Read Online The Callindra Chronicles Book One - First Quest by Benjamin Fisher-Merritt - Free Book Online Page B

breath.” He began the
breathing exercise and she joined by reflex. To her amazement, she
could see tiny shining threads flowing into his nose as he breathed
in and then arc gracefully out of his mouth when he
exhaled.
    He opened his eyes with a smile “So you can
see it? Being able to see the Weave is the beginning. I will now
teach you the second Korumn. It is of release.”
    Glarian led Callindra through the Stances
slowly, one at a time. He was much more strict than normal,
correcting even what appeared to be inconsequential mistakes; the
position of her foot a few inches to the left or the angle of her
arm down slightly.
    The last rays of sun had gone and the
practice yard was now illuminated by the full moon. Callindra felt
an uncomfortable tightness in her entire body, as though she was
swelling from within. She looked at a hand that shook from
exhaustion.
    “ I know you’re tired
Apprentice, but now you must perform the entire second Korumn from
start to finish without making a single mistake. You have built up
too much power within yourself and since it’s rooted in fear it is
the most dangerous of all. This Korumn will allow you to safely let
go of the Weave you have gathered without injuring yourself or
others.”
    Callindra nodded slowly, noting the myriad of
glowing threads that seemed to be swirling around and through her
for the first time. All those times she had wondered at the wind
gusting around her… had been this? An involuntary shiver coursed
down her spine as she moved her body to assume the Ready Stance. To
her surprise, Glarian moved to stand next to her.
    “ Let us do this as one
Callindra.” Together they moved through the intricate motions of
the Korumn of Release. She could feel the pressure building even
further as they linked each of the Stances together; it burned
inside her like a forest fire. Her steps began to falter, her weak
leg shook with the effort of holding her upright and sweat poured
down her body.
    “ You must complete the
Korumn Callindra, all the way to the end.” The tension in Glarian’s
voice spurred her on and she pushed through the pain and fatigue;
if she couldn’t do this she might die. She might take him with her.
The final Stance was the most difficult, but also her favorite. A
leaping spinning motion that ended with a powerful downward strike,
the blade stopping inches from the ground. Her left leg crumpled
underneath her as she completed the landing of the last Stance,
driving Callindra to one knee.
    Instead of the gentle feeling of relaxation
she had been experiencing thus far when performing it, a violent
torrent of wind exploded from the tip of her sword, striking an
ancient elm tree that shaded the house. The elm exploded into
splinters, no piece of the tree remained that was larger than her
palm. What remained of the trunk looked hacked off at a hundred
angles as though slashed with a myriad of impossibly hard and
unbelievably sharp blades. The blade of her sword ended in a jagged
break a mere hand span from the hilt.
    “ Absent Gods.” She
collapsed, completely drained. “What was that?”
    Glarian helped her stand, a look of pride
warring with concern on his face. “Confirmation that I was right to
begin your training now, with that much power built up inside of
yourself you could have leveled the house in your sleep.”
    He didn’t say that she likely would have
killed them both, or mention what could have happened if she had
released that torrent in a direction other than the tree.
    “ Now you realize the
importance of using the correct positioning when performing a
Korumn.” He said as he helped her back to the house.
    “ My sword is gone. How will
I train now?” She felt tears begin to sting the corners of her
eyes. That blade had been her companion for months.
    “ I was hoping that one would
last a little longer but we’ll try again tomorrow.” Glarian’s voice
had a strangely gentle timbre. “Fear not my apprentice; nothing
will