Lijdel seems totally decomposed.
Seeing her like this scares me frankly. I have only known her for a very short time, but I still have the strong feeling that she is the kind of person who controls her emotions in all circumstances and only very rarely expresses them. And yet, she now looks at Brann with stunned eyes.
Brann and Lijdel spend a good minute without saying anything, staring at each other in a silence so heavy that I barely dare to breathe. Then, finally, Brann continues, with his growling voice :
_ It was more than 500 years ago, when witch lords imposed their domination over the world. Even before Basst and Enthielam existed. You know the story. There was the Great Alliance, human, druses and krills, united in an army that succeeded in repelling the witch lords and freeing itself from their hold. The ancestor of our king's lineage, Olthar, was part of the Alliance, and he fought in one of the most important battles near Kjell. This battle was terrible, you know that. The... special powers of the witch lords were terrifying. After hours of terror and carnage, however, Olthar and his troops had repelled the army of witch lords. And Olthar, wounded and exhausted, himself gave the final blow to the witch lord who led this army. It was at this moment that he picked up the sword from his dead enemy. Once back in Kjell, and restored after days of care, Olthar and his advisors discussed this sword. They feared that they would contain the terrible powers of the witch lord. They brought in magicians to try to find out what was in that sword, even if it could be destroyed : but none of them wanted to touch it out of fear. So they decided to hide the sword, and to keep it quiet. So much so that everyone here in Arkin has forgotten the existence of this sword.
_ Except... you? Why ?
_ Except me. And the king, of course. Because I too had an ancestor in that battle. One of the king's advisors, for one thing. And from father to son, we have passed on this secret to each other. Which was just a cumbersome secret... until now.
_ So... would you like me to get that sword... and give it back to the witch lords in exchange for their help ? Is that it ?
_ It's the only way I can think of to save Arkin now. We are all afraid of the witch lords because of the memory we have of them, which has left its mark on our kingdoms forever. But we know nothing about what has become of them, in truth, over the centuries. The only rumours we have about Diglath are extravagant affabulations inspired by the myth around them. But... isn't it worth a try, to go and see what's going on ? This could be our last hope. »
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Oh, what a ... what a terrifying idea, but it sounds like it might be their only hope!! What would they unleash? In their desperation, will they turn towards an ancient evil???
Aaaah! I want to read the next chapter quickly !!!! :D
That's the spirit ! ^^