by B N Miles
“Wait,” he said, frowning. “Why would I do that?”
Miuri grinned. “Just kidding.”
Cam groaned and rolled his eyes. Key just snorted a laugh.
“No, really, drop your spear and draw your sword,” Miuri said. “Key, I want you to spar with Cam for a moment. Can you two do that safely?”
Cam gave Miuri a look as Key took a few paces away from him. “Of course we can,” Cam said. “But I’m telling you, I’m not good with this sword. I haven’t even… I haven’t even drawn it since my father passed.”
Miuri gestured at the sword on his back, her face serious. “I know it’ll be hard,” she said. “But you can’t improve if you don’t start somewhere. And that blade is going to be good against the wolves.”
“It’s okay, Cam,” Key said. “We’ve sparred a hundred times.”
He took a deep breath and let the spear fall from his fingers. The sword felt so heavy on his back, and he looked up at the dawn sky, the stars washing away as the light burst over the mountains. He reached over his shoulder, gripped the sword, and slowly pulled it free.
It was awkward, drawing it over his shoulder, but he managed it. Miuri gave a small grunting noise. “First change we’re making is, you’re wearing that sword at your hip,” she said.
“But—” Cam started then stopped himself. He took a deep breath and let it out. If he was going to learn from Miuri, he needed to shut up and listen. “Right, I’ll give it a try.”
He pushed the sword back into his sheath then unbuckled the straps from his chest. He took it off, swung it around, and pressed it up against his left hip. He belted it there, making sure it was tight, and took a few testing movements and steps. It was a little awkward and hampered his movements a bit, but he thought he could get used to it if he tried.
“Better,” Miuri said. “Now, draw it.”
He reached across his body with his right hand and drew the sword free. It came out with a soft slick sound and he held the weapon in his hand, marveling at the wide blade that tapered into a tight forward-swept edge. It was a beautiful sword, with subtle scrolling work along its blade in geometric patterns that he’d never appreciated before. The early slanting sunlight glinted off its surface and almost made the blade glow. The cross guard was swept back and the leather grip was fresh and felt good in his hand.
He took a breath to center himself then nodded to Miuri. “All right. Let’s do this.”
She gestured at Key. “Go ahead. Show me what you can do.”
34
Key came at him fast and hard. She spun her spear and sliced it through the air. Though the tip still had a leather cover over the top for training, it still whizzed with deadly force and speed. Cam had to stagger back to avoid getting the shaft through his skull, his sword wobbling up and down uselessly. He shifted off his back foot and tried to close the distance between them, batting away a thrust and parrying another, but she spun her spear around, giving ground to keep him away from her. He parried another thrust, a jab, and tried a stabbing move aimed at her chest.
It was slow and clumsy, and Key easily whipped her spear around, slamming the end down against his hand and knocking the sword out of his grip. He stared at the weapon as it tumbled to the ground. Key stood up straight, grinning at him, a light sheen of sweat on her brow. The whole match had lasted twenty seconds at most. Cam felt like he was moving in slow motion the entire time.
With a spear, he’d beaten Key easily more times than he could count. He was stronger, faster, and the spear just made sense to him.
But with a sword in his hands, everything fell apart. All his instincts were wrong, and he felt clumsy and off his game.
Miuri groaned. “Okay,” she said. “You’re worse than I thought.”
“Or maybe I’m just a lot better,” Key said.
Miuri laughed at her then walked over to Cam. She bent over and picked up the sword then pressed it into his hand,
Cam gave her a look. “I told you I haven’t had much training with it,” he said.
“Your problem isn’t that you lack training,” Miuri said. “You clearly know how to fight. Your problem is you fight with that sword like it’s a spear. You didn’t close distance on Key fast enough and your thrust left you completely exposed. If you had a spear, that might’ve worked, since you would have had some distance. But with a sword, you were out of your reach.”
“You’re right,” Cam said. “I was fighting like it was a spear. It’s hard to turn off all those instincts after so many years of having them drilled into me.”
