King, leader of the Redcloaks, forfeits his gilded sabre. It would identify him too easily, and not only that, but it is a mark of everything he used to be. Everything he isn't now.
In its place he takes up a greatsword. Made by the Redcloaks' gifted blacksmiths, the blade is a deadly work of art, gleaming silver, double-edged and nearly as long as he is tall. A sword that could cleave a man in two with one fell swing.
Shane adjusts to it readily, combining his swordsmanship with his new, incredible strength. He may carry a smaller weapon with him in case of close combat, but his greatsword is the one he charges into open battle with. This behemoth of a sword kept the Great Leopard at bay for a dreadful, heart-stopping moment.
All the good swords have names, the smiths tell him, and Shane listens. He names the greatsword after his fallen crocodile. Grahv.
Grahv is not even a name. It is a word in the Stetriolan language that means something akin to monster or demon. Shane loathed his Bile-bonded spirit animal, and even after subduing him, his fear remained; the reptile was naught but a tool, to be used and promptly put away.
Shane had little respect for the animal while it was with him. He is not as understanding of the natural way of things as Abeke. When Grahv burst from the water and snapped his jaws around the kangaroo's head, he could not see an animal that needed to feed like all the rest. He saw a soulless creature that thrived on inflicting pain and terror. This is why he felt no remorse for binding the crocodile to his will for so long. He was completely, utterly devoid of empathy for the creature.
And at first glance, Shane choosing the same name for his sword seems callous. The sword, an inanimate object, is an uncomfortable reminder of how Shane viewed his spirit animal.
Rollan can say what he likes. The truth is, Shane reveres his sword. From the moment he first saw it, it filled him with awe. There is nothing that invigorates him more than the steel ringing when he pulls it from its sheath. He treats it with the dignity he now knows the crocodile deserved, spending hours polishing it, sharpening it, cleaning his enemies' blood and entrails from it as he nurses his own wounds. It has become a part of him in the same way that the crocodile itself is taking over his body. An extension of his arms. A heavy weight strapped to his back. It has saved his life, Abeke's life and those of his people many times over.
This time, he is using Grahv for good.
Shane's choice of name for his greatsword is a nod of respect, a silent apology and a glimmer of compassion. Most of all, it is his acceptance that the two of them are forever linked.
