Chapter 5 Swordsman
The clouds above the region of Aelkeep grew dark as snow fell more
rapidly and started blanketing the ground with large white tufts of
cotton like snowflakes. Some of the people of Aelkeep decided that
now would be a good time to close up their shops and stores while
others kept their lanterns and candles burning bright until their
designated closing. Even the farmers continued to toil in the biting
cold and the continuing wave of snowfall as certain crops needed to
be covered while others were extracted. Herd animals were gathered by
their shepherds and brought back to their corrals. Surprisingly
enough, the Mineral Tortoise breeders did not need to worry about
their brood. These tortoises simply buried themselves into the ground
with their backs partially visible and went into a trance like sleep.
The continuing snowfall did affect some of the travelers that were
coming to and from Aelkeep as they were having trouble keeping their
balance on slick cobblestones or trudging through muck and slush with
either carts or other heavy loads that did not have seasonal wheels
fitted on them. Most of these travelers decided to quickly find warm
beds and the comforts of home in the inns and taverns that were
located throughout the town. Some of the less fortunate souls on the
roads had to pitch heavy tents or hide in their caravans, huddled
together to keep warm from powerful freezing winds that seemed to
have sprung up out of nowhere. A few Norq riders found comfort as
their mounts curled around one another as the riders covered their
mounts with large blankets and huddled in the middle. Though things
seemed tough for the people in Aelkeep, to the south west of the town
on the flat lands near the edge of the woods, one lone traveler was
having a rather difficult time.
The storm had picked up intensity on the plains lands and Shell, a
lone wanderer had been caught in the middle of it. The young man had
been traveling for some time on his own now and he was excruciatingly
low on provisions that he had received from from a kind family
several days ago. All he had left was roughly half a days worth of
water that began to crystallize due to the drop in temperature and a
very small amount of dried berries and nuts. Not at all filling for
him but it would keep him alive for at lease a while longer. Perhaps
another two days at best. The snow had been falling for a few hours
on the plains which kept pelting him in the face and stuck to his
hair while the frigid air cut right through him like a knife. Shell
had no protective clothing what so ever, just a general set of
clothes, a red scarf with symbols sewn into it and a tattered cloak.
Shell knew that if he did not make it to Aelkeep before the snow
storm picked up, then the outlook for him would not be well. "Why
in the hell did it have to start snowing now? Why couldn't it have
waited just a few more hours, or at least until I was in the tree
line so I wouldn't have to deal with this wind." The wind picked
up a bit and cut right through his face almost out of spite. Shell
wrapped his scarf around his face to keep warm and he could feel the
strange warmth emanating from the scarf. It reminded him of a few
days ago in a town that he had taken up temporary residence in. A
kind family that had taken him in during his travels and providing
him with shelter. He hoped that someday he would get the chance to
thank them if he were to ever travel there again. As the wind cut
through him once more, he was reminded of a pale figure, cloaked in
wool. He could remember the silk like skin, ruby lips and lavender
eyes that resembled a starry night. Shell had no answer for why he
was thinking about the past right then but it helped take his mind
off of the frigid air that swirled around him.
Shell continued to walk through the light blanket of snow that was
now covering the beaten path he traveled. As the snow thickened for a
moment and a swift gust of wind cut through the plains around him, he
soon realized that he was not alone on these roads. Off in the the
distance Shell could see what appeared to be the outline of another
person walking towards him. Shell quickly thought to himself and kept
his guard up as he couldn't tell if this person was friend or foe
thanks to the flurries that had increased in intensity. After a
moment of pushing through the gusts, Shell was able to get a better
look at the person and it was obvious that they looked far better
equipped for the trek than Shell did in this weather. He could see
that the figure wore clothes much thicker than his own. He could not
tell if it was heavy wool or leathers but he could see a layer of
golden fur protruding from the neck line of the figures heavy coat
and Shell assumed that an inner layer of the coat was lined with this
fur as well after catching a wavering glimpse to the inside. He also
wore a strange type of hat that looked rather worn but kept the snow
out of his face and to his side was a satchel that carried a book and
what appeared to be a quill. Shell did not know what to think of the
person coming into view so he stopped and decided to wait for a moment
in the flurry and see what would transpire. Shell thought to himself
“One of three things...either we will fight, they will greet me
with a hello, or nothing at all.” The figure was now in full view
from twenty feet away and Shell could now tell it was an older man,
more than likely in his late sixties or perhaps early seventies with
gray eyes and a long gray beard to match.
