The Toldar Series Box Set

by Matt Mememaro

  Before he could react, Abner found himself flat on his back, Lois pinning both his arms, effectively relieving him of his sword before breaking the straps to his shield. Malvrok started a slow clap and Lois stood, proudly looking at him.

  “Very good, my two apprentices. Lois wins this bout.”

  “Mal, I didn’t lose my shield. She took it from me,” Abner said. “She didn’t win.”

  “Aye, but she did,” Malvrok said. “What are you going to do if a man steals your shield? Complain and say, ‘Oh, he took my shield, the same one that might actually save my life.’ No, of course you’re not. You hunt him down and put your sword through his skull!”

  “But Mal, this is training,” Abner said.

  “Don’t but, Mal me!” Malvrok said. “Damn it to hell, boy, I thought we were past this! I set the rules but it doesn’t mean there are rules. There are no rules out there in the world. Only what a man can and can’t do. He can kill you or leave you to die. Or you can kill him. Lois won, simple as that. Now get your bow. I expect to see you down at the archery range in less than five minutes!”

  “Don’t be so sad about it, Ab,” Lois said. “We’ve all lost at some point, by a technicality. Let’s see if you can beat me in archery today.”

  “Ah, don’t be so hard on yourself, lad,” Torvak said. He walked up from behind the pair of them. “We all get beaten at some point in our lives. That was a fine display you put on for your little cheer squad over there,” he said gesturing over towards the houses.

  “But what can I do if I don’t win?” Abner asked. “What’s the point of continuing on?”

  Torvak slapped him on the shoulder. “There is no point. You either win and go onto kill another man, or you die. There is no other way of life for a warrior. Fight to stay alive."

  “Oy, Torvak!” Malvrok said. “Stop holding up my apprentice and get back to your fucking smith and make me some weapons.”

  “On my way,” Torvak said with a lazy salute. “Go on, get going. Beat her on the range for me.”

  27

  A Keen Eye

  Abner enjoyed archery almost as much as he enjoyed sword fighting. With the bow in his hands, he felt more alive than ever. The hunt with Malvrok on his fourteenth birthday outside the Fortress walls had been a surreal experience, tracking and hunting down a living, breathing creature watching as the arrow took it through the eye.

  He arrived at the archery range, still in full armor. The range was a long strip of land, cleared of trees with targets no larger than dinner plates set at distances of one hundred and fifty feet all the way up to one thousand. Lois and Malvrok waited for him as he trudged across the field, both leaning on their yew longbows making conversation until Abner joined them.

  It was odd for Malvrok to have his own bow with him and it had been months since Abner had last seen him train with something other than his sword. Malvrok looked up from Lois and took a step back to address them both.

  “Right, I’ve got a challenge for the two of you. Your second task for today is much more simple than before. You have to shoot an arrow at the thousand feet target, make it hit the bull’s eye and then fire a second arrow so it splits the shaft. The first person to do this wins.”

  “You’ve got to be joking, Mal. Sure it’ll be easy enough to hit the target at this range, but splitting the arrow? That’s a bit out of our reach,” Lois said.

  “Stop bitching and watch,” Malvrok said. He selected an arrow from the closet bucket.

  He drew back, his powerful shoulder blades pushing together, stretching the bow out to its full capacity. His stance was wide allowing for stability. A leaf fluttered past his vision, yet Malvrok didn’t flinch. Malvrok drew a slow breath before releasing the arrow, not moving until it sunk deep into the target.

  The bull’s eye was no bigger than two coins side by side and the arrow impaled itself dead in the center. Malvrok drew his second arrow repeating the same movement he had with the first. It landed a second later, spearing through the first arrow’s shaft, before the head entered the bull’s eye just below the first arrow.

  “Easy as that. Now let me get down there and I’ll give the signal when I’ve removed the arrows. Do you two have any questions?”

  “What if we hit you?” Abner asked.

