The river was calm now.
Spheris was sitting near the boat's edge with his hand dipped into the water below, trailing in the river as his fingers skimmed the cool surface while the boat silently drifted along.
His focus was miles away, lost beneath the water's depths. He was still trying to find the Power Blade. He could feel it somewhere deep in the river, but something was keeping it from returning.
Perhaps the waves of the river were too thick or it was stuck beneath a large rock. Spheris closed his eyes, trying to will the blade into his grasp, feeling every ripple and pulse beneath him, but there was so much resistance.
"Faggards," he muttered with frustration.
"Faggards?" Ackledge remarked with a raised brow. "That's a very First Wing cuss isn't it. Oldrackish I would say. Thought you were from the Second Wing, Ren?"