Hanna Halfblood: A YA fantasy tale

by Robyn Wideman

  “Any recommendations on where to search?” asked Hanna.

  Captain Rozad nodded towards Koyo. “I’m not the one to ask.”

  Hanna raised an eyebrow. There was something that Captain Rozad wasn’t telling her. Curious now, Hanna went over to her old friend. “Koyo. You know Mykoznia?”

  Koyo snorted. “I should say so. Although I can’t promise it hasn’t changed since the last time I was here. All the wars made coming back a risky proposition. I had to give up thought of visiting.”

  “Who would you visit?” asked Hanna.

  “My wife.”

  Hanna held back her laughter. She wasn’t sure if Koyo was pulling her leg or if he was being serious. She decided to tread lightly. “Your wife? You have a wife?””

  “Yes. What? You think a handsome old devil like me shouldn’t have married? Better to stay single so all the ladies can share. I think you may be on to something, child.”

  Hanna rolled her eyes. “I was thinking more along the lines of what Mykoznian woman would be crazy enough to marry a Creytan sailor.”

  Koyo sighed. “The most beautiful woman in all of Mykoznia, that is who. Sharla Pyrga. By the Gods how I loved her. She made my heart sing.”

  “How did that happen?” asked Hanna. Curious to hear this story, Hanna made herself comfortable. She thought she’d heard all of her old friend’s stories, but it seemed there was a part of his life that he hadn’t shared with her.

  “It was a different time back when I was a young man. Mykoznia and Creyta were in a long time of peace and prosperity. My father was a merchant sailor. A tiny ship he had, only big enough for a crew of four. But it was enough to make the crossing from Gallinta to Yanga. We would sail to Yanga, spend a week there, bartering and finding goods to sell back in Gallinta. Once we started to have some success, Father determined that it was better to have one of us stay in Yanga and barter while the other sailed back and forth. We’d take turns staying in Yanga. It was then that I met Sharla. She was walking down the street, I was on my way to the market and I spotted her. She was so beautiful; I was awestruck. So much so that I forgot to watch where I was walking. I tripped and fell into a fruit stand. The biggest and plumpest nuff berries you ever saw. I was bright pink from head to toe in their juice.”

  Hanna laughed. Nuff berries were soft and the juice stained a bright pink that didn’t wash off easily.

  “I stood up, grabbed one of the few remaining nuff berries that I hadn’t squished and handed it to her. I told her, as solemnly and straight-faced as I could, that I had dove into the cart on purpose, that I absolutely had to find the perfect nuff berry to give to the most beautiful woman in all of Mykoznia.”

  “And what did she say?” asked Hanna.

  “That I was a bold-faced liar and I wasn’t the first to trip when looking at her instead of watching where I was walking.”

  “And you ended up marrying her?”

  “Ah, but she said it with a smile, my dear. She said it with a smile. So, every day I searched her out and gave her a piece of fruit. I courted her for months. Her father, at first, was leery. I was, after all, a dashing young Creytan. But our family business was growing fast and I was well on my way to becoming a wealthy young merchant, which makes any father happy to know that his daughter will be well looked after. Finally, I asked her to marry me.”

  Koyo smiled, before continuing. “We were blissfully happy. My father took over the sailing duties and I focused my time bartering for goods. Within the year our son, Muro, was born. Life was perfect. Then three years later the wars came. I was forced to leave my new home. There were many in Mykoznia who thought I might be a Creytan spy. Even worse, I couldn’t take my family back to Creyta, because she would have been treated the same there as I would’ve been in Mykoznia. She would’ve been branded a spy. The battles between the two countries were fierce and the old hatreds were ignited. I wanted my wife and son to be safe, so they stayed in Mykoznia while I returned to Creyta. My father had invested everything he had in our little ship and with the wars he no longer had a trade route, so we sold the ship and joined the crews of larger merchant ships. I had no desire to fight my wife’s countrymen so I stayed on merchant ships, ones that would avoid being sucked into the war. That part of the war lasted for ten years before a truce was signed. As soon as it was signed, I returned to Yanga. Sharla had waited for me. Her love was as strong as my own. Muro was growing up, healthy and strong. I was so happy to have her back. And then, two weeks after I returned, the treaty was cancelled and the wars resumed. Sharla told me that she would love me forever but to not return to Yanga again. It was too dangerous. Broke my heart to leave them, but it was what I needed to do to keep them safe.”