  “Trust me, you won’t. You're better archers than that. And if any arrows come close to me I’ll catch them,” Malvrok said. “Take a couple of practice shots at the closer targets first.”

  “He’s crazy,” Lois said.

  “There’s a method to his madness,” Abner said. “Are you ready?”

  “Yep, let’s do this,” Lois said with a look of determination drawing her first arrow staring down the range, waiting for the signal.

  Malvrok raised his arm and Lois focused on nothing more than the target next to him. A slight crosswind picked up and she made the adjustments to both the elevation and angle. Abner caught himself staring at her again as she drew breath, sucking her stomach in, pressing her shoulder blades together. His gaze lingered on her longer this time before his attention turned to the arrow flying down range.

  It followed a similar trajectory to Malvrok’s, splitting through the target no more than a fingernail higher than her master’s. Malvrok raised his arm again, and with a wave signaled for Abner to take his shot. He pictured the arrow flying through the air a hundred times in his head as he drew back, angling the bow as to get the most of the flight.

  Satisfied the arrow would go where he willed it, Abner released. The moment the arrow arched, Abner knew his shot would land in the bull’s eye. A second later and it tore through Lois’ shaft, splintering away all but the arrowhead. He turned to smile at her, expecting a smile and friendly words in praise but all he received was an angry scowl.

  Abner threw down his bow and took a seat, waiting for Malvrok to rejoin them. He instead signaled that they move towards his house, waving his hand in the general direction while he plucked the arrows from the target. Abner reclaimed his bow, taking his time to walk slowly back towards the town.

  Back inside the house, the two apprentices stood before Malvrok who was pacing in front of his fireplace. Two armor stands covered by a cloth stood in opposite corners.

  “You two have done me proud today,” Malvrok said. “However, there is something more that you need to do. Complete this task and do it well, and your apprenticeships are over. I have taught you all I can with survival skills. You have both mastered every weapon I placed in your hands. It’s time to see if you can put those skills to use in the real world.”

  “What do we have to do?” Abner asked.

  “You are to spend a month surviving outside the fort. You can go wherever you please so long as it is not to a major city and you may not gain assistance from anyone. The only rule is that you stick to the wilds and survive. Return at the end of the month and you will find your Aksah here waiting for you.”

  The Aksah were an important part of the culture Malvrok had grown up with. As a former Sword Lord, Malvrok now wore no Aksah, which was a small piece of false hair that the Sword Lords attached to their own before growing one naturally. Since going into self-exile Malvrok had removed his. He had travelled throughout Taagras competing in the many tournaments and pit fights that the Lords and Councilors often hosted.

  “When do we set out? The sooner we’re on the road the sooner we can be back,” Lois said. “I for one am anxious to claim my Aksah.”

  “You set out immediately. I have something to give to you before you leave,” Malvrok said stepping over to the armor stands.

  He removed the cloths presenting two new suits of armor to his apprentices. The smaller suit was a fine silver colour, with Malvrok’s ensign emblazoned across the chest. Its trim was a blood red colour that glowed in the sunlight. Standing opposite it, the larger suit meant for Abner had a black trim, the only other distinguishing feature separating the two rather than size.

  “It’s beautiful, Mal,” Lois said as she ran her
hand along the chest plate.

  “I decided not to give you new swords because the ones you have already are exceptional. Lois, that broadsword was forged by Torvak specifically for you, as was the short sword. You need to keep both. As for you, Abner, I have only ever seen one other sword like that in my life. Protect it well as if it was your newborn son,” Malvrok said.

  “You still won’t tell me what it is or where it came from?” Abner asked.

  “We’ll talk about your sword after you return from the test. Now get into the armor and get going. The more daylight you have the more time you have to travel. Meet me outside when you’re ready,” Malvrok said, exiting the room and leaving the two apprentices to change.

  “I know I seem confident inside these walls, but we’ve rarely been outside,” Lois said so that Malvrok had no chance of overhearing. “The Fortress has given us everything we’ve ever needed.”

