Excalion

Excalion
Chapter Five: Lightning Strike

=[ Part One ]=


“Captain, may I have a word?”

Rohadin turned, expecting to see one of his soldiers, but was greeted instead by a black-haired young man wearing deep blue fighting robes, arcs of cyan lightning snaking from the cuffs of the sleeves all the way up to the shoulders. The warrior wore his long straight hair in a ponytail that fell to mid-back, and some of his bangs fell over a leather patch covering his right eye. He wore two swords, one sheathed at each hip, the scabbards thrust through a black sash that held up his wide pleated midnight blue pants. The red diamond stitched on the left breast of the warrior’s robes indicated that he was a Major of a unit, and Rohadin noted the crossed sword and lightning bolt insignia on the upper arms of the young man’s robes, the emblem of the Storm Reavers, a unit under the Princess’ personal command.

“My apologies, Major,” Rohadin said sheepishly. “I was expecting one of my men.”

The Storm Reaver Commander nodded, accepting his apology. “I require the use of one of your briefing rooms.”

Rohadin furrowed his brow in confusion. “What do you need it for? The Princess would have notified me if any units, even those under her command, were being briefed or dispatched for any reason.”

The Storm Reaver kept his composure, but failed to hide the threat in his voice. “Might I remind you, Captain, that I requested your permission out of courtesy? My command is an elite unit. We move at the Princess’ command, otherwise we are free to use whatever resources as we need. I could have easily just taken up your largest briefing room without notifying you.”

Rohadin stood his ground. “I must remind you, Major, that though you receive your orders from the Princess herself, I am also a ranking officer, as well as the first person she notifies before anything happens here in Castle Overon. You and your men may be an elite unit, but I approve any operations by any unit within the castle. I wasn’t notified that you needed a briefing room. If it’s absolutely necessary that you need one, have your superior clear it with me. I’ll accommodate you as you need.”

The Storm Reaver Major took a deep breath as he glared at Rohadin, his jaw tight. “As you wish…Captain.” Turning on his heel, he strode off. As Rohadin turned and proceeded around a corner, he let out a breath that he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

“Thank you, Karysta,” he muttered to himself.

“Captain?”

Rohadin jumped at the voice and whirled around, his spear at the ready, nearly impaling the surprised soldier in the throat.

“…Sir?”

Relaxing his shoulders, he lowered his spear. “For the love of the Goddesses, Lieutenant, don’t scare me like that. What is it?”

“Y-you’re needed at th-the r-r-ramparts, s-s-sir,” the still-shaking soldier replied.

Rohadin sighed and shook his head. “Right. Lead the way, Lieutenant.”


* * * * *


Galia frowned. “Are you really sure you want to do this, Jaden?”

Jaden grinned. “Why are you worried, Galia? I didn’t inherit the title of the Blind Swordsman of the Barawani Traveling Fair for nothing. Besides,” he paused as he took a thin, pitch black scarf from his sister and wrapped it over his eyes twice before tying it off at the back of his head, “the Princess will be blindfolded as well.” He raised his eyebrows arrogantly. “I have the advantage.”

Galia wasn’t convinced. “Jaden, you two may be blindfolded, but she’s the General of Overon’s Armies and she’s the High Commander of Overon’s Blade Weaver units. That’s more than you can handle.”

Jaden’s grin didn’t fade. “Aww, lighten up, Galia! This is the opportunity of a lifetime! How many times can a Traveling Fair say they pitted their best against a battle-hardened warrior and lived to tell of it?”

Galia frowned mockingly. “You’re blindfolded. How can you tell the story?”

He snorted. “You know what I mean. Hand me the practice swords.” He held out his open hands, and she placed two practice swords in his hands, the blades covered with leather. “Anyway, I can tell that the Princess is just as restless as I am. We can both blow off some steam this way.”

Galia sighed and shook her head. “Turn to your right and take two steps. You’ll be at the edge of the sparring mat.”

Jaden took a deep breath. Following Galia’s instruction, he turned towards the sparring mat. After another breath, he looked over his shoulder back at Galia. “Luck.”

“Yeah, luck” she muttered as he took two steps forward. “You’re gonna need it.”


* * * * *


“You’re sure you want to do this?”

Shanavale nodded. “Yeah, I need to keep myself honed. I haven’t sparred with anyone since we last saw Kai and Naomi. I’ve been pressing my troops stupid through drills and practice fights, and what kind of leader would I be if I didn’t do the same?”

Wynn sighed as Shanavale put the blindfold over her eyes. “Jaden may be from a Traveling Fair, but he’s not going to be a pushover. Duuné’s sword arts specialize in fighting while visually impaired.”

“Shanavale smiled as she took her pair of practice swords. “And Blade Weavers are notorious for adapting to any battle situation, including fighting blind. I’ll be fine, Wynn.” She turned and stepped onto her edge of the sparring mat. “Would you judge?”

Wynn nodded and walked past her to the center of the mat. Jaden and Shanavale, both blindfolded, strode towards each other.

“Halt!”

Both combatants stopped three paces away from each other.

“Fighting stances!” Wynn called out. Jaden eased back and lowered, his left leg out in front of him, his arms out at a downward angle at his sides. Shanavale placed her right arm across her chest, her left arm out behind her.

“Begin!”

Wynn barely had time to leap out of the way as Jaden charged forward, his right arm arcing upward. Shanavale leaned to her right, dodging the attack as easily as if she weren’t blindfolded. At the same time, she brought her left arm forward, twisting her wrist slightly so that the edge of her own weapon was brought to bear and slashed with both swords. Jaden’s other sword arm cut across her attack, his weapon stopping hers with a loud crack. He swept underneath her halted swing, his right sword arm bringing its weapon to bear again. Reacting fluidly to his attack, she twirled around the sword’s arc and spread her arms out as she slashed at him at a high downward angle.

