“Perhaps you should’ve left Koyo for Lord Blackpool. He is a powerful adversary. I’ve dealt with him in the past. Among his other holdings is a trading company. His reputation for ruthlessness is infamous.”
“I didn’t want Koyo back. I wanted the cute son,” said Hanna with a wink. “I figure we can replace Koyo with the younger version. Maybe this version will have some humility.”
Koyo scoffed. “My dear child, you should know by now, Koyo Tomar is irreplaceable.”
Captain Rozad laughed. “Too true. But is that a good thing? Koyo, the boy is your responsibility. See if he can be taught the ways of the sea.”
Koyo smiled and nodded.
Hanna knew Captain Rozad was giving Koyo responsibility for teaching Tayo mostly so Koyo could spend time with his son. She approved.
“Where to now, Hanna?” asked Captain Rozad.
“Back to Irontide. We need to protect the Nordvik’s and make sure the witches don’t get their hands on more spirit stones. Those demon warriors are nasty business.”
***
For the next three days Hanna watched from a distance as Koyo taught his son the business of being a sailor. Tayo was a quick learner and didn’t have any issues with sea sickness, something that floored many a man during their first voyage over rough seas. Hanna remembered her own first time with rough seas. She’d spent most of the time below deck hugging a bucket. It wasn’t a pleasant experience. On the fourth day at sea, Tayo approached her.
“Ms. Halfblood, I just wanted to say thank you for what you did for us in Yanga. I never had the opportunity that day, and I’ve been so busy getting to know Father that I’ve been remiss in not thanking you sooner.”
“It’s Hanna. And you don’t have to thank me. The crew of the Lady are family. We never let family be taken by thugs.”
Tayo nodded. “I’ve noticed how tightly knit the crew are, I’m glad to be a part of this. There is something else I would like to ask you.”
“What is it?” asked Hanna.
“I’ve had weapons training. In fact, I thought I was good with a weapon, but Koyo informs me I still have a lot to learn. Normally, I would disagree, but after watching you and Katla fighting with the Blackpool men, I realize he is correct. I still have a lot to learn. Father has agreed to train me, but he suggested that I ask you to be my training partner. He seems to think getting my butt kicked by a girl will teach me some humility.”
Hanna laughed. “What would Koyo know about humility? Yes, I will kick your butt occasionally if you like.”
Tayo smiled. “I would.”
***
Tayo groaned as his head slammed into the wooden planks of the ship. It was the fourth time they had sparred together and the number of times he’d ended up on his back looking at the sky was increasing with each sparring session. “What in the seven hells happened that time?”
“She cheated. That is what,” said Koyo as he supervised from his perch on top of a water barrel. She used spirit magic.”
Hanna laughed. It was true, she’d used spirit magic. The more she used the magical connection between her and the spirit world the easier it became. Tayo had been modest when he said he was good with a blade. He was skilled and if she hadn’t been using her spirit magic it would’ve been debatable to who was the superior warrior. Hanna was confident it was her, but they were close enough that if she were having an off day…
“It isn’t cheating,” said Tayo as he stood up. “She fights with the skills she would use in battle. If I am going to be able to fight against demon warriors, I need to be able to fight against someone faster and stronger.”
Tayo was right. Hanna knew from her first encounter with a demon warrior that without her spirit connection with Thorodd she would be dead. “One difference I’ve noticed is that Thorodd and Anso work with me, helping to improve my technique, not just adding to my strength and speed. But the demon warriors don’t seem to have the same connection. Demon warriors gain strength and speed from the connection but the skill of the warrior doesn’t improve. Demon warriors are aggressive, powerful and incredibly fast but they make mistakes.”
“There you go son. That is how you can beat them,” said Koyo.
Tayo frowned. “Your advice is stay alive long enough for the demon warriors to make a mistake?”
“Exactly,” said Koyo.
“And how do you propose I do that?” asked Tayo.
“The same way we train any green recruit to defend against bigger, stronger, and older students: technique. You need to focus on minimizing your movements, and using speed. Compact attacks and defensive moves that can stop the demon warriors until they make a critical mistake. Speed and precision. It is your only chance to survive against the demon warriors.”
