Swords with Souls: A Gathering of Mourners B52

Swords with Souls

Medieval Fantasy Fiction

By Dan Watt

(Author of BARD series)

BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone
Book 2 of the BARD series: BARD: Owner of the Gemstone a dark fantasy novel

Cover by Darren Joy

(Author of the Plagueborn series)

A Viral Imperium Book one of the Plagueborn series

– Adult content –

A Gathering of Mourners

As she ate, she learned that the reason the soldiers were here was to put down a revolt by a clan unwilling to join the proper king’s kingdom. The gruff soldier commanded one of the younger soldiers to take her to the followers. As they walked, the soldier steered her between some beech trees. ‘You’re very attractive,’ he told her, gently pressing her up against a tree trunk.

‘Are you going to force yourself on me?’ she asked, her hand sliding over the handle of her curved knife.

‘Never,’ he replied with a boyish grin, and stepped back.

She found him attractive, and he stirred her desire. ‘But you want me?’ she asked seductively.

‘I do. But not forever,’ he said with an experienced voice for one so young. ‘But I will remember forever,’ he continued looking down at her body.

She had taken his hand and placed it on one of her breasts. He was rugged and tender all at once.

That was the beginning of her career. Some of the soldiers she slept with, others she helped heal. To the younger soldiers, she felt like a teacher in the art of desire and it helped her discover the best way to prolong or speed up an orgasm. Seeing the different personalities, except for one, amused her. Sex with some of the commanders was often fast and methodical with lots of grunts and little to no talking. She started using castor oil for those who felt the back door wasn’t considered cheating on their wives. However, there were some soldiers that never visited her or the other girls.

One evening, feeling curious she stealthily followed a noble commander into the woods. Her keen eyesight let her see him stand towards a tree trunk as if to relieve himself. Instead, he took out what appeared to be a section of a woman’s shift. In the darkness it was hard to make out but she thought there was an image embroidered onto the piece of shift.  He kept repeating the name Asghari between grunts. In the words of men, the seed will come out one way or another. She still didn’t understand why the noble’s act made her weep that night. She had felt hollow inside, like a voyeur. But her will had always been strong and the feeling soon faded. Some of the soldiers were more daring, taking their time. Like Brent, the soldier who pulled her aside the first day. Not only did he explore her but he did it gently and rhythmically.  From him, she learned the joys of sex.

As the army moved deeper into enemy territory, she became enamored towards Brent. Hoping he would lay with her more and more. But war isn’t all sexual passion; it’s also full of horrifying violence. She tried to save Brent after an enemy’s spear tore through his boiled leather breast plate. Shortly after his death, a heavy-set commander started to visit her more often. He was huge and treated her and the other girls like sexual slaves. He would degrade her as he pounded into her, causing her to bleed. Laughing he would grab her hair and tell her how much she liked it. But it wasn’t until she needed to use salves on one of the other girl’s nether regions and on the bruises on her neck, and the missing nipple the commander bit off, that she became enraged.

People I Follow

Posing_foxy

Swords with Souls: A Gathering of Mourners B51

(Swords with Souls)

Medieval Fantasy Fiction

By Dan Watt

(Author of BARD series)

BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone
Book 2 of the BARD series: BARD: Owner of the Gemstone a dark fantasy novel

Cover by Darren Joy

(Author of the Plagueborn series)

A Viral Imperium Book one of the Plagueborn series

– Adult content –

A Gathering of Mourners

She nuzzles her bare bottom closer to Crimthann’s groin. Sometime in the night he had wrapped her in his cloak while they lay on hers. She couldn’t recall if they had made love or just held each other under the moonlight. It was dawn and they were lying on branches of cedar leaves he had cut off for them. She feels him caress her left breast then slide his hand down her side to her hips before he carefully gets up.

“I’m awake,” she says and sits up. In the orange light she can make out other lying figures near the shore.

“Then I’ll make us some gruel and mint tea,” he says in a soft voice.

