"I don't know," said Timlin. "It doesn't make any sense. I guess I'm stupid or evil. What else is there to say?"
"You're neither of those things," said Vorden. "You're still just finding your way. In time, you'll learn to behave like a Knight."
"I doubt it," said Timlin. "I have something wrong with my thinking. Nobody understands that or listens to me. The Knights only understand acting like this or acting like that. And I know they speak the truth, in a way. Yet…I don't know. Something just ruins everything I try to do."
"You think about it too much," said Vorden. "I had a rough childhood, but I don't let it bother me. I just do what I need to do."
"That doesn't work for me," said Timlin. "I always do something stupid, no matter how hard I try to avoid it."
"You need to live like a Knight every day," said Aldreya. "Then many good things will come your way."
"What do you know, Aldreya?" said Timlin. "You grew up in some shining Birlote kingdom and had a great life. It's easy for you to live like you were taught. For me, though…" He turned away and wiped his eyes. "I can never explain it, so why try? I want to talk about what happened, but…"
"You should never talk about it," said Vorden, patting him on the shoulder. "You should just block it from your mind and move on."
"I agree," said Aldreya. "Whatever haunts your mind is best forgotten, Timlin. Just let it go and concentrate on the present."
"Bad idea," said Jerret, sitting down on the bench.
Vorden glared at Jerret. "Why is that a bad idea?"
Jerret shrugged. "It just seems like a bad idea for him to forget his past, or he'll be doomed to repeat it or something. I don't know. Maybe I'm not making sense. What do you think, Lannon?"
"I don't know," said Lannon, being truthful. "But I do know that Timlin has a knack for getting in trouble and I just don't see that changing."
"Just go on and forget about me," said Timlin. "All of you."
"I told you that's not going to happen," said Vorden.
"So you can't promise to obey the Sacred Laws, Timlin?" said Lannon.
"I can't promise to obey them," said Timlin. "Sorry."
"Then I'm not going to try to help you," said Lannon. "Honestly, it's not worth it. You have to make your own fate, Timlin."
"It will be a bad fate," Timlin whispered.
Lannon rose, concerned by Timlin's tone and grim expression. "What does that mean?"
"You heard me." Timlin's eyes smoldered. "If you don't believe me, use your Eye of Divinity and look into my soul. See for yourself what's in there. Look deeper than before, deep into my past."
Lannon's eyes widened. "For what purpose?" He was afraid to look too deeply into Timlin's soul. He sensed something terrifying.
"To understand me," said Timlin. "Because I can never tell you, and no one ever listens anyway. If you're my friend, at least do that much. Then you will understand me. I want someone to know what happened. I need someone to know."
Lannon gazed at Timlin, considering Timlin's request. It seemed pointless and frightening. "I've seen the scars on your back. I know it must have been terrible. What does it matter if I know the details? "
"It matters," said Timlin. "I don't know why, except that it's like I'm in a prison of silence or something."
"This is foolish," said Vorden. "You're playing games again, Timlin. You just need to start acting like a Knight."
Aldreya just looked on with pity and uncertainty.
Jerret frowned and scratched his head. "If I had that Eye of Divinity power, I would do it. And I don't even like Timlin."
Lannon hesitated, seeing the intense, hopeful gleam in Timlin's eyes. Slowly, he reached out with the Eye and saw anguish and bitterness-a Squire in constant torment. But that was only the very surface. He probed a bit deeper and heavy gloom washed over him, merged with hopelessness and terror. And still Lannon felt that Timlin's secrets ran much deeper-into a place he feared to look.
Lannon broke contact and turned away. "I don't see the point, Timlin. If you have problems, we can work on them. We can…"
Lannon turned toward Timlin again-to find he'd curled up on the cot and was now facing the wall. And Timlin would not speak again during that encounter.
***
The meeting took place that evening in the North Tower and consisted of the same people as before-with the addition of Trenton Shadowbane, the Investigator of Dremlock, and the absence of the deceased Zannin Firespear. It was another cold spring night and the fireplace was raging. The faces of those gathered at the table were tense. Taris first addressed the condition of Furlus Goblincrusher, revealing that Furlus was recovering steadily after suffering a setback that had nearly taken his life-a vicious infection. But Furlus had managed to fight it off with his strong will and the healing arts of the White Knights, but the West Tower Master was still spending most of his time in bed.
The second issue to be addressed was Vorden's spider sword. Jace had been in possession of the blade for the past two days, and now he laid it on the table for everyone to see. "I have tested it thoroughly," Jace said, "and found that it's not cursed by Tharnin. Rather, this is a Knightly sword-though a very strange one. I couldn't find many references to it in the Dremlock records, but I did find some clues that seem to indicate it may have belonged to one of the Dark Watchmen. I'm still researching that, so I can't yet produce a name."
"It is clearly a very powerful blade," said Taris. "It struck a stout blow to the demon man." Taris' face was shockingly pale, and he seemed to be trembling slightly. The sickness from his facial wound was clearly growing more potent, yet still Taris sat up straight and with an aura of power and dignity. He gazed sternly at Vorden. "And had it failed to strike such an impressive blow, we might not have noticed it, since Vorden never saw fit to mention it."
"I never thought it was evil," said Vorden, his eyes fixed on the sword. "I agree that it's a strange weapon. But it feels right in my hand. I'm sorry for keeping it a secret. That was wrong, and I have learned my lesson."
"It is made of Glaetherin," said Jace, tracing a long finger over the blade. "But molded to an astonishing degree. I've never seen Glaetherin molded or engraved with such detail. Also, there are veins of Birlote crystal that run across its surface creating the spider design. These veins likely contain powerful energy. This sword was designed in similar fashion to the blue stones in the demon man's gauntlet in that some form of energy was bound in Birlote crystal-which is the same crystal used to make Birlote torches and other fine items. However, unlike the demon man's gauntlet, it harbors no demonic intelligence or malice. Anyway, the sword is absolutely magnificent. Aside from being virtually indestructible, it possesses its own sorcery that I'm sure makes it very formidable in combat."
"Can I have it back?' Vorden asked, leaning forward and looking anxious. "I mean, when this meeting is done?"
"Do you deserve it?" said Taris. "You kept it a secret. It could have been a dangerous weapon of Tharnin that ended up possessing you. Give us a good reason why you-a mere Squire-should own such a blade."
"This is actually not a violation of the Sacred Laws," said Trenton Shadowbane, "or even of minor rules. Squires are allowed to carry whatever weapons they prefer. They are not obligated to report carrying a specific weapon unless they feel it might be cursed by Tharnin. So the real question is whether or not Vorden believed it was cursed. Or his fellow Squires, if they knew about it."
"They didn't know," Vorden said quickly. Seeing skeptical looks from the Knights, he added: "What I mean is that I assured them the sword was not cursed and they took my word for it. It just never felt cursed to me. Anyway, if I must turn it over to the High Council, so be it. But considering that my attack broke the demon man's defenses and possibly saved lives, it's clear I've already put it to good use. In light of that, I ask that it be returned to me."