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It did not take them long to find the crates chained down to the bottom of the lake, for Varrus found he was able to stretch out his vision through the water with remarkable ease to trace the magics that were still fresh in the crates, homing in on them as they drew nearer. The crates were exactly as they had expected to find them.
Varrus inspected the chains.
“What are you looking for Varrus?”
“Shhh,” he hissed as he held the links in his hands, moving gradually along the chain’s length until he found the spot he was looking for. With a deft flick, a roaring blue flame of magical energy burst from his index finger and he started to cut.
A few minutes later and he was through half of the link and produced a tool from under his robes with which he began to bend the link back so as to release the chain. Because the link was still warm from the flame, it bent back easily.
“Good… good…” he muttered as he pulled at the chains to free the crates. Now all that remained was to free the sword from its magically sealed container. This was where his own magics would come into their element, for his refined skills in the arts made even the most difficult magical lock easy to break into. This was not the first magical lock he had had to deal with in his life time and it would certainly not be the last. Closing his eyes to the material world around him, Varrus stretched out his magics over the crates, and set to work undoing their strands of magic.
A few minutes later and his work was done, a thin hairline crack marking the opening he had unravelled.
“Varrus you’ve done it!” Durwin exclaimed.
“Yes I have… And now to claim what is rightfully ours,” he said, caressing the crate before moving his hand over the newly formed lid to slowly lift it.
Durwin gasped.
“It’s… beautiful.”
“Yes.”
“And it’s ours…”
“Yes,” Varrus lied, “it is ours.” He reached in to touch the sword Nu’ra that confronted him, lifting it from its resting place and running his fingertips down its blade. As he set his hands upon it he could feel the magics flowing through it, mixing with his own. Now only a few tasks remained before it was truly his. He picked up the scabbard, which was also kept in the crate and sheathed the sword, passing it to Durwin to hold.
“There Durwin, this is our prize. Feel its power – it is ours!”
Durwin’s eyes lit up as he wrapped his fingers round the sword hilt. For once he was lost for words.
“Hold it Durwin; protect it while I reseal the crate. None must know what has happened this night. Betrayal has been met with betrayal and our brethren shall pay for what they have done.”
Durwin was awestruck and managed a slight nod as Varrus set about resealing the crate hastily, only doing as much as was needed to give the impression the crates were untouched. He then retied the chains and closed the broken link. His task was complete. Only one thing now remained…
“Durwin.”
“Yes Varrus.”
“We have done a good job here but I am afraid I was telling the truth when I said no one should know what has happened here this night.”
“I don’t understand Varrus – what do you mean?”
“You soon will friend,” Varrus replied as he placed his hand on Durwin’s shoulder, almost affectionately.
None save Varrus himself heard the screams as Durwin’s life force was sucked out of him until he was no more. At the bottom of the lake, Varrus consumed the essence of his one true friend and made it his own, absorbing his friend’s powers as he enacted the third betrayal of the evening.
As Durwin died, so his protective sphere died as well but Varrus was ready for this slight inconvenience, grabbing the sword and taking a deep breath as the water rushed in around him.
Though two figures had entered the water, only one returned to the surface; his robes sodden and soaked to the core. He clutched a scabbard by his side and if any had looked in his eyes they would have seen a mage changed forever; a mage lost to the darkness that had consumed him. Fate was now set and the course of things to be forever altered by what had taken place at the bottom of Lake Forever.
As he swam for the shore, Varrus looked pleased.