Silver Sword Saga: Terrible Gift Part 1

This chapter of the Silver Sword Saga takes place about 80 years after the Silver Sword was returned to the fairy queen following the Magic War.

For the origins of the Silver Sword please refer to the posts Forging and Unworthy.

For the tale of the sword's 1st hero refer to Swan Warrior parts 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.

For the second hero's story refer to Fairy Vault.

For the stories of the hero who wielded the Silver Sword during the Magic War refer to Riddle of the Stones, Great Magic War and Coronation of the Second Fairy Queen.

Terrible Gift 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

Ris narrowed his eyes as several newcomers wandered into camp and were ushered toward a wagon by its inhabitance. He had traveled with this band of gypsies for enough of his sixteen years to know that every time they invited strangers inside the caravan and shut the doors for privacy it meant the gypsies were about to use him to make money fighting some power hungry magician. This set of visitors had deep tans, blond hair and a salty smell hanging over them, marking them as inhabitance of the sea coast kingdom, Caramyth. Ris’ sun-browned complexion, accented by overgrown
golden hair and sea glass green eyes confirmed that he was also a native of that country, though it was many years since he had lived there.

After hearing the top half of the door click shut and waiting a minute to let the conversation get under way, Ris slunk forward, his bare feet making little noise on the thick grass. He slid between the wheels of the caravan to sit beneath the wagon with an ear to its floor.

“The warlock was also in love with the siren girl and became deadly jealous of her other suitor,” one of the Caramythans was saying. Ris grinned. The man’s voice was only slightly muffled by the wagon boards. “In his jealousy the warlock turned himself into a werewolf with a spell then attacked his rival and killed him. When we attempted to capture the warlock to bring him to justice, he and the siren girl escaped to a tiny island a few miles off the coast from the village. Since then the siren has been spotted on our beach on several occasions and every time she appears one of the men goes missing. We are sure that she is luring them to the werewolf on the island. The warlock has clearly gone insane and is bloodthirsty in his wolf form.”

“So you need us to travel to the island and relieve the warlock of his dark powers,” said one of the gypsies.

Ris fiddled with a piece of grass. He was troubled as usual that villagers would pay the gypsies for the service of protection when in reality the gypsies’ method involved sending him to fight magicians while the rest of the camp took all the profit. Of course if the villagers knew that a sixteen year old boy was doing all the dirty work, the gypsies would soon go out of the magician fighting business, so they kept up the deception.

“Once you rid the warlock of his power the job will only be half done,” explained the Caramythan. “Even without his magic he will be able to become a wolf. After the warlock is free of his arcane powers you will still have to hunt down and destroy the beast he has become.”

Ris sucked in a sharp breath. He had no experience with werewolves. He silently prayed that the gypsies would see how risky this job would be and refuse it.
Instead they said, “In that case I'll need a guarantee from you that all possible precautions will be taken and I'll have to charge you double.”

Ris slithered out from under the wagon and spat on its side as they haggled over price. He knew that so long as the gypsies received enough money to appease their greed they would call him into the wagon once the Caramythans left and explain his mission to him. After that they would head to the coast in Caramyth where he would fight the monsters while the gypsies distracted the villagers with tricks to make it look like they were countering the warlock’s magic. Ris shivered and crossed his arms over his chest. Corrupt magicians he could handle but could he really face a crazed blood-thirsty werewolf?

***

“You seem troubled, Ris,” the old gypsy grandmother called out as he exited the caravan after his briefing. “If I didn't know you better I'd say it was your first time fighting a magician.”

“You’re asking too much of me this time, Rella,” Ris replied.

“You have a unique gift, boy, and it's a blessing to us all. Be strong and you can accomplish this task too.”

“Some blessing! Being able to suck black magic out of its users has a lot of downsides when you lived with gypsies willing to make money in any way they can.”

“Shame on your head for insulting the fairy queen by saying her gift could be anything but a blessing! It spared you from being enslaved to a sorcerer.”

“I know. It’s just that I've never faced a werewolf before, or a siren for that matter. You should convince the rest of the camp to find a monster hunter to finish the job once I strip the warlock of his magic.”