She watches him go to his horse’s saddlebags and pull out a brass pot and burlap sack with oats inside. This man is always prepared. She stands up naked and shivers. Before she cowards out, she steps into the surprising warm stream that leads to the pond where Stain was burned. She lays her back against the bank so that only her face and breasts are visible above the refreshing water. Still tired, she closes her eyes and remembers surviving alone.

After the Romani were attacked, she had fled into the woods. For days she lived on small fish caught in streams, frogs but not toads, and berries and edible plants. She wandered aimlessly until she came upon a path. Following the path north she soon smelt food. Damian had explained to her the importance of hiding her most precious possessions. First, she scanned the nearby forest for the presence of anyone else. Next, she found an easy to find landmark, an ancient willow tree growing beside a wide stream. Her eyes darted everywhere as she dug a hole into the soil near the base of the willow. Once her treasure was buried, she tossed the extra dirt around and pulled a rock out of the stream. She placed it over the spot and torqued it into the ground so it looked natural. Scanning her surroundings once again she stepped back and memorized where her treasure was now buried.

As she started traveling again the smell of meat cooking from somewhere nearby made her mouth water. Between two poplar trees she noticed a lone sentry with a shawm.  When the sentry saw her, he was about to blow a warning into the musical instrument. She smiled seductively at him. With a grin he lowered the shawm. Swaying her hips she continued on past him, making sure she smiled as she did. A little further on she saw a circle of soldiers cooking deer and rabbit on spits. The food made her drool and her stomach growl. All the men’s gazes turned towards her as she came closer.

A powerful looking soldier with intense blue eyes stood up.  In a gruff and commanding voice, he told her, ‘Go back with the followers. This is no place for women.’

Desperately, she tried to think of something that would let her stay. Glancing around she noticed all the men looked haggard. Most had arms or legs wrapped in cloth with visible spots of blood. During her time with the Romani, Alifair had taught her a number of salves, tinctures, and the proper way to wrap a wound. Alifair had also explained deadly herbs and how to use them but she hoped that would never be necessary. ‘I have healing skills,’ she said, desperate for some food.

People I Follow

Valentina Moeller

Swords with Souls: A Gathering of Mourners B50

(Swords with Souls)

Medieval Fantasy Fiction

By Dan Watt

(Author of BARD series)

BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone
Book 2 of the BARD series: BARD: Owner of the Gemstone a dark fantasy novel

Cover by Darren Joy

(Author of the Plagueborn series)

A Viral Imperium Book one of the Plagueborn series

– Adult content –

A Gathering of Mourners

Lara watches as her grandfather’s corpse burns to ash.

“I heard you’re good with knives,” a confident female voice asks from beside her.

She jolts from the sudden appearance of the hooded girl who came with Madame Swan. “Why do you ask?” she asks clenching her hands over the knife and dagger she has belted to her dress.

“Do you know Sir Oliver?” the girl asks.

“Of him, his uncle I know.” She tries to hear the intent of the conversation in the girl’s voice but it just sounds conversational.

“He’s looking for a companion I hear. Someone inconspicuous to guard him.”

She snickers. “No man would dare have a girl protector, it would make him look weak, and like a fool.”

“Aren’t men fools anyway?” the girl asks, and this time there is a furiousness to her voice.

“Being one and getting called one are two different things.” She gazes across the pond. Her grandfather built sturdy things, and although his corpse is mostly ash now, the row boat might be salvageable. Would he want that? It wasn’t like his soul would haunt her if she kept it. Tomorrow, early, she would go with the circus caravan to give his soul and the deceased grandfather of Ganesha a new home. “Perhaps another day would be more appropriate to have this conversation,” she chastises the girl.

“Tomorrow we will talk again,” the girl replies with a more sensitive tone.

“Tomorrow, I leave early so you’ll have to wait much longer than that.” Did this girl not drink the special grog she and Gwen prepared with their grandmother? There was no dreaminess apparent in her voice.

“I’ll go with you as soon as I get Madame Swan home safely.”