  Abner kept his eyes down, focusing on his armor, not daring to raise them while Lois stripped down behind him. “That’s why he’s sending us out there. It’s a test of our abilities.”

  “I suppose you’re right,” Lois said. “Malvrok knows what’s best for us after all. He’s always two steps ahead of us, planning for the future.”

  “Exactly, we just have to trust him like we have to trust each other.” Abner raised his eyes to hers. “You trust me, don’t you?”

  “I do, Ab. You were the boy that saved me all those years ago when I thought I was going to die. How could I not trust you?” Lois asked.

  The apprentices marched outside, their shining new plated armor made their impressive figures even more so. Malvrok stood near the gate, watching on with pride as his two students walked towards him. Talia hung off his shoulder mirroring his expressions.

  “You look absolutely magnificent,” Malvrok said.

  “Lois, you look like a warrior princess straight from one of the stories. And Abner, you look impressive,” Talia said.

  “Thank you both,” Lois said.

  “Thank you, Talia. Malvrok is there anything else we need to know before heading out?” Abner asked.

  “I have some packs for you. The only tools you have are your swords, bows and tents. You have to hunt, buy, or steal whatever you need to survive. If my men see you within a ten league radius they have orders to report back to me and fail you,” Malvrok said. “Darris can you pass me the bags?”

  “Aye, Malvrok are you sure you want them now?”

  “Yes, you idiot, throw them down,” Malvrok said.

  Darris stood up on the gate and dropped the kits over the wall. The small tents were in their own separate bag, easily hoisted over one shoulder, while the bow and quiver full of arrows went over the other.

  “What will we do once we return?” Lois asked as she slung her longbow across her body.

  “You’ll be able to do whatever you want to do. Both of you will be Sword Lords. However, I pushed your training beyond what is expected of them. I would recommend leaving permanently to forge your own legacy in this world. I personally attended every fight and arena stage that was advertised and in a few years, ended up here. It’d be wise if you didn’t follow my footsteps to the letter,” Malvrok said. “Bring glory to your names, that is all I ask. You can return here at any time after the month, but if you return beforehand I won’t be able to give you your Aksah.”

  “Don’t worry, Mal. We’ll be back for them, don’t you worry,” Abner said embracing the man that was like a father to him.

  Malvrok gripped him back harder. “Stay safe, my boy. I have great faith in you. The world is a large and dangerous place. Don’t let it kill you early. Raise the gates!”

  Darris and the men on the wall cranked the levers raising the gates so that the two young warriors could pass underneath. Once outside, they were instantly swallowed by the forest.

  “There’s no turning back now,” Abner said.

  Lois looked at him, her eyes filled with fear. “I know, we’re on our own now and we have to do this.”

  A tree branch snapped not far ahead of them. The apprentices drew their bows and an arrow, simultaneously scanning the gaps in the trees. Abner’s heart pounded in his chest, waiting for the worst to appear. Another branch snapped closer to them this time and Lois jumped then began to laugh.

  “It’s just a badger!”

  “Thank the Gods for that,” Abner said placing his bow back over his shoulder. “I thought we were going to die already. Shall we press on?”

  “Of course,” Lois said.

  Soon the Fortress was nothing more than a tall stone wall, growing smaller in the distance behind them.

  28

  Blood

  There was little to do inside the forest as the two warriors made their way out of the ten-league zone that Malvrok had designated. Twigs and leaves were crushed under their heavy boots and small animals scampered away into the undergrowth. Heading so far east was a strange feeling for Abner who had been raised in the Fortress his entire life. The only time he had gone far from its walls was during the fishing trip to the center of the Bulldrag Lake.

  After a time, the sounds of the Fortress faded and the silence of the forest grew deafening.

  “I don’t think we should go towards the Alilletian border,” Lois said. “I overheard Mal talking to Torvak about posting more outposts to the north.”

