Sword of Good

8/13/2019 Sword of Good

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Eliezer S. Yudkowsky > Other > Fiction > The Sword of Good

...fragments of a novel that would never e written...

! ! !

"a#tain Selena$ late of the #irate shi# %emesis$ &uietly e'tended the very ti# ofher lade around the corner$ staring at the tiny reflection on the metal. (t once$ut still silently$ she #ulled ack the sword) and with her other hand made acom#le' gesture.

The translation s#ell told *irou that the handsigns meant+ ,Orcs. Seven.,

-olf looked at *irou. ,y /rince$, the wizard signed$ ,do not waste yourselfagainst mundane o##onents. -o not draw the Sword of Good as yet. 0eave

these to Selena.,

*irou1s mouth was very dry. *e didn1t know if the translation s#ell couldunderstand the difference etween wanting to talk and wanting to makegestures) and so *irou sim#ly nodded.

%ot for the first time$ the thought occurred to *irou that if he1d actually knownhe was going to e trans#orted into a magical universe$ informed he was thelong2lost heir to the Throne of 3ronze$ handed the legendary Sword of Good$ andtold to fight evil$ he would have s#ent less time reading fantasy novels. 4oinedthe army$ maye. Taken fencing lessons$ at least. 5f there was one thing thatdidn1t #re#are you for fantasy real life$ it was sitting at home reading fantasyfiction.

-olf and Selena were looking at *irou$ as if waiting for something more.

Oh. That1s right. 51m the #rince.

*irou raised a finger and #ointed it around the corner$ trying to indicate thatthey should go ahead 2

6ith a sudden urst of motion Selena #lunged around the corner$ -olf followinghard on her heels$ and *irou$ startled and hardly thinking$ moving after.

There was a hissing sound$ as the seven creatures guarding the doorway caughtsight of them$ the intruders) their glistening chests e'#anded$ sucking air. Theirfaces contracted$ eyes s&uinting in an e'#ression that a human would inter#retas hatred$ or sur#rise) and then their scaly2warted hands whi##ed over theirheads and rought forth swords.

Selena already held her sword in her right hand$ and her whi# in her left. Shelea#ed forward and howled$ a wordless cry that harmonized oddly with the attleroar of the orcs) and in almost the first instant of the clash$ one of the orc2headsse#arated from its ody and flew through the air$ trailing foul2smelling lacklood.


2/22

*irou reathed evenly$ trying to still his tremling. The Sword of Good gave atiny soft growl at his side 7a sound that only he could hear8 as Selena slashed herlade across another orc1s face$ giving rise to a whistling howl. Still he ke#t theSword sheathed. You are not to waste yourself against mundane o##onents...Even now the wizard was eyeing him closely$ as if e'#ecting him to defy ordersand #lunge into attle himself.

( small #art of him$ the #art that wasn1t totally terrified y the attle$ wasflattered that -olf thought so highly of him. 5t was all *irou could do not to turnand olt) he was tensing his legs as though e'erting a constant muscular effortto kee# them in the same #lace.

The orc2odies were #iling u# around Selena$ the whi# linding or tri##ing oryanking$ her lade ending life. 5t might have taken hours$ or seconds$ efore ahuge low s#lit the last orc1s head all the way down the middle.

She stood there$ lood2s#attered and #anting heavily$ waiting as though daring

the odies to ever move again) then her face rela'ed$ and she gave a lightlaugh$ and stoo#ed to wi#e her lade on the lack orc2leather.

,You1re hurt9, *irou lurted suddenly. :ed was soaking through the leather onSelena1s left arm.

Selena glanced downward. ,( scratch.,

,You cannot assume that$, rumled the wizard. ,Their lades may e #oisoned.,-olf ste##ed forward and rushed Selena1s arm riefly with the staff.

,Oh9, Selena said$ her face sur#rised. ,5t1s 2,

3ut -olf was already moving #ast her$ to look at the gate the orcs had guarded$and the stairway leading u#ward. ,5 elieve$, he said in a &uiet voice$ ,that thereis a dark magus u#stairs.,

,( magus9, Selena said. ,*ere;,

,( magus$, *irou echoed. *e swallowed hard) he knew what that meant.

-olf only glanced at Selena. ,-o as 5 taught you+ dro# your wea#ons$ sit in thecorner$ and clear your mind. %ow$, as Selena seemed aout to #rotest. ,(n

ordinary warrior is only a liaility$ in a attle of wills) a weak #oint to edefended$ a #iece to e turned against its #layer.,

Selena looked at *irou. *irou nodded.

(nd Selena sheathed her sword$ dro##ed it and the whi#$ unuckled the harnessthat held her daggers$ and sat down in the corner of the room and eganchanting softly to herself.

-olf s#ared her only a glance. ,(nd now$, said the wizard in a low tone$ ,my/rince$ you may enter the attle.,


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Though most of *irou1s mind was whited2out y terror$ there was a remnant thatseemed to see and follow the #attern$ like reciting memorized lines in a #lay)and that remnant knew that *irou1s #art was to draw the Sword of Good.

The ancient metal whis#ered out of its scaard. (s *irou drew the Sword itegan wailing$ a small thin shriek that *irou knew only he could hear. Thescream seemed to come from an infinitely narrow line running straight down thecenter of the Sword. The sound had a &uality that forced away attention$ asthough your eye were looking too close to the sun. (s though$ if you listened toohard$ you would 2 you would lose 2

-olf strode around the fallen orcs and their assorted ody #arts. *irou followed$reathing evenly) the Sword informed his hand to gri# it high and across hischest.

,6ho are we fighting;, *irou was sur#rised at how neutral his voice sounded.

