The Bloodwood Curse: An Epic Fantasy Adventure of Swords, Magic and Romance. (The Rosethorn Chronicles Book 1)

by Peter Summersby

  “How do we do that?” Akuchi looked at the racks of weapons arrayed around the room.

  “First let’s see how you use that weapon you have,” commanded Mayu. She drew her kopesh from its scabbard. “This is my weapon,” Mayu said. “It has been passed down from generation to generation.”

  “It’s beautiful,” observed Akuchi, drawing his sword.

  They both moved over to the training mats and stood opposite each other, Akuchi with one hand holding the weapon in ready position, the other off to his side. Mayu levelled her weapon then charged him. He dodged and blocked, raising his sword to chest height. A clang echoed around the room as the two swords met.

  “Good, now come at me,” Mayu ordered.

  Akuchi stepped forward and swung the blade in an arc around and attacked with a downward strike. Mayu blocked and then sidestepped, hitting Akuchi in the face with her elbow. Akuchi was dazed as she brought the flat of her blade down on his back sending him to the ground.

  “Water attack stance,” Taya noted from the sidelines. “It was unfair of you to change stances mid-fight, Mayu, the kid is still raw.”

  “He started it,” Mayu protested, “defending in rock stance then attacking in water, what was I meant to do?”

  Akuchi arose from the mats and spat blood. He tasted iron. He stood again this time with both hands on the sword, braced with legs apart. Mayu watched him for a second before attacking. Akuchi stepped in under her strike and turned collecting Mayu’s momentum on his back and switching his sword into a reverse stab that slid past her skin. He then brought the blade in towards her and slapped her bare backside with the flat of his blade.

  “Wow,” Taya awestruck commented.

  Mayu backed up from her position, looking at Akuchi.

  “That was unorthodox,” Taya commented when she recovered from her surprise.

  “Where did you learn that manoeuvre?” Mayu demanded, her eyes glowering at Akuchi.

  Akuchi turned to face the two women. “I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Everything slowed down and I just saw your attack and then saw my attack.”

  “Well I have never seen a combination like that before,” Taya commented.

  “What is it?” Mayu asked.

  “It’s a combination fire and water move,” Taya said. “But fire stance is really rare.”

  “What is it with these stances you keep mentioning?” Akuchi asked puzzled.

  “Well,” Taya began. She paused. “You had better sit down. This is a bit of a story.”

  Both Mayu and Akuchi sat down on the mat, resting their swords on their laps.

  “There were four sword masters; each had a unique fighting style. Water called the balance of ebb and flow, Earth called the unmoving mountain, Wind called the touch in the dark and finally Fire called the consumption by the sword. Many would travel to learn from one of these masters but would only be able to master one discipline in their lifetime. Till one day a young adventurer spent his whole life travelling and training. He did nothing else until he mastered all four disciplines. He became the grandmaster of all swords and started a reign of terror that wrecked the whole wold. How have you not heard this? It’s taught at school.”

  “I didn’t go to school,” Akuchi admitted.

  “Oh, I wonder that basic training didn’t pick it up.”

  Akuchi shrugged.

  “Until the master of flame himself came and duelled him one on one. The fight lasted for many days till both grew weary. Finally the master of fire in a fit of fire induced rage made a mistake that cost him his life, but he took the master of all swords with him. From that day, the discipline of fire has become rare and it is still considered the most dangerous of all, anyone one who masters it is either desperate or has a death wish.”

  “On the ship here, an orc dressed in full plate attacked us and the Captain, said that he used a fire fighting technique,” commented Akuchi

  “An orc wearing full plate is rare enough. Add that to the fact that he fought with a fire stance that is a pretty rare event,” Mayu said.

  “That is true, orcs believe that fighting should be done unarmoured, so that the rush of battle can invigorate the soul and that the soul on death can escape to the final resting place, the domain of Plith,” added Taya.

  “You say that this is the only time you have seen a fire stance fighter before?” asked Mayu.

