Silver Sword Saga: Swan Warrior Part 5

This story is concluded from Swan Warrior parts 1, 2, 3 & 4.

For the Silver Sword's background refer to Forging and The 1st Unworthy.

Swan Warrior Part 5

Let the praise of God be on their lips and a two-edged sword in their hand, to deal out vengeance to the nations and punishment on all the peoples.
Psalm 149: 6-7

Elena met Norin at the edge of Oathswine’s camp. She said nothing, but once he dismounted she brushed her finger tips over the welt a slaver’s whip had left on his cheek. Out of the corner of his eye Norin noticed Oathswine watching them.

When the chieftain made no move to separate them, Norin caught Elena’s hand and whispered, “I made it back. Please don’t be angry with me.”

Elena dropped her eyes but nodded. She took Norin’s hand and escorted him to a cot in a nearby tent where she left him, allowing him to surrender to exhaustion.

Once all the warriors were somewhat rested, Oathswine brought Utaria’s messenger before the chieftains and Norin. The young clansman repeated the warning that an invading force was marching out of Rovinien to attack the allies.

“Lady Utaria believes the Rovinien king is angry with us for making his soldiers look like fools,” the messenger added. “Two more clans came to us for protection once they saw Rovinien advancing. One is led by a chieftain named Salsdor. The other is a clan who lived near the ford of the Taratin River and suffered heavy losses when the army crossed there.”

“The soldiers of Sardi will no doubt continue to pursue us even as Rovinien advances,” Keth said. He added in despair, “What chance do we stand if both enemies attack us at the same time?”

“We must rely on our combined forces and do the best we can to hold them back,” said Norin.

“All the members of the clans who are not warriors will have to go into hiding,” added Tayad. “Even then I fear they may not be out of danger.”

“The best we can do is stand strong and not yield to Rovinien or Sardi,” said Oathswine. “If they wipe us out in the end at least we can go down fighting. I know I’ve had my differences of opinion with all of you before, but I refuse to let you face these enemies without my help.”

Norin nodded then said, “We should move the clans of Oathswine, Akayan and Milarko into hiding. Once they are safe the warriors can ride to the aid of rest of the allied clans and work to find hiding places for the rest of our people before our enemies swarm us.”

Fin sighed. “That seems to be our best option at the moment. We will have to move fast.”

They broke camp and moved north all the while watching the horizon for any sign of troops approaching from Sardi. Elena pulled her horse alongside Norin’s so she could ride beside him. Norin’s eyes once again shifted toward Oathswine. Elena noticed this and cocked her head by way of question.

“Your father made it clear to me he does not want us to be together,” said Norin.

Elena’s jaw tightened and she lifted her chin as she replied, “It is not my father’s choice to make. If I choose you he will someday have to accept that.”
The confidence in her tone made Norin relax. He smiled at her and she smiled back.

***

By nightfall they were little more than halfway to their destination. They chose to stop a while and rest themselves and their horses. Norin woke at dawn, restless with thoughts of the coming battle. He stepped outside his tent and breathed in the cool, fresh air trying to calm his mind. At the edge of camp, silhouetted by the sun hanging just above the horizon, Elena stood with her arms wrapped around herself.

“You should be resting,” she said as he walked up beside her. “You’ll need your strength more than I will in the next few days.”

Norin sighed then held out a hand to her. She took it.

“Let’s take a walk,” said Norin.

They moved away from the tents and sleeping horses. A thick stream skirted past the east end of the hastily constructed campsite. Norin and Elena followed this until it emptied into a wide calm pond. At the south-west end the pond opened once again into a stream then branched out as it searched for larger waterways to join. In the soft marshy grass at the pond’s edge Norin stopped forcing Elena to halt also.

“Do we really stand a chance?” Norin whispered.

“I’ve always believed in you,” Elena replied. “The other allies now trust you too. You must remain strong and trust the Lord of Light to see us through this.”

Before Norin could reply the sound of wings caught their attention. Norin and Elena both turned to see a flock of swans make a graceful landing on the water.

“Look!” said Elena. She leaned closer to Norin and pointed to a magnificent bird with feathers the color of coal. “It is your sign. The Lord of Light has blessed you.”

Norin’s heart warmed at her words. He took her hand again and smiled before returning his attention to the beautiful bird. As Norin stared at the black swan everything came clear in his mind and he suddenly realized what he needed to do.

“What have I been thinking?” he cried squeezing Elena’s hand. “We have the warriors of ten clans ready to fight. Because Tayad had us camp in hiding, I doubt Rovinien or Sardi know our true numbers. If we can draw them to us by appearing helplessly caught between them we can lure our enemies into a trap. Elena, we can defeat Rovinien and Sardi in one fell swoop!”

Elena’s face broke into a wide grin and she threw her arms around Norin’s neck shouting, “I knew you would find a way!”

Laughing, Norin picked her up and spun her around.

“Norin!” a voice interrupted.

Norin set Elena back on her feet and turned to face Tayad who was watching them with an amused twinkle in his eyes.

“A fairy just arrived in camp,” Tayad said. “He says his queen offers us her protection and asks that we make camp in Fairy Wood.”

“We should take her offer,” said Norin. “Fairy Wood is the perfect hiding place for the woman and children while we fight Rovinien and Sardi. I have a plan to defeat them. We need to gather all the chieftains and warriors, including Wiltor, Utaria and the newcomers to Utaria’s camp, for a council of war.”

“I’ll tell the others and urge them to break camp,” said Tayad. He headed back toward the tents.

Norin turned back to Elena who stood behind him still smiling.

“Will you wait for me in Fairy Wood?” he asked.

Elena nodded then stepped forward, took his face in her hands and kissed him hard on the lips. After a second of surprise Norin returned the gesture. Heat flowed through him and he thought he might melt.

At last Elena pulled back, looked deep into his eyes and said, “Go defeat those villains once and for all.”

***

Late the following day, after the woman and children were safely in Fairy Wood, Norin stood in the center of a ring formed by the nine chieftains and Lady Utaria. They sat together in the canyon which once hid Utaria’s camp.

“All we need to do is make a fake campsite, fill it with warriors and bait one army or the other them into attacking it. Once they are in the camp we can bring in more waves of warriors led by different chieftains to attack them from every angle, including their own camps, until we force them to admit defeat,” Norin explained. He then added, “If we drive Rovinien and Sardi out of the midlands each of you could claim part of the land as your own. Your clans could live side by side in peace. First we have to defeat our enemies in a way they will never forget, a way which will make them understand that we are not people they want to meddle with.”

“That should not be hard,” said Chieftain Fin. “They already fear you, Norin, and they are coming to respect the rest of us too.”

“All these years I have dreamed of a time when we could live without the fear of constant attack,” added Keth. “To think that dream could be a reality!”

“How would we divide the land equally between the ten of us without starting a clan feud?” asked Oathswine.

“That is a problem for another time,” said Tayad. “Our first order of business is to drive out the invaders.”

“Since it seems you are all with me,” Norin added with a smirk, “let us set to work.”

***

Norin sat astride his horse amidst the warriors of Utaria. To his left were Chieftain Fin and his warriors, to his right the warriors of the clan of Salsdor, one of the two chieftains who sought protection during the rescue of Akayen and Milarko. The warriors formed a ring around a cluster of tents. They held weapons at the ready as they waited for the attack of surrounding Rovinien army. Of all the clansmen’s forces this group would be in placed in the most danger, yet the chieftains insisted Norin be part of it. If their enemies had not seen the warrior with the sword of white fire in the ranks of the defenders they would have been suspicious. The army of Sardi was camped on a rise to the south waiting like vultures to finish off any warriors who escaped the Roviniens.

The dead silence of the plains broke as the commander of Rovinien gave a cry and raised his sword, urging his men to charge. Norin braced himself and raised the Silver Sword, blocking the blow of an advancing soldier with a mighty swing. For several minutes Norin’s entire world seemed filled with flashing blades, bone rattling blows and the blood of fallen enemies. Little by little the fierce Roviniens pushed the warriors back until they were fighting between the walls of the canvas tents.

From the corner of his eye Norin saw a Rovinien soldier knock Fin out of his saddle with a hard thrust of his blade. As Fin lay dazed, the soldier dismounted and raised his sword to finish the chieftain. Just before the soldier’s blade fell, a new group of warriors belonging to Keth, Akayen, Milarko and the River Clan burst out of the tents. Keth slit the throat of the soldier threatening Fin then turned to attack the other Roviniens. Norin’s warriors doubled their own efforts at the sight of Keth. Before long the Roviniens were forced to retreat to the open plains, jumping their horses over the bodies of the dead which clogged the areas between the tents and slowed their progress.

With a mighty shout, Norin raised the Silver Sword and wheeled his horse to give chase. Many of the warriors rallied to him and they charged onto the plains where they once more engaged the Roviniens. Another war cry rang out from the hills. Norin stabbed a soldier who made a mad rush for him then raised his eyes to see warriors led by Oathswine, Tayad and Wiltor charge, trapping the Roviniens between ranks of clansmen. Finding his men thus surrounded, the Rovinien commander made a sudden unexpected move. He charged, slamming his horse into Norin’s. As Norin fought to control his spooked animal, the commander banged his blade against the side of Norin’s helmet at his temple. Dazed and thrown off balance, Norin toppled from his horse’s back.

Norin rolled away from the horse’s hooves but not in time to avoid a sharp kick which knocked all the breath out of his body and left an insistent pain in his left side. The commander rode forward, fighting back the warriors who tried to surge to Norin’s aid. The other Rovinien soldiers rushed to follow, seeing their advantage. Norin tried to crawl to the side, knowing if he didn’t he would be trampled to death under the hooves of so many horses. Pain flared in his side. He gasped, unable to move fast enough to save himself. The pounding of the hooves mixed with the beating of his heart until Norin could not tell one from the other. He twisted and slashed at the legs of a horse.

Just when Norin felt sure he would be crushed, a strong arm yanked him out of danger. Tayad released his hold on Norin’s back and stood over him in a defensive stance, keeping the enemy’s animals at a distance. The horses spooked and veered sideways, breaking through the ranks of warriors.

Tayad took a deep breath to calm himself, sheathed his sword, then knelt beside Norin and asked, “Can you stand?”

Norin nodded. Tayad wrapped an arm around him and pulled him to his feet. Norin groaned and gritted his teeth but managed to stay upright.

“Where’s my horse?” asked Norin.

Tayad pointed to a place beyond most of the warriors where the horse pranced, watching those around him with nervous eyes. Norin signaled a warrior who calmed the horse enough to grab the reins and lead him to Norin.

“Help me mount,” Norin instructed Tayad. “We need to start the next stage of our attack.”

“Are you sure you’re up to it?” Tayad asked giving him a sideways glance.

Norin gave a tight nod. “It will take a lot more than that to make me sit this one out.”

He sheathed the Silver Sword and placed his hands on the saddle. Tayad cupped his hands, allowing Norin to place his foot on them, then boosted Norin onto the horse’s back.

“Gather our warriors,” Norin said as he lifted the reins. “Tell Oathswine, Fin, Akayen and Milarko to join me. We attack Sardi. You gather the others and pursue the Roviniens.”

Tayad nodded and ran to relay the orders.

