Annouhere will be no chapter on Wednesday. Instead, I am posting a sed one now. This means you have to wait until Monday for a chapter.

  If you are looking for book 2 on KU, it has been deyed. I will add it there on July 3rd at the test. Sorry about the ge, but I am still taking dowreon chapters as it 't be posted there either.

  Chapter 127 The Bck Bde

  I followed Konstantin down to the training yard, carrying my pad two bdes so I would be ready to leave when the pany marched. It was still dark when we arrived. The training yard was adjat to the Citadel barracks, where the rest of the pany was quartered. No one yet, and it was maybe an hour before sunrise. I decided to tease Konstantin that I knew some of his secrets, “So, you have a spell form that allows you not to need much sleep?”

  Konstantin eyed me with an appraising stare, “I do. I need about half what a normal man does. Just means I was required to stand watch more often or not while I was with the Hounds.” Konstantin had his own pad was getting ready for some practice.

  He took on a paternal tone as he gave me advice, “You will just find the more spell forms you have, the more that is expected of you. But you know that already with your dimensional spell form.”

  I nodded as I was testing both bdes, deg what to use first. “Are we ing our bdes?” I asked since Konstantin had made no effort to. We usually used practice swords or ed our actual bdes when we practiced.

  “You heal yourself, Eryk. There is o mine,” Konstantin said dismissively with his bae. I could imagihe grin on his face.

  I had been hoping for him to say something like that, “Yeah, I , but I do not have a lot of aether, so I only heal a little.” I hoped this would prevent him from causing me a serious injury as I ed my bde iacky cloth.

  Konstantin still didn’t his bde and asked, “Is that how you kept up on the run to the capital? You healed your feet as we went?” I nodded, and he half-smiled, shaking his head in an un-Konstantin-like manner. “Damn, Eryk. My feet felt like an ogre had chewed on them during that run. Seeing you not suffering made me think I was getting soft.”

  “So, I made you feel ie?” I smirked, and he lost his good humor instantly.

  Konstantin walked over to me, all business, and held out his hand, “Do you mind if I look at them?”

  I had to remember trying to befriend the coarse man to find out why Castile was deemed important by the Praetorian Guard. I handed him both the bdes, “The polished one is orc fed, and the be is just old.”

  He first held the partially ed bck bde, “It is sometimes called a devoted bde, Eryk. Fed by the smiths of the First Legion before the elves killed them all. That is why there are no runic smiths in the Empire. They are always killed as soon as they are reized. There might be some w i for the Emperor, but they are not known publicly,” Konstantin stated.

  “The elves kill the runic smiths?” I asked, ied in the small piece of history.

  “The Bartiradian assassins, yes. Not always elves, though.” He moved his hand along the length of the bck bde. It was mostly bck with a rge number of tiny pits in it. “As I was saying, the devoted bdes were fed to kill one specifiemy. When carving out the Empire, the First Legion fought campaigns against the orcs, dwarves, elves, goblins, gnolls, taurs, and other humans. Most likely, this bde was fed against one of those.” He handed me back the bde.

  “It is rare and valuable, then? So, what does it do? it kill them with one swing?” I swung the bde to test its weight.

  “I have only read the histories, and this is my first time seeing ohe Bck Bde panies were elite units in the various campaig after the most troubling oppos. The stories say the bck bdes prevented beings from using magical healing, including potions, after being injured,” Konstantin informed me while fag me. “The bdes are unon but not rare and probably hanging on the walls of most citadels in the Empire. Dungeon bdes are much more valuable and useful against all types of creatures.”

  “So, will the bde not wainst the specters?” I asked, residering choosing this bde.

  “It will. It is a runic on. The bck c is from silver mixed with steel. There is an aale about the bck bdes. It may regain some of its luster if you soak it in the blood of the enemy it was fed to fight. If you find another wielder of such a bde, you should ask them.”

