A horn sounded in the distance. Raj felt a shiver crawl up his spine at its call. Ahead of him, Will walked down the long hallway. While Rajhu felt an overwhelming panic taking hold of his mind, Will seemed collected. He couldn’t understand why.

‘Rajhu my boy, what have you gotten yourself into?’ he breathed, hurrying to catch up to his friend.

As they descended the stairs, Rajhu could hear the commotion from the yard. Although he hadn’t had much time to focus on it, he had seen the gathering force. He hadn’t known how many soldiers there were, but it was more than he thought was reasonable. Even now, as they drew closer and closer to this seemingly unavoidable conflict, Rajhu felt his heart beating heavily in his chest. He wasn’t a fighter. No, not in the least. Rajhu was a swindler. A con artist. There were few situations in which he was susceptible to violence. Even when such an occasion arose, his first instinct was always to run away from the battle. Here, now… Rajhu was walking headlong into it.

‘Will… Wait just a moment!’ Raj called, grabbing his friend by the arm.

In a flash, Will rounded on him, his eyes a storm of anger. ‘What?’

‘You understand you’re marching into a war, Will?’

He paused, his eyes studying Rajhu for a moment. They flicked away. ‘Raj… What else can we do?’

‘Maybe there is another way… Maybe we don’t have to blindly deliver ourselves to death’s cold hands!’

Will scoffed. ‘I don’t have any plans to die, Raj.’

‘Then why are we involved?’

‘Because that’s what we agreed to do, Raj!’

He rolled his eyes, putting his hands firmly on his hips as he looked away. Rajhu sensed Will had no less fear surging through his own veins, but beyond this, the drive to help these people, to stop this slaughter, seemed to be greater.

Rajhu turned to face Will, but before he could utter a word, Buri called out to them, hurrying toward them. Glancing to the entrance, Raj could hear the mulling of the crowd outside. Even from his limited vantage point, he saw the great numbers that had come to this place.

‘Will, the blade…’ Buri insisted, coming to stop between him and Rajhu. ‘You hold it now, but I warn you, it is a great responsibility… Every warrior who has used it has been tested by it. Take care to bridle your passions, or they will destroy you.’

‘What are you talking about?’ Rajhu demanded. ‘What blade?’

Will shifted his weight as Rajhu looked to the sword held at his side. It was secured in a heavy looking scabbard, but from all the talk he had heard over the years, he knew what that sword was.

‘Rajhu… It’s not as bad as you think,’ Will placated.

‘That sword is a legend, Will!’

Will paused. ‘Wait… you’re okay with this?’

Rajhu tilted his head, ‘Can it help us survive?’

Will looked to Buri, who nodded in turn. ‘It can lead you to victory, and more… As long as you take control! Will, I can’t stress the fact enough. The Taintless Blade is as alive as you or me. It doesn’t take kindly to upstarts, either. Control your feelings, master yourself, and you will master the Taintless Blade!’

‘I don’t understand…’ Will admitted.

‘Very soon, you will…’

Rajhu looked from the old man, to the gathering army outside the building. He felt himself wilt at the man’s words. There had been a great part of him that had been hoping for something a little more substantial. Something that would drive him and Will to face this challenge.

‘What about me?’ Raj asked, after a silence.

Buri canted his head to the side. ‘What of you, Rajhu?’

He stared at the man. ‘What about me? You said you needed the majesty of a Wishcharmer to win this battle. You said that I was a Wishcharmer…’ He clicked his tongue in distaste, looking away. ‘You made me feel important…’

Buri chuckled lightly. ‘Oh, Rajhu… You are needed. More that I could possibly explain to you. You are a Wishcharmer… And Will wields the sword of a Wishcharmer. Together, I believe, you can bring that majesty to pass. Together, as it has always been, yes?’

Rajhu looked to the man, the words piercing him. It had, as he’d said, always been the two of them. Rajhu and Will. So long now, it had been their friendship that had brought them through the hard times. Rajhu dared not think of the days before he’d found Will. As he looked once more, to the men outside, as their enemy screamed from beyond, demanding surrender, demanding this Taintless Blade… Rajhu nodded once more. Despite his best intentions, and despite all his instincts screaming for him to run, to hide, he still nodded.

‘Together, then… Into the fray…’

Will smirked, the two walking side by side to the doorway.