Lara glances at Madame Swan and the very close standing ranger Crimthann. “I don’t think she’ll need your protection.”

“Then I’ll go with you on the mornin’. You really should have proper protection. I’ll talk to Sir Oliver.”

“Don’t bother.” Lara starts to say but the girl has already disappeared into the night.

People I Follow

Darren Joy’s Worldbuilding Planner
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Swords with Souls: A Gathering of Mourners B49

(Swords with Souls)

Fantasy Fiction

By Dan Watt

(Author of BARD series)

BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone
Book 2 of the BARD series: BARD: Owner of the Gemstone a dark fantasy novel

Cover by Darren Joy

(Author of the Plagueborn series)

A Viral Imperium Book one of the Plagueborn series

– Adult content –

A Gathering of Mourners

Other strange creatures, barely visible against the tree trunks or plants they stand near wipe tears away. Upright standing rabbits wearing jerkins and smoking long pipes watch from an open patch of grass before a blackthorn hedge. Peering between ash trees is a large headed person with a boulder sized body. The eyes of this person are wide with interest. A bulbous nose sniffs while a gaping mouth chews on leaves.

She shivers from the sight of what she can only imagine are faie but then settles into the warmth of Crimthann’s arm. That’s when she notices Endellion is missing. She glimpses around and sees the hooded figure standing near Lara. It was a mistake to tell Endellion about Lara’s natural abilities to fight. When Lara was still a little girl her mother brought her with her to the brothel with bottles and jars of ointments and perfumes. Lara had noticed the curved Romani knife she kept strapped to her left thigh. Intrigued by the girl’s interest she took the knife out and demonstrated some of the knife techniques Damian had shown her. Lara asked if she could try. She had turned to Celima, who nodded her approval. Lara emulated her technique exactly, and with vigor. The girl was a natural fighter. Perhaps that’s why Celima and Stian let her ride out on her own.

She turns back to the burning corpse of Stian as his rowboat floats to the middle of the pond.  

“When are you leaving?” she barely hears Crimthann ask her. His tone is cool as usual but with a tinge of shakiness.

“It’s warm enough to sleep outside,” she says, leaning into him. He used to pay to visit her but over the years he stopped paying for her bed and just brought her fresh vegetables and occasionally fruit and wrapped meat. For her and the girls, he would say shyly, before quickly departing.

“I have a question to ask you in the morning,” he says with more sternness than perhaps he intended. Or maybe not.

“Well, you’ll need to stay near me than,” she coos.  

≈

People I follow

Megan Skelton (artist)

Swords with Souls: A Gathering of Mourners B48

(Swords with Souls)

Fantasy Fiction

By Dan Watt

(Author of BARD series)

BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone
Book 2 of the BARD series: BARD: Owner of the Gemstone a dark fantasy novel

Cover by Darren Joy

(Author of the Plagueborn series)

A Viral Imperium Book one of the Plagueborn series

– Adult content –

A Gathering of Mourners

Madame Swan can’t stop wiping tears away as she sips from the wooden stein Lara handed to her and all the other witnesses. The liquid inside is as thick as broth and has an appealing spicy taste composed of numerous ingredients including alcohol. So, she looks around but doesn’t think anyone can really see her as the sun disappears behind the horizon. Some of the tears run down her cheeks to the centre of her bosom. She’s sure eyes glance her way. She sniffs and stands taller. You can’t stop the cruel gossip of women nor the lecherous stares of men. Endellion is standing beside her, still hooded. Crimthann walks over and stands on her other side.  He places an arm around her shoulders as he sips from his own stein. She can smell lavender mixed with lint on his skin.

She stands perfectly still as Jedreck lowers Stian’s corpse, with reverence, into the long wooden rowboat. The pond as they call it, is more like a shallow lake with numerous mounds and a few tiny islands. The rowboat rocks amongst the lily pads that surround it. She thinks, how brave Celima is, as her old friend places dried twigs beside her husband’s corpse. Lara, then Gwen holding Ganesha up, place more twigs atop the corpse of her husband. She places her own handful inside. Stian was always such a gentleman to her. If she stirred any desire in his loins, he hid it well. Crimthann follows suit as do all the others. Celima tries to light a torch but she’s shaking too much. Jedreck strikes the stones for her.

