Part 1

Vaust was getting tired of the questions, but they kept coming. What's the claymore outside, Innkeeper? Why is it there, Innkeeper? They just wouldn't shut up and he couldn't think of a way to get them to stop. In retrospect, letting Eigengrau and Vordea perform the spell at the Inn was an awful idea. Even Xilro the Flamemaster had stopped by. Vaust's thoughts were interrupted by a pair of humans dragging in an unconscious elf.

"Let me guess..." Vaust started.

"Touched the sword." One of the humans said, nodding. "Where do you want him?"

"Toss him in the corner with the others, let them sleep it off." Vaust said, gesturing at the corner of the Inn that was filled with cots of unconscious travellers, all of whom had made the same mistake.

Vaust wasn't sure of the reasons, but any mortal who touched Orenmir, well... they got what was coming to them, that's for sure. On the other hand, it was also great for business. Whatever Eigengrau did when she cast that spell, the casting circle runes engraved themselves into the ground, and continue to glow blue even weeks later. Her hoarfrost stubbornly refusing to melt around the sword only contributed to the spectacle.

The problems continued through the autumn and all the way until Sirene finally arrived at the Inn on the first day of winter. Vaust was hopeful that with the help of Sirene, she could explain exactly whose sword that was and why they shouldn't touch it nor look too closely at the runes, as it turned out comprehending the spell was causing divine school mages to go blind.