A Midnight Stroll in the Woods - Book 1 in the Troll Warrior series

Chapter 10 - Training and Myths

Ooh... finally up to double digits!

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Axes, axes, axes. That is what Gliffs use in battle. The day after I killed the troll Gomber took me into an old room in the house that had walls covered in battle axes. I only saw two other weapons; A crossbow and a golden sword. 

Gomber took the sword and the bow outside and set up a target. I thought he was going to shoot at the target for fun but he handed me the sword instead.

I was instructed to block his moves.

He pulled another sword out of his shorts and attempted to stab me.

I blocked his every move. After we  both had sweat covering our brows he decided I had mastered this tecnique and was ready for the next one.

He handed me the bow. It felt awkward but good in my hands. I tried to shoot an arrow but it only fell to the ground at my feet.

Gomber adjusted my grip and there was a soaring sensation in my stomach. I felt as if this was the most natural thing in the world to me. I pulled back the arrow and let it go. I watched with pride as the arrow soared through the air and went down, smack bang in the bullseye.

'YEAH BABY! WHOO!'

Gomber looked at me startled.

'Ahh... sorry. I just had a little out burst. Excited, y'no.'

'Yeah...' he said, then, 'That was great aim! Where did you learn that?'

'Learn what?' I ask.

'How to shoot so well!'

'It's not hard. I guess it comes naturally.'

He snorts,

'Naturally! Naturally! Bloody genius if you ask me!'

'Erm....'

'Never in my life have I ever seen anyone shoot so well on their second go. Your are pretty good with a sword too.'

All of a sudden I remember the sword yesterday. It had suddenly appeared in my hands. Mum was surprised by the fact it had Green Jewels on it.

'Gomber?'

'Mmmm.'

'How did I get that sword yesterday?'

He looked up in surprise.

'Your magic of course!'

'Oh. Why was mum so amazed by the fact it was green?'

Gomber sat on the ground and motioned for me to sit down.

'There is a myth. It says a descendant of Sir Katha will over take the troll race using a single sword. The sword was fashioned by the trolls them selves but stolen in it's early hours of battle, before any blood was spilt on it.

There is only one way to claim the sword. A Gliff must summon it through their powers. The sword is a very powerful one. The last Gliff to summon it was overcome by the magic and was killed by hand of their own sword.

The sword is destined to kill someone. However, If the sword bearer doesn't manage to kill their opponent then the sword will turn on it's holder and kill because they aren't worthy of it.'

He pauses.

'The sword you killed the troll with yesterday is now yours. And... it is up to you to overcome the troll race.'

I smile.

'Challenge accepted.'