27.12.2012 Views

(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

copying the new spell and memorizing others, practicing the basic excercises<br />

<strong>of</strong> magery: focus, gesture, chant. Focus, gesture, chant.<br />

In <strong>be</strong>tween the arduous tasks <strong>of</strong> preparing my spells, I looked at my<br />

companions and wondered how it came <strong>to</strong> this: a nameless wanderer<br />

followed happily by a floating skull and an aging Githzerai that looked as if<br />

he'd <strong>be</strong> more at home in a monastary than risking his bones in a dank crypt<br />

as this. I was grateful for my companions, true, but at times like this I had <strong>to</strong><br />

wonder what made me so fortunate, or what made them so cursed or daft<br />

<strong>to</strong> join me.<br />

With a sign, Dak'kon's eyelids lifted. He nonchalantly glanced at the snoring<br />

pile <strong>of</strong> goods, then looked <strong>to</strong> me. Sitting up straight as a spear, the man was<br />

all business and discipline.<br />

"What have you come <strong>to</strong> know?"<br />

I had thought about this long and hard. "When one chooses <strong>to</strong> see only what<br />

is <strong>be</strong>fore them, they see only a part <strong>of</strong> the whole. They are blind. And just as<br />

Vilquar was blinded by his promised reward, so were the illithids blinded <strong>to</strong><br />

the true Rising. For when they heard Vilquar's words, they turned their sight<br />

outwards again, didn't they? And the Rising was free <strong>to</strong> strike?"<br />

Dak'kon nodded, "Know that you speak truly. Vilquar's Eye blinded both<br />

Vilquar and the illithids. The tentacled ones thought the Rising <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> no<br />

more. When the Rising occurred, the ground drank deep <strong>of</strong> illithid blood. So<br />

was vic<strong>to</strong>ry born from treachery."<br />

I stroked my chin, "It is a curious lesson. Why would it <strong>be</strong> part <strong>of</strong> the<br />

teachings <strong>of</strong> Zerthimon?"<br />

Dak'kon's blade bled in<strong>to</strong> a dead, night-black, and his voice deepened - for a<br />

moment, I thought he was angry, but I was unsure. "There is much about<br />

the Way <strong>of</strong> Zerthimon and his path that is difficult <strong>to</strong> know."<br />

"Do you know why Vilquar's Eye is part <strong>of</strong> the Way <strong>of</strong> Zerthimon?"<br />

"It is part <strong>of</strong> the telling <strong>of</strong> how our People came <strong>to</strong> know free<strong>do</strong>m. It lets us<br />

know that there are those, even among the People, who are <strong>not</strong> <strong>of</strong> the<br />

People. And that even in the greatest treachery, a greater knowing may <strong>be</strong><br />

achieved."<br />

254

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!