  Now Hanna understood why Koyo never talked of Mykoznia. She could hear the pain in his words as he talked about his family, and all he’d sacrificed to keep them safe. “I’m sorry, Koyo. I had no idea.”

  Koyo shrugged, “I keep it to myself. Captain Rozad and the older men on the crew know my history but you youngsters had no need to be hearing my sad stories. You got to hear of all the great conquests of the mighty Koyo instead.”

  Hanna smiled. “I do love the stories of the mighty Koyo. However, I have need of stories of Mykoznia too. Who can I talk to who would know about the Mykoznian guards and witches?”

  “That is a question that will get you killed if you are not careful. There may be peace now, but Mykoznians are always wary of Creytans, even half-blood ones. Questions about the King’s Guard are dangerous. You should be careful where you ask them. I shall accompany you. Even with your new powers, you are not indestructible. You will need a guide who knows his way around.”

  “Thank you, Koyo.”

  “You’re welcome, and I told you so.”

  Hanna frowned, “What do you mean I told you so?”

  Koyo pointed to the axe and shield resting on her back.

  “How long have you been waiting to throw that in my face?” said Hanna. Her eyes sparkled with amusement that revealed her accusatory tone of voice wasn’t honest.

  “Since the moment you said you didn’t think you’d need them. Ol’ Koyo knew better.” Koyo’s wide grin showed how much he savored being able to give her an ‘I told you so.’

  Hanna shook her head. “Why didn’t Ol’ Koyo tell me all he knew about spirit warriors back when I first showed him the gem?”

  “Because I am no mage. I can’t tell how much magic you have within you. No point worrying you about spirits and such before you found out. Besides, Anso Sengaw understood magic in a way I never could. I knew it could happen, knew that you might have your grandfather’s spirit in the stone. I’ve heard of such things, and it only made sense to bring the weapons. Thorodd was a master of the axe. It was the weapon that you would have the easiest time connecting to him with. You’ve learned quickly. These last few days at sea, I’ve watched you training. For someone who never really used an axe, you move like a veteran warrior.”

  Hanna smiled. “It is easier to look like you know what you are doing when you have the spirit of two great warriors moving your body for you. I can feel them pulling me into proper position when I make a mistake.”

  Koyo laughed. “That must be a strange sensation. But you’ve always had excellent footwork and balance, so it can’t be that bad.”

  “No,” admitted Hanna. “Most often it is the speed of my attacks that gives me trouble. Thorodd and Anso’s spirits move far faster than I am used to. I have to really concentrate to keep up to them.”

  “Just be grateful that neither was left handed. That would be a headache and a half, having a spirit inside you that wants to do everything backwards.”

  Hanna nodded. She’d never thought of that. She was lucky to not have that problem. It was hard enough to learn from the spirits of warriors who fought in similar styles, although she suspected Anso could take any style.

  The Lady hit the docks, ending the enlightening conversation. It was time to go into Yanga. Hanna
tied her hair back as was her habit, one that signaled to all who knew her well that it was time to get down to business.

  Azad and Koyo accompanied Hanna into the city. Yanga, a thriving port city, was bustling with activity.

  Azad pointed to old city walls and buildings along the walls that were newer than the rest of the city. “Some of those walls have been rebuilt dozens of times. Yanga has fallen to Creyta three times in the last two hundred years, and has been attacked hundreds more. Yet they always rebuild.”

  “Why do the two kingdoms fight so much?” asked Hanna.

  Azad shrugged. “I think Koyo started it all.”

  Koyo grunted. “Nope. I’m old but not that old. They’ve been fighting over the same things most kingdoms fight over: land, riches, slights and insults between kings, and women. Mykoznia and Creyta just do it better than other countries. We never give up, we only take breaks.”

  Hanna knew Koyo’s words were true, but that he didn’t say them with conviction, and that he truly wished it were some other way. A way where he got to stay with his wife and child.

