Rise of the Blade - Charles Moffat [87]
"A glorified gladiator arena," Pierce spat. "I only added it to the architectural plan because we needed a place to hold tests. We needed the place to look official, so the students knew that what we were doing here was important. The dwarven architect who helped with the designs decided to make it the central feature of the Academy. I never imagined it would end up being so big."
"Or expensive," Chev replied, pointing to the single adamantite column in the centre of the huge chamber. "That dwarf certainly knew what he was doing. This building will be a legacy long after you and I are dead and buried."
For a moment Nicole's eyes adjusted to the sudden change of light. She was standing on a sunny beach. The sky was a bright blue and there was a warm breeze coming from inland where giant maples swayed gently. Turning about, she looked across the azure waters and heard a distant sound of water splashing.
"Twenty-three," Valeska said abruptly. "Very impressive."
Nicole turned about to face a long haired half-elf dressed in only a kilt. His face and skin was a shade of bronze from countless days under the sun. He looked like he hadn't shaved in several days and his brown hair waved in the breeze like the maples not so far away. His eyes were a sharp, bright blue, the same as his kilt.
"Not bad," the half-elf admitted with a deep harmonic voice and picked up another skipping stone from the multitude of stones that stretched down the beach. "I've gotten up to thirty-seven before, but only because I magically tweaked the waves so they were just the right height and distance between them." His blue eyes passed over Nicole and the noble maiden shivered suddenly. "You've come to watch?"
"Watch what?" Nicole asked, daring at last to speak.
The half-elf flashed a charming smile and knelt down beside the water. Sliding his hand into the water, the waves abruptly diminished and the surface became as smooth as glass, if not smoother. Taking his hand back out, the man brushed it over the surface.
As she watched, the surface began to glow and images appeared under the surface of the water. Taking a deep breath, Nicole stepped closer and recognized the figure dressed in tell-tale bronze armour.
"Now I shall introduce myself," said the half elf. "I am Konarrathamoras. Konarr for short. For simplicities sake, I am a wizard of a sort."
He knelt down beside the image in the water and pointed to the two men. "You are looking at the two greatest mortal warriors ever. On one side is the symbol of strength and perfection of skill. On the other side is the symbol of knowledge and experience. I am not the only one who sits quietly tonight and watches these two. There are many evil and bad omens in the cosmos that point to this night. At the same time there are many good omens. These two will make history tonight, but the outcome will be both good and evil. Anybody who is anybody knows that this night is unique, but doesn't know why. They also know that interfering in it is a bad thing for there's supposed to be enough power released tonight to destroy several gods. As a result even the gods are tentative in interfering with tonight's destiny."
Nicole put two and two together. "So you're stopping me from interfering?"
Konarr nodded. "For your own good too."
"Isn't that interfering though? By removing me, the fact that I'm not there to interfere with destiny, doesn't that interfere with destiny?"
Konarr glanced at Valeska. "Why do I always get the smart-aleck ones?"
"A legacy?" Pierce quizzed. "You think that's why I built this place?" he demanded, gesturing with Tarrasqueslayer.
Chev eyed the deadly blade. "Other than trying to make money with it? Yes, I think that's exactly why you built it. You're an old warrior with nothing more than experience to pass on to younger generations. This building is your greatest triumph, a symbol of the man who killed the mighty tarrasque! Your pride is the foundation of this building, not the stones it rests on!"
Pierce's eyes narrowed and for a moment