�Amazing,� said Jublis, eyes wide with awe, �are these really all your possessions sir?�
�Indeed lad, all of them, but in my old age they are hardly useful anymore.� He lost the childish light, and took on a more serious tone now, �I know that in this tiny village, you probably don�t have these items.�
Jublis was shocked, but managed to stutter out, �No sir�none of these kind�� Jublis may seem laid back and too foolish for his own good, but he had figured out what was going to happen.
�Well then,� Darcane said, �allow me to lay you out with some.� Almost as if he had rehearsed and prepared it, he reached down, stiffly though, at his age, and withdrew a sword, shield, and belt, which contained a number of pouches. �These should suit you lad,� said Darcane, handing the pile of items to Jublis. Flashes of his youth came to him again as he watched Jublis wrap the belt around him and fasten it, and strap the shield around his back and over his shoulder. Jublis snapped smartly to mock attention, but the shield�s strap came undone, fell, and clattered to the floor. Jublis cringed at the loud clang, but composed himself quickly and bent over and retrieved the shield and refastened it on. �Try not to do that when in drill lad,� Darcane said, �and you might try to be a little less humorous too, otherwise you may find yourself in an unpleasant clean-up duty,� he chuckled.
�Uh, yes sir,� stammered Jublis, a trifle embarrassed.
Darcane looked at the sword in his hand. Kitt, who was to the side of Jublis and Darcane, could see through to rest of the chest. Of all the weapons, maces, knives, short spears, and bows, there were only four or five swords. But the one in Darcane�s hands was easily the most polished, fanciest, and most deadly of the blades he saw. Darcane let out a small sigh. He looked up at Jublis, smiling this time, �This,� he began, but turned to look down at the blade again. His smile waned a little bit. And for a second, it seemed as if he was having second thoughts. But he just smirked, almost a little crooked smile, and looked back up at the boys, �This is Ruby, or at least it was.� Darcane looked back at the sword, and his voice grew somewhat quieter, almost as if he were speaking to the blade, �All ten captains have a sword, named for a precious treasure of the earth. Emerald is reserved for the Captain of Emho, Gold for Caerton, Iron for the northlands, and so forth. This is Ruby, the sword for the division under my command. When I retired, General Coruva granted this sword to me, but I do not know why. Since then he has renamed the divisions, or so I�ve been told. But this sword has been used by one hundred men before me. It is only proper I hand it to a worthy man to wield in war.� He looked back up at Jublis, �What you name it is of no concern to me, but the sword is yours now,� he said, extending his arms, holding the sword out for Jublis to take.
Kitt was curious about something he had learned in Vekia�s lessons, and asked Darcane what was on his mind, �Darcane, sir, if this sword was used by a hundred men before you, how is it still useable? I thought most metal rusted, wore out, or became useless some way or another after only a few generations at most.�
Darcane turned his gaze to Kitt, let out a bemused sigh, �Hmm, normally you�re right. But this sword is special. Forged by the Dwarves you see, a special mix of materials, but most notably, forged with diamond lain into the blade, it is practically indestructible. That and it is the sword of a captain, and sees battle little, especially since the Great Bleed. But this is one of ten swords made to seal a peace treaty under General Oriam, who was succeeded by Minatdor. But if you need proof, let me show you.� Darcane took the sword over, and pulled out an old and beat up shield, but purely of metal, no wood to be detected. Darcane set it against the wooden chest, and stuck the sword�s tip through it. Now the shield was punctured by the sword, like a fish on a spear. He turned himself towards Kitt, �Would you mind taking that off lad? My old bones aren�t strong enough to do it anymore.� Kitt struggled on the first two pulls, but on the third it finally broke free. Darcane held the sword back out to Jublis, who was still amazed by the power of the blade. �Here you are, lad,� Darcane said.
Jublis took the hilt, and slowly brought it up to admire the blade for several seconds, before placing it into the sheath on his new belt. �Thank you, Darcane, I don� know what to say. But as for the name, I think Ruby is a good one.�
Darcane looked at the two young men in his home. This is madness, he thought to himself, they�re nothing but children, how can they survive against these Howlers? They know nothing of the outside world. It�s not fair.
��Darcane?� Kitt�s voice brought Darcane back to reality. �Is there something wrong?�
Darcane noticed he had absentmindedly been staring at Kitt�s silver stripe of hair, �No, no. Listen, these are the last few hours you have together. Why don�t the two of you go off now, while you still can?�
�Yessir,� said Jublis, �and thank you.�
�Don�t mention it lad, now go on.� He grinned a little, �That�s an order.�
Kitt and Jublis emerged from Darcane�s house and met a sea of questions from young people and small children. Most of the adults had gone to Shest and Dalf with their questions.
�Wha�s goin� on?�
�Where are you goin�?�
�Oh, where�d ya get that sword?!�
�Are you going with my daddy?�
So many questions from so many young ones, but they might as well have asked the trees, or rocks, or the sky, for their questions fell on deaf ears. Kitt and Jublis walked through the group, oblivious it seemed to the others around them. After a while the children gave up and went over to huddle near the adults, perhaps getting answers that way.