Wynn stood riveted by the expert swordplay and didn’t notice Galia come up beside him.

“They fight like they’re not blindfolded,” she said, turning to the battle. Wynn, a little startled, looked at her before nodding and looking towards the fight. Jaden ducked underneath an eye-level slash and nimbly hopped over the low attack that immediately followed.

“Jaden’s good, but Shanavale’s holding back,” Wynn said.

“Oh?” Galia asked as Shanavale thrust with her right hand weapon. Jaden hop-skipped backwards, barely avoiding getting tagged by a mere few inches. He took three paces back.

“Watch Jaden’s stance,” Wynn whispered to her as Jaden straightened his arms and angled them.

He’s using the Dunestorm stance, Galia thought.

“We call that the Banking Eagle,” he responded in a voice so low only Galia could hear. “Leave it to Shanavale to find a way around it.”

As Wynn predicted, Jaden advanced towards Shanavale in a rapid spinning motion, his swords swiftly shifting upwards or downwards. One swing narrowly missed Shanavale, and she took a quick step backward, following with a backflip. As soon as she landed, she raised her left leg to hip level and her arms up high.

“It’s over, Jaden,” she announced as he drew closer, blades still spinning. As soon as he was a foot away, she slashed downward fiercely with both swords, interrupting his attack. As he lurched forward, she spun in a mid-level roundhouse kick, snapping Jaden’s head sharply to the left. Continuing her rotation, she gently tapped his cheek with the flat of one of her swords. He fell to one knee, holding himself up with one of his weapons. He tore the blindfold off his head with his free hand and looked up to see the tip of a leather practice sword.

“Done?” she asked.

He stared at the swordpoint for a brief moment before nodding. “I know when I’m beat.”

Shanavale offered him a hand as Galia and Wynn walked up to them. “Not too bad,” she said. “Our weapons master might not be satisfied, but I think you held yourself well.”

“Thanks,” he said as he straightened up, “but that was a brute-force tactic you used.” He raised an eyebrow. “I always thought Blade Weavers had more graceful methods than that.”

Shanavale smirked as she took her blindfold off. “Blade Weavers adapt to any battle situation, Jaden. Brute-force approaches throw off anyone with the notion that we’re all show-offs.”

Jaden snorted. “I’m sure.”

“General.”

All eyes turned to the entrance of the training room. A Major of a Blade Weaver unit wearing deep blue fighting robes strode in purposefully, saluting Shanavale.

“Major.”

Wynn looked at Shanavale, noting the question in her voice.

“The Captain of the Guard has informed me that he needs your consent to allow me a briefing room,” he said, annoyance in his voice.

“And why would you need a briefing room, Major…?”

“I need one, General, to talk to my men privately,” he replied curtly.

“Major, be honest with me here,” Shanavale said. “I know when my people have ulterior motives…”

“That’s because they usually don’t,” Wynn said suddenly. “Let him have the briefing room, Vale.”

Shanavale stared at him incredulously. “What?”

Galia, slightly pale, nodded. “I agree with Wynncrest, Princess,” she replied, her voice soft. “Allow him a briefing room.”

The Storm Reaver Major cast his glance at Wynn and Galia, bowing slightly at each of them. Shanavale nodded. “Very well.”

“Thank you General, Master Scarner…” He flicked a glance at the other two people in the room. “…Jaden, Galia.”


* * * * *


“Ten-hut!”

The call snapped the entire room to attention and complete silence. Major Asheron Raymin strode crisply to the front of the room and up onto the elevated platform, pacing back and forth, his posture ramrod straight.

“Barawani arrives tonight, and with his arrival into Overon, an era of darkness will follow.” He undid the band that held his ponytail, letting his long hair frame his face. “I only say this because of all those that live under the banner of House Omicronus, you are truly the most devoted. Like me, you have seen how this uprising will bring nothing but destruction upon the Kingdom.”

There were low murmurs of agreement. Jacen calmly raised a hand and the crowd fell silent.

“Inevitably, many of those that will fight alongside you will brand you as traitors once I launch my own orders, but I must remind you not to listen to their claims. They are nearsighted fools playing to the ambitions and pride of one who has strayed from the path that my family has chosen that the darkness and pride in his heart has consumed him.”

Another wave of murmurs arose, and he waited a moment before asking for silence.

“My father said that he was willing to shed his blood for the people, and more importantly, more than willing to sacrifice me. Let me tell you here and now that the Goddesses themselves have come to me and told me that my father’s actions threaten our world. They have shown me where my path lies, and it lies in front of my father and those that follow him.

“When night falls, so too will the Overon Kingdom. However, you carry with you the hope that the Kingdom will survive and rise from the ashes of destruction. When your peers realize that you carry the salvation of a new and just Kingdom and wrest it from you with swords drawn, know in your minds and hearts that you fought for your people and for your Goddesses, and that your names and faces will be remembered forever.”


=[ End of Part One ]=


A/N: I know it's been a while and that it's short, but I have been writing. I've actually written well past this point on paper, so it's merely a matter of typing and reformatting for the site. Again, I fail at inspiring speeches, but I got the point across for now, so I'll leave it as is. Also, I know there's not as much smut as most would normally expect, but there's not exactly much in the way of lovin' in the middle of war preparations, is there? Anyway, thanks to all who have continued to read, and remember that reviews and concrit are always welcome. Hopefully I'll see you all again in the next chapter! Thanks again for reading!