***

Oathswine led the charge into Sardi’s camp brandishing his sword in one hand and a lit touch in the other. He never slowed his pace when two guards moved to stop him. With a couple quick sword strokes he dispatched them. Then with a fierce roar to equal that of a fire-breathing dragon, he touched the torch to the tents he passed, setting them on fire. Akayen and Milarko followed Oathswine with their warriors, engaging the soldiers who staggered out of smoking tents shouting curses in their own language. As the soldiers broke free of the burning camp they met with Fin’s warriors.

A handful of Sardi men moved through the chaos to carry buckets to a stream just downhill from their encampment. As the first man lowered his pail to the water a blade flicked out and knocked it from his hand. With a cry the soldier drew his scimitar and spun to face his opponent. When his blade struck that of his enemy, the soldier’s courage drained from him. The sunlight played off this warrior’s sword, making it shine like white fire. The soldier raised his eyes, met Norin’s calm gaze and backed away in fear. An archer from Fin’s ranks shot him down as he tried to run. Norin turned on the soldier’s companions. They dropped their buckets and drew their weapons but only one succeeded in leaving the smallest cut on Norin’s leg before he ran them through.

Norin and circled the camp a couple times, making quick work of a few lone soldiers. Satisfied there were no more escapees, he urged his horse onto the plains and joined Oathswine’s ranks. He surveyed the damage they had done to the army of Sardi. The soldiers who had survived Oathswine and Fin’s fearsome assault were now ringed in by warriors whose archers shot into their midst. At the sight of Norin the soldiers panicked. Most shifted as far from him as possible, avoiding the Silver Sword as best they could. Only one crazed soldier desperately leapt at Norin. Oathswine lifted his torch and with a vicious blow slapped the man with it. The soldier fell back, shrieking in pain and batting at flames eating his face. The remainder of the Sardi troops took advantage of a few warriors frozen in horror by the terrible scene, cutting them down and forcing their way into the open.

“Shoot them!” cried Oathswine.

Arrows flew at the retreating figures but only a few found their mark.

“After them!” cried Oathswine. He thundered down the rise and tossed his torch into the stream. The other warriors followed his lead and the rest of the day was spent pursuing the battered remnant of the army of Sardi.


At sunset a lone rider appeared on the northern horizon. As Oathswine and the other chieftains continued their frenzied hunt, Norin took a handful of warriors and lagged behind to learn the rider’s business. When the man finally reached him, Norin recognized him as a warrior from Tayad’s clan. The rider was sweaty and covered in grime. His eyes held the wild look of bad news.

“What happened?” Norin demanded as the warrior dismounted.

“The Roviniens have Keth and Wiltor cornered in the canyon lands,” the rider reported. “Chieftain Tayad wanted to go to their rescue but then he noticed another troop of Roviniens marching into Fairy Wood.”

Norin pictured the Roviniens finding the camp of the clanswomen and children hidden in the woods. He could almost hear the screams and see the terror in Elena’s eyes. A sudden wave of panic swept through him as he realized he might lose the very people for whom he fought hardest.

“Do the Roviniens know…?” Norin began but the words seemed to choke him and he could not continue.

“We’re not sure but it’s what we fear,” the messenger replied. “We had to split our forces and Chieftain Tayad fears it is a trap to spread us thin and so weaken us. He ordered me to slip past the Roviniens and get word to you in hopes that you could bring more warriors to our aid.”

Norin turned to one of the warriors standing beside him and ordered, “Ride ahead and tell Chieftain Fin to gather his warriors and join me heading north to assist Chieftain Tayad. The others can handle the army of Sardi, especially if Chieftain Oathswine remains in command.”

As the warrior spurred his horse forward to obey, Norin silently prayed, Don’t let us come too late!

***

Norin’s sense of urgency pressed him to ride so fast the other warriors struggled to keep up with him. Near the end of the night they passed the canyon lands and entered the section of Fairy Wood on which the Roviniens were marching. The pale grey pre-dawn light illuminated the ranks of soldiers beneath the tangled branches. Tayad’s warriors formed a line in front of the Roviniens, blocking them from the first of the camouflaged huts hiding the clanswomen and children. A number of elvin warriors mixed with the clansmen and fairies watched from the trees.

Without hesitation Norin drew the Silver Sword and charged into the midst of the Rovinien forces. The soldiers moved to close ranks around him and cut off the warriors trailing behind him. With the terrible battle light glowing in his eyes, Norin turned away weapons from all sides. Every soldier who moved too close fell to the Silver Sword, forcing another to take his place. Norin moved with a strength and speed his enemies were not expecting and even his allies had never seen in him. He no longer felt the ache in his side or the sting of a dozen minor wounds inflicted by chance blows from the Roviniens. Only one thought filled Norin’s mind and made him an unstoppable force: If I fail now I lose everything I fought for.

A few points made a vague impression on Norin through his battle haze. At some point during his rampage Tayad’s men charged. Then seemingly without warning, Norin found Fin’s warriors at his side rather than Rovinien soldiers. Last the fairies and elves advanced on the soldiers and something in their hostility made it seem as though the forest itself rose against Rovinien. Then the soldiers were retreating from the clansmen in fear. Suddenly the trees were gone and they were fighting on the plains. They moved to the canyons, sweeping away the last of the Rovinien army, which now seemed unable to hold them back. More clansmen poured from the canyons and joined the fray.

A large foamy waterway rose before them and Norin realized with shock they had reached the Taratin River. The Roviniens splashed into the water of a wide calm bend, nearly riding over each other in their haste to cross and escape the crazed warriors. Someone gave a great shout of triumph. Norin turned as Chieftain Keth lifted his sword, a gesture in which the other warriors joined him with victory cheers.

“Let this be a warning to you,” Norin shouted to the Roviniens across the noise of the river. “If another of your soldiers crosses into our territory without our permission it means certain death for that man!”

Norin turned back to the warriors and with a grin led them in a victory march through the forest. Norin rode to each of the hidden campsites, spreading the news of the victory. As he reached the middle of the forest, where the women and children of Oathswine's clan were camped, his mind filled with a single question he wanted answered. The thought of this question made his pulse race with excitement very different than what he felt in battle.

***

A few days later Fairy Wood was filled with the sounds of a joyful celebration. With sparkling eyes and flushed face, Elena trailed at the end of a procession of warriors, fairies and clanswoman. Flowers were braided into her golden hair and she wore a fine gown of silver and white which was a gift from the fairy queen.
Elena stopped before Norin. His armor was replaced with a fine tunic though the Silver Sword still hung at his side. There, with the fairy queen and members of all ten clans as witnesses, Norin and Elena made their vows to each other and the Lord of Light.

When Oathswine and his warriors returned to camp, Elena told her father of Norin's proposal. She made it clear to him that she intended to marry Norin with or without his consent. In the end Oathswine gave her his blessing. Norin wondered if Oathswine's recent victory over Sardi made him easier to persuade.

Once the ceremony was over and as the clans people celebrated beneath the canopy of leaves, the chieftains and Lady Utaria approached Norin. After they congratulated Norin and Elena, Keth stepped forward and spoke for the rest of the group.

"Norin, we all know it was you who led us to our great victory and that it is you that our enemies fear most of all. For this reason we have all agreed to place our clans under your protection if you will agree to lead us."

"I am honored that you think so highly of me," said Norin, "but I could never take away your places as chieftains. Besides, leading all ten clans would be no easy task."

"If you wish you can leave us in command of our clans," said Tayad. "However Keth is right when he says it was because of your leadership that we defeated Rovinien and Sardi. For this reason we all swear allegiance to you. All the members of the clans including the chieftains will defer to your judgment should you choose to give it."

"Very well," Norin agreed."I will agree on one condition."

"Name it," said Keth.

"I wish to honor the memory of my clan," Norin explained. "We have built ourselves a kingdom here in the midlands and I wish to name it after my fallen clan."

The chieftains all agreed and so Norin's kingdom came to be known as Windola in honor of the Wind Followers.

***

Norin divided the land into ten provinces, each led by a different chieftain. Most provinces were named for their chieftains save one in the north which was called Utaria and another in the north-west bordering the Taratin River. That province came to be known as Routsford because it was at that point in the river the warriors had routed the troops of Rovinien.

Though all the warriors spent some time on border patrol, Rovinien and Sardi showed no signs of invading again. Both countries feared the new king of the midlands and wished to avoid crossing blades with his magic sword.

In the peaceful years that followed, Norin began construction on a great city of stone in the heart of his kingdom beside the black swan’s pond. When news of Norin’s construction plans reached the fairy queen, she sent a number of dwarves to Norin with a gift of fine stones from the Emerald Mountains. These Norin used to construct a palace of sparkling white quartz for his family and a temple to the Lord of Light supported by pillars of different colored marble. Several generations later, when at last the city was completed, it was named in Norin’s honor.

Elena and Norin had three children, two sons named Nexis and Quinn and a daughter named Myria. When they were grown, Nexis became king and Quinn took Oathswine’s place as leader of that province. Myria married Keth’s son and helped him lead his own province.

***

After many long years ruling Windola, Norin returned to Fairy Wood one last time. When several fairies crowded around him he told them, “I wish to speak to your queen.”

A few fairies flew to inform her while the rest escorted Norin to the dancing meadow. When the fairy queen glided from under the trees, Norin bowed to her then took the Silver Sword out from under his cloak.

“I thank you for the honor of using this sword and I am grateful you found me worthy of it,” he said holding it out to her. “However, it is too much to hope that all my decedents will be worthy heroes. I wish to return the Silver Sword to you so that you may keep it safe until the time comes when it is needed again and someone else shall rise to take it.”

The fairy queen gave him her knowing smile, took the sword and said, “So be it.”
Norin bowed to her again then walked out of the forest. Fairies and elves lined his path, peering out of trees and from behind branches to catch one last glimpse of the first hero worthy of the Silver Sword.

Silver Sword Saga continued in Fairy Vault.

Silver Sword Saga: Swan Warrior Part 4

This story is continued from Swan Warrior Parts 1, 2 & 3.

For the Silver Sword's Backgroung please refer to Forging and the 1st Unworthy.

Swan Warrior Part 4

Let the praise of God be on their lips and a two-edged sword in their hand, to deal out vengeance to the nations and punishment on all the peoples.
Psalm 149: 6-7

Norin had chosen to spend much of his time in Tayad’s camp and was there when the guards announced the guest. Yet he took little notice of this announcement until Tayad tapped his shoulder.

When Norin turned, Tayad said, “Someone is here to see you.”

Past the last huts, Tayad indicated a blonde girl who stood with her back to them as she spoke to a guard. Even from the back Norin recognized her.

“Elena?”

She turned, locking her bright blue eyes on him. Norin noticed one of Oathswine’s warriors standing behind her. No doubt he was her escort.

“Norin, I’ve come because I’m afraid you’re in danger,” said Elena stepping closer and taking Norin’s hand. “My father moved our clan to the south near the Sardi border. This spring we met a gypsy who wandered in Sardi for many years and knew the language of that country. The gypsy said that the emperor of Sardi is offering a huge reward for the capture of the warrior with the sword of white fire, which I know is what the slavers call you. According to the gypsy, the emperor wants you brought to the temple in Sardi’s capital to be sacrificed to his gods. The emperor believes that the offering of your blood will please the gods enough that they will strengthen and bless his own warriors.”

Norin stared at her, his expression blank as he took in this news.

“The loss of a great warrior like Norin might dishearten the clans enough that the emperor’s troops might seem strengthened by gods,” said Tayad who stood listening a little behind Norin.

