Hermes trudged upstairs, dreading every step that took him closer to Narsil. He had considered trying to hide, but decided against it. Hermes didn't want to give Narsil the pleasure of being able to call him a coward, and even if he did, there weren't many places to hide on a ship as small as the Broken Herald.

He paused on the bridge, looking through the broad windows out onto the deck. Narsil sat crosslegged at the midpoint, his back to the door. Narsil is going to want me to summon the Caduceus. I don't even know how I did it the first time. He's going to try to kill me again, Hermes thought. Hermes gripped the doorknob, hesitated. But if not him, someone else. I can only rely on myself.

He pulled the door open, stepped out onto the deck.

"Let's get this over with," he muttered, bracing himself. He was sure Narsil was going to leap up any second now and attack. Remember, he told himself, you're smaller and faster than he is.

Narsil did not stand, did not even look back at Hermes. The big man pointed at a place in front of him. "Sit."

Hermes eyed Narsil's back warily. "If I sit, I won't be able to dodge if you attack me."

"A wise observation," Narsil replied. "Sit, or I'll get up and snap your neck."

Hermes sighed, crossed his arms, but he didn't budge.

"You're a bully, Narsil."

Narsil growled, and started to stand, but Rashad's voice cut across the deck.

"Stop."

Hermes turned. Rashad stood by the door.

"What do you want?" Hermes said, narrowing his eyes.

"Why do you refuse to cooperate, Hermes Swift?"

"It's impossible. I can't beat him."

"You do not need to defeat Narsil," Rashad replied. "You are not expected to. You do need to learn to use the Caduceus."

"How am I supposed to learn anything? I'm too busy fighting for my life to learn."

"Hmph." Narsil was standing now. "Where I come from, we teach young ones to swim by throwing them into the river. If they want to live, they'll learn to swim."

Hermes shot him a glare. "What about the ones that want to learn, but can't?"

Narsil shrugged. "They aren't any use to us, so they die."

Hermes stared at the big man. I'm just a tool to them. Like a wrench or a hammer. If I break, they'll just replace me without a second thought. Damnit, I am worth more than that! He shook his head, and pushed past Rashad, back towards the door.

"Where are you going, Hermes Swift?" the bearded man said.

"I told you to stop calling me that." Hermes opened the door. Rashad grabbed his arm.

"Come back here, boy."

"Don't touch me!" Hermes whirled on his heel, clenching a hand into a fist. He swung at Rashad, but the blow never connected. There was a flash of light, a metallic clang. Hermes stared down the length of his arm; his forearm and fist were covered in a shining gauntlet. A pair of bronze serpents wound themselves around his wrist. Narsil had summoned his own weapon and blocked Hermes' punch.

This is the Caduceus, Hermes realized. The energy feels the same. It can change shape? He lifted his gaze to Rashad. The bearded man was smiling. I don't like you, old man, but you're the only one that can answer my questions, Hermes thought.

"What just happened?"

"You summoned your Caduceus," Rashad replied.

"I see that," Hermes said irritably, lowering his arm. He could feel the gauntlet tingling on his fingertips. "How can I do this?"

"Because you forgot that you could not."

"I don't understand."

"Your logic tells you that to summon something from nothing is impossible. Yet, that is exactly what you have done. You needed only the hammer of emotion to break the locks your logic imposes upon you. So long as you have faith that you can summon the Caduceus, you shall be able to do so."

Hermes nodded slowly. That almost made sense. First, I was too afraid to care. This time, I was too angry.

"It was a sword last time."

"The Caduceus is a product of the infinite possibility of the Spiral."

"So it can become anything I want?"

"Within reason." Rashad nodded. "The Caduceus feeds on the energy of the user. At first, you will only be able to use the Caduceus for short bursts. As you develop your skills, your body will grow tolerant to the Caduceus' demands, and you will be able to mold it more to your liking."

Hermes nodded. He could already feel the heavy weight of fatigue settling into his arms and legs. The gauntlet flickered a bit, and vanished. But if it could become anything? Hermes shifted his gaze from Rashad to Narsil. The big man had a cocky smirk on his lips.

I know how to beat you now, Hermes thought. You may be stronger and more skilled, but I have more imagination.

"Go rest and recover your strength, boy" Narsil said, as if reading his thoughts. "I'm going to crush you later."