That night, Nastal found himself in Marbi's home.
A fire crackled in the hearth, casting long shadows across the old wooden walls. A pot simmered gently, while a bottle of rum kept the two men company.
"I'll need you to do something for me again, my dear Marbi."
Marbi filled his cup and scratched his beard before lighting his pipe. Smoke drifted lazily from both his mouth and nose.
"Our island's been full of trouble this year, Nastal."
"What have we gotten ourselves into?"
"You have some idea by now."
"You were there from the beginning."
"You found Darma."
"You traveled with me to the Cross."
"You're part of this story now, Marbi."
"It is the will of the gods."
Marbi swallowed hard.
He coughed, took a long drink of rum, then passed the bottle to Nastal.
"What do I have to do this time?"
Grateful, Nastal nudged him on the shoulder.
"Much more."
"Much harder."
"And much more dangerous."
The color drained from Marbi's face.
"I told you the queen ordered me to send word for Darma's execution."
"And you sent it."
"I did."
"But I have no intention of letting it happen."
Marbi leaned forward uneasily.
"You're going to defy the queen?"
"She is my sovereign, and her word is law."
"But the word of the gods stands above all else, Marbi."
"So I must do what is right..."
"...even now."
"How do you know what's right, Nastal?"
"How can you judge the queen's words against the gods'?"
"How can you be certain you're not wrong about Darmakaya?"
"I simply know."
"The gods taught me."
"The writings of Theanivar speak of the sacred duty of hospitality."
"Even music—which plays such an important role in this story—belongs to Theanivar. That is no coincidence."
"And the teachings of Arkallis speak of balance."
"They teach us about righteous wrath."
"Righteous wrath?"
"What is that?"
"It is wrath in the right hands..."
"...at the right moment."
"It is the only weapon left when every other weapon has failed."
"It is the cry of the unjustly slain, waiting in the depths of hell for justice."
"It is the fire of mankind, breathed into us by the Great Sentinel."
"It is the noblest part of humanity—a people born in blood through their struggle against evil."
"It is the light standing against the ever-growing shadow."
"The great darkness that covers us all."
"Evil itself."
"There is no sword, no rune, no spell capable of defeating it unless righteous wrath stands behind them."
"It is the battle cry of those who break the mold that shaped them and become what fate demands."
He rose to his feet.
"When that calling falls upon a person, it wraps around them like a mantle of golden light."
"It makes their ugliness beautiful."
"It gives strength to lifeless muscles..."
"Vision to the blind..."
"A horizon to those imprisoned."
"It leads them closer to the gods and places into their hands the greatest weapon possessed by gods and mortals alike."
"Righteous wrath."
"It is righteous wrath that gives nations the courage to rise against tyrants."
"It is righteous wrath that gives a farmer the strength to raise his sickle against an armored invader threatening his family."
"And nothing can extinguish that sacred, god-given fire."
He looked directly into Marbi's eyes.
"I believe we have such people before us now."
"They are already fighting this darkness..."
"...even if they do not yet realize it."
"Their deeds."
"The tragedies they've endured."
"Their sins."
"Together they are nothing more than molten metal."
"But with the right guidance..."
"...they can become the sword that defeats evil."
"I believe I can forge that sword, Marbi."
"Gods..."
"I know I can."
Nastal was weeping openly now.
"I can..."
"...because righteous wrath burns within me as well."
"The gods know it."
"And they shame me with it."
"It burns inside my soul."
"As I sat before the fire, the spirits beside me screamed for salvation."
"They cried out for freedom."
"I was too weak to hear them."
"But I am weak no longer."
His voice echoed through the room.
"I am no longer powerless."
"No longer idle."
"No longer insignificant."
"I will fight evil."
"I will look it in the eye."
"And I will stand against it."
"I no longer care if it destroys me."
"There is no greater destruction than that of one's own soul."
"So long as evil remains..."
"So long as people suffer while those capable of acting choose to remain still..."
"...we are all already lost."
He collapsed back into his chair.
His face looked broken.