  “Ahead is the Iron Anchor Inn. It’s a sailor’s bar, so they won’t care too much about where we are from, as long as we have coin,” said Koyo.

  Hanna followed Koyo into the bar. It was large and busy. They took a table against the wall where they could watch the entire bar and not have anyone at their backs.

  “Wait here,” said Koyo as he went up to the bartender and started having a conversation with him. After a few minutes the bartender nodded and Koyo returned to the table with three mugs. He placed them on the table and took a seat. “And now we wait.”

  Hanna wasn’t sure what Koyo had said to the bartender, but Koyo seemed to know what he was about, so she sipped her drink slowly. She had no intention of getting drunk, not after the experience with Zeka. Koyo and Azad were halfway through their drinks when a young boy ran up to the table and nodded at Koyo.

  “Let’s go,” said Koyo as he rose to follow the boy.

  Hanna left her almost untouched drink on the table and followed. She was grateful to leave the busy bar. Just the smell of all the alcohol was making her queasy. Her stomach still hated her for the last time she’d drunk.

  The boy led them further into the city, taking them on a path that zigged and zagged between buildings, cutting through back alleys and finally to an alley blocked by a large, fierce-looking warrior. The boy signaled for the guard to lean down. He whispered in the guard’s ear. The guard stood straight again. He silently moved aside allowing them past. The boy led them further into the backstreet until he stopped at a nondescript door. He gave a series of knocks. The door opened and they were let in. Hanna didn’t understand why the level of secrecy, but it was obvious someone wanted this meeting kept secret. Who had Koyo called upon?

  A woman stood in the room. She wore a cloak with its hood up, covering her entire face in shadow. When they were all in the room and the door was closed, she pulled the hood down, revealing her face.

  “Koyo, what are you doing here? I told you to never return.”

  Hanna realized that this must be Sharla Pyrga, Koyo’s wife. Hanna examined the woman. Her face was set in a frown that matched the cool tone of her greeting, but Koyo had not exaggerated her beauty. Sharla had perfect unblemished skin, large green eyes, high regal cheekbones, and the most beautiful silver and white hair Hanna had ever seen.

  Koyo stammered. “I know, my love.”

  Hanna sensed Koyo wasn’t sure what he wanted to say. It was obvious that he’d waited so long for this moment and the cool response he was receiving was not what he’d hoped for.

  “It’s my fault. I asked him to come.” Hanna spoke in an even voice.

  Sharla turned to Hanna and stared at her. “And you are?”

  “Hanna Halfblood, of Irontide,” said Hanna.

  “Hanna Halfblood, of Irontide, why have you come to Mykoznia? What is so important that you made Koyo break his word?” asked Sharla.

  Koyo found his voice. “She didn’t make me do anything, Sharla. I chose of my own free will. Look at her necklace, Sharla.”

  Sharla’s frown deepened and she shot Koyo an icy glare, but she did step closer and lift her hand to examine the necklace. She gasped as she grabbed it. Sharla’s head whipped around towards Koyo. “It isn’t possible.”

  “It is. She has the magic, and two of the people closest to her have been killed over the gems. The last by a demon warrior. The first by a Mykoznian King’s Guard.”

  Sharla’s face softened. She looked Hanna in the eyes. “Tell me everything. But first I need to do something.” Sharla then turned and walked to Koyo and wrapped him in a hug that lasted minutes. “It’s been too long, husband.”

  “Far too long,” said Koyo in a soft voice that Hanna had never heard before.

  Sharla then turned, leading them through a doorway into a second room. Unlike the first room which had been completely bare, this one had a table and chairs. It was still incredibly stark and unadorned, but Hanna had a feeling this place wasn’t used for anything other than secretive meetings.

  “Have a seat,” said Sharla.

  Hanna sat across the table from Sharla, who had waited until Koyo sat down then took a seat and placed it next to his. Hanna smiled when she saw that.

  “Halfblood is an interesting name, depending on where you are from it could be an insult or a compliment. I’m having a hard time telling which it is for you.”

  Hanna gave her a wiry grin. “It is a little of both I suppose. My mother is from Solotine, my father from Creyta.”

