Devin stared back and nodded, all he could do in response. He turned and began to walk.

Wait, Nem called out. He ran to his workbench and then ran back with something wrapped in cloth. I… I dont have much else. You saved me. You should have this.

I did it because Im your friend, Devin said. You dont have to give me anything.

I want to, Nem replied. If hed hit my hand, I couldnt make anything else, so I want you to have something I made.

He passed it to Devin, and Devin took it carefully. Unwrapping it, he could see that it was… well, not a sword, exactly. A long knife, a messer, sat there, too long to be a true knife, not quite long enough to be a sword. It was single edged, with a hilt that stuck out only on one side, and a wedge-shaped point. It was a peasants weapon, far removed from the longswords and arming swords of the knights. But it was light. Deadly. And beautiful. Devin could see at a glance, as he turned it and as it gleamed in the light, that it could be far more nimble and deadly than any proper sword. It was a weapon of stealth, cunning, and speed. One perfect for Devins light frame and young age.

Its not finished, Nem said, but I know you can finish it better than I could, and the steels good, I promise.

Devin gave it an experimental swing, feeling the blade cut the air. He wanted to say that it was too much, that he couldnt take it, but he could see how much Nem wanted him to have this.

Thank you, Nem, he said.

You two done? Gund said. He looked over to Devin. I wont say Im not sorry to see you go. Youre a good worker, and a finer smith than most here. But you cant be here when this comes back on us. You need to go, boy. Now.

Devin wanted to argue even then. But he knew it was futile, and he realized that he no longer wanted to be there. He didnt want to be somewhere he wasnt wanted. This had never been his dream. This had been a way to survive. His dream had always been to be a knight, and now…

Now it seemed that his dreams held far stranger things. He needed to work out what they were.

The day your life will change forever.

Could this be what the sorcerer meant?

Devin had no choice. He couldnt turn around now, couldnt go back to his forge to set everything back where it should be.

Instead, he walked out into the city. Into his destiny.

And into the waiting day before him.

CHAPTER SIX