Free The Callindra Chronicles Book One - First Quest by Benjamin Fisher-Merritt Page A

were
butterflies made from razor thin sheets of metal, each one
blackened by the smoke of the fire that burned beneath them,
suspended solely by the heat coming from below.
    The smith spoke, “You can’t come pick it up
because The fucking Order watches this place. You know they have
been waiting for the day that you would break your oath. I will
bring it to you my friend.” He paused and looked right at her, “You
don’t need to check up on my work you crazy bitch, you can see he
is making himself ready for your hand.” He gestured toward the
forge and she saw a slender arc of metal heating in the fire. It
called to her, seeming to pulse as though it had a heartbeat.
    “ This is a dangerous thing
you’re doing. I see you’ve come further along than he anticipated
though, I’d better hurry. Take her the hell home.”
    One of the metal butterflies from the air
above the forge left the company of its fellows and fluttered
around her head. One after another followed until she was
surrounded by a cloud of them that obscured her vision. She felt a
strange falling sensation in her gut and opened her eyes, sitting
in the bath before the fire. Perched on the edge of the copper tub
was a perfect black steel butterfly.
    The door opened and the butterfly started
into the air, circling once around her head before flitting out the
window. Glarian entered and gave her a stern look.
    “ You’re still in the bath?
Time to get to bed apprentice, tomorrow is going to be a very busy
day.” He held a towel for her and she climbed out, too tired to be
shy. Her leg buckled under her again and Glarian picked her up as
though she weighed nothing and deposited her gently into her
bed.
    “ Master?” He paused at the
door, “Thank you.” She was asleep before she could hear his
response.
     

Chapter 8
     
    Callindra was dazzled by the array of
weaponry laid out on the table where she had expected to find
breakfast. She had slept hard and awakened feeling tired but not
nearly as exhausted as she was afraid she would be. The sounds of
metal on metal had brought her out of sleep and she had assumed
Glarian was setting out bowls of porridge.
    Instead of tin spoons and wooden bowls of
oatmeal she saw a dozen or so polished steel swords. They ranged
from a straight and slender toothpick with a basket hilt to a wide
double edged blade with sturdy crosstrees.
    “ Where did you get all
these?” She asked.
    “ I’ve kept them for a long
time.” Glarian said, “These are all blades I tried before I found
the style that fit me. Today you will do the same. How are your
hands feeling?”
    Callindra had forgotten about her injuries in
spite of the wrapping on her palms. She carefully took the linen
bandages off and was shocked to see the skin underneath was
unbroken. Wordlessly, she showed him her palms.
    “ Good, I’m glad to see the
Brightstar balm works as well even after all these years. Jordah
hasn’t forsaken me yet.” He said with a smile, “Now then, why don’t
you choose a blade and try it out.”
    She looked at the swords, hefted one or two
and finally picked one up that was just over a pace long, had a
straight, narrow blade with slightly curved crosstrees and a hilt
long enough for her to hold with both hands. She tested the balance
and nodded in satisfaction.
    “ I like this one. It’s light
enough for me to swing but feels like it has a good backbone.” She
flicked the blade and it rang, a bright cheerful sound. “He has a
good voice too.”
    Glarian nodded, “Very well, bring it outside
and let us begin our morning meditation.”
    “ Where is the sheath?”
Callindra asked, “I don’t see sheaths for any of these
swords.”
    “ I don’t have sheaths for
them. You’ll just have to carry it for now.” He said, “It will give
you the chance to get used to the balance.”
    She followed him into the courtyard and sat
to perform the first Korumn with him. As she breathed, the sword
began to tremble on her lap,