Miuri nodded and turned to Key, loosening the sword in her scabbard. “Key, if you’ll indulge me for a moment, fight me the same way you just fought Cam.”
“Of course,” Key said, readying herself.
Miuri drew her sword in one graceful motion then dropped into a loose and easy stance, holding the sword in front of her with both hands. She darted at Key, her lithe body slipping through the grass, and Cam watched in awe as Key instantly began to fall back. Miuri used her sword to slice at the shaft of Key’s spear, knocking it away, and pressed her attack. Key stumbled on a rough piece of ground and Miuri took advantage, batting away the spear and bringing the blade of her sword just inches from Key’s chest. It would’ve been a killing blow if they’d been in a real battle.
Key staggered back and regained her composure. She stared at the Elf for a moment then burst out laughing.
“She’s way better than you,” Key said.
“Just with a sword,” Miuri corrected. “I saw Cam fight with a spear, and I doubt many could match it.”
“So why do I need to learn this weapon again?” Cam asked.
Miuri walked over toward him while Key leaned on her spear, grinning at them. Miuri gave him a long look, her head tilted to the side.
“You want to get stronger, don’t you?” she asked. “This is how you do it. You gain mastery over the weapons at your disposal. That blade in your hand, do you know anything about it?”
Cam shook his head. “Only that my father brought it back with him after his time as a mercenary.”
Miuri nodded and reached out to run a finger down its side. “It’s the best metal Humans can produce. Not quite as good as what the Elves manage, but still quite good. That sword was forged up north, on islands that stay cold year-round. The scrollwork along the blade, the way the hilt is shaped, they’re dead giveaways. That sword was made to be used, Cam, and you can’t just carry it around on your back all the time like it doesn’t exist.”
Cam watched her for the space of a few breaths and gripped his weapon tighter. “Okay,” he said. “Come show me.”
Miuri grinned. “Gladly.”
For the next hour, as the sun rose and the camp made ready to leave, Miuri showed Cam basic sword techniques. She fixed his grip, showed him the proper stance, began to teach him how to slice and move the weapon in a way that didn’t leave him open to attack. Cam sparred more with Key and lost each time, but at least he managed to keep hold of his weapon and didn’t embarrass himself.
Miuri also worked with Key and showed her some Elven fighting techniques. Miuri spun the spear so fast it was a blur and her motions with the long weapon were like water and ice working together in perfect harmony. When Key tried to mimic Miuri’s movements, she ended up tripping over her own feet.
By the end of the hour, they were all sweaty and laughing together. Miuri stretched and slid her sword back into its sheath. “Before we’re done, I want to show you all some unarmed fighting,” she said. “If that’s okay with you, Cam.”
“Of course,” he said, sliding his own weapon into its sheath.
Key stretched her lean muscles and walked to the edge of the clearing. She leaned her spear up against a tree while Miuri walked over toward Cam, giving him a mischievous look.
“Now, Cam,” Miuri said. “I promise not to hurt you. Do you trust me?”
“I think I’ll be okay,” Cam said, grinning. “I’m bigger and hea
vier than you. Not too worried about you hurting me.”
She pouted. “Really now?” she asked.
And then she darted at him.
He stumbled back as a flurry of blows rained down on him. He managed to block a few and bat away a few more, using his forearms and elbows against her fists, but she landed more than a few attacks. The one time he threw a punch in return, she guided it away, moved down his arm, and elbowed him in the chest.
The short fight ended when Miuri slipped under his guard, jabbed him in the side, then kicked his feet out from under him. He dropped down into the long grass and landed on his butt with a groan.
“I yield,” he said. “By the Ur, Miuri, where the heck did you learn all that?”
Miuri grinned at him and looked at her nails like she was inspecting them for damage. “Cam, do you know how old I am?” she asked
He shook his head. “I don’t know why it matters, but I kind of assumed you were about my age.”
She raised an eyebrow. “No, I’m definitely not.”
“How old are you then?” he asked, wary of the answer.
“I’m one hundred and thirty-two years old.”
