Hanna Halfblood: A YA fantasy tale

by Robyn Wideman

  “Poor Azad will be furious. He must sit this one out. His leg isn’t strong enough for a boarding jump yet.”

  “And what of your ribs?”

  Hanna rubbed her sides. “Almost healed. The healer in Ayrith is good. She says young bones heal fast. I will be ready for Foxnoses.”

  “Now, what of the assassin. What did you learn?”

  “I think you were right about her being a Mykoznian King’s Guard. She snuck into the village one night and came into my room. She admitted to killing Grandfather and then gave me this gem. It is one of the ayrithstones, but grandfather did something to it.” Hanna paused. “I think he made a bloodstone. His dying request was that she give it to me.”

  Rowena raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think Thorodd’s magic was strong enough to create a bloodstone. That is powerful magic.”

  “I don’t know what he did to it, but she said he covered it in his blood. And now it is warm to the touch to me, but everyone else who touches it finds it cool.”

  “Interesting. Maybe there is something special about these gems. You’ll have to show it to Koyo Tomar,” said Rowena.

  “Koyo?” said Hanna.

  “Can you think of anyone who’s been more places or seen more strange things than Koyo?”

  Hanna smiled. No, she couldn’t think of anyone who fit that description. Koyo Tomar was a lifelong sailor and had traveled all over the known world and sometimes beyond. “Yes. That might be a good idea. But I’m not worrying about it until we’ve dealt with the Foxnoses.”

  “Please try to keep your cool, we don’t need this escalating. If they don’t want to play nice, then we won’t, but don’t go doing anything too crazy,” said Rowena.

  “What, me? I’m not to do anything like that,” protested Hanna.

  “Hanna, this is important. I don’t want your feelings about your grandfather’s death clouding your judgement. The Lady of the Evening will be under your command, but I need you to be rational. You know everyone will be judging us by how we deal with the Foxnoses.”

  “Under my command? Where is Captain Rozad?” asked Hanna.

  “He’ll still be there, but it’s time you assumed your proper position in the company. Pretending to be a deckhand isn’t an option any more. Your grandfather and your father have been grooming you to be the tip of the sword. I didn’t agree with letting you spend all your time training to become a warrior, but now they are both gone and one of us must step up. Our trade agreements were built on the trust Thorodd built with our partners. They all knew he would be fair, but if crossed he would come down on his enemies with the wrath of a God. The only way we can keep things going is if they perceive us as being strong. Your grandfather made sure I knew my way around a weapon, but I never cared for battle and chose to let others deal with that aspect of life. It is a decision I regret, because now, I have to ask you to take that role.”

  Hanna sighed. Being a warrior was something she’d been training for her entire life, and she’d always understood that to survive in Northern Solotine she needed to be stronger and more determined than everyone else. Her father had even gone so far as to give her a choice. Be raised as a lady in Creyta or as a warrior in Solotine? For Hanna, it had never been a question. “You know I’ll do whatever it takes to support you. What do you need?”

  Rowena grimaced. “I never thought I’d say this, but I need you to be more like your father.”

  Hanna smiled. “Now that I can do.”

  Rowena groaned. “I was afraid you might say that.”

  Hanna knew all about the exploits of her father, some of his stories she’d learned from her father, others from her mother, but most from the crew of the Lady of the Evening. After her father’s disappearance, the crew tried to tell stories of their missing leader. Most were themed around his flamboyant nature and crazy tactics that always seemed to work and other stories were about his youth. Before he met Rowena Stoneblood, Merdem Mirzan had been a wild man, breaking bones and hearts in every port he sailed to. He had a flare for the dramatic and was always easy to spot due to his bright clothing and good looks. “What leather do we have in storage right now? I’m going to need some new armor.”

  Rowena grabbed an inventory list. “Let me guess, you want colorful?”

  “You did say be more like father,” said Hanna.

  “Troll hide or vraber skin are your options.”

