“She flies a thousand yards above the earth, watching and spying for her Geborene master. Her delusions melt flesh from bone.”
Wichtig shrugged, pretending uncaring calm. “I’ve never met a woman I couldn’t charm.” He imagined Schnitter’s grin, the gaping maw of her open sinus cavity. How had the K?rperidentit?t ignored his considerable charisma?
“She is without emotion, reptilian and cold. Your limited Gefahrgeist talents will have no effect on her.”
You are a fool, boy. You set me a task and tell me it’s impossible. You think by making it seem impossible, I’ll be unable to refuse. Well no one uses Wichtig Lügner.
Bad as the Wahnists and Therianthrope sounded, they were not his worry. What kind of an idiot intentionally got into a fight with Stehlen? If she wanted them dead, he was damned sure they’d end up dead. Of course he would never admit this to Stehlen. Or anyone. He’d have to outsmart her. Or be far away. Or maybe, when he was once again beautiful, he’d kill the Reflection and Morgen and help Stehlen kill Bedeckt. The old goat abandoned them both in the Afterdeath. That should be worth something.
“Make me whole,” said Wichtig, “and I’ll go find the old bastard.”
“No,” said Nacht. “I’ll make you whole only after you save Bedeckt.”
“Oh,” said Wichtig, pouring hurt from his eyes like he’d been stabbed in the heart. “You don’t trust me?”
“Of course not. Even you don’t trust you.”
“Well then I don’t trust you,” Wichtig said, mustering stung indignation. “How do I know you’ll deliver on your promise?”
“I love what you are. Serving you serves me.”
That at least made sense. People only did what was best for them. As long as their interests were intertwined, the boy would keep his word. And you’re in a shite bargaining position.
“Fine,” said Wichtig. “I’ll need money, and—”
“You must do this on your own. Hardship shapes the man.”
Shapes the man? Wichtig blinked at the boy. “My life hasn’t been hard?”
“You flee every real challenge.”
“I fought countless duels to become the Greatest—”
“You use that to avoid your real fears. Death is nothing. Responsibility, that terrifies you.”
“Sticking great. A little boy telling me of responsibility. What the hells do you know?”
Nacht shrugged, flashing a mocking smirk. “Do as I say, and you’ll get everything you deserve.”
Didn’t Morgen say something similar? “I’d better! If you’re lying—”
“I know. That’s why I like you. You’re predictable.”
“I may surprise you yet, you little shite.”
“If Bedeckt dies, I’ll give you to the T?uschung.”
“Huh? The tie-what?”
Alone in the room, Wichtig curled on the floor in agony. There was no sign of the boy.
How did I get here? Wasn’t I standing?
His ruined hand screamed. His missing ear throbbed. His face felt like it had been dragged behind a fast horse from Sinnlos to Geldangelegenheiten.
Crawling into the empty bed, Wichtig passed out on the stained sheets. He dreamed of scars ridged like savage mountains, cavernous ravines cutting through once flawless flesh. He dreamed of blood and destiny, swords and worship. He dreamed of killing friends and gods.
He awoke haunted.
What did a man do when he achieved his life-long quest?
What did a man do upon achieving his destiny?
Wichtig swung his legs off the bed. He sat, a filthy and stained sheet wrapped about his hips, staring at the sword lying on the floor.
“I am Greatest Swordsman in the World.”
It wasn’t a brag. He wasn’t trying to convince himself or anyone else. It was fact.
“I am the Greatest Swordsman in the World.”
He scowled at the sword, its blade caked with drying gore and blood and clumps of hair. He didn’t know when or how it happened. Maybe I’ve been the greatest for years and not known.
“Now what?”
What the sticking hells was he going to do now? He never thought beyond the quest.
Well, not everyone in all the world knows I’m the greatest. That mattered.
“So I’ll wander the city-states killing Swordsmen until all the world—” He remembered his dream about the scarred old man wandering out of the Gezackt Mountains, remembered the missing fingers. He was on the far side of those mountains, killing. Why?
“Because there are people over there who don’t know—” Wichtig’s breath caught. They didn’t know he was the greatest and you can’t truly be the Greatest Swordsman in the World unless all the world knows.
All the world.
Wichtig sighed with relief. I’m not finished. There was more he must do before he…
Before what? Before he returned home? Saw his wife and son? Before he could be a father?
‘You use that to avoid your real fears,’ Nacht said, referring to his quest to be the Greatest Swordsman in the World.
Gods. You couldn’t trust them. They always knew what to say to cause the most pain, to plant the deepest seeds of doubt. If Nacht wanted Wichtig to question himself, then the best thing Wichtig could do was remain steadfast. He would believe in himself blindly and wholly, never questioning his destiny. Or his decisions.
I’ll show that little shite.