It took only one seconds lack of concentration - when your eyes wandered from Curevar to study Loramas and her attempts at patching up Dismet - and the king of thieves had snatched the child and was gone. Your initial frustration was unfounded, of course. The realisation that Curevar is, arguably, the greatest thief ever seen on Greyhawk does not seem to help your quiet displeasure.

The now familiar awareness assaults your Ishiaki senses. The child opens up the spiritual link with your own and is able to converse freely. She seems calm, yet there is a hint of panic within her spirit...

"You must be calm, Anstran. You must not view Curevar's actions with anything other than courage. He has realised that my father wishes to covet me and take me back to his palace. This cannot happen, so the king of Thieves is taking me to the Tree of Desolation, several leagues above Roland to the north. We will wait for two days there. If you do not arrive then I will continue without you all.

"I should warn you that the entirety of the Black Watch are here. They have legions of soldiers surrounding you. I fear my father wishes you all dead for he has hired the help of many of Roland's darkest killers. They litter the place like sewer rats. You must protect my mother. Her role is still vital.

"The laws allowing Loramas to remain in this time will soon catapult her back into the past and my great grandmother will never be seen again. She wears her customary black robe which conceals a multitude of hidden secrets. Beneath her right breast lies one of her many hidden pockets. Within is a small black globe. It would be wise if you could steal this globe, for it's power will aid you in the quest to escape. I realise that this is not quite your forte, but you must at least try. Your timing has to be perfect - when she shimmers with all the colours of the spectrum you will know that she is about to be snapped back to her own time. That is when you must act.

"The globe is called Obsidiana. It contains the soul of one of Loramas's handmaidens who was particularly useful to the queen of the Abyss. Obsidiana is a benevolent creature with great power. Once in possession of this globe your task becomes slightly easier. Dismet will know how best to employ her.

"I wish you luck..."

The spiritual link between you and the child disappears but you are struck by the intensity of one of the many suspended globes hovering around the room. It is as if a million spirits were confined within it's dense structure. Each spirit has a voice and wishes to share it with you. The turmoil within it is enormous but one voice seems to dominate the others, crushing their spirits so it can communicate through the mayhem. You are aware that this particular spirit has recently learnt to communicate via your spiritual link merely by observing you and the child. The voice is hauntingly familiar.

"You have matured, I see," Karamatsu says. "The spirit language is a masterpiece. I wish I could offer my congratulations but I fear your quest will grind to a halt here, within these desperate catacombs that will see the end of the Ishiaki and all it's power. Still, I feel obliged to offer you what little help I can in the name of our mutual art. During my time in Rauxes I was in the employ of Maltorb's father and he gave me the duty of teaching the heir the ways of the sword. Maltorb is one of the true masters of the sword, combining the power and speed of Hyuga with the grace and guile of swordsaint.

"Do not mistake my intentions, Anstran. I am pleased to be able to converse once more and will not waste your time with idle taunts or useless insults. The best man won between us - I simply want you to gain some advantage from a seemingly impossible situation. Maltorb's quest for perfection in his art mirrored my own early years to a degree. The distinct difference was his brutality and lack of compassion. By his fifteenth birthday he had killed over one hundred sparring partners, some renowned Imperial veterans.

"His father decided that his son had to find an outlet for his aggression so he sent him into petty border skirmishes and rebellions to slake his thirst for combat. Two years past and many thousands had been put to death by his sword. His father (the old emperor) was becoming disturbed by his only heir's rather brutal liking for the violence and bloodshed of sword fighting so he called me into the Imperial Court to take Maltorb in hand and to hone his skills.

"The teenager strode into the Imperial Chamber and raised his sword. There was utter confusion as he sliced his father's head off. Chaos erupted as the emperor's bodyguards set about the young man. Maltorb and I exchanged a quick, cautious glance - it was as if he dared me to draw my blade. I did not and he set about the room with a bloodlust I have never seen since. Fifteen of the best bladesmen in the east fell to his sword and I had had to admire his technique. When he had finished he simply proclaimed himself the new emperor of the Great Kingdom.

"The point I am coming to is that later that day I took my leave of his court and asked him why he had done it. His reply was arrogant and he seemed slightly amused: "I wished to draw you into a fight so that I could take your sword."

"'Why ?'" I said.

"'Because it is the finest blade in existence. One day it will be mine...'"

"It was many years before I travelled to the Great Kingdom again. When I did I always felt a peculiar sensation (it might have been fear!!) so I rarely stayed long.

"His evaluation is correct, however, the blade is the finest in existence. It is as primal as Promethius and the steel used is almost as old. There is nothing that can damage it. Maltorb reasons that if he wielded the blade he would somehow attain that perfection to which he strives. He is not entirely wrong, for the blade has subtle properties that only a true bladesman could utilise. Your plight must concentrate on the child but you must bear in mind Maltorb's agenda. In his study is a tome of antiquity that fell into his hands. It was written centuries ago and has several chapters devoted to my blade. You may not realise it but the blade has a name. Unfortunately I am forbidden to tell you this name for it is seen by many to be the tenth Power Word. Maltorb knows the true identity. It is in Greyhawk's interest that you keep the blade from him or learn the true name of my sword before he takes it from you. I wish you all the fortune you deserve. Go in peace, Ishiaki Grandmaster..."

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