Hoodwinked: The Summoning Book One

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Friday, September 20th Year 4767 of the first era of the 2nd realm

A whisper to her right caught Otswana's attention. Blinded in darkness, the young sorceress turned and swung out her weapon. She felt her sword hit someone's blade the same time the sound of steel clashing with steel resonated in her ears. Before the man shed his blade, she rubbed her talisman ring chanting a frozen spell.

Another whisper, and the sound of an approaching footstep to her left, warned her of another impending attack. She dropped to a crouch and swept out her leg, hooking her lower limb with that of her attacker. She felt them waver and tumble, releasing a grunt as they hit the wooden floor.

She stretched forth her right hand and instantly repeated one of the spells she was to use to subdue all attackers. She remained crouched, listening to whomever waited in the darkness. She knew there had been only three guards. One more assailant and she would run.

Behind her, the sound of clothes rustling nearly caught her off guard. Otswana swung out her sword. A man's groan resonated throughout the room. The princess assumed she hit the guard's shin. Otswana cast her third spell, immobilizing him.

It was now her time to run. She pushed to her feet as she cast another spell. Blue flame appeared in her hand. She turned and rushed to the only means of her escape. The wooden door of the cabin easily pushed open as she burst through it into the open air.

Sunlight blinded her. She immediately extinguished the wizard's flame. A flash of metal from her right was her only warning for the next attack. Otswana ducked and swung her sword an instant before she could be struck. Her attacker, one of the night guards, blocked her blade from striking his side. Otswana cast her enchantment before he could pull away with his blade.

The young princess darted off towards the trees. Her feet pounded as fast as her racing heart. The sound of a bow string being drawn, warned her of the flying arrow. She instantly dropped and rolled as the shot was made. The arrow bounced off the stone, inches from her face.

Quickly rolling to her back, Otswana aimed her spell at the archer's concealed location. There, he remained motionless from her enchantment as he nestled on a lower tree branch, several meters behind her.

Otswana didn't wait for another chance of attack. She pushed to her feet and sprinted towards the tower. There, two guards stood, blocking her from her goal. The princess didn't hesitate. She aimed her hand towards them and cast a spell for both men to fall to the side. The following enchantment bound them both in their sprawled form to prevent their limbs from moving.

The-seventeen-year-old sorceress swung her sword upward and struck the metal bell dangling from the wooden support beam of the watch tower. The loud chime of the bell alerted all those around the manor that the guards had been subdued. The princess had escaped. She had won.

"Well done, Otti," Sir Frinz called out.

Hearing her shortened name, she turned to see the older man with long, light gray hair, step out behind the stables. He wore his red tunic with the brown trimming and latches. His dark brown trousers matched his riding boots. A sword hung from his left hip. He approached her with an even stride, allowing Otswana to catch her breath. The princess sheathed her dull practice sword and dusted off her black trousers and her favorite green shirt before he reached her.

"You may go wash up for dinner, Otti. My wife asked me to inform you, she needs more coriander and fennel herbs from the garden. Tomorrow, we will work on your sword fighting in the courtyard. See you at dinner," Sir Frinz said, dismissing his only female student.