  Hanna thought about it for a minute. Both were excellent options. Hanna knew they had plenty of other types of hides in the warehouse but Rowena had suggested the two that would make the best armor. Vraber, the vicious creature that seemed to be a combination of a lizard and a wolf, was as tough as metal but far lighter. Troll hide wasn’t as tough as vraber skin but it was still superior to most other options, and it was more flexible. A side benefit was that it absorbed dye better. “Troll skin. A troll skin dress with matching gauntlets and boots.”

  “You’ll give Koyo a heart attack if you wear that outfit on the ship.”

  “Perhaps, but he’s an old man. At least he’ll die with a smile on his face,” said Hanna.

  Rowena laughed. “And what color do you want this scandalous outfit in?”

  “All of them.”

  “Gods above. You are your father’s daughter. There might not be enough troll hide. What color do you want to start?”

  Hanna thought about it for a moment. What color would her father have worn into battle with the Foxnoses? “Blood red,” she answered. Red had been her favorite of all the bright and colorful outfits she’d ever seen him in.

  …

  Hanna stood tall as she walked onto the Lady of the Evening. She was wearing her new armor and was still getting used to wearing it. She was used to wearing more conservative and modest outfits, but even she had to admit the new outfit looked good. The tight troll skin armor fit snugly showing off her womanly curves and athletic body. The skirt showed more skin that she was used to, but the armor was light weight and offered maximum range of movement, and the deep red was magnetic to the eye. In this outfit, she would be noticed! It was a double-edged sword though. The risk of being a target increased, but so did the attention her enemies would pay to her clothing and not her blades.

  “Son of a three-legged dwarf, where did you find that armor?” asked Koyo Tomar as she joined him on the deck of the ship.

  Hanna gave a twirl. “I had it made. You like it?”

  “It is gaudy, ostentatious, vulgar and frankly obscene!” said Koyo.

  “So, you do like it?”

  “Yes. It is the perfect armor for the daughter of Merdem Mirzan,” admitted Koyo. “You fill it out admirably and have the skills to back such a loud outfit. It is something your father would’ve approved of.”

  “Thank you. Koyo, look at this gem. It is the stone Thorodd gave me.” Hanna took off the necklace she’d had made, and handed it to Koyo.

  Koyo examined the gem. “Azad mentioned what happened with the assassin and your grandfather. I’m sorry for your loss. Thorodd was a good man. And you say Thorodd put his blood on this gem?”

  “Yes, that is what the assassin told me. I’ve no reason not to believe her. Why? What does it mean?”

  “It means your grandfather had more magic in his blood than he ever thought. Only not the kind he might’ve been expecting.”

  Hanna frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  “Magic is a peculiar beast,” said Koyo. “There are all types of magic, some are common and some are very rare. Some take years of practice to master and others are achieved simply by having the right type of magic. Here in Solotine, magic is rare. You don’t see many mages or witches. Most of those with magical bloodlines left long ago. There are still some like the Nordviks that can be found, and certain families like the Stonebloods have strong magical bloodlines. Those magical bloodlines often have powerful magic potential. Often that potential is never realized because of the simple fact that it is never used. Magic can be like the tiniest spark. If you don’t add fue
l to the spark it never grows. Your grandfather never used his magic abilities so they never grew, but it doesn’t mean they weren’t there or that they didn’t have the potential to be strong.”

  “That makes sense. Esmera, the magical healer for the Nordviks explained it in a similar way. But what does that have to do with the gem. Is it a bloodstone now? Did Grandfather do something magical to it?”

  “Yes, I suppose you could call it a bloodstone. You grandfather used his own blood to create a magical bond with the stone. But that isn’t a normal bloodstone. Normal bloodstones, if there are such things, harness and store magical power. That is a spirit stone.”

  “What in the seven hells is a spirit stone?”

  “Spirit stones are a special type of gem. You don’t see them in this part of the world, and when you do they are often used for jewelry and not for magic. Frankly, I don’t think there are many around who can do that type of magic. But I’m guessing your grandfather must’ve had some inherent ability, because this stone certainly contains magic.”

  “Dang it, Koyo, you are making no sense. What kind of magic did Grandfather have?”