  “Why, what’s happening?” Abner asked.

  “The rumor was that the Alilletian Councilor is sending more raiding parties south to try and lay claim to some of the northern Tyrain farmland, which means they could possibly head our way to grab what they can of the Bulldrag,” Lois said. “For what it’s worth, we shouldn’t go north. I don’t want to fight Alilletians.”

  “Who else are we going to test our skills against? You heard Malvrok, bring glory to your names, he said.”

  “He also said don’t let life kill you early. Marching into the jaws of Alilletians is sure to kill us. Look, let’s sort this out,” Lois said. She dropped to her knees and searched in her tent bag. “At least he gave us a map.”

  She laid the map of Taagras across the ground. It was difficult to see in the low light. Malvrok’s easily recognizable scrawl ran across the page in random locations detailing points of interest and each city in Taagras.

  “Here, we could go to the mountain ranges and camp out in there for a while. There’s bound to be plenty of food and water.”

  “What about bears?” Abner asked.

  “You’re not worried about Alilletians killing us, but you’re worried about a bear?” Lois sniggered. “They say the Alilletians are humans the size of bears. Direct cousins of the Highlanders.”

  “We’re weapon masters and the Alilletians are only human. We would stand more chance against them than a proper bear of the mountains.”

  “And have you ever seen an Alilletian or bear, Ab?”

  “Neither,” Abner said. “But I’d much rather face another person than fight a wild beast that we know next to nothing about. Your arrows wouldn't be able to penetrate it's hide, that immediately puts us at a disadvantage. Anyway, how far do you think it is to the mountains? There’s no indication on the map.”

  “Judging by the size of the Bulldrag, I daresay we’ll see it once we’re out of the forest. If we hurry we can be there by nightfall.” Lois rolled the map up, shoving it back into the pack. “We don’t want to be on the move once the sun sets.”

  “No, you’re right, let’s get moving.”

  The two apprentices moved quickly through the forest maintaining a steady pace even in their heavy armor, dodging trees and clambering up small rocky embankments. Lois led the way as they headed east and they soon emerged from the forest. In the distance, the black silhouette of the mountains stood out against the blue sky.

  Abner took in the surroundings of the Tyrainian plains that stretched on until they reached up to the mountain range before him. To the north lay the frozen wastelands of Alilletia and to the south lay more of the gre
en grassland that was before him. As the two trudged across the plain, there was a rustle not far from them in the tall grass.

  Lois dropped to one knee, slinging her bow off her back. Barely pausing to take aim she fired into the grass and a squeal was admitted from the animal the arrow had hit. She strode into the tall fronds and lifted a large rabbit removing the arrow triumphantly. Lois slung the rabbit over her shoulders.

  “I found dinner,” she said.

  As night fell, the apprentices found themselves well within the reaches of the mountains. They found shelter from the wind on the northern face. Abner lit a fire while Lois began preparing their meal of rabbit. He set up the tents while she tended to it, roasting the creature slowly over the fire. The sounds of crackling, burning flesh filled Abner’s ears and the smell of the delicious meat quickly filled his nostrils. He’d only just realized how hungry he was, the effects of the long run finally taking their toll on him. Lois served the rabbit to him on the same stick with which she had cooked it, one of the few that they found on the rocky outcrop of the mountain.

  “What are you going to do when we get our Aksahs?” Abner asked. “Where will you go?”

  “I was going to stay at the Fortress for a while and teach the children how to fight. It’s only right that we give something back,” Lois said. “What about you?”

  “The Southern Conflict is always looking for soldiers to join either side. I might join the Renori for a while and start earning a living that way. It’s all I know how to do,” Abner said. “What other options do we as warriors have? We have to keep fighting.”

  “And what about tomorrow? What shall we do?”

  “I say we hunt around the mountains and see what we can find. But really I’m not too worried. We can get food easily enough and it looks like it’ll rain tonight. I heard that water rushing above us before, so we’ll see what we can find.”