Post by vhaeryn on Aug 8, 2006 23:36:50 GMT -5
Talloth walk down the hall his pace measured but hurried, by long habit he held his robes aside so his steps were unhindered. Stopping for a moment outside a closed door to compose himself he nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard Kreed’s voice behind him.
“Vendui Tetrarch Talloth, You sent for me?” Kreed’s voice was low and brought to mind the purr of one of the great cats.
He spun quickly nearly tripping over his carefully arranged robes, trying to school his expression to mask the shock he was sure must be plain to Kreed. He scowled as he meet the Executioners eyes and saw the barely masked smirk on his face.
“Xas Kreed, Your services are needed here” Talloth allowed his annoyance to flow through his voice as Kreed raises an eyebrow and gestured toward the door.
“Come now even you must find that joke to be in poor taste.”
Kreed started to walk past him but stopped when Talloth caught him by the arm and said in a lowered voice
“It is no joke, I find no humor in this, now come.”
Talloth set his features into an expressionless mask as he turned back toward the door and grasped the handle. Kreed’s eyes widened as he moved to follow.
“But Talloth, Why would you ask an Executioner to accompany you to the nursery?”
Kreed’s normally smooth voice broke as he said the last word in barely a whisper, his features going pale. Talloth smiled slightly as he said only this.
“YOU will see.”
He turned, pushed the door open and walked into the nursery. For once Kreed followed without a word. The room they walked into was illuminated by covered oil lamps set high on the walls, they cast a golden light across the scattering of toys strewn carelessly across the floor and over any surface within easy reach of the children that should have been here but the room was nearly deserted, the only inhabitants were a young dark elven women who wore the uniform of the guard though her armor was absent. Her sword rested on top of a high shelf well out of reach of any child. A male child perhaps four or five years old sat near her feet playing with a small wooden toy carved into the shape of a wolf. He seemed intent on gnawing on the wolf’s tail. It was difficult to tell much more about the child, his features were hidden by an unruly mass of red hair.
The young guard nervously pushed her dark auburn hair out of her face as she stood to greet the Tetrarch but she stopped as she saw Kreed behind him and her breath left her in a sudden rush. She started to stammer only to be silenced by the Talloth’s raised hand.
“Guard Nelsya, you have already said everything before, there is no need to repeat it. My decision is final”
His voice was cold and his words clipped, each one seemed to cause Nelsya to grow paler than the last until she could nearly pass for an elf of the light. She sank down onto the chair and stared down at the child, tears coming to her eyes. Kreed watched the exchange wordlessly; still unsure of what was happening he turned to Talloth.
“Talloth, what is the meaning of this?” He crossed his arms over his chest as his eyes turned cold.
Talloth turned toward him and let his anger show fully as he knelt and tilted the child’s head back causing the crimson hair to fall away from the boys face revealing mist shrouded eyes that looked toward the sound of Kreed’s voice but didn’t focus on anything.
“Now do you See Kreed? Or must I explain further and cause Nelsya further grief, Perhaps you are to blind to see what is before your eyes” his voice shook with barely suppressed anger. “I commanded your presence to do your sworn duty to our people, the strength of our race must be preserved against the light” Talloth’s eyes were wide and he looked nearly mad as Nelsya looked back and forth between the two of them in shock.
Kreed drooped to his knees in front of the child and smiled slightly as the child tilted his head, following the sound of his movements. The boy carefully stood up and walked slowly toward him, stopping when he bumped into Kreed’s knee. He reached out a small hand and pointed at his belt pouch before saying “Cookie!” Kreed’s eyebrows rose in puzzlement as he looked from the child to Nelsya before smiling and opening the pouch. He unwrapped a small package of waxed parchment and held out a cookie to the boy who sniffed the air before smiling and reaching out toward the cookie in his hand. After some fumbling he sat down near Kreed’s feet and started to eat.
Talloth stared at the three of them as if they had all gone mad. Nelsya looked down at the boy and smiled even though tears still flowed down her cheeks, while Kreed watched the boy, who seemed entranced by the cookie. Turning slightly Kreed addressed her for the first time since entering the room.
“What is your son’s name Nelsya?” his voice very gentle.
She turned toward him and the smile faded from her face as she lowered her gaze.
