JDizzle383
The Happy RP Salesman
The Five Swords Saga
Book 1: The Sword of Time’s Defiance
CHAPTER 1:
A Timeless Find
Shane walked along the path to his father’s ranch. It was unusually cold for a summer day, so he had been asked to round up the various livestock and bring them to the barn. He had wanted to go hunting with his friend Chris, but his father said work came first. Frankly, Shane couldn’t see the difference between raising an animal for food and hunting one for its meat, but when he had said this to his father, the man’s response was, “Don’t be daft! It’s the principle of the thing.” His father always had been opposed to hunting since it often endangered one’s life.
“Oh well, I’ll have to hunt tomorrow, I suppose” He thought as he kicked a rock on the dirt path aside. Walking into the stables he found his horse Naepora who greeted him with a neigh and a hoof stomping the ground as if she were impatiently waiting for him to come and get her. Shane couldn’t help but smile at that. He opened the door to her stall and walked up to the auburn beauty. He strapped her saddle on, and mounted her, his mood becoming a little more jovial now that he was riding his horse.
“Come on, girl, we need to get the boar and sheep into the barn,” he said, digging his heels into her sides to let her know they needed to go faster than a simple trot. It didn’t take very long to round up the boar and sheep, and thankfully only one boar was brave enough to try and charge at Naepora instead of going straight to the barn. Eventually they got all the animals herded, and Shane put Naepora in the stables, refilling her food supply. Walking up the road to the house where he and his family lived, he was greeted by his friend Chris.
“So how’d it go? Did Ol’ Hornhog give you any trouble?” Chris asked Shane. Ol’ Hornhog was the nickname that the two friends had given to Shane’s father’s prized boar. Shane laughed. “Actually, he was the only one who charged at me today. And yesterday, and the day before that… you know how stubborn he can be. I’m just glad he’s next on the list to be smoked for this year’s Festival!”
The two friends laughed at this, sat down on the porch, and began discussing plans for the next day’s hunting trip. The topic then shifted to the Festival once more and Shane sighed. “I just wish it were closer to home. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s nice that I finally get to go to The Festival, but why is it that it’s always held in Kravenfriht? And for that matter, what are we celebrating anyway?” He sighed, knowing that he probably wouldn’t get an answer until he was actually in the capital of Kravenfriht itself. The two farm boys had heard it was a huge and very distinguished nation, and the capital city of Rogenhart was no different. However, this was the extent of their knowledge of the Grand Capital of Rogenhart, the Capital of Kravenfriht and largest city of the Frihtian Empire.
The two friends then began to discuss the Festival and what they planned to do with their savings, which while meager, was enough to afford at least a small souvenir from the trip. Chris smiled as he and Shane both shared their thoughts on what they might like to buy. Neither of the boys was sure what the Grand Capital had for sale, but they could dream. As they talked, a woman’s voice called from inside the house. “Dinner! Come on boys! It won’t stay hot forever!”
Shane stood up and stretched. “Coming mother!” Turning to Chris he asked, “Care to join us for dinner? I know how much you like mom’s cooking.”
Chris smiled. “You know me too well!” and with that the two boys walked into the house. As they entered the kitchen, Chris took in the smell of smoked boar, and he addressed Shane’s mother. “That smells delicious as usual, Mrs. Conry!”
Mrs. Conry smiled. “Thank you Chris. You’re too kind. I assume you will be joining us for dinner, then?” Chris nodded, and Shane’s mother went to prepare the extra seat they would need at the table. While she did so, Shane’s father walked in and sat at the table, followed by Shane and Chris. “So, are you boys ready to go to the Grand Capital tomorrow?” He asked them. Shane was taken aback at this news. They were heading to the capital tomorrow? He had been planning on hunting with Chris! Did his father plan it like this? His shock must have been evident on his face, because his father asked, “Is there a problem?”
“N-no sir. I just thought we had more time is all.” Shane replied. He remembered all too well the last time he had talked out of line to his father. He had been given the task of cleaning out the stables for an entire month. By himself. He did not want that to happen again. He could still smell the manure when he thought about it.
