations, he handed the coin purse back ”You should save up for a proper sword, first”
”But—” the an
”Consider it a favor owed,” Arran cut hier hesitated Then, he gave a bow so deep it almost seemed like he would fall over ”I will repay the favor,” he said in a fervent voice ”You have ed a friendly smile and a nod, then quickly hurried off
Yet he'd barely gone two hundred paces when a h this one wore a starested he possessed no small amount of wealth
”You're the one that defeated the Knight, aren't you?”
”I am,” Arran replied ”But I need to be onaside, however ”You don't look so tough to ers who stood several paces away, next to the entrance of one of the city's many taverns ”Think I could take hi”He'd gut you like a fish, and have the Governor's blessing in doing so Now move aside!”
As the firstlook at Arran ”I apologize for my commander's behavior I will see to it that he is punished”
”There's no need for that,” Arran said with a disesture ”But I er said ”You are named Arran, correct? With the Wolfsblood Army?”
Arran paused er ”Is that a probleave hi an old friend ”For a Ranger to best a Knight is no small achievement Yet to see your talents wasted in an aredy Perhaps you would consider joining—”
”Not interested,” Arran interrupted hi further, he pushed his way past the young man and continued on his way, albeit at a more rapid pace than before
Yet as he h the city, ers and soldiers stopping hies, soh none quite as fervently as the first man — and more still who tried to recruit him
Arran was friendly if sonored as best he could Still, by the ti fields in the outer
It was only when he reached the Wolfsblood Arh he had known that his actions would draw attention, he hadn't expected anything quite like this
As he approached the training soldiers, it only took a moment before a call sounded ”It's Master Arran! He's back!”
For a moment, Arran stared in astonishment, but his expression quickly turned to one of horror when dozens of soldiers crowded around hi each other out in an excitedthe giant Ranger a the crowd of soldiers ”Take me to Kaleesh!+”
”Of course, Master Arran!” Barric replied, nodding with a deference that made Arran's eyes widen in wonder Then, in a decidedly less subservient tone, he roared, ”The rest of you dogs, get back to your damn practice!”
Arran arrived at Kaleesh's mansion a fewin front of the building, his expression one of utood to see you,” Kaleesh said ”When you didn't return…” He paused, then gave a slow shake of his head ”You had ood to see you, too,” Arran replied ”Nohen can we leave?”