The sight of Stain’s body burning in the rowboat is soothing, he’s at peace now. But when she catches sight of Celima, her heart cracks and she needs to look away.

She has always been curious, and her excellent eyesight has kept her safe, especially when she was younger and all alone. She blinks as she peers behind and to either side of the others. Standing against a tree near Celima is a very tall man. A thin root grows out of his mouth and branches out to mingle with his hair. Bark grows in splotches all over his otherwise nude body. Near and behind Lara and Gwen and the toddler Ganesha is an exquisitely shaped woman. Her hair looks like strands of root in the shape of a beehive atop her head. Quarter moon ears twitch in the night air. In the moonlight she sees things strategically shine on the woman’s body. A stringed scallop shell strategically over her nether region and horse mussel shells over her nipples.

People I Follow

Ivana.o.k. is an underwater photographer for National Geographic Serbia who always has a smile and emits positivity.

Book Review of Chris Hadfield’s The Defector

Book Review of Chris Hadfield’s latest thriller, The Defector

The one-eyed pilot, Kaz Zemeckis, returns as the main character.  This time Zemeckis is called in when a Russian pilot flying a MiG-25 is believed to have defected the same day as the Yom Kippur War of 1973 begins.

The story starts with Zemeckis in Israel on what ends out being a short-lived holiday with his girlfriend.  Through a bargain between the Prime Minister of Israel and the President of the United States, Zemeckis returns to the U.S. with very precious cargo. Whether that cargo is beneficial or not is for the reader to discover. 

Throughout the story you get glimpses into what Russia’s astronaut program was like during the Cold War period compared to the United States’. The story also touches on a collaboration between the Russian and U.S. space programs.  I can’t help but wonder if Hadfield is teasing us with another story based on that collaboration. If so, I’m very much looking forward to reading it.

This might be the first time you learn some of the secrets of Area 51, an integral part of the story.  Hadfield also sits you inside a MiG-25 Foxbat, an F-15 Eagle, and a stealth helicopter nicknamed The Quiet One.

If you love stories written by people who know what they’re writing about (Colonel Hadfield is a Canadian retired astronaut, fighter pilot, and currently a musician and writer).  Hadfield takes you on a thrill ride that has the realistic detail to bring you right beside each character.  You’ll feel as though you’re participating in everything the characters are going through.   

I have underplayed Colonel Hadfield’s credentials and numerous accomplishments.  But you can look up his resume yourself.  This is the third book of his I have read.  I also highly recommend:  The Apollo Murders and An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth.  I have not read his The Darkest Dark yet, but it’s on my list of books to read.

Chris Hadfield is on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

Dan Watt, PT, Tutor, and author of the BARD series

Swords with Souls: A Gathering of Mourners B47

A Gathering of Mourners

(Swords with Souls)

Fantasy Fiction

By Dan Watt

(Author of BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone)

BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone

Cover by Darren Joy

(Author of the Plagueborn series)

A Viral Imperium Book one of the Plagueborn series

– Adult content –

A Gathering of Mourners

Everyone but Sir Oliver and the carnival crew depart down the path.

“I’d like to offer my services,” Sir Oliver says as he walks up to her.

“Thank you,” she says. “You can help carry my grandfather to the boat. His body has already been prepared.”

Cowled figures of all sizes step out of the carnival wagon. She knows most of them. The bearded lady, the dwarf named Ellis, the humpback, the tattooed man, the fire breather, and the woman who can pierce her skin without feeling pain or lasting injury. Over the years others had come and gone. The two-faced boy worked well until a customer discovered the other face was just a realistic looking mask. But it’s with the carnival owner, Haashir, and the giant Jedreck she is closest to.

