The Callindra Chronicles Book One - First Quest (33 page)

“
I don’t want a reward.”
 Callindra said, “I just don’t see how you expect me to do
anything against a God.”

“
I can give you this.”
 Jorda took a pendant from around her neck and handed it to
Tryst.  A small hand, the size of an infant’s hung from it.
 “This is my piece of the mold that formed the original human.
 Each one of Gode’s children was charged with one of them and
each of us kept ours safe in their own way.  I fear most of
them are scattered and lost, however this one has the unique
property that it can point out the closest one of its
brothers.”

Tryst took it reverently, and when it touched
his palm it spun gently, pointing roughly north.  “I cannot
accept this.”  He said softly.

“
But if you find them all
and assemble them, we will be able to re-establish communication
with Gode.”  Jorda said, “If you truly wish to accomplish the
mission you were assigned then this is the only way.”

“
I want to help you Tryst, I
really do.”  Callindra said, “But I can’t just abandon
Glarian.  Before I go off on some crazy quest I have to go and
find him.  He needs me.”

Jorda looked at her, as if unsure exactly how
she should respond.  Finally she gestured to the room, “Why
don’t we stop all this serious talk and enjoy the wonderful food
and entertainment that has been prepared in your honor?  You
do not need to make any decisions right now.”

In spite of being nearly certain that the
Goddess was withholding something from her, Callindra was drawn
into the fantastic scene before her.  The elves who were here
weren’t the battle hardened soldiers she had met so far.
 Beautiful women in flowing gowns that seemed finer than
spider silk.  Equally gorgeous men in tailored, fitted suits
and boots with high heels that clicked on the floor.  

Both sexes had their pale hair braided in
intricate patterns that made her eyes swim.  Delicate clips
shaped like insects, birds and leaves wrought in gold, silver and
platinum held the braids in place.  Jewels shone in place of
eyes and drops of dew.  The language they spoke was fluid and
made Callindra feel as though her words sounded like a handful of
nails being dropped down a sheet of metal.

In spite of the words of their Goddess
thanking them and offering praise, most of them seemed to hold
themselves aloof from the humans.  She didn’t hold it against
them though, after all she and her friends had brought the evil
into their home.  The fact that they’d banished it didn’t wipe
out their involvement.

The food wasn’t what she had expected either.
 Rather than just vegetables, the tables were laden with
thinly sliced, barely seared venison, whole rabbits stuffed with
wild onions and slow roasted, skewers with spit roasted birds,
pastries filled with only gods knew what baked to a golden brown.
 

It all smelled so delicious that her
misgivings gave way to her appetite.  She sat with her
friends, and they all ate and drank, letting go of their fears and
inhibitions.  Even if all here didn’t trust them or appreciate
their efforts they were together and they had won.  That
wasn’t everything that she needed but it was enough for now.

Chapter 27

Callindra arose before the sun, her internal
clock awakening her as the first rosy fingers of the predawn glow
reached above the horizon of the forest.  The room she shared
with the men she had come to consider her brothers had windows that
looked out over the forest canopy.  It was strange, knowing
that they were hundreds of feet in the air even though the treetops
only looked like they were perhaps twenty or thirty feet below.

Looking at the others, she startled when
Vilhylm turned his head and stared at her, but after a moment she
realized he was sleeping with his eyes open.  She wasn’t one
to question strange habits but that was weird.  How would one
come to acquire such an affectation?

She slipped out careful not to awaken anyone,
no mean feat in spite of the amount of drinking the boys had done
the night before.  The Tree was immense, but after wandering
for a time, she heard the sounds of swordplay.  Following the
sound, she eventually came to a door that led out onto a massive
branch at least 50 yards wide. There were several dozen elves
stripped to the waist working sword forms. The style was strange
but it spoke to her nature; it was wild and reckless but strangely
they used both hands. After watching them for a few moments
Callindra approached one of the elves standing to one side.

“
Good morning, may I join
you for a morning workout?”