“His name is Draiga, it means wolf in the old tongue, he was named for my grandfathers father.” She smiled as Draiga turned toward the sound of her voice.
Talloth stomped his slippered foot on the floor drawing attention back to himself.
“Why must you always make things more difficult Kreed, You are a warrior, you are naught meant to think only to follow the commands of your superiors! You were brought here to return the child to the Goddess as is your duty, the Guard is your responsibility, The boy is the child of a guard which is forbidden, So the child is your responsibility again.”
Talloth’s voice trailed off as he saw the look in Kreed’s eyes and he fell back a step before trying to regain his dignity. He drew a breath to speak again when Kreed surged to his feet with fluid grace coming to a stop nearly nose to nose with the Tetrarch.
“I know my duty Tetrarch” he nearly spit the honorific, causing Talloth to fall back a step “To the Guard and to our people” Kreed moved in a blur, picking up Draiga and holding him up with one arm, with his free hand he drew a long dagger from his boot in the same motion. Nelsya gasped and started to move toward Kreed but stopped when he turned his gaze to her.
“And as for you Nelsya, you know it is forbidden for you to care for a child, so you both leave me no choice.” His voice was nearly a growl that caused both Nelsya and Talloth to fall silent. “I will do my duty to the guard and to our people” his eyes bored into Talloth’s as he plunged the dagger down…. into his own hand that covered the boys chest, he then carefully cut Draiga’s palm and pressed the boys bleeding hand to the wound in the back of his own that rested over the boys heart.
“Blood of my blood and Flesh of my flesh Draiga. We are Kin!” Kreed looked at Talloth again and smiled wolfishly. “Any who seek to harm my kin must first pass through me Talloth. Do you challenge me for his life?”
Talloth sputtered and fell back another step, at a loss for words until he looked up into Kreed’s eyes and swallowed heavily before muttering.
“No.”
If one were kind they would say Talloth realized he had urgent business elsewhere, if one where not kind, one would say he ran for his life.
Kreed turned to a shaken Nelsya and sighed, as she looked at him with a bewildered expression.
“Well now what do I do with him.”
Nelsya smiled and reached out to touch Draiga’s bleeding hand and then Kreed’s
“You know Kreed, that was a touching gesture but it wasn’t necessary, he.”
Kreed nearly choked as he interrupted her, his eyes nearly popping from his skull.
“What do you mean it wasn’t necessary? By the Goddess woman do you realize what Talloth wanted me to do here! You would have let your son die Vlos Lu Chath!”
His voice trailed off as she pressed a finger to his lips.
“I meant the blood binding, It wasn’t necessary…. he’s your son.”
Nelsya smiled as he fell heavily into a nearby chair, still holding the child, he looked at her and sputtered as she said.
“You really shouldn’t drink so much, you never know what will happen, someone might take advantage of you while your drunk and dancing on a table.”
He sat there staring with a look of shock on his face before looking down at the boy sitting on his lap who reached up and patted him on the cheek, leaving a small bloody handprint behind.
The young dark elf tilted his head slightly, listening as he trailed his left hand along the wall brushing it against a small chime every three paces causing it to ring softly. When his hand came to a space with no chime he stopped and carefully turned to face toward the wall, with great care he raised his right hand which held a plain long sword by the blade instead of the hilt and placed it into it’s mounting. He stepped back and reached into his belt pouch and took out a small cloth wrapped bundle and unwrapped it with a practiced motion dropping another small chime into his hand.
He smiled faintly as the chime rang as it struck the plain silver ring that he wore on his left hand. With great care he wiped his hand print from the long sword he had just hung on the wall and wrapped the blade with a very small piece of cloth before tying a piece of string around it then hanging a chime from it to mark its proper place. He nodded to himself and continued his slow pace around the room until he came to the door again. He turned to face into the room and tilted his head slightly and smiled.
“Nineteen chimes.” He turned and looked back over his shoulder even though his eyes were still mist shrouded and sightless. “You added 3 more blades to the collection to see if I would notice.”
Kreed raised an eyebrow as he looked down at the young dark elf, even after ten years it still amazed him that he always knew when he approached, Normally not even the other masters could hear him when he tried to walk silently. Forgetting for a moment that Draiga couldn’t see him he nodded before saying “Xas, I did. I cant let you get too lax in your duties now can I?” he laughed even as the young elf frowned, a serious expression on his face.
