What No One Promised

The half-elf looked at her. Then he glanced at Elindra, who seemed to put the pieces together at that very moment.

“But Silas doesn’t know how to use a sword!” the dragon exclaimed, staring at Leyade as though she could not understand why she would suggest such a thing.

The young half-elf turned towards Elindra and gave her a light rap on the head with two fingers.

“What did we say about blurting things out without thinking?” he scolded her through gritted teeth.

“Ow…” Elindra complained, rubbing her head.

“I’m afraid that, however abruptly and tactlessly my friend may have put it…” He gave Elindra another reproachful look. “…she’s right. I don’t know how to use a sword.”

Leyade stared at him, crestfallen. What was she going to do now? If it wasn’t Silas… who was it? What was she going to do? She felt a heavy weight settle on her shoulders once more.

“But that doesn’t mean I’m not the person you’re looking for,” Silas continued calmly. “I am the person Kivren mentioned, and the one Kiany meant. In fact, she told me she had sent you here because she thought I would be in Kalneria, but I was delayed on my journey.”

Leyade frowned at him suspiciously.

“Why would she send me to someone who doesn’t know how to use a sword? You’re not lying just to make me feel better, are you?” Her distrustful gaze remained fixed on him. She did not like being patronised.

“I have no reason to lie to you. Tell me something: did Kiany actually say ‘someone who will teach you to use the sword’, or did she say ‘someone who will help you’?” Silas set his cup down on the bench and raised his eyebrows at her, as though he suspected she had jumped to conclusions.

Leyade thought back carefully and realised he was right.

“She told me someone would help me, but we were talking about the sword. It made sense to think she meant someone who could teach me to use it!” the elf exclaimed, trying to justify herself.

“Never take anything for granted when dealing with spirits, Leyade. That’s your first lesson about the magical world,” he said, raising a finger with a triumphant smile. “And the second: never go trading without something to barter with. Not everyone accepts coins. Some villages don’t even use them.”

“Then how are you going to help me?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“I don’t know how to use a sword, but I know where to find the book that will teach you everything you need to wield it properly,” Silas replied.

The half-elf moved closer and rested a hand on her shoulder, his gaze warm as he spoke.