Chapter 3 of Unamed Book (Sword of Light)

I really need to think up a title for my book before I get further.


Chapter 3

Klii walked across the room and picked up two swords. He handed one to Ben and the other one to Kaela. "Now, describe these swords,"

Kaela eyed the weapon resting in her hands. "Well...it's a sword, with a gold whatever-its-called,"

"A hilt." Learka reminded.

"Thank you. A gold hilt, with a purple stone in the middle of the hilt. I think it's called a pommel stone."

"My pommel stone is green." Ben informed them.

Klii nodded. "Very good. Now, you can use these swords two ways. One is the 'normal' way of fighting, when your sword comes in contact with the enemy's weapon. We'll teach you how to use your sword that way, but there is another way to use it. It will shoot out light."

The man picked up a red pommel-stoned sword. "Watch," he said, and then pointed the sword at the wall. Immediately, a beam of white light shot out from the sword's tip and disappeared into the earthen wall. "You will find this much more useful than the first method. Now you two try."

Ben hesitated slightly. "How do you get it to shoot the light?" he asked.

"Faith in Adonai. He controls your shooting." Klii responded simply.

That wasn't quite the answer I wanted. Ben thought, but he turned his sword to the wall. Nothing happened.

"As I said, you must believe in Adonai before you can use your sword the second way." Klii reminded him.

Then Kaela tried it, and got a shimmer of light to pass down her sword. "Wow," she exclaimed. "These swords are so much better than the ones we have at home. Do you think I'll have faith so I can shoot light soon?"

Klii smiled. "You might. But first, you have to learn much. Ignorance is very dangerous. First, before we get started on training, Yev can show you two some simple stuff."

At that point, Yev took over, and she showed Ben and Kaela where their sleeping places were and other necessities. She stressed in whatever you do, try to avoid going outside into the 'Dead Woods' as she called it, without having a sword handy. Then Klii began teaching them for a little while on using the swords for actual contact fighting.

"It's going to be hard to teach two students at a time, because I taught Learka and Yev one on one, so I could 'battle them'." Klii said. "I'll try...oh, I have it! Learka, why don't you teach Ben to contact fight, and I'll teach Kaela."

Learka got up from where he was sitting, observing all the goings on, and grabbed a blue pommeled sword. Then he turned to face Ben. "Now, do you know anything at all about sword-fighting?"

Ben shook his head. He had a feeling Learka thought that he didn't know much.

"Alright. Now, first of all I'll teach you how to spin your sword. It's a good warming up exercise."

Learka and Ben worked on the spinning exercise for a good amount of minutes while Klii taught Kaela the same thing. Then Yev, who had been diligently doing house-work the whole time, spoke up. "I hate to interrupt, but it's time for supper. Why don't you all take a break? Ben and Kaela look pretty worn out."

It was true actually. Ben had not thought of sword-fighting as requiring much energy, and Kaela looked tired. They all pulled up chairs to the table and sat down. Yev had made chicken soup, hot and steaming, and fresh bread. Cider was also on the table.

Ben was ready to dig in, when Klii said, "Let's give thanks for the food, shall we?"

Learka, Klii, and Yev bowed their heads, and Ben and Kaela followed their example. Klii spoke. "Adonai, thank you very much for providing food for this meal, and always providing for us throughout these hard years. Thank you for sending help from above, and please let us to always do your work. Amen."

Yev dipped a ladle into the chicken soup and stirred it. "Bowls, please?"

Everyone passed her their bowls, and she filled them up with soup and gave them back. Ben's eyes popped open and his mouth watered as he saw the contents of his bowl. Man, this sure beats fast-food.

"So, Father, are we going to hold a counsil meeting soon?" Learka asked as he dipped a piece of bread into his soup.

"I suppose we should." Klii responded after taking a swig of his cider. "They have to know about Ben and Kaela, and then we can make some strategies."

"A council meeting?" Ben repeated. "With who?"

"With the other followers of Adonai, of course. We haven't had a meeting in a while."

"That's right," Yev agreed. "The last one was almost two months ago. I never heard why we haven't been meeting. Was there a reason?"

"Probably because Daran had somehow found out our meeting place and sent ogres to intercept. And vakir." Learka supposed.

"Oh, vakir!" Yev shuddered. "Those...things were horrible!"

"And what are vakir?" Kaela asked.

"They're almost like bats, except much bigger. Some have wingspans of fifteen feet." Klii explained. "Daran uses them a good deal."

Kaela shivered. "I don't like bats." she said.

Yev sympathized with Kaela. "I know. The small ones are bad enough."

Learka set down his empty bowl and stood up. "That was a good meal, Yev. Thanks for making it."

Yev smiled. "Thank you and your welcome, Learka." She began to clear the table, and Ben and Kaela pitched in to help. They were done soon.

"We should get some shut-eye," Klii suggested. "I will see about having a council meeting tomorrow."

They lost no time in curling up on their sleeping mats by the fire. Before dozing off to sleep, Ben vaguely wondered what he would be doing at home at this time of night.

Speaking of home, Ben thought, I wonder what's going on. We've been gone for a long time by now. Mom and Dad will start to wonder what happened to us.

He drifted off to sleep.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Izori