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'It's not about trust, Hector. Telling her would just be an unnecessary risk. How would it help anything, if she knew?'

'Because... then she'd... I don't know...'

'Exactly.'

'She wants to get stronger, Garovel. And items like this could help her.'

'You are NOT about to give the Scarf to her.'

'What? No, I mean... if she's just... if she becomes aware that items like this exist in the world, then maybe she'll...'

'Maybe she'll what? Go hunt them down? She's rather busy protecting the Queen and her husband.'

'Sure, but still...'

The reaper gave a silent sigh. 'If you want to tell her about magical artifacts, then fine. Just don't go into detail about the Scarf specifically.'

He could be satisfied with that. 'Okay.'

Lynn was staring at him expectantly, perhaps already guessing that he was conversing with Garovel.

He dematerialized his armor and unconsciously reached into the Scarf to rub his neck. "I can't really... go into detail, but let's just say... there are certain objects in the world which are similar in nature to that aberration gauntlet of yours."

She blinked. "Similar in what way?"

"As in, they harbor supernatural powers," said Hector. "You were there when I told the Queen about the Undercrust--and Himmekel, too. There was a lot of crazy treasure there, and I suspect there's even more, elsewhere in the world."

"H-hold on," said Lynn with furrowed eyebrows and a raised gauntlet. "On top of everything else, you're telling me that you've also gained an item of power comparable to this thing?"

Hector gave her a shrug. "Pretty much."

She looked incredulous.

His mind went to the Shard and also the Tuning Orb of Karugetti. "More than one, actually." Then his mind went to the Moon's Wrath, and he frowned. "I lost one to a giant worm, though. That... sucked."

"Hector, I need more details."

He shook his head. "Can't."

"Why not?"

Impulsively, he wanted to panic, but then he realized there was a perfectly acceptable scapegoat standing right over there, and he pointed. "Garovel won't let me. Blame him."

'Argh, great!' said Garovel privately. 'Thanks for that, O brave Lord Darksteel!'

'No problem.'