“I have never been lax in caring for your weapons Master Kreed.” Draiga said as he pointed to a carefully arranged workbench set against one wall, it was covered in various bottles and jars along with countless different cloths, bits of leather and spools of wire.
Kreed nodded again forgetting as he sighed “I was teasing you Draiga, you really shouldn’t take everyone so literally all the time.” His expression grew thoughtful as he pulled a three-foot long cloth wrapped bundle from his traveling bag. “I have something new for the collection this time, tell me what you think of it.” He caught one end of the cloth and pulled, unwinding it quickly to reveal an odd short sword. As the blade fell into his hand it chimed softly. The hilt was wire wrapped as most blades were but the handle was hollow and ended in a small bell that was the source of the chime also the blade was wider than most and hand small holes drilled down its entire length, stopping a few inches short of the point.
Kreed hesitated for a moment before striking the chime with one of his rings and tossing it to the blind elf. “Draiga, Catch!” as the blade spun through the air the holes in the blade caused it to make an odd whistling sound and the chime to rang even louder as the air flowed through the hollow hilt.
The younger elf turned his head so his ear was turned toward the sound, as one sighted would track something with their eyes, his left hand blurred into motion as it darted out catching the spinning sword by its blade.
He spun full circle to break the swords inertia and let out a shaking breath as Kreed quickly advanced and reached out toward the sword in his hand.
“Let me see how badly you are cut, I thought you would catch it’s hilt, I should have known better than to try one of my fool ideas with live steel. I’m sorry Draiga.”
Draiga smiled as he opened his hand revealing unmarked skin, letting Kreed take the sword from his hand. Kreed let his puzzlement show on his face as he sat back on his heels.
“I always handle the swords by the blade, how else am I supposed to hang them on the wall.”
Kreed looked down at the unblooded sword that he held and laughed.
“Very true Draiga, but this sword is different than the rest, it’s yours.”
Kreed turned and left without another word leaving the young elf holding the sword, surrounded by the others hung on the walls with almost identical chimes. The only difference as Draiga would later learn was the one he had been gifted with had a chime made of silver, while the others were all base metal. Giving it a clearer tone that was distinct to his ear.
Weeks passed without Kreed mentioning the blade he had given to the young elf and things quickly returned to normal until one evening as Draiga replaced the last of the blades on the wall and turned toward the door as Kreed entered the training hall. Unknown to the young elf Kreed was dressed very strangely indeed, he wore his practice leathers but at each joint of his body he wore a length of red silk cord wrapped around his body numerous times, at neck, shoulders, elbow, wrist, waist, knee and ankle. He looked like a puppet that had escaped from a children’s stage.
“Why haven’t you been using the blade I have you Draiga?” he sounded angry which was something the blind elf was unaccustomed to and he fell back a step at the tone.
“It feels wrong.” He said in a bare whisper before lowering his blind gaze toward his boots.
Kreed advanced toward Draiga his breathing was quick enough that the boy noticed and tilted his head slightly to hear better.
“What do you mean it feels wrong? I had that blade forged for you, it’s good steel” he glared at Draiga even knowing it wouldn’t do any good it made him feel better.
Without another word Draiga walked to the workbench and picked up the neglected sword and walked back to stand in front of his Master. He ran his fingers carefully over the blade until he felt what he was seeking. Before Kreed could stop him he held the blade up above his head and released it letting it strike the stone floor. With a loud crack the blade snapped cleanly half way down its length. Kreed’s jaw dropped open as he looked down at the broken sword then back at the blind elf standing before him.
“Vlos lu’Chath! How in the seven hells did you know it was flawed?" He seemed at a loss for words as he looked from the elf to the blade again.
“It felt wrong.” Draiga smiled as he looked up again. “There was a stress crack in the metal from the forging concealed in the watermark.” He hesitated for a moment before continuing “I could feel the fracture in the metal when I cleaned it.”
Kreed nodded slowly as he reached to his belt and drew the elven sword that he had decided to carry that morning and held it out toward Draiga.
”What about this blade?” He struck the blade lightly with the ring he wore on his other hand causing it to ring.
Draiga tilted his head slightly as he listened to the sound the steel made before reaching out and carefully taking the blade. He held it up to test the weight before lightly running his fingers down the length of the blade then over the hilt. A faint smile caused Kreed to raise an eyebrow in question. Eventually he would remember Draiga couldn’t see his expressions.