Elena nodded hard then continued, “I recently heard of slavers capturing the clans of chieftains Akayen and Milarko. I knew that when the news reached the allied clans you would want to ride to their rescue. Norin, I beg you, don’t go south. It is too dangerous for you.”

“It would be selfish of me leave clans in danger to protect myself,” Norin replied.

“Your enemies know that is how you think and they will use it against you,” said Elena.

“The other chieftains and I can still rescue Akayen and Milarko,” added Tayad. “There is no reason you need to come with us. We will need guards for the campsites after all.”

“No, I still intend to join the rescue party,” said Norin. “I swore to fight for the clans and that is what I will do even if I must die for it. The risks have always been high but that never stopped me before and the same is true now.”

He pulled his hand out of Elena’s grasp and turned to walk away from her.

Tayad fell into step beside him and commented, “We will have to be on guard if what she says is true. Keth and Fin should arrive soon. A messenger told me that Utaria and Wiltor have chosen to supervise the warriors guarding the campsites. We must be sure all the warriors in our rescue party know of this new development.”

Norin nodded.

Just then Elena ran up beside them, grabbed Norin’s arm and spun him to face her.

“Have you been listening to what I’ve been telling you?” she snapped. “The capture of Akayen and Milarko is probably a trap and you’re walking right into it!”

“Trap or not those clans need my help,” Norin shot back.

“Just for once can you not be so noble!” Elena cried getting more upset with every word. “If they catch you it won’t be the same as if you died in battle. If you are taken to Sardi your death will be so horrible I won’t be able to bring myself to think about it and I would never see you again, even dead!”

Tears streamed down her face. She took an angry swipe at Norin’s chest but he caught her arm mid-blow. With a look of defeat Elena collapsed on Norin’s shoulder, sobbing. With an uncomfortable look Tayad turned away from them. Norin stroked Elena’s hair until she calmed a little.

“If I remain here will you stay with me?” Elena whispered.

Norin sighed. “You know I can’t. Besides, you should return to your father’s camp. Your clan may need you.”

“Very well, but you better come back safe.” She pushed away from Norin and wiped her eyes.

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

He took her hand and they turned back to Tayad.

“I suggest we let Lady Elena ride with us as we make our way south until we pass her clan’s camp,” said Norin.

“All right,” Tayad agreed glancing at Elena as though not sure what to make of her.

***

Not long afterward a group rode out from the hidden campsites. They passed through plains and over hills where new grass was springing up, dotted with flowers which gave off perfumes fragrant enough to tickle the noses of the riders. The leaf-bearing trees were covered in fresh buds unrolling to stretch toward the sun which warmed the air and skin. Near the encampment of Chieftain Oathswine, Elena and her guard broke away from the warriors to head home but not before Elena had repeated her words of warning to Norin.

As they reached the border of Sardi the group noticed smoke rising from campfires whose lights dotted the land in the night. In the day-time they spotted dark robed riders who could only be soldiers of Sardi.

“The emperor must truly fear us to put this many troops on his border,” Keth commented.

“I only hope border patrol really is their only duty,” said Norin.

“We must be careful to avoid them if at all possible,” added Tayad.

At last they spotted men clothed in more simple robes who were using whips to drive a long line of people before them. Several soldiers rode beside the slavers as guards, forcing Norin and the chieftains to follow at a distance.

As the sun set, the slavers pitched their camp at the base of a small hill. The chieftains and their warriors stopped and dismounted in a nearby copse of trees where they watched the tents until full darkness fell. Tayad waved Norin and the other chieftains over to hold a whispered conference.

“Chieftain Fin and I will take a handful of warriors, scout out the area and hopefully take out a few of their guards. When I think it is safe I’ll make an owl noise and Chieftain Keth and Norin can lead the rest of the warriors into the camp to free the prisoners.”

Fin added, “We should leave the horses here. We’ll be quieter and harder to spot without them.”

The others agreed. So Fin and Tayad chose a few warriors and crept toward the slavers’ campsite. Norin waited with the remaining warriors for several long agonizing minutes before he heard Tayad’s signal. He drew his sword and waved forward the warriors. A quick glance at Keth confirmed that the chieftain was doing the same.

The group slipped almost noiselessly between the tents. Everything was so quiet that the place seemed deserted. Wary of attack, Norin watched the dark landscape for movement and listened for a sound which would betray the presence of a watching slaver. By the time he reached the center of camp with the warriors there was still no sign of life. At last they saw the captive clans-people where they sat chained. As Norin approached with Keth close behind, a bound man looked up, took in the Silver Sword and raised his fearful eyes to Norin’s face.

“You should never have come,” the man said.

The soft rustle of fabric and a muffled groan as someone collapsed behind him alerted Norin to danger. He whirled just as a slaver charged him holding a scimitar. He raised the Silver Sword to catch the blow but it never came. The slaver reeled backward with an arrow imbedded in his chest. Norin turned to see Keth’s archer standing behind him, his bow still raised. As the archer reached for another arrow the rest of the slavers rose from their hiding places, ringing in the warriors. Norin’s heart pounded as he saw that they were completely surrounded. The archer fired again, hitting the arm of a slaver advancing on Keth. The slaver cursed in the Sardi language. One of his companions standing behind the archer raised an arm.
Norin cried a warning and leapt toward the slaver but he was not fast enough. With a gasp of surprise and pain the archer fell, his bow slipping from his hand and a throwing knife protruding from his back.

Norin leapt at the man who had thrown the knife and stabbed him before he could react. The remaining slavers closed in, making their ring around the warriors smaller. All around warriors fell, either killed or subdued by the slavers. Norin’s hands were now coated in cold sweat but he tightened his grip on his sword and forced himself to focus, swinging at his enemies every time they tried to come closer. The slavers danced away from the Silver Sword in fear, seeming reluctant to come too close to it.

Keth let out a cry that was half desperate howl and half plea for help. Norin turned just enough to see several slavers forcing the chieftain to his knees. A wave of panic washed over Norin. With the slavers threatening Keth his warriors would be forced to surrender. Thrusting his sword arm out to force his own attackers back several steps, Norin turned toward Keth then raised the Silver Sword to strike down the chieftain’s captors. Suddenly a whip snaked out and wrapped around Norin’s raised arm. The slaver holding it tugged, using Norin’s momentum against him. Norin’s feet slipped out from under him and he fell on his back at the feet of his enemies. His wrist was on fire with pain but he kept his grip on the Silver Sword.

As the slavers closed in on him Norin struggled to free his arm from the cords of the whip. He kicked away the arms of one man who reached for him and grasped at the Silver Sword with his left hand. One of the slavers kicked Norin’s jaw then grabbed his left arm and pinned it to the ground. The slaver holding the whip stepped forward and placed a foot on Norin’s right arm before untangling his whip. Norin writhed, trying in vain to swing his sword around and land a blow. With an evil grin the slaver shifted, resting his foot directly on Norin’s wrist which still stung from the whip. Norin gritted his teeth and tightened his hold on the Silver Sword. The slaver ground in his heel until Norin’s fingers opened and the sword slipped from his grasp. Norin gave a cry of despair as he saw it fall. The slaver stepped off of Norin’s arm, kicked the sword aside then jumped back as though it would bite him.

Norin swung his fist at the slaver. The man stepped back to avoid the blow then grabbed Norin’s arm and with the help of his companions forced Norin into a kneeling position. One of the slavers came forward with a pair of manacles. At the sight of them Norin renewed his struggles in a last desperate attempt to break free. One of the slavers hit the side of Norin’s head with the end of his scimitar just enough to throw him off balance. While Norin was still dazed from the blow, they succeeded in chaining his hands. One of the slavers removed his cloak and used it to pick up the Silver Sword, careful not to touch the weapon with his skin. He then nodded to his companions who moved to organize their prisoners.

Norin winced as loud commands were barked in the Sardi language. The slavers pulled him to his feet and forced him to walk at a hurried pace. All around the slavers brought the rest of the captives to their feet and herded them out of the campsite. Through his blurred vision Norin caught a brief glimpse of Keth chained with several of his warriors before the entire group made its way south at the urging of the slavers. Norin had just enough time to steal one last glance at the fallen warriors before he was pushed forward into a forced night march.

***

Norin’s body ached with exhaustion when the slavers called a halt. A slaver pushed him to a sitting position, produced a pair of shackles and fastened one end to Norin’s left ankle and the other to a sapling. Norin felt too weary to resist. Another man stepped forward with a bowl of water which he pressed to Norin’s lips, forcing him to drink. The liquid stung Norin’s parched throat. He coughed but managed to swallow most of it. As the slavers moved away he closed his eyes and leaned back against the tree. A sharp whisper caught his attention and ended any hope of dozing.

“Norin!”

He opened his eyes and could just make out Keth straining against his chains to speak to him without drawing the attention of the slavers.

“Where do you suppose we are?” asked Keth.

Norin tried to decipher the hurried images of shapes he’d passed in the dark. He remembered a long line of campfires with soldiers patrolling between them and swallowed before replying, “We must have crossed the Sardi border nearly an hour ago.”

“I saw how the slavers feared your sword,” said Keth. “I’m surprised they brought it with them.”

“They probably need it to prove my identity to the emperor.”

An image of a bloody altar flashed into Norin’s mind. Please not like that, he silently prayed. He forced away the dark thought and balled his hands into fists to keep them from trembling.

Keth must have guessed at Norin’s thoughts for he said, “They still fear you too.”
Norin took a shaky breath then asked, “What do you think happened to Tayad and Fin?”

“I wish I knew. The signal was the last…”

There was a soft whistling sound and Keth gave a cry. A moment later the cord of a whip slapped Norin’s face leaving a burning sensation in its wake. A slaver barked something in the Sardi language. Though Norin and Keth did not understand the words the meaning was clear enough: no talking. Norin turned and glared at the man until he became uncomfortable and turned his back on them. Keth shifted closer to his warriors and the imprisoned clan members. Norin closed his eyes again. There was little chance of talking more that night.

***

Norin woke from a restless sleep to a rough kick in the side. A slaver stood over him holding another bowl of water. He bent and held it to Norin’s lips. Once Norin finished drinking the slaver dropped a small slice of bread before moving to the other prisoners. The bread tasted stale but Norin finished it anyway, unsure of when he would receive more nourishment.

Norin just swallowed the last bite when the slavers removed the chain from his ankle and pulled him to his feet. With cracks of their whips the slavers set their captives marching once more. As the day wore on the air became hot and heavy with humidity. The worn group entered a large tangled forest which seemed to stretch on without end. As the day moved toward its end and the shadows lengthened, Norin wondered how many days journey it was to Sardi’s capital from the border. Once darkness fell the slavers made camp following a similar pattern to the previous night. This time they watched Norin and Keth more closely, keeping them from speaking to each other.

Morning found the camp in chaos. Slavers ran here and there shouting at each other and turning out the contents of their tents. Norin watched them in silence without making out the reason for the confusion.

At last a slaver approached him and demanded, “Where sword of white fire?”

When Norin just stared at him in shock the slaver slammed his fist into his temple and yelled, “Where?”

“When have I had the chance to take it?” Norin snapped.

The slaver looked at him blankly.

“I don’t know.”

The slaver made a quick search of the area where Norin was chained as though he thought he might find the Silver Sword hidden there. After satisfying himself that Norin didn’t have it, he checked Norin’s bonds and moved away casting a nervous glance over his shoulder.

