Read Online Harbinger: The Downfall - Book One by Travis I. Sivart - Free Book Online
Authors: Travis I. Sivart
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history of weapons, how they are made, why certain blades curved when others were straight, the function of a polearm or staff over a sword or shorter blade. He spoke of this for a couple of hours and answered questions from Cite. Taktak demonstrated basic staff attacks and defense, as the others watched. When they came upon another oasis, they stopped for a rest.
“We will stop here,” Rogen said. “I will show you some techniques of how to use those daggers now. Do not expect the ones you create to be the same though. I am guessing they will have a different weight and pull as well as feel much different when cutting into someone. Sybia and Calleus, you set up camp and make a fire. Prepare dinner. Taktak, you will show the boy more about the staff and practice with him after I finish with knife training.”
“Be careful of his wounds,” Sybia warned, “they can tear open again.”
“I know, mother hen,” said Rogen, “I will be gentle with the boy. After a bit of training we will rest. I would say we should go on, but I do not think we can reach the next oasis before we tire, or the sun rises.”
And so it went for the next few days. They rested in the heat of the day and traveled by the waxing moon. Each time they stopped to rest, they practiced with the staff and blades until Cite’s arms ached and he couldn’t go on. Sybia tended to Cite’s chest wound, which was not deep but was serious enough to need checking. The time walking was spent discussing weapons in the beginning, but soon turned to Cite asking questions of the others; learning about the healing arts from Sybia, trade from Calleus, Taktak’s people, and about Rogen’s past. Cite knew that Rogen, as one of the Stone Folk, lived much longer than humans did. He asked about history, comparing what he had been taught to the knowledge of a man who was alive when it happened, and on rare occasion even participated in it.
Rogen also delved a bit into Cite’s knowledge. The boy was studied on the ways of magics. He knew about trade to the east, whereas most of Rogen’s trade went to the west; the cities of the east did not condone slavery the way the west did. Rogen asked about Cite’s abilities, feeling out how as much as the boy was willing to tell. It did not take long before he knew the boy was open and willing to share most of what he knew. So the journey went.
Chapter 4: Two Headed Coins
“If life isn’t a game, then I’m not playing!”
Nomed
5854 – Thon – Jordar – Lasin
He was almost always hidden from mortal eyes, but not this time. Many eyes sought him. He had many enemies and he reveled in that, delighting in the challenge. He thrived on the contest, and rose to face any obstacle. It made him feel alive. He cherished anyone he drove to rage, despair, or best of all, over the edge of sanity. Nomed loved what he did, which was why he was the best at manipulating and controlling people, his puppets.
The room filled with music from the string quartet playing a dancing tune, and was light and airy under the domed ceiling, which housed a dozen crystal chandeliers. Scented oils in the censers made the room smell like spring, even though autumn approached. Servants dressed in black and white carried silver trays laden with wines, brandies, and food from all corners of the continent covered in savory sauces. The crowd moved with graceful swirls, a riot of color and jewels, to the music.
Always a flair for the dramatic, Nomed swirled his short cape, and spun away from a maiden which he had lured to the dance floor at the grandest ball of the season in the Kingdom of Humbrey. All thirteen noble houses were in attendance, as well as every small-time hopeful in the kingdom. All eyes watched his graceful actions – some with envy, others with desire; the movements he did without thinking were more than any other could do. The men watched with jealousy, and the women watched with lust in
“We will stop here,” Rogen said. “I will show you some techniques of how to use those daggers now. Do not expect the ones you create to be the same though. I am guessing they will have a different weight and pull as well as feel much different when cutting into someone. Sybia and Calleus, you set up camp and make a fire. Prepare dinner. Taktak, you will show the boy more about the staff and practice with him after I finish with knife training.”
“Be careful of his wounds,” Sybia warned, “they can tear open again.”
“I know, mother hen,” said Rogen, “I will be gentle with the boy. After a bit of training we will rest. I would say we should go on, but I do not think we can reach the next oasis before we tire, or the sun rises.”
And so it went for the next few days. They rested in the heat of the day and traveled by the waxing moon. Each time they stopped to rest, they practiced with the staff and blades until Cite’s arms ached and he couldn’t go on. Sybia tended to Cite’s chest wound, which was not deep but was serious enough to need checking. The time walking was spent discussing weapons in the beginning, but soon turned to Cite asking questions of the others; learning about the healing arts from Sybia, trade from Calleus, Taktak’s people, and about Rogen’s past. Cite knew that Rogen, as one of the Stone Folk, lived much longer than humans did. He asked about history, comparing what he had been taught to the knowledge of a man who was alive when it happened, and on rare occasion even participated in it.
Rogen also delved a bit into Cite’s knowledge. The boy was studied on the ways of magics. He knew about trade to the east, whereas most of Rogen’s trade went to the west; the cities of the east did not condone slavery the way the west did. Rogen asked about Cite’s abilities, feeling out how as much as the boy was willing to tell. It did not take long before he knew the boy was open and willing to share most of what he knew. So the journey went.
Chapter 4: Two Headed Coins
“If life isn’t a game, then I’m not playing!”
Nomed
5854 – Thon – Jordar – Lasin
He was almost always hidden from mortal eyes, but not this time. Many eyes sought him. He had many enemies and he reveled in that, delighting in the challenge. He thrived on the contest, and rose to face any obstacle. It made him feel alive. He cherished anyone he drove to rage, despair, or best of all, over the edge of sanity. Nomed loved what he did, which was why he was the best at manipulating and controlling people, his puppets.
The room filled with music from the string quartet playing a dancing tune, and was light and airy under the domed ceiling, which housed a dozen crystal chandeliers. Scented oils in the censers made the room smell like spring, even though autumn approached. Servants dressed in black and white carried silver trays laden with wines, brandies, and food from all corners of the continent covered in savory sauces. The crowd moved with graceful swirls, a riot of color and jewels, to the music.
Always a flair for the dramatic, Nomed swirled his short cape, and spun away from a maiden which he had lured to the dance floor at the grandest ball of the season in the Kingdom of Humbrey. All thirteen noble houses were in attendance, as well as every small-time hopeful in the kingdom. All eyes watched his graceful actions – some with envy, others with desire; the movements he did without thinking were more than any other could do. The men watched with jealousy, and the women watched with lust in
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