The Callindra Chronicles Book One - First Quest

by Benjamin Fisher-Merritt

  “Bloody stupid thing, running off like that girl!” Vilhylm said.

  “Don’t listen to the old stick.” Cronos laughed, “Nice work. Couldn’t have done it better myself.”

  “We have bigger problems.” Said Tryst, pointing toward the phalanx of Kobold guards who were moving away from the slave pen. They were holding their weapons like they knew how to use them and the chainmaile they wore was polished to a mirror finish.

  “You take care of the small fry.” Callindra said with a determined grimace on her face, “That shaman is mine.”

  “Wait!” Tryst shouted, but it was too late. She had already ran straight at the guards, but instead of trying to cut them down, she dodged to one side at the last minute. Taking three quick steps up the wall of the cavern, Callindra sprang off and ran lightly over her foes using heads and shoulders as momentary foot holds. Turning a neat flip off the last one, she landed with a flourish in front of her intended opponent.

  “Foolissshhh chhhild.” The shaman hissed and waved a hand at her, hissing more words in a sibilant language she didn’t recognize.

  She readied Brightfang to spring for his throat but before she could, he vanished and re-appeared on the other side of the raging bonfire. Her sword hilt quivered in her hand, almost feeling too warm. It was strange but she focused on the scene instead, trying to find a way across the flames to her quarry. A quick glance showed her a possible route. With a short sprint Callindra slid between two approaching Kobolds, digging her toes into the ground and regaining her feet as the monsters smashed into each other. With a grin she covered the remaining distance between her and the shaman easily. It was only then that she noticed the pain in her hands.

  Steam was coming from her thin leather gloves and the skin beneath was close to blistering. The shaman fixed her with a gleeful smile and opened his mouth to taunt her. This was almost nothing compared to the pain of her training. The smile faded off the creature’s face as she tightened her grip on Brightfang in spite of the sizzle of burning flesh.

  “You think this is going to stop me?” She asked, twisting her face into a smirk in spite of Brightfang’s hilt now glowing red hot. “All it’s going to accomplish is that my blade will hurt more when it slices through your flesh. You’ve taken the blood of innocents. Now it’s time for you to bleed.”

  “Sssso be it.” The shaman raised a spear tied with bones and totems from his side and swung it in an arc. Black wood met shining steel in a shower of sparks. The two fought back and forth over the floor, neither able to find advantage. Callindra found herself with her back to the lava pool, the shaman raised his spear for a strike that would surely send her into the molten rock.

  “Callindra down!” Cronos’s voice rang out behind her. Without thinking she dropped to her knees and a wave of flame seared the monster before roaring over her head. It didn’t seem to have much effect on him, but the momentary distraction was enough to create an opening.

  Brightfang slashed across the monster’s thighs in a left handed swipe and she followed up by grabbing the spear with her right hand and pulling back with all her strength. She allowed herself to fall backward, planting a boot in the shaman’s chest and flipping it over her head into the lava.

  “Thanks Cronos.” She said rolling smoothly to her feet. They looked in satisfaction at the burning remains of the shaman.

  “Yeah. Nice job on that one.” He said, nodding at the lava. They turned and looked at the remains of the battlefield. Tryst and Vilhylm were cleaning their weapons and binding some minor wounds. All the Kobolds were dead.

  The few remaining human slaves cowered in the slat sided pen, not even moving until Tryst spoke to them at length. Eventually they regained enough confidence to follow his directions on how to escape the tunnels. The likelihood of them running into any more of the monsters after the number that had been in this cavern seemed slim and they would certainly have a better chance of escaping that way than following along.

  “This was bad, but I don’t think it could account for all we’ve seen. There must be someone else behind their organization. I don’t think this… priest… would have the resources to provide them with armor and training.” Tryst said grimly.

  “Perhaps we should follow these stairs then?” Vilhylm pointed to a steep set of steps that twisted up the side of the cavern. “They’re bound to lead somewhere important.”