“And split the cost of one of our most profitable deals yet?” scoffed Rella. “You know the others would never agree to that.”

“They’ll make even less if I fail.”

“You could run. I’ve saved up a portion of money for you from the last few deals. Hide yourself when we break camp then use the money to make your own way.”

“The siren and warlock would continue to harass the villagers on the Caramythan coast,” said Ris. “No... that’s not something I can allow. There must be another way.”

“We are camped on the borders of Fairy Wood; perhaps the fairy queen can send help,” suggested Rella. “You have found favor with her in the past. Spend the night in the forest and see if you can enlist the help of the fair folk.”

“Well, it couldn’t hurt to try,” Ris agreed with a shrug.

***

That night Ris spread out his bedroll on the fringe of the forest beneath the deep shadows of the first rows of trees. He was far too restless to sleep so he sang several gypsy ballads. The melodies mixed with the music of the wind whispering through the leaves, the hooting of owls and the soft shuffling noises of other nocturnal forest animals. He was on the third verse of a tune Rella had taught him when a strip of pale fabric flashed between the tree trunks, reflecting a thin beam of moonlight filtering through the roof of leaves. The song died on his lips, its lyrics slipping from his mind like smoke in the wind as a tall woman glided into the full light of the moonbeam and shuffled a pair of large gauzy wings on her back. The woman’s black locks nearly blended into the night’s darkness save where they fell across the front of her dress. She raised her head and locked her intense eyes on Ris, causing him to catch his breath.

He had seen this apparition several years before when he had run into the woods in hope of escaping the gypsies. It was after this woman, whom Rella insisted could be none other than the queen of Fairy Wood, had kissed him on the forehead that Ris had gained his unique and frightful ability.

As before, the queen spoke not a word but kept her gaze fixed on Ris. A number of tiny pixies flew out of the trees and flitted around the queen, colored lights flashing along their bodies as though they were multicolored fireflies. The queen stepped toward Ris while the pixies lit her path. Ris pushed himself off the ground where he had been sitting and stood, bowing as the fairy queen stopped before him.

The queen drew a small object out of her sleeve and held it out to him. Ris held out his right hand and she dropped a polished white stone on a leather thong onto his palm. It appeared to be an amulet. He lifted his head to nod his thanks and noticed a stern, challenging look on the queen’s face. It was clear there was something she wanted of him before he left Fairy Wood. She opened her wings and beat them in a soft, rapid motion allowing her to hover several inches off the ground. In this manner she floated into the dark woods with the pixies trailing behind her. Ris followed as well, tying the amulet around his neck as he walked.

He soon lost sight of the fairy queen. The pixies were much easier to spot because of their lights so he continued to follow them. In their company he passed a mound of stones overgrown with moss. A marker protruded from the edge of the mound but the writing on it was in fairy runes which Ris could not understand. Just past the mound, the pixies flew upward to settle in the branches of a large long-needled pine tree. Two pixies tugged at the front of Ris’ shirt as if to encourage him to join them. Ris hesitated a moment, not seeing a branch low enough to allow him to climb. Then in a flash of blue light from one of his companions he noticed a vine hanging off the tree. He tugged it to see if it would hold his weight and instantly a ladder woven out of vines and strong slender branches unrolled itself at his left elbow.

Ris climbed the ladder until it ended at a wide branch high above the ground. Here the light from the pixies illuminated another set of runes, this time carved into the side of the tree. At the end of the line of text was a small, round knot in the wood of the tree. On an impulse Ris ran his right hand over the runes then slipped the amulet off his neck and pressed the white stone into the knot. He could never explain afterward, even to himself, what had made him think to do this.

At once a section of bark and wood in the center of the tree swung inward, revealing a hollow chamber within the pine. Two pixies flew forward to light the hollow for him. In the heart of the tree what looked like several narrow, leafless branches held a broadsword in an oiled leather sheath. The dim pixie lights glinted off the hilt and hand guard where the metal seemed to twist around itself.