“It is nearly perfect although it is a bit off balance, the hilt is to heavy” he seemed sure of his opinion of the sword as he held it out to Kreed.
Kreed shook his head then sighed in frustration remembering Draiga couldn’t see his expressions.
“Keep it, to replace the flawed blade I gave you.” This time it was Draiga’s turn to look the fool as his eyes widened and his jaw fell open in shock.
Kreed couldn’t help laughing at the boy’s expression but it quickly passed as he watched Draiga examine the new sword carefully running his fingers over every inch of steel.
“Draiga, Where did you learn how to tell if a blade was flawed? It’s something I never taught you.” Kreed crossed his arms over his chest as he waited
With obvious reluctance Draiga took his attentions from the elven sword and turned back toward Kreed.
“I listen when there are classes and the other masters don’t seem to know I exist so they talk in front of me then when I come back here I examine the swords.”
Kreed nodded and began to unwind the crimson cords that bound his limps only stopping when a single loop remained to bind the cords to him. Draiga looked puzzled as he tilted his head listening to the unfamiliar sounds. Kreed grinned impishly before speaking.
“Well then since you already know so much about swords, perhaps its time I taught you how to use one.” He began to coil the cords nearly around his hands as he walked towards Draiga who looked utterly confused at this point.
“But Master Kreed, How can I fight with a sword when I can’t see!”
Kreed laughed as he stepped closer.
“You perceive more than most see, so we will proceed carefully at first”
He held up his right hand and the crimson cord wrapped around it.
“Do you know what a puppet show is?”
Kreed carefully attached each cord, the one from his wrist to Draiga’s wrist, from his ankle to Draiga’s ankle and so until a cats cradle of thin cords ran between them. He turned his back to Draiga and slowly walked forward until the cords grew tight between them and were suspended in the air.
“Draw the practice blade with your right hand Draiga and take care to keep the cords tight, they will guide your movements as I move through the basic stances.”
The boy drew the sword with a puzzled expression but still curious to find out what Kreed has in store, He held the blade at his side in the ready position and waited.
The elder carefully brought his right arm up to the first position which was a high block just above eye level with the blade parallel to the floor the cords binding their wrists caused Draiga’s movements to mirror Kreed’s own.
“This is the first position, it is used to block an overhead blow from your opponent if they are using a spear, sword, dagger or other light weapon. If they were using a crushing weapon then you would sidestep and angle the point toward the ground to deflect the force of the blow away from your body.”
Kreed was pulled of balance as the cords drew tight, he looked back over his shoulder at the younger elf and smiled faintly, seeing that Draiga had corrected his movements from what he had said, even intuitively shifting his stance to keep his balance centered over his hips.
“Good! The second stance brings the point of the blade up so it is in line with the arm and shoulder and pointing towards the sky while dropping the wrist to the level of your hip, this is to block a parallel cut if your opponent swings at your chest after missing a slash”
Again Kreed felt the cords shift and move as he allowed Draiga to flow into the second stance. He nodded to himself as he spun toward the young elf aiming a cut at his left shoulder. The two blades rang musically as Draiga brought his blade across his body to counter the slash from Kreed’s own blade.
Kreed quickly stepped back and lowered his sword.
“How did you know to block the blade with the third stance?”
Draiga hesitantly lowered his sword and looked thoughtful.
“I remembered hearing the other elders teaching the children from the scrolls and I felt you move. I could feel the wind from the blade cutting the air and hear it.”
Kreed nodded and looked as pleased as a cat that had found the birdcage left open.
“Good then let’s continue”
Kreed again turned his back and began to flow through the patterns of the dance, each movement an attack or block meant to leave an opponent disarmed or dead. The steps flowed until it resembled the dance it was named for by those who were allowed to see it and still keep their breath. The Dance of Blades was an art form that the dark elves had perfected in their long exile from the sun when they thought only of revenge against those that had cursed them to the dark. As Draiga moved through each step his practice blade cut through the cords binding them until the floor was littered with shreds of cloth yet still his steps mirrored those of his elder.
And so they continued the dance, the younger a mirror of the elder, lost in the steps of the dance.