Over the years Haashir had brought her grandparents many books. He could not read very well but he always listened intently when her grandmother read to him. Once, when the carnival wagon was parked on the property for a few days, she saw him bathe in the pond. Hidden behind reeds just as the sun was about to set, she swears she saw a jagged scar along the centre of his chest. As for Jedreck, he would give her rides on his shoulders so she could see farther than even on the back of a horse. If she was cold, he placed one of his hands over her head; a warming hand for a hood. If they were talking, he placed her upon a low tree branch or high rock. There is a lilt to his baritone voice that she has always adored.

“If you would each help hold a section of the stretcher’s poles,” she requests.

“I will carry him alone,” Jedreck tells her with a reassuring smile.

She still sits atop Aminah, and yet must still look up to see Jedreck’s face. His cheekbones are high like Ippakness’s but all the rest of him, including the long and thick auburn hair, and piercing blue eyes remind her of the ones who came from the north-west. Similar to Sir Olaf but not quite.

“And we’ll assist if he should get tired,” chirps up Ellis. His broad, dwarven face smiling toothily up at her. She hears the other carnivalers concur.

As her grandfather’s wilted body is carried out in Jedreck’s arms, a flood of memories bite into her heart. He’s dressed only in his blue nightgown. Her grandmother and her sister have washed him and placed ointment over his body so he won’t smell of death. She dismounts and Aminah kneels down so her grandmother can climb on. The mare stands up and she mounts behind her grandmother. Glancing back, she sees Gwen lift Ganesha onto the saddle of Hami, a destrier stallion very protective of both her sister and nephew. Earlier they brought food and drink to the bank of the pond. Few went near the horse with the midnight blue coat and white pasterns. Both horses make their way past the walking carnivalers to walk near Jedreck and the soulless corpse of her grandfather.

People I Follow

Orissa Kelly ‘The Archer who shoots flaming arrows with her feet’

Swords with Souls: Medieval and Dark Fantasy Story B46

A Gathering of Mourners

(Swords with Souls)

Fantasy Fiction

By Dan Watt

(Author of BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone)

BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone

Cover by Darren Joy

(Author of the Plagueborn series)

A Viral Imperium Book one of the Plagueborn series

– Adult content –

A Gathering of Mourners

Lara sits atop Aminah in front of the house watching the guests arrive. When she sees Ippakness’s sad face, her heart aches. The poor man. His wife came from the same land as Sir Ganbold. Their parting must have been so hard on both of them and his wife would have fled with their two children. Lara gently feels for the small glass bells Ippakness had made for her.  She sighs as she feels their contours safely wrapped for her journey. According to the section of the book ETERNAL, that she and her sister had read, the bells were essential for the delivery to work.

The book by Melampus and Mary both enthralls and terrifies her. Until lately, she was only allowed to look at the book with her grandmother, or her grandfather–when he was alive. The depictions of the constellations on the cover seem alive. It’s what’s inside that is terrifying. Complete explanations of all the different minerals. And the six elements: metal, earth, wood, fire, water, and air. Credit is given to visiting inventors from every known land. Her favourite passage is by Mary: with time anything is possible but time is limited so we pass on our knowledge to later generations. She still contemplates Melampus’s passage on souls: with the correct mixture, heat, and waves of sound, essence can be captured and transported.

“Hello Lara,” she hears Sir Afamefuna call.

She shakes her head to clear her thoughts. “Sorry, Sir Afamefuna,” she apologizes with a bow of her head. “And Lady Marigold. And your amazing rides.” So far these are the people she wants at her grandfather’s funeral. It will be interesting to see if any of the faie come. She feels an ache for her father and mother. Her grandmother and sister have prepared an alcoholic drink with mushrooms to help the guests question what they see later in the evening. Most propers have never met a faie, knowingly.