( note of condemnation entered -olf1s voice. ,( false wizard$ this. %ot orn tothe (rt$ nor trained in the *alls. 5ts gift comes to it y a higher master$ ynecromancy and #otions... 3ut fear not$ my /rince. 5 shall #revent its will fromreaching Selena and smother its other magics) and your Sword will swee# asideits defenses like fallen leaves.,

Through the door they swe#t$ and mounted the stairs of the tower. -olf wasreathing heavier$ now$ his face elying the effort of warding off some #ressingwill. *irou felt nothing$ e'ce#t #erha#s a note of cris#ness in the air$ as theSword in his hand enforced an edict against certain s#ecific ty#es of delusion.

Then they were standing at the highest level of the tower$ the end of the stairs$

efore one small wooden door.

,51ll enter first$, -olf signed$ ,and you follow as fast as you can$ and strike as&uickly as may e done. 3e careful not to strike me$ my /rince. The Sword ofGood may strengthen your hand$ ut not guide your ste#s 2 it will strike me aseasily as the foe$ if you ha##en to turn it in my direction.,

*irou nodded. The air of neutrality was wearing away$ and the acrid tang ofadrenaline was entering his mouth.

,Three$, signed the wizard$ ,two$ one 2,

-olf1s oaken staff crashed against the door$ lasting it off the hinges in a flare oflight and -olf was racing into the room and *irou was following him and thefigure in stained rown roes was s#inning its staff forward and a wall of flamesswe#t out 2

*irou flinched and gave a small shriek$ ut the flames washed over himineffectively efore his feet could even stumle. (verted y the Sword. -olfalso was untouched 2 the defenses of a wizard were nearly im#ossile to reak$-olf had said) some wizards s#ent hours every day uilding them higher. Therewas only one known wea#on that could kill a wizard in a single low$ and thatwas 2

(m 5 really going to do this;


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3ut the Sword was already swinging forward in *irou1s hand.

(nd the lade ounced off the air around the stained rown roes$ with a suddenshower of orange s#arks.

"ra#$ *irou had time to think.

(nd then the false wizard1s staff was swee#ing toward him 7metal it was$ notwood8.

3ut the Sword in his hand moved to #arry it$ and there was another shower ofs#arks.

,


5/22

,-olf$, *irou said hoarsely$ ,why did the Sword ounce off his shields; You saidit would cut through magic with a single low.,

-olf seemed uneasy. ,5t has een centuries since the last wielder held theSword of Good$ nole /rince) #erha#s not all the stories are true. To cut througha wizardly shield with a score of lows is still a very great #ower.,

,%o$, *irou said. *e hesitated$ then+ ,51m not wielding the Sword at fullstrength. 5 can feel it.,

5t seems... disa##ointed... in me.

-olf nodded. ,The Sword of Good$, he &uoted softly$ ,contains the essence ofthat which em#owers a hero) the truth which only heroes can face. y /rince... 5have een reluctant to say this$ ut you have not een acting heroic., Therewas a #eculiar gentleness on -olf1s face that softened the im#act of the words.,3ut it will come with time. Of that 5 am certain. 5t is written in the royal lood of

your forefathers. You were raised in another #lace$ ut you are the heir of3ronze 2,

*irou retched$ then swallowed hard$ and hard again. 6ith a sudden flash ofhorror he knew 2 and he knew =ust how unheroic it was 2 that he was aout tothrow u# on the cor#se.

! ! !

Their horses sauntered through the streets of the city 2 the ca#ital of a whole#rovince$ it was$ which meant #erha#s a s&uare mile enclosed y wooden walls$with the occasional two2story uilding. *irou ke#t his eyes moving$ watching for

#ossile amushes 2 not that he really thought he had a chance of s#otting one$if there was one. 3ut it was his est guess at how a hero would act. 6hat would(ragorn do; 2 that had een the refrain of his thoughts$ of late. 6as the ladycarrying a clay #ot on each shoulder a threat; 6as the legless eggar$ watchingthem with incurious eyes$ a s#y;

There was an e'cited uzz of conversation in the streets) from the snatches thatwere audile$ *irou gleaned that a military out#ost of the Em#ire had eenoverrun y orcs. The Em#ire was trying to #lay it down 7said the overheardvoices8 ut rumor had it a ma=or disaster for the #lanned invasion cam#aign.

*irou glanced over at -olf and Selena. %either seemed to e #aying any#articular attention to the matter.

They cantered on for a short while longer$ and finally -olf drew rein. Selena atonce followed$ and after a moment1s reaction time$ so did *irou.

,*ere$, -olf rumled.

*irou looked at the uilding on their right. There was a huge #ainted oard infront$ showing a mouth eing crammed with a turkey leg larger than itself. Thesigns scratched elow$ the translation s#ell informed him$ meant ,5%% OFET:EE0Y T(STY FOO-.,


6/22

One nice thing aout this world+ 5f they don1t want you to know$ they =ust kee#&uiet) and if they want you to know$ they tell you straight out.

*irou didn1t say it out loud$ though. (ragorn$ descendant of Elendil and heir tothe throne of Gondor$ wouldn1t have said it.

6as that #art of what em#owered a hero; That solemnity 2 or maye =ust takingthings seriously; *irou didn1t know. 3ut there was no #oint in taking chances.

The Sword hadn1t killed him yet$ ut neither had it fully unlocked in his hand.

The innkee#er1s eyes went wide at the sight of -olf1s staff$ and they were swiftlyushered into a #rivate side room with a asket of candied fruits already waiting.Selena had a sugared orange slice in her mouth almost as &uickly as she satdown$ and sighed in liss) even -olf took a handful of nuts.

