His words seemed to fade from my consciousness, as my hand reached out toward the sword, as if inexplicably drawn to it. My fingers touched the cool steel of the handle and immediately I noticed a warm pulsing sensation as my fingers closed about the handle. It was as if the sword itself had closed about my hand. Tendrils of colored vapor peeled off the blade to dissipate into the surrounding air.
There were many colors and the sword would pulse indiscriminately with multiple combinations of colors at a time. What kind of a sword was this? I glanced at councilman Romnan the clear question of what I had just thought in my eyes. He as everyone else was mesmerized by the shifting colors of the blade I held in my hand.
He shrugged at a complete loss for words, "I don't know. There is no record of such an occurrence, but little is known of that long ago time. To my knowledge it has not done this for anyone else over the years."
Not only did it emit the curious waves of colored light, but curious symbols would briefly flash and then be gone up and down the entire length of the blade. I sheathed the sword and hung it on my waist and it abruptly stopped glowing, but I felt the presence of it keenly by my side.
There was much to be discovered about the curious family heirloom, but not right now. I directed my attention back to my three generals, who gazed at me expectantly.
"You have your orders see to them."
They nodded curtly and disappeared into the crowd which soon began to disperse as the attention was redirected back to the very present and menacing army that was gathering in force beyond our great wall.