Skyworld Book II

Chapter One - The New Sword's Edge

TWELVE YEARS LATER.

Thirteen year old Gibson Dent whipped his wooden sword across his torso in a speedy confirgation hoping to confuse his opponent.  Then he lunged forward, extending his right leg in the process and driving the mock-blade in a straight thrust over his knee.  Unfortunately all it met was air as his dueling partner had the ungracious habit of getting out of the way at the last possible moment.  Then, before the lanky, brown-skinned prince,  officially christened Gyb’Son of Corveir, realized he was vulnerable.  Sure enough the tall, lithe swordsman in captain’s fatigues, slapped his own training sword down, knocked the boy’s aside with little effort and sent his own to strike the lad dead center of his breast padding.  The boy let out a cry and fell onto to his butt, his feet splayed out before him.

“Are you alright?” First Commander Menin Tand asked, genuine concern in his voice.  Although a career military type with no wife and family of his own, the aide to the Skymarshal of Meland, nonetheless related the gangly youth like a favorite uncle.  They were that close and under the specific wishes of the skymarshal, Tand had become the boy’s personal swordmaster.

“Oh, I’m just fine,” Gibson came back, as he slipped his left hand beneath the thick padding vest and began messaging his bruised chest.  “That’s only the fifth time you’ve knocked me on my butt like that.  Without any trouble at all.  Am I that bad?”

Tand unhooked his own vest and let it drop to the grass while a bemused chuckled escaped his lips.  “No, no.  Really, young prince, you mustn’t think that at all.  It takes years to learn the intricacies of sword fighting.  Not just a few months.”

The commander, tinges of gray hair touching his temples, offered his free hand and helped pulled the lad to his feet.  “If you don’t give up and keep paying attention to your lessons, you’ll learn.  You have the agility and natural balance.  Just like your father.”

The mention of his father, Gideon Dent, formerly of the planet Earth, made the boy’s eyes swell with pride.  “But will I ever be as good as him, Tand?  Tell me the truth?”

The officer laughed and slapped his pupil on the arm.  “Patience, young prince.  Nothing comes fast, if it is to have true weight and meaning in one’s life.  Your father came to our world a skilled fighter, to be sure, but it took him years to hone his skills with the swordmasters of Meland and Grandar.  He would be the first to admit that.”

“I know you’re right, sir.  My father has told me the same things many times.  It’s just that I want him to be proud of me.”

“He is, lad.  Believe me, your father is well aware of all your accomplishments both in school and on the academy training grounds.”

“I know that..”

“But..?”

“But..I just wish we could spend more time together.  That’s all.”

“Being a Skymarshal is not an easy task.  Besides, you are being a tad bit unfair, aren’t you?  Gideon tries to spend as much time with you as his duties allow.  And I, as his First Commander, know that all too well.”

“You’re making me feel guilty of the time I do spend with him.”

“That was not my intent.  You are smart enough to know how busy your father is but allowed your love for him to color that awareness.  Even more so, what with the Festival of Champions about to begin.  His duties have tripled.”

At the mention of the international games, Gibson remembered what tober is was.  “Yikes, I almost forgot.  The delegation from Grandar should be arriving this today, shouldn’t it?”

“Affirmative.  Your father had me up most of the night making sure their accommodations were set.”

A native son of Grandar, Tand looked forward to seeing his old shipmates again, none more so than Skymarshal Na’Thun Cloud, with whom he had served his last post before accepting Gideon Dent’s offer to be his military right arm.  Over the years Tand had seen his home and friends too few times and the aching in his heart was always there, though none would ever see it.

“And E’Thun is coming, right?”

“Yes, young prince.  And I am going to guess he is as anxious to see you as well.  Promise me, on your honor, the two of you will not get into any mischief durng the games.”

Gibson made a sour face.  All too easiy he recalled how he and E’Thun had accidently loosed the mooring lines on a weathered old frigate and caused it to float into harbor without a crew nearly toppling the tower of the royal palace.  His mother, Queen Althea had barely saved his hide from his father’s wrath.  Up until then, Gideon had only seen his father’s anger when directed to incompetent sailors.  Having it directed at him was not an experienced he wanted to repeat..ever.

“You got it, Commander.  E’Thun and I are just going to pal around and watch the games.  That’s all.  I swear.”

“Very well, see that you don’t forget that pledge.  Now come along.  We should both go and clean up before the Purpleheart arrives.  Your parents will expect you to don your finest clothes for the reception.”

Gibson fell in step beside his teacher as they crossed the palace courtyard where units of the Imperial Cadre were working through more elaborate and sophisticated routines.

“So, do you really think I’ve the makings of a good sword fighter?”

“Yes, but temper your enthusiasm with restraint and if you forget everything else I’ve ever taught you, remember this old warrior’s adage.”

Gibson looked up at the tall man, completely attentive.

“A new sword’s edge is often more dangerous to its wielder than its foe.”

“I don’t get it...”

Tand looked down at the puzzled brown face and shrugged.  “Don’t go cutting yourself with your own blade.”

“Ah, right.”

Still, going up the marble steps to the main foyer, Gibson thought for a wise old saying, it was really dumb.

End Of Chapter One