Lann stared, startled by the abrupt change of subject.

‘More than anything,’ he whispered, hardly able to get the words out.

With a nod, Rakur patted an item laying across his legs. Lann eyed the thing suspiciously. It had not been there when he’d first woken to find the god in his room.

Pulling back the layers of cloth it was wrapped in, the god revealed a long sword, the scabbard of which was made of a dull black material that appeared more like stone than metal. There were no intricate designs on it; it looked ordinary, in fact, but something told Lann that it was anything but. There was something about it that caused conflicting emotions inside of him: a mixture of fascination and fear that had come on in a rush as soon as the deity had revealed it.

‘What is it?’ he asked, unable to take his eyes off the weapon.

‘It is one of the Swords of Destiny. Like me, it has had many names, but in this world it is known as the Dreadblade.’ He paused, turning to stare unblinkingly at the boy with those golden eyes. ‘The four swords were forged by the god Og when the world was new and an altogether different place from the one it is now. The Dreadblade was wielded by Trogir in the great battle with Lorgukk. It defeated him. But after the battle the god and his blade were separated. It has stayed hidden for a long time, but now it has woken from its torpor and desires to go about its work again.’

‘Where are the other swords?’

‘Lost. Or destroyed. But the Dreadblade survived.’

‘You talk about it as if it were a living thing.’

‘Indeed. The blade, once accepted, becomes one with the wielder. It has needs … hungers that must be fed. In return it imbues the owner with powers. It could return your sight.’

‘You mean to give me this thing? Why? If it is as special as you say, why do you not wield it?’

‘That is a question I cannot answer for you right now, boy. But know this. The blade will let you see again, but not the world you once knew. No, the world revealed to you will be one in which the things wishing to remain hidden will no longer be able to do so. In the same way that you can see me now, you will see the creatures and wonders of a world that is both alien and familiar to you at the same time.’

Lann stared at the object, unable to believe he was being offered this chance. ‘What must I do?’ he whispered.

‘You must simply agree to take the blade.’