*irou$ with a #rivate sigh$ took an a##le slice lightly dusted in a s#ice he didn1trecognize. 4ust the fact that it was s#iced #roaly made it one of the most

e'#ensive and lu'urious treats this world had to offer. *e it$ chewed$swallowed.

God he missed chocolate.

,So now what;, Selena said$ after she1d eaten half the owl.

,%ow we wait$, -olf said.

,For what;, said Selena.

-olf looked around) the staff twitched in his hand and shed a rief woody glow.

Even so$ the wizard lowered his voice efore he s#oke. ,This night$ an assassin2courier and two hired thugs will come to this very inn$ their wagon having rokena wheel on the road. 6e must have the message that they carry$ for it containsa hint to the location of the Em#ty %ecklace.,

Selena linked. ,Fine$, she said. ,5 give u#. *ow could you #ossily know that;,

-olf looked at *irou$ his eyes asking #ermission.

,Tell her$, *irou said. *e tried for a note of authority in his voice 2 a "rown/rince1s decision 2 ut he didn1t know if he1d succeeded.

-olf nodded$ and his gaze shifted ack to Selena. ,*ow much do you knowaout the /ro#hecy of -estiny;,

One nice thing aout this world$ they #ut very clear laels on everything 2 oh$ski# it.

Selena linked. ,%ot much. That1s wizard usiness. %ot much call for it in the#irating #rofession.,

,?ery true$, -olf said. ,3ut what do you know;,


7/22

Selena shrugged. ,( new 0ord of -ark shall arise over Evilland$ commanding the3ad :aces$ and attem#t to cast the S#ell of 5nfinite -oom. The 0ong20ost *eir$wielding the Sword of Good$ shall kick Evil1s ass. That1s aout it.,

,That1s it;, *irou said incredulously$ then caught himself. (ragorn wouldn1t havesaid that.

Selena smiled at him. ,5t was enough for me$ your 5m#erial *ighness. ( chancelike this only comes along once in a woman1s lifetime., She lew him a kiss.

For once *irou wasn1t distracted. ,aster -olf$, *irou said$ trying to make it astatement instead of a &uestion 2 ,5 elieve she needs to know more than that.,

,Yes..., -olf said. ,Though it is wizard1s usiness indeed) and only y 5m#erialcommand may it go further..., *e drew a reath$ lowered his voice further. ,Theoriginal /ro#hecy of -estiny$ Selena$ was never written down. 5t has eenmemorized y the (rchmagi and #assed down y word of mouth through the

generations. 5t is more 2 detailed 2 then you seem to realize. You are mentioned$#irate #rincess. entioned y name and your mother1s name$ daughter ofElaine.,

Selena1s mouth lay o#en$ a #icture of #erfect astonishment. ,(h..., she said.,-o 5 die at the end;,

,%o one knows$, -olf said sim#ly. ,The /ro#hecy of -estiny is a strange thing$#irate #rincess) it tells of some events in the smallest detail$ omits others thatwould seem very large. Told we were$ to e on the shi# that you attacked) toldwe were of your name. The /ro#hecy of -estiny carries through to theconfrontation etween the 0ong20ost *eir and the 0ord of -ark$ on the very

verge of the casting of the S#ell of 5nfinite -oom. Then$ it says$ the 0ong20ost*eir shall "hoose etween Good and 3ad. (nd there 2 there$ of all #laces 2 theforetelling ends.,

,*uh$, Selena said. She ta##ed her cheek. ,5 somehow sus#ect$ aster 6izard$that you wouldn1t tell me 2 or his 5m#erial *ighness 2 if 5 did die at the end...,She stared at -olf$ and -olf looked ack neutrally. ,So what does the S#ell of5nfinite -oom do; -estroy the world;,

,Few there are who would delierately destroy the world$, -olf said. ,Even the0ord of -ark re&uires lesser eings to rule over. %o$ the S#ell of 5nfinite -oom

destroys the E&uilirium. 0ight and dark$ summer and winter$ luck andmisfortune 2 the great 3alance of %ature will e$ not u#set$ ut annihilatedutterly) and in it$ set in #lace a single will$ the will of the 0ord of -ark. (nd heshall rule$ not only the #eo#le$ ut the very faric of the 6orld itself$ until theend of days.,

,*uh$, Selena said again. *er eyes flicked to *irou. ,(nd how are you leaningon that "hoice etween Good and 3ad;,

,Good$, *irou said instantly.

,Even if the 0ord of -ark offered you the numer two #osition as the master of

the universe 2,


8/22

,Good.,

,You1re not even thinking aout it9,

,5t1s not e'actly a difficult &uestion9, said *irou. ,"alling it 1the "hoice etweenGood and 3ad1 kind of gives away the answer.,

Selena was trying not to smile. ,You1ve never een tem#ted y anything;,

,5t1s not a matter of tem#tation9, *irou said. ,5t1s..., he trailed off for a moment.5t wasn1t that he couldn1t find the words. 5t was that the conce#ts didn1t e'ist inthis world. 6hat he wanted to say was that he had a #retty good idea what sortof ehavior got you listed as a villain$ in the great T? Tro#es wiki of the universe)and he1d had a worried eye on his own character sheet since the day he1drealized what he1d gotten himself into) and he asolutely #ositively wasn1t goingto go -ark essiah$


9/22

0ater that night$ as with soft footste#s they #added toward the room where theassassin2courier and his two com#anions sle#t$ *irou held the Sword in his handand stared at the central ridge of the lade. The endless wail still arose from it$from the infinitely thin line through the center. *irou had een getting used tothe sound$ over time$ which made it ever harder to focus his attention on it.

