Path of the Warrior Read Online Free Page B

else!”
    “Is not that the purpose of the Path?” said Ydraethir. “That we change and grow, and shed that which was before and transform into something new and better?”
    “Indeed it is,” said Korlandril. “To strive for the perfection of body and spirit, craft and mind, that is what we all desire.”
    “But is it not the case that we also lose some of who we are?” said Aradryan, his tone one of mild dissent. “If we are forever moving forward on the Path, when do we stop to admire the view? I think that sometimes we are too keen to discard that which made us as we are.”
    Silence greeted Aradryan’s remarks. He looked at the other eldar, his face betraying a small measure of confusion.
    “Forgive me if I have said something out of place,” Aradryan said quietly. “It was not my intent to question your opinions, but to merely voice my own. Perhaps my manners have strayed a little while I was away from Alaitoc and the niceties of civil society.”
    “Not at all,” Kirandrin said smoothly, laying a hand upon Aradryan’s arm in a gesture of reassurance. “It is simply that such questions are… rare.”
    “And the answers far too long to be addressed here,” Korlandril added quickly. “We shall continue this discussion at a later time. At this moment, I must make my grand unveiling.”
    “Of course,” said Kirandrin. Aradryan gave a slow, shallow nod and dipped his eyelids in a gesture of apology.
    Korlandril smiled his appreciation before crossing quickly to the holofield and stepping within. Obscured from view, he let out a long breath, releasing the tension that had unexpectedly built up within. There had been something about Aradryan’s manner that had unnerved Korlandril. He had again felt that otherness he had encountered when Aradryan had first returned—a subtle desire to be elsewhere. Sheltered within the holofield, Korlandril’s waystone was again warm to the touch, reflecting inner assurance rather than anger or embarrassment.
    The distraction had taxed Korlandril and with a stab of guilt he realised he had said nothing to Thirianna. He had all but ignored her. He wondered for a moment if he should apologise for his offhand behaviour but quickly dismissed the idea. Thirianna probably had not noticed any deficiencies in his attention and it might be unwise to highlight them to her. If she had recognised any affront at all, she would surely understand the many demands conflicting for his attention on an occasion such as this. Korlandril resolved that he would seek out Thirianna after the unveiling and lavish as much attention as possible upon her.
    His mind upon Thirianna, Korlandril’s thoughts were awhirl in many different directions, his heart racing, his skin tingling. Ideas flashed across his mind, crashing against the excitement he felt at the unveiling, blending with the disturbance caused by Aradryan, colliding with the apprehension that had been building since he had completed the sculpture.
    Korlandril whispered a few calming mantras. As he did so, he ordered his thoughts, pushing some aside for later reflection, drawing on others to reassure himself, focussing on his confidence and experiences to steady his worries. He stood in silent repose for some time, until he was sure he was ready to address the crowd.
    When the mental maelstrom had become a still pool, Korlandril stepped out of the holofield to find that his guests had gathered in the clearing outside. Most of the faces were familiar, a few were not. All seemed eager to see what Korlandril had created.
    “I am deeply honoured that you have all come to witness the unveiling of my latest piece,” Korlandril began, keeping his voice steady, projecting his words to the back of the crowd without effort. “Many know that I draw great inspiration from the time before the War in Heaven. I look to our golden age not with regret of a paradise lost, nor with sadness that such times have passed. In the first age of our people I