“You are a poor liar,” Lendsy said. “I wouldn’t believe you even if I didn’t sense the prayers of the faithful imbuing the metal with strength beyond measure. No market would dare sell these, not even the underground traders who scurry beneath our noses like rats. These are the weapons of a paragon.”

Arn closed his hands into fists. Up above, excited shouts celebrated the approaching docks of Vallessau.

“For your own sake, put them back, and pretend you never saw them,” he said. “I’m warning you.”

“I knew it from the first moment I met you,” Lendsy said, ignoring the threat. “Forget your size and strength, Meffrit, assuming that is your true name. An aura radiates about you. It is the gift of the God-Incarnate, though it is weak. Gray. I tried to pry out the reason, but you kept your heart locked tightly shut. A shame I could not break it open as I did this chest. You abandoned your faith. You lost your way. Now you come to Thanet. Why?”

Lendsy’s sword remained on his back. It was much too tight quarters for him to swing it anyway. Arn’s heart hammered in his chest. It would be strength against strength. He couldn’t hope for better.

“I found a better way,” Arn said softly. “A chance to redeem myself from the path I once walked.”

“Redeem? Whatever acts you performed in the name of our God-Incarnate, there is no sin among them. There is no need for redemption. Are we not but little reflections of our maker, who share in his perfection?”

“Perfection?” Arn shook his head. “We are far from perfect, and so is he.”

Lendsy lowered the gauntlets into the chest and rose from the bed. He showed no anger when he turned to face Arn, only sadness.

“Then you have lost yourself to heresy and doubt. We paragons… we may be humanity perfected, but that does not mean the road we walk will be easy. Always, there are trials. Always, there are struggles. But that isn’t reason to forgo your faith! Would you insult the lives sacrificed to make you what you are? You’ve heard the prayers of those acolytes over these past months. You’ve heard their joy, and their pride in their roles. How can you stand in the presence of that faith and consider yourself anything but the purest—”