Aetherian(Part 1): A War Begins

Garrett

 Commander Vestarr brought Nightbringer to King Robar, and he had a look of distraught on his face. The black blade was similar to the ones that the Knights of House Redwald used a year ago to fight against the Guardians.

"Trevor found this?" asked the King.

"In the tomb of his ancestors, yes," answered Garrett.

"He shouldn't have been down there, Garrett," said Robar.

"He was the only one who could get down there in the first place," insisted Commander Vestarr. "And besides, he deserves to know who his father was."

"Well, why don't you tell him?" said King Robar.

"You're the one who caved in King Brandon's ribcage," Garrett corrected. "You should tell him."

"I have a feeling he'll have a better reaction if the man who's been the closest thing to a father to him is the one to tell him about the last King. Anyway, the sword."

"Right," said Garrett. "It's the ancestral blade of House Lysander, taken by Gunnar Karvine after Lazare Lysander was killed above the Giant's Scar."

"Who?" asked the King.

"He was the Western King that betrayed King Gunnar at the end of the Dragon War," answered Garrett. "I started to feel its darkness after I arrived here and set Trevor to see what it was. I had no idea it would be this."

"But this isn't the first time you've been to Mistral," said Robar. "You just now started feeling its presence?"

"Yes," answered the Commander. "In the deepest reaches under the Ivory Tower."

"So, coincidence, right?" asked the King.

"No, Your Grace," answered Commander Vestarr.

"So, there's a connection?"

"That's what Trevor and I think."

"To what?" asked King Robar.

"I don't know," answered Garrett. "But we think it might have something to do with House Lysander."

"Ally's family?" said the King.

"We don't think it has anything to do with the Queen," Commander Vestarr lied. The last thing he wanted was to tell his friend that the woman he loved had something to do with whatever darkness was below Mistral, or that she had something to do with the death of Lord Ingram.

"Lord Semil, Arry, Simon?" asked Robar.

"I don't know, Your Grace," said Garrett.

"Well, one thing's for sure," suggested the King. "The blade needs to be kept under higher security than the Karvines had installed."

"House Karvine had a pretty sophisticated defense system," said Commander Vestarr. "Trevor mentioned bonewalkers, both human and Draconian, and even a dracolich."

"What's that?" asked Robar.

"An undead drake," answered Garrett.

"Yeah, that is sophisticated," agreed the King. "For ten thousand years ago. This sword should be put at the bottom of the ocean."

"Or in the vaults at Knight's Watch, which was built to contain items such as this," suggested Commander Vestarr. "If I may suggest."

"See that it's done, Commander," Robar agreed. "If this sword is as dangerous as you say it is, it must never see the sunlight again."