“Good. You boys should learn a lot from the trip. But I still expect you to be on your best behavior. I won’t be following you around the city, though. The days of me playing babysitter are over. You two are considered men now, and I expect you to act like it.” Mr. Conry stated matter of factly. Shane nodded, as did Chris. They both were thinking along the same lines. Freedom.
“I hope the animals weren’t too difficult today? We do need to get your father’s prized boar and kill it before you all leave. They’ll pay a fair amount for him in Rogenhart. We could use the money too!” Mrs. Conry remarked. The boys nodded, and Shane’s father smiled. “That boar is going to be worth a fair amount! I’d say almost two-hundred pieces of silver.” He boasted. Mrs. Conry shook her head, smiling a little. “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, dear.” Looking out the window, she began to clear the table. “Well, we should get to bed. It’s nearly sundown, and you will need your strength to make the trip to Rogenhart.” She said. They all agreed and were soon in their respective bedrooms, while Chris slept in the guest room since it was dangerous to be out at night and his parents lived a fair distance from the Conrys.
The next morning, Shane woke up before the rooster could crow. He got out of bed and found that his mother had prepared his fanciest clothes for the journey. Smiling, he made his way into the living room where his father and Chris were waiting patiently for him.
“Ready to go? We have a long trip ahead of us!” His father asked. Shane nodded and the three of them headed outside where Mrs. Conry had the prized boar sitting in the family's cart, pulled by Naepora and Onaewa, the latter being Mr. Conry's steed. Shane patted Naepora's side as he mounted her, and his father got onto his own horse while Chris jumped into the cart and secured the boar to the cart. The trio started the journey in silence, and in a way, Shane preferred it that way. He and his father weren't exactly on good terms concerning his opinions as of late, so the conversation would have probably turned hostile anyway. And so they rode on in silence until it began to get dark.
“We should make camp here.” Mr. Conry said as he pulled the cart to a stop. “We'll continue to the capitol in the morning. For now, Chris, you help me start a fire. Shane, you have first watch. Take the sword in the cart and make sure no thieves get the boar.” He stared at his son with absolute authority in his tone. “Do I make myself clear?”
Shane gulped. “Crystal, sir.” he answered. Running over to the cart, he found an old sword lying next to the boar and clipped it to his belt. As the light around him dissipated, he yawned, but kept awake for the simple reason that he knew his father would kill him if the family's prized boar was stolen. Hours went by before anything of note happened. While he stood next to the boar, Shane's train of thought began questioning why he was the one who didn't get to sleep while the other two got to rest all they wanted. As Shane was about to nod off for the fourth time since he started to watch over the boar, he heard a shrub move about, and was immediately on the offensive. It was a good thing too, because three men that didn't look all that friendly jumped out of the bushes. One was holding a dagger, one had a large mallet, and the third was carrying a broadsword.
“Well! Look what we have here! A traveler who was kind enough to deliver us enough meat to last a fortnight!” the one with the dagger said in mock appreciation. Shane frowned. Three against one. Not good odds. Thankfully these thieves didn't look very intelligent, so if he kept them away from the boar, maybe he could pick them off one by one. “Now then,” the sword wielding thief said, “Hand over the meat and we won't have to gut you!”
Shane didn't realize he had stabbed one of the men until the dagger wielding thief was on the ground with a sword wound in his chest, screaming in pain. “Boss? You okay?” the mallet carrying one asked.
“Kill that kid! He'll pay for stabbing me like that!” was the screamed response. The wound was fatal however, and the thief would not live through the night. Shane's instincts took over and he ran, forgetting about the boar for the time being. Thankfully, so did the other two thieves and they gave chase. The one with the mallet was slowly losing ground and Shane was able to outrun him easily. However the one with the broadsword was more athletic and was catching up to him quickly. Shane searched his surroundings for somewhere to lose his pursuer.
“Come on, come on! Is it too much to ask for a small boulder or something to hide behind?” Shane muttered under his breath as he ran. Just as the thief was about to catch up to him, Shane saw a cave opening over to his left. “Better than nothing!” he thought as he ducked inside. As soon as he was inside the cave, the air around him felt... weird. It was as if no one had been in this place for ages, and there was a disgusting smell in there as well, but he couldn't pinpoint it. He ran through the cave and settled behind a rock, trying to steady his breathing. After several minutes that seemed to last a lifetime, he realized something.
