The Sword Maiden

Corn Harvest and Vinum

Most clans don't train their women and girls to wield swords. But mine, being the SwordCleaver clan, did. We were the fierce warrior clan of the Seven Clans of Thathia. We protected Thathia.

What did we protect Thathia from? Ravagers. Men covered in dark blue who would swoop down on unsuspecting villages and pillage them. They would take of the women and children for slaves, sometimes the men. But most of the time the men were slaughtered as they tried to defend their village.

But that was only to terrorize the people of Thathia. Their real goal was to gain for themselves the rich land of Thathia and make it their own. But they never have been able to conquer.

However, the village raids had all but ceased, as the SwordCleaver clan defended the villages on the border. We built strong fortress against the Ravagers, with scouts patrolling. Bretor, our allies, also helped us.

So we settled down in peace, but always honed our skills. We knew that despite our best defenses, you never knew when the Ravagers would strike.

We learned that lesson all too well, on a sunny day during the corn harvest.

"Hey Ravine," called my brother, Derrek. "Bet I can finish my row faster than you can!"

"Whatever Derrek!" I shot back. "I'm gonna leave you in the dust!"

"Nah, neither of you stand a chance," countered Corban. His blonde hair could have blended in with a corn cobs golden kernels. I rolled my eyes and the race began.

My hand grabbed the slender cobs and twisted, ripping them away from their mother plant. I was fast, having down this many times before. The cob's rough husk rubbed against my hands.

Derrek and I were neck 'n' neck. Almost in union we ripped off cobs and thrust them into our sacks. I tried to go faster, but ended up dropping a cob because of it, putting me behind.

Derrek looked behind him and chuckled as he saw me reach down to pick it up. "Told ya sis," he said, mocking me. I grunted at him and ripped off a cob with more fury that usual, angry at having been put behind my kid brother.

Now Corban and I were tied. With practiced precision corn cobs disappeared into our sacks. We eyed each other as we went. "Looks like you're gonna be last Ravine," he taunted.

"Watch your mouth hot stuff," I snapped back. "Never know what might turn the tables."

But the tables did not turn, and before I knew it we'd reached the end of the row. We both gasped out, "Done!" at the same time as we thrust the last cob into our sacks. We glared at each other for moment.

Corban smiled first. "Truce?" he said, reaching out his hand. "Truce," I said, shaking. I didn't know it at the time, but that would be the last time I compromised with him.

"I won!" said Derrek, pumping his fist. "Take that you two!"

"I'll get you next time," I replied. "For now, you'd better go empty out your sack." Derrek's sack was bulging full, looking like the corn cobs were fixing to bust out. On the other hand Corban's and I's were only half full.

"Yeah you're right," conceded Derrek. "But I still won," he reminded us as he drug his sack off to empty it.

Corban and I moved over to new rows and began working our way down them side by side. The sun tanned our skin as we smoothly ripped off cobs and talked quietly.

"It's been a long time since the last Ravager raid," Corban commented. "Yeah sure has," I said, giving a hard tug at a particularly stubborn cob. "I guess our forts are doing a good job of deterring them."

"Yeah. Plus with our scouts patrolling the border and the Bretor on our side, they really don't stand a chance," said Corban enthusiastically.

"Dad says we should always be on our guard though," I remarked. Another corn cob slid into my bag, slightly rough against my hand.

"Oh?" inquired Corban. "Why's that? We're perfectly safe. For the first time in many years we don't have to live in fear of a raid."

"So it may seem. But Dad says we need to always be careful. Never know when one of our own might betray us, show them a way to get in," I replied.

At this Corban looked up and away, as if checking the sun's position. "Really? I didn't think there were any ways in."

"Oh there are, my Dad says, but I don't know of any. But I really don't think anyone would do such a thing. We live in peace here, nobody wants war." I replied. To this day I feel like face palming myself. Oh my naivety. My sweet innocent naivety.

That day was the last day of the corn harvest, and it was time to have a feast. The Life-Giver had been good to us this year and blessed us. Celebration was merry.

"Whoa," I said, red faced and gasping as I sat down on a bench. "That dance was so fast."

"Yes," agreed Derrek. "There were times I was wondering if I could keep up."

I pulled myself off the bench. "I'm going to get some fruit punch," I declared. "My thirst is going to kill me if I don't get something down my throat soon."

I wove my way through the crowd to one of the many refreshment tables. I grabbed one of the clay pots and dipped up a huge cup of punch. Setting the dipper back into the bowl, I gulped down a generous portion.

My thirst finally slaked, I worked my way through the crowd back to dance floor. A fast paced dance was going, and I watched it as I sipped my drink. I had loved dancing, ever since I was a little girl. There was just something about going flowing in unity with another person that enamored me.

"Hey Ravine!" called out Derrek. He lead by the hand another young lad called Jaylen. "Me and Jaylen are gonna ask our parents if we can try Vinum. Are you gonna ask?"

I hesitated. I was old enough. In fact, I was quite old enough. Youth were allowed their first sip of Vinum at the age of twelve, I was fourteen. But asking anyone for anything always made me nervous. I wasn't sure why, but it did.

But I couldn't let my younger brother show me up. "Sure," I replied bravely.

Before I could rethink my decision Derrek grabbed me by my wrist and whirled me through the crowd to where Jaylen's parents and ours were talking. We waited politely, me all the while wondering if this was a good choice.

The parents stopped talking and turned to us. "Yes?" inquired Jaylen's father.

Jaylen flushed slightly, even bold Derrek looked slightly frightened. But still he took the lead. "Father, mother, could I try some Vinum?"

Father's eyes twinkled. "Well son, I suppose you are twelve and a half, I think you could try some. What do you think Irene?" he asked, turning to his wife. Mom smiled. "I think that would be alright. But only one cup, okay?"

Derrek grinned. "Yes ma'am."

My fists clenched behind my back but I stepped forward. Fear swelled, determined to choke my words off. But I battled over it. "May I try some Vinum too?"

"Well Ravine, you've waited a long time to ask that," chuckled father. My cheeks flushed slightly. "But yes, you may. Only one cup though."

I stepped back. "Yes sir. Thank you Dad," I squeaked out with relief.

Derrek and I waited for Jaylen to ask his parents. They said yes, but gave him the same limit of one cup. Excited, we ran off into the crowd, towards the table that held Vinum.

The sparkling gold liquid whirled and swirled in my cup. Derrek and Jaylen had already taken their first sips. They looked rather shocked at its flavor, but pleased.

I raised the cup to my lips, but before I ever tasted Vinum, words echoed throughout the room that changed my life forever.

"Ravagers! They're on the outskirts of the village! Quick SwordCleavers, to arms!"