"I AM HERE, Tiwaz.”

“Veridian?” The former gladiator sat up sharply, looking around. Her eyes narrowed at the surreal appearance of the campsite. She looked at Gareth as the bard idly played his lute, on watch. “I’m asleep,” she stated in flat tones. “Gareth never ignores me.” She got to her feet, and looked down to see her sleeping self, crossing her arms. “This is how you came to me last time, isn’t it? What is this place?”

“It is the edge of the veil between your world and mine.” The ruby-eyed dragon man emerged from the darkness of the forest. “It takes a great deal of energy for gods to cross back into the world. We could at Dragons Gate because it was home to us. I used much of my power to answer Thrahx’s prayer to watch over you when you were ill.”

She snorted softly. “You cannot come to me there, but I can come to you here? What good is it being a god if you’ve so little power, then?”

He smiled. “There are benefits and detriments to becoming a god.” His amusement faded. “I prefer to conserve my strength so when there is need, I am not incapable of assisting those in need due to weakness.”

She considered him. “I understand not wanting to be weak.” She looked around. “I am not a god. I can’t go into your realm. You cannot come to mine. What is this place?”

“This place is much like the borders between fractures within the mortal world.”

“The borders have violent winds,” she pointed out.

He smiled faintly. “That is because I am calming this place so we may meet. Even to come this close to the edge of the veil requires strength. But you reached out to me, as you had before, and I answered.” He smiled faintly. “In fact, we share in the effort to be here, though I am guiding your unconscious effort.”

She frowned, uncertain. “I did not call you.”

He walked up to her, putting an arm around her and drawing her away from the campfire. “Not consciously, no. However, you were distressed and you reached out for help. You are my friend. When your other friends could not ease your heart, I reached out to take your hand. In a manner of speaking.”

She sighed softly, looking away. “I do not know why you want my friendship. My flaws only hurt those around me.”

“Perfection is an illusion,” Veridian told her in soothing tones. “Your former master has much to answer for.”

She clenched her fists. “Yes, he does,” she stated darkly. She calmed at a light touch on the back of one fist. “He stole Doom’s identity from him. No one born to fly should have to walk with the rest of us. You are a dragon. You should understand that better than I.”

“I very much understand. But.” He rested a finger along her chin, turning her face towards his. “He stole your identity as well, my friend. One day, you will find it again, I promise you, and I do not make promises lightly.” He smiled. “And you are not going insane. The voice you have been hearing is Ghalnecha’s.”

“The spirit in my sword is talking to me?” She scowled at him. “Why?”

“Because the reason she chose to be forged into the sword has awakened her. She chose this path for a singular purpose. When that purpose awakens her, it draws her like a moth to a flame. But she depends on the one who bears her to carry her there, to wield her well. You are her chosen one, and you are the one she speaks to.”

“What is this purpose? She just speaks lies to manipulate me so we continue with this foolish journey for that magic user’s greed.”

“Ghalnecha cannot speak lies. But you are not whole, so you cannot accept the truth of even those you love with your entire soul.” He looked towards the mountain peaks, dark silhouettes against the starry sky. “There are many wounds that still bleed, much like your own. You hid yours exceptionally well. I did not see them until I looked more closely.”

Tiwaz considered the god for a moment. “You bear such wounds?”

He nodded. “For longer than you can imagine. For most of my existence as a god.” He smiled lopsidedly. “It seems to be a curse on our kind, to suffer in exchange for strength.”

“'Our' kind? I am not a god!”

“You are a warrior,” he said in a soft voice. “Like me.” He kissed her cheek. “Your journey nears its end. I promise you, when you reach it, you will find that which will make you whole.”

She sighed softly as she walked back to the campfire where her body rested, Gareth shaking her shoulder trying to wake her. “Do I have any choice?” She lay down, closing her eyes.

His voice whispered in her mind as she began to awaken. “You always have a choice. But I have faith in your decisions.”

When she opened her eyes again, Gareth was looking down at her. He sighed gustily in relief. “You all right? I had never seen you sleep so hard.”

“I’m fine,” she replied, terse, as she got up. “Get some sleep.” He started to say something, but the look in her eyes made him refrain.