Curse of Blades (Blades #1)

Chapter 15

[Note: This was originally included in Curse of Blades: Book 2, but as of July 28th, 2021, I began combining the 3 Curse of Blades books into a single one.]

Wildas didn't know why he kept Coulta with him for the rest of the day despite not leaving the castle again. Maybe it was his need for someone other than his family around him, or maybe he simply enjoyed Coulta's company. The former assassin was quiet and observant, but he asked questions when he needed to and kept up conversations well enough. Somehow, Wildas felt the need to make Coulta feel at home and to offer the best form of friendship he could. Coulta seemed surprised when Wildas asked after him; how he was fairing, if he needed anything, if his guest room was comfortable. Wildas knew he would need to find his new protector a different place to stay before anyone complained about taking up a perfectly good guest room for too long, but decided it could wait until things were finally settled with Anil and Myri. Then he could worry about finding all three of them new rooms at the same time if he needed to.

Coulta seemed happy enough to sit with Wildas in his room for a time while Wildas drank yet another tea from the healers, sitting on the plush sofa. Wildas spent the time explaining what daily life in Ryal was like. Or what it would be like, once he fully recovered his strength. Coulta asked a few questions here and there, and, when the conversation eventually died, spent a few minutes looking around the room.

"You have a lot of swords," he finally commented, looking at the rack of weapons against a nearby wall.

Wildas could see how interested he was, and it made him smile. "You can look at them, if you would like. I trust you." Vow to protect notwithstanding.

Coulta got up and wandered to the rack, where he took a closer look at the twenty or so swords there. Wildas stood slowly, then joined his companion when the room didn't spin.

"Most were gifts," he explained, running a hand over a gilded hilt. "One of my distant cousins is a swordsmith. He likes making fancy ceremonial things when he's not working on actual weapons. Some came from other parts of Phelin, given to me by lords who wanted to make sure they are in the crown's good graces were anything to change politically. Only a few of these would actually be useful in combat." He picked up a very small, lightweight sword with a hilt too small for his hand. "I kept this one because it was my first, and I always had fond memories of my mother teaching me to fight when I was a boy."

"My training wasn't so enjoyable," Coulta commented. Wildas couldn't tell what the emotion in the man's voice was, and Coulta covered it by asking, "Could I hold one?"

Wildas put his childhood sword back and nodded. "Go ahead."

Coulta carefully chose one of the most decorative swords. The golden hilt was inlaid with numerous gems of all colors, and the silver blade was inscribed with a prayer. Coulta held the blade at an angle to read the glittering words.

"It's a prayer for the health and well-being of the descendants of Tryrayl, the first King of Phelin," Wildas explained.

Coulta looked up at him questioningly. "A prayer to what?"

"Raiofsi, the god of royalty. Varin didn't welcome the worship any of the gods, did he?"

Coulta shook his head and put the sword back. "Some people worshiped one called Favi."

Wildas nodded. "The goddess of peace and hope. That's understandable."

"Unfortunate," Coulta corrected, picking up a different sword and examining it. "Roane and I were expected to deal with members of the cult whenever we found them. Varin wanted them... eradicated."

Wildas shook his head sadly. Of course the bastard would make Coulta kill people who just wanted some hope in their lives. "Well, Raiofsi is the god of royalty. It's said he decided to divide the world into nations and chose the individuals he deemed most fit to rule them. He's mainly worshiped by the royal families of most countries, hoping to have blessed reigns and all that. I can show you to the castle temple one day. Brother Pelles can help you learn about the gods. I wouldn't expect you to become a devoted worshiper suddenly, but it would be helpful for you to know the basics."