Hanna Halfblood: A YA fantasy tale

by Robyn Wideman

  Anso Sengaw turned to Azad. “They’ve had a bumper crop of fruit in the Negal valley, but they are expecting a cold winter. A shipment of Solotine furs would sell well.” He then turned to Rowan, “Please go retrieve Hanna’s axe and shield and the rest of her gear. She’ll be staying here until the Lady returns with her shipment of furs.”

  Hanna wanted to argue. To tell Anso that she didn’t have time for this. She needed to find her grandfather’s killer. However, Anso Sengaw wasn’t a man who spoke without purpose. If she needed to stay with him for several weeks there was a very good reason. And her dreams had been disturbing her enough that she just wanted them to end. Hanna turned to Azad. “I guess I’ll see you in few weeks. When you get to Irontide find out if things are going well with the Nordviks. I want to make sure the Foxnoses are keeping their word.”

  As Azad and Rowan left to walk back to the city, Hanna followed Anso into his cottage.

  “Have a seat, we’ve much to talk about,” said Anso.

  Hanna took a seat and looked around his cottage. She’d been in it years ago, and she was sure that it hadn’t changed at all since her last visit. The cottage was all wood and had been carefully crafted, and it’s interior, while being very stark and simple, was comfortable. The sitting room had a clean and citrusy smell to it. From her seat, she watched Anso put a kettle onto a small rack. He then used magic to create a small blue and gold flame under the rack. Within seconds the kettle was steaming. Hanna raised an eyebrow. That was a trick she’d never seen before.

  Anso returned to Hanna, placing a mug on the small bench between their chairs. “Have some tea,” he said as he sat down in the chair next to her.

  “You never used magic in Solotine,” said Hanna as she accepted the tea.

  Anso raised an eyebrow.

  Hanna chuckled. Of course, he hadn’t used magic in Solotine. In Irontide he was already a foreigner and looked at with distrust. To add magic to the equation would’ve made it even harder for him to live there. “No, I suppose you couldn’t use magic there. But why didn’t you tell me about magic?”

  “I did tell you about magic. I explained how energy works and how we can use it to fight.”

  Hanna rolled her eyes. “There is a big difference between learning to control my breathing and emotions in a fight and conjuring a blue and gold flame to heat your tea.”

  “Perhaps. Perhaps not,” replied Anso. “Have you never wondered why your father picked me to be your weapons trainer? There are plenty of men on his crew that are highly skilled warriors.”

  “He picked you because you are the best.”

  “A high compliment, but there isn’t much that I taught you that Koyo Tomar couldn’t have taught you. In fact, I would be surprised if you haven’t learned more from him since joining the crew of the Lady.”

  Hanna thought back to all the small comments Koyo had made over the years during the sparring sessions on the ship. Slight corrections of her form, intricate attack patterns based on Anso’s teachings. Despite his teasing and joking that made him seem harmless it was true that Koyo was well equipped to teach weapons. “So why did he choose you if Koyo knows as much?”

  “For one, your father was no fool; he kept Koyo on the ship where he is most valuable and where he is happy. Secondly, your father believed that you would need someone to teach you things beyond weapons. He believed you’d need someone to teach you about magic.”

  “But you never did!” protested Hanna.

  Anso smiled and sipped his tea. “When I left you, what was the last thing that I said to you?”

  Hanna frowned. “That my training wasn’t complete. That I needed to master my techniques and until they were perfect there was no point going forward. You said that one day our training would continue.”

  “And now that day has arrived. But your weapons training is complete.”

  “If my weapons training is complete, then why is Rowan bringing Grandfather’s axe and shield?”

  “We’ll get to that in time. First let us finish the conversation about why your father chose me. Your father is Creytan and your mother is from Solotine. Two very different people with different bloodlines. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  “They don’t call me Halfblood for nothing,” quipped Hanna.