-o 5 get any #oints for that$ Sword; For what 5 said to Selena$ even though 5 mayhave lost her;

The wail seemed only to diminish slightly$ or maye it was only *irou1s attentionwandering away.

5t can1t e that a hero is someone who would choose one #erson over the world9%ot literally the whole world9 ...can it;

The sound softened further$ as if that infinitely thin line were growing moredistant.

5 wouldn1t e glad to sacrifice her9 5t would hurt9 3ut 5 #ut myself on the linetoo9 5sn1t that what heroism is all aout; Sacrificing yourself and your owndesires for the good of the world;

6hat is the truth that only heroes can face$ if not that;

*irou stared intently at the Sword$ as if demanding an answer) and then ecameaware that his attention had moved away$ once again$ from that silent scream.

(nd the three of them stood efore the doorway.

Selena took a small vial from off her harness$ and dri##ed small dro#lets of oilonto the hinges of the door. She was no master thief$ ut had a &uietly#rofessional gras# of the asics. @uietly and slowly the door o#ened. Selenawent in first$ and -olf followed her$ and then *irou silently rought u# the rear$Sword held in guard #osition.

The assassin2courier had a thin$ #ointed eard$ and wore a light chainshirt evenin his slee#. *is two escorts had an unshaven$ unsavory look$ and it was oviousfrom the smell of the room that they had not athed. The three of them werelaid out on a line on as many eds. Selena had a long thin #oniard already in herhand$ and #lunged that needle straight through the left eyelid of the first thug$

swift as a sword2strike on the downward #lunge$ sto##ing aru#tly in mid2deathlow lest she strike the skull on the other side and make a sound. Shewent around the eds and re#eated the silent kill there on the other thug$ as -olf&uietly moved to each of the four corners of the room in turn$ while *iroulocked the e'it.

Then$ with a knife held =ust aove the courier1s throat$ she s#oke in a whis#er.

,-on1t move$, Selena whis#ered$ ,or 51ll slit your throat efore you can scream.,

The courier1s eyes flew o#en$ and he drew a sudden reath$ ut stayed &uiet.


10/22

,5t may or may not matter to you$, Selena said$ low and harsh$ ,ut you1ve eenworking for the 0ord of -ark$ in case you didn1t know. %ow tell us the messagethat you carry.,

,*el#9 Thieves9, cried the courier 2 in a small$ soft voice that no one could#ossily hear outside the room.

-olf1s gaze lay intent u#on the courier1s throat.

,You see how it is$, said Selena. ,So you can tell me the message right now 2and the wizard here will know if you lie$ 5 do assure you. Or you can tell us themessage... later. "hoose.,

,-rown in a cess#ool9, softly yelled the courier.

,6hat frightens you;, in&uired Selena softly. ,Skinning; "astration;, 6atchinghis face$ the while. ,3linding; "ri##ling; Or maye 2,

The courier s#at at her. Selena moved &uickly$ ut the s#ittle still struck her onthe cheek. She didn1t take her lade from his throat$ or her other lade from hiscrotch.

,You1ll regret that$, she said in a voice that rought a sudden chill to *irou1slood. *er hands whitened on her lades.

*irou suddenly had a sense of im#ending disaster$ as if events in the room wereaout to s#iral out of control. *e o#ened his mouth$ then closed it again 2 hecouldn1t think of a single thing to say that wouldn1t interfere with theinterrogation.

-olf s#oke$ a &uieter version of his usual rumle. ,5t seems you1re failing toim#ress him., -olf took a ste# closer$ and locked eyes with the courier. ,*ow1sthis for a threat$ -ark1s dog;,

Suddenly the color drained from the courier1s face$ as his eyes locked onto somevision that only he and -olf could see. The courier screamed$ and the soundcame out as a small$ thin$ #athetic wail.

-olf ste##ed ack. ,That1s a threat$, he said in Selena1s general direction$ andsmiled one of his rare grins.

,The city of Silantra9, gas#ed the courier. ,5 was to tell a man in lack$ whowould call himself (lek$ at the crossroads of Thu$ to go to the city of Silantra$ andinvestigate the tem#le ruins9 That1s all 5 know9 5 swear9,

Selena looked in&uiringly at -olf$ and -olf nodded.

They scattered a few gold coins on the floor$ to #ay for the cleanu# of the threecor#ses$ and left at once while the cover of night still held.

! ! !

The #alace of the 0ord of -ark seemed as deserted as the o#en desert eneaththe moon$ or some far2elow cave in the owels of the earth. The floors and


11/22

walls had een carefully carved and #olished into inhuman curves$ anddecorated in colors that threatened to melt a human1s eyes. 3y no five2fingeredhands had this #lace een made. (nd though the four of them had eencree#ing through the corridors at the cautious s#eed of a dungeon crawl$ so farnot a single tra# or amush had een s#rung.

(lek was #oking and #rodding the door ahead with his staff. 5t was a mighty andornamented door$ carved with inhuman faces set in indeci#herale e'#ressions$and -olf had said there was something interesting eyond.

,%othing$, (lek said$ and shook his head in emusement. ,%o tra#s on this oneeither. (ll those intricate carvings and not a single mechanism hidden ehindthem$ so far as 5 can tell., *e sighed. ,51m eginning to feel useless. You threedidn1t really need a thief on this tri#.,

*irou looked u# from where he was staring into the Sword1s lade$ and half2smiled. ,6e don1t know what isn1t tra##ed. 5f we didn1t have a thief on this tri#$

we1d still have to check doors and floors. 6e1d =ust e doing it much moreslowly. %o$ you1ve already saved the Forces of Good a good deal of time$ (lek.,

(lek linked. ,That1s... an odd way of looking at it... ut you1re right. Thank you$highness., (lek1s usual cheerful grin returned$ and he ste##ed ack and took histhieves1 staff from off his ack. ani#ulating a lever at the ase$ he caused thestaff1s clawed ti# to close around the door2handle) he twisted$ then #ushed.