Ris lifted the sword, drew it from its sheath and examined it. Sudden understanding flooded him as he realized that the sword was forged of pure silver making it the perfect weapon to use against a werewolf. He sheathed the sword, swung the belt over his shoulder so as to carry it across his back and pulled his amulet free of the knot as he exited the hollow. The tree swung closed over its hiding place.

Ris put the amulet back on his neck. Though his mind was reeling he forced himself to focus on descending the ladder. The fairy queen had once again given him a terrible gift. By allowing him the use of the sword she was saying, “I will give you my support but in the end you must face the monster alone.”

Story concluded in Terrible Gift Part 2.

How Angels Celebrate Christmas

I thought I'd post a short story I wrote last year in honor of Christmas. It's not really related to Irowasa or my fantasy writing, but I hope you will enjoy it anyway.

Also, please note that I've made some changes to the post: The Great Magic War which is part of the Silver Sword Saga. If you've been following the Silver Sword Saga you will want to read the new version of this episode before continuing the rest of the series.

Have a Merry Christmas!



How Angels Celebrate Christmas

A golden haired angel stood framed by pine trees against a background of dark blue night sky dotted with falling snowflakes. Her pale blue gown billowed around her, soft white feathered wings pointed upward toward the heavens and...

Eleven year old Miranda’s small hand closed around the body of the ceramic angel. She wound the key on the bottom of the stand and listened to the tinkling flute-like notes of “Angels We Have Heard on High”. Her grandmother had given her the music box last Christmas. This year the angel rested on the windowsill of Miranda’s bedroom, lending it Christmas spirit. Miranda put the music box back in its place. Her big brown eyes followed the spinning angel as the song played.

She thought about the Bible story her mom read her earlier, the one where the angel visited the shepherds to tell them about Jesus’ birth. Why did angels never come like that to people nowadays? Was it a waste of time to dream about seeing angels?

A sudden gust of wind sent snowflakes swirling. Miranda’s window burst open, letting in a wave of cold air which bit at her cheeks and chilled her through her red and green striped pajamas. Miranda stepped forward and placed a hand on the window intending to close it. She hesitated when the swirling snow outside formed a shape which looked like a face. Thin tendrils similar to fingers beckoned. Miranda let go of the window and reached out to the figure forming in the snowy night. The frosty fingers closed around her arm and she found herself sucked into the chilly winter air.

She soared over a grove of pine trees with her dark brown hair streaming behind her. The bottoms of her slippers brushed the roof of her neighbor’s house. She glanced upward, squinting against falling snow which brushed her skin like a million tiny kisses. The figure holding her shifted in and out of focus as the soft wind caught the flakes forming it. The snowy person returned Miranda’s gaze and a smile split the swirling ice crystals. Several large flakes curved over the figure’s head like wings. Miranda gasped as she realized what she was seeing. She was flying with an angel, a real angel! The angel changed course, shooting upward through the cold wet mass of clouds. They leveled off to hover against a backdrop of stars with a roiling bank of grey and white below them lit by the silver half moon.

The angel had solidified into a man with friendly brown eyes, close cropped black hair and a goatee. He was wearing blue jeans and a plain white sweatshirt. Only his wings remained insubstantial, swirling like they were still snowflakes in the wind.

“Well, do you still think you’re wasting your time on thoughts of angels?” he asked.

“No way. I just never thought I’d see a real angel,” Miranda admitted. “This is amazing!”

“You haven’t seen amazing yet,” the angel laughed. “I’m just a Guardian Angel. Wait until you see the big guys.”

The world blurred and twisted around them until Miranda was no longer sure which way was up and which down. When at last they stilled there was no solid ground beneath them but only dark sky. Twinkling lights surrounded them on every side and Miranda realized they were standing among the stars. Points of sharp white light flared against the dark background, materializing into people with glowing bodies wearing clothes of all different styles and colors. Some of these angels appeared as solid flesh and bone while others were as insubstantial as mist. Many flickered in and out of focus. To Miranda’s left hovered a group of musicians in colorful choir robes warming up their voices and tuning instruments, sending up notes as crystal clear as the winter air. To the left smaller angels who looked like children of varying ages slid down the Milky Way laughing and sending up puffs of stardust. Miranda stared in wide eyed wonder. There were thousands of angels, millions of angels, too many angels to count.