  “I’ll lead. I think I’m the most surefooted.” Callindra said and started up the stairs two at a time, not waiting to see if the others followed. As she got close to the top her pace slowed. Sunlight shone down from above and she could smell fresh air but more importantly there were voices up there. Human voices.

  “I tell yeh, we gotta run. There’s people down there killin th critters left an right. They’s gonna make it past th priest any time an then they’s gonna come fer us.”

  “We got plenny a loot boss. We should split while we can.”

  “Yeh cowards, I say let ‘em come. Get yer bows ready. As soon as yeh see a head come up th stairs fill it wi arrows.”

  She was going to leap out before they could draw their weapons, but Vilhylm’s hand came down on her shoulder. “Wait for Tryst to catch up.” He whispered, “He and Cronos are up to something.”

  The other two came up quietly and put their heads close. “We all come out at once and scatter. There will be less targets that way. Callindra, you go for their leader since you’re the fastest. Cronos, see if you can distract them. Vilhylm, you and I will take care of the archers.”

  “Just a second. If I’m fast now, I can double that speed with a touch of magic.” Callindra said with a wide grin. She whispered a few arcane words and called the North Wind to speed her feet. “All right, let’s go kick some ass.”

  As one, they all leaped from the staircase and ran in separate directions. An arrow buzzed past Callindra’s neck, the loose fletching causing it to buzz like an angry wasp. The winds whirled around her as she ran, sending up clouds of dust and dead leaves. The men she saw were dressed in a variety of armor, but in spite of being slightly mismatched it was all relatively new and in perfect repair. She saw the only one who didn’t have a bow drawn and made for him as fast as she could. He calmly drew a scimitar and waited for her to approach with a smile of anticipation on his face.

  They met in a clash of swords, but no matter how fast Callindra struck, he was faster. After a few moments she was covered in a myriad of small bleeding wounds, none of them were dangerous on their own but combined they slowed her down. She pushed harder, waiting for him to misstep, trying to find an opening but only succeeded in earning a few more cuts.

  The ferocity of her attack had driven him back to the edge of a cliff but now he was on the offensive. They danced close to the precipice as he slammed blow after blow down on her, a series of strikes that ended with a massive overhand stroke that drove her to her knees. A confused expression crossed his face, and she saw an arrow stuck in his chest. His sword blow had saved her from being shot in the back.

  With a complicated motion of her sword, Callindra summoned a blast of wind that knocked her still surprised opponent over the edge of the cliff. She spun on her knees to see her friends dispatching the last of the men. Sitting back with a weak laugh of relief she wiped Brightfang on the hem of her cloak and sheathed him.

  “That was too god rotting close.” She said, wiping the blood out of her eyes.

  Tryst was pulling an arrow out of Cronos’s arm with a grim expression on his face. “I couldn’t agree more Callindra. Far too close.”

  She laughed in relief finally able to relax, but as the adrenaline wore off she realized she might have overdone things a bit. “Gods and demons. Tryst when you get a moment I could really use some of that healing magic of yours. I think I’m going to just … if it’s all right with you I’m going to rest my eyes for a second.”

  Chapter 18

  It was a dream. Callindra knew it was a dream because Glarian was standing at her side, one h
and holding that monster Sakar over one shoulder and the other resting on hers. Even though it wasn’t real she felt like she could really talk to him and damn if she didn’t have some things to say. She opened her mouth to give Glarian the rough side of her tongue for running off or maybe to beg him to come back to her but he spoke first.

  “How do you feel?” He asked, his voice rough with … was it concern?

  “What do you mean Master?”

  “You’ve had to defend yourself apprentice … you’ve killed and not just monsters now either.” He said, “So I was wondering how you felt.”

  “Scared. Tired. Devastated. Exhilarated.” She turned and looked up into his face, her eyes sparkling, “Dangerous.”

  “Oh you’re dangerous all right.” The concern was clear now, “Has the Weave been behaving? You’ve been keeping up with the Korumn?”

  “Master … it’s OK. I’m OK. I practice every morning with the sunrise. We’re on a quest for-“

  “Yes, I know. You’re looking for Gode. We’re all looking for Gode. If you find him, let us know.”