  “Yes, but when you dig a little further into the bloodlines it becomes far more interesting. Your mother was a Stoneblood, an ancient bloodline that comes from the descendants of giants and Ingla. Bloodlines that were once among the most powerful mage warriors in the known world. And your father, while not royalty, is the descendant of a strong magical bloodline as well. One that hasn’t become dormant like the Stoneblood bloodlines.”

  Hanna was surprised to hear that her father came from magical bloodlines, but the more she thought about it the more it made sense. Low level magic was common in Creyta; plenty of Creytans could do basic magic like a glowing globe. And the more she thought back to her father the more she realized that her father was probably using magic to enhance his infamous looks. “Did father use illusions?”

  Anso chuckled. “Of course he did. Your father was very subtle about it. His clothing was already ostentatious enough without the help of illusions, but it was a strong tactic. More than one enemy underrated your father because of his bright outfits. But he was very careful about using magic in Solotine. His relationship with your mother already had enough tongues wagging in both countries.”

  “My father thought that the two bloodlines would give me magic? How come he was wrong?”

  “Magic is in everyone to some degree. Mostly it is dormant. It either takes years of training, or a special event to awaken it. In places like Solotine, most will go their entire lifetimes without realizing they had the potential for magic. Here in Creyta, many will study magic, but most give it up when they realize they can’t do more than just a few parlor tricks. Other more powerful and dedicated students become mages, but even here that is rare. Your father wasn’t worried that you had magic. He knew you did. What he was worried about was the type of magic you might have. The Stonebloods of old had some very strange combinations of magic.”

  “What do you mean he knew I had magic? I’ve never felt magic or done magic.”

  “Oh? You are an expert on what magic feels like?”

  “No. I… I just mean I don’t think I have any magic,” said Hanna, her tone apologetic. She really couldn’t remember anything in her life that was magic.

  “When you were a baby, your father brought a mage in to test you for magic. The mage couldn’t tell your father much, but the mage was very troubled by what he found. He told your father that you contained dark magic and if he was a wise man he’d kill you.”

  Hanna gasped. “What did father say?”

  “He kindly thanked the mage for his time, and paid the man. He then told the mage that if he didn’t keep his mouth shut and mind his own damn business someone would be killed and it wouldn’t be his newborn child.”

  Hanna snickered. That sounded like her father. Thank the Gods her father hadn’t listened to the damn mage. “But what kind of magic do I have that is dark?”

  Anso gave her a reassuring smile. “There is nothing dark about your magic. The magic you possess is only as dark as the mage using it. It is powerful magic, and can be dangerous to you and others if you aren’t careful, but it is not inherently dark in nature. It is fortunate that you’ve come to me. There are too few in Solotine that still remember the old magic.”

  Sipping her tea, Hanna considered Anso’s story about her father. There was much she didn’t know about her father. Now Hanna wondered how many other secrets her mother might have. When she returned to Irontide she’d need to have a long talk with her mother. But before she could return, she needed to learn more about the bloodstone. She needed to learn about magic, specifically her own magic, if she truly had any. “When do we start?”

  “When you have finished your tea,” replied Anso.

  She gulped down the remainder of
her tea and showed Anso the empty cup.

  “In that case, when I am done my tea,” he said as he took another sip. “Now please answer the door. I believe your companion has returned with your grandfather’s sword and shield.”

  Hanna looked at the door, and sure enough a knock came half a second later. “Show off,” she grumbled as she got up and answered the door. She opened it and let Rowan in.

  “Put them in the corner,” said Anso. “We won’t need them today.”

  Rowan placed the weapons in a corner. He then turned to Hanna. “Captain Rozad said to inform you the ship will leave in the morning at first light. He’s secured a cargo and has made arrangements for another on our return.”

  Hanna nodded. Captain Rozad worked fast, but he always seemed to know what was needed of him. It was what allowed her to take a bigger role; she knew she could rely on men like Rozad and Azad Zargo. “Thank you, Rowan. Take care, keep working with Koyo. I want you to have my glaive.”

