left for Fraylic as planned. Though he wore his finely tailored
clothing, his most recent brush with death forced him to fortify
himself for the journey. Linvin wore his black, dragon-scale armor
and his remarkable broadsword: Falconfeather.
This living blade housed the soul of Talana, Queen of the
Falcons. The sword was crafted from her strongest bone after her
death and was indestructible. She was light as a feather and
devastating as any blade in the world. Falconfeather was a prideful
weapon with a blood lust. Fiercely loyal, she obeyed only Linvin’s
commands to the point that the sword would permit only her
master to lift her or draw her from her scabbard.
Shrunk for convenience and discretion was the staff housing the
Red Sapphire. It adhered magically to his back but was concealed
by Linvin’s trademark crimson cloak. Linvin kept his prize close at
hand for more than one reason. Not being a magician by birth, as
all others were, Linvin needed to stay in contact with the staff in
order to channel magic with a degree of efficiency. Though
channeling magic was draining on him physically, he needed to
rely on stored reserves of magic when he was not touching the
staff. He charged his body with an increasing amount of red magic
when they were in contact and then could use it, albeit with greater
taxation, in the event that he was separated from the staff. Lord
Mandrean could not charge his body in such a way with his magic
rod.
The other reason Linvin carried it was more complex. Being left
alone offended the Red Sapphire. It was truly a living entity. Both
the Red and Blue Sapphires were created to help prove whether
good or evil was stronger when given the same power. The stone
had feelings and an ego of its own. In many ways, Linvin and the
Red Sapphire had bonded to become one mind and soul. He could
give it away no easier than he could his arm. While the marriage
was harmonious, they each maintained a certain amount of
independence. As such, the gem made it perfectly clear that it had
spent hundreds of years locked in a chest waiting to be joined with
its chosen master. With its liberation, the sapphire refused to be
left alone again.