No one had followed him into the cave.
Getting up, he looked around for a while before coming to the conclusion that he was lost. He couldn't find his way back to the entrance to the cave. It must have been hours before he became aware that not only was he lost… he was hungry. Sitting down, he opened his satchel and took out the last of the goat cheese and a small canteen of water that his mother had given him and ate in the eery silence the cave offered him. He was about to start searching for the exit again when heard a soft melodious voice singing, the notes seeming to draw him to the singer.
“Wherever you may be
Whatever time may pass
My life is at a standstill now
As through a looking glass
I view the timestream's flow
Like seeing a parade
As from a birds-eye view
And start to finish aid!”
Shane followed the voice getting more and more drawn to it until he saw a sword half buried in the ground seeming to revert from newly shined, to old and rusty and back again. He approached the blade and the singing stopped, and the same voice asked him a question.
“Why have you come seeking the Sword?”
Shane looked around for the owner of the voice. Finding no one, he deduced the only thing a sane person could. “I must have had some bad cheese...” he said, realizing only after the fact that this was verbalized.
“You do not have the desire to Defy Time Itself?”
Shane was now thoroughly freaked out. “What? No! Who would want to have such an ability? That could destroy half the Nations of Arzonia if you think about it! And for that matter, show yourself! I don't like talking to someone I can't see!”
“Ah, but you can see me young one! I am right in front of you. Are you afraid to wield such powers as I can bestow?”
Shane began searching the cave, but every time he turned a corner… there was the same sword, changing from old to new. “Look, either show yourself and start making sense, or let me know how to get out of the cave and keep your crazy to yourself.” He said in a panic. Where was the exit? And how long had it been? Was his father's boar going to be ok?
“You worry for your father more so than your own life? There is hope for Arzonia yet!”
“Okay lady. No more games!” Shane shouted as he picked up the sword without really thinking about it. A chorus of the strange woman's voices started speaking in an unknown dialect as Shane began to feel dizzy and dropped to his knees. Steadying himself with the strange sword he cried out as he fell and lost consciousness, still clutching the sword as it stopped cycling through it's new and old states, landing on a shining sword as though forged anew.
Book 1: The Sword of Time’s Defiance
CHAPTER 1:
A Timeless Find
Shane walked along the path to his father’s ranch. It was unusually cold for a summer day, so he had been asked to round up the various livestock and bring them to the barn. He had wanted to go hunting with his friend Chris, but his father said work came first. Frankly, Shane couldn’t see the difference between raising an animal for food and hunting one for its meat, but when he had said this to his father, the man’s response was, “Don’t be daft! It’s the principle of the thing.” His father always had been opposed to hunting since it often endangered one’s life.
“Oh well, I’ll have to hunt tomorrow, I suppose” He thought as he kicked a rock on the dirt path aside. Walking into the stables he found his horse Naepora who greeted him with a neigh and a hoof stomping the ground as if she were impatiently waiting for him to come and get her. Shane couldn’t help but smile at that. He opened the door to her stall and walked up to the auburn beauty. He strapped her saddle on, and mounted her, his mood becoming a little more jovial now that he was riding his horse.
“Come on, girl, we need to get the boar and sheep into the barn,” he said, digging his heels into her sides to let her know they needed to go faster than a simple trot. It didn’t take very long to round up the boar and sheep, and thankfully only one boar was brave enough to try and charge at Naepora instead of going straight to the barn. Eventually they got all the animals herded, and Shane put Naepora in the stables, refilling her food supply. Walking up the road to the house where he and his family lived, he was greeted by his friend Chris.
“So how’d it go? Did Ol’ Hornhog give you any trouble?” Chris asked Shane. Ol’ Hornhog was the nickname that the two friends had given to Shane’s father’s prized boar. Shane laughed. “Actually, he was the only one who charged at me today. And yesterday, and the day before that… you know how stubborn he can be. I’m just glad he’s next on the list to be smoked for this year’s Festival!”