  “Are you sure?” asked Rowan. “I can have another made.”

  “It is my gift to you. It is you who will be watching my back the next time we are in battle. You having the best weapon possible only serves to keep me alive.” Hanna looked over the sword and shield Rowan had delivered. It seemed she was not going to need a glaive anytime soon anyway.

  Rowan grinned. “Thank you, Hanna.”

  “Just make sure you give Koyo a hard time. I don’t want the old goat going soft while I’m gone.”

  “Not much chance of that,” said Rowan with a grin.

  After Rowan left to return to the ship, Anso led Hanna outside.

  “What are we working on first? Fireballs, levitation, mind control?” Hanna joked.

  “The first thing we are doing is the most important thing,” replied Anso. “Vital to success.”

  “What is that?”

  “You need to pick some carrots. We need more vegetables for dinner.”

  Hanna rolled her eyes, but she jumped into the garden and found his carrot patch. “Any other veggies we need?”

  “Pick a good-sized squash. It has been a wonderful year for squash.”

  8

  Katla

  The dark musky corridor smelled of decay and mold. The first time Katla had entered the cave she’d wondered why the witches had chosen such a place to live, but now she had a better understanding of the witches. The cave, dark and filled with rot, matched their hearts.

  “You’ve returned,” said Loma Fangris.

  Katla studied the witch. Loma was one of three witches that controlled this sect. She was the oldest of the three but appeared youngest. Katla wasn’t fooled by the young face Loma wore. The dark witch used magic to hide her real appearance. As did Vina Agail and Sharood Darah, the other two witches that sat in front of Katla.

  “Your task is completed,” said Katla.

  “You failed your task,” snarled Vina Agail.

  “The Stoneblood warrior is dead. That is the task you gave me,” said Katla.

  “But the girl lives. The Stoneblood has a daughter and a granddaughter. They all must die,” said Sharood.

  Katla shrugged. “That wasn’t the task you assigned me. I fulfilled my promise, now you will do the same.”

  “Your sister is valuable to us. I don’t think what you delivered is worth a young witch’s servitude,” said Vina Agail.

  “Perhaps it is not, but it is the agreement you made. I assassinate the target of your choice in exchange for my sister’s life.”

  “And what if we don’t agree to let your sister go?” said Sharood.

  Katla gave Sharood a sinister grin. “That would be a mistake.” She looked at the two warriors standing between her and the witches. They didn’t move, but their eyes were focused on Katla. If she attacked the witches, they would be a problem.

  “Enough,” said Loma. “It is unfortunate that we didn’t make clear our demands. The Stoneblood warrior and his entire bloodline were to be killed. But that isn’t what we asked. We will honor our agreement. Your sister will be removed from our coven and returned to your family in Mykoznia. Tiran and Arzhan, you will hunt the granddaughter down and kill her and then the mother.”

  The two warriors guarding the witches nodded.

  Katla was somewhat surprised that the witches were going after the granddaughter. She was a ferocious fighter, but still so young. What was so important about the Stoneblood bloodlines?

  “Did you retrieve the gems?” asked Vina Agail.

  Katla threw the small sack of gems on the floor in front of the witches.

  Vina Agail and Sharood Darah both jumped out of their chairs and scrambled to the sack.

  “Careful, you fools! Those gems are precious,” yelled Vina Agail.

  Katla ignored the two witches and watched Loma, who was staring at her with a dangerous look in her eyes. “There are your gems. Don’t go anywhere near my sister ever again.”

  “Are there more gems in the village?” asked Loma.

  Katla shrugged. “Possibly. But I wasn’t the only one looking for them.”

  “No, I expect there are others who know of their value. These must do for now,” said Loma. “You may leave now. Our contract is now complete.”

