The Callindra Chronicles Book One - First Quest (15 page)

One or two of the other fighters assembled
laughed as she walked the few steps back to a sun shade behind the
ring. Callindra realized she was the only female she had seen in
her group and scanned the others and only saw a handful of other
women. She looked back at the fight in the ring before her; wanting
to gauge the potential opponent’s strength against the chance she
might be facing them across a blade.

While she sat, a young girl approached her. A
man at arms was awkwardly accompanying her and holding a parasol to
stave off the sun’s rays.

“
Good morrow.” The girl
said, bobbing a practiced curtsey.

Callindra glanced at her, and then turned her
attention back to the current fight.

“
My name is Miss Blackforge,
Nina Blackforge.” The girl continued, pausing to see what affect
her name had. When Callindra didn’t react, she pressed on. “Are you
really a strong fighter? I mean my father wants me to have a
protector but I cannot tolerate the thought of a man with a sword
attending me all the time.”

The fight below was over and while the
combatants were changing places Callindra looked directly at the
girl, “Looks like you’ve already got a man attending you all the
time Miss Blackforge.”

“
Well, he is not with me all
the time.” She blushed artfully, “Certainly you understand my
meaning?”

“
What are you worried about
someone breaking in on you when you’re bathing or taking a shi- er
potty break?” Callindra asked, watching as the next two fighters
entered the ring.

Nina blushed a deeper shade of red, “I’m sure
I don’t know, but I would just feel more comfortable with female
company.”

“
I don’t know about that,
but I can understand there are times it’s better to have girls
around than boys.” Said Callindra, “Listen, I don’t know who your
father is and I don’t know why you think you need protection but if
you want my honest opinion the only way to be protected is to take
matters into your own hands.”

The guard holding the parasol gave her a
shrewd look, half approving and half incredulous.

“
What, you mean learn to use
a sword?” Nina broke into a silvery peal of laughter, “You surely
must be joking!”

“
No I’m not.” Callindra
retorted, “Why do you think I demanded my master teach me the Sword
in the first place? I refuse to allow anyone else to dominate me. I
won’t be subjugated because I’m too weak to stand up for
myself.”

“
But here you are, trying
out for a position in the military. You do know that you will be
required to follow orders in the military don’t you?” Nina raised
an eyebrow, “I wonder just how independent you would be
then?”

“
I suppose that is true Nina
but for me this is simply a means to grow stronger.” Callindra
said, “I must have experience if I am to attain the strength
needed. Training will only get you so far and I’ve reached the
limits of what can be taught. Now it is up to me to bend the world
to my will and wrest the knowledge I need from it.”

“
What are you after that you
need to pursue this kind of power?” The girl asked, “You can’t be
much older than I.”

“
I fear I’m older than I
look. You are perhaps fourteen?” Nina nodded, “I thought as much,
I’m four years your senior. It’s less what I’m after and more
what’s after me but I am searching for someone as well. It’s
complicated.”

Nina looked at her thoughtfully, “Well if you
win I’m going to ask daddy to hire you anyway. Maybe I can help you
find the person you’re looking for.” With that, she turned and
glided away, her unfortunate soldier striding in her wake and
holding the parasol to keep her shaded.

“
Stupid to hold that damn
sun shade, he’d never be able to draw his sword in time.” Callindra
muttered, turning her full attention back to the ring.

Most of the other combatants were
unremarkable; with the man she had seen watching her from the
doorway to the mess tent being the only exception. He dispatched
his opponent with brutal and precise attacks that spoke of an
experienced warrior, not a green recruit. After his victory he came
and sat next to her on the bench in the shade.

“
Nice fight.” She offered,
not sure why he had chosen to sit so close since there was plenty
of other room.

“
He was a weakling. I hate
being forced into this stupid formality; the Lord should know
already that I’m worthy.”

“
What do you mean? Isn’t it
good to test your skills against other schools?” Callindra
asked.

“
Why don’t you just quit.
Quit right now and I won’t have to lower myself by fighting you.”
He was looking at her with disgust on his face, “What sort of a
test is fighting a stripling girl? It’s humiliating that I’m even
asked to do so.”

“
Why don’t YOU just quit?”
Callindra’s voice lowered dangerously and a gust of wind blew dust
into his face. “I will teach you the meaning of humility when I
defeat you.”

The man broke out laughing, “You have spirit,
I’ll grant that little one. Don’t let it put words in your mouth
that you can’t back up though. It’ll be the death of you.”

“
You aren’t the first to
underestimate me. You’ve already seen what results from it in my
last fight.” She gave him an evil smile, “Tell Lord Graylocke he
should have just purchased this armor if he wanted to avoid
humiliation, if he’ll even talk with you after your defeat that
is.” A sharp gust of wind whipped between them, causing the canvas
of the shelter to shudder and strain against its
moorings.

Before he could respond, the official below
called out, “Callindra of Northwind, you will face Genric of
Stonearm.”

She stood and strode to the ring, closely
followed by the man she had just been verbally sparring with. Once
again, she reluctantly left Brightfang just outside the raised
level of the ring before stepping up onto the packed sand. Once
Genric entered on the other side, she assumed the Ready Stance.

-

The official repeated the rules in a bored
voice and once again stepped aside and allowed their contest to
begin. Genric immediately pressed the attack and Callindra was only
barely able to dodge to one side in order to avoid being hit. The
rapid strikes didn’t cease, she found herself desperately defending
from swing after swing, completely unable to return even one single
attack. Just when she was backed up to the edge of the ring,
Callindra saw an opening in his uninterrupted series of
attacks.

Dropping to one knee, she swung her practice
lath sword to connect soundly with Genric’s ribs. Moments later,
his sword slammed into her left shoulder. She bit back a cry of
pain; he had nearly broken her collarbone. But how had he managed
to strike such a blow with a loosely tied bundle of lath?

