10 Minute Tales, Part 2

Aug 6 - Runeblade

"Recite the first oath."

"I vow to follow the oath of justice. I shall use my blade to pursue justice." He had already failed this; the thief had only been stealing to feed his family. He had allowed it. He had failed justice because it had failed.

"Recite the second oath." 

"I vow to follow the oath of mercy. I shall never draw my blade to bring an innocent to harm." The lord that had set the taxes so high to force theft had been injured in the fight. Alive, yes, but scarred. He had failed mercy because he had witnessed none.

"Recite the third oath."

"I vow to follow the oath of blood. Should I fail in my duties, I will bleed to share the pain that I had caused others." The blade he carried on his back weighed heavily, but not with his blood. He had failed his vows because he did not believe he had broken them. He now trudged along the snow-flecked path, hints of worse weather brewing above. He wandered towards the chapel, his mind heavy with his failures. He no longer had the right to call himself a spellsword. He needed advice, and he trusted no spellsword to give it since he had broken the oaths one after another. He needed someone else. The Silent Ones usually helped exiles. He just had to trust that he qualified as an oathbreaker. He was at the door, at last. He stopped to catch his breath, recovering from the climb. After a moment in silence, silently bracing himself against the cold air. Eventually, a voice spoke softly. The voice was so deep, though, he could hear the voice echo through his body.

"Who approaches?" it asked softly. The voice alone suggested absolute power, raw might that could not be ignored.

"A dishonoured spellsword. I have broken all of my vows, and seek your guidance."

"Your vows? Which did you vow?"

"I made the oaths of justice, mercy and blood. I let a thief escape to feed his family. I wounded the man responsible for the taxes that drove him to theft. I have not wounded myself as penance, for I do not believe I have broken my vows. I no longer have the right to call myself a spellsword."

"You do not require our aid." the voice replied quickly.

"What?" he asked, eyebrows raising in surprise. "Why not?"

"You acted in a way you deemed just. Your story convinces me that your heart was true."

"And yet, my vows are broken, and I am no longer a spellsword. What am I to do now?"

"You should teach yourself runes."

"Runes?" he frowned again. "You speak of forsaken powers."

"You have shown that you can use power in the name of what is good. From what I understand, you can use the runes for the power of good."

"Your words flatter me, Silent One." he smiled a little. "I have one more question."

"Speak."

"Where shall I find someone to start teaching me?"

"The village at the foot of the mountain has magic teachers. Start there." The ex-spellsword nodded as he turned around. Back down the stairs he would go, then.