The door swung o#en.

,Ewwwww$, (lek and Selena said in unison.

3efore them$ in the floor$ was a vast #it of worms$ writhing over one another in alight coating of slime. %e't to the #it was a glass cage of worms$ thesemotionless and rotting) and wires of red metal ran from the glass cage to theceiling. The room smelled of cinnamon and decay.

,-olf;, *irou said. ,6hat are we looking at;,

,( 6ormarium..., -olf linked$ and swallowed. ,5 have... heard of this. That anywizard$ even the 0ord of -ark$ would sink so low 2, -olf swallowed again. ,The0ord of -ark is draining the life force of the worms in order to sustain himself.*e need not eat or drink$ he will not age$ he is cut off from the cycles of his own

flesh. The ordinary decay of his ody$ is transferred to the worms) and the life ofthe worms 2,

,Ewwwwww$, Selena and (lek said again.

,Shall we destroy it;, *irou asked.

,The transfer cales are inactive..., muttered -olf. ,Of course. The 0ord of -arkdoes not e'#ect to need this once he com#letes the S#ell of 5nfinite -oom. Or#erha#s he thinks it might interfere 2 well. 5t matters not. 5 think he shall notnotice what we do here., -olf grounded his staff$ and a look of concentrationriefly flashed across his face.


12/22

Then a sudden laze of green incandescence urst forth from the #it and thecage 2

(lek convulsively yanked the door shut using the thieves1 staff. ,Gah9, he said$then lowered his voice. ,6arn a guy when you1re aout to do that$ aster6izard9 5 thought we1d triggered something.,

,Our work here is done$, *irou said 2 the end of the statement turning u# onlyslightly in a &uestioning inflection.

-olf nodded.

,-o you sense anything else interesting enough to warrant our attention; (nyother #otential resources we should try to deny our enemy$ efore the attleegins;,

-olf shook his head.

*irou took a dee# reath. *e1d #layed out this scenario in his head so manytimes over and over that the reality felt more like a relief than anything else.,Then it1s time.,

They retraced their ste#s away from the 6ormarium$ returning to the centralcorridor they had e'#lored earlier. (lek again took the lead$ and they slowly$slowly walked down the long lack metallic floor.

(fter a long walk$ the corridor widened out into a huge vestiule that for once didnot insult the human eye. Floor laid with rectangular stones$ walls hung withta#estries of #leasant color and disturing su=ects. On the left wall$ an orc

cradled the loody ody of a smaller orc$ aove a hea# of loody and slashedhuman odies) other orcs gazed at the scene intently. (ll of their e'#ressionswere inhuman$ and indeci#herale. On the right wall$ a grey2roed figure withhuman hands visile$ ut face concealed y a solid metal mask$ stood as thoughin lessing over a field of green #lants with twisted stalks.

5n front of them was a huge door fit for a city gate$ inlaid with gold and gemsthat could have #urchased a whole #rovince. Even *irou$ who came from awealthier #lane of e'istence$ was im#ressed.

,3loody hell$, (lek said under his voice$ very softly$ staring at the rectangular

floorstones in their neatly tiled #attern. ,5 hate this sort of thing.,

Ste# y ste# they walked across the floor$ (lek #ressing hard with the thieves1staff on every floorstone for thirty full seconds efore continuing onward.

5t was on almost the last ste# efore the door that the stone suddenly slid awaywith a huge shriek 2 not the stone (lek had =ust #ressed down with his staff$ utthe stone efore that$ where (lek had stood.

6ith a choked yell$ the thief #lummeted and vanished.

,(lek9, Selena screamed$ and ran forward heedless. *irou egan to follow$ then$

with coldly itter determination$ checked himself.


13/22

Selena looked down into the ga# in the floor where (lek had vanished.

She choked. ,(lek9, Then$ as if gone mad$ she leaned over the ga# and eganto reach down.

( #remonition #rickled at *irou$ and with sudden des#eration he lea#ed forwardand yanked Selena ack from where she was leaning. 6ith a shriek and echoingoom the stone surged ack into #lace$ almost crushing Selena1s outstretchedhand.

,%o9, Selena cried. Tears were already rolling down her cheek. ,*irou$ #lease96e have to get to him9,

,Your highness$ you mustn1t 2, came -olf1s rumle.

The cold itterness$ already in *irou$ turned to sudden rage and self2loathing. (shad ha##ened once efore$ the terrile wail from the center of the Sword

seemed to grow louder$ to fill his mind) heavier than a mountain and morecorrosive than a flood$ a refusal2to2acce#t that would last anything in its#athway 2 ut still$ somehow$ essentially moral in nature$ more than #uredestruction or sim#le entro#y 2

*irou1s Sword lashed out as though it were a #art of him$ and smashed downu#on the stone.

(nd the stone shattered in the same instant$ as though every #art of it had eenunound from itself) it fell into #eles$ and the #eles fell into dust$ and thedust turned to smoke and illowed u#ward.

(nd the smoke cleared$ and showed (lek aove a ed of worms 2 some crushedy (lek1s fall$ some already eginning to writhe over his form.

(lek wasn1t moving$ he wasn1t reathing. The worm2slime glistened on his skin.

(nd then there was another groan of machinery$ and (lek1s ody and the wormsegan to move out of their sight$ as a new #it of worms moved into #lace elowthe floor.