Hanna agreed with Koyo’s logic. Speed and precision, focusing on defensive positioning was the best chance for Tayo, or any other warrior without spirit magic at their disposal to attempt to beat the demon warriors. That or sneak attacks before they engaged their demons. That had worked for her in the cave.
“Okay. Speed and precise, compact movements. I got it. Let’s do it again. No holding back, Hanna.”
Hanna grinned and knocked her axe against her shield, signaling her readiness for the next round of sparring. She then let Thorodd and Anso’s spirits into her body. It was no longer difficult to call on the spirits. Now it was as easy as thinking about it. She didn’t have to focus on her magical connection through the spirit stone. It was if the magic was working all the time instead of just when she focused hard on it. Perhaps that was how it was supposed to work, but her magic had been weak when she first made the connection. Anso had said her magic would gain strength as she used it more often.
With an explosive jump forward, Hanna launched an aggressive combination of attacks against Tayo. If he wanted full strength, he was going to get it!
Seconds later Tayo was again hitting the deck. A loud groan accompanied his body making a solid thud as it collided with the thick wooden deck planks.
“Congratulations. You lasted at least three moves longer that time,” said Koyo.
Tayo shook his head, unsure if his father was being sarcastic or if he truly thought three extra moves was really an improvement worthy of congratulations. “Again,” said Tayo as he readied himself.
Hanna attacked again. This time Tayo was better prepared and was able to withstand her attack, barely. She smirked to herself as she continued her attacks. Tayo was improving. Suddenly, Hanna felt a pull. Normally when she was fighting with the axe and shield, Hanna was in control and Thorodd would take over as he saw an opening or if Hanna made a mistake. But this time it was Anso who was pulling at her. Hanna relaxed and let her old weapon’s teacher’s spirit take over. She was curious as to what he would do different. She felt herself diving forward, her shield arm extending out in front of her until the edge of her shield slammed into Tayo’s ankles. The move sent Tayo sprawling down face forward over the top of Hanna. She rolled out of the way and then rolled back on top of Tayo’s back. Tayo’s neck lay exposed and Hanna’s sword rested against it. If it had been a real fight, the weapon would’ve sliced across his neck and the fight would’ve been over.
“Ha!” said Koyo. “If I didn’t believe Anso’s spirit was in you before, I would now. That was a move your father taught him.”
Her father had taught Anso a move? Surely Koyo had that backwards. Anso had been her father’s weapons teacher and not the other way around. “My father?” asked Hanna.
“You gone deaf?” said Koyo. “Yes. Your father. Merdem Mirzan hated to lose, and Anso Sengaw was a great fighter. Back when he was your father’s teacher he was much stronger and faster than when you knew him. Defeating Anso in a sparring match was almost impossible. So your father would train with the other sailors and he was always trying new techniques. Crazy moves that he would practice until he felt comfortable trying them against Anso. Most of the time Anso easily defeated the attacks, but occasionally your father
would catch Anso off-guard. That flying shield bash to the ankles move was one of the only times Anso ever ended up on the ground during a solo sparring match. He told your father he was crazy for trying such a risky maneuver, but proud that he had found a way to victory.”
Tayo rubbed his ankles. “I’ve never been hit with an attack like that before. It certainly works.”
“Oh, it works,” said Koyo dryly. “It works until the person you are attacking jumps over the shield. The second time Merdem tried that attack he ended up with his face in the mud and Anso’s boot on top of his head. Some attacks work because they are a surprise, not because they are sound attacks. That shield attack never worked against Anso again.”
Hanna laughed. “That must’ve frustrated Father beyond belief.”
“Yes, it did,” said Koyo with a chuckle. “But he learned from it. Your father took his lickings in training with Anso, but in actual battle he was a terror. He had great instincts about when to use one of his crazy attacks.”
Tayo gave Hanna a formal bow. “Thank you for the lessons. I will be back, but that is enough for today. Koyo and I have some work to do before I allow you to bash me anymore.”
Hanna winked at Koyo. “How about I bash Koyo instead. I was just getting warmed up.”
