Swords with Souls

A Medieval Fantasy Fiction Story

(Adult Content)

By Dan Watt

(Author of the Children of the Myth Machine series)

A Motely Sisterhood of Pirates!

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Cover by Darren Joy

(Author of the Plagueborn series)

An Unintended Meeting

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“First, I must go to my farm and talk to my parents and siblings,” Sir Oliver says as Ronnin trots up to him.

He watches as Ronnin faces Alberta and stomps one forward hoof.  Alberta replies with the same action.  The two horses know each other well.  “Perhaps we should separate here then,” he suggests.

“Oh, I think three makes good company Sir Oisin,” Endellion says still smiling charmingly but her eyes have a deadly glint.  “There’s so much to discuss.  No secrets between friends, true?”

“True,” he grumbles in reply.

“For instance,” she continues as they trot towards Sir Oisin’s farm.  “Your ears are bit deformed, aren’t they?  Or was that from an accident?”

How does she know that? he thinks and curses in his head.  “A deformity,” he lies.  He glances at Sir Oliver who has ridden a short way ahead.  The king’s knight doesn’t seem to have any interest his conversation with Endellion.  He nudges Ronnin to ride beside Endellion’s destrier, a female destrier with tan fur except for the nose and just above the hooves where it’s all white.  “Where are you from?” he asks with a purposeful curtness to his voice.

“I am a Fif of the marshlands where you Sifs forced us to live,” she replies with a crooked smile this time.

“Well, there’s more Propers blood in us Sifs,” he says just loud enough that only she can hear.

“And the faie blood in me makes me a different species?”

“I guess,” he replies.  “Though you’re the first Fif I’ve met and you don’t seem so different.”

“The winners write the stories,” she replies.

“Is it true that the Sifs only won the Banishment Battle because there were so few Fifs?”

“It was ages ago,” she replies with a shrug.  “My understanding was the Fifs didn’t want to keep killing what they thought were their own people.”

“Is that why you stayed away?”

“That’s what our elders told us.”

“How many of you are there?” he asks quickly when he sees Sir Oliver nudging Alberta to go faster.

“There was only ever a few.  Few births come to term,” she replies and he sees her nudge her destrier to hurry up to Sir Oliver.

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Swords with Souls

A Medieval Fantasy Fiction Story

(Adult Content)

By Dan Watt

(Author of the Children of the Myth Machine series)

A Motely Sisterhood of Pirates!

Now Available

Cover by Darren Joy

(Author of the Plagueborn series)

An Unintended Meeting

caedar-writig-artwork.com

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“It’s too bad you’re still searching for Sir Ganbold, I could use your help negotiating with the giants and dwarves,” Sir Oliver says with a sigh.

He can hear the frustration in the Sword Master’s voice.  “I think Sir Ganbold is long gone,” he says with his own sigh.  “I can travel with you but I can’t linger.”

“I too will journey with you since I must stay with my husband-brother,” he hears Endellion say with a charming voice with a tinge of sarcasm.

“Husband-brother?” he asks.

“It’s been declared that all women are to be married even if it means several are married to the same man.”  Sir Oliver’s voice is rough and sarcastic.

“My husband-brother has quite the flock of wives,” Endellion chirps in.  “Perhaps he’ll surrender some of them to another worthy spouse.  How about you, Sir Oisin?  I understand you’re quite the charmer.  How many wives do you have now?”

“None so far,” he admits.  “Let me off here and I’ll call Ronnin.”

As he dismounts, he feels dizzy.  His people might be in danger, Sir Olaf wants the giants and dwarves to help change the direction of the river, men are taking many wives, and Sir Ganbold will surely be coming with an army to avenge his people and his honour.

Sir Oliver has Alberta trot up to him as he whistles to Ronnin.  “There is one other matter,” Sir Oliver says with a deep sadness.  “Sir Afamefuna has left with his family.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he joins forces with Sir Ganbold.”

Finally, some good news!  “Sir Olaf certainly likes to make deadly enemies,” he says with as much fake concern as he can muster.

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Swords with Souls

A Medieval Fantasy Fiction Story

(Adult Content)

By Dan Watt

(Author of the Children of the Myth Machine series)

Cover by Darren Joy

(Author of the Plagueborn series)

Coronation Preparations

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The Sword Maker reaches for the hilt of his sword but she shakes her head at him.  She closes her eyes and inhales deeply.  There’s a fear in the air and the smell of blood.  The joviality of the other day is gone replaced by some ancient fear.  She inhales deeper and realizes the blood smell is coming from the king.  No, not the king but the bear skin robe.  Where was the king the other night?

She rests her hand on the pommel of her own soul sword. “You can call the other swords” her grandfather’s voice says inside her heard.

King Novak stands up.  “The Propers, as they call themselves, were decimated by the plague where as we were hardly effected.  With the exception of a few including my new bride and the Sword Maker, all Propers,” he says Propers with a scowl, “are considered slaves, and if you wish, food.”

Lara gasps along with many of the others in attendance.  It was always rumored that the former king had once eaten Propers and dwarves.  At his death bed he had even admitted to it.  She glances up at the king and his bear cloak.  A dread feeling fills her as she guesses what he was doing the other day.  If King Novak tries to mate with her one of them won’t last the night.

Casks of honey flavored mead and birch sap wine brought in from traders beyond the quarter moon ears are brought in by giant men.  Meanwhile, dwarves carry clay wine storage jars and wine decanters of metheglin and piment.  Local musicians play skin covered drums, wooden and bone flutes, and a strange instrument with a skin sack that inflated when a musician blew into a hollow reed.  While squeezing with the upper arm the musician fingers a flute attached to the bottom of the skin.  The instrument made a loud sound that Lara had never heard before.  As the sky grew darker nearby chieftains paid homage to King Novak. 

