The Orb of Souls

Chapter 1

The Orb of Souls

©2009 Teresa J. Goodman

Chapter 1

Ember couldn't help but notice the repugnant glances of her elven peers as she made her way to the sparring-yard for training. Her father had warned her this would happen considering the mind-set of the society they lived in. She had spent most of her childhood within the protection of her home, shielded from the prejudices of society. She may have come from an honorable family, but there was nothing honorable about her liniage. To the proud citizens of Elmwood, as well as most of Elgyntavia, half-breeds were a degradation to the honor of their families. Ember was not only a half-breed, but of draconic descent. To them she was an abomination. If her father had not been of such eminent station she would most certainly have been euthanized at birth. After the Great War, the remaining dragons were exiled to the Savagelands, and those stubborn few who refused to leave were slain in retaliation by warriors that had lost loved ones in the war to the mighty wrath of dragons defending their faith.

Today she was to begin her training at the warcraft academy, to follow in the footsteps of her ancestors. The Lyndiri name had long been synonymous with warrior within the village of Elmwood. After all, her grandfather had been a commander in the Elgyntavian army during the Great War, and now her father was none other than the distinguished master swordsman, and instructor of swordsmanship at the very warcraft academy she was now to attend, Nadarius Lyndiri.

When she finally reached the sparring-yard she was relieved to find the friendly smile of her father awaiting her. She could see the pride in on his face as she approached. He nodded to her in acknowledgment and turned to face his other students. "Today is a very proud day for the House of Lyndiri. Today my daughter begins her training in the art of war, a training my family has revered for generations. Many of you may look upon her with disdain because of her draconic blood, but never forget the strength and ferocity that accompanies it. She will become a most formidable warrior indeed. If you are wise, you will respect these attributes, instead of being intimidated by them. Better an ally than an enemy." Ember knew he was attempting to validate her in the eyes of his students so they would show her proper respect, at least within his presence. She was grateful for this, however, she preferred to earn their respect by proving herself worthy of her family name. She had spent many years watching her father training, and had imitated his actions at play countless times. Now was the time to execute them in combat.

Master Lyndiri paired his students, armed them with wooden staves, and instructed them to demonstrate what skills they had learned so far. Ember had been partnered with a student who had been under Master Lyndiri's tutilage for several years named Xander Xavarius. He smiled at her and nodded in respect before taking his favored stance. She returned the gesture and took her own. Xander struck first, slashing violently, attempting to disarm her before she even had a chance to defend, but was surprised to find his foe had anticipated such a maneuver, and evaded his attack with a giant backstep. Immediately she brought up her sword to block as he came back for a second strike. Sword to sword, he looked into her golden reptilian eyes, trying to read her next move. Suddenly she spun around swinging her sword only to find it met once again by his own. Both of them stepped back reevaluating their next moves. Once again Xander charged slashing, practically trying to behead his adversary. With remarkable agility Ember dodged the blow by leaning backwards while swinging her sword above and around her head, then bringing it down into his side. Thankfully they were only fighting with wooden swords, or it would have been a wounding blow.

After that, Master Lyndiri intervened and ordered them to stop. "Nice move, Ember, I never realized how closely you were watching. And Xander, why is it, do you think, you were bested by a novice?" Xander, holding his aching side, answered humbly, "Sir, I would say it was because I underestimated her abilities as a novice, and tried to take her out before we had even begun. If I had taken the time to feel out her abilities, I might have been able to anticipate her actions better." Master Lyndiri smiled and said, "Very good, Xander. You learn from your mistakes, and that is important. Howevr, had this been a real fight you would not have had an oppurtunity to learn from it. You must never underestimate your opponent. Ask yourself what you would do in his stead, and prepare for it. Try to stay one move ahead of your opponent at all times."

Ember was pleased with herself. She had never fought another living being before, and even though she thought she knew what to do, she wasn't entirely sure she would be able to pull it off. She knew the moment he looked into her eyes, when their swords locked, that he was underesuuutimating her, and that angered her. But, hearing him admit it so humbly took the sting out of it.