  -

  “Callindra?” She tried to focus on the voice, her vision swimming. “Hey, welcome back.” It was Tryst she realized.

  “Thanks.” She was lying on the ground and staring up at a perfect sunset streaking across wispy clouds.

  “You had me worried there for a moment. Usually the healing prayers work with more alacrity.”

  “How long was I out?” She struggled to a sitting position, testing her limbs for stiffness and smiling at Tryst, “I feel as good as new, or almost anyway. It’s a miracle for real!” Most of the cuts she had gathered during the fight were healed to faded scars and her hands had a growth of new pink skin. Re-growing the swordsman’s calluses on them was going to be murder but at least she didn’t have to wait for the blisters to heal.

  “You have only been unconscious for about ten minutes. Don’t push too hard yet, the euphoria is only temporary. Only half of the healing comes from prayer, the other half comes from your body.” He gave her an encouraging smile, “The real miracle is that your body knows how to heal itself in the first place; I just help it along.”

  The clearing they were in was a sheltered bowl at the top of a tall hill. From here they could see the village of Vonlar below far in the distance. They could also make out a winding trail that made its way down the hills steep sides. The men had made a few rude buildings that blended into the landscape, one housed a few rather tired looking horses, another rough looking accommodations but the third and largest one had piles of boxes and stacks of supplies. Unless she missed her guess, Callindra believed they had found the missing goods stolen by the Kobolds and perhaps more.

  “We should return to Vonlar and tell the villagers where they can go to recover their things.” Tryst said.

  “Yeah, the sooner we clear our debt with these backwards muckdwellers the better.” Cronos muttered.

  “I feel like we should get back to Tyreen.” Said Vilhylm, “She’s a Dryad, if anyone knows about legends like Elves she would.”

  Callindra levered herself to her feet with a reluctant sigh. “I suppose we should at least get back to Vonlar… or maybe we could just stay here tonight. I mean it’s not like there’s anyone left to mess with us right? Besides, I don’t know about you but I’m exhausted.”

  “No, we are all tired and that’s exactly why we must return to Vonlar before dark.” Vil said, “There we will be assured of at least some rest whereas here we would be forced to post a rotating watch.”

  “I can see the village from here, it won’t take long.” Cronos said with unusual kindness, “He’s right, and the faster we get there the sooner we can all sleep.”

  “Ok, ok…” Callindra sighed again and settled Brightfang more comfortably on her back, “Let’s go then.”

  -

  The sunlight blinked and flickered on the surface of the pool in what Callindra now thought of as Tyreen’s Grotto. Callindra was having a hard time staying focused on the conversation at hand, it was just too beautiful out. She couldn’t believe how fearless the wildlife was when the Dryad was around. Before, butterflies had landed on her, but now there were deer drinking from the pool and a mountain lion had even spent a half hour letting Tyreen pick burrs out of its coat and rub its belly.

  “If you are looking for the Elves, you must go to the Grandfather Tree in the High Forest.” Tyreen said to Tryst. The big man sat in his gleaming white surcoat, not seeming to notice the small birds that were flying around him and occasionally landing on his shoulders. “I know very little of the things you seek, but I know the mistress of all Elvenkind resides there. The Goddess Jorda herself is there.”

  This made Callindra sit up and take notice, “What? You say an actual Goddess lives there? I thought the Gods were…”

  “Myths? Tryst asked, sounding amused. “Where do you think the magic that healed your wounds came from?”

  “I… “ She didn’t have an answer that wouldn’t make her feel stupid, “I haven’t met a God before so it’s hard for me to think about them. Besides, knowing my upbringing it’s not too unusual. Either peasants like me believe absolutely in the Gods or we don’t. I happen to be of the second kind.”

  “You don’t speak like a peasant.” Tryst replied, his eyes twinkling.

  “You don’t seem like a priest.” She retorted, annoyed.

  “Fair enough.” Said Tryst, laughing merrily, “I don’t feel much like those stodgy old codgers either.”