  “Yeah,” said Akuchi.

  “Well from the innate skill I observed you exhibit; I think that your best weapon would be….” Taya walked to a rack of weapons on a wall. “A falchion.”

  Akuchi and Mayu both rose to look at the weapon that Taya had selected for Akuchi.

  “A double-sided falchion to be precise. A rare weapon but deadly with the ability you demonstrated here.”

  Taya selected the weapon and proffered it to Akuchi. Akuchi looked down at the weapon. It was made from steel and polished to high sheen. The hilt was bound leather worked around a standard straight handguard. On the other end the sword curved slightly.

  “The falchion is normally a single-sided blade, but this one is a rare double-sided blade, it has enough space on the handle grip to hold it with two hands but if you had enough strength you could wield it with one,” Taya explained.

  “Wow,” Akuchi murmured, picking up the blade from Taya.

  He wielded it with one hand and he swung it experimentally testing its weight. He nodded.

  “It has a good heft to it,” Akuchi said.

  “Here is the scabbard,” Taya said handing it to Akuchi, who took it without looking. The scabbard was red painted leather with gold paint making out a basic pattern of swirls.

  “The only thing left is to get him some armour,” said Mayu. Turning to the armour rack.

  Akuchi sheathed the word and walked over to Mayu to look at the armour.

  “Normally one who wields a falchion would wear heavy armour,” Taya indicated to a set of complete armours at the end.

  “I think that would be too heavy for me,” Akuchi said.

  “I agree.” Mayu nodded. “The way he fought suggests quick movements, so flexibility would be needed rather than shock and awe.”

  “Yeah, that is true,” conceded Taya. All three moved down the racks of armour. They went from heavy to medium and then to light.

  “Do you want to wear armour?” Mayu asked, turning to face Akuchi.

  She folded her arms. Taya took a sharp intake of breath.

  Akuchi looked her in the eyes. “I saw a man wearing complete armour and was downed by crossbows. What would be the point?”

  “He has a point,” Mayu observed, raising an eyebrow.

  “Hmm,” Taya mused, turning to face the racks, fanning her face with her hand.

  “No armour can stop a crossbow bolt,” Akuchi continued.

  “That is true.” Mayu laughed, placing an arm around Akuchi’s shoulders.

  “You don’t wear armour to protect yourself from crossbow bolts; you wear it to protect yourself from swords.”

  “That is true but, you become sloppy if you rely on armour to protect you from swords. Also, trolls are large and strong we need to be quick and agile to beat them,” Mayu said.

  “I think she is right,” agreed Akuchi.

  “Well, if that is the way you want it,” Taya said. “You had better get started practicing with that weapon then.”

  “Right, we will use this room till Akuchi is a little less raw,” Mayu ordered.

  Taya frowned at them, then left.

  Once she had left, Mayu laughed.

  “What?” asked Akuchi.

  “Never mind. Let’s get to work you; have a new weapon to learn and not a lot of time.”

  They moved to the centre of the duelling ring.

  “Rock formation only,” Mayu called out. “We practice with only rock formation.”

  Akuchi nodded as they both took a defensive stance. Mayu attacked. Her blows came fast and quick. Akuchi blocked each one of them then he turned and elb
owed her in the chest lightly causing her to stop. He then took the advantage; each of his swings was perfectly executed in the rock stance, firm and heavy, moving with crushing strength attacking Mayu’s position. Mayu then pushed him off the attacked and they again switched positions. Ringing steel echoed in Akuchi’s ears as the swords clashed again and again with each strike. As they duelled, sweat began to glisten on his forehead. The pace Mayu had set was a lot faster than Akuchi was used to, it was relentless. She didn’t stop or explain the formations to him, demonstrating them in combat and expecting him to then use those same strokes and formations on her in return.

  ***

  The door opened, and Taya came in her threadbare tunic taut across her large chest, she looked at Mayu and Akuchi duelling, and her eyes appraised the situation. Akuchi and Mayu were both coated in fine sweat.