  “Have ye not been listening, girl? What kind of magic you think goes with spirit stones?”

  “Spirit magic? I’ve never heard of such a thing,” said Hanna.

  “It is rare,” conceded Koyo. “And many mages consider it to be dark magic and frowned upon. But there was a time when it wasn’t considered so. It is like many other types of magic that are considered dark. They are only as dark as the mage using them.”

  Hanna examined the stone. It was obvious that Thorodd had thought it very important. But why? “What does it do?”

  Koyo shrugged. “I’m a sailor, not a mage. You’ll have to find someone with more knowledge in the mystic arts. Your old trainer Anso Sengaw would be a good place to start.”

  “Anso?”

  “Just because he only taught you weapons doesn’t mean it was all he had to offer. Anso Sengaw understands magic in a way most mages only wish to.”

  Hanna thought about Koyo’s words. She’d spent years training with Anso Sengaw. The weapons master had come to Irontide at her father’s request to teach his young daughter the Creytan fighting styles. Merdem Mirzan had wanted his daughter to have a balanced approach to becoming a warrior. Thorodd had started her training, where she’d learned to use axes, swords, and her glaive. Anso Sengaw integrated hand to hand combat and smaller weapons like her eagle’s claw daggers. The two fighting styles were a study in contrasts and similarities. Power, speed and precision were focuses of the northern fighting style, while fluidity, footwork and creativity were focus points of Anso’s training.

  However, Anso had often talked about fighting from a more mental and spiritual approach. He often hinted that fighting was like magic. Had he been hinting at something more than a general comparison? When Anso had returned to Creyta he’d implied that her training was not yet done, but he’d taught her all he could at that time. Was magic the next step in his training? Or was it simply a matter of her needing time and physical growth before he allowed her training to progress? “Perhaps a visit to Anso is a good idea. The more we can learn about the bloodstone the better.”

  “You should go speak to Captain Rozad, I have to go grab something before we sail,” said Koyo Tomar as he abruptly left Hanna.

  Hanna shook her head at her old friend. She wondered what the crazy old man had forgotten. But she did take his advice and made her way to the captain.

  “Interesting outfit, Hanna. You keep wearing outfits like that and we may have to start calling you Mirzan instead of Halfblood. That is an outfit your father would’ve appreciated. Of course, he would’ve added some gems, perhaps a tiara.”

  “Hanna Mirzan? It doesn’t have the same ring to it. I’ll keep Halfblood. It reminds the world that I come from two worlds.” Hanna raised her chin slightly. “The best of both worlds.”

  Captain Rozad chuckled. “Spoken like the daughter of Merdem Mirzan, and the granddaughter of Thorodd Stoneblood. Yes, you are right. You are stuck with being Hanna Halfblood. It is a good name. What you aren’t stuck with is your position as deckhand. You are now the official representative of the Stoneblood trading company. We’ve added a new deckhand to replace you, Lohan Baz.”

  Hanna smiled. She’d known her role was changing on the ship, but she hadn’t known they would be adding a deck hand. Lohan Baz was a friend, and the son of Nino Baz, another of the ship’s men whom Hanna had known her whole life. “That is good. Lohan will proud.”

  “Yes, both he and Nino haven’t stopped grinning since I let them know. You are also being removed of your boarding party duties. Rowan will be replacing you.”

  Hanna’s smile disappeared. “Why would you do that? Rowan doesn’t use a glaive or even a staff. Am I not supposed to fight any more?”

  Captain Rozad shook his head. “While you were off in the north with Azad, Rowan has been training. He doesn’t have it mastered but you don’t give him enough credit for his staff work.”

  Hanna sighed. She did know Rowan used a staff. He was her training partner, and she’d taught him how to use the staff. He was good enough, but damn it, that was her position. Hanna hid her annoyance.

  “And what am I to do?”

  “You didn’t get dressed up in that outfit to sit around and not fight. You will be joining Azad. Once he is healed you will work together. For now, you will be taking his place.”