  “Both would consider it an insult,” said Sharla. “Which begs the question: who says it as a compliment?”

  “Her crew,” said Koyo. “Hanna is the daughter of Merdem Mirzan. Her ship, the Lady of the Evening, is Merdem’s old crew.”

  “A motley crew of rogues if there ever was one. I hear the reports that you are now respectable merchant ship men.”

  Koyo grinned. “For the most part. You would be surprised how often our ship is attacked by pirates.”

  Sharla laughed. “That is rich; I pity the pirates that try to steal from Merdem Mirzan’s ship.”

  Hanna frowned, she was missing something. “What do you mean by that?”

  Sharla turned to Koyo. “Does she not know?”

  Koyo chuckled. “Hanna, before your father met your mother he would occasionally do work for the Creytan royal family. During the war, that meant acting as a privateer."

  Privateer? Hanna thought. “You were pirates?”

  “No. Privateers. We never boarded Creytan ships,” said Koyo.

  Sharla snorted. “They were pirates all right. They were the scourge of the seas. Mykoznian merchant ships wouldn’t sail anywhere without a warship for an escort. And even then, it didn’t matter. Merdem and his crew were an unstoppable force.”

  “The only thing that stopped Merdem was the love of a beautiful woman. It has been the curse of more than one man,” said Koyo with a wink.

  Sharla smiled, turned and placed a gentle kiss on Koyo’s cheek. “And the salvation of many more.” She then turned back to Hanna. “So, your father was a Creytan pirate, that explains some of your magic, but I get the feeling your mother’s bloodlines are more prominent.”

  “Rowena Mirzan, daughter of Thorodd Stoneblood,” said Koyo. “The Stonebloods are as close to royalty as one can get in Northern Solotine. The bloodline is long, filled with giants and Ingla. A powerful magical bloodline.”

  “That explains how you were able to create a spirit stone. Now where did the gem come from?” asked Sharla.

  “A high mountain valley north of our village found a lode in their silver mine. They sent the gemstones to the Foxnoses, a rival trading company. But the Foxnoses aren’t the best or smartest of partners, so the miners brought the gems to grandfather. He made an agreement with the Nordviks, and was killed for it.”

  “And you say it was a Mykoznian King’s Guard who did it?”


  Hanna nodded. “Her dirk was still in my grandfather’s rider. Also, she brought me the gem that my grandfather had. She was young and pretty with hair like yours.”

  Sharla nodded. “And the second attack?”

  “Anso Sengaw. He was my trainer growing up. I went to Creyta for his assistance. He was training me to understand the spirit magic. A man wearing a gem like mine came up to the cottage while we were training. The man’s eyes suddenly went black. He attacked with a speed and power that was unnatural. Anso was killed. I only survived because of my spirit bond.”

  “This is troubling. Demon warriors are powerful magic. It also explains some things that have been happening here in Mykoznia.”

  A man entered the room. “Everything alright here?”

  Hanna watched Koyo stiffen as he saw the man.

  “Everything is fine. Muro, come say hello to your father.”

  Muro came and clasped a hand on Koyo’s shoulder. “Hello, father.”

  Koyo rose from his chair and nervously looked at his fully-grown son. “Muro, I—”

  Muro interrupted him. “It’s okay. Mother told us all about why you had to leave. The war has been tough on all of us. You did the right thing. I’ve always missed you, missed having a father, but I have a wonderful life here, one that I wouldn’t have had if you hadn’t made the choice you did.”

  Koyo relaxed, and the tension in his face disappeared. “Thank you, son. You have no idea how much it means to me to know you feel that way. I worried you’d hate me and think I’d abandoned you.”

  “Muro, take Koyo to the house. Hanna and I have someplace we have to go.”

  Koyo gave Hanna a guilty glance. “You don’t mind, do you?”

  Hanna smiled. “Go.”

  As Koyo left with Muro, Sharla rose. “Come, Hanna Halfblood. Let us go for a walk.”

  While Muro and Koyo left through a different part of the building, Sharla led Hanna back out into the alley. The large fierce-looking warrior was there, lurking in the shadows. As Sharla and Hanna passed him he stepped out and started to follow them.