Both were unaware that they were observed; from outside the chamber a young dark elven guard watched them. Her eyes were covered by the silk and chain wrappings of the guardians of the village. Nelsya smiled and walked away.
“Vendui Tetrarch Talloth, You sent for me?” Kreed’s voice was low and brought to mind the purr of one of the great cats.
He spun quickly nearly tripping over his carefully arranged robes, trying to school his expression to mask the shock he was sure must be plain to Kreed. He scowled as he meet the Executioners eyes and saw the barely masked smirk on his face.
“Xas Kreed, Your services are needed here” Talloth allowed his annoyance to flow through his voice as Kreed raises an eyebrow and gestured toward the door.
“Come now even you must find that joke to be in poor taste.”
Kreed started to walk past him but stopped when Talloth caught him by the arm and said in a lowered voice
“It is no joke, I find no humor in this, now come.”
Talloth set his features into an expressionless mask as he turned back toward the door and grasped the handle. Kreed’s eyes widened as he moved to follow.
“But Talloth, Why would you ask an Executioner to accompany you to the nursery?”
Kreed’s normally smooth voice broke as he said the last word in barely a whisper, his features going pale. Talloth smiled slightly as he said only this.
“YOU will see.”
He turned, pushed the door open and walked into the nursery. For once Kreed followed without a word. The room they walked into was illuminated by covered oil lamps set high on the walls, they cast a golden light across the scattering of toys strewn carelessly across the floor and over any surface within easy reach of the children that should have been here but the room was nearly deserted, the only inhabitants were a young dark elven women who wore the uniform of the guard though her armor was absent. Her sword rested on top of a high shelf well out of reach of any child. A male child perhaps four or five years old sat near her feet playing with a small wooden toy carved into the shape of a wolf. He seemed intent on gnawing on the wolf’s tail. It was difficult to tell much more about the child, his features were hidden by an unruly mass of red hair.
The young guard nervously pushed her dark auburn hair out of her face as she stood to greet the Tetrarch but she stopped as she saw Kreed behind him and her breath left her in a sudden rush. She started to stammer only to be silenced by the Talloth’s raised hand.
“Guard Nelsya, you have already said everything before, there is no need to repeat it. My decision is final”
His voice was cold and his words clipped, each one seemed to cause Nelsya to grow paler than the last until she could nearly pass for an elf of the light. She sank down onto the chair and stared down at the child, tears coming to her eyes. Kreed watched the exchange wordlessly; still unsure of what was happening he turned to Talloth.
“Talloth, what is the meaning of this?” He crossed his arms over his chest as his eyes turned cold.
Talloth turned toward him and let his anger show fully as he knelt and tilted the child’s head back causing the crimson hair to fall away from the boys face revealing mist shrouded eyes that looked toward the sound of Kreed’s voice but didn’t focus on anything.
“Now do you See Kreed? Or must I explain further and cause Nelsya further grief, Perhaps you are to blind to see what is before your eyes” his voice shook with barely suppressed anger. “I commanded your presence to do your sworn duty to our people, the strength of our race must be preserved against the light” Talloth’s eyes were wide and he looked nearly mad as Nelsya looked back and forth between the two of them in shock.
Kreed drooped to his knees in front of the child and smiled slightly as the child tilted his head, following the sound of his movements. The boy carefully stood up and walked slowly toward him, stopping when he bumped into Kreed’s knee. He reached out a small hand and pointed at his belt pouch before saying “Cookie!” Kreed’s eyebrows rose in puzzlement as he looked from the child to Nelsya before smiling and opening the pouch. He unwrapped a small package of waxed parchment and held out a cookie to the boy who sniffed the air before smiling and reaching out toward the cookie in his hand. After some fumbling he sat down near Kreed’s feet and started to eat.
Talloth stared at the three of them as if they had all gone mad. Nelsya looked down at the boy and smiled even though tears still flowed down her cheeks, while Kreed watched the boy, who seemed entranced by the cookie. Turning slightly Kreed addressed her for the first time since entering the room.
“What is your son’s name Nelsya?” his voice very gentle.
She turned toward him and the smile faded from her face as she lowered her gaze.
“His name is Draiga, it means wolf in the old tongue, he was named for my grandfathers father.” She smiled as Draiga turned toward the sound of her voice.
Talloth stomped his slippered foot on the floor drawing attention back to himself.