“Listen here young lady,” said Koyo. “I am not too old to lay a whipping on you. As it happens, I have other duties to perform right now. You are lucky this time.”
It was always the same with Koyo. He was an adept insult thrower and teacher, but it had been a while since his body would accept such a challenge. Hanna and Koyo both knew they would never spar, but it didn’t stop them from throwing out insults and challenges that they never intended to keep. ‘Next time,” said Hanna. Leaving Tayo and Koyo, Hanna headed down to the kitchen. She’d worked up a good appetite sparring with Tayo. Come to think of it, every time she fought or trained with the spirit magic she ended up hungrier than normal. It was something to be aware of. Perhaps, keeping food on hand might not be a bad idea. It seemed logical that the more intense fighting, aided by spirit magic, might be harder on her body and need more food to ensure proper recovery.
Hanna scrounged through the kitchen’s pantry looking for something quick.
“What you doing Hanna? That sneaky Koyo didn’t send you down here to savage my food stocks, did he?” asked Helan Daner
Hanna smiled at Helan, the kitchen was her territory and normally only Koyo dared to sneak an extra meal in. “No, I’m afraid it is for me this time. I’m starving.”
Helan frowned. “You only ate a couple of hours ago, and you ate enough to feed a small army.”
“I know, but the extra training lately has been draining me. I think the spirit magic increases my hunger,” said Hanna.
“Hmmf,” said Helan. “I suppose if you fight with the spirits of three that you might need to eat for three. I should plan future meals accordingly. Take some apples and the loaf of bread in the pantry. There is some fruit preserve in there as well. Bumbleberry and orange if I recall correctly.”
Searching through the pantry, Hanna found the bread and fruit preserves. She grabbed three apples as well. After all, as Helan had suggested, she was eating for three. At least it felt that way sometimes. Heading to her room Hanna sat on her bunk. Even though she was technically in charge of the ship as the company representative, she still bunked with the crew. Her roommate, Dilare, was topside. Opening the fruit preserves, Hanna used one of her daggers to slice the loaf of bread in half, she then smothered both chunks with the deliciously sweet fruit treat. Fruit preserves normally were a delicacy at sea, but in Yanga they had lots and since the journey to Irontide was short, Helan had been able to sacrifice storage space on fresh fruit and preserves. Tasting the bread and fruit preserve, Hanna decided that next time they were in Yanga, she would have them send a full ship’s cargo load to Irontide. If it didn’t sell, she’d eat it herself.
As Hanna finished her afternoon snack, she reclined onto her bed and rubbed her belly. Finally, fully satiated, Hanna’s mind started to wander. Soon they would be back in Irontide and she would make the journey to the Ayrith valley to check on the Nordviks. The witches wanted the ayrithstone, or spirit stones, as they truly were known, and would stop at nothing to get them. She worried that the Nordviks weren’t safe. As she thought about the Nordviks, Hanna’s mind conjured images of Biran Nordvik. The attractive young leader of the Nordvik clan. When she’d first met him, she had thought him an arrogant ass. He’d dressed like a rich man and had been very abrupt with her. The more time she spent with him the more she realized this initial assessment couldn’t be further from the truth. The rich clothing was for trading purposes, as Biran had found the traders in Grimsfell gave rich traders better prices than they did to common folk. His abrupt behavior had also been part of his rich brat act. Once he was back in common clothing Biran had been quite friendly and nice to be around. It didn’t hurt that he was a very attractive young man that didn’t look down at her for her mixed blood heritage, a northerner who didn’t judge her that way was very uncommon. Hanna wondered if he had a girlfriend among the village girls, or in Grimsfell? He spent enough time in the city to have met someone. Hanna had never had a boyfriend, she was certainly old enough, half of the village girls her age were already married or spoken for, but between spending large chunks of her time at sea and the way men in Irontide felt about mixed bloods, there weren’t many prospects worthy of her time. Not that Hanna wanted to marry. There was no way she would become a housewife, or tied down with kids. It would be years and years before she ever considered that. The company was her life. The sea offered challenges, new territories to explore, and adventure. Marriage offered drudgery and boredom, no man was worth that in Hanna’s opinion. Yet even as she thought that her mind kept going back to Biran.