His eyes still burned.
He knew he was an old man.
Yet somewhere inside him a small flame still refused to die.
Marbi dropped to his knees before him and gently clasped his hand.
"I'll help you, Nastal."
"I don't fully understand what you mean."
"But your words stir something inside me."
"As though you've told me a secret I've always known."
"I'll help however I can."
"You only have to tell me what to do."
Nastal smiled.
It was Marbi's simple kindness that would make the difference.
And that filled him with hope.
"I'll explain everything, my friend."
The following evening they stood in the small cove where Marbi had first found Darma.
Sorndo had also been recruited, wearing a broad grin.
Nastal envied men who had no sense of danger.
"Take this."
He reached into his pocket and produced an irregular purple stone.
A rune was carved into its surface, glowing faintly the moment Marbi touched it.
"What is this?"
"Some kind of charm?"
"No."
"It's a Waystone."
"A what?"
"A magical stone from Rhodos."
"You'll use it as a compass."
"But not only at sea."
"What do you mean?"
"It's impossible to track Darma across Lothen."
"If you try following his trail from Nalia, you'll lose days you cannot afford."
"This stone will show you which direction to travel."
"How is that possible?"
"I've created a sympathetic rune linked to Darma's trident."
"I assume he'll still be carrying it."
"If he isn't..."
"...then this entire effort is pointless."
"You'll have to take considerable risks, Marbi."
"You must sail wherever the stone leads."
"Don't dock in any harbor."
"Find a secluded cove along the coast, wherever it points."
"From there..."
"...continue on foot."
Nastal handed him a heavy purse.
"There's more than enough gold here for your journey."
"You can buy two horses and still have plenty left for whatever else you may need."
"When you find Maynar..."
"...give him this scroll."
He placed another scroll into Marbi's hands.
"For your eyes only, Marbi."
"This scroll makes both of us..."
He smiled sadly.
"...or rather, all three of us..."
"...traitors."
Marbi went pale.
"Traitors?"
"Why?"
"We're loyal to the Trident."
"We stand on the right side of this struggle, Marbi..."
"...even if our queen doesn't realize it yet."
"I have no doubt wisdom will eventually open her eyes."
"We simply don't have time to wait."
"Do this for me."
"For our kingdom."
"And for the gods."
"I swear I will protect you with every strength I possess."
Marbi found himself speechless.
He carefully tucked the Waystone into his pocket and whispered a silent prayer.
Sorndo continued grinning foolishly, his attention fixed on a crab struggling against the waves atop a nearby rock.
"The stubborn bastard just won't quit," he laughed.
Nastal walked over to him.
"This is the second serious mission you've taken part in, Sorndo."
"How do you feel about it?"
Sorndo shrugged.
"I don't really care."
"I'm bored of Ayaton."
"I like traveling."
"I've heard the taverns in Lothen have beautiful women who don't charge much."
Nastal shook his head.
"Your vanity is useful, Sorndo."
"You're the perfect companion for this journey."
"Protect Marbi."
"Don't get yourselves arrested in Lothen."
"If you accomplish only that..."
"...you'll have done your duty."
"But if you betray him..."
"...it will be as though you've betrayed me."
"No mortal is foolish enough to betray Ayaton's priest."
For the first time, Sorndo looked genuinely uneasy.
"I wasn't planning to, Nastal."
He climbed aboard the ship with a sour expression.
"One mast."
"A small hull."
"Perfect for speed..."
"...and manageable with two sailors."
"I wouldn't say that," Marbi protested.
"No ship only needs two people."
Nastal smiled.
"Perhaps."
"But we're islanders."
"Two of us are worth six landsmen."
"You'll do just fine."
The two men clasped hands.
"Theanivar go with you, Marben Asten."
"May fair winds fill your sails."
"And may you arrive swiftly and safely."
"I'll pray for you."
"For all of you."
"Thank you, Nastal."
Marbi climbed aboard and seized the rigging.
The ship's white sails filled with wind, and the vessel came alive.
Their voyage to Lothen had begun.