Wiping her tears away, Hanna’s thoughts turned to what needed to be done next. First, she needed to bury Anso’s body. There was a small hill behind his cottage, with rolling green grass that overlooked the valley forest. It was a perfect place. Or at least as good as any she could think of. As far as she knew Anso had no family and had no other home than the small cottage. She’d bury his body on the hill. If he had issue with it, his spirit would let her know, but instinctively Hanna knew Anso wouldn’t care where his body was. As she buried Anso, she said her goodbyes to her old friend. But it wasn’t goodbye, not truly. His spirit was now connected to hers. Someday she would hear his voice again.
12
Witches and Demon Stones
After burying Anso, Hanna headed to Centa to see Zeka Zafar. She found the old woman in the Drunken Dwarf pub.
“Have a seat, Hanna. You back for another round of drinking?” said Zeka with a wink.
Hanna sat down across from Zeka. “I’ll have a drink to Anso Sengaw.”
Zeka raised an eyebrow and then stared at Hanna. She then turned and motioned to the bartender.
Rannib came to the table.
“A round of drinks for everyone, Rannib. Centa has lost a friend. Anso Sengaw is no longer with us.”
Rannib nodded and walked away to get drinks.
Zeka sighed and pushed her mug aside. “Tell me.”
Hanna described the stranger and how his eyes went black, and how he moved so incredibly fast, how powerful he’d been. She described how Anso put his blood on her gem. Then Hanna showed Zeka the gemstone necklace that she’d taken from the body of the man who killed Anso. The gem was cracked and dull.
“Bloody demon warriors,” spat Zeka. “Someone has used gemstones to create demon warriors.”
Hanna frowned. “I thought you said my powers were rare.”
“They are,” said Zeka. “But what you have is hereditary power. Powerful mages or a coven of witches could replicate the magic. With these gemstones, and willing subjects, they can create bonds similar to what you have with your grandfather’s spirit, and now Anso’s spirit. Except the powerful mages and witches bond the warrior with demons. Demon warriors are powerful, evil, and hard to kill.” Zeka paused. “How did you kill it?”
“Thorodd’s spirit. When the warrior hurt me and Anso, the bond between Thorodd and I grew stronger. I let him take over my body. Thorodd cut the demon warrior’s head off.”
“That makes sense. A demon warrior possesses endurance beyond a normal warrior, so cutting its head off is a sure way to end the battle. What are your plans now?”
“The same as they were before. Someone killed my grandfather over the precious stones. Now they have killed Anso as well. I need to find out who is behind the attacks and finish this.”
“Demon warriors, it stinks of witches to me,” said Zeka as she eyed the cracked gemstone amulet. “You said a Mykoznian King’s Guard assassinated your grandfather? That is the sort of thing a witch would set up. If it were me I would travel to Mykoznia. Luckily, Creyta and Mykoznia aren’t at war right now. Travel there is relatively safe. Since your ship is from Solotine you shouldn’t have any problems getting in.”
Hanna was well aware of the ongoing wars between Mykoznia and Creyta. Trade ships needed to always be well informed as to what countries were at war. Many an innocent trade ship had been attacked for simply flying the wrong flag when they entered a port. “There are witches in Mykoznia?”
“There are witches everywhere if you know where to look.” Zeka gave a wide grin but her eyes held no humor. “When does your ship return?”
Hanna had a feeling Zeka herself might be a witch. She squirmed uncomfortably in her chair. The old woman made her nervous. There was something about her that Hanna just couldn’t put her finger on. “Any day now.”
“Good. Until they return keep working on your training. You now have the spirits of two master warriors connected to you. It will likely be even more difficult than before.”
Hanna frowned. Even more difficult? It was already a struggle. “How so?”
“Think how hard it was with just two of you competing to use your body. Now imagine three spirits competing. It won’t be enough to learn how to access their power. You must learn how to control multiple spirits at once.”
“That is not good. It took me days to learn how to do a simple shield bash with only Thorodd’s spirit. How am I going to learn to control two spirits?”
“When Thorodd took over your body, did you feel out of control?”
Hanna thought about it. No, despite giving up control of her own movements, she had known that at any time she could take them back. “No, I wasn’t controlling my body, but I could’ve ended it at any time. I maintained some control while giving some to Thorodd.”
Zeka smiled. “That is your answer. You are a skilled warrior, and Thorodd and Anso are skilled warriors. You need to work on your magic so that you can give both some control while maintaining more for yourself. You must find balance. Anso focused your training on weapons, because it is what you already knew. And you should continue doing what Anso taught, but your power comes from your ability to harness the spirit stone. Keep working on letting the magic flow between you and the stone. Keep practicing until it becomes second nature, just like any other skill.”
Hanna thanked Zeka for her help and headed back to Anso’s cottage. She felt numb as she walked. Despite knowing she was still connected to his spirit, the loss of her mentor still weighed heavily on her heart.
13
Crew Arrive, Searching for Witch
Morning arrived early for Hanna. Sleep had not come easily. The wound she’d suffered during the fight wasn’t deep but even after dressing it, the injury, along with her emotional state, made slumber difficult. She did not dream of Anso or Thorodd that night.