The elf gave her a scornful look, “How did
you find this place? This training ground is for Bladedancers only.
Aren’t you one of those outsiders who brought that evil and fouled
the air our goddess breathes? I saw you soiling your blade with
magic, and besides you fight with a single sword. Useless human
child, leave immediately.”

“
I was already going. Your
fighting style isn’t nearly powerful enough for me to emulate, and
I’d hate to make you look bad. Again. After all wasn’t it my magic
wielding single handed fighting style that took down that golem
before it could destroy your precious tree? Where were you all that
time? Fighting some vicious and dangerous bugs I presume?” She
laughed in the elf’s face and walked back into the tree listening
to her spluttering indignation with satisfaction.  Even so,
she was sad that she had been turned away.  It would have been
interesting to spar with them.

After taking a few more turns and found
herself on a secluded branch that was small for the Great Tree,
only about twenty feet from side to side. Seating herself in the
center of the branch with her sword across her knees she meditated
and listened to the wind. Despite knowing how useless it was she
strained to hear something from her master Glarian, remembering his
last instructions not to follow him to Hellgate Keep.

“
I will follow your
instructions old man, but only until I’m strong enough to feed that
black clad bastard his own balls.” She muttered. Standing Callindra
began moving through her basic Stances. After the initial warm up
she began running her own forms; the ones she used to keep
opponents off balance so they couldn’t tell which attack was
next.

Although she never would have admitted it to
anyone she had given each one a name. Swallow Skims Across Water.
Searching the Sea. Holding the Moon. Bird Returns to Tree at Dusk.
Black Dragon Whips His Tail. Green Dragon Emerges From Water. Lion
Shakes His Mane. Tigress Holds Her Head. Phoenix Spreads Its Wings.
Wind Sweeps the Plum Blossoms. Wild Horse Leaps Over the Creek.
Snake Strikes Twice. Lightning Splits the Tree.

Just as she was finishing the last sweep of
Brightfang she became aware of another presence. Callindra leaped
into the air, spinning with her blade held at the ready, Soaring
Crane Strikes, and only barely managed to halt her blade before it
split the skull of a young elf who stood in the doorway.

“
Pox and rot! I nearly cut
you in half; you need to be more careful!” She
exclaimed.

“
Oh my, you’re one of the
Outsiders who saved us from those demons! I cannot believe that you
are a girl! I would wager you are the strongest girl ever! Mother
said I was not allowed to go see you but you came to me."
 

Callindra raised her eyebrow at the girl,
"What do you mean I came to you?"

"Well after a fashion anyway."  Her
guest amended, "I always come here in the mornings; you can watch
the Blade Dancers from here. I wish train with them so badly, but
mother and father will not let me.”

Callindra shook her head warming quickly to
the pipsqueak’s flattery, “Those stuck up prigs, why would you want
to watch them? If they had been worth a damn they would have helped
me take down that golem. Lucky for you I’m a mage, not just a
swordfighter or this tree would probably be dead.”

The elf’s eyes widened in shock, “But this is
the Grandfather Tree. Nothing can kill the Grandfather Tree. What
is a prig?”

“
Oh, of course you’re
probably right,” Callindra didn’t think it was necessary to tell
this kid the truth, she ran her fingers through her tangled hair
and they got caught in the thorn and brightstar tiara Gode had
given her. “Damn I thought I took this thing off last night. I
guess I must have forgotten.”

The elf maid gasped, “That is a gift from
Gode herself! I saw her give it to you in the Great Hall. I do not
believe it comes off.”

“
Doesn’t come off? What do
you mean doesn’t fucking come off?” Callindra pulled at the tangle
of vines in her hair but only accomplished hurting her scalp.
Feeling at her hair she found it had vegetation growing all the way
from the roots of her hair to the tips with tiny four petal
brightstar flowers dotting it here and there. Strangely it didn’t
seem to tangle her fingers as long as she wasn’t trying to take it
off.

“
It’s a Crown of Life, once
you put them on they do not come off, otherwise they die. It is a
living thing you know, made from Jorda’s hair. You’re really lucky
to have it. I think you are the first Outsider to get one. What is
your name brave warrior?”

