Hoodwinked: The Summoning Book One

Chapter 14

The armory of the castle was located in a large room on the southwest side on the inner wall, just a hundred meters from the stables. There was a smaller room for a few weapons at the end of the outer corridor. This corridor had a covered roof and it encircled the inner courtyard.

The small storage room held targets, swords, bows and arrows, crossbows, and throwing knives. This was where Otti found herself at ten minutes to eleven making a very difficult choice. The rapier or the claymore?

She liked the look of the rapier sword with its sleek look and the intricate design for the hilt guard. It looked and felt light in weight. However, the edges were too dull and it reminded Otswana of a fencing sword.

The Claymore on the other hand, was more durable. It appeared more threatening with the sharper edges and it had a nice grip on the hilt. It was slightly heavier to swing and thrust. It would require her to take out opponents quickly, as not to become tired and slow.

Not being able to come to a decision, Otswana chose both swords. She could go into the market and purchase a sheath for the rapier to attach to a belt and use her old sheath for the claymore.

The next concern Otti had, was if anyone would mind if she borrowed these swords for an extended period of time. Deciding it was worth finding out, she grabbed the swords and leaned them against the wall.

Otswana turned to the throwing knives. She picked up a set that looked evenly balanced. The black grip fit her hand perfectly. The blades were sharpened and she liked the etched pattern of wings in the side of the blade. The set came with three sheaves and adjustable straps. There was no question these were now her knives. She would fight for them if she had to.

As she was about to gather her five birthday gifts she was giving to herself, a sense of being watched overcame her. She turned her head just as a shadow passed over the threshold. Someone had been there, but had slipped away. Otti held up her large sword and charged out of the room. A long shadow of someone's head and shoulders turned east around a corner of the corridor. Otti chased after the shadow to see if the lurking person posed a threat.

When she rounded the next corner to open space, Otti found herself alone. No one was there. In that very moment, she sensed someone behind her. She knew she had been watched. Otti spun around as she brought up her sword to strike. Her claymore clashed with another sword. Otti's eyes went to Captain Greypol's brown ones.

Klav Greypol was dressed in his usual dark gray trousers, black boots, black coat over a gray waist coat and a white shirt. He wore a white neck sash tied in a large bow at his neck. His expression was one of disapproval. His eyes glared at her.

Was he angry? He didn't look happy. Was he the one spying on her? Was he here to kill her?

"Not by sword," Otti answered out loud after she reasoned with herself. If he would kill her, it would be by dropping her off the edge of a cliff.

The captain narrowed his eyes at her. He retreated and lowered his sword to sheath it.

"Greggor has been looking for you. He said you have a prearranged fighting lesson," Captain Greypol said in a gruff tone.

Otti lowered her sword as she eyed him warily. "I was on my way to him now. Thank you," Otswana said before she brushed past him to return to the small armory to retrieve her newly prized possessions.

"You're not using those for swordplay, are you?" Klav's voice appeared behind her. He had a very quiet step. This trait was something she first noticed when he captured her at his windowsill of the inn.

"Are you my nursemaid now or my personal guard?" Otswana asked instead of answering him.

"Why aren't you answering my question?"