,%o9, Selena screamed$ an awful$ heartwrenching #lea that roke and shatteredin her li#s. ,(lek9 %o9,

*irou laid his left hand on Selena1s shoulder. ,6e must go$, he said. *is voicesounded em#ty and emotionless$ even to his own ears. ,The 0ord of -ark knowswe1re here$ now.,

Selena rose from the o#en #it$ hands clenched as if to strike.

,You don1t res#ect anything$ do you$, she said in a voice colder than the nightetween worlds.

51m sorry. 5 know how much (lek meant to you. You can hit me later$ if you like.

,6e have to go$, *irou re#eated. ,6e have to hurry.,


14/22

Selena turned away from him$ and drew her swords. ,Yes$ your 5m#erial*ighness$, she said. *e couldn1t see her face.

*irou lea#ed across the ga# in the floor to the final stone efore the door. Thewail had not diminished$ this time) it was still in his mind.

6ith a terrile lack fury and a convulsion like throwing a mountain$ *iroustruck$ and turned the right gold door to smoke. So much for tra#s.

(nd the smoke cleared$ and they saw the huge throne room$ and the throne$ andthe 0ord of -ark.

( =olt of sur#rise ri##led through *irou1s mind. The throne room was not small$ut neither was it the hugeness that *irou had e'#ected) the size of a smallhouse$ #erha#s. Scenes of sun and clouds$ grass and hills$ dotted the walls) anda vast skylight$ aove$ let in a #leasant golden glow. The 0ord of -ark1s thronewas laid on a golden #latform$ and the throne itself was comfortaly cushioned

and well2designed for the human form) more like an office chair of *irou1s ownworld than a formal seat. 3ehind the throne lay a shimmering screen of force)and ehind the screen of force$ an altar) and on the altar$ an intricate array ofgears turning without a'les or wires) and aove the gears$ a throing laze oflight.

(nd the 0ord of -ark sat on the ergonomic throne$ gared in a comfortalecassock of gray silk.

,Oh$ finally$, said the 0ord of -ark. *is fingers ta##ed on the arm of his throne$dit2dit2dit. ,5 was starting to wonder if you were going to show u#$ *irou.,

*irou1s mind was scramled$ for a moment$ he couldn1t rememer his own#lanned o#ening line. ,6ere you$ now;, his mouth said.

,"ome now$, said the 0ord of -ark$ ,don1t tell me you were trying to sneak u# onme; The entire world knows the #ro#hecy aout our meeting9 The wielder ofthe Sword of Good is su##osed to arrive efore 5 com#lete the S#ell of Altimate/ower., The 0ord of -ark waved at the glow aove the machinery on the altarehind the throne. ,(nd that1s =ust aout done.,

-olf smiled grimly$ from where he leaned u#on his staff. ,You1re frightened.,

,Of course 51m nervous9 Gah9, The 0ord of -ark made a convulsive gesture asthough to claw at the em#ty air$ radiating frustration. ,(re you done stating theovious;,

Selena raised a sword and #ointed at the 0ord of -ark. (round her neck$ theGlowy Stone flamed rightly where it had een set in the Em#ty %ecklace) nosorcery of mind would touch her with that armor$ still less while -olf stood guard.

,You killed my only love$, she said in a sim#le voice$ a &uiet voice$ a voice likedeath$ ,and 5 am going to kill you.,

The 0ord of -ark looked at her. ( com#le' e'#ression flashed across his face+

condemnation was in it$ and #ity.


15/22

Then$ without a word or a gesture$ (lek1s ody floated out and came to rest nearthe altar$ ehind the screen of force.

,(lek1s head is still intact$, the 0ord of -ark said. ,You may or may not know$Selena$ that everything that a human is$ resides in a human1s rain. Your loverstill e'ists$ Selena) all that is him$ still is there. *e is sim#ly not reathing$ at themoment. (fter 5 com#lete the S#ell of Altimate /ower$ 51ll have the aility toring (lek ack. (nd 5 will. -oes that work for you;,

Selena swayed where she stood. She choked$ a single so esca#ing her li#s.

*irou felt a sudden chill$ rememering a conversation from what seemed likeages ago. ,6hat if the 0ord of -ark had me #risoner$ and threatened to kill meunless you 2,

Selena looked like a woman in the midst of tearing out her own heart andcrushing it with her own hands.

*irou dro##ed his eyes. *e couldn1t look at it. *e only watched Selena1s handson the swords$ waiting for her decision.

(nd then Selena straightened$ and her swords came level in her hands$ #ointingat the 0ord of -ark) and she said$ in a small voice like she was dying$

,Good.,

Sudden tears came into *irou1s eyes.

Slight #uzzlement flickered on the 0ord of -ark1s face. ,5 mean it$, said the 0ord

of -ark. ,51m not asking anything from you. 4ust telling you that if 5 win$ 51ll ring(lek ack. That1s a #romise.,

You son of a itch. *irou saw it$ then$ the cruel sutlety of the 0ord of -ark. %otthe ovious threat$ demanding Selena to etray her friends in e'change for herlover1s life. %o crude offer that could e refused once and for all. 4ust the sim#leand unconditional #romise 2 and then Selena would have to fight on$ knowingwith every reath and every low that if she won$ she lost her only love forever.

,3astard$, choked Selena. (nd she tilted the sword further to #oint at the 0ord of-ark1s head.

The 0ord of -ark shook his head in annoyance$ and then focused his gaze fullyu#on *irou.