The two friends laughed at this, sat down on the porch, and began discussing plans for the next day’s hunting trip. The topic then shifted to the Festival once more and Shane sighed. “I just wish it were closer to home. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s nice that I finally get to go to The Festival, but why is it that it’s always held in Kravenfriht? And for that matter, what are we celebrating anyway?” He sighed, knowing that he probably wouldn’t get an answer until he was actually in the capital of Kravenfriht itself. The two farm boys had heard it was a huge and very distinguished nation, and the capital city of Rogenhart was no different. However, this was the extent of their knowledge of the Grand Capital of Rogenhart, the Capital of Kravenfriht and largest city of the Frihtian Empire.
The two friends then began to discuss the Festival and what they planned to do with their savings, which while meager, was enough to afford at least a small souvenir from the trip. Chris smiled as he and Shane both shared their thoughts on what they might like to buy. Neither of the boys was sure what the Grand Capital had for sale, but they could dream. As they talked, a woman’s voice called from inside the house. “Dinner! Come on boys! It won’t stay hot forever!”
Shane stood up and stretched. “Coming mother!” Turning to Chris he asked, “Care to join us for dinner? I know how much you like mom’s cooking.”
Chris smiled. “You know me too well!” and with that the two boys walked into the house. As they entered the kitchen, Chris took in the smell of smoked boar, and he addressed Shane’s mother. “That smells delicious as usual, Mrs. Conry!”
Mrs. Conry smiled. “Thank you Chris. You’re too kind. I assume you will be joining us for dinner, then?” Chris nodded, and Shane’s mother went to prepare the extra seat they would need at the table. While she did so, Shane’s father walked in and sat at the table, followed by Shane and Chris. “So, are you boys ready to go to the Grand Capital tomorrow?” He asked them. Shane was taken aback at this news. They were heading to the capital tomorrow? He had been planning on hunting with Chris! Did his father plan it like this? His shock must have been evident on his face, because his father asked, “Is there a problem?”
“N-no sir. I just thought we had more time is all.” Shane replied. He remembered all too well the last time he had talked out of line to his father. He had been given the task of cleaning out the stables for an entire month. By himself. He did not want that to happen again. He could still smell the manure when he thought about it.
“Good. You boys should learn a lot from the trip. But I still expect you to be on your best behavior. I won’t be following you around the city, though. The days of me playing babysitter are over. You two are considered men now, and I expect you to act like it.” Mr. Conry stated matter of factly. Shane nodded, as did Chris. They both were thinking along the same lines. Freedom.
“I hope the animals weren’t too difficult today? We do need to get your father’s prized boar and kill it before you all leave. They’ll pay a fair amount for him in Rogenhart. We could use the money too!” Mrs. Conry remarked. The boys nodded, and Shane’s father smiled. “That boar is going to be worth a fair amount! I’d say almost two-hundred pieces of silver.” He boasted. Mrs. Conry shook her head, smiling a little. “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, dear.” Looking out the window, she began to clear the table. “Well, we should get to bed. It’s nearly sundown, and you will need your strength to make the trip to Rogenhart.” She said. They all agreed and were soon in their respective bedrooms, while Chris slept in the guest room since it was dangerous to be out at night and his parents lived a fair distance from the Conrys.
The next morning, Shane woke up before the rooster could crow. He got out of bed and found that his mother had prepared his fanciest clothes for the journey. Smiling, he made his way into the living room where his father and Chris were waiting patiently for him.
“Ready to go? We have a long trip ahead of us!” His father asked. Shane nodded and the three of them headed outside where Mrs. Conry had the prized boar sitting in the family's cart, pulled by Naepora and Onaewa, the latter being Mr. Conry's steed. Shane patted Naepora's side as he mounted her, and his father got onto his own horse while Chris jumped into the cart and secured the boar to the cart. The trio started the journey in silence, and in a way, Shane preferred it that way. He and his father weren't exactly on good terms concerning his opinions as of late, so the conversation would have probably turned hostile anyway. And so they rode on in silence until it began to get dark.
“We should make camp here.” Mr. Conry said as he pulled the cart to a stop. “We'll continue to the capitol in the morning. For now, Chris, you help me start a fire. Shane, you have first watch. Take the sword in the cart and make sure no thieves get the boar.” He stared at his son with absolute authority in his tone. “Do I make myself clear?”