  Joining Azad, wow! Hanna thought. Azad was the focal point of the boarding party attacks. Getting him close to the enemy ship’s captain was a large part of their attack strategy. That Captain Rozad trusted her enough to join him was quite an honor. “Thank you.”

  “You’ve earned it. And now that you’ve tasted defeat you will be a more complete fighter,” said Captain Rozad, reminding Hanna that she and Azad were only alive because of the arrival of the Nordvik men during the fight with the Foxnose men. The defeat hadn’t been a reflection on her fighting skills but of her planning skills. She’d underestimated the Foxnoses and not taken an appropriate number of warriors with her.

  “Well, don’t get used to seeing me taste defeat. I don’t intend to taste the bitterness of it ever again. To not learn from my mistake would dishonor the men who fought with me.”

  “Spoken like the daughter of Merdem Mirzan,” said Captain Rozad with a chuckle. “One last thing. You’ll have to change weapons. Your glaive won’t be much use in your new fighting role.”

  Hanna nodded. The glaive was great for creating space, and that had been her role before. But now, Azad and she would work up close during combat. The glaive would be missed. She used it like an extension of her body. She brightened. She still had her eagle’s claw daggers which were perfect for up close work. “Perhaps I should offer Rowan my glaive. It is a fine weapon for that role.”

  “That is up to you. Your glaive would be missed if it was no longer to be used, but I’d ask no one to give up their weapons. If you do decide to do so, the sooner he starts training with the glaive the better. It is not the same as using a staff.”

  As Hanna decided that she would teach Rowan in the use of the glaive, Koyo Tomar returned to the ship. A short time later he approached Hanna and Captain Rozad, carrying a shield and a large northern axe.

  Hanna laughed. “An axe and a shield? Have you lost your mind, Koyo? Are you going to fight as a northerner now?”

  Koyo shook his head. “Not me. You! The axe was your grandfather’s.”

  “What are you talking about, Koyo? I won’t be fighting in my old role. Rowan will be taking my position.”

  “Who do you think has been training Rowan while you were gone?” asked Koyo. “I know you are joining Azad. That isn’t why I brought the axe.”

  “I’ve never used an axe and shield together before. It won’t work. I’ll stick to my eagle’s claw blades.”

  “No problem. I’ll just leave these weapons below deck for when you change your mind,” said K
oyo as he left Hanna and the captain.

  When he was out of ear range, Hanna turned to Captain Rozad. “He’s out of his bloody mind.”

  Captain Rozad gave the slightest shrug of indifference. “I wouldn’t discount anything Koyo Tomar says. He might sound crazy most of the time but more often than not he knows what he’s talking about.”

  …

  For the next three days, they sailed north and west. They had a good idea of where and when the Foxnose merchant ship would be sailing, but winds and other factors often changed a ship’s course. However, the Foxnose ship was scheduled to stop in the Palm Isles, which limited the search grid. From the Palm Isles to Grimsfell was a short straight run, and there wasn’t much reason to deviate from a straight path.

  While they sailed, they trained. Hanna and Rowan spent much of each day training together. Three days was a short time for Rowan to learn a new weapon, even though it was very similar to the ones he’d already trained with. And more important than the weapon itself was the role Rowan would be taking over. Aside from the initial attack onto the enemy ships and then using the glaive to clear space, Rowan would be responsible for protecting the back of Azad and now Hanna. That meant Rowan needed to be able to work with Hanna, so together they sparred as a team against groups of crew members. They would spar against varying numbers of crew members. From one up, to all of them. Rowan was already a member of the boarding party and a solid fighter so the learning curve of his new role wasn’t significant. After three days of intense training they were starting to find a rhythm.

  Hanna, despite Koyo’s occasional prods to try using her grandfather’s axe and shield, used her eagle’s claw daggers. They would be fighting the Foxnoses soon and she was already taking a different position in the boarding crew. The fewer things she changed the more comfortable she felt.

  “Sail ho,” yelled Lohan Baz from the crow’s nest.

  Hanna stopped training with Rowan and headed towards Captain Rozad, who was surveying the horizon with a looking glass.