The snow continued to fall and swirl around them both as the man
walked a few feet in front of Shell, stopped and brushed off his
hat. "Good...” the man looked around for a second in curiosity
“evening? Not really too sure right now thanks to the odd storm
front. Young lad I couldn't help but notice you're carrying what
appears to be a longsword with you am I right? Would you happen to be
a swordsman?" Shells right eyebrow lifted slightly in confusion
as he didn't know what to think about the question, but he didn't
think that lying to the man would help him any for some reason. "I
do not claim to be a swordsman of either noble or stable birth but I
do know how to wield a blade if that answers your question in a
sense." The man smiled and chuckled a bit as he reached into his
pocket to bring forth a small pipe and with a quick flick of his
fingers, ignites the herbs inside and takes a long drag from the end
of his ornate pipe. The old man blew smoke from his nose that formed
small rings and then dissipated into the air. "Now memory might
serve me wrong but I do seem to remember hearing something about a
swordsman who was supposedly burned at the stake in Shibato a few
days ago. Folks have said that the man isn't dead and claim to
whisper that his apparition is traveling this way. I was a little
curious to see who this person was. Word through the vine and mugs
was that this swordsman is a ruthless murder. Ten feet tall and could
tear a person limb from limb without even breaking a sweat. Carrying
a giants blade for a weapon, wrought from a solid slab of wyrmstone
and a hefty bounty on his head. The rumors never said anything about this
murderer being just a child carrying a butter knife with him to chase
off the shadows." Shells eyebrows lowered and he quickly
retorted "I assure you I have committed no such acts and I am
certainly no child that wields a cooking utensil." The man
chuckled a bit and turned to his side and Shell could see through the
snow that this man could possibly be a threat to him. Attached to the
mans back was a long, curved blade that did not look to be made of
just metal, something Shell had never seen before. A pale color enveloped
the blade and Shell studied it for a second, to him it almost looked like a
fusion of metal and bone. "A curved, bone blade?" Shell asked. The old mans eyes widened and a smirk came to his face. "Very astute lad.
A very special weapon that most Morhurstans will never see or be able
to acquire unless stolen. It is not made from this country. Not even
Koresia, Kharragan or Arkoria make these weapons and I seriously
doubt they would want to try and steal them. Would you mind if I
asked you something lad who isn't a swordsman?" "Go ahead."
The man unsheathed his bone blade that rang out with a nerve chilling
sound when drawn. The sound was reminiscent to him somehow and the
snow looked like it was swirling around the blade when the sword came down.
"If you don't mind, I would like to have a friendly sparring
match with you. I'll even let you use magics if you happen to be
fluent with the divine or even arcane. It matters not to me. I won't
use mine though. Wouldn't want the match to be over with too quickly.” Shell turned his head to the side in disbelief
since this man had just drawn his weapon with a smile. “I give you
my word that I mean you no fatal harm. Now, harm through poor
swordsmanship is a different story and that I cannot stop, but I
guarantee I will not strike a final blow." Shell had no idea
what this man's true agenda was. For all he knew, this man could be
some loon who was off on a stroll in a storm with a foreign made weapon. Shell
was not about to say no to this fight either. If this man knew that
he was headed this way then he would surely have more to tell after
the fight. This man did not look like a mercenary out for blood and
coin, but he also knew that just because someone does not look the
part, does not mean they aren't. "I accept your offer under your
terms." Shell drew his blade and readied himself while waiting
for a response. The old man smiled, gripped his blade with one hand
and readied himself in an unknown fighting stance, placing the sword
vertical on high with his other hand pressed against the side of the
blade. Shells eyes twitched for a moment as he could sense something amiss coming from the old man. Power. Great power welling in what most people would think a fragile frame would not able to handle. "Excellent choice then lad. I shan't go easy on you, now
prepare yourself!"