Taking advantage of the slavers confusion, Keth called, “Norin, if the sword went missing right under their noses it can only mean one thing.”

“What’s that?” Norin asked.

“Tayad is still alive.”

Norin thought of all the times he had watched Tayad slip silently into an enemy camp to raid their supplies and knew Keth was right. Who but Tayad could have stolen the Silver Sword with the slavers watching it? The hope this idea sparked set Norin’s body tingling with excitement. Perhaps all was not lost yet.

***

The slavers were on edge as they forced their captives farther south that day. Just before midday the group crossed paths with a number of soldiers. One of the slavers hailed them and spoke rapidly in the Sardi tongue. Though he could not understand what was said, Norin guessed that the slavers were explaining the disappearance of the Silver Sword and asking for the protection of the soldiers. The captain accepted with a few short words and his men joined the slavers’ guards and rode with the party for several hours.

Just as the path became lighter and the trees thinned, marking the edge of the forest, the captain of the soldiers gave a sharp cry. The soldiers and slavers’ guards drew their weapons. The slavers stared at them in confusion then cried out in fear as a man at the front of the group drew the Silver Sword from under his cloak. This soldier removed his helmet revealing the face of Chieftain Fin. Norin turned toward the captain and recognized him as Tayad.

Tayad dismounted and holding a black scimitar in a threatening position, stepped closer to a slaver.

“Give me your keys,” Tayad ordered.

The slaver stared at him in terror and confusion and babbled something Norin doubted
he would understand even if he spoke Sardi. Tayad stepped closer to one of Akayan’s men and pantomimed unlocking his chains.

“Keys,” he repeated.

Fin also dismounted and stepped forward, emphasizing Tayad’s command by placing the tip Silver Sword under the man’s chin. The other slavers stepped as far as they could away from Fin and one of them produced a ring of keys. Tayad nodded to one of his disguised warriors who took the keys and split them between several other warriors who worked to free the prisoners. The rest of the warriors moved to disarm the slavers. As the slow process of freeing the clansmen proceeded, several slavers fell to their knees, pleading with Tayad in their own language. Tayad snapped a sharp single word at them in Sardi and they quieted, cowering from him in fear.

Once Keth was freed from his chains he stepped toward Tayad glaring at the slavers in hate. Norin held out his arms as one of the warriors stepped toward him to test several keys on his chains before he found the right one.

“Let’s kill them and get out of this cursed empire,” Keth said.

Tayad drew a knife from his belt, handed it to the other chieftain and gestured at the kneeling slavers saying, “They’re all yours.”

“I have a better idea,” said Norin.

He picked up the manacles which fell from his own hands, stepped toward the nearest slaver and fastened them on the man’s wrists. Turning to the warriors who were freeing the few remaining prisoners, Norin commanded, “Bring those chains over here once you finish.”

Fin moved toward Norin, bowed his head and offered him the Silver Sword. As Norin closed his fingers around the hilt he felt relieved and whole again. Fin smiled and drew his own sword.

“What should we do with these?” asked a voice from behind them.

Norin turned to see the warriors holding the chains as he had instructed.

“Chain the slavers together,” he said. “Show them their own cruelty.”

Tayad smirked and nodded. The slavers tried to back away as the warriors moved to bind them. Norin stepped forward and used their fear of the Silver Sword to herd them into position.

Stepping close to stare directly into the face of one terrified slaver Norin said, “Give my regards to your emperor.”

Grabbing a whip from the pile of weapons at Tayad’s feet he gave it a loud crack sending the slavers tripping over each other in their hurry to get away from him.

“Everyone grab a weapon and find a horse,” Tayad ordered once the slavers were out of earshot. “We will need to ride north quickly before the emperor receives Norin’s message.”

***

Tayad and Fin had gathered all the warriors’ horses plus those of a group of Sardi soldiers they had defeated several days earlier. Much of the herd they left with a guard a few miles behind the slavers. Between these animals they were able to get the newcomers from Akayan and Milarko’s clans mounted though in several cases two people shared one horse. Most the other riders also carried a small child or two in the front of their saddles. They rode hard through the rest of the day and on into the night. The constant noise of pounding hooves filled their ears. They made only a few short stops to rest and water the horses.

At the northern border of Sardi Tayad and Fin ordered their warriors to dispose of the Sardi armor.

“It helped us get into the empire but I don’t want clansmen shooting us down thinking we are enemies,” said Tayad.

The unwanted gear was deposited in a ditch. After a moment’s hesitation, Tayad picked up a black scimitar and buckled its sheath to his belt.

Noticing Norin watching his actions with amusement, Tayad explained, “It’s a good weapon. I’d hate for it to go to waste.”

Several hours later as dawn lit up the world; Norin spotted the first of the pursuing soldiers as dark spots on the edge of the horizon. Though the clansmen never slowed their pace, the soldiers gained on them as the day progressed. By the afternoon Norin knew the pursuers would overtake them. He drew the Silver Sword in preparation for a fight and saw the chieftains and warriors do the same.

Before the soldiers came close enough to exchange blows with the warriors, a sudden hail of arrows rained down on them. Several men of Sardi fell under the shots while their horses reared and panicked. In the confusion that followed a new group of warriors rode out of the surrounding hills and dispatched the few remaining soldiers. Norin recognized Oathswine at their head. As the last soldier fell and everyone sheathed their weapons, Oathswine wheeled his horse around to ride at Norin’s side.

“Are there more of them?” Oathswine asked.

“These were the first, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the rest of the emperor’s army follows before long.”

Oathswine’s brow darkened and he said, “Utaria just sent word that a large army is advancing on the rest of the allied clans from Rovinien.”

“Then we must return to them as quickly as possible!” cried Norin.

Oathswine moved his horse to block Norin’s path and said, “I won’t let you ride yourself to death. Come back to my camp, rest, hear our news then continue your journey.”

“We should do as he says,” said Keth, who had overheard this conversation. “I know you must be as exhausted as I am and we won’t make it much farther in such a state. Besides, we have Akayan and Milarko’s clans to think of.”

Norin turned toward Tayad whose face wore a worried expression though he said nothing. Norin returned his attention to Oathswine and gave a slight nod.

“Come with me and hurry!” called Oathswine waving them after him.

Oathswine and his warriors led them over the hills and into a thin gulch where they were forced to ride single file. After a few short minutes they moved out of the gulch and into a wooded hollow which sheltered Oathswine’s camp. Norin thought about the advancing troops and realized he was the cause of their wrath. A sudden fear came over him that by fighting so hard to save the clans he had actually brought about their destruction.

Story continued in Swan Warrior Part 5.

Silver Sword Saga: Swan Warrior Part 3

This story is continued from Swan Warrior parts 1 & 2

For the Silver Sword's background please refer to Forging and the 1st Unworthy.

Swan Warrior Part 3

Let the praise of God be on their lips and a two-edged sword in their hand, to deal out vengeance to the nations and punishment on all the peoples.
Psalm 149: 6-7

Norin crossed the quiet campsite easily despite the dark. A sentry guarding the dwelling of his chieftain looked up in surprise as Norin and the small ragged man following him stopped in front of the tent.

“I need to speak with Chieftain Keth,” said Norin.

“He’s sleeping…” the guard began but Norin interrupted him.

“This is urgent. Wake him.”

With an uncertain look over his shoulder, the guard entered the tent. There was a shuffling sound inside then Keth emerged, fully dressed and looking worried.

“What is it, Norin?” he asked.

Norin opened his mouth to reply but before he could speak, Oathswine’s voice cut through the silence of the camp.

“What is the meaning of this, Norin?”

Norin clenched his hands into fists as he turned to face Oathswine and Utaria. Now there was no chance of keeping this from the rest of the camp.

“The guards said they woke us on your orders,” Utaria added in a softer voice. “What is the trouble?”

Norin gestured at the man beside him and said, “This man stumbled upon our camp and needs our help. I think you should hear his story.”

The man swallowed, nodded to the chieftains and Lady Utaria, and fiddled with the frayed end of his tunic. At last he took a deep breath and worked up enough courage to speak.

“Sardi slavers came up from the south and captured most of my clan. I’m one of the few who escaped.”

“This is what you dragged us out of bed for?” demanded Oathswine. “Slave traders often turn on the clans at this time of year. The seas are so rough this season that Sardi can’t send ships to make raids on the islands where they usually get their slaves.”

“Why should that make it any less our concern?” asked Keth.

“He was not finished.” Norin snapped. “Hear him out!”

Encouraged by Norin’s support the clansman continued, “There is a rumor that the southern empire’s slave markets are paying the slavers extra if they capture chieftains and bring them to Sardi alive. I heard of another clan who lost their chieftain to the raiders much earlier in the year, before the seas would have been rough.”

Norin watched Oathswine and Keth’s expressions change and Utaria’s eyes widen, satisfying him that they understood the threat to themselves.

“It is said that Chieftain Tayad will provide protection to the survivors of any clan which is attacked,” said the clansman. “The survivors of my clan chose to send runners in each direction to find him and his warriors. We figured with so many slave traders in the area he couldn’t be far.”

“Tayad is hardly a chieftain!” Oathswine scoffed.

Norin cocked an eyebrow. “You’ve heard of him?”

“Most of the clans have,” said Keth.

“Tayad appeared shortly after the attack on your clan, Norin,” Oathswine added. “Most of the clans see him and his band of vagabonds as saviors. To me they just sound like trouble makers.”

“Tayad was the second son of a chieftain but he was never meant to lead the clan,” Utaria explained. “His father died of a wound inflicted in a battle against the Roviniens. Not long after the death of Tayad’s father, Sardi slavers found the clan’s campsite. The slavers took his mother and older brother captive along with many members of the clan. Tayad and a few warriors who escaped chose to live in hiding. It is said they raid the encampments of their Rovinien and Sardi enemies in retaliation for their injustices on the clans. I have also heard what your friend here tells us, that Tayad offers protection to clansmen in trouble.”

“I think I should like to meet this Chieftain Tayad,” said Norin. “Before that, though, it is our responsibility to rescue this man’s chieftain…”

“Chieftain Fin,” the clansman said.

“Chieftain Fin,” Norin repeated. “We cannot let the Sardi slavers believe that they can continue to capture chieftains and prey on their people. If we are to save Fin’s clan, we’ll have to reach the slavers before they make it to Sardi. The clansman can lead us to where they attacked. From there we will do our best to track them.”

“If you are suggesting we attack the slavers you are mad!” cried Oathswine.

“No, he's right. If we do not wish to be oppressed we must fight back,” said Keth. “I’ll rouse my warriors at once.”

He called his guard, instructing the man to wake the warriors then gathered his weapons and gear.

“I do not agree with your methods,” said Oathswine giving Norin a hard look, “but I am not going to let you and Keth ride into danger alone.”

He moved toward his tent calling orders to his own warriors in his loud voice as he went.

“We will need my warriors here to guard the camp,” said Utaria. “I will remain to supervise them.”

“Very good my lady.”

Norin moved quickly toward his tent, returning a few minutes later wearing chainmail and carrying his horse’s gear. As Norin readied him, his horse flattened his ears in annoyance at being woken.

“Norin!” a voice cried from behind him.

He turned to face Elena.

“My father told me what you plan to do,” she said taking his hand. “You are doing the right thing, Light bless you for it! Just be careful.”

“I promise,” he said.

