Sorry for the very late update. Life got in the way, don't you hate it when that happens? Anyway, I'll try to post the next tales more frequently. Lastly, I'd like to thank all my editors who have gone out of their way to help me out. Thanks, guys!
As dawn light rays pierced through the Thurtgen's thick forest canopy, a loud clash of steel echoed through the bows of its ancient trees. Collisions of metal on metal paused the chirping and frolicking of the woods' many denizens, making them turn to the clearing where three newcomers to the Thurtgen made camp.
"Your defenses are better," Romica said. "And your attacks are more fluid. I'm impressed!"
"I had a very good teacher." Harl smiled. "Want to see what else I've learned?"
Harl then lunged forward with his large bastard sword, its emerald sheened blade shooting for the swordswoman's chest. At the last instant the half-elf sidestepped the attack, parrying the giant's blade as she did. Romica quickly followed up with her own attacks, slashing at Harl with both her longsword and dagger. The half-ogre responded by meeting her strikes with his own parrying blade and a stout round shield.
"Sneaky ogre!" Romica laughed as she withdrew, her blades still raised in challenge. "Remember what I said about your mouth doing your fighting."
"It's mostly useless once the swords have started swinging," Harl said, drawing back into a defensive stance. "Unless you can back it up of course. I can."
"We'll see," Romica smirked.
As the last word left her lips, Romica sent her blades into a flurry of deft thrusts and slashes, her leather-armored form twirling in an elegant display of swordplay, where every swipe and stab was like a rhythmic dance of deadly intent.
Harl, though, was up to her challenge, fending off Romica's attacks with his shield and blade. His techniques weren't as pretty as the half-elf's, but they were efficient, focused and relentless, enabling the towering warrior to key in on every move the swordswoman made.
The giant even matched the half-elf's nimble motions stride for stride, pressing his mail-clad body into a mobility unheard of from one so big. Soon enough the ogre warrior was putting Romica on the defensive, her gliding movements becoming hard-pressed to keep up with Harl's unrelenting attacks.
'She's left herself open,'
Harl smiled to himself, seeing a tired Romica drop her blades dangerously low.
'I've got her now!'
Once more, Harl thrust his bastard sword forward anticipating a quick win. It was then that Romica gave the giant warrior a big smile.
With an inhuman speed, Romica raised her blades in a cross parry and caught Harl's sword as it descended upon her. In one swift motion the half-elf guided the massive weapon downwards and used the giant's momentum to impale the blade into the dirt.
"Oh shit!" Harl cried out, finding himself leaning awkwardly forward and completely open. Romica, meanwhile, had regained her elfin grace, using the half-ogre's body as a pivot to elegantly twirl herself around the giant - ending up at his exposed rear.
"Ow!" Harl cried out, feeling the flat of the fey-blooded warrior's sword slap his ass. "Damn it!"
***
"Bravo!" a voice said from trees. "Another foe falls to the Swords of Vendula!"
"And quite convincingly I might add," Romica said, bowing to the clapping halfling coming out of the brush.
Harl was crestfallen. Ever since the storm broke, Romica had been giving him lessons in sword fighting. He had yet to win a match against the half-elf but Harl believed he was improving - - until now.
"As for you, my distinguished opponent," Romica said, sheathing her blades and loosening her dueling leathers. "Do you know why your ass is sore?"
"No patience," Harl answered, sheathing his own sword. "I got too eager for a win and didn't even consider you might have been baiting me into a trap."
"He seems to listen and comprehend," Sera said as she walked towards them. "Yet his butt is still red!"
"It's a nice butt though," Romica added. "One I wouldn't mind slapping again."
Harl felt his face turn crimson just as the two adventurers started to laugh.
"I'm going to brush up on a few sword drills," Harl said, slinking away.
"Oh cheer up, Harl," Romica said as she patted him on the back. "It's not all grim"
"I lost," Harl replied. "Again."
"But you've always learned from it," The half-elf reminded him. "And I have to admit I thought my arms would pop out from fending you off."
The compliment put a smile on the giant warrior's face, letting him straighten up with pride.
"That's the Harl we know," Sera said. "Now, before you get too pleased with yourself, there's a little matter about payment."
"Really?" Harl asked. "You know there are a lot of other ways I can repay ..."
"Our original arrangement is just fine, thank you," Romica interrupted as she walked over to one of the trees. "And there's no way to get out of it."
"Another history lesson on Harl Caddick?" Harl asked.
"Forgive us if we find you so fascinating!" Sera chimed in.
After joining her half-elf companion at the clearing's boundary, Sera and Romica sat themselves down among the large tree roots and motioned to their ogre companion. "Come on now Harl. A deal is a deal."
"All right, Romica," Harl said, plopping himself down before the two adventurers and setting his sword and shield aside. "What do you want to know?"
"Let's see," Romica said, rubbing her chin. "We know about you being an heir of a Galtican royal house. And that your mother was sold to the Drow by her brothers."
"And how the Dark Elves were this close to turning your mother into spider food," Sera added. "Before your father, Geral, Saved her."
"I still can't get my head around the idea of your father being a sorcerer!" Romica exclaimed. "A spell casting ogre, Sera, can you believe it?"
"He was conceived on a fairy mound," Harl interjected. "His father gave my Grandmother more than just pregnant belly. It was a
'magical' moment
as the bards would say, or so I'm told."
"Well, his magic-using sure came in handy with that Drow priestess," Sera said. "Scorched before the witch knew anything was up -- brilliant!"
"So you want me to talk about my Mother's escape again?"
"No, not now," Romica told Harl. "I'd really like to know about what you're packing."
"Right!" Sera leered. "What you're packing. That long, hard ..." "She means your sword," Romica interrupted. "What is the story behind that blade?"
"You mean Warflame?" Harl replied.
Harl then unsheathed his bastard sword, raising its ramrod-straight blade upwards. The sword looked flawless in the sunlight and, despite its use, no nick or scratch could be seen. What mesmerized the adventurers most was the weapon's signature emerald sheen, glinting off the sun's bright rays.
"Damn finest blade ever," Romica cooed. "With a hue not seen since the age of the river kingdoms!"
"And I thought I laid it on thick," Sera said.
"I appreciate fine weaponry," Romica answered.
"So did Skrogg Manbane apparently," Harl added.
"Wait, you mean that sword is one of the Tools of Manbane?" Sera asked. "The weapons forged by the fire giant Jarl of Skull Crown himself?"
"Looks like someone has been listening to the bards!" Harl replied, putting down the weapon. "Abelard thought I should be armed for my journey."
