“How many times will I have to tell you?” - Maya spoke angrily, striking the young red-haired girl standing before her on the thigh with a wooden sword - “You’re slow, small and weak…”
“I know…” - the girl replied with a grimace, losing her balance for a second before trying in vain to launch a counter strike, aiming for Maya’s left arm, only for her weapon to be easily avoided.
“If you’re facing an opponent stronger than yourself, identify its strength and use it against him!”
In a flurry of swift movements, the two danced around each other, exchanging blows in quick succession as the speed of the combat increased continuously.
“Why won’t you admit that I’ve grown stronger?” - Suddenly stopping her movement, the girl launched a direct attack aimed at her opponent’s stomach, only for her weapon to lack the reach necessary to hit the target.
In a swift motion, Maya swung her own sword against the girl’s legs, causing her to fall to the floor on her side, gasping for air as her body hit the grass. Opening her eyes in an attempt to get up, the tip of her opponent’s weapon stood inches from her face, as Maya grimmed proudly standing before her.
“You’re improving fast Luna!” - offering her hand to the girl, Maya couldn’t help but compare the frightened child she rescued three years before, to the fierce young warrior before her - “But you’re not ready yet…”
“Alright aunty…” - Luna pouted as she accepted Maya’s help to get up, her left arm still sore from the fall.
“Well, where does that lead us to now? - Sitting comfortably with his back against a large rock, Solo had only woken up from his nap moments before the decisive moments of the combat. ’The monthly duel’, as Luna liked to call it. - “35 loses in a row, this must be a new record”
“33 loses and 2 draws!” - the girl corrected him, raising two fingers, offended by his words - “A draw is not a loss!”
“I was sick that day,” - trying not to laugh at the girl's insistence, Solo knew better than to let Luna realize his teasing - “and we both fell in the pond that time, but you fell into it first!”
Maya watched smiling while Luna started getting agitated with Solo, resembling a parent and child, their roles reversed as Solo laughed and the girl started lecturing him.
In the morning after the ambush that killed her entire family, Luna didn’t speak a single word. The girl shed no tears, neither protested as other members of the caravan started dividing the fallen’s possessions amongst themselves, as was the costume in cases like these.
For an entire week, the little girl simply sat quietly in the corner of the wagon that once belonged to her parents. As the Elders decided to grant the responsibility to raise Luna to those who saved her, her parent’s possessions were passed to Solo and Maya, and the trio started to live together as a makeshift family.
It was only on the morning of the eight day, as the girl was woken by the sounds of swords clashing, that her melancholy ended. Running out of the wagon in her nightwear, a fire poker firmly held with both her hands, she quickly stopped and dropped the tool as she witnessed for the first time the two warriors sparring in the morning.
To the child, their battle was as fantastical as a dance. Both warriors on their peak, moving as if flying through the grass, steel swords shining as they clashed. As they fought, a clear smile could be seen on their faces.
“Te…Teach me…” - the girl stummered, her voice struggling to come out after so long, but still being loud enough to alert the others of her presence - “Teach me to fight!”
“The true spirit of a warrior…” - Maya muttered to herself, reminiscing about the past. While it was never her intention to raise or care for a child, despite the difficult adjustment at the beginning, she had grown attached to Luna.
Picking the training weapons from the ground, she began returning to the wagon, as the other two had already started walking back. Summer was still a few days away, the cold autumn breeze finding its way inside even the warmer coats, but with the sun burning brighter each morning.
“What’s for breakfast?” - the woman shouted, her stomach starting to rumble after their morning exercise.
***
“How can you drink this thing?” - Luna spat after proving Maya’s tea, grimacing as the taste lingered in her mouth, the girl shoving another spoonful of rabbit stew in hopes to cleanse her palate.
“It’s an old warrior’s trick, helps to keep your senses keen, and your body strong,” - taking another long sip, Maya savored the familiar strong flavour, already accustomed to it - “It’ll help your muscles grow!”
“Maybe it’ll even help other things to grow too!” - putting down his now empty bowl, Solo pointed with his spoon towards Maya’s chest, still covered in light leather armor.
Luna couldn’t help but giggle, watching as Solo evaded the now almost empty wooden cup Maya had thrown at him. There was no denying that the woman was beautiful, greenish brown eyes, dark brown hair always tied up ‘for safety’. Even her scars, prideful reminders of all the times death came for her at the battlefield, seemed to help shroud her in an aura of grace and power.
“Your build is different from mine or Solo’s.” - the woman continued, trying to regain her composure - “your body’s still young, you’ll have trouble trying to overpower an older opponent in a battle of strength.”
“That,” - said the man, wiping the lukewarm tea from his face - “is why I still think you should change your main weapon…”
“But Maya uses a sword…” - Luna protested, putting down her empty bowl.
“And I use a hammer!” - Solo interrupted the child, grabbing a burning branch from the fire as he stood up - “The right weapon is different from person to person, it needs to be an extension of the warrior’s arm.”
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Holding the branch just like the handle of a sword, Solo began swinging it around expertly, the burning wood gleaming as it moved through the air. Luna knew those movements well, having been forced to practice the same basic routine tirelessly as she first learned how to wield a weapon.
“It doesn’t matter how much I practice these movements,” - he continued, before launching the remains of the branch towards the fire as if it was a dart - “I’ll never be as swift as Maya, just as she won’t be able to handle my hammer as I do.”
“What do you want me to use?” - the girl poked, curious to see if there was actually some truth behind the man’s words.
“Something like a spear, a glaive would be perfect.” - Solo pondered rubbing his chin, the dark stubs of his beard starting to become more prominent - “I’ve seen you using one like those before during training, I think it’ll be a much better fit.”