A hush fell over the heavenly host as seven regal people appeared in the center of the gathering. Miranda’s attention was drawn to three men standing at the front of the group. In the center was a warrior with brown hair and intense blue eyes wearing combat boots and a breastplate over a camouflage suit. He had a pistol and a long knife hanging from his belt. A rifle and a curved sword were strapped across his back. To his right was a man with bright green eyes and blond hair combed to the side in an elegant fashion. He was dressed in a silky white tuxedo. On the other side of the warrior was a dark skinned man with curly black hair, a beard and warm brown eyes. He was wearing worn jeans, hiking boots and a leather jacket.

“Ah, the archangels are here,” said Miranda’s Guardian pointing at them.

The angel in the white suit nodded to the choir who strummed their instruments and burst into song. It was the most beautiful sound Miranda ever heard. She was sure she had never heard the melody before, yet there was something familiar about it which tugged at her heart strings. The angels captured soft delicate sounds which no human musician ever could. Their songs sent shivers of excitement down Miranda’s spine. The movements of all the angels complimented the music. The effect was beautiful to the point of being a taste of perfection. A point of light spread outward from one big bright star, dominating the sky. The voices of the choir reached a crescendo while the other angels cheered.

“This is the best part of the Christmas celebration,” said Miranda’s Guardian Angel, his face shining.

The light enveloped them, sucking them to a new time and place. When it faded Miranda found herself standing in a rough stone building which smelled of hay and animals. A young dark haired woman wearing a blue dress lay on a pile of straw. Beside her sat a tired looking man with his arms wrapped around her shoulders. In front of them was a small feeding trough in which slept a new born baby wrapped in a tight blanket. It was the baby which created the central point of everything in this stable. Though He did not glow like the half-visible angels, energy emanated from the child filling Miranda with a warm sense of peace and love. The feeling was so strong she wondered if her heart would burst.

The scene shifted again and Miranda found herself hovering over a grassy field lit by the intense glow of the many angels around her. Small white animals lay scattered in the field and she realized they were a flock of sheep. The shepherds stared at the angels in amazement as the choir sang “Glory to God in the Highest”. When the song ended the blurring, twisting sensation came back, carrying Miranda and the angels once again to the spot among the stars. The angels flew around this space greeting each other and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. One by one they vanished, smiling with joy.

“Where are they going?” asked Miranda.

“They go to spread the true message of Christmas on Earth,” her Guardian Angel replied. “Some people need to hear the story for the first time. Many others know it but need to be reminded.”

Miranda thought of all the times she had heard the story of Christ’s birth. She suddenly felt ashamed of the times she had focused on thoughts of the presents she would receive rather than thinking about why Christmas was so important. She remembered the baby and the feeling of love He brought. That love was so much better than all the presents in the world.

“I can help remind other people what Christmas is about too,” she said.

Her Guardian smiled and said, “I hope you will. Now it is time for you to return to your house.”

He took Miranda’s arms and the sky twisted again. When it stopped Miranda was standing in her bedroom as the last notes of the music box faded. Outside her window the snow formed a face before dissipating in a burst of wind which pulled the window pane shut. Miranda turned at the sound of her door opening.

Her mother stepped inside and said, “All right, Miranda, time for bed.” She paused, her green eyes widening before she exclaimed, “Oh! Where did all these feathers come from?”

Miranda glanced at the floor and saw that it was covered with downy white feathers.

“Don’t worry mom, I’ll pick them up,” she said scooping up a handful of soft feathers and grinning.

***

On Christmas morning Miranda walked up and down her street stuffing homemade Christmas cards into the mailboxes of all her neighbors. Before placing the last card in the last mailbox she looked it over a final time. On the front of the card she had drawn a picture of an angel with wings made from the feathers she had found in her room. Inside the card Miranda had written this message:

Christmas is...