She quit pulling on her hair with a sigh, oh
well it was just a few flowers, but why Brightstars? Why not
something that would make her seem to be more dangerous like
Nightshade or Deathblossom? “My name’s Callindra, what’s
yours?”

“
Edelweiss” she raised her
chin as though preparing for abuse.

“
That’s a strong name. Did
you know that’s one of the toughest plants in existence? So
stubborn it will only grow high up on mountains, no lower than 2000
paces?” Callindra remembered Cronos talking about it before, “I
know a lot of people only talk about its healing properties but
it’s a really tough flower.”

“
You are without a doubt the
strangest girl I have ever met.” Edelweiss said, tilting her head
to one side, “The Goddess was correct though, you really could be
much prettier if you tried. The Crown really does add to your looks
you know?”

“
Bah. Who needs to be
pretty? I find beauty in the dance of battle, in the edge of
Brightfang, in the flare of Power when I bend the weave to my
will!” She stepped back lightly and swung her blade in a whirling
arc, a few leaves swept up around her in a whirlwind and her hair
fanned out around her.

Edelweiss clapped her hands in delight.
“Amazing! Here we don’t have anyone who taps into the weave. They
have to sit around and wait for Gode to grant them power. She is
wonderful and all, but it all seems so boring in comparison.”

“
So you want to train with
the Blade Dancers do you?” Edelweiss nodded emphatically, “Well I
don’t have much pull with them but I can help you make a kick ass
entrance if you want.”

“
Whatever do you
mean?”

“
C’mere and I’ll show you.”
Callindra was smiling a fiendish smile. Her small companion
approached cautiously. “Come on now, if you’re nervous or hesitant
they’ll never take you seriously!” She looked down at the practice
yard far below them, mentally measuring the distance, then picked
up the slight elf and yelled, “Hang on tight if you don’t wanna
die!” and leapt from the branch.

Edelweiss let out a terrified shriek that
nearly deafened Callindra but she hung on tight as the wind
whistled around their ears. Far below there was a flurry of
activity as the elves in the practice yard scurried about trying to
figure out how to catch the falling pair. Laughing in wild abandon,
Callindra twirled Brightfang in an intricate pattern, forcing the
Weave to obey her whim and just before they hit the ground a blast
of wind cushioned their fall.

The tiny elf maid opened her eyes and gasped
in surprise. “What’s happening? Is this Magic then? It is isn’t
it?” She was still hanging on to Callindra’s neck but less tightly
now, her eyes shining with admiration. They had landed in the
center of the practice yard amid a cluster of furious elves. The
elf who had kicked her out before was the closest and in a
rage.

“
Edelweiss! What in the name
of all that’s holy are you doing with this weave wielding savage?”
Turning her baleful gaze at Callindra he continued, “What have you
done to my son?”

Too stunned to respond, Callindra stared as
Edelweiss retorted, “Leave over mother, she is an amazing and
talented warrior. I accidently imposed upon her morning practice
ritual and she saved me from falling.”

Not precisely true, but a close enough
approximation she supposed… but wait, Edelweiss was a boy? Not
possible he was far too pretty. “Sorry for the inconvenience. I
need to pack for my journey so I’ll take my leave if you don’t
mind?” Callindra didn’t suppose she had much of a chance at
avoiding a few bruises at this point but it was worth a shot.

“
I think not human. I think
you need to learn a lesson in manners. As swordmaster I think it’s
only fitting I be the one to issue that lesson.” Oh shit. “Why
didn’t you tell me your MOTHER was the rutting SWORDMASTER?”
 She hissed at the other girl… wait boy?

“
No need to be afraid
mortal.”  The elf said coldly, “I will not kill one who bears
the favor of my Goddess.”

“
Well, no harm in a little
practice I suppose.”  Callindra said, “Maybe I might learn
something. If there’s anything I’ve learned thus far in life it’s
that pain is a good teacher and what doesn’t kill me has made me
stronger.”

“
In that case, prepare for a
very good lesson girl.”