  He was ready to begin, and we engaged and started our practice. The g of steel woke the men up, and a few came outside to watch from a distand prepare for the march, repag their packs. I realized they were not going to be happy with Konstantin or me for waking them early.

  her of us was using shields, and the first serious injury was to my forearm. After parrying my bde, Konstantin cut all the way to the bone on a ssh where the greaves didn’t cover. I cradled my arm to ceal the healing as best I could from watchful eyes. Reknitting the muscle and flesh took time, and Konstantin watched, shaking his head in disbelief. I don’t think he believed I could heal until he saw it himself.

  Konstantin o himself now that it was firmed, “Okay, Eryk. So, ygest problem is getting used to the longer sword. You have the strength and size to wield it, but your mind and muscle memory are still trying to use it like a shorter bde. Now….”

  We spent the half an hour as Konstantin showed me how the sword forms I learned in training were slightly different for the longer bde. Almost the entire pany was outside watg now, including Brutus. I had tried the orchish bde, and the bck bde just felt better in my hands. I was only loaning the other bde to Brutus anyway. Adrian appeared with Delmar first and yelled, “Breakfast ihen we march!”

  As the cold air dried our sweat, I walked ih Konstantin. He asked, “Did you see him?”

  “See who?” I asked, fused.

  “The First Citizen Boris. He was watg you from the third-floor baly. I am disappointed if you didn’t see him,” he said, shaking his head.

  “I noticed people watg from the windows of the Citadel, but I did not know who they were. I was too busy trying to avoid your bde seeking my flesh,” I muttered.

  Konstantin cpped me on the ba an almost fatherly pat, “I taught you better than that. Danger e from anywhere. My impression is the First Citizen Boris is about as smart as an ornery bull. But if you ighat bull, its horn is going to pierce your heart when you least expect it.”

  Konstantio sit with Adrian and Delmar, leavio take a table with Brutus and Mateo. I preempted Brutus’ question, “Yes, Brutus. I will loan you the orcish-made bde. The bck bde feels better in my hands.”

  Mateo sounded in, “You were lucky that Konstantin was not part of the test. He brutalized you this m and could have won the bde.”

  Brutus defended me, “He gave Konstantin as good as he got. Eryk robably pulling his strikes so as not to hurt the old man. Besides, he has his own runic on already.”

  Mateo was boung and itg to ge the topic. “Don’t even ask Mateo. My answer is still no.” Mateo looked distressed but didn’t ask to borrow the dreamscape amulet again. Felix came, put a massive haunch of ham oable, and sat with us. Bze brought a bowl of small boiled potatoes. To everyone’s disappoi, the pitchers were full of only water.

  I noted with some snark, “Sihe tess arrived, the food and drink quality has really dropped off.” Everyone was using ko cut off ks of the boiled ham.

  Bze ented, “That is because you spend yhts in the Alchemist Tower. We usually get the leftovers from the Duchess’ dinner with her mother. Seds, but extremely tasty, and at least it is seasoned.” He tapped the bnd ham with his knife.

  As we ate, the versation drifted to the pany test yesterday. I only half followed the versation and nodded when appropriate. It was all too soon when Castile arrived with Schor Favian, and Delmar ordered us to formation. Everyone made to stuff as much food as they could into their mouths as we went to shoulder our packs and began the march.

  Adrian informed me, “You will be marg o Castile in the ter, Eryk.” I nodded, as it seemed I would be talking with Castile during the marbsp; Castile was dressed in fortable clothing and even had a small pack herself, which I found surprising.

  She usually did not carry any gear, but then I remembered we had a kettle of souls. I assumed that was what she was transp. Favian was on her right, and I ositioned on her left.

  After we settled into the march, Castile said, “Yoing to protect Schor Favian.” Castile smirked, “Don’t look surprised. You carry a runic on and proved yourself one of the best swordsmen in the pany. Your aptitude to shield Zyna with your spell form was also a sideration.”

  “So, no more scouting with Konstantin?” I said, fused. We had agreed I was going to get closer to him and learn his purpose in the pany.

