Lee and Dina’s coach had just entered city square, when Dina called for the driver to stop.
“Wait here,” she told Lee. “One of my people is near.”
“How can you tell?”
“When we bond to the medallion, it gives us the ability to sense others of the order when they’re close by. So long as they’re also wearing their medallion,” she answered. “Give me a few minutes.”
Lee waited, watching the people of Althetas through the window.
It pleased him to see that the darkness had not spread so far as to kill the spirit of such a great a city. He thought of his childhood, when his father had brought him here for the first time. His home village was only a five-day ride to the south. Once a year, his father made the journey to Althetas to attend the annual meeting of the fisherman’s guild. It was the month before he died that he took Lee along. His mother had said she wasn’t up to the trip, and at first he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to go, but his father looked at him and said, “A promise is a promise. Just you be sure to do as you’re told.” Lee could remember how excited he had been-just him and his dad for the first time.
His father had taken him on a walking tour of the city, even talking their way into one of the tall buildings, so that they could look out on the city from the balcony. He’d asked his father if they could come live in the city. His father had simply smiled and mussed his hair. It was the best time Lee could remember.
Lee’s musings were interrupted as the door to the coach opened, and Dina got in, followed by a gray-haired man in a plain tan shirt and trousers.
“This is Ertik,” Dina said in introduction. “One of my Order. He needs to speak with you.”
Lee held out his hand, but Ertik simply scowled and sniffed.
“We know who you are, Starfinder,” he said briskly. “And your presence is unwanted.”
“That may be,” Lee replied, withdrawing his hand. “But it’s necessary. The Dark One moves, and I have with me the only hope for victory.”
“You think that being the child of Saraf will save us?” he scoffed.
Lee was taken aback.
“Yes,” Ertik laughed. “We know all about you. We’ve followed your progress for years.”
“Then why haven’t you contacted me?” Lee asked with irritation. “Angraal is on the move. I would think you would gather allies where you can.”
“I suppose you think that being half-god would be a boon to us, but you put us in danger simply by being here; the Dark Knight can sense your kind. If I bring you to the temple, it would endanger the lives of more than a hundred men and women, not to mention risk the destruction of the one safe haven we still have.”
“Safe haven?” Lee retorted. “There are no safe havens anymore. The evil is spreading as his power grows. He already has agents openly dwelling in the northern kingdoms, and it won’t be long before they come under his rule. The dead rise from the earth, their souls forced into decaying bodies. His agents and soldiers have assaulted us less than seven days east of here. All this, and you dare speak of safe havens? How long do you think it will be before he finds your precious Valshara?”
“We know all of this,” Ertik replied calmly. “If you think we have been idle, you’re wrong. We haven’t the power to face him openly. If you expose us too soon, then the last hope of regaining the sword will die with our destruction.”
“You are not the last hope,” Lee countered. “I have brought the last hope. And he is the only reason I have sought you out.”
“Not another half-god,” Ertik sneered. “Even a thousand of your kind would not be able to defeat the Dark Knight; you truly don’t understand the power he wields.”
“No, not another half-god,” Lee replied sarcastically. He glanced at Dina, who nodded slowly. “I have brought the only child born from the union of two gods.”
Ertik laughed at first, then stopped. “You’re not serious. There is no such creature. We would have known.”
“We did know,” Dina said. “Or at least, we knew there was something the Dark Knight was after-something he would do anything to get his hands on. Why else would the High Lady have sent word to be on the lookout for them?”
“She has her reasons, I’m sure,” Ertik maintained. “But if you expect me to believe that you travel with a god…You have proof of this?”
“I have all the proof I need,” Lee answered. “My kind can recognize each other by touch. I know what he is.”
“Do you think the Dark Knight would go to all this trouble just to kill a half-god and his companions?” Dina asked flatly. “The Dark One is aware this God exists, and if he succeeds in killing him, then all hope is truly lost.”
“If he is a god-” Ertik began, “and I’m not saying he is-but if he is, then death cannot touch him.”
“He was bound to earth when he was a baby,” Lee revealed. “How and why is still unknown, but it makes him very human in many ways. He is only now discovering his power. If The Dark Knight finds him before he’s ready, then he’ll kill him-or worse, capture him and break his mind.”
Ertik looked hard at Lee, then got out of the coach.
“Is that how you expected it to go?” Lee asked.
“I was hoping for a bit better,” Dina admitted, forcing a smile.
A moment later, Ertik returned. “Take me to him,” he demanded.
Lee told the driver to take them back to the Frog’s Wishbone.
“How did you discover all this?” Ertik inquired. Lee recounted the events leading up to the night when the Oracle’s messenger entrusted him with Gewey as an infant. He also told Ertik about his subsequent move to Sharpstone, and Gewey’s upbringing in the Stedding household.
“I assume you’ve been training the lad?”
“I have,” Lee replied. “Along with Kaylia.”
“Kaylia?”
“An elf woman we are traveling with,” Dina explained.
Ertik rolled his eyes. “Just how many of you are there?”
“Four now,” she answered. “There were six when we began, but two are off on an important errand. They will be joining us as soon as they are able.”