*irou tensed. *e1d een wondering$ for a long time now$ what the 0ord of -arkcould #ossily offer him$ what threat he could #ossily make$ to give *irou a"hoice worth the name. *irou had thought aout that$ trying to #ut himself inthe 0ord of -ark1s #lace) and he thought that the 0ord of -ark might indeed offerto make *irou his numer two$ or alternatively$ if *irou refused and then lost$kee# him alive and torture him for thousands of years. That was aout asforceful as *irou could imagine making it 2

3ut the 0ord of -ark had already demonstrated himself more sutle than *irou1simagination.


16/22

The 0ord of -ark s#oke. *is voice was more formal$ now) not calm$ ut steady.,(ll the #reliminaries are in #lace$ wielder of the Sword of Good. There remainsonly your "hoice etween Good and 3ad., The 0ord of -ark1s eyes grew intent.,*irou$ com#leting the S#ell of Altimate /ower re&uires the sacrifice of a wizardof the highest degree$ and also 5 have a use for the Sword of Good. 5n the nameof all the darkness that e'ists in the world$ 5 re&uest that you kill -olf with theSword of Good$ and then give it to me.,

There was a long #ause.

,That1s it;, *irou said finally. The whole thing was so insane$ after so muchwaiting and wondering$ that he felt a crazy laughter rising u# in his own throat.*e swallowed it. ,That1s the awful tem#tation; That1s the "hoice; You think 51mgoing to choose 3ad over Good ecause you asked #olitely;,

The 0ord of -ark stared at *irou as though he were the crazy one. ,The "hoice

etween Good and 3ad$, said the 0ord of -ark in a slow$ careful voice$ as thoughe'#laining something to a child$ ,is not a matter of saying 1Good91 5t is aoutdeciding which is which.,

-olf uttered a single ark of laughter. ,You1re mad9, his voice oomed. ,"anyou truly not know that you are evil; You$ the 0ord of -ark;,

,%ames$, said the 0ord of -ark &uietly.

*irou was so angry he could hardly s#eak. 6ith an icy effort of control he forcedhimself ack to calm$ forced his eyes to kee# moving. This could all e adistraction. ,5f you1re going to give me some #athetic s#eech aout how good

and evil are =ust different sides of the same coin 2,

,(solutely not$, said the 0ord of -ark at once. *is gaze flicked to -olf. ,5t is thewizards who go aout talking of E&uilirium and 3alance. 5 am #leased to see$*irou$ that you do not agree with them. %o$ *irou$ 5 am asking you somethingmuch sim#ler., *is eyes ored into *irou1s face. ,6hat wrong have 5 done;,

( small note of disorientation rose u# in *irou$ like climing stairs and ste##ingon what you thought was the last stair$ ut eneath your foot there was no stair$no floor$ nothing...

,You suck the life from worms$, Selena said coldly. ,5 know darkness when 5 seeit.,

The 0ord of -ark1s gaze scarcely flickered in her direction. ,3e silent$ eater ofmammals.,

,You command the 3ad :aces of Evilland9, roared -olf. ,You lent them yoursorcery$ aided them in slaughtering human eings9,

The 0ord of -ark was watching *irou carefully as he made re#ly. ,*uman eingsfirst launched an un#rovoked attack on this land some three thousand years ago$saying 2 though it was lies 2 that the inhaitants ate human flesh. The records

here would have it$ and 5 elieve them$ that the missing #eo#le were in facteing kidna##ed and sold y human slave2takers. Since then$ those you call the


17/22

13ad :aces1 have een fighting off re#eated attem#ts at e'termination. Oh$ theyhate you$ of course they do) ut they are wise enough to understand that thereare a few good humans$ even as there is evil among their own kind. They arefriendly enough to me.,

(n awful fear egan to rise u# in *irou 2

,%ow it is my turn to make accusation$, said the 0ord of -ark. *e stood) angergathered around him like a cloak$ and his voice rang out through the throneroom. ,You$ -olf$ (rchwizard of the fell Em#ire$ 5 do accuse of commanding andcausing to e #erformed$ the murders of Elzhur$ (nzha$ Stav$ ?aldil$ Emhil$

Tohm$


18/22

3ecause -olf seemed to e'#ect it of me$ ecause no one around me seemed to&uestion that it was a good idea$ or even #oint it out as something to think aout2

,E&uilirium$, hissed the 0ord of -ark. *is face twisted. ,3alance. 5s that whatthe wizards call it$ when some live in fine castles and dress in the nolestraiment$ while others starve in rags in their huts; 5s that what you call it whensome years are of health$ and other years #lague swee#s the land; 5s that howyou wizards$ in your lofty towers$ =ustify your refusal to hel# those in need; Fool9

There is no E&uilirium9 5t is a word that you wizards say at only and e'actlythose times that you don1t want to other9 5t #revents you from giving food tothe hungry$ ut not from filling your own ellies9 Your friends are good enoughto e healed$ no threat to the 3alance there$ ut the cri##le in the streets muste left to suffer 2,

-olf ste##ed forward and rushed Selena1s arm riefly with the staff 2

2 was the legless eggar$ watching them with incurious eyes$ a s#y;

6hy hadn1t he thought to ask 2

, 2 ecause you =ust don1t care9,

(nd in the stillness of dawning disaster$ in the first note of &uestioning$ *irouthought of something else he had never thought to ask. -olf had his sorcerousshields of #rotection. 6hy had -olf let (lek walk in front; -olf was in fact y farthe strongest memer of their #arty 2 why had he let Selena do the fighting;

3ecause -olf was more im#ortant$ and if he e'#osed himself to all the risk everytime$ he might eventually e in=ured$ *irou1s logical mind com#leted the thought.0ower risk$ ut higher stakes. "old ut necessary 2

3ut would you$ said another #art of his mind$ would you$ *irou$ let your friendswalk efore of you and fight$ and occasionally die$ if you knew that you yourselfwere stronger and ale to #rotect them; 6ould you e ale to sto# yourselffrom ste##ing in front;

/erha#s$ re#lied the cold logic. 5f the world were at stake.

