The group has been traveling through the Westlands and they’ve started moving away from the coast heading back East. After camp has been set up Alexis sits next to Ca’armine. Alexis engages Ca’armine in polite discussions about the travels of the day and then turns the conversation to other things.
“Well, my taciturn friend, I’ve been meaning to ask you what rumors you might have heard regarding and of humanities lost artifacts. We have already found the mantle crafted, or re-crafted, with his power.”
Alexis looks at Ca’armine, waiting for a reply.
“I was taught that all of the relics of Raiden were in the treasury vaults of the Raidensblud. I was astonished to learn that you all believed the Sword we gave to the Collegium—that I touched with my own hand!—was the Sword of Raiden. It is difficult to credit, though, since we did walk away from it. I was ashamed that the sword did not choose me, a servant of Raiden—but maybe that is because it was not the true blade. I don’t know.”
“Gustav wears the Mantle—again, it is beyond belief.”
“If Raiden bestowed upon me, a relic from his time on earth, it is difficult to believe that I could be worthy.”
Alexis lets out a low, non-committal grunt, eyes narrowing slightly in thought.
“You think that twice-broken sword is the sword of Raiden? The same blade he carried into battle? The one that spooked Gus so badly with its whispers of encouragement—its hunger to wipe out blood magic?
I’ll admit, I’m curious about it too. Very curious. But I’ve got my doubts that it’s the weapon Raiden himself swung. If his true sword is still out there, I’d wager it’s with the horde… or locked away by the Order of Raiden, hidden where few would ever think to look.
Same goes for what Gus carries. Could be a re-worked shield of Raiden—maybe. The tie to Raiden is clear enough, but Dauntless doesn’t bear the same mark. And that mantle he wears? Wouldn’t surprise me if it came from the Order itself, rather than Raiden’s own hand.
But—back to my question.” Alexis leans in slightly, voice steady, inviting. “What other relics have you heard whispered about? Anything at all tied to Raiden, however faint the connection?”
Ca’armine shakes his head with a chuckle. “Alexis, Alexis– always the treasure hunter at heart, aren’t you! Did you not note, I came to this team without so much as an enchanted dagger? Magical treasure is interesting to me, only if it helps me achieve my goal of breaking the Dark Hand’s grasp on Aegir. If people were talking to me about artifacts, I did not bring that memory with me.
Alexis smiles back affably
“It never hurts to ask. Just because you didn’t travel with artifacts doesn’t mean you hadn’t heard rumors.”
Alexis clasps Ca’armine on the back and starts telling him about the fall of the Citadel of Pulathi with the great flight of the dragons, which flows into telling him about a group of VahnYir who broke from Elendar, breaking their chains that enslaved them to this world, the roots of the world trees, and pledging themselves to the power of the Arru-Noroth.