…
Sitting in the crow’s nest, Hanna basked in the beauty of the evening sunset. To her, there was nothing more pretty than a sunset at sea. The horizon painted in golden hues, soft purples and splashes of deep red with tiny wisps of white and grey clouds slithering their way across the sky at a snail’s pace. Often the sea wasn’t so serene and peaceful, but it only made these evenings more special.
She had spent the last couple of days training with the crew. Azad and the rest recognized the value of the additional training she was giving Tayo and asked to join in. With her spirit magic, Hanna was as close to a demon warrior as they could get, so all wanted to feel first-hand the difference in speed and power. Hanna didn’t mind doing the extra duty as she was still new to spirit magic and every training session increased her familiarity with the two spirits.
Tomorrow they would reach Irontide and the time for training would be limited. She would be taking a part of the crew and heading to the Ayrith valley. Hopefully the Nordviks hadn’t been attacked while she was gone. They had stopped mining the gems, but she wasn’t sure that would be enough. And there were still many unanswered questions about the witches in Mykoznia. Who or what was Quivna, what happened to the remaining spirit stones, where did they send the other demon warrior? Had they sent it to the Ayrith valley, or did the witches have something else in mind? Koyo’s wife, Sharla, and Katla were going to continue investigating in Mykoznia. Hopefully, they found some useful information.
“Mind if I join you?” Tayo called up to Hanna.
Hanna peeked down. “Sure, but no training talk.” Besides his never quit attitude, Tayo also never stopped asking questions. Mostly, they were directed at Koyo, but often after she beat him in a sparring match he stopped to ask her why she did a certain attack or why she didn’t do another. Hanna didn’t mind, she had a similar mindset when it came to training, but it was too pretty of an evening to waste thinking about fighting.
Tayo crawled over the lip and into the crow’s nest with her. He sat beside her and stared off into the sunset.
Hanna enjoyed the moment, sharing the beauty of the evening with someone else. Sometimes Koyo would join he
r on her watch duties, but silence was not one of Koyo’s strong suits.
After a while, Tayo commented. “It sure is beautiful. The sky seems so big at sea. The sunsets in Yanga are nothing like this.”
“Yes, it is,” said Hanna. “Sometimes, especially in the north, the sky dances with color. It looks like the sky is on fire, but with multi-colored flames. It is spectacular to see, but these types of sunsets are still my favorite. They are so calm and peaceful.”
Tayo glanced over at Hanna curiously. “Calm and peaceful moments are rare for you?”
Hanna thought about his question. It wasn’t like her life was one constant battle, but life at sea could be rough, and life in Irontide was no different. “I wouldn’t say rare, but we’ve seen more than our share of battles. Between rival trading companies and pirates, the Lady of the Evening can be a busy ship. And the seas are rarely this calm. Often just surviving a voyage means fighting through huge storms and violent weather. One must be constantly prepared for the next battle, the next storm. It is nice to have moments like this where I can sit back and appreciate the beauty of the world instead of wondering how it is going to try kill me next.”
“Nice. I like that.”
“How are you finding it here on the Lady?” asked Hanna. She knew sailing wasn’t for everyone, and for a Mykoznian to be surrounded by a crew of Creytans could be uncomfortable if they chose to dwell on the heritage of the people instead of how they were treated.
“Honestly, it is great. I never thought I would get the opportunity to spend time with my father like this. Mother was very forthright and honest with us about why she asked father to leave. And she would tell us stories of him while we were growing up, so I always felt like a piece of me was missing.” Tayo grinned. “I always thought Mother was exaggerating his charisma, but now that I’m here he is exactly as I pictured him. Older of course, Mother’s stories were always of the dashing yet clumsy young man she fell in love with. And I am also enjoying the sea. It is a wonderful experience and all the crew have been very kind in welcoming me. The training is intense, but I like it. I am grateful that I could join the Lady of the Evening. I am grateful you came to Yanga.”
Hanna Halfblood: Spirit Warrior Page 2
