Ranks of the blade

Every master the Khopesh ever had joined the ranks of the blade at his death. The shade goes into the weapon and stays there, sharp and whole at first, its memories thinning the longer it has been in.

The Elder could take one out. He reached into the empty air beside the sword the way a man catches a fly, closed his hand, and bound what he had caught to speak. That is how the party got answers out of Beltran Grayeras after they had killed him, standing over the lead-lined box as its lid came down on the blade.

What became of the ranks when the blade shattered was never written down.