  “Time to stop,” she called out as Mayu stepped back, creating a space between them and a lull in the clashing swords.

  Taya shook her head and said. “Dinner is about to be served.”

  “Thank you,” Mayu said, sheathing her Kopesh.

  Akuchi said nothing but also sheathed his sword.

  Mayu and Akuchi left the training room and walked out into the evening air.

  Mayu turned to Akuchi. “Rock formation is great for defensive fighting, it allows you to block and defend. It prevents you from getting hurt and makes a great formation to step into when you think that you are outmatched.”

  “What formation do I take if I think I am equal with my opponent?” Akuchi asked as they walked down to the commissary.

  “I would never recommend that you think that of your opponent,” replied Mayu, “thinking like that will get you killed very quickly.”

  “I see.”

  Mayu chuckled. “If you want to survive, assume that everyone is at least better than you. Overconfidence can cause you to make mistakes.”

  They entered the commissary and collected their food, mashed tubers, beans and roasted legumes.

  Akuchi looked at the size of the food. He sighed. I guess I will be going to sleep hungry tonight, again. He picked up a fork and began to eat his food. The training had made him hungry, and it seemed that everyone else was also as hungry. Once the food was consumed Mayu and Akuchi arose dropped off their plates and then exited the commissary. Mayu and Akuchi walked back to the barracks.

  The barracks were quiet as the sun was setting on the horizon, many of the bed were full of people sitting on their bunks cleaning their weapons with oily rags.

  “Take this bunk,” instructed Mayu pointing to a bunk next to the one that she had been sitting on when he had arrived that morning.

  Akuchi climbed into it and went to sleep.

  ***

  The next couple of days followed the same routine. Woken up by the gentle shake of Mayu, taken to the commissary for a meagre breakfast, then on to sword training. Lunch was announced by Taya coming down to the training room where they practiced. After a meagre lunch, they went to fighting on horseback, which constituted of running down the length of the fort wall waving his sword around. Riding a horse was the easy part, staying on the horse when wielding a falchion trying to hit and not be hit in the process was more challenging. A meagre dinner was followed by more sword training, until it was dark. He would then go to his bunk beside Mayu and fall instantly asleep.

  Chapter 4 The King

  1st day 2nd month 150th Year of the 8th era

  Aife, her entire body painted white, covering all her warts and deformities her remembrance of the curse, strode into the Kings royal chamber, naked. With her head held high, her bare feet swished the neatly cut grass straight path that led to the King’s throne. A tremor went through her body; she felt like a clammy itch in the back of her mind distracting her. The vaulted ceilings carved from the Mother Tree made her the footfalls sound small. At the far end of the chamber sat her father, Aife gulped and continued to walk towards him.

  Surrounding the dais stood the representatives of the many noble families that the dark elves had acquired over the many eras that had been cowering in the dark Bloodwood Forest.

  I hope he accepts me to become a chosen one. She clenched her trembling hands and quickened her steps.

  The assembled nobles were all painted in their family’s colours and patterns, from plain blue of house Gallchoir, the oldest noble family after the royal family, to the complicated swirling filigree work set on yellow of the most recent addition to the company, House Curic. All stood as she was, naked except for the paint. They all milled on both sides of the Seekers Path a small trail of thick grass that went from the entrance doors all the way to the top of the stairs. Many were talking to each other in low voices. A couple right up against the far side were locked in an impassioned embrace, their family colours both shades of blue with differing patterns. Sprawled on either side of the dais sat two women of striking beauty, despite the curse. They were painted in a red stars and stripes pattern on black. More women of the same livery mingled amongst the nobles with trays of food and delicacies which the nobles partook without ever looking at the women serving. The sweet smell of mulled wine tickled Aife’s nose as she approached the throne.

