Somassa

6 - Answers

    "Of this bloody island?" asked Shok, his voice growling as his courage returned. "What does that mean?"

    Creldeus looked sidelong at Saf and Dua, unsure if he should hold his tongue and let the stranger explain. He thought better, just in time, as the man returned the mask to his skull-like face and spoke to the group.

    "It means, dear allies..." said Dremaur, turning to face them all one by one. They all thought this strange, as his lack of eyes undoubtedly rendered him completely blind. "...That I have lived on the island of Somassa for nearly 200 years, long before the Abonese researchers arrived here to study the fallen kingdom. I am a direct descendant of its founders."

He bowed low to the ground, his hair spilling around his head and touching the floor. "It grieves me that my once-great home cannot properly welcome such fine guests as yourselves."

As he straightened, Saf stepped forward and offered him his hand to shake. "How did you know me?" he asked, before pausing to retract his hand, forgetting the man could not see him, but Dremaur felt the air in front of him just in time to grasp Saffrin's hand and shake.

"Lady Ulephor informed me of the arrival of all of you fine people, and particularly noted the importance of your presence here."

"Maybe you can explain why I'm so damn important. It's starting to get annoying," Saffrin groaned, placing his hands on his hips. The mercenaries chuckled and rolled their eyes, unbelieving that Saffrin could be more significant than they are.

"You have your father's sword with you?" Dremaur asked politely, offering his hands palms-up after setting the heavy tome he was holding on the table beside him.

"Yes...?" Saf questioned, as he pulled it from its sheath, looking at Creldeus, and then Ulana. She nodded at him, urging him to hand it over. He carefully placed it in the man's outstretched hands, and Dremaur gently ran his fingers along the length. He then held it in both hands once again and gently tapped the blade against the metal forehead of his mask, then held it next to his sharply pointed ear to listen to the ringing metal.

"This sword is of Sommasan make," Dremaur sighed assuredly.

"What?" Saf interjected, looking at the man in confusion. "That sword's been an heirloom of my family for generations. There's no way it's from here."

"I assure you, Master Horn, its creation dates back as far as the kingdom's collapse."

"That's impossible," Creldeus scoffed. "A sword would never last that long, especially with how much it was used from what Saffrin told me."

Dremaur turned to him, his cheeks behind the mask forming a smile. "A legendary and flawless blade like this could be forged by even the most novice smith, given the proper means."

He returned the sword back to Saffrin, who eyed it closely in his own hands.

"By what 'means?'" asked Creldeus, peering at the sword with Saf.

He turned to Creldeus, lacing his hands together. "It is forged out of lumite, a rare metal said to be able to harness the fires of the sun. It is found only here, in Somassa." He then turned once again to Saffrin.

     "The given name of your father's sword is Ieprine; 'the Glimmer,' in your tongue. It is a legendary weapon whose fame has no doubt been lost to history past these coasts. We believe it can lead us to victory in our investigation."

    Stunned by these revelations, the company stood in silence, contemplating the things they had just been told. Even with the mystery of his sword revealed to him, Saffrin's troubled mind still pondered the blind man's information. What did the sword's presence in his heritage mean? Does his family have a connection to Somassa that even his father's fathers were unaware of?