“You assume that anyone but the boy will be coming,” Ertik said.
Lee leaned forward. “You will find that the boy’s companions will not abandon him. If your intention is to separate us, then you may as well get out now.”
“Then you would sacrifice the fate of the world for your own selfish desires.”
“Think what you will,” Lee retorted. “But so far you’ve given me no reason to leave the only hope this world has in your hands. All I’ve seen is arrogance and an unwarranted self-important attitude that makes me think coming to you may have been a mistake.”
Ertik glared at Lee. The tension was palpable.
“Ertik,” Dina soothed, trying to calm things down. “Lee has watched over Gewey for seventeen years, sacrificing everything in the process. You can’t think he would just leave him and move on. Besides, I doubt Gewey will go anywhere without his friends; he can be very stubborn.”
Ertik pursed his lips and grunted. “I supposed the elf will want to come as well. That should be interesting.”
“I would watch what you say when you meet Kaylia,” Lee warned. “She has something of a temper.”
“I’m not surprised,” Ertik replied under his breath.
Lee told Ertik and Dina to wait in the carriage when they arrived at the Frog’s Wishbone, and went inside to look for Gewey. The tavern was still crowded as Lee pushed his way through the throngs. He could see no trace of either Gewey or Kaylia. Finally, Lee tracked down the barmaid who had served them during dinner and asked her if she’d seen Gewey.
“Oh yes,” she told him. “He and the elf woman were talking to Drantolis, last I saw.” She pointed to where Drantolis and his two friends were still sitting near the fireplace. Lee thanked her for her help and made his way over to the elf.
“Yes,” Drantolis replied, when Lee asked the group if they had seen Gewey. “Kaylia left with Lady Fritzina. The boy seemed to think she was upset with him and went after her. I haven’t seen them since.”
“Do you know Harlondo?” Lee asked him.
“Yes. He left about the same time as the boy.”
‘Probably went back to the manor,’ Lee thought as he returned to the carriage.
Once back at Lord Ganflin’s manor, Lee and Dina scoured the house, but Gewey was nowhere to be found. Martin informed them that no one had returned since they had all left together.
“Where do you think they are?” Dina asked Lee.
“Harlondo probably offered to show them a bit of the city,” he guessed. “We’ll give them some time before we start to worry.”
“I can see how well protected he is,” Ertik sneered.
“Watch it,” Lee warned. “I’m not beyond throwing you into the street. He may be young, but the boy is very capable.”
Dina frowned, placing her hands on her hips. “I refuse to listen to the two of you squabble,” she said. “We have no choice but to wait, unless you intend to start scouring the city. But if you refuse to be civil, you can both wait in separate rooms-at least that way I won’t have to listen to your childish bickering.”
Lee and Ertik looked like two scolded children.
“Of course, you’re right Sister,” Ertik offered, holding out his hand to Lee. “I apologize.”
“As do I,” Lee said, taking the man’s hand. “Now let’s put this behind us and wait in the parlor. I’ll have Martin bring us some wine.”
Dina showed Ertik upstairs to the parlor. Lee joined them a few minutes later, followed by Martin, who carried a tray of glasses and a bottle of good wine.
“Tell me about Gewey,” Ertik requested. “How old is he?”
“Seventeen,” Lee replied. “But you’d never know by looking at him.”
“Seventeen,” Ertik repeated softly. “So young.”
“Yes, but he has shown great maturity,” Dina pointed out. “It’s easy to forget how young he really is.”
“He has shown discipline during his training as well,” Lee added. “That comes from his father, I suspect. The man who raised him was an exceptional person. It’s why I chose him.”
“Do you know who his real father is?” Ertik asked.
“I have my suspicions,” Lee said. “He draws massive strength from the earth, so I think his father must be Gareth, but I can’t be certain. As for his mother, I don’t have a clue. Maybe someone at your temple will have a way to find out for sure.”
Ertik scratched his chin. “Possibly. It would certainly be helpful if we knew. It’s still hard to imagine-a God, here on Earth.”
“I know,” Lee agreed. “But once you get to know him, you’ll see that he’s in fact very human.”
Ertik opened his mouth to reply, but suddenly, the whole house began to shake violently, as if struck by an earthquake. Pictures fell from the wall, and the sound of breaking glass echoed through the halls. Lee grabbed Dina, protecting her body with his. After a few seconds, the shaking stopped.
“What was that?” Ertik cried.
Lee ran downstairs and out the front door as Dina and Ertik followed closely behind. People on the streets were screaming and crying with fear. The front gate had come loose from its hinges, and the gatekeeper was still crouched down on the walkway.
“It’s Gewey,” Lee said, his voice filled with fear. “I know it. He’s the only one who could cause this.”
“We must find him before he brings down the whole city,” Ertik said in a panic.
“Can you tell where it came from?” Dina asked.
“No,” Lee replied. “But if it’s inside the walls he will be easy to find. Wait here until I return.”
Lee ran off as fast as his legs could carry him. As anxious as he was to find Gewey, he was also afraid of what he might find when he did; if Gewey had let loose that kind of power inside the city, the devastation would be unimaginable.