Endfall by David Estes

Author:David Estes [Estes, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Talk they did. And talk, and talk, and talk, all the way over the Frozen Passage to Westport and then across the Odinian Plains before soaring over the Bay of Sighs on a direct line toward Dragonsmount. When they grew tired, they slept. When they were hungry or thirsty, they ate and drank. Dane didn’t utter a single word, although he may have been speaking to his dragon, or his shadowblade for that matter. In any case, he remained silent, content to merely listen. When they passed over Westport, the other four dragons split away from them with nary more than a wave from their riders, off to complete their own missions.

While mist fell upon them from Rain’s constant presence, Dackur explained what had been happening to him, the scholar nodding and making small noises like, “Hmm…” and “Ahh…” at various points. Then Merrick began to deliver his own knowledge, which truly was extensive, recounting the numerous other known shifters from history that had managed to achieve two or even three forms. There were more than Dackur had expected, but still less than twenty. And none that, according to the books Merrick had read, struggled to achieve their second or third form after the process had begun.

“Does that mean you can’t help me?” Dackur asked, realizing how hopeless he sounded.

“I didn’t say that. There is more afoot here than meets the eye.” The man sounded almost excited by the prospect of a challenge. “Now tell me about your brightblade.”

Dackur frowned. He’d only mentioned the sword in passing. What had a blade of power to do with shapeshifting? “I only recovered the sword after I started having these episodes.”

“Still, if we are to solve this mystery, we must leave no stone unturned.”

“There’s not much to say,” he said, recounting in detail how the brightblade was returned to him by Peony Normandian by no demand or request of his own, apparently because the sword had asked her to do so.

“So what have you done with the sword since?” the scholar asked.

“Done with it? Nothing. It’s not mine. We’ve just…talked.”

“I see. And the brightblade agrees you should not use its power?”

“Not exactly.”

MORE LIKE NOT AT ALL, the brightblade said.

The grownups are talking right now, Dackur said, unable to help himself.

“Then why don’t you use it?” Merrick asked.

HE ASKS GOOD QUESTIONS! HE IS A LEARNED MAN! the brightblade said. ALSO, I’M ALMOST AS OLD AS YOU, OLDER WHEN YOU CONSIDER WHEN MY ORE WAS FIRST FORMED. WHICH MAKES ME A GAZILLION TIMES OLDER THAN SIR SCHOLAR KNIGHT HERE.

A gazillion? Really?

Dackur realized the knight scholar or scholar knight or whatever his title was supposed to be was still awaiting an answer to his question. He was also suddenly acutely aware of Dane’s presence behind him. Which meant he needed to choose his words carefully, as every single one would likely be relayed back to Peony sooner rather than later.

“I don’t know,” he admitted.

WOW, the brightblade said. EVEN FOR AN OLD GOAT LIKE YOU, THAT WAS RATHER PATHETIC.

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