blogwithvalor

Today is my wife’s birthday! Because of that, I didn’t plan to write anything today. Instead I’ve got another old short story that she and I wrote together. This one isn’t one of the many 5 topic stories we pulled from a hat and handed back and forth. This one still had us handing the story back and forth, but we kinda free for alled the story.

This one was written early on during the COVID lockdown. It was May 5th of 2020. It may have been one of the first stories we wrote together. We had fun with it. We made up names of kingdoms and even threw in a made up spell. Overall, I really like how this came out.

Originally, we always thought we’d come back to some of these old stories. So this was supposed to be a multi-part series from different perspectives. This first one would be from princess Lelana’s perspective. The next one would be Sam, her lover and guard. We never got around to writing Sam. At first it irked me not to continue a plan I started. My wife is very much the opposite. She is always happy to let something go if it doesn’t serve her. I think a lot of us need more of that, at least I did. Leaving this behind was good overall. I’ve written a lot of shorts since then and come up with a lot of ideas I like a lot more.

I’ve thought about this one in the back of my mind over the years though. If this one was to continue then I think it would just be a collection of shorts all around the same event, ‘the assassination of the Traekyne King’. It wouldn’t be a full novel. I’d expand Lelana’s story until she dies or escapes and then go to Sam. Then, maybe, Reneer. And I think it would be interesting to end it with the Traekyne King’s perspective. It wouldn’t be enough for a book, but I think it’d be an interesting story that could have interesting things unfolding upon each retelling of events with different viewpoints. I’ve come up with ideas for what happens, but nothing fully fleshed out.

The idea of writing from different perspectives is really fun. The Poisonwood Bible is a perfect example of doing this well. I highly recommend that book for anyone that hasn’t read it yet.

Anyways, before I go off on any tangents, I’ll stop here. Enjoy.

…

The Trinity War Chronicles

The lookout stood gazing down the valley from atop of the hill. The sun was in full force today. Using his hand to shield his eyes, he barely saw me running top speed toward him, sword drawn as I charged. The sun reflected off the blade, momentarily blinding him. It gave me all the time I needed to find his throat. His hand dropped from his brow as his body slowly rolled down the hill leaving behind a trail of blood. “The watchman is out,” I whispered to the half dozen hand-picked assassins trailing.  

The camp in the valley was in the middle of a celebration, having just won the battle against my kingdom. My father’s head was mounted high atop a pike in the center of a dance circle. There was no time to clean the blood off my sword, running into the enemy camp with six of what was left of the Royal Xanderian Guard. My father’s death I could easily live with, the late King of Xander loved the bottle more than he loved his kingdom. The Traekyne could have my father but it would be unforgiveable to let them enslave my people. It is a suicide mission but my life is all I have left to give.

“Time for Phase 2. Reneer, you’re with me and Sam will take the four of you to free the prisoners. Any questions?”

“None here. We will be waiting for you in the Palm Forest with the surviving captives when this is over.” Sam said to me while pleading with his eyes.

My heart ached for Sam. He wasn’t the strongest or the most skilled but he was the most clever war strategist and that is why I put him in charge of saving our people. I was about to kill the Traekyne King and I had no fears except for Sam. He had to lead the people through the Palm Forest and across the sea to freedom. He couldn’t wait for me.

“Once you have freed the prisoners run straight to the boats, do not wait for us,” I said trying to make it clear to everyone that Reneer and I knew we were going to die for the last of our Xanderians.

“Give me your hands,” I commanded. All seven my team formed a circle and placed their left hands in the middle.

“Obsala contrata enumu trecarta,” a purple glow emitted from the hands of my warriors. That slowly faded, leaving each of them with impenetrable skin on their left arm. A concealed shield, it was the most powerful protection spell I knew. It would be the last thing I could do for them.

I watched as Sam lead his team down the hill as Reneer assessed his weapons before we headed for the Traekyne King’s tent.

“Not much 4 goodbyes are you Lelana?” Reneer smirked.

“We have a mission. Let’s go.” I knew what he meant, ‘not one kiss before we all go off on this impossible suicide mission?’ But I couldn’t be distracted, Sam and I never had a true opportunity at romance because I was Princess and next in line to rule and he was just another guard. It was never meant to be.

Reneer and I head towards the back of the camp where King Grae of Traekyne tent is situated. We take down two servants and quickly change into their garments. I head into the tent from the front with a large jug of wine while Reneer waits patiently outside. Immediately I’m approached by a guard.

“What is that you’re holding?” he demands.

“A jug of wine for the King,” I say as humbly as can while bowing my head.

The guard grabs the jug and takes a generous swig. “Where is this from? It doesn’t taste like Traekyne wine.”

“My father confiscated it from the traitors, he thought if I brought it to the King it would please him greatly.”

The guard looked me up and down, normally I would cut off his manhood for being disrespectful but instead I sheepishly smile.

“His highness will be very pleased with what you’ve brought him.”

The guard escorts me into the tent, past the people dancing and the buffet and straight to King Grae.

“What is this?” King Grae asks.

“This maiden has for you the finest Xanderian wine, given to her by her father.”

“Your father is a very wise man,” King Grae says licking his lips.

“Thank you, your most gracious King. My father believes wine and dance feed the soul.” I say as I lean towards him exposing my breast.

Raising his eyebrows, “My my, I must say my soul is hungry after a long victorious battle. Would you nourish my soul with a performance perhaps?”

“Nothing would bring me greater joy your highness.” Handing off the jug to the guard I make my way to the dance floor. The King has waved to the minstrels and now the room is silent and the floor is empty except for me. Starting with a deep curtsy I grab the hem of my skirt and lift to reveal my bare legs as I stand. Slowly moving from side to side I begin to dance. As the music picks up speed I whisk my skirt into a frenzy as I twirl closer to the King. His mouth is fully open with labored breath. I spin towards him and unsheathe my knife behind the veil of my skirt. The music stops because the blood from King Grae’s traechea is spitting out over my face, my hand, and my blade lodged in his throat.

The silence is broken with the sounds of swords connecting behind me. Reneer is trying to make his way towards me and has already taken down two guards.

“Go!” he screams at me. I blink away the blood dripping down my face and make my way to the back of the tent, Reneer close behind.