/erha#s$ echoed the other #art of himself$ ut that is not what was actuallyha##ening.

That #art of him knew$ as Selena had known efore.

5t is =ust that$ from the eginning$ -olf never cared in the slightest aout Selena1slife.

*ad cared nothing for a mere #irate ca#tain 2

/irate ca#tain;

*irou1s eyes flicked riefly to Selena.


19/22

She has attacked shi#s and sunken shi#s$ she has kidna##ed and killed. (ll inthe name of #rofit for herself$ efore ever she met me or tried to save the world.She killed dozens without a thought$ until her own love was lost$ and then asingle death was suddenly an event of world2shaking significance 2

6hy did 5 think that was acce#tale;

6hy didn1t 5 notice;

(nother memory came to *irou.

2 the color drained from the courier1s face$ as his eyes locked onto some visionthat only he and -olf could see. The courier screamed$ and the sound came outas a small$ thin$ #athetic wail 2

-olf had done that without touching the man$ ut 2

Threats of death and in=ury are already torture in themselves$ under the Geneva"onvention$ y the laws of my own world.

*e1d known something was wrong. That small note of dis&uiet in the corner ofhis mind. 3ut he hadn1t said a word out loud$ ecause$ well$ it would have eenawkward.

5 am a fool.

6orse than a fool.

6hy didn1t the Sword =ust kill me;

(nd the everlasting wail of the Sword of Good urst fully into his consciousness

5t was like his mind and self were sucked toward that infinitely thin line runningthrough the center of the Sword$ the edge within the lade. Sucked toward thatedge$ and cut through.

"ut through and torn wide and forced o#en 2

( scream ri##ed from *irou1s li#s.

*e was starving to death freezing naked in cold night eing staed eatenra#ed watching his father daughter lover die hurt hurt hurt die 2

2 o#en to all the darkness that e'ists in the world 2

*is consciousness shattered into a dozen million fragments$ each fragment #rivyto some #rivate horror) the young girl screaming as her father$ face demonic$tore her louse away) the horror of the innocent condemned as the =udge laiddown the sentence) the mother holding her son1s hand tightly with tears rollingdown her eyes as his last reath slowly wheezed from his throat 2

2 all the darkness that you look away from$ the endless scream.

ake it sto#9


20/22

5t might have een *irou1s thought$ or the thought of the man who screamed ashis foot was crushed eneath a stone.

:efuse$ re=ect$ change$ reality don1t e like this 2

ake it sto#9

5t could have een *irou or the child in the urning house.

make it sto#make it sto#make it sto#(


21/22

,ake it sto#$, said *irou1s li#s. There were other thoughts inside him$ still eingcarried out y his rain$ ut they were dwarfed under that single terrile weight.

The 0ord of -ark rose from his throne$ egan to come forward. ,5 must touch thelade.,

*irou crossed the intervening s#ace in an instant$ the Sword moving in a single#erfect arc in his hands) it was as though the lade sim#ly materialized in frontof the 0ord of -ark.

The 0ord of -ark =erked ack.

,*urry$, said *irou1s li#s.

,The S#ell of Altimate /ower is already in #rogress now$ and will com#lete in afew moments. 5t can neither e hurried nor delayed$, said the 0ord of -ark. ,3ut

efore that time$ there is one last thing 5 must do 2,

The 0ord of -ark reached out for the Sword$ ut his fingers faltered.

,ust do$, the 0ord of -ark re#eated to himself) and his fingers reached out$ andfirmly came to rest on the lade of the Sword of Good.

They lingered there for a long moment.

Then$ ,Thank you$, said the 0ord of -ark. ,That was all. You can #ut down theSword of Good now. You #roaly should.,

*irou dro##ed the Sword. 5n the instant the Sword left his hands it ecame onlyanother #iece of metal$ and fell to the ground with a sim#le clang.

(nd in the moment that *irou1s hands left the hilt$ he ecame only anothermortal.

*irou staggered$ and was distantly aware of the 0ord of -ark catching him as hefell$ to lay him gently on the ground.

5n a whis#er$ *irou said ,Thank you 2, and #aused.

,y name is ?hazhar.,

,You didn1t trust yourself$, *irou whis#ered. ,That1s why you had to touch theSword of Good.,

*irou felt ?hazhar1s nod$ more than seeing it.

The air was darkening$ or rather *irou1s vision was darkening$ ut there wassomething terrily im#ortant left to say. ,The Sword only tests good intentions$,*irou whis#ered. ,5t doesn1t guide your ste#s. That which em#owers a herodoes not make us wise 2 des#eration strengthens your hand$ ut it strikes withe&ual force in any direction 2,


22/22

,51ll e careful$, said the 0ord of -ark$ the one who had mastered and turnedack the darkness. ,5 won1t trust myself.,

,You are 2, *irou murmured. ,Than me$ you are 2,

5 should have known. 5 should have known from the eginning. 5 was raised inanother world. ( world where royal lood is not a license to rule$ a world whosewizards do more than sneer from their high towers$ a world where life is not sochea#$ where =ustice does not come as a knife in the night$ a world where weknow that the te'ture of a race1s skin shouldn1t matter 2

(nd yet for you$ orn in this world$ to &uestion what others took for granted) foryou$ without ever touching the Sword$ to hear the scream that had to e sto##edat all costs 2

,5 don1t trust you either$, *irou whis#ered$ ,ut 5 don1t e'#ect there1s anyoneetter$, and he closed his eyes until the end of the world.

Sword of Good

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Transcript of Sword of Good