He gaped at her, unable to speak. She barely looked twenty, and yet she had lived longer than both Key and Cam combined. He knew that Elves were immortal and that their outward appearances didn’t always match their numerical lives, but to actually see it with his own eyes was another thing entirely.
“You don’t look a day over one hundred,” Key said.
Miuri laughed. “Thank you, darling,” she said, offering her hand to Cam. He took it and she helped him up. They ended standing close together, a slight sheen of sweat on Miuri’s skin. She was breathing deep and staring up at him, a little smile on her lips.
“I’m telling you that just so you understand,” Miuri said. “I’ve been training to fight my whole life. I was given my first real blade at fifteen years old and I’ve been training with wooden weapons since I could walk. I was born to fight, Cam, so don’t feel bad if little old me can take you down.”
He shook his head slowly. “You’re full of surprises.”
“I know.” She stood on her toes and kissed him then turned away. “Okay Key, your turn. I need to get you on the ground too.”
Key held up her hands. “I surrender,” she said.
“Don’t be scared,” Miuri said. “I’ll be gentle. I promise.”
Cam laughed as Miuri ran at Key and Key backpedaled away. They exchanged a very short flurry of blows but Key ended up thrown over Miuri’s hip and on the ground. Miuri put her wrist in a complicated grip and Key let out a gasp of pain.
“I yield!” Key said.
Miuri released her grip then straddled Key. She grinned down at her, and Cam crossed his arms over his chest, watching closely.
“What’s that?” Miuri asked.
“I said, I yield,” Key said.
“I don’t think I heard you.” Miuri leaned down over Key, their faces inches away. They were both glowing in the morning sun, damp with sweat and dew from the grass, and Cam couldn’t help but feel excitement pulsing through him.
He wanted Key and Miuri to get along. That thought only took him so far, though. The idea that Key and Miuri would have something more than just a close friendship hadn’t entirely occurred to him until this moment. Seeing Miuri on top of Key and the way Key was staring up at the Elf girl made him feel something strange in his chest.
It wasn’t jealousy. He felt like what he was watching just made sense.
Miuri brushed some hair from Key’s face.
“I said, I yield,” Key said.
“Good.” Miuri kissed Key’s lips once, just a small peck, and Cam could see the surprise on Key’s face.
But before Miuri could kiss her again, if that was what she planned, Cam heard some shouts from the Human camp and saw a young boy come running out toward the Elven camp. There was more yelling, and the Elves began to gather outside of their tents as the boy stopped at the first sentry he reached.
“Girls,” Cam said.
Miuri was up off Key in a flash. Key rolled to her feet. She jogged over and grabbed her spear while Miuri joined Cam and watched as the boy said something to the Elf. There was a ripple effect as that Elf ran back to the other assembled Elves, and Cam watched the information pass back through the tents. More warriors stirred, and he saw more than a few belting on swords and pulling on armor.
“Something happened,” Miuri said.
“Something bad,” Cam agreed.
“Come on.” Miuri stalked forward. Cam had to stoop down to grab his spear, and as he straightened, Key caught up them.
Together, they hurried to where the Elves were gathering.
35
“What’s going on here?” Miuri asked as they approached the gathering Elven warriors. Cam gently took Key’s wrist as he slowed about twenty yards away, pulling Key to a stop with him. Miuri went on, striding across the distance toward the Elves.
“What are you doing?” Key asked.
“We should let her handle this,” Cam said.
“But—” Key started then stopped herself and nodded, her eyes tense.
“Come.” He tugged at Key and they began to head back toward the Human camp. But Cam didn’t get far before he heard a shout from the Elves.
“Shaman!”
He slowed and turned. Gwedi pushed past Miuri and came stomping toward him. Her red hair streamed behind her in ribbons and she had a hand on the hilt of her sword. Her face was pulled into an angry sneer and Cam could feel the rage rolling from her in waves. She was taller than Miuri with a more lean and ropey build. Her face was beautiful of course, symmetrical and lovely, and she had that same Elven grace as all the others. But he got the sense that Gwedi was rougher than the average Elf, just based on the way she wore scuffed boots and worn out leather armor.