Still tired, she forced herself to get dressed and head outside. Any day now the Lady should arrive in Centa and it would be time to start her search for the witches or mages behind the demon warrior who’d attacked her and Anso. Meanwhile, she’d do exactly what her mentor would expect from her. And that meant the routine of a morning run, followed by stretching and breathing exercises and then weapons training.
The run was over before she knew it, her endurance had returned, and she barely broke a sweat. Following her stretching routine Hanna grabbed her shield and axe. Yesterday the fight had been won by letting Thorodd completely control her movements, but Hanna wasn’t sure that it was the best option. Thorodd’s spirit had defeated his enemy, but what if she and Thorodd could work together? Would her strength and skill combined with his be more powerful than hers or his alone? And now with Anso’s spirit in the mix the question was even more important. The easiest way to find out was practice. She no longer had a teacher with her to tell her what to practice, but she knew enough. Anso had taught her well, and techniques she could learn from Koyo. Right now, she needed to start over again, doing the basics. Focus on her connections with Thorodd and Anso.
Taking her position, Hanna concentrated on the gemstone and imagined magical energy flowing from her body into it, and then back into her. The gemstone warmed up. She could feel the connection. It wasn’t the same as before. Now, instead of one string of energy growing as she focused on it, there were two strings intertwined, and as she focused they both grew but also seemed to meld into one. It was a weird sensation, but not an uncomfortable one.
She started again with a simple shield bash. As had happened the first time she’d tried it with Thorodd’s spirit, the movement was awkward. Instead of being pulled in one direction by Thorodd’s spirit there were now two pulling on her. Hanna tried it again, and again. Slowly the move started to feel natural. The pulling feeling slowly started to disappear as her movements matched those of the spirits inside her.
Hanna noticed that the shield and axe felt lighter today. Was it because there were two spirits working with her or was her connection growing? Hanna wasn’t sure but both
seemed to be a logical answer. To test her theory Hanna bent her mind once again to the gemstone, this time calling more on both of them. It wasn’t like during the fight where she’d given Thorodd complete control, but it was more than she’d ever tried before. And, instead of trying just a shield bash, she tried the progression she and Anso had been working on; the same one Thorodd had used to defeat the demon warrior.
As soon as Hanna started the progression of moves, she felt both pulling on her. However, the pull was slight and the shield and axe both felt lighter. When she was done, Hanna realized that even though the teamwork between her and her spirit friends still needed work, the results could be incredible. She had done the progression of moves quicker than she’d ever done. Quicker than she’d ever imagined possible.
Zeka had been wrong. Having two spirits working together wasn’t more difficult, it was just different. It was still a matter of learning to channel the magic, but the power she felt was stronger with two. Hanna nodded and spoke to herself. “I should have known you two would be able to work together. It is me that needs to learn how to join you two, not the other way around.” In that, Zeka was correct. Hanna needed to keep training herself to open herself to her own magic and that of her two spirit warriors.
Hanna reset herself and returned to her practice. For the rest of the day, she worked diligently, without stop. Her concern about how the two spirits would work together was gone, but now something else was growing in its place. A determination to learn to use the bloodstone and her connection to the spirits to its fullest. A desire to push herself to the point where the connection between herself and the spirits was seamless.
When darkness started to fall, Hanna felt a burning in her stomach. This wasn’t desire to train, this was desire to eat. She’d been so focused on her training she hadn’t eaten all day. Hanna put down the weapons and headed to the garden. Taking a handful of vegetables into the cottage, Hanna quickly prepared a soup.
While she waited for the soup to cook she cleaned and redressed her wound. The training had opened the wound. She should’ve gone easier, and let her body heal, but the need to understand her connection to the spirits had been greater. Tomorrow she would go easier. Her time would be just as productive spent concentrating on her magic as it would be spent on physically practicing.
After she ate, Hanna was exhausted. The previous day’s fight, the long night of little sleep and then a full intensive day of training left her with little energy. She quickly went to bed, and a deep sleep covered her like a warm comforting blanket.
…
The fog rolled in, thick white blankets of it. But the forest was different this time, and it wasn’t Thorodd walking towards her but Anso.
Hanna smiled at her old trainer. She had hoped that he would come to her dream that night.
“Hanna,” said Anso.
“Anso,” said Hanna. “I’m glad to see you. And to hear you. I don’t know if I could handle another spirit whose speech was muffled.”
Anso chuckled. “Thorodd’s spirit’s speech was never muffled. Only your ability to hear it was muffled. Your magic is the key to this connection, not our spirits. There’s only so much spirits can do.”
Hanna nodded. It was something she was growing to understand on her own now. “You look different, but not as young as Thorodd’s spirit.” Anso looked younger, but not young. His close-cropped hair and short goatee were the same, but now they were dark with only a few hints of grey, and his eyes, which had always sparkled with vitality, were now surrounded by a few tiny wrinkles.
“Thorodd’s spirit is best represented by the young warrior, but I was a little too arrogant as a younger man. This form better represents who I aspired to be.”
