The second Koralheim's scroll began writing his thoughts, Pete got an idea that almost made him snicker. He weighed whether or not to further encumber the pair in their ability to communicate with him, and tell Koralheim that he could not read. While the thought of creating as many language barriers as possible was appealing to the trickster part of him, Pete ultimately decided against it because the scroll presented a window into Koralheim's mind. As long as he held that scroll, it seemed he could not telepathically talk to Kala without Pete reading along.<br/><br/>Pete mentally categorized what followed into three topics:<br/>Firstly there was Koralheim's claim to be able to leave Pete in the "space between planes". Pete did not know anything about teleportation, so he could not confirm if Koralheim had been capable of killing him, and Pete reminded himself that he still could not trust Koralheim. On the other hand there was nothing to suggest Koralheim had any intentions of hurting Pete, and for this reason he was warming up to the pair.<br/>As Pete considered if Koralheim could use his teleportation as a weapon, his expression adopted a slight air of sadness. Koralheim had been able to teleport Pete without the horse, so it was possible he could have teleported without Pete's sword. If he wanted Pete disarmed then he could very well had done so.<br/>"Poor horse..." Pete sighed, and decided in the same breath that he should have said he could not read, because Koralheim deserved every bit of mild annoyance Pete could provide. A headache for a horse.<br/><br/>Secondly, the information that war was coming and Koralheim did not expect to live long. For a man who could teleport out of any danger that seemed strongly pessimistic but Pete kept quiet. He was not particularly unnerved by the information, primarily because he did not think highly of a toy-makers role in matters of war. Razorplain was about to fall, and Northpeak would face an attack as well. Pete shrugged, not only because he did not believe Koralheim, but also because he cared little about either city. Finally he shrugged because even if he was to give Koralheim the benefit of the doubt, as he had given him with his proclaimed ability to kill Pete mid-teleport, then there was simply no possible way to bring a human city down. The human cities were built with many walls, and their one functional purpose was protection, and no race had greater defence than the humans. No army, with no weapon, could take a human city. From those walls the humans would rain arrows and catapult stones over the enemy, and since each city was fully capable of providing for itself then sieges were unthinkable too.<br/>It was at this point it dawned on Pete that the toy-maker might be insane, which was an attribute that would probably lend itself well in his profession.<br/>Except Koralheim did not look insane. Pete did not have all the information, but Koralheim was famous, had illegal businesses outside of toy-making and he had the power to transport himself potentially anywhere he wanted. He had wealth and was not limited by distance; he could make deals with every player each race and settlement had to offer. Pete kept calm, but made another mental note to stick with Koralheim, this time because there was a legitimate chance for adventure of the most important kind.<br/><br/>Lastly Koralheim told the story of the angels, and Pete only followed half-heartedly. He read the text, and noted that Koralheim was literally a magnet for trouble, but otherwise Pete spent the time of story-telling smiling politely at Kala while poking random objects whenever he thought Koralheim was not looking.<br/><br/>And then Koralheim shattered Pete's calm exterior with four words:<br/><span style="font-style: italic">The Fifth is coming.</span><br/>Pete made an audible gasp and coughed a bit as a drop of spit entered his wind-pipe. For about five seconds Pete did not even care about his appearance as his mind was frantically running every denial he could think of. The return of the Fifth Swordsman...<br/><br/>Pete composed himself again, and gave one final, violent cough to fully clear his airways, and ran a hand through his long, curly, orange hair and sent both Koralheim and Kala a look of supreme boredom, as if trying to convince them that he had not just lost his composure.<br/>"Interesting," he said with the same tone of disinterest. "I have always wanted to test my blade against a legend."<br/><br/>The Fifth could not be returning. He was an ascended fairytale; a lie everyone believed. And even if he was real, then why would a toy-maker know of this? And what did it mean for the world if, against all reason, it was true. Pete tried to calculate the hypothetical scenario where the Fifth returned, and even in his own fantasy he was unable to decide what his own role would be in the event. Would he hide?<br/><br/>Suddenly the chance meeting in the middle of nowhere could turn out to be the most important event of Pete's life.<br/>Provided Koralheim had been truthful about anything.<br/><br/>"I do not assume there is anything but death in it for me, should I try and bargain you over to the angels? Since that is not an option, would it be possible to fight a lone angel or two with the weapons at your Kala's or my own disposal. I am not versed in the ways of magic, so I can only offer the tip of my sword," Pete made a pause for effect and pointed his sword back at Koralheim's throat, without being close enough that it constituted a threat, "as you already know."<br/><br/>"Speaking of, I did have one thing I would like to do in Northpeak, if you think we can spare the time? Given the expected end of your life I do understand if you would rather we only move for the most urgent matters, but I have for a while now wanted to visit a mad blacksmith located in Northpeak by the name of Vrael. He is supposed to be expensive and difficult to convince to do a day's work, and I hear he hates every customer he has ever worked for. However, he is also supposed to be unrivalled in the art of enchanting, and if we make our way to him, and if I can persuade him to do the work, then he might be able to enhance my rapier and make me a much more effective friend in your upcoming battle against Death. I will ask him, in addition to the enchantment I desire myself, if he can make my sword more effective against angels of the wastes or any other creature you have on your coat tails."<br/><br/>Pete walked towards the door and before he added his final comment he made sure he was well out of Kala's reach: "Maybe your Kala can get her own weapons upgraded. I am sure she will benefit from the touch of any human smith."