“We are ready Norin,” Oathswine called.

Norin turned to see a small group of mounted warriors with Oathswine and Keth at their head. The refugee clansman rode between the two chieftains. Oathswine frowned deeply at Norin and Elena. Norin gave Elena’s hand a quick squeeze then released it and mounted his own horse. He followed the warriors with one last glance over his shoulder in time to see Elena wave. Oathswine’s frown deepened.

***

The warriors rode far south through dark, silent hours of the night, tracking the course of the slavers. Cool wind slipped over their backs as they followed Norin, turning into a ravine near the dark mass of a campsite. There they would be out of sight of any Sardi guards. Norin nodded at Keth, who signaled two of his warriors. They slipped over the rocky edge to crawl on their bellies toward the campsite. The morning star shone in the east and the horizon was edged with grey light when they returned.

As Keth, Oathswine and Norin clustered around them, one of the scouts whispered, “The clan is chained together in the center of the camp guarded by four men. Judging by the snoring, I’d say there are at least five more asleep.”

“We’ll be more than a match for them,” said Keth. “Besides, we have the advantage of surprise.”

“We need a solid strategy,” Norin replied. “I suggest we creep into the camp and take out the guards as quietly as possible. Once the guards are down, Keth’s warriors and I can free the prisoners while Oathswine’s warriors enter the tents and kill the remaining slavers.”

Keth’s eyes gleamed. Oathswine nodded then turned to his warriors and commanded, “Dismount. We will leave the horses here. You are to enter the camp through stealth and take out the guards. After that, follow my lead.”

The warriors left the horses huddled beneath the walls of rock in the care of the refugee clansman and moved through the dewy grass at a crouch. As clouds in the east turned glorious colors, Oathswine, Keth, Norin and the warriors drew their weapons and stalked between rows of dark cloth. Norin came upon the first guard who was pacing from tent to tent on his watch in a bored manner. Leaping up from his crouch, Norin drove the Silver Sword into the Sardi man’s back, covering his mouth to muffle his cry as he slipped to the ground. One of Oathswine’s warriors took out a second guard by slitting his throat. An archer of Keth’s shot the third near the center of camp. A voice yelled something in the Sardi dialect from close to where the third guard fell. The last guard had seen his companion fall and raised the alarm. He slipped behind a tent still yelling.

As the guard dashed forward, making his way deeper into the camp Norin cried, “Stop him!”

Keth’s archer took aim and shot. His arrow buried itself in the back of the guard who staggered forward another couple feet before falling face down on the grass. The damage had already been done. Five slavers hurried out of their tents armed with scimitars forged from a strong black metal only found in the Sardi Empire. A few also carried whips. The cord of one slaver’s whip shot toward Norin’s left ear. He twisted in time to catch the blow on the Silver Sword. The cord wrapped around his blade and he yanked it toward him. The slaver stumbled as the Silver Sword sliced through his whip, which fell in several harmless pieces at Norin’s feet. The dark man of Sardi tossed aside the now useless handle and advanced on Norin with scimitar raised.

The slaver’s first blow vibrated up Norin’s arm but the man gave him little time to recover. He was fast and agile, forcing Norin to use all the skills he learned from the elves just to keep him from landing a blow. Norin danced to the side putting a tent between himself and his attacker for a minute in which time he realized that the warriors were overwhelming the slavers by sheer numbers. He turned just as his attacker came around a corner. Norin focused all his energy on forcing his opponent toward a large group of warriors led by Oathswine.

Suddenly a voice rang out commanding, “Stay!” in the language of the clans with a heavy Sardi accent. Norin flung his opponent away, and positioned himself so he could see in the direction of the voice while still watching his enemy for another attack. Near the center of camp a slaver was holding a knife to the throat of a man bound in shackles whose brown eyes were wide with fear. More clan members old and young were chained nearby, many of them weeping, all looking terrified.

“Stay,” the slaver repeated, “or chieftain dies.”

Oathswine cursed, the warriors froze and the slavers moved closer to the man holding Fin. Out of the corner of his eye Norin saw Keth’s archer move behind the slaver and his hostage. The archer took up a shooting position near the group in chains and slowly raised his weapon. Everyone’s attention was so focused on Fin they didn’t notice. Norin gave a slight nod and he released the shaft. The arrow pierced the slaver’s right shoulder causing him to drop the knife with a howl of pain. Norin leapt forward, grabbed Fin’s arm and pushed him in Keth’s direction before stabbing the wounded slaver in the chest. The remaining slavers turned and fled.

“My warriors, to your horses, we will pursue them!” cried Oathswine.

As Oathswine and his warriors thundered into the distance, Norin and Keth worked to free Fin and his clan from their chains. As Keth told Fin about the allegiance of the clans and offered to make him part of it, Norin called to the archer, “Good shooting.”

The archer smiled and nodded his thanks.

Soon the group headed back toward the joint campsite. The warriors allowed the children of Fin’s clan to ride their horses while they themselves walked beside the liberated clan members. The refugee clansman who had first spoken to Norin found the members who were still in hiding and gave them the news of Fin’s rescue. Before long they also came to the large camp. Late in the night Oathswine and his warriors returned and reported that the slavers had escaped but even this bad news couldn’t damper the spirits of the camp for long. Fin chose to remain with the other clans, swearing that someday he would repay Oathswine, Keth and Norin for his rescue.

***

As the fall days turned shorter and the season became colder, Norin collected information from other clansmen about Chieftain Tayad. On days when affairs at camp seemed relatively calm he took to riding out in search of Tayad and his elusive warriors.

When Elena asked him the reason for his search, Norin told her, “I believe Tayad is a warrior much like myself, fighting for the future of the clans. He and his men would be invaluable if they become part of our alliance and I doubt that either Rovinien or Sardi would dare stand in our way with him in our numbers.”

“Perhaps you are right,” Elena agreed. “Already the mention of you strikes fear into the hearts of soldiers and slavers, but if you were to join forces with another of their enemies, the men of Rovinien and Sardi might think twice before crossing their borders.”

So the search for Tayad continued even as fall gave way to winter.

One cold morning as a soft snow fell, Norin rode into a narrow valley surrounded by
naked trees. As he passed the edge of the first hill a soft sound reached his ears. A puff of snow drifted down the slope and swirled around him. Had it fallen from one of the trees? Another noise similar to the first came from his other side. Sensing danger, Norin pulled his horse to a stop and placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. A man wrapped in furs sprang out of a drift to the left of the horse. Norin drew the Silver Sword and swung at his head out of pure instinct. The man caught the blow on a long knife then danced aside laughing.

“It’s no wonder you’ve lasted so long! You’re quick,” said the man.

Norin’s eyes moved to the hills which were covered in more fur wrapped men.

“And alert,” added the first man.

Norin returned his attention to him and lowered his sword. The man had the look and sound of a clansman. He was young, probably in his twenties. His over long blond hair was tied back with a thin leather strap.

“Chieftain Tayad?” Norin asked.

“That’s right. I heard you were looking for me. After all the talk floating around Rovinien and Sardi camps about the unstoppable warrior with a sword of white fire I knew I had to meet you, so I decided to camp to the area.”

Norin took a breath to calm himself and sheathed the Silver Sword. Tayad smiled and put his knife in a sheath hidden beneath his furs.

“Come with me,” Tayad said nodded in the direction of the valley. “The falling snow will cover our tracks.”

Norin dismounted and followed Tayad, leading his horse. Tayad’s guards remained on the hillside where they stood vigilant. After a few feet the valley floor dropped into a deep, rough bowl. Tayad and Norin stopped at the edge of the drop-off and stared down at a village of small crude huts. A few people wrapped in layers of warm clothing moved about, but it was clear that most of the inhabitance were staying out of the cold.

“This is my clan,” said Tayad gesturing at them. “We’re a tribe of refugees and survivors nothing like the ones you brought together.”

Norin turned to him, surprised by his words.

“I have eyes and ears all across the land,” Tayad explained. “It’s the only way I can find out when soldiers or slavers are near or if there is another clan in trouble. Of course you’ve done more than I ever could.”

“From what I hear you have done plenty for other clans.”

Tayad shrugged. “I give them a place to stay when they have nowhere else to go. I get back some of their possessions when the Roviniens steal from them or rescue a few people from Sardi slavers. I’ve never been able to help more than one or two people escape at a time or unite rival clans against groups of soldiers, though.”

Now it was Norin’s turn to shrug. “We have each done the best we could for those we care about.”

“There is at least one other thing we have in common.”

“What is that?”

“Rovinien and Sardi want us both dead.” Tayad turned to grin at Norin as he added, “Unfortunately for them we met before they could kill one of us.”

“So you will join the allied clans?”

“On a few conditions…”

***

“There are too many of you to be in one camp out in the open,” Tayad told the chieftains once they called a council in a hut near the center of the joint campsite. “This camp is too easy a target for your enemies if they choose to attack you.”

“But there is strength in numbers,” Keth argued.

“Only if you use your numbers wisely,” said Tayad.

“What are you suggesting?” asked Fin.

“You would be safer if each clan made its own camp in hidden spots across the land.” said Tayad. “You can send messengers between camps when you wish to communicate. When men of Rovinien and Sardi are in the area our warriors can raid their camps to dwindle their supplies. If we diminish their stores enough they won’t be able to make it through the winter and will be forced to return to their own countries.”
Norin watched the chieftains’ faces as they considered this. Most of them seemed to see the sense in Tayad’s words. Only Oathswine continued to look unhappy.

“You cannot seriously be considering living like a band of thieves, can you?” Oathswine demanded giving the other chieftains a deep scowl.

“This may be the best way to keep your clans alive,” Tayad replied. “If you wish for your clans to survive you must develop methods which allow you to attack your enemies from hiding.”

“We are the chieftains,” said Oathswine, his voice angry. “We do not have to take orders from this boy.”

He jabbed a finger in Tayad’s direction.

“Chieftain Tayad is right,” said Utaria. “I for one agree with his plan.”

“So do I,” agreed Fin.

Keth nodded.

“He is not a chieftain!” cried Oathswine jumping to his feet. “You are all fools.”

He turned to Norin and snapped, “You most of all for bringing this rogue into our midst. Go on then, join Tayad’s group of bandits. I will hear no more of your foolish plans.”

He stormed out of the hut while the other chieftains stared after him in shock. Norin followed the angry chieftain, gesturing the others to return to their council. Oathswine paced on the already hard packed snow between two huts. He turned at the sound of Norin’s approach.

“Being a good fighter does not give you the right to lead clans as you and Tayad seem to believe,” Oathswine snapped before Norin could say anything. His breath made little clouds of fog with every word.

“I am not trying to take control of your clan away from you,” said Norin.

“Do not lie to my face! I see through your plan and I have seen the way you look at my daughter. Elena will marry a chieftain not some lone survivor of a dead clan!”

Norin took a step backward, too stunned to speak. Oathswine pushed past him before he could recover. For a minute Norin stood there feeling like he had been stuck by lightning until Keth’s voice called him back.

“Norin, were you able to talk some sense into him?”

Norin let out a long cloudy breath before answering. “Oathswine has chosen to go his own way. We can’t force anyone to join us if he’s not willing. Come on, we have to prepare the rest of the clans to move to the hidden campsites.”

***

Around the middle of winter another clan sought Tayad’s protection. The chieftain, a man named Wiltor, asked for an audience with Tayad and Norin, who was at Tayad’s camp at that time.