Later, torches were lit and giants and dwarves began dancing between sips or gulps of the mead and wine.  She noticed dwarves danced in the center and closest to the king’s throne while mixed dwarves and giants danced around them.  It looked like adults dancing with children.  Near the perimeter where the torches burned danced giants with giants.  She found the Sword Maker sitting near the tables where the barrels and wine jars were set near the carnival wagon.  Near him were Jedreck and Haashir. 

“I need to speak with you,” she says to the Sword Maker.  And glaring at Jedreck and Haashir, “In private.”

She walks with him behind the caravan wagon.  Leaning close so only he can hear she says, “I need you to hold onto my soul sword.”

“Why,” he asks with a slurred voice.

“Because I need to escape from here soon.”  She proffers her sword without the scabbard.

He nods and takes her sword.  “Take mine,” he says slipping it out of its scabbard.

Once they have exchanged swords they walk back to where Jedreck and Haashir sit.

Jedreck stands up and in a humble tone asks her, “A dance?”

“Are you allowed to?” she asks with a snarl.

“As long as you’re willing,” he replies and there’s a message in his tone.

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Swords with Souls

A Medieval Fantasy Fiction Story

(Adult Content)

By Dan Watt

(Author of the Children of the Myth Machine series)

Cover by Darren Joy

(Author of the Plagueborn series)

Marry as Many as You Can!

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“Likely, Sir Ganbold has escaped. Sir Oisin was to find him. Perhaps he’s too busy collecting wives,” Sir Olaf says half under his breath.

“What of Sir Afamefuna?” he asks. Sir Afamefuna was the one royal guard he considered a friend, if not akin to family.

“Gone! He and his entire family fled to the sea. I’m not sure if he was upset about losing some of his land to Sir Emil or just decided to join the traitor, Ganbold.”

He found in that moment that he still respected Sir Ganbold. “You think Sir Ganbold will return with an army?”

“Considering Sir Emil was found dead along with other elite soldiers–.” Sir Olaf bangs his fists onto the table. “With Sir Ganbold’s crest carved into him, I suspect some of Ganbold’s people are still here. It’s possible they started the fire in the prince’s room.”

He remembers Ellis telling him the giants and dwarves might not bring war to the kingdom if he becomes king. His entire being feels like it’s draining out of him. “If Sir Ganbold returns with an army, we won’t have enough to defeat them. Even if we train every woman, child, and elder.”

“That’s why I need you to go to the land of the giants and dwarves. Tell them their kingdom needs them and to send as many men as they have. I also need them to help dig the moat for the palace and change the direction of the Tyne.

He wonders how redirecting the Tyne would affect his and other farmlands. “What about the quarter moons?”

“They might need to protect the north.”

“From whom?”

“Never mind,” Sir Olaf’s voice carries a finality to it. “When you bring the giants and dwarves, I’ll have a pledge ceremony to the queen and kingdom. That will bring the people together.  I’ll have the magistrates include a speech about the betrayal of Sir Ganbold and Sir Afamefuna.  They will be stripped of their titles and a bounty put on their head.  Unless Sir Oisin resurfaces Sir Ganbold’s head,” Sir Olaf says in a tired tone, “it’s just you and I are who loyal to the kingdom.”  Looking up at him with sunken eyes surrounded by dark, sleepless circles Sir Olaf says, “Leave today to the land of the giants and dwarves and bring all the males of age back.”

“May the kingdom always thrive,” he says and leaves the room. He has the dreadful feeling Dampwind is about to be attacked on two fronts.

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A Motley Sisterhood of Pirates

Swords with Souls

A Medieval Fantasy Fiction Story

(Adult Content)

By Dan Watt

(Author of the Children of the Myth Machine series)

Cover by Darren Joy

(Author of the Plagueborn series)

Marry as Many as You Can!

caedar-writig-artwork.com

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On the second floor he enters a room known as the Battle Room in what is known as the left wing.

The room has a large right angle triangular oak table.  He sees Sir Olaf is standing at the point which is flat ended, designed to demonstrate who is in charge.  In the centre of the table is a rectangular map made of skin. There are small wooden figurines of buildings, including the palace. Drawn directly on the map is the River Tye, forested areas, the different hamlets, and where the kingdom meets the sea to the East. To the North is the land of the giants and dwarves, and the quarter moon ears.

Sir Olaf sunken eyes look dark and his muscular face drawn. “You heard about the prince?” he asks with a gravely, baritone voice.

“Yes,” he answers with conflicted emotions. Prince Jame’s death was sad that he was so young but he also seemed to be a horrible individual.  Who knows what the kingdom would end up being like with him as ruler. “My condolences to you and the queen.”

“Thank you,” Sir Olaf replies gruffly. “And you know of the new marriage policy?”

“I just learned of it,” he replies with a shrug.

“The plague and wars took away most of the men. We need to replenish the population as soon as possible. With the queen’s consent I have taken numerous wives myself. The kingdom needs a new heir. Of course, as long as the queen’s alive, she’ll rule.”

As long as she’s alive, he repeats in his head. The king is gone and so is the prince. How long will the queen last, he wonders. “I wish the queen a long life with many children.”

“I understand you attended Stian’s funeral,” Sir Olaf says with an unexpected sadness in his voice.  “How is Celima doing?”

“I will find out soon, she’s one of my wives now,” he replies with humour in his voice.

Sir Olaf gives him a quizzical look. “I don’t think she’ll be bearing any children. I have need of her. We will need salves and such for war soon.”

“War?” he asks.

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