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

that
encounter. It’s a good thing I have made a little bit of a name for
myself shattering weapons; they’re hesitant to send their most
capable and instead release criminals to do their dirty work.” He
muttered to himself.
    Looking back at the meadow where he had left
Callindra, Glarian frowned. “I’ve been pushing her but I need to
push harder, we’re running out of time. I didn’t expect them to
react so quickly but I guess breaking all those weapons made them
angry.”
    A black butterfly floated down and landed on
the tip of Sakar with a distinct clink of metal touching metal.
Glarian felt a tremor of Power rush through his blade and Belach’s
voice came from the steel insect.
    “ I’m bringing her sword in
two weeks. Had to burn some time in the forge but after speaking
with her yesterday I decided it needed to be done sooner rather
than later. I’d bring it today but the damn thing’s taking an
ungodly long time to cool and that’s the only part I can’t rush.
Have a care, they let Thaeran out to come get your title. He
brought that monster Darangar in to make sure it was ready to smash
whatever stood in his way and of course I had no choice but to
inspect him.”
    The butterfly flexed metal wings and soared
on unseen thermals, spiraling high into the air. Glarian sat on a
large, flat stone and leaned Sakar against his shoulder. So he had
Named his hammer. Darangar, was that ‘Soul Crusher’ in Dwarven? He
thought so.
    Glarian looked back at his disciple, she had
a stack of kindling piled in a neat row on the left side of the
stump. He blinked and looked again. Callindra was more than halfway
done with the wood he’d left her and working quickly through what
remained. She had actually managed to gain control over the Weave,
even though she was using an old sword he’d only kept for
sentimental reasons. He grinned, this was going to be a lot of fun.
The Order was in for a big surprise.
    “ We just might make it. It’s
a slim chance but I’m betting on your skills Belach. By the icy
gales of Njordi, if there’s any chance of this working the sword
you send her must be absolutely perfect.”
    -
    Callindra was hauling water.
She had gotten into the habit of filling the cistern early in the morning, that way it was full and she
wouldn’t have to do it after a hard day of training. She paused,
looking at her reflection. A much different person than she
remembered stared back at her. Face with hard lines and more than a
few scars. Hair that had been cut for function, short and uneven,
causing it to stick out at strange angles. She smiled, wondering if
any at the Keep would even recognize her.
    Something wasn’t quite right, she could sense
it as she was coming close to the edge of the forest. Setting the
yoke down as quietly as she could, Callindra drew her sword and
slunk towards the house on the balls of her feet. Peering through
the leaves. She could see a tall, broad man leaving the house. He
looked familiar. She had seen him in a vision, but he had been
holding a hammer and standing in front of a forge.
    As the man left Glarian bowed low from the
waist, saying something unintelligible from this distance. The man
laughed loud enough for her to hear, then seemed to fold in half,
sliding sideways into nothing. When he vanished, a cloud of
fireflies seemed to erupt from the spot where he disappeared
from.
    Forgetting about the water, she ran towards
the house with her sword still in hand. Glarian looked her
direction long before she was visible at the edge of the tree line
and patiently waited for her to arrive.
    “ Who was that Master?” She
asked, out of breath.
    “ I have told you that rash
action will lead to your undoing Callindra. If you ran thus to a
swordfight you would find your opponent’s blade sheathed in your
guts! I will thank you however, for pointing out that I must add
some additional endurance training to your daily
regimen.”
    Callindra calmed her breathing and waited for
him