“I have lost many good warriors fighting the Rovinien soldiers,” said Wiltor. “Now I have so few left that they cannot properly defend my campsite. The Roviniens are taking advantage of this. Every time their supplies run short they steal goods from my camp. I was hoping you could me defend my clan against this persecution.”

Norin told Wiltor about the alliance of the clans and the rules by which they lived. “So long as you can live by this code you are welcome.”

“I would consider myself honored,” Wiltor replied.

“In that case we must help you retrieve some of your stolen goods,” said Tayad.


Three days later they marched against an encampment of Roviniens. A group of warriors led by Tayad, Keth and Wiltor crept into the supply tents and took some of the soldiers’ food. As they made their way back toward their horses, a guard spotted them and raised the alarm. Soldiers grabbed weapons, stumbled out of their tents and hurried to meet the intruders.

While the Roviniens were thus distracted, Norin waved forward a second smaller group of warriors led by himself and Fin. They scraped away some ice stiffening a rope securing the gates of a corral containing a number of horses. Then Norin tugged at the creaking wood to open the pen. Some of the animals were brought from the plains of Rovinien by the soldiers, others were stolen from the clans. As Fin’s warriors mounted several horses and the herd thundered onto the snowy fields, one of the Rovinien soldiers cried a warning. The heads of several other soldiers turned and Tayad, Keth and Wiltor took advantage of their distraction to mount their own steeds and ride into the distance. The Roviniens found themselves at a disadvantage because of their lack of horses. The soldiers split their forces, some following Tayad’s group as best they could on foot, the others charging Norin and Fin. Norin and a handful of Fin’s warriors rode forward cutting the supports of several tents to further slow the Roviniens. Then they too rode away from the camp.

About a mile east, Norin, Fin and the warriors herded the horses into a narrow canyon between huge cliffs. Once they were deep in the gorge, a number of people led by Lady Utaria moved out of caves pock marking the rocks. They ran to the place where the warriors had turned toward the canyon and, moving backward toward the rocks, used branches cut from evergreens to clear the snow of tracks. Norin spotted Tayad as he dismounted and felt relieved that his group was already there. Taking a pine bough from a clanswoman, Tayad beckoned Norin and the other chieftains onto the high canyon walls. From there they watched for the Roviniens. Tayad joined them once he wiped away the traces of their climb. At last the soldiers ran into view and came to the place where the tracks ended. They stopped and huddled together for a moment then spread out, searching for more tracks.

Tayad leaned closer to Norin and whispered, “Their confusion makes it all worthwhile.”

A smile spread across Norin’s face and he nodded.

***

Tayad’s raids lasted all through the winter and the return of spring brought a new set of problems. Tayad’s scouts reported the return of the Sardi slavers. The slavers were capturing more people from the southern clans than anyone could remember them taking at a single instance in time. Norin, the chieftains and their warriors were gathering a rescue party and preparing to ride south when Tayad’s guards reported the presence of an unexpected visitor.

Story continued in Swan Warrior Part 4.

Silver Sword Saga: Swan Warrior Part 2

This story is contiued from The Silver Sword's 1st Hero: Swan Warrior Part 1.

For the Silver Sword's background and the earlier parts of the saga please refer to the posts titled, Forging and The Frist Unworthy.


Swan Warrior Part 2

Let the praise of God be on their lips and a two-edged sword in their hand, to deal out vengeance to the nations and punishment on all the peoples.
Psalm 149: 6-7

Norin rode through the forest toward the burning village faster than was truly safe. He reached the camp in a few short minutes, slowing his horse a little to take in the chaotic scene. Most of the huts were on fire; the distinct odor of smoke filled his nostrils and clogged the air. Even as he watched, a Rovinien soldier tossed a torch onto the roof of a previously undamaged structure. Members of the clan ran in every direction, screaming and trying to avoid the soldiers’ blades and arrows. Raising the Silver Sword with a look of determination, Norin charged the nearest group of soldiers. The sword flashed like a spark of white fire. Soldiers fell to the ground stained with blood, or scattered, fleeing Norin’s wrath. Seeing the fear Norin inspired in their enemies, many of Oathswine’s disheartened warriors rallied around him and together they pushed the soldiers toward the edge of camp.

A high pitched scream drew Norin’s attention. He raced in the direction of the sound with the warriors struggling to keep up. Near the charred center of the campsite, he spotted a soldier dragging Elena as she struggled to free herself. Norin spurred his horse forward. The soldier turned and had only enough time to push Elena aside and raise his sword before Norin beheaded him. Elena gasped and covered her mouth as the body fell. Norin pulled to a stop beside her and asked, “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head.

Norin leaned down and held out his left hand. Elena took it and Norin swung her onto the horse behind him.

“We have to find my father!” said Elena. “Roviniens were closing in on him near our hut last I saw.”

“We must protect the chieftain.” panted one of the warriors as he caught up with Norin once more.

Norin nodded and spurred his horse toward the chieftain’s hut, from which flames leapt. Through the billowing smoke a group of warriors was visible, ringed in by Rovinien soldiers. With an ecstatic battle cry the warriors following Norin surged forward. Norin paused a moment to let Elena slip to the ground, then joined the fray. The sight of Norin and his warriors charging to their rescue gave the warriors protecting Oathswine the strength they needed to break free of encircling enemies. Soon the Roviniens were overwhelmed and forced to retreat.

When the last of the soldiers were gone, Norin dismounted and ran to Oathswine’s side. The chieftain was bleeding from several wounds but none looked serious enough to be life threatening. As Norin stopped in front of him, Oathswine’s eyes lit up with recognition.

“Who are you, my appointed savior?” he asked. “You rescue first my daughter and now my clan.” His eyes clouded suddenly and he cried, “Elena! They took her!”

“No, Father, I’m here!” yelled Elena running to his side. She gestured at Norin. “He saved me again.”

Oathswine’s eyes widened and he turned back to Norin.

“It seems I owe the safety of everything I hold dear to you,” he said. “From now on you will always be welcomed in my clan.”

“Thank you, my lord,” said Norin.

“All hail Norin, savior of our clan!” cried a warrior.

The warriors broke into cheers. Norin stared at them with a mixture of gratitude and embarrassment.

Once the cheering stopped, Oathswine commanded, “Put out those fires and salvage what supplies you can. We will move our camp before more soldiers come.”

Later, as sunset cast its colors like magic across the world, Norin was sure he saw the fairy queen watching him from beneath the tangled branches. She caught his eye, gave a satisfied smile and bowed her head to him. He had proven himself worthy of the Silver Sword.

***

One frosty fall day, Elena sought out Norin where he camped on the edge of Oathswine’s village. Norin heard her calling and met her outside his hut.

“Norin, I have terrible news,” Elena said. “My father’s scouts reported that Rovinien soldiers are raiding the herds of Chieftains Keth and Erik. My father refuses to help them saying that the misfortunes of other clans are none of his business. I know you care about what happens to the clans. You could put an end to the soldiers’ raids.”

“Where are they camped?” Norin asked with the familiar battle gleam in his eyes.

“They are on the plains east of my clan. You should not have any trouble finding them.”

Norin squeezed Elena’s hand then moved inside his hut to gather his gear.


As Elena predicted, it was easy to find the camps of Erik and Keth’s people, whose tents sprawled across the hills. Cows, sheep and horses dotted the fields. In a tiny hollow nestled between the two clans, Norin dismounted and removed the equipment from his horse’s back. He grabbed a bow off the saddle, strung it and took a short while to make preparations should raiders come.

Just before sunset, a group of Rovinien riders crested a nearby hill and scattered to charge the herd from several directions. Norin heard them coming and moved out of the hollow, carrying a roughly carved shield covered in grass to camouflage it. As the soldiers approached the animals, Norin propped up the shield in front of him and shot from its cover. The Roviniens slowed their horses and scanned the landscape wildly, attempting to see the archer. Norin crawled through the tall grass until he was several feet from his last position, set up the shield again and fired. As he repeated this maneuver a few of Chieftain Keth’s warriors appeared on the hill behind him. Once they took in the scene below they stopped to watch in amusement.

Norin moved to the center of the herd and stirred up the animals. He whistled and his own horse moved toward him. He dropped the shield, slung his bow over his shoulder, leapt onto his horse’s back, and drew the Silver Sword. Bending low over the horse’s neck, Norin moved in with the rest of the herd. He swung at the frightened soldiers as he passed them, leaving a gash on one man’s arm. When the solider turned to retaliate, Norin ducked and moved into the middle of the herd. Just then the warriors on the hill gave a loud battle cry and charged down the hillside. The terrified Roviniens turned and fled. The warriors crowded around Norin praising him for the feats they had witnessed and insisting he meet their chieftain.

At a large fire pit the group approached a broad shouldered man with a sandy beard and twinkling eyes who the warriors hailed as Chieftain Keth. They related the scene they had witnessed and introduced Norin.

“That is the most heroic tale I’ve heard, especially since you were defending the livestock of another clan,” said Keth. “With that kind of courage I’m sure you have a story or two to tell.”

“I’m sure they are nothing compared to your stories,” Norin replied.

Keth laughed.

Norin remained with Keth’s clan that night, talking and laughing before finally drifting off to sleep beside the fire.

The next morning Norin breakfasted with Keth’s warriors before riding through the hollow and onto the hills beyond it with the chieftain. As they came out of the hollow they saw Rovinien soldiers moving in on Chieftain Erik’s herds. Even as Norin slowed his horse to get a better look, a group of clansmen rode out from the camp to face them.

“It seems Chieftain Erik has chosen to oppose the Roviniens,” Keth observed.

“I don’t like the looks of this,” said Norin. He drew the Silver Sword and announced, “I’m going to help him.”

Keth’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“I cannot stand by and let Rovinien wipe out the clans of this territory,” Norin explained. “I have to help those I can.”

“Perhaps you are right,” said Keth. “I will gather my warriors and we will go to Chieftain Erik’s aid.”

“Your warriors will no doubt be welcome,” Norin replied, “but with all due respect I cannot wait for them while clansmen are being killed.”

Keth sighed and nodded. “Do as you must. I will return once I muster my forces. I pray I will meet you again in battle.”

Norin raised his sword and saluted as Keth galloped in the direction of his camp.
With the battle cry of, “Hail Chieftain Erik!” Norin charged into the midst of the Rovinien soldiers, temporarily halting their advance as they wheeled to face him.
The dark haired chieftain commanding the clansmen looked shocked as Norin joined his warriors. As his enemies fell back in fright, however, Erik saluted Norin to show his acceptance of the hero. Norin returned the gesture just as the Roviniens moved to attack again.

Norin called to the warriors, “Help me protect the chieftain!”

The men fanned out, circling Erik defensively. The soldiers charged forward only to be stopped and held in place by Norin and the warriors newly inspired by his passion. The armies struggled for several long minutes until a cry rang out on the hills and Chieftain Keth rode forward followed by his warriors. Norin gave a joyful shout and thrust his sword into the air. A ray of sunlight lit it up like a beacon. Before Keth could reach Erik, a few Roviniens rode out to intercept him and hold his warriors in place. The remainder of the Rovinien force split, half to circle behind Erik while the rest surged forward from the front.

“Cut them off!” Erik cried gesturing at the Roviniens with his sword.

