"Palindor has said that you, alone of your kindred, refused to accept a sword forged by our King, to protect our friends and ourselves in battle," said Finrain, handing the bundle to Niles. "Palindor's message to you is this: `Tell Captain Niles that I cannot duel a dead man. For all I care, he can go off on his fool's errand, never to return. But it is here, not in some faraway grave, that he must redeem himself.'"
With that, Finrain and his company left as one, and disappeared into the wood as though they had never been.
Niles unwrapped the bundle, and the men around him gasped in wonder. It was Palindor's own sword. Niles looked to the forest where Finrain had departed.
"I do not understand this," said Paris. "Are you and Palindor not enemies?"
"We are," said Niles.
"But why would an enemy give you his sword?" asked Paris.
Niles held the lovely thing before him, deep in thought, considering. "Palindor is a fair-minded individual. He was my friend once, and I lost that friendship because I coveted the affections of his sister. This," he said, holding up the sword, "is intended as a lesson in personal honour. You see, I cannot act without remembering who it belongs to, or what it represents."