Shane gulped. “Crystal, sir.” he answered. Running over to the cart, he found an old sword lying next to the boar and clipped it to his belt. As the light around him dissipated, he yawned, but kept awake for the simple reason that he knew his father would kill him if the family's prized boar was stolen. Hours went by before anything of note happened. While he stood next to the boar, Shane's train of thought began questioning why he was the one who didn't get to sleep while the other two got to rest all they wanted. As Shane was about to nod off for the fourth time since he started to watch over the boar, he heard a shrub move about, and was immediately on the offensive. It was a good thing too, because three men that didn't look all that friendly jumped out of the bushes. One was holding a dagger, one had a large mallet, and the third was carrying a broadsword.
“Well! Look what we have here! A traveler who was kind enough to deliver us enough meat to last a fortnight!” the one with the dagger said in mock appreciation. Shane frowned. Three against one. Not good odds. Thankfully these thieves didn't look very intelligent, so if he kept them away from the boar, maybe he could pick them off one by one. “Now then,” the sword wielding thief said, “Hand over the meat and we won't have to gut you!”
Shane didn't realize he had stabbed one of the men until the dagger wielding thief was on the ground with a sword wound in his chest, screaming in pain. “Boss? You okay?” the mallet carrying one asked.
“Kill that kid! He'll pay for stabbing me like that!” was the screamed response. The wound was fatal however, and the thief would not live through the night. Shane's instincts took over and he ran, forgetting about the boar for the time being. Thankfully, so did the other two thieves and they gave chase. The one with the mallet was slowly losing ground and Shane was able to outrun him easily. However the one with the broadsword was more athletic and was catching up to him quickly. Shane searched his surroundings for somewhere to lose his pursuer.
“Come on, come on! Is it too much to ask for a small boulder or something to hide behind?” Shane muttered under his breath as he ran. Just as the thief was about to catch up to him, Shane saw a cave opening over to his left. “Better than nothing!” he thought as he ducked inside. As soon as he was inside the cave, the air around him felt... weird. It was as if no one had been in this place for ages, and there was a disgusting smell in there as well, but he couldn't pinpoint it. He ran through the cave and settled behind a rock, trying to steady his breathing. After several minutes that seemed to last a lifetime, he realized something.
No one had followed him into the cave.
Getting up, he looked around for a while before coming to the conclusion that he was lost. He couldn't find his way back to the entrance to the cave. It must have been hours before he became aware that not only was he lost… he was hungry. Sitting down, he opened his satchel and took out the last of the goat cheese and a small canteen of water that his mother had given him and ate in the eery silence the cave offered him. He was about to start searching for the exit again when heard a soft melodious voice singing, the notes seeming to draw him to the singer.
“Wherever you may be
Whatever time may pass
My life is at a standstill now
As through a looking glass
I view the timestream's flow
Like seeing a parade
As from a birds-eye view
And start to finish aid!”
Shane followed the voice getting more and more drawn to it until he saw a sword half buried in the ground seeming to revert from newly shined, to old and rusty and back again. He approached the blade and the singing stopped, and the same voice asked him a question.
“Why have you come seeking the Sword?”
Shane looked around for the owner of the voice. Finding no one, he deduced the only thing a sane person could. “I must have had some bad cheese...” he said, realizing only after the fact that this was verbalized.
“You do not have the desire to Defy Time Itself?”
Shane was now thoroughly freaked out. “What? No! Who would want to have such an ability? That could destroy half the Nations of Arzonia if you think about it! And for that matter, show yourself! I don't like talking to someone I can't see!”
“Ah, but you can see me young one! I am right in front of you. Are you afraid to wield such powers as I can bestow?”
Shane began searching the cave, but every time he turned a corner… there was the same sword, changing from old to new. “Look, either show yourself and start making sense, or let me know how to get out of the cave and keep your crazy to yourself.” He said in a panic. Where was the exit? And how long had it been? Was his father's boar going to be ok?
“You worry for your father more so than your own life? There is hope for Arzonia yet!”
“Okay lady. No more games!” Shane shouted as he picked up the sword without really thinking about it. A chorus of the strange woman's voices started speaking in an unknown dialect as Shane began to feel dizzy and dropped to his knees. Steadying himself with the strange sword he cried out as he fell and lost consciousness, still clutching the sword as it stopped cycling through it's new and old states, landing on a shining sword as though forged anew.