  Katla was grateful to be done with the witches. Her sister Dressa had been manipulated and tricked into joining the sect by one of the young male witches. Dressa had completed the blood pact with the witches before she’d realized their true nature. Their mother, Arranna, had been devastated by the loss of her youngest daughter. Of the six daughters Arranna had given birth to, only Katla and Dressa remained. Three of Katla’s older sisters had been Mykoznian King’s Guards and had died defending their king. The fourth daughter had been murdered and Katla had yet to discover the nature of Bree Anne’s murder. Arranna, when she learned about Dressa giving the blood oath to the witch sect, had begged Katla to rescue her.

  However, breaking a blood oath was no simple task. The coven leaders had to agree to remove the bond, or Dressa would suffer greatly. To help Dressa, Katla had needed to give up her position on the King’s Guard and convince the witches to release Dressa. The price they agreed on was murder. Murder of the great northern warrior, Thorodd Stoneblood. Katla felt remorse at her part in the man’s death, but she knew she was simply a weapon. Thorodd would’ve died regardless, and at least this way Dressa now had a chance at a life outside of the dark witches’ coven.

  Katla started to walk back out of the cave. She turned and gave the three witches one last look. She doubted this would be the last time she had to deal with them. “Not that I care, but if you are sending these two after the girl, you’d better reconsider. They won’t be enough.”

  Vina Agail, who was examining one of the gems, cackled. “Fool. You have no idea what these men are capable of. Especially now that we have these gemstones. They will be mighty demon warriors.”

  Katla shrugged. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Katla thought back to the gem she’d delivered to Hanna Halfblood, granddaughter of Thorodd Stoneblood. Would the gem turn her into a demon warrior like the witches intended to do with Tiran and Arzhan? Or was the northern warriors bloodline's magic different than that the witches intended to use?

  Katla left the cave. It was time to go home and see her sister. Katla wondered what her future held now that she was no longer a King’s Guard. It had been an expensive price to pay, but at least her sister was now safe. The assassination of Thorodd Stoneblood left a bitter taste in Katla’s mouth. Perhaps one day she would get a chance to help Hanna, but for now the girl was on her own. Katla needed to return to Mykoznia to make sure the witches kept their word and Dressa was safety returned to their mother.

  9

  Training with Anso, Dream Walker

  The splashing of cold water over Hanna’s skin told her it was time to wake. She shivered as she jumped out of bed.

  “I see you’ve forgotten what time training starts. I hope you haven’t grown soft in your time as a sailor,” said
Anso as he walked towards the kitchen.

  Hanna shook her head to remove some of the remaining water. She had forgotten about Anso’s way of waking students who slept past the break of dawn. She wasn’t soft, but the rigors of Anso’s training would be a test. She joined him in the kitchen. “I was thinking magic training would be less strenuous. You know, read a book or two, and cast some spells. Try and levitate to the top of your apple tree.”

  Anso shook his head. “A warrior mage trains the body and mind alike. Besides, until we know what type of magic you truly possess we won’t be worried about specific spells. How did you sleep last night?”

  “Besides having another dream where I am talking to a young Thorodd? Fine, I suppose.” Her dream was the same one that she’d been having on the ship. A misty cloudy space and a young Thorodd trying to talk to her, but she couldn’t understand what he was saying. “Why do you think I keep having those dreams?”

  “The bloodstone. Your grandfather’s spirit is connected to the stone, and now that you have it the bond between you and your grandfather is stronger.”

  “But why is he younger in my dreams? Are they really dreams?”

  Anso smiled. “Why should your grandfather’s spirit maintain his age? The Thorodd you see in your dreams is likely when he was at his strongest and how he saw himself entering the spirit world. Yes, I believe it is still a dream, but dreams are a place where it’s easier for us to communicate with the spirit world. Our higher brain doesn’t interfere as much.”

  Hanna scratched her head. “Higher brain? What is that?”

  “The logic driven part of your mind, the part of you that has to see something to believe it is there. The part that questions everything. When you sleep that part of you is resting, and your spirit is awake.”

  Hanna wasn’t sure she really understood what Anso was talking about. “Am I going to have weird dreams every night where he talks to me in that garbled voice that I can’t understand?”