A little more fiction

[King of Pain]

The clash of swords echoed in the quad as a muscled young man of maybe twenty years with cropped dark hair parried the blows of a slight and copper haired teenager. With all his intensity and speed, the youth would strike, and the older boy would parry or dodge, all with laughing eyes and a gleeful smile. Both these young men knew that this was an unfair match-up, and that for all the youth’s speed and clever feints, he would never do more than rattle the buckler of the older boy. Occasionally the elder youth would swing out, dangerously close to injuring the younger, keeping him honest and forcing his skills to become all the sharper.

In matches like this, over the course of months and years, the youth had gone from being barely able to hold a wooden practice weapon to blossoming into a fine fencer. This was owed not just to his sparring partner’s great skill, but more so, to the patience and training of a master swordsman, who was even now overseeing their training.

“The youth has turned out to be a fair fighter, Master Fraekryss”, the trainer said as he turned from the railing of the balcony overlooking the courtyard. “He might even turn out a master if he ever stops looking for shortcuts in those damn books you have him absorbing.”

“The boys true gifts lie in the arcane arts, Swordthane. He studies sword forms chiefly for the discipline they impart.”

“So you would deny him the opportunity to study swords if not for the discipline?” the old warrior harassed, knowing full well that that the older man had been a swordsman of no small repute in his younger and wilder days.

“For all his potential, yes, but that he is rash and undisciplined. He needs the refinement and wisdom the martial arts impose if he is ever going to master his mystical energies,” the graying wizard responded deadpan, not allowing himself to be so obviously baited.

“Aye and that is something the boy lacks… wisdom. That is why, in large part. I team him with the mute” the swordsman added. “In silence, he has little use for staid lessons, but he is a keen observer and makes careful and deliberate decisions at every turn. The boy in contrast, takes quick action and speaks enough for both of them… you couldn’t pick a better team.”

“Well then, let us hope that the lads silver tongue doesn’t compromise the mute’s good judgment.” The mage replied dryly.

The veteran sword master turned thoughtfully back to observing the combatants spar as he bit at his lip nervously, brow furrowed.

 

[King of Pain]

“Hound!” Whipping robes stirred dust as a tall lean mage strode hastily into the weapons hall where the young mute was looking up from his reading, waiting expectantly for orders. “My old enemies have an agent in town again… are you up to another hunt?”

Setting his book aside, the tall youth grinned in affirmation as he stood up. The scant details of his victim’s identity were provided while he donned his heavy cloak, hooked sword to belt, and pulled on his boots. As the patriarch of the guild provided the last of the details, the mute was stepping out the door.

The silent killer stalked the streets, intently seeking the subtle signs of his quarry. For the years preceding his acquisition and training by Master Fraekryss, these hunts were handled by the master himself. The agents of the dark mages that persued him were not easy prey for the ill prepared, and the mute knew that his assignment on these missions was a mark of great distinction.

He stopped as he stepped into a large cobbled intersection. A trickling fountain babbled in the center of the circle as the twilight sun left its pale orange signature on the high stone and plaster walls of the buildings, while the cool shadows crept ever upward. The clattering city sounds of a chill fall evening faded as the mute hunter’s senses bent on the identity of his prey. The mark was close.

He quietly made his way down the shadowed road to his right as he loosened his sword in its sheath. His fingertips trailed along the rough stone of the walls as he stalked up the road, his pace slowing as he sensed his quarry close by. He leaned back against the cold stone wall next to a doorway and prepared himself. His senses tuned and he heard through the thick wooden door the unmistakable mutterings of the dark mage’s secret tongue. Steeled to the violence he was about to commit, he slowly pulled his sword free.

In one motion he stepped into the doorway and threw his weight at the door, causing it to shatter off its hinges, exploding inward. He stepped in and saw not one but two shrouded mages look up alertly from their huddle over a glowing crystal ball on a table askew with scrolls and books. The intruder silently cursed at the unexpected double threat as he continued into the room toward the mages, who straightened and began to chant.

Taking the hefty sword in a double handed grip, the stoic swordsman swung it backhanded in a giant arc, bringing it up into the nearest mage’s groin. Bone, cloth, and tissue rent as the mightily swung blade tore up through the torso of the mage, finally swinging free of flesh as the blade cleaved the breast bone of its victim. The assassin’s stroke continued fluidly as he spun to face the other mage, the graceful arc of his sword spraying a trail of blood across ceiling and walls.

The dark, bloodshot eyes of the remaining mage fixed intently on the killer’s as his chanting stopped, and a burning surge of energy tore into the warrior’s body, followed by an explosive blast of fire. The mage laughed in triumph as the room filled with smoke and the wreak of seared flesh, but his cackle was cut short as the warrior emerged from the smoke and vapor, bloody sword arcing toward his shocked face.






Another bit of disjointed history, creeping to the surface of Sonoma.

 

[Dor of Sonoma]

"...as the twilight sun left its pale orange signature on the high stone and plaster walls of the buildings, while the cool shadows crept ever upward."

So very nice..

Thank you so much for the writing of this.

I look forward eagerly to reading more. Thank you!

 

[Guest]

<font color=green> The use of words by you is amazing! Wonderful read!! Can't wait to enjoy more of your work!