“Why must you always make things more difficult Kreed, You are a warrior, you are naught meant to think only to follow the commands of your superiors! You were brought here to return the child to the Goddess as is your duty, the Guard is your responsibility, The boy is the child of a guard which is forbidden, So the child is your responsibility again.”
Talloth’s voice trailed off as he saw the look in Kreed’s eyes and he fell back a step before trying to regain his dignity. He drew a breath to speak again when Kreed surged to his feet with fluid grace coming to a stop nearly nose to nose with the Tetrarch.
“I know my duty Tetrarch” he nearly spit the honorific, causing Talloth to fall back a step “To the Guard and to our people” Kreed moved in a blur, picking up Draiga and holding him up with one arm, with his free hand he drew a long dagger from his boot in the same motion. Nelsya gasped and started to move toward Kreed but stopped when he turned his gaze to her.
“And as for you Nelsya, you know it is forbidden for you to care for a child, so you both leave me no choice.” His voice was nearly a growl that caused both Nelsya and Talloth to fall silent. “I will do my duty to the guard and to our people” his eyes bored into Talloth’s as he plunged the dagger down…. into his own hand that covered the boys chest, he then carefully cut Draiga’s palm and pressed the boys bleeding hand to the wound in the back of his own that rested over the boys heart.
“Blood of my blood and Flesh of my flesh Draiga. We are Kin!” Kreed looked at Talloth again and smiled wolfishly. “Any who seek to harm my kin must first pass through me Talloth. Do you challenge me for his life?”
Talloth sputtered and fell back another step, at a loss for words until he looked up into Kreed’s eyes and swallowed heavily before muttering.
“No.”
If one were kind they would say Talloth realized he had urgent business elsewhere, if one where not kind, one would say he ran for his life.
Kreed turned to a shaken Nelsya and sighed, as she looked at him with a bewildered expression.
“Well now what do I do with him.”
Nelsya smiled and reached out to touch Draiga’s bleeding hand and then Kreed’s
“You know Kreed, that was a touching gesture but it wasn’t necessary, he.”
Kreed nearly choked as he interrupted her, his eyes nearly popping from his skull.
“What do you mean it wasn’t necessary? By the Goddess woman do you realize what Talloth wanted me to do here! You would have let your son die Vlos Lu Chath!”
His voice trailed off as she pressed a finger to his lips.
“I meant the blood binding, It wasn’t necessary…. he’s your son.”
Nelsya smiled as he fell heavily into a nearby chair, still holding the child, he looked at her and sputtered as she said.
“You really shouldn’t drink so much, you never know what will happen, someone might take advantage of you while your drunk and dancing on a table.”
He sat there staring with a look of shock on his face before looking down at the boy sitting on his lap who reached up and patted him on the cheek, leaving a small bloody handprint behind.
The young dark elf tilted his head slightly, listening as he trailed his left hand along the wall brushing it against a small chime every three paces causing it to ring softly. When his hand came to a space with no chime he stopped and carefully turned to face toward the wall, with great care he raised his right hand which held a plain long sword by the blade instead of the hilt and placed it into it’s mounting. He stepped back and reached into his belt pouch and took out a small cloth wrapped bundle and unwrapped it with a practiced motion dropping another small chime into his hand.
He smiled faintly as the chime rang as it struck the plain silver ring that he wore on his left hand. With great care he wiped his hand print from the long sword he had just hung on the wall and wrapped the blade with a very small piece of cloth before tying a piece of string around it then hanging a chime from it to mark its proper place. He nodded to himself and continued his slow pace around the room until he came to the door again. He turned to face into the room and tilted his head slightly and smiled.
“Nineteen chimes.” He turned and looked back over his shoulder even though his eyes were still mist shrouded and sightless. “You added 3 more blades to the collection to see if I would notice.”
Kreed raised an eyebrow as he looked down at the young dark elf, even after ten years it still amazed him that he always knew when he approached, Normally not even the other masters could hear him when he tried to walk silently. Forgetting for a moment that Draiga couldn’t see him he nodded before saying “Xas, I did. I cant let you get too lax in your duties now can I?” he laughed even as the young elf frowned, a serious expression on his face.
“I have never been lax in caring for your weapons Master Kreed.” Draiga said as he pointed to a carefully arranged workbench set against one wall, it was covered in various bottles and jars along with countless different cloths, bits of leather and spools of wire.