She rolled sideways and came up in a
defensive crouch. The answer was clear when she saw the look in
Genric’s face; his practice sword had a steel core. Callindra’s
mouth thinned into an angry line, there was no way she was going to
give up when facing someone who resorted to breaking the rules to
win. This called for drastic measures.

Rising from her crouch, she assumed the Earth
and Sky Stance, left hand nearly touching the ground sword pointing
towards the heavens. She looked him straight in the face, “You have
talent Genric, why in the nine hells would you lower yourself to
this?”

“
You know little about the
world girl. I can take no chances.”

“
Even with your preparations
you will fail. Doubting your own skills shall be your undoing.” She
held the awkward Stance perfectly, knowing it would allow her to
explode into action without warning the instant an opening
presented itself. Either Genric was familiar with the Stance or it
confused him because he kept a safe distance, circling her
slowly.

Callindra altered her footing slightly in
order to keep him in her threat range. She faltered slightly when
her right foot encountered a rock and Genric sprang forward,
swinging his sword at her head with a snarl. In near panic,
Callindra swept her practice blade in a wild arc from the apex,
nearly scraping the ground and coming into shattering contact with
the steel-cored sword threatening to fracture her skull.

Instead of merely breaking apart, her sword
exploded, an unexpected and uncontrolled burst of Weave breaking
free as a result of her panicked loss of control. Slivers of lath
flew in all directions from the epicenter of contact, showering
everyone sitting around the ring. Genric’s lath sword didn’t fare
any better and the steel core was revealed as it flew from his grip
to fall in the sand, bent at an angle where the power of her strike
had bent it. Hardly anyone seemed to notice it shining in the
sunlight.

“
What in the name of Gode
was that?” Asked the official.

“
You have the gall to accuse
me of being dishonest?” Genric said incredulously, “That power… I
would kill for that kind of power.”

Callindra looked around and saw the glow of
Weave surrounding a man in robes who was making his way towards the
ring. Without thinking, she ran to the edge of the ring, snatched
Brightfang from where he sat leaning against the low bench and
sprinted out of the courtyard. The sound of confusion erupted from
behind her as she fled into the afternoon traffic outside the
gate.

Chapter 14

The door to the cathedral building where she
had last seen Tryst was still thankfully open. Callindra burst
through, surprising some men in rough robes as she ran inside,
breathing heavily from her mad dash.

“
Do you know if Tryst is
around?” She managed, catching her breath.

“
Slowly child, this is a
place of rest and peace.” One of the men said, reaching a hand
towards her shoulder.

Callindra slid sideways, avoiding his touch.
“I need to find Tryst Te’Chern. I believe he was going to leave
tomorrow morning. I’d like to join him.”

“
Come, sit for a moment and
I will see if young Tryst can be found.” The monk said, leading her
back to the public area she had sat in before. She let him settle
her at a table with a mug of sweet white wine. After he had gone,
she shifted to have her back to the wall and waited
nervously.

People came and went, largely dressed in the
simple robes of monks although she could tell some of them had
military background by their bearing. None gave her more than a
passing glance though and gradually she began to relax. Her wine
cup was empty by the time she was joined by Tryst.

“
So, you’ve come back?” He
asked, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

“
Yes. I’ve decided I want to
leave with you tomorrow.” Callindra said.

“
Whatever trouble you have
gotten yourself into is unfortunate Callindra. However, I will not
have it jeopardize my mission.” Tryst looked at her gravely, “If
you cannot leave here in peace you are unwelcome, regardless of how
useful your talents would be to my cause.”

“
I did not come to this
place in peace Tryst, yet you asked me before.” She looked at him
with haunted eyes, “I will not say that I am of no danger to you.
The men that are after me will kill me if they are able to catch
me, but first they will torture me for information that I would not
give if I had it. Please, at least let me stay with you until I’m
strong enough to defend myself.”

Tryst listened pensively. “Maybe it’s the
will of the Gods that I haven’t been able to find any others
willing to join me. I had wanted an army or at least a reasonably
sized fighting force, but perhaps a small group would be less
obtrusive. We leave tomorrow before sunup, why don’t you stay here
tonight? You could meet the others who will be traveling with
us.”

“
Sure, I don’t have any
reason to go back to the Empty Keg anyway, except for maybe to say
goodbye to some people. I think they’ll understand though, life can
change without warning. I’ll see them again someday.”

“
Very well Callindra, come
with me. You aren’t the only one who needs shelter from something.
Vilhylm is an interesting person, I think he hides more than he
reveals about himself. Maybe that’s why he wears the masks. Cronos
seems to be fairly straightforward but I do occasionally catch him
muttering to himself in some guttural language that I don’t
understand. Regardless, both of them are trustworthy and willing to
undertake this mission of mine. Of ours.”

Callindra left her half glass of wine on the
table and stood to follow Tryst further into the halls of the
cathedral. As they walked, the tapestries grew sparser, the bare
granite walls revealing the austerity the monks and priests who
lived here subjected themselves to. After a few turns, he arrived
at a nondescript door and after knocking twice entered.

A young man or possibly boy sat at a low
table, polishing a hand and a half sword that looked two times too
big for him. Barely visible in the shadows near a slit of a window
was a cloaked individual, the hood pulled over its face as it
carefully sanded a thin strip of wood.

“
Cronos, Vilhylm, I wish to
introduce the last member of our party. Her name is Callindra.”
Said Tryst in a bright voice.

“
Her? You’re bringing a girl
onboard?” The boy asked, his voice nearly cracking, “Tryst really,
you must be joking.”

“
Welcome Callindra.” Said
the hooded figure in a raspy disused voice, “I trust you are able
and willing to use that toothpick?”