Book 3: Chapter 50: The Dream of the Dust
A true understanding of the martial path will forever elude the one who seeks only the journey’s conclusion. It is in the depths of study and the intricacy of the reasons behind each step along that path that enlightenment and mastery are truly found.
- The Living Sword by Fen Vaigorus circa 520 AC.
The first meal of the day was a light breakfast of fruit and lightly salted meat on saffron rice. At first, we ate in silence, our expressions dour, fueling ourselves for what was to come. But with his ever-rogueish grin, Elwin mentioned Ansan and our time together as slaves.
This opened a floodgate of memories. We spoke of the little things, of past adventures and shared experiences.
And of vanquished foes and challenges overcome.
Our words danced on the edge of bittersweet nostalgia, each tale a thread of our shared history. The conversation was a gentle stab at, and poignant reminder of, our past. It infused the space between us with a quiet, unspoken understanding. The meal made me almost feel that we were saying our goodbyes.
*****
“I’m saying this just pretty much for the sake of saying it, but like, you sure about this?” Elwin asked with only the smallest of hints of nervousness.