“I see what you mean,” - nodding, Maya seemed to agree with the man’s line of thinking, her arms crossed - “It would increase her reach, but still work in close quarters combat”
“Fine…” - Luna slumped her shoulders, realising she had been defeated - “At least I’ll be done with sword practice.”
“What are you talking about? You’ll be practicing both!” - Solo said, staring at Luna as if the girl had gone insane.
“Both?” - she blurted, already predicting the hellish training ahead of her.
“Only a fool limit’s himself during combat.” - Maya chanted in a mockery tone, lifting a finger. - “And believe it or not, this fool’s actually a Battlemaster. He’ll be supervising your training while I’m away!”
Luna had heard stories about battlemasters before at the camp’s bonfire, warriors who had trained themselves to the extreme, being able to wield almost any weapon or tool like an expert. Looking at Solo, unshaved and with his greying hair unkempt, rubbing his belly by the fire after breakfast, nothing in his appearance resembled a powerful warrior.
“Do you really have to go?” - the girl asked sorrowfully, staring down at her hands. For the past three years they had always been together, as the two always refused to separate from the main caravan - “Can’t they ask someone else?”
“Hey…” - Maya came closer, placing her hand gently on the girl's cheek - “I don’t want to go either… But it seems there’s something going on at Port Vordo, they need someone who can blend with the locals, and is familiar with the area.”
“So that leaves only you two…”
“Only Maya actually,” - kicking a nearby pile of earth on top of the dying embers of the fire, Solo got up from his seat - “I’ve never been to Vordo.”
“I thought you were wanted at Vordo!” - Luna stated, remembering the reason why the man rarely accompanied the two when the caravan stopped at a town or village.
“I’m wanted at many places, that’s barely a problem. The thing is, if there’s ever any trouble, I’ll have no idea where to run.”
“You say that as if you’re already expecting trouble…” - the girl looked from Solo to Maya, the woman’s hand still caressing her face, her expression sadder.
“If there was no trouble, we’d be all out of a job!” - Solo rubbed his head in frustration - “We’re here to protect the caravan, we have no choice.”
“Fine…” - Luna pushed away the woman’s hand, staring at her - “then I’m going with you!”
“Oh my brave little lioness…” - Maya threw her arms around the girl, hugging her tight. - “I would surely feel safer having you to watch my back, but not this time.”
The girl tried in vain to escape the woman's embrace, being overpowered completely by the power of her arms. Luna had complete trust in Maya’s abilities, having seen her in combat several times over the years, but the simple idea of being separated from her new family made her feel a deep pain in her chest.
“Promise me you’ll be safe!”
“Only if you promise to give it your all during training.” - finally letting go of the hug, the woman offered her pinky finger in compromise, as the two had done countless times before.
“I promise!” - Luna caved, grabbing the woman’s finger with her own, forcing a faint smile.
For the next couple of days, preparations for the departure of the advanced group kept the entire caravan occupied.
While the main part of their group would keep circling across the smaller villages and towns in the nearby region, a small eight person team would take the shortest route to Port Vordo. In order to reduce their travel time, they would have to cross the nearby marshes, as well as the forest surrounding the city. Both of which were famous for harboring bandit groups, ready to jump at any traveler desperate or dumb enough to attempt such a route.
On the day of the departure, Maya stood besides four other guards and three representatives from the caravan, to receive the blessings from Imogen, the caravan’s leader and current shaman. As the woman lifted her hands, a faint green smoke rose from her palms, encircling the members of the advanced group before fading completely.
“Pharno’s blessings be with you all, my children.” - Despite her old age and frail appearance, Imogen’s voice was loud and clear, being heard by all of those present - “There’s a strange smell in the wind. Faint and fickle for now, but growing stronger by the day. May your mission bring the answers we seek, and peace to our hearts!”
With a cheer from the crowd, the ceremony was over. While being patted on the back, Maya walked towards Solo and Luna, sword and satchel hanging on her back. Despite not wearing a full plate of armor, her full set of reinforcer leather armor was the most well geared Luna had seen the woman in a long time.
Before she could reach the two, Malore stopped the warrior, giving her a strange wooden box before walking away.
“What is this?” - Luna questioned as Maya finally reached the others.
“It was supposed to be a surprise for next week, on your thirteenth birthday…” - Maya pushed the wooden box onto the girl’s arms - “But since It’ll take us around two months to get to Vordo and back, I think it’s better to deliver it now!”
“Come on, open it!” - Solo squeezed the girl’s shoulder gently, a knowingly smile on his face - “It’s a little something from both of us.”
Reaching thirteen years of age was a big deal amongst humans, as it symbolized no longer being a child and stepping into adulthood. On such an important occasion it was typical for parents to splurge on a gift to their children, be it either money to start their own path in life, or tools for practicing a craft. As her own biological parents were long gone, Luna was not expecting to receive anything other than the typical caravan birthday celebration.
“I… I don’t know what to say…”
“Well, that surely is a first!” - Solo joked, standing beside Maya - “We may not be your blood kid, but you’re a part of our family, and we love you.”
Luna tried to hold back her tears, not realising she was already weeping until Maya held her face to dry her eyes. She had always feared that the two had only taken her in out of a sense of guilt or duty, despite the multiple examples of the contrary. Being now given irrefutable proof of their care for her, and hearing those words, the girl couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with emotions.
“Come one, this is a joyful moment” - Maya squeezed the girl’s face, causing her to giggle, before taking back the box and holding it in front of Luna - “We wanted you to have something special, so it took us quite some time to find it.”
Having calmed down enough, Luna reached for the lid of the box, who creaked happily as it was opened. As soon as she took her first glance of the inside, the girl felt her entire body growing cold, her hands shaking. Laying on a simple piece of cloth, glimmering brightly under the sun, was a single adorned silver short sword.