A few years ago, when their grandmother doted over Ganesha to give Gwen a break, her sister had taken her into the hidden underground library, under the centre of the house. Their grandparents had purposely built the centre section of the house over an ancient ruin with a downward spiraling stone staircase. Whoever the original builders were, they also carved ledges out of the stone walls. This is where their grandparents kept their most precious books. She and Gwen were only shown the secret passage a few years ago. Gwen lit some candles and took out a large paper tome with an aged leather cover. On the cover was the image of a man and woman wearing sashes. However, the man’s head was that of a toad and the woman’s of a frog. They wore sandals on their webbed feet with curling roots growing out of their toenails upon which white peddled flowers grew. Inside the book was written A Translation of Arvio’s Faie Observations by Melampus and Mary. On the next page it said: Faie are the children of two to three kingdoms: spiritus, plantae, and animalia. Most must stay near their host, whether rock, tree, pond, desert, river, lake, sea, or air current. They are the oldest known beings, with a mating season that is beyond my lifespan. Their demise can bring about terrible effects to the surrounding land.

“Lara, dear,” Lady Marigold says, “Where do we go.”

“Oh,” she says quickly. There’s quite a gathering in front of her now. She’s so tired that she’s drifting. She raises her right arm to the side. “Follow the old path to the pond. You’ll see grandpa’s rowboat there.”

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Honeyswordcosplay

Swords with Souls: Medieval and Dark Fantasy Story B45

A Gathering of Mourners

(Swords with Souls)

Fantasy Fiction

By Dan Watt

(Author of BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone)

BARD: Bearer of the Gemstone

Cover by Darren Joy

(Author of the Plagueborn series)

A Viral Imperium Book one of the Plagueborn series

– Adult content –

A Gathering of Mourners

“What I have to say could be considered traitorous. But I ask you to consider it before you decide what action to take.” Sir Afamefuna has a defeated expression on his face. “After Sir Olaf’s recommendation, the king has decided that a great chunk of my fiefdom should be severed and given to the new king’s guard. The one Olaf encouraged the king to accept. The king has already given Sir Olaf, Sir Ganbold’s fiefdom.”

“Already?” he asks, shocked. That means that either Sir Ganbold was able to flee with all his people, or, whoever remains will need to swear allegiance to Sir Olaf. He pauses in thought. Or, Sir Olaf will have anyone remaining butchered as traitors. He wonders if Sir Oisin, whether he captures or kills Sir Ganbold, will demand the fiefdom. 

“I am getting old,” Sir Afamefuna continues. “My joints hurt in the morning and my reaction time is slowing down. But I have four hearty boys. Two of them are young men now. They can easily take care of the daily tasks. I swore allegiance to the king but not before the well being of my family. Or my conscious. This king and his conniving wife are destroying this kingdom.” Sir Afamefuna’s face is now full of rage, and he pulls his sword out a bit farther. “You know what happened to the gardenery in Buttigieg,” Sir Afamefuna continues.  “After that king had the River Massika’s flow altered. The Buttigieg Gardenery is now surrounded by a foul-smelling swamp! Think, Sir Oliver, what will happen when our king alters the path of the River Tyne? I’ve wandered across lands turned to sand because of idiotic ideas like this. If Stian was still alive, he would tell you the same.”

He stands there, thoughtfully, for a moment. Buttigieg Gardenery is also considered one of the most haunted places in the land. “Let’s agree,” he says finally. “That we will speak plainly on this from now on.”

Sir Afamefuna inhales and shoves his short sword back fully into its sheath. He reaches out a hand to Oliver as he says, “Agreed. The other problem with getting old is you have to relieve yourself more often,” he continues, facing one of the tree trunks. “There’s other concerns,” he says speaking with head turned. “Sir Olaf has suggested castrating all dwarven newborns. The same with any youth that grows to giant size. He says it will keep their population down. There’s more and we should talk later, after the burning.”

He feels bile come up his throat. All children are sacred, Endellion had said. The thought of regicide doesn’t seem so sacrilege suddenly. 

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A fitting song by _melegie

BARD: Owner of the Gemstone, Book 2, Available January 31

The dark fantasy story of Bran the BARD continues. Alone he travels to the immortal emperor’s land to find the owner of the gemstone he can never take off.