Christ
Humble king
Redemption
Immanuel
Silent Night
True love
Mary, mother of God
Angel choirs
Savior of the world

Don’t forget what makes this holiday special.
The cards were signed:
A friendly angel.

Re-release of The Jericho Effect Paperbacks!

I'm pleased to announce that The Jericho Effect is now available for sale in paperback from Createspace and Amazon.com for the price of $10.00 just in time for Christmas! Click here to view the Createspace e-store and here to view the book on Amazon. You can also visit the Createspace e-store page by clicking The Jericho Effect's cover picture in the sidebar. The book is also still available from Kindle for the price of $5.00 for those of you who have e-readers.

If you like teen fantasy stories or know someone who enjoys it, please consider buying the book. Thanks and happy reading!

Next Year's Plans for the Blog

Hello readers! After my beautiful and wonderfully fun wedding I'm back to writing. I thought I'd drop a quick note to let you know my ideas for new writing projects so you'll know what to expect from me in the coming year.

First of all I am making paperback copies of The Jericho Effect available for $10.00 from Amazon.com and the Createspace e-store just in time for Christmas. This would make a perfect gift for any fantasy loving teen readers in your household. The book is also available from Kindle for $5.00. Consider downloading it if your teens have electronic readers.

I am working on a 2 part ending to the Silver Sword Saga. I will post both these episodes on different weeks in January. I plan to release the full collection of Silver Sword stories for sale in the spring. In the meantime you can catch up on past Silver Sword episodes by going to the post: Forging and following the links through the rest of the series.

This coming year I will be editing Quest 2: Penumbra, sequel to Quest: A Time of Training in hopes of being able to release the 2nd book over the summer. Click here to preview the prologue and opening episode of the new book and watch for more details.

Last, I have some new ideas on the horizon such as a new series of short stories for the blog once the Silver Sword Saga is finished. More on that after New Years. For now take care, happy reading and good luck with preparing for Christmas!

Revamped for Halloween

I really was hoping to post the last chapter of the Silver Sword Saga in time for Halloween since it is a monster story. Since that was not able to happen this year I've decided to do something else instead. I've revamped one of my short stories, Fall of Sardi, which is a darker legend and fits the mood of the month. Fall of Sardi will become available for $0.99 in the Kindle store within the next couple days. Aside from a few minor updates to the text, the changes you can expect to see are this dramatic new cover picture:



And this improved product description:

Emperor Destarus is well on his way to crushing enemy kingdoms and making the corrupt Sardi empire the most powerful in the world of Irowasa until a strange messenger comes from the mighty Lord of Light to place a terrible curse on the land of Sardi.

Keep an eye open for the revamped version of this short story and Happy Halloween!

End of Jericho Effect's Limited Edition Sale

Just thought I'd let everyone know that the limited edition copies of The Jericho Effect are no longer available. A Kindle version of the book will remain available for $5.00 in the next couple months until the reprint of the paperback which will most likely be sometime in December. You can click here to visit the book's Kindle page.

Fall 2011 News

Hello blog readers!

I wanted to write a quick note to explain that my writing projects have been interrupted by this crazy thing called LIFE! That brings me to my first and most important piece of news: on November 12, 2011 I am going to marry my childhood friend, Brien Hartung. Because I will be spending the next two months focusing on wedding preparations, all my writing projects are being put on hold until after November. This includes the conclusion of the Silver Sword Saga which I was originally planning to release around Halloween, the release of the Silver Sword anthology and my work on Quests 2.

In other news I plan to continue using "Rebekah Prudhomme" as my pen-name. If you wish to find updates on my writing projects you can continue to follow this blog, go to my Amazon Author Central page, or if you use Facebook "like" my brand new author fan page.

Also, this is the last month I will be selling the limited edition copies of The Jericho Effect. If you wish to buy a limited edition in either paperback or Kindle THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO DO SO. However, I may also make regular copies of The Jericho Effect available around Christmas time depending on how busy I am.

Lastly, several of my stories are still up for sale online, so please consider buying them and supporting my writing efforts.

Until I return to my writing some time after November I wish you happy reading!