Tuesday Excerpt, "New"

The morning after Linvin’s uninvited guest was dispatched, he

left for Fraylic as planned. Though he wore his finely tailored

clothing, his most recent brush with death forced him to fortify

himself for the journey. Linvin wore his black, dragon-scale armor

and his remarkable broadsword: Falconfeather.

This living blade housed the soul of Talana, Queen of the

Falcons. The sword was crafted from her strongest bone after her

death and was indestructible. She was light as a feather and

devastating as any blade in the world. Falconfeather was a prideful

weapon with a blood lust. Fiercely loyal, she obeyed only Linvin’s

commands to the point that the sword would permit only her

master to lift her or draw her from her scabbard.

Shrunk for convenience and discretion was the staff housing the

Red Sapphire. It adhered magically to his back but was concealed

by Linvin’s trademark crimson cloak. Linvin kept his prize close at

hand for more than one reason. Not being a magician by birth, as

all others were, Linvin needed to stay in contact with the staff in

order to channel magic with a degree of efficiency. Though

channeling magic was draining on him physically, he needed to

rely on stored reserves of magic when he was not touching the

staff. He charged his body with an increasing amount of red magic

when they were in contact and then could use it, albeit with greater

taxation, in the event that he was separated from the staff. Lord

Mandrean could not charge his body in such a way with his magic

rod.

The other reason Linvin carried it was more complex. Being left

alone offended the Red Sapphire. It was truly a living entity. Both

the Red and Blue Sapphires were created to help prove whether

good or evil was stronger when given the same power. The stone

had feelings and an ego of its own. In many ways, Linvin and the

Red Sapphire had bonded to become one mind and soul. He could

give it away no easier than he could his arm. While the marriage

was harmonious, they each maintained a certain amount of

independence. As such, the gem made it perfectly clear that it had

spent hundreds of years locked in a chest waiting to be joined with

its chosen master. With its liberation, the sapphire refused to be

left alone again.