Thornblade Chronicles - Volume 1

Chapter 2

The man took a defensive stance. He held the sword at chest height, firmly gripping it in his left hand. He placed his right foot ahead of his left as his gaze shifted between the two guards who charged at him.

"Intruder!" the female guard screamed. She was slightly faster, so the swordsman directed his focus towards her.

"Please, I mean no harm!" he pleaded, hoping to be given a chance to explain his intentions. The guards ignored his plea and continued their assault. The first strike came from the woman. While her sword-handling was better than his, the swordsman parried with ease. The second guard slashed at the man shortly after, which was just as easy to parry. However, the continued onslaught of the guards' attacks became more difficult for the swordsman to manage; he had no choice but to back away with each hit.

He had little room to breathe between the slashes; the guards acted in unison, preventing him from actively formulating a plan. While still fighting defensively, the swordsman parried with greater force, knocking each guard to the ground, providing him a moment where he could think. He noticed the kingdom entrance but knew entering now would force the guards to chase him. His mind wandered—wishfully imagining being in the kingdom safely. Not wanting to kill the guards, he wondered how he could get by them without the worry of being chased.

A sharp kick in the gut from the female pulled him out of the fantasy and into the ground; his sword launched out of his hands. The swordsman shook his head, getting the kingdom ut of his head. He understood dealing with the guards had to be his priority. His adversaries continued attacking the unarmed man. He jumped around to dodge their strikes, each jump bringing him closer to the sword. The swordsman wiped the sweat off his lip as he got close enough to pick up the sword. He turned to face the guards but found his attention split as they surrounded him.

In a desperate attempt to make room for himself, the man dashed at the female. His quick reflexes forced her to back up as he slashed at her. Though, his focus on the woman blinded him from noticing the male behind him. The guard kicked him in the back of his leg, and the man fell once again. He recovered quickly, and—while still against killing—the intruder understood he needed to take out the guards simultaneously.

As the guards came at him, the swordsman held his sword in both hands. He fought defensively as his focus shifted to the hilt of his sword. He began outlining the glyph for Bursor while avoiding their barrage. As the blade lit up pink, the guards seemed unphased. He charged at the guards a final time, and with a single slash, the man sliced through both guards' swords like butter. A moment passed before the guards noticed the damage. Their hands shook as they dropped the fragments they held and fell to their knees. The swordsman sheathed his sword.

"Please, grant us an honorable death," the male guard begged. "The Lord will punish us if he discovers an intrusion," he continued as the guards bowed their heads in grief. The man simply shook his head.

"No. It was never my goal to kill you. I mean no harm. I only seek shelter and answers," answered the man, offering the guards his hand. "If you fear your Lord, can you not find a new home elsewhere?"

"The will of the Lord is the will of the land. He is granted all he desires," the guards spoke in unison. Surprised, the swordsman retracted his hand and stepped away. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Truthfully, he felt guilty for what would happen if he did not kill them. Though, he feared having blood on his hands.

"Very well, then," the male guard sighed, whispering in a monotonous voice. "Since you refuse to take our lives, I grant you entry into the kingdom," he finished, reaching for the sharp half of his sword. The swordsman backed up further in case the guard attacked.

"Thank you," said the swordsman as he began walking towards the kingdom. But when the guard continued to speak, the swordsman looked back.

"May the Lord forgive me and have mercy. May our spirits be protected beyond this realm as we rise to the Aether," he mumbled. He looked to the female guard, who simply nodded. The male sliced through her armor and into her head before plunging the blade into his chest.