Blade of the Avatar/Blade of Midras/Chapter 17

=Crossroads=

Excerpt
Commander Trevan dragged Aren awkwardly into the antechamber of the Athenaeum as Loremaster Zhal closed the doors behind them. They had passed through this room before on their way into the Athenaeum. The narrow windows of leaded glass on either side gave gentle illumination to the room. The opposing set of double doors, Aren remembered, led back out the building to the crowded street.

“I’m afraid I must insist on your handing me your sword, Captain Bennis,” the commander said from behind Aren.

Aren turned his head toward Commander Trevis. The man’s left hand had a grip like iron. “You might want to reconsider that, Commander.”

Trevan’s eyes narrowed. “Which part of ‘insist’ was not clear to you?”

“Probably the part where you try to take a cursed sword from the only man, so far, who has been able to touch it,” Aren replied. “Trust me; this is a really bad idea.”

Trevan grimaced, reaching down with his right hand to the grip of the sword.

“No!” The loremaster cried out as he turned from closing the doors.

Trevan’s fingers closed around the grip of Aren’s sword.

The commander’s eyes went suddenly wide...