Fall of Light - Prologue

Fall of Light

Prologue

The young girl inspected the sword with curious green eyes. “Are you sure this is the right size?”

“It was the biggest one I could find m’lady, and I think it’s too big for you.”

She wrinkled her nose “I told you Runako, call me Nyenievan. And it’s not too big!”

The boy scowled, yanking the heavy sword from her hands. “My mother will flail me if she hears me call you by your name again, you know that.”

“Hey! Give that back!” Nyenievan jumped for the blade that was held hostage above her head. “And your mother has no authority over me.”

“The day I see my mother bow down at your feet will be the day I am captain of the army.”

“She will be lucky enough to get a view of my feet at my coronation. Now surrender that weapon Captain Runako, because I have much to learn!”

The boy laughed, sliding the hilt of the sword back into her small grasp. “There isn’t much to teach you princess, I started today as well.”

“Nonsense! Your father has been teaching you for years. And I watched the page training today; you were worlds better than the other boys!”

The girl swung the weapon experimentally, coming within a hairs breadth of his belt. Runako caught her blade with his own. “No one’s supposed to know about my father’s teaching Nyenievan, not even you.”

Her right eyebrow arched in a mischievous look that reminded him of her brother. “That was definitely not the move of a beginning swordsman. And it just so happens I’m the descendent of an air god. What do you expect? I was bred for sneaking.”

“Air god or no, your execution is sloppy.”

“Then stop showing off and teach me something you stupid pixie!”

“I am not a pixie!”

“Sure look like one,” she mumbled.
Runako ignored the comment and set his sword down. He stepped behind the girl and took hold of her wrist. “Raise the blade at least five inches, and tilt it slightly this way.”

“That’s how I had it!”

His grip on her arm tightened. “Shhh…”

“But that’s ho…”

The page’s hand clamped over her mouth. “Just listen for a minute,” he whispered.

Nyenievan stopped struggling and listened. There were shouts coming from the lower castle levels. She could hear the clash of armor and weapons, and the screams of the noble ladies.