Several warriors moved to follow his command. Norin moved back and forth in front of the chieftain, the ferocity of his attack making it impossible for any of the soldiers to reach Erik. The twang of a string releasing an arrow rang over the sounds of battle. Norin gave a terrified shout and jerked his horse around as he realized where the Rovinien archer had been aiming. The shaft pierced Chieftain Erik through his throat. The warriors watched in horror as he toppled backward off his horse.

The Roviniens pressed their attack, pushing the warriors back. With an enraged howl, Norin leapt from his horse’s back and positioned himself protectively over the fallen chieftain. The Roviniens gained ground until only a small group of warriors remained, forming a ring around Erik’s body. Keth and his warriors slowly fought their way past the Roviniens toward the stranded warriors. Norin was able to fend off most of the blows to himself but with each swing of his sword he felt a little more energy slip from his body. It was only a matter of time before the soldiers wore him down. He wondered if he would last until Keth’s warriors reached him.

Norin’s opponent gave him a long cut below his cheekbone and down his neck and Norin cried out in pain. As he stabbed the soldier in return, a mighty war cry rang over the other sounds of battle. Norin craned his neck until he could just make out riders approaching from the west, the sun reflecting off their weapons. Silently he prayed they weren’t reinforcements for Rovinien. He thanked the Lord of Light when the new warriors charged the Roviniens and he recognized Chieftain Oathswine at their head.

At the sound of Oathswine’s cry, the warriors with Norin found a last reserve of strength, pushing forward to reach the newcomers. Keth renewed his attack, finally gaining ground as chaos broke the Rovinien ranks.

As the soldiers scattered, Norin called to Oathswine, “Chieftain Erik is dead! They’re slaughtering us!”

Oathswine scowled as he replied, “We should retreat before the Roviniens regroup and make a second attack.”

“Help me lift Erik’s body,” Norin instructed. “I won’t leave him here to be desecrated.”

Oathswine nodded and a group of his warriors dismounted and moved to help Norin.
Oathswine and Keth barked orders and their warriors surrounded the group carrying Erik. Once they reached the perimeter of the tents Keth rode ahead crying, “Your chieftain has fallen! Break camp before the soldiers return! My warriors and those of Chieftain Oathswine will escort you to safety.”

There was a flurry of activity as clan members grabbed their possessions. Some mounted horses and all moved to join Oathswine and Keth’s warriors. When Norin and the others baring Erik’s body reached the campsite, several people broke away from the main group to gather around the chieftain. A large woman pushed past the others and let out a piercing wail at the sight of Erik’s bloody corpse. She continued wailing as her fellow clan members lifted Erik and rested his body in a wagon. A man put his arm around her and ushered her away saying, “We have to move, Lady Utaria. The time will come to morn your husband, but right now you have to get your clan to safety.”

Norin’s face tightened with pain at the sight of Erik’s wife. He found his horse and forced himself onto its back. With a weary twitch of the reins he moved his animal his into step with the horses of the other warriors and followed Chieftains Oathswine and Keth across the plains.

***

Several hours later and many miles to the south, a camp formed comprised of Keth, Oathswine, and Utaria’s people. At Oathswine and Keth’s orders, warriors guarded the perimeter of this large campsite. Those wounded from the battle were escorted into tents where the women tended to them. Elena rushed Norin’s to side as soon as he stumbled off his horse’s back and hurried him into a nearby tent.

Beneath the canvas Norin lay on a cot while Elena bent over him, cleaning the cut on his neck. Norin squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out a terrible images.

“I failed him,” he whispered.

“Who?” asked Elena sounding distracted.

“Chieftain Erik,” Norin replied opening his eyes. “I fought so hard for him but in the end it didn’t matter. The moment he needed me the most I wasn’t fast enough and it cost a clan their leader. I failed them.”

Elena paused in her work and said, “No one blames you for Chieftain Erik’s death. You did everything you could for him. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“How can I call myself the hero of the clans if I let their chieftains die?

Elena leaned over and pressing a wet rag to his wound.

Norin hissed in pain.

Elena’s touch lightened as she replied, “Just before I met you I thought I saw a black swan fly into the forest. I’ve heard that a black swan is a sign of a great change which upsets the usual order of things. You are that great change, Norin. You’ve united three warring clans, making them allies against Rovinien. I’ve never hear of another warrior who’s done anything like you.”

As Elena fastened a bandage around his neck, Norin said, “Yet despite all of that I couldn’t save Chieftain Erik.”

He closed his eyes again and tears slipped out of their corners. Elena ran a gentle finger over his cheek, brushing the tears off it.

“As hard as it is,” she said, “you have to accept that there was nothing you could do. Try to sleep.”

Norin gave a slight nod.

***

At dawn the three clans formed a procession and carried Chieftain Erik’s body to a place on the edge of camp. The procession was led by Utaria and a small boy who looked about five years old. The boy resembled Erik. It was clear he was his son. Erik’s body was placed in a shallow hole and his wife and son arranged his weapons around him. Several people stepped forward and placed gifts beside him as a sign of respect. As Erik’s warriors formed a mound around him, clan members sang songs of his exploits and chanted prayers for his soul to the Lord of Light.
Norin stood at a distance in silence, his expression pained. Elena glanced over her shoulder at him then moved beside him and took his hand. Norin bowed his head and took a ragged breath before moving closer to Elena. They stood like that until the funeral was over and most the clan members had given Utaria their condolences. As a group of people stepped aside, Norin released Elena’s hand and approached Utaria.

“I’m so sorry,” he said.

Utaria lifted her reddened eyes to meet his and replied, “I heard how nobly you fought for my husband. For that I thank you. I know if anyone can bring justice upon those murdering Roviniens it is you.”

“What will become of your clan?” Norin asked.

“I will lead them until my son is old enough to take his father’s place,” Utaria answered. “Both Oathswine and Keth have offered me protection. Our clans will camp together. We will be much safer that way.”

“That is good.”

“Will you join me at the feast in my husband’s honor?”

“Of course,” said Norin. He beckoned to Elena who came forward and walked beside him into camp.

***

The feast was ended and the night well on its way to midnight when a disturbance woke Norin. Quickly pulling on his clothes and strapping the Silver Sword to his belt, he ran to the edge of camp to investigate. Beyond the line of tents the moonlight fell on a small, unshaven, ragged man struggling and pleading with two of the guards.

“Are you trying to wake the camp?” Norin demanded. “What’s the meaning of this?”

“We found him slinking around trying to steal our food,” said one of the guards tugging on the man’s shirt.

“I meant no harm!” cried the man.

“Explain yourself,” Norin commanded the stranger, crossing his arms as he spoke.

“First tell me whose camp this is,” pleaded the man.

“It is the joint camp of chieftains Oathswine, Keth and the Lady Utaria.”

“Clansmen. Good,” the man muttered. Then meeting Norin’s eyes he said, “Sardi slavers captured my chieftain and most of my clan. The few of us who escaped are living in hiding. I only wished to bring them some food. I am one of four runners sent in each direction to seek the help and protection of Chieftain Tayad.”

Story continued in Swan Warrior Part 3.

ABNA Finals

The finalists for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award have been announced! For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about I'll just say that my YA fantasy novel, The Jericho Effect, was a Quarterfinalist in this contest and it is a really fun interactive competition for new writers. At this final round any customer of Amazon.com can vote for the 2 winners, one YA book and one adult book. I encourage everyone to go to the contest page, read the finalists' excerpts (first few chapters of their books) and vote for the winners. All the writers in this contest are really good and deserve to win the grand prize of publication.

There are 6 finalists, 3 YA books and 3 adult books. The finalists and their book titles are:

Adult fiction:

1. Jennifer Handford: Fortune Cookies

2. Patricia McArdle: Farishta

3. Johnny Shaw: Dove Season


Young Adult (YA) fiction:

1. Amy Ackley: Sign Language

2. Alex Airdale: Service of the Crown

3. Alison Stewart: Days Like This


I promise that if you choose to read the excerpts, you're in for a treat!

Agent contest

Well, I'm once again entering my work in writing contests. This time I found an agent's contest with the prize of a 10 page critique. This is just one of the many contests I plan on entering this year. I'll post updates on other contests as I go along.

The Silver Sword's 1st Hero: Swan Warrior Part 1

Please refer to Forging and the 1st Unworthy for the Silver Sword's background.

Swan Warrior Part 1:

Let the praise of God be on their lips and a two-edged sword in their hand, to deal out vengeance to the nations and punishment on all the peoples.
Psalm 149: 6-7


One spring about 200 years after the Silver Sword was hidden with the fairies, the thunder of hoof beats cut through the calm of a morning in a camp on the Irowasan midlands. A young warrior named Norin raised his light brown eyes in time to see a group of mounted Rovinien soldiers ride for the far huts and light them on fire.

Norin had recently moved up from the south with his clan, the Wind Followers. They made their camp on the eastern edge of Fairy Wood where they hoped to escape the cruel warriors of a great empire named Sardi which had risen in the south at about the same time the Rovinien kingdom rose to power in the north. The Wind Followers were one of many clans trapped between these two mighty kingdoms in an area the two countries were fighting over to expand their realms. Norin sounded the alarm. Then grabbing a sword, he swung himself onto his horse and rushed to the join the other warriors of the Wind Clan as they moved to defend their homes.

In the forest the fairies noticed a black swan flying over the tree tops and took it as a sign that a great change was coming. After the passing of the swan, smoke rose from huts burning at the edge of the woods. Screams and the ring of weapons broke the woodland’s calm. Just as the fairies flew to investigate, Norin’s horse tore his way through the bushes. Norin slipped from the animal’s back and fell, panting, on a patch of moss and dry leaves. He pressed a hand against his right side, which was covered in blood.

“Rovinien soldiers are killing my clan!” he gasped at the fairies in nearby branches. “Save my people, please!”

He gritted his teeth as pain shot through him, then collapsed on the forest floor. Several fairies worked together to carry him to a hut which belonged to an elvin healer. Others calmed his spooked horse while the rest flew to investigate the attack.

Later as Norin lay bandaged in the healer’s hut, several fairies came baring the news he most dreaded.

“We were too late. There was nothing we could do.”

Despair crossed his face and he turned away from them. The pain in his heart was sharper and more severe than that in his side.

***

When he recovered from his injuries, Norin walked to the place where the ground was covered in ash and the blackened remains of plants. It was all that remained of his clan’s campsite. He stood for a minute in the shadow of a tree on the edge of the burned space, staring wide eyed at the marks of destruction around him as his heart filled with grief and rage.

At last he walked forward, stopping to reverently touch a charred beam from a hut. He straightened and stood with his arms crossed over his chest. A soft breeze came up, playing with locks of his auburn hair.

“There is nothing left,” he whispered. “I may be the last living member of my clan free of the Roviniens.” Then raising his voice he cried to woods, “Too many clans have been wiped out by Sardi and Rovinien. How many more people will they kill? How many more clans will vanish? I swear to the Lord of Light who spared me that I will someday protect other clans from destruction.”

A young fairy boy named Leaf heard his words and spread them through Fairy Wood. When the elves heard what Norin had promised, they chose to train him in their secret methods of fighting (which no human had learned before him) in order to determine if he could really become the protector of the clans. As autumn painted the woods with its colors, the fairy queen took an interest in Norin and his training and often stopped to watch him sparring with the elves.