  “So we’re going to the High Forest then?” Said Vilhylm with his usual abruptness.

  “That’s a helluva long trip.” Cronos said with a frown.

  “Well in that case, we should leave today. The sooner the better right?” Callindra said, standing and brushing the dirt from her pants.

  “You seem to be restless young one.” Tyreen said, smiling at Callindra’s indignant look. “Why are you so hesitant to sit still?”

  “I need to keep moving. The more I travel, the more likely I am to find my Master.” She said, not wanting to admit her fears, her feeling of abandonment or how useless she felt. To cover her consternation, she took her pipe from its water tight case and packed the bowl with tac, lighting it with flint and steel.

  “Who is your Master?” Tyreen asked, and the others gave her confused looks. Callindra hadn’t brought him up before.

  “He… taught me the Sword.” She mumbled around her pipe stem, “He wasn’t supposed to and now he’s in trouble because of me.”

  “Ah, and you think you can help him?” Tyreen asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Well… I can’t…” Callindra blew out a cloud of smoke, frustrated that she couldn’t organize her thoughts better, “He’s out there with nobody to watch his back. I can’t just let him face the Inquisitors on his own.” Realizing what she had just said, she shut her mouth with an audible snap.

  “By the nine hells…” Cronos said, looking at her with wide eyes. “You’re a rogue weaponmage. Do you have any idea what the price on your head is? The Order pays platinum for information on …” He trailed off, looking embarrassed.

  “Of course we wouldn’t dream of turning a comrade in without knowing the whole story.” Tryst said, giving her a penetrating look.

  Callindra sighed, why hadn’t she just kept her mouth shut? “He found me injured in the woods, took me in, cared for me and showed me nothing but kindness and respect no matter how often I showed him the rough side of my tongue. One day I saw him practicing and all but demanded he teach me. Of course it took me a long time to recover from my injuries, but he took me seriously and didn’t let me off easy.

  “Then I guess I began to manifest powers he said I had to learn to control before they killed me. I didn’t know… but he did and he never asked me. He knew they’d come and try to kill us, but he taught me anyway. I owe him, and damn it he owes me! He should have told me.”

  “Why was he exiled from The Order?” Vilhylm asked, looking dark a
nd dangerous in spite of the brightness of the day.

  “Because he wouldn’t kill someone I guess. I don’t care. If you could see him with his sword… there is no way someone who can dance that beautifully can be bad.” She knew there was a look of hero worship on her face and she forcibly hardened her features. “Besides, he saved my life. It doesn’t matter what someone says he did. When you face someone over a sword blade you get to know who they are.”

  “So you expect us to just travel with you?” Cronos asked, “You should have told us.”

  “Now Cronos, many of us have things in our past we would rather not reveal to certain authorities.” He raised an eyebrow, “Right?”

  To Callindra’s surprise, Cronos blushed and looked away. She made note of that information for later use. Just in case.

  “Look, I didn’t want to expose you to danger. That’s why I haven’t told you about it… I mean I had enough trouble keeping my own mouth shut. Secrets shared aren’t secret anymore.” She exhaled a stream of smoke from her nostrils, enjoying the rich flavor and letting the scent bring memories of her Master to the surface. “Glarian was a harsh master but also a real friend. I can’t bear the thought of him fighting for the both of us by himself.”

  Cronos made a choking sound and even Tryst seemed shocked. “Glarian?” Tryst said, “You apprenticed to the Sol’Estin? The Master of the North Wind?”

  “Um…. yes?” She had known that Glarian was extraordinary but hadn’t really thought much of it beyond the trouble she was causing him. “Is he really that famous? He seemed just like an old man living on his own in the woods…”

  “He was the only member of The Order to ever escape their full punishment. The only member to ever leave their ranks with his title.” Vilhylm paused, “You really didn’t know? He fought in hundreds of significant battles and was credited for the victory on his side in almost all of them. Many of them were nearly bloodless with him simply defeating the general of the opposing army or his champion in single combat.”