“Gwedi,” he said as she approached. “What’s going on?”
“Why are you running off?” She stopped a few feet away from him and crossed her arms.
“I was going to my camp to find out what happened,” he said.
She made a dismissive gesture. “You can stay here and answer for this,” she said.
“Answer for what?”
“One of our sentries was found murdered this morning,” Gwedi said.
Cam stared at her in surprise. “One of your warriors… is dead?”
She nodded once. “Murdered at his post. Your people found him.”
“I don’t know anything about it,” Cam said then looked at Key. He could see the concern in her eyes. This could blow up into something much, much worse. “We need to go find out what happened.”
Gwedi let out a harsh laugh. “Yes we do, shaman. We need to go find out which of your intolerant, small minded pig fuckers murdered one of my soldiers.”
“None of my people did this,” Cam said, keeping his voice cool.
“How do you know that?” she asked, sneering. “I heard all about how your people reacted to mine. You really think none of them would resort to violence?”
Cam opened his mouth then shut it again. She was right, he didn’t know for sure that someone in his camp wouldn’t hurt one of her people. Rador or maybe Luccus were capable of it, and it was possible they’d gotten the drop on an Elven sentry at the end of his shift while he was tired and distracted.
Even still, he couldn’t imagine Rador would resort to murder. The man didn’t like or trust Elves and held a lot of misguided anger toward them. But Rador wasn’t a killer, and Cam couldn’t imagine he’d go so far. The same held for Luccus and any other man in his village. Anger was one thing, but cold-blooded murder was another.
“Come with me, then,” he said, turning away from Gwedi. “You want to make accusations? Come and see what happened before you make your conclusions.”
Anger welled up in his chest. He was tired of these people fighting. He was tired of being put in the middle of it. He stormed off, back toward the camp.
Gwedi shouted for him to wait but he ignored her cries. Key fell into step beside him, a concerned look on her face. He didn’t bother waiting to see if Gwedi or any of the other Elves were following. They’d come sooner or later, and he wasn’t interested in being accused any longer.
The camp was still busy getting ready to leave, but he saw the uncertainty on the villagers’ faces. The warriors were spread thin, and he found a clump of them just to the far side of the column. Kraed was there, leaning against a cart in the shade. Cam walked directly to the Elder and caught his eye.
“What happened?” he asked.
Kraed shook his head and pointed.
“In the trees over there,” he said. “Dead Elf.”
Cam frowned then stalked off in that direction. He met more men on the way, but he didn’t speak to them. Key stayed close, and soon the two of them found a large gathering of warriors, most of the men in the entire village. They were spread out around a small clearing with Dagan in the center kneeling over a body.
The men parted for Cam, and Dagan looked up upon his arrival. He closed his eyes and sighed as he stood. “This is no good,” he said.
Cam looked around the area then down at the body. The corpse suffered from multiple knife wounds—similar to Tatur’s. The Elf was wearing smooth, polished leather armor with a waterfall motif on the chest. The Elf had his weapon drawn and it was lying beside his hand. The blade was slick with a deep reddish black blood, and more blood was splattered across the pine needles and the underbrush. Broken branches, snapped twigs, and trampled plants all painted the picture of a struggle.
But there were no other bodies. If the Elf had hurt or killed someone in this attack, they managed to survive, at least for long enough to get away.
“Did anyone find tracks?” he asked.
“None,” Dagan said. “That’s the strangest thing. None coming or going.”
Cam grunted and shook his head. That just wasn’t possible.
Before he could ask more questions, there was a murmur from the men and he saw them stand at attention. Cam turned and saw Gwedi approaching, followed by Miuri, Haesar, and five more warriors. The Human warriors made room for the Elves, stomping off to the side, and the Elves gracefully slid up and formed a loose semi-circle around the downed body. Miuri knelt next to the dead Elf, gently touched him, and shook her head.