  “No, not with you carrying the potions again. Fvius is back as well to help him,” Castile he scout further down the road.

  It was te m when we reached the turn-off for the trade road that led to the ruins of Caelora. We took a short break at the interse before starting the marorth. The dirt road was lined with farms, but all too soon, we reached the old paved trade road. Everyo teh the stone road beh us. We had fought the wraith and were headed into dire wolf territory.

  Castile and Favian talked about their pns for expl the haunted city, and I listened as we walked.

  The first step was cirg it and seeing if the maps Favian had in the books matched. There were only two gates through the walls: the East a Gate. Favian thought the West Gate was the better access point as it was he Elven library. That was where many of the books in the Duchess’ colle had been salvaged from.

  Favian only found a short ating of the expedition that recovered the books. The members of the expedition camped a mile outside the West Gate, and then, on the first day with clear skies and sun, they rushed to the library and recovered as many books as they could. The specters had trouble in daylight and they entered only a handful ihe library. Still, six members of the twenty-man expedition had died.

  Listening to Favian describe the jourries of the mage who led the expedition, I was not feeling too great about our ces but gd I now had a runic bde to fend them off. I also had the elven dagger as a backup on and thought about loaning it to the Schor since he already knew about it. If the situation made sense, I decided to give it to him.

  The two finally discussed the possible locations for the mysterious Shimmering Labyrinth Dungeon. Favian gave his view, “I strongly believe it is uhe rgest hearth tree on the west side of the city. I have found numerous refereo the mages accessing the ley lines iy in the same area but no definitive location to the dungeon.”

  “Are you sure it is even iy?” Castile questioned, doubt ione.

  Favian waivered, “We have beehis before Mage Castile. The sele of books they took on the expedition is highly varied. There are een refereo the dungeon, but it does not appear on any of the maps. The Elven King and his family trolled access a its locatio.”

  The versatio bad forth as Favian described the city yout. The city’s East side was residential and the only area where non-elves were permitted. The West side had their important citizens: royalty, wealthy, and many of their craftsmen. That is what the city was known fh-quality trade goods. The celebrated craftsman and the works of art they produced.

  Konstantin came back from scouting to Castile, and Adrian and Delmar joined him. Konstantin noted, “We are still south of the dire wolf territory. I suggest we make camp soon.” There was a brief discussion, and four miles ter, Fvius found a defensible hill with good water nearby, a up camp.

  Maveith had Favian’s gear a up his tent. Since I was in charge of his prote, I set my teo him. Maveith set his o o mine. I was dreading Konstantin askio train with the bck bde. Instead, Castile approached Maveith and me, saying, “Maveith, make sure you watch him while he sleeps. I do not believe he perceive the outside world while using the amulet.” Castile made eye tact with me and nodded slightly before leaving. Castile was tellihat she expected me to use the amulet.

  Maveith nodded seriously, “I will guard your body with my life, Eryk.”

  Maybe I would not have to stand watch either. “What about the watch?” I inquired to firm with the departing Castile.

  “You are tied to Favian. Do not leave his side,” Castile said, talking over her shoulder as she walked away.

  Konstantin overhead, “Don’t worry, Eryk. I am sure Favian will not mind watg you train.”

  Favian, who was already inside his tent, replied, “I do not mind watg your sword practice, Eryk. I heard of your exploits with the bde.”

  “Great,” I said sarcastically.

  After Castile left, I told Maveith quietly, “If you remove the amulet from my body, I will wake.” I thought there were some secrets I would prefer to keep.

  A few hours ter, I was in my tent after a supposedly short session with Konstantin before dinner. Dinner was cold, and only a little was left when roached Lirkin for our portion. He gave me an apologetic look as he scrapped the pot for my bowl. Before using the amulet, I used a glowstone fht to page through all of Favian’s books. I wao add them to my dreamscape amulet tonight. With the amulet in hand, I eled aether into it.