Hermes was exhausted. He'd slept little during the night, and what sleep he did get was plagued with dreams of white-cloaked skeletons, endless black voids, and other horrors. Now, Rashad had dragged him out of bed and marched him upstairs for some stupid training exercise with Narsil. He hadn't even had breakfast yet.

Narsil was scary. He was big enough that Hermes was pretty sure he could snap power poles in half just using his bare hands, and he had enough scars to suggest he could survive getting beat with one too. As if that wasn't bad enough, Hermes suspected that Narsil hated him.

They stood on the deck of the ship. A dozen poles topped with flickering lanterns had been set into the railing around the deck's perimeter, shining circles of orange light down on them. The gaps between the lanterns left strange shadows clustered around their feet.

"The Immortal target of the Edict is not the only threat to the Courier's mission," Rashad said. "Arcadias will send his minions against you, and there will certainly be other dangers you must face before your task is complete."

Hermes tried to pay attention to what Rashad was saying, but Narsil was staring down at him. The intensity of the big man's gaze was distracting. It's like he's trying to crush me with his eyes, Hermes thought. He had to fight the urge to squirm under that angry glare.

"As a Courier, you are not without weapons of your own, if you can learn to use them," Rashad said.

Hermes arched an eyebrow. "I don't have any weapons. I don't even know how to swing a punch."

"Narsil is one of the most competent fighters I know. I can think of no one better to train you," Rashad said, clapping a hand to Hermes' shoulder."“Good luck, my friend, and most importantly, have faith." He strode off towards the bridge.

Hermes blinked, whirled on his heel. "Hey, wait—you're leaving me with him?" Have faith? What was that supposed to mean?

Rashad didn't answer. The door to the bridge slammed shut. Hermes was convinced a coffin's lid couldn't close with more finality.

Hermes turned back to face the big man.

Narsil stood directly behind him, and Hermes jerked back in surprise. He hadn't even heard the man move! How could something that big move so quietly?

"You're weak, boy," Narsil growled. "I should kill you now and take the Edict for myself." His breath was stale and hot on Hermes' face; it made him feel sick to his stomach. His eyes dipped to the white kerchief around Narsil's throat. The man was a Courier. But did that make him any less of an enemy?

Maybe I am weak, Hermes thought. But that doesn't give me any less right to live. I'm getting sick of all these people trying to kill me. He clenched his hands into fists, and lifted his chin.

"I won't let you do that," he said, leveling his eyes with Narsil's. He hoped he sounded more confident than he felt.

"Heh."

The first blow sent Hermes reeling; the palm of Narsil's hand shoved into his sternum, and sent him flying several feet back. He backpedaled, barely managing to keep from tripping over his own feet.

There was a flash of light somewhere near Narsil's right hand, and something large swung towards Hermes' neck; he flung himself down, banging his knees hard against the deck. Whatever weapon Narsil had, it whooshed by uncomfortably close to Hermes' head.

Christ! He really is trying to kill me!

Keep moving. You're a sitting duck lying here.

He scrambled to his feet, kept as low as he could, and glanced around for Narsil. The big man stood a few feet away, wearing an infuriating smirk. He held a huge sword in his hand. The cross-guard was shaped like a pair of feathered wings, and two bronze snakes coiled up from the hilt. The blade had to be as wide as Hermes' thigh.

Hermes stared at Narsil. I didn't see a sheath anywhere. Where did that sword come from? How could Rashad leave me with this lunatic?

"Do you like my Caduceus, boy?" Narsil called. There was a mocking tone to his voice. "I'll kill you if you don't summon your own."

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

Narsil stepped forward and thrust the point of the blade towards him. Hermes flung himself to the side, but Narsil had already brought the sword around; the flat of the blade smashed into his upper arm, and he yelped in pain, fell back onto his rear.

Narsil took another step forward; Hermes scrambled back as fast as he could. His arm was almost numb—was it broken? He tried to get his bearings. Narsil was herding him towards the bow of the ship, where there was less room to maneuver. He's trying to wedge me in.

"Reach down, boy! Find your sword, and summon it!"

"I don't know how!"

Hermes tried to dart to the right, to get away somehow, but Narsil blocked him with the sword. He scrambled back further, until he could feel the railing of the bow pressed against his back. Nowhere left to go.

"Last chance, boy." The smirk melted from Narsil's face. He raised his sword over his head with both hands. "Reach down to the core of your energy, and pull out your sword."

"I can't do it!" Hermes shouted, clutching his injured arm. Angry tears stung his eyes.

"Stop telling yourself you can't, and just do it!"

The huge blade swung down. Hermes clenched his eyes shut, flung up his arm to try to protect himself. I don't want to die! A shudder passed through his body, like an electric shiver. It rippled out of somewhere deep inside him, streaked down his arm and into his fingertips.

Metal crashed into metal; Hermes' arm nearly buckled under the blow. His heart pounding in his chest, Hermes snapped open his eyes. Narsil's blade hung a few inches over his head; he had blocked it with something. The weapon in his shaking hand looked like Narsil's, but smaller, with silver serpents. I'm alive. How did I do that?

His gaze traveled from the sword to Narsil's eyes, searching for some flicker of approval, but there was none to find. He softened the blow, Hermes thought. He must have. If he really wanted to kill me, I'd be dead.

“Hmph. A pathetic display,” Narsil said. He threw down his sword, and walked away. The big man's weapon vanished before it ever hit the ground.