Kreed nodded again forgetting as he sighed “I was teasing you Draiga, you really shouldn’t take everyone so literally all the time.” His expression grew thoughtful as he pulled a three-foot long cloth wrapped bundle from his traveling bag. “I have something new for the collection this time, tell me what you think of it.” He caught one end of the cloth and pulled, unwinding it quickly to reveal an odd short sword. As the blade fell into his hand it chimed softly. The hilt was wire wrapped as most blades were but the handle was hollow and ended in a small bell that was the source of the chime also the blade was wider than most and hand small holes drilled down its entire length, stopping a few inches short of the point.
Kreed hesitated for a moment before striking the chime with one of his rings and tossing it to the blind elf. “Draiga, Catch!” as the blade spun through the air the holes in the blade caused it to make an odd whistling sound and the chime to rang even louder as the air flowed through the hollow hilt.
The younger elf turned his head so his ear was turned toward the sound, as one sighted would track something with their eyes, his left hand blurred into motion as it darted out catching the spinning sword by its blade.
He spun full circle to break the swords inertia and let out a shaking breath as Kreed quickly advanced and reached out toward the sword in his hand.
“Let me see how badly you are cut, I thought you would catch it’s hilt, I should have known better than to try one of my fool ideas with live steel. I’m sorry Draiga.”
Draiga smiled as he opened his hand revealing unmarked skin, letting Kreed take the sword from his hand. Kreed let his puzzlement show on his face as he sat back on his heels.
“I always handle the swords by the blade, how else am I supposed to hang them on the wall.”
Kreed looked down at the unblooded sword that he held and laughed.
“Very true Draiga, but this sword is different than the rest, it’s yours.”
Kreed turned and left without another word leaving the young elf holding the sword, surrounded by the others hung on the walls with almost identical chimes. The only difference as Draiga would later learn was the one he had been gifted with had a chime made of silver, while the others were all base metal. Giving it a clearer tone that was distinct to his ear.
Weeks passed without Kreed mentioning the blade he had given to the young elf and things quickly returned to normal until one evening as Draiga replaced the last of the blades on the wall and turned toward the door as Kreed entered the training hall. Unknown to the young elf Kreed was dressed very strangely indeed, he wore his practice leathers but at each joint of his body he wore a length of red silk cord wrapped around his body numerous times, at neck, shoulders, elbow, wrist, waist, knee and ankle. He looked like a puppet that had escaped from a children’s stage.
“Why haven’t you been using the blade I have you Draiga?” he sounded angry which was something the blind elf was unaccustomed to and he fell back a step at the tone.
“It feels wrong.” He said in a bare whisper before lowering his blind gaze toward his boots.
Kreed advanced toward Draiga his breathing was quick enough that the boy noticed and tilted his head slightly to hear better.
“What do you mean it feels wrong? I had that blade forged for you, it’s good steel” he glared at Draiga even knowing it wouldn’t do any good it made him feel better.
Without another word Draiga walked to the workbench and picked up the neglected sword and walked back to stand in front of his Master. He ran his fingers carefully over the blade until he felt what he was seeking. Before Kreed could stop him he held the blade up above his head and released it letting it strike the stone floor. With a loud crack the blade snapped cleanly half way down its length. Kreed’s jaw dropped open as he looked down at the broken sword then back at the blind elf standing before him.
“Vlos lu’Chath! How in the seven hells did you know it was flawed?" He seemed at a loss for words as he looked from the elf to the blade again.
“It felt wrong.” Draiga smiled as he looked up again. “There was a stress crack in the metal from the forging concealed in the watermark.” He hesitated for a moment before continuing “I could feel the fracture in the metal when I cleaned it.”
Kreed nodded slowly as he reached to his belt and drew the elven sword that he had decided to carry that morning and held it out toward Draiga.
”What about this blade?” He struck the blade lightly with the ring he wore on his other hand causing it to ring.
Draiga tilted his head slightly as he listened to the sound the steel made before reaching out and carefully taking the blade. He held it up to test the weight before lightly running his fingers down the length of the blade then over the hilt. A faint smile caused Kreed to raise an eyebrow in question. Eventually he would remember Draiga couldn’t see his expressions.