  The gentle murmur subsided into near silence except for the gentle pat of bare feet on the polished stone floor. All eyes were on her now. Aife gulped, a sound which she hoped did not echo across the chamber. Ask him to join the chosen and I will never have to come before these people again. Petulant vipers. She knelt and bowed her head, at the base of the dais.

  “Who is this that stands before me?” intoned the King, the formal question.

  “I, Aife, daughter of Caradec, Princess of the realm, seek to shed myself of all worldly ties and be joined in service to the Chosen warriors, to have no holdings but the fellowship of the sword and spear.”

  “A lofty goal for a young one to have,” intoned the King.

  “All I wish to do is to serve.”

  The King stood and descended the stairs he came to a stop just before Aife, the nobles stopped speaking as he stepped off the throne and onto the grass of the petitioner.

  Why is he leaving his throne? That doesn’t normally happen.

  “I wish to grant you your request…” said the King, his eyes locking onto Aife’s, looking deeply into her soul

  Aife’s heart soared. I will become a noble warrior and my life will have some meaning as I defend the realm of the dark elves from all invaders.

  “However …” continued the King.

  What? There is no however, I have a right for the chosen warriors; many princesses and princes have joined their ranks and become mighty warriors of renown.

  “You are my child I cannot risk you,” the King whispered. He bent down and lifted Aife up from her kneeling position.

  “Daughter, I will not allow you to become a member of the chosen.” A roar of laughter swept through the assembled nobles.

  “You are marked, my child, not for the sword,” he whispered again in her ear. “Now slap me and storm out.”

  Aife’s eyes widened and she reacted without thought; she slapped him hard across the face, scratching his body paint. She wheeled on her foot and stormed down the grassy path back to the exit door.

  What am I doing? I didn’t want to slap my own father. Why am I walking out of the throne room? I can’t control myself.

  A roar of laughter followed her out of the throne room. Her ears burned, but she kept marching a quick step towards the end of the throne room and back to the anteroom.

  Aife stepped through the door at the entrance to the great hall and stopped. She looked around the small room. The walls were roots that had grown around the room. On the left-hand side of the room a dark elf sat behind a small desk made from a small root that came out of the tree. She was naked and covered in black paint. The moss in this room was a gentle yellow that set off her paint pattern. Stars sat on each breast with stripes heading down and around her back. At the other end of the room was an ope
ning, blocked by hanging vines that had a blue moss clinging to it. Flanking the door stood two soldiers that were naked, and their paint was patterned in the same manner as the woman. They each held spears in their hands, and a sword on at their waist held by a small thin leather belt.

  “Regardless of the outcome, you should wash that colour off as soon as you can,” the women sitting behind the desk said, looking down at her desk.

  “You’re right,” Aife agreed.

  “Try the Violet Quarter, just behind the Mother Tree.”

  Again, the compulsion to obey overcame her and she walked out of the tree and turned down the alley beside the Mother Tree and came out into the Violet Quarter. Her legs strode on their own, dragging the rest of her along. She willed them to stop, but they continued.

  What is happening to me?

  She strode down the alley way and turned into the first bathhouse. She saw a woman standing, without any paint. On the outside of a vine door was a rack of towels in neat little carved cubby holes behind her. As she approached the vine door, the woman handed Aife a towel, then held the vine door open. They both stepped through the door and came to a small pool the water was a little murky and was moving. To the left fresher water came in to replace the water that was leaving the pool. A bench with three towels sat to the right and a vine door stood to the left and to opposite them. Aife placed her towel on the bench, stepped into the water, took the scrubbing sand from a receptacle on the right, and began to scrub the white paint off her.

  An attendant came through the vine-covered door on the right. She was unpainted. She stepped into the water and approached Aife. She took some scrubbing sand and rubbed down Aife’s back.

  The rubbing soothed her bruised ego and she relaxed into the moving water. Aife climbed out of the water collected her towel, and stepped through the far door. On the other side of the door, the room was steamy and hot. Steps tiered the room around a brazier in the middle with hot coals burning. Another vine door sat on the far side of the room.