“Is it a good place where you are?” asked Hanna. Thorodd had seemed content, she wondered if it was the same for her old teacher.
Anso nodded. “Yes, I am reunited with my family. I have no regrets. I am where I belong. Visiting the world through your bond is enough. I would not want to return if that is what you are asking. Do not fret that I died.”
Hanna smiled. It was comforting to know that Anso felt that way. It made their connection more special. “Can you tell me anything about the demon warrior we faced?”
Anso’s spirit body frowned and shook his head. “Where I am, it is not a place connected to the demon that was linked to that spirit stone. You know all that I know. Zeka was correct; I believe witches are likely behind the attacks.”
“But why?” Why would witches want to kill me?
“The same reason they had your grandfather killed. The ayrithstones are spirit stones. The witches, if it is witches, found out about them when the Foxnose Traders brought them everywhere looking for buyers. When they found out your grandfather, a descendant from a lineage known for the ability to use such stones, started trading with the Nordviks, he became a threat to the witches. Now you pose the same threat, since you can use the gems and can defeat their demon warriors. Spirit stones are rare. If witches are behind this, every stone you use is one they cannot. Even if you never made another spirit stone, the fact that you can make spirit stones makes you a target.”
It was logical. She would have to be wary of another attack. The gemstone amulet the warrior had worn and his eyes had indicators that she would be looking for again. “What of our connection? Do you understand it better now that you are on that side?”
Anso smiled. “Yes. It was interesting today, watching you train on your own. Your ability to draw on the strength of our spirits is improving. You are growing to understand the connection on your own.”
“Do you see the battle through my eyes? Will you and Thorodd be able to work together if I don’t give up full control of my body?” Hanna had so many questions. She wanted to understand. She worried this conversation might be the last she had with her old trainer for a while. Thorodd hadn’t returned to her dreams once they’d talked.
“Thorodd and I see the battle differently than you do. Your eyes are your own. Thorodd and I will be fine together. The demon warrior did you a favor. The attack forced you to embrace your magic in a way that otherwise might’ve taken much longer. Control is always yours, and neither Thorodd nor I would want to take it from you. That is only something to fear when you are connected to dark spirits. They might fight you for control of your body.”
Hanna couldn’t think of any reason for wanting dark spirits in her body, so she ignored that aspect of Anso’s advice.
Anso started to turn and walk away.
“No! Wait, I have more questions,” said Hanna.
Anso looked over his shoulder. “The answers you seek aren’t in the spirit world. I will be there when you need me. You may draw on my spirit as you need it, but now I go to my family. Hunt well, Hanna Halfblood.” Anso disappeared into the fog.
A sudden feeling of loneliness swept over Hanna. It was comforting that her old teacher was now with his family, reassuring to know that after the sting of death a spirit world did exist. Despite that knowledge, Hanna couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. Anso would no longer walk with her in the world she was in. Grandfather would no longer be waiting for her: to listen to her, counsel her, to support her in her future. A single tear trickled down her cheek. She wiped it off, telling herself it was a tear of happiness for Anso and Grandfather. They were in a good place.
…
On the third day after the demon attack, and Anso’s death, the Lady of the Evening arrived at Centa. Azad Zargo came to Anso’s cottage.
“Has Anso finished training you?” asked Azad.
Hanna gave a soft smile. “I’ll have Anso with me forever, but he’s done training. Anso is gone to the spirit world.”
Azad’s eyes saddened. “What? He was old but in good health.” Before Hanna could answer, Azad added, “I hope it was a good death.”
Hanna sighed. “I’ll let you decide for yourself if it was a good death.” Hanna took a deep breath, hoping she could control her emotions, and it
helped. She explained the attack by the demon warrior and what had happened with the spirit stone without shaming herself with tears
“Demon warriors? That sounds unpleasant. I shall let you deal with them,” said Azad. “If you have the spirits of Thorodd Stoneblood and Anso Sengaw fighting with you, you are far better equipped to deal with such dangerous creatures than I.”
“Thanks, Azad,” said Hanna dryly. “You’re a real pal.”
Azad shrugged. “One is wise to know his own limitations. If Anso Sengaw was defeated in battle by a demon warrior while you were helping him, then I fear my own chances would be far worse. I shall pray to my Gods that I never face a demon warrior in battle.”
“And which Gods are those, Azad?” asked Hanna.
Azad winked. “Whichever ones are willing to listen.”
Hanna grunted in amusement. Azad was good for lifting her mood. She shook off her lingering sadness as best she could. It was selfish to be sad. The right thing to do was to be happy for the departed spirits, to be happy that they could speak to her, for few such as her had bloodstones to connect them to the spirit world. Hanna squared her shoulders. “Let’s go back to the Lady. It is time to find out who is behind these demon warriors.”
14
Yanga Assassin
The port city of Yanga was not a place Hanna had been to before. Since Mykoznia and Creyta alternated between times of war and reluctant peace it made sense for the Lady of the Evening, with her mostly Creytan crew, to avoid Mykoznia as much as possible. The other Stoneblood Trading Company ships handled the trade routes through the area.
Hanna Halfblood: A YA fantasy tale Page 11