“It is nearly perfect although it is a bit off balance, the hilt is to heavy” he seemed sure of his opinion of the sword as he held it out to Kreed.
Kreed shook his head then sighed in frustration remembering Draiga couldn’t see his expressions.
“Keep it, to replace the flawed blade I gave you.” This time it was Draiga’s turn to look the fool as his eyes widened and his jaw fell open in shock.
Kreed couldn’t help laughing at the boy’s expression but it quickly passed as he watched Draiga examine the new sword carefully running his fingers over every inch of steel.
“Draiga, Where did you learn how to tell if a blade was flawed? It’s something I never taught you.” Kreed crossed his arms over his chest as he waited
With obvious reluctance Draiga took his attentions from the elven sword and turned back toward Kreed.
“I listen when there are classes and the other masters don’t seem to know I exist so they talk in front of me then when I come back here I examine the swords.”
Kreed nodded and began to unwind the crimson cords that bound his limps only stopping when a single loop remained to bind the cords to him. Draiga looked puzzled as he tilted his head listening to the unfamiliar sounds. Kreed grinned impishly before speaking.
“Well then since you already know so much about swords, perhaps its time I taught you how to use one.” He began to coil the cords nearly around his hands as he walked towards Draiga who looked utterly confused at this point.
“But Master Kreed, How can I fight with a sword when I can’t see!”
Kreed laughed as he stepped closer.
“You perceive more than most see, so we will proceed carefully at first”
He held up his right hand and the crimson cord wrapped around it.
“Do you know what a puppet show is?”
Kreed carefully attached each cord, the one from his wrist to Draiga’s wrist, from his ankle to Draiga’s ankle and so until a cats cradle of thin cords ran between them. He turned his back to Draiga and slowly walked forward until the cords grew tight between them and were suspended in the air.
“Draw the practice blade with your right hand Draiga and take care to keep the cords tight, they will guide your movements as I move through the basic stances.”
The boy drew the sword with a puzzled expression but still curious to find out what Kreed has in store, He held the blade at his side in the ready position and waited.
The elder carefully brought his right arm up to the first position which was a high block just above eye level with the blade parallel to the floor the cords binding their wrists caused Draiga’s movements to mirror Kreed’s own.
“This is the first position, it is used to block an overhead blow from your opponent if they are using a spear, sword, dagger or other light weapon. If they were using a crushing weapon then you would sidestep and angle the point toward the ground to deflect the force of the blow away from your body.”
Kreed was pulled of balance as the cords drew tight, he looked back over his shoulder at the younger elf and smiled faintly, seeing that Draiga had corrected his movements from what he had said, even intuitively shifting his stance to keep his balance centered over his hips.
“Good! The second stance brings the point of the blade up so it is in line with the arm and shoulder and pointing towards the sky while dropping the wrist to the level of your hip, this is to block a parallel cut if your opponent swings at your chest after missing a slash”
Again Kreed felt the cords shift and move as he allowed Draiga to flow into the second stance. He nodded to himself as he spun toward the young elf aiming a cut at his left shoulder. The two blades rang musically as Draiga brought his blade across his body to counter the slash from Kreed’s own blade.
Kreed quickly stepped back and lowered his sword.
“How did you know to block the blade with the third stance?”
Draiga hesitantly lowered his sword and looked thoughtful.
“I remembered hearing the other elders teaching the children from the scrolls and I felt you move. I could feel the wind from the blade cutting the air and hear it.”
Kreed nodded and looked as pleased as a cat that had found the birdcage left open.
“Good then let’s continue”
Kreed again turned his back and began to flow through the patterns of the dance, each movement an attack or block meant to leave an opponent disarmed or dead. The steps flowed until it resembled the dance it was named for by those who were allowed to see it and still keep their breath. The Dance of Blades was an art form that the dark elves had perfected in their long exile from the sun when they thought only of revenge against those that had cursed them to the dark. As Draiga moved through each step his practice blade cut through the cords binding them until the floor was littered with shreds of cloth yet still his steps mirrored those of his elder.
And so they continued the dance, the younger a mirror of the elder, lost in the steps of the dance.
Both were unaware that they were observed; from outside the chamber a young dark elven guard watched them. Her eyes were covered by the silk and chain wrappings of the guardians of the village. Nelsya smiled and walked away.