“But I know nothing of war—”
“I would not ask you to fight in battle. You’ve studied in the Empire’s school of sorcery, have you not? You know how their sorcery works?”
“… Somewhat.” What Imperial sorcery she was aware of was only the bare fundamentals of Powered machines.
“Have you ever seen a chain engraved with runes?”
“I have. They are used to control Power generators.” She was glad to share something she knew.
“I see. I didn’t know that.”
Arienne wondered what Loran would ask of her. The princess seemed to be hesitating as to whether it was something that could be asked.
“To fight the Twenty-Fifth’s gigatherion, there is one thing that I absolutely require.”
“What is it?”
“The fire-dragon of the mountain. Only the dragon can fight the gigatherion. But it lies bound in black chains in its cavern inside the volcano. I need you to break those chains. This may be our only chance, as the Empire’s reinforcements have not arrived yet, and I have the support that I have. Will you do it?”
It was disconcerting. “But why would you entrustmewith such an important task?”
“I was a mere teacher, a neighborhood swordmaster, before all this. I taught those who sought amusement, or exercise, or employment in the legions or the prefect’s guard. Still, I have some confidence in my skill with the sword. But I do not know how to break the chains forged in the Empire’s sorcery.”
Loran unhitched her sword in its scabbard and placed it on the table.
“I have slain the Empire’s Powered soldiers and even destroyed their Powered chariots with this sword. But the sword is made from the fang of the dragon. I cannot sever the chains that bind the dragon with its own fang. And the only one here who knows Imperial sorcery is the young lady Arienne.”
But I don’t know either.The words had almost left Arienne’s lips. But Arienne had severed Eldred’s arms, and the machine arms of the Grand Inquisitor Lysandros as well. She had killed Lysandros by cutting a cord of magic that did not even exist. It had been in that moment that Arienne realized cutting and severing were indeed her greatest talent. And as Loran said, there was no one who could do it in her stead.
Gathering her courage, she nodded.
“I shall try.”
Loran sighed softly, looking relieved.
“It is some distance to the volcano. I know you’ve just arrived from a long journey, and it pains me to ask you to do this so suddenly,but the fate of our kingdom hangs in the balance. Please be on your way as soon as possible. Fifty of our soldiers and Prince Emere himself will travel with you and help you on your way.”
Arienne wondered if she was meant to be here from the beginning, when she had decided to leave the school. Perhaps everything from that moment had happened in order to prepare her for this purpose. She stood up. Loran picked up the sword from the table.
“This sword is called Wurmath. I received it as a sign of my promise to the dragon. There are two paths into the volcano. One of them is untenable.” Loran seemed to be remembering something as a small smile rose to her face. “For the other one, you will need this sword to pass. Please keep it safe for me.”
“But what if the legion arrives while I am gone? What will you do without the sword?”
Loran smiled again. “I don’t need it anymore.”
Arienne received Wurmath from Loran’s hand. The hilt was hot. She remembered the scene in her mind at Finvera Pass, where the princess with the golden crown had handed her a sword of fire.
She felt exactly now as she did then.
33LORAN
Loran was alone in the officers’ exercise hall on top of the hill that the fortress was built around. She had never fought in a war. If she hadn’t met her husband and married young, maybe she would have tried to become a legion officer.
She looked around the spacious hall; the floor was of rough granite, and there were no walls. Twenty pillars erected on the edges of the square floor supported a thin roof. On one side was a weapons rack with several kinds of spears and swords. The sculpture of two falcons, once hung by two chains, had been torn off the roof without any instruction from Loran.
It was a full moon. There wasn’t a single lit torch, but the moonlight shone brightly into the hall. It was by arrangement that Loran was here alone. She had been so busy since taking over the fort that she had hardly any time to practice her sword skills. Not since that brief period before and after giving birth to her daughter had she rested her sword for so long.
She slowly drew the sword at her hip. It had a different balance from Wurmath. The tip was lighter, making it closer to the blades she would use as a swordmaster instructing her pupils.