One day the queen pulled one of the elves aside and said, “When Norin finishes his exercises for the day, tell him to meet me in the dancing meadow.”
When Norin arrived several hours later, the queen glided to the center of the meadow where she stood waiting for him. Norin approached her and bowed. The queen touched him lightly on the shoulder, removing her hand once he straitened.

“I have heard a lot about you Norin,” said the queen in her soft warm voice. “You have caused quite a stir in my kingdom. I hear you wish to become the protector of the clans.”

“I only wish to give them a chance for a brighter future, my lady,” Norin replied.

The queen raised a pale blond eyebrow as she said, “You are brave and determined. I can see that you will become as great a warrior as this land has ever seen. I truly believe that you will do all the things you say you will.” She lifted a thin finger to her lips and cocked her head, examining him thoughtfully. “I have a mission for you, if you are willing to accept it.”

“Just tell me what you wish me to do.”

“Lately soldiers from Rovinien have been amusing themselves by hunting my unicorn herds. They collect the horns for their power against poison. I want you to put an end to these unicorn hunts as they reduce the numbers of the herds at too fast a rate.”

Norin’s eyes gleamed as he answered, “As you wish, my lady.”

***

A herd of unicorns stampeded through the tangled woods ahead of the six Rovinien soldiers pursuing them. An archer near the front of the group raised his bow and fired a shot at the unicorns. Suddenly a rich brown horse jumped between the hunters and their quarry. From the back of his horse, Norin raised his sword and cut the arrow in midair before pulling to a stop in front of the lead rider causing the soldier to rein in his own animal. The soldiers behind him tried to do the same, and there was confusion for a minute as the horses collided. With some difficultly the riders spread out again. The leader turned toward Norin with a furious glare.

“Get out of the way, you fool!” he shouted.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Norin replied.

The soldier looked taken aback, but his surprise quickly changed to anger.

“Who do you think you are?” he demanded. “Do you know that I am a knight of Rovinien? I have been to the king’s own court.”

Norin snorted and replied with a smirk, “And I am the protector of the innocent you kill, appointed by the Fairy Queen to tell you and your king to remain in your own kingdom.”

The knight’s eyes flashed. “I will cut out your tongue for such insolence!” he declared.

The knight backed his animal up a few paces then charged. Norin held his horse in place until the knight’s animal was a few feet from him, then leaned forward and slashed its chest. With a cry of pain the horse bucked, throwing his rider to the ground before collapsing. While the knight lay winded by the fall, the other soldiers closed in to form circle around Norin. A fire burned in Norin’s eyes as he swung his sword around himself, succeeding in keeping them at a distance. The knight pulled himself to his feet just as another soldier aimed a blow at Norin’s head. Seeing Norin thus distracted, the knight flung himself at Norin, knocking him off his horse’s back. Norin’s horse spooked and ran from the stop disappearing into the woods. The knight and Norin scrambled on the ground for a minute until Norin succeeded in slashing the knight’s arm, leaving a deep gash. As the knight cursed, two more soldiers dismounted to help their comrade. Three more remained mounted and moved their horses to cut off Norin’s escape. They all closed in at once, forcing Norin to move between them, fending them off with quick smooth motions while also dodging horse legs. Just as Norin felt his body starting to wear down, a noise like thunder caught their attention and interrupted the fight. A tide of majestic beasts charged with horns pointed at the confused soldiers. Norin ducked under the arms of an enemy and rolled into the underbrush as the unicorn herd swept the terrified Roviniens into the woods. Norin stood panting for a minute before wiping his sword on the grass and sheathing it.

As he looked for his horse, he felt grateful that the unicorns finally understood the he was protecting them and had decided to turn against the hunters. At last Norin found his horse, mounted it and rode into the depths of the forest.

***

Several days later, when Norin was once more patrolling for unicorn hunters, he heard sobbing. Turning his horse in the direction of the noise, he came upon a maiden in a soiled dress kneeling in the center of the clearing. Her wild eyes searched the woods. Tear tracks stained her cheeks and strands of blond hair clung to her sweaty forehead. Norin’s horse pricked his ears and the next minute a golden-brown unicorn came into view. The majestic beast walked straight to the girl, sniffed her, then lay down on the grass beside her. A sick dread washed over Norin as realized the soldiers were using the girl to bait the unicorn. With a slow, deliberate motion he drew his sword and waited; eyes and ears straining for any sign of danger.

The girl gave a gasping sob, glanced at the woods around her, then put her hands on the unicorn’s face and whispered, “Get out of here while you still can.”

There was a slight movement to the right of the meadow. Norin’s head snapped in that direction. The girl also noticed it for she leapt to her feet shouting, “Get out of here! Go! You never should have come!”

The unicorn stood but remained in the meadow, seeming reluctant to leave. Norin spurred his horse forward just as the first hunter broke from the cover of the trees. The soldier leaned forward on his horse’s neck and slapped the girl hard across her face, causing her to fall in the grass with a small cry. The unicorn pressed his ears against his head and snorted in fear as the hunters moved to surround him. Norin slammed his horse into the horse of the first soldier. The animal spooked, throwing his rider. The unicorn reared then bolted as a gap appeared between the Rovinien soldiers. One of the soldiers cursed and raised a bow but Norin swung around in time to slice the bow in half. Norin moved between the other hunters slashing at them and knocking them off their horses. Then, seeing the young woman still sitting at the edge of the meadow, petrified with fear he shouted, “Run!”

As if his voice had broken a spell she was under, the girl stood and ran up a nearby hill as fast as her legs would carry her. By this time the soldiers recovered and many remounted their horses. Several broke away from the main group and spurred their mounts in the direction of the fleeing girl. Norin struggled with the others until he broke out of their ranks. He sped past the soldiers, overtook the young woman and swung her onto the horse in front of him.

An arrow whizzed past Norin’s ear. He ducked, throwing a protective arm around the girl in front of him. Suddenly an arrow sailed through the air in front of Norin and struck one of the soldiers in the chest. He the ground with a loud “thump” while his horse turned and ran back the way it had come. Norin pulled his own horse to a stop as more arrows came from the trees, showering the Roviniens. Unable to identify where the shots were coming from, the soldiers turned and retreated. Norin gazed after them in amazement then lifted his reins intending to ride in the opposite direction.

Just then a sharp voice called, “Stay where you are, come no closer!”
A group of fully armed warriors broke from the cover of the trees and approached to surround Norin, who watched them warily without moving. Seeing Norin ringed in by the warriors, the girl came out of her shock and cried, “Hold your fire. This man saved me from the soldiers.”

The warriors lowered their weapons into less threatening positions.

“You must take him to my father,” the girl added, sliding off the back of the horse.

One of the warriors stepped forward to assist her while another ordered Norin to dismount and hand over his weapons. Norin frowned, then looked to the girl who nodded at him. With a sigh he dismounted and passed his sword and a few other small weapons to the man who had spoken. Another man took hold of his horse’s reins.
They moved into the forest where they came to a village of rough huts. Several people ran up to the girl praising the Lord of Light that she was safe before looking with curiosity at Norin as he passed surrounded by their warriors. At last they came to a long hut which was larger than the others. The girl stepped inside and the warriors pushed Norin in after her. The floor of the hut was covered in soft furs, its beams covered in carvings depicting the clan’s history. The grey bearded chieftain sat in the center of the long hut on a high backed wooden chair. The girl ran to him and he stepped forward to meet her.

“Chieftain Oathswine,” said one of the warriors. “When we went to search for Lady Elena as you ordered we found this man riding through the woods ahead of a group of Rovinien soldiers with your daughter on the front of his saddle.”

He gestured at Norin.

“He rescued me from them, father,” said Elena.

Chieftain Oathswine scrutinized Norin before asking, “Who are you and what are you doing in these parts?”

“My name is Norin and I am a survivor of the Wind Clan. I have been living in this forest since my clan was attacked by Rovinien nearly a year ago.”

“Indeed?” Oathswine raised an eyebrow. “I have heard of the destruction of the Wind Clan. How did you manage to escape the Roviniens?”

“I was wounded as I defended the clan with the others. The wound was bad enough that I couldn’t continue fighting. I knew the soldiers would kill me if I stayed, so I fled into the forest. I rode until the pain became too much. Then I collapsed on the forest floor. I remained in the woods, at first regaining my strength, and later attacking the Roviniens from their cover.”

“If you were so badly wounded how is it you recovered?”

“I suppose the magic of the forest saved me,” Norin replied.

It was clear this answer didn’t satisfy the chieftain’s curiosity.

Oathswine frowned and asked, “Why did you not find another clan to join when you recovered?”

“I had everything I needed here in the forest,” Norin replied. “I didn’t need the security of another clan and there were plenty of opportunities to fight Roviniens here.”

Oathswine’s frown deepened and his forehead creased with confusion. At last he said, “I thank you for saving my daughter. I insist you stay with my clan for a time so that I may show you my gratitude.”

Elena’s eyebrows rose in surprise. She opened her mouth to say something but was cut off as Oathswine signaled two warriors to accompany Norin out of the hut. Norin bowed his head then exited.

Norin and two warriors joined a group seated around a campfire. They remained at the fireside for some time until the warriors became distracted by an old man telling stories. A shadow flickered at the very edge of the firelight, catching Norin’s attention. He turned to see Elena, washed and in a fresh dress, beckoning him to her. Without a word Norin stood and slipped into the blanketing darkness. Elena led him to the very edge of camp, where his horse was tied, before she spoke.

“I wanted to warn you,” she said with a nervous glance at the huts silhouetted by firelight. “My father and many members of the camp don’t trust you. They think you are lying about living in the woods and that you might be a spy for Rovinien or Sardi. I fear they may try to harm you.”

“What makes you disagree with the others?” asked Norin.

“If you were a spy you wouldn’t have cared what became of me. I brought your weapons. They’re strapped to your horse’s saddle. Leave quickly before they notice.”

Norin took Elena’s hand and said sincerely, “Thank you, my lady.”

Elena squeezed his hand before releasing it.

“Hurry!” she cried. “They will come looking for you any minute.”

Norin untied his horse then swung himself into the saddle and, with a parting salute to Elena, rode into the dark forest.

***

The next morning the fairy queen once again summoned Norin to the dancing meadow. She was already waiting there when he arrived.

“You have done well. I heard of your battles to protect the unicorns and save Chieftain Oathswine’s daughter,” said the queen. “You have proven yourself a mighty hero. For this reason I have a gift for you, something which will help you accomplish your goals.”

She snapped her fingers and a few pixies flew out of the cover of the trees carrying a sheathed broadsword. With a curious glance at the queen, Norin took the sword from the pixies, drew it from its sheath and held it out in front of him to better examine it. The sword gleamed white as the sun reflected off a strange twisting pattern on the hilt and cross guard.

“The dwarves forged the Silver Sword long ago,” said the fairy queen, “They gave it to us for safe keeping until a worthy hero should arise to take it.”

A smile crossed Norin’s face and he lifted the Silver Sword to salute with it.

“Thank you. I will make sure it serves its purpose well.”

The queen gave him a wise sad smile and said, “There is one last task you must accomplish to prove you are worthy to wield this sword.”

“What task is that, my lady?”

“You must save Oathswine’s clan from being destroyed by the Roviniens.”

She gestured at a spot behind Norin where a column of smoke rose above the trees.

“That is not going to happen!” Norin shouted.

He strapped the sheath to his belt as he dashed through the forest to find his horse.

Story continued in Swan Warrior Part 2.