as cold on

feel every breath. The men standing around him wore bronze chest plates, short blue

the soldier ask

ody weak. But he reached slowly for the strap

Spla

back a little, l

r, studied him for a long second. Then h

nly by the gods and you must be stronger th

ooked at one another, nodded,

around. The land was bright. The sun high. Everything felt different. The sky was clear and the trees were tall.

the horses and h

he

name, but he felt t

ues made of stone and gold. One stood taller than any h

ds said, noticing Amir staring

smooth stone, and lined with olive trees. Amir saw men in white robes speaking to each other under marble columns. Women

n't like

g felt al

Amir could feel his heart beating fast. He walked through a place filled with gold and marble, with wa

s seemed to take note of everything around him. Next to him was a beautiful woman with gentle eyes and long black hair, dresse

. One of them pushed

is clothes were torn. He was covered in

n he placed The Splasher gently on the ground before

om was

lowly and walked

Amir, looking at the

name, boy?" t

he said

n. He touched the hilt with one h

"It belonged to a warrior

fted hi

father," he

he bent down and helped him to his feet. He p

d. "You are the son of a man I respe

ft smile. The princess stood back, her

est. You'll be given food, a place

for the first time i

head. "Thank

ll me king every time. My name is Thaleriu

k at the throne. The queen spoke quietly to h

with

somethi

ios

omethin

Splasher close. He didn't know what would come next. Bu

m was be