The Callindra Chronicles Book One - First Quest by Benjamin Fisher-Merritt

Her
connection was stronger than any student he had taught in the past
and while she was in a meditative state she was in complete
control. It was when she attempted to bend the weave to her will
that things went all wrong. There had to be a way to break her
block, before it was too late.
    Leaving his Disciple to her meditation
Glarian walked back to the house, lost in thought. Much to his
surprise there was someone waiting for him outside his house.
    “ Dear Master Sol’Estin. It’s
been far too long.” The man was wearing the green and gold of
Inquisitor and held a wand at the ready. The short sword sheathed
at his side had a ruby on the pommel that seemed to gleam with
inner light. “I’ve been feeling some rather unnerving disturbances
in the Weave and my search leads me here.”
    “ Inquisitor Shojin, it has
been a long time hasn’t it?” Glarian kept his eyes on the other’s
face as he spoke, “Come in for a cup of tea perhaps?”
    “ Sadly no, I must attend to
the business at hand. Where is she?” He hissed, “I know that fool
Thaeran has made a deal with you or been somehow manipulated into
feeding us false information. I know you are teaching that strange
girl who seems to be a hole in the fabric of the Weave although I
cannot imagine to what end.”
    “ A hole in the weave? I
don’t know what you are talking about Shojin.” Glarian said, trying
to buy some time.
    The snap of a breaking branch captured the
Inquisitors attention and Glarian seized the moment to draw Sakar
in a blurring silver arc, running his hand down the blade and
summoning forth a spell. The spell took effect and his enemy began
wandering aimlessly around humming to himself, his mind momentarily
clouded.
    He looked up and saw Callindra standing at
the edge of the clearing, her sword in her hands. Now he saw what
Shojin had seen, her power was turned completely inward and she
appeared as a negative shape against the glow of Weave around
her.
    “ RUN CALLINDRA! They found
me out, you have to run! Get as far away from here as you can,
don’t look back! Find yourself another master to finish your
training, for I won’t be able to do it from here on out. I’m sorry
Callindra; my past has caught up to me but there’s no need for it
to ruin your future. “
    ” I won’t leave you here to
face this alone, I finally feel like I’m worthy to be your
disciple.” Callindra said, her voice wavering between proud and
afraid.
    “ I know you don’t understand
but you must learn to trust your weapon, your magic and yourself.
Until you do you won’t be able to move forward. I don’t intend to
die here, this fool may be more than my equal in magical power but
he’s no match for me with a sword.” When she still didn’t move he
took an amulet from around his neck. The heavy gold cylinder that
hung from it made it easy to throw towards her.
    “ This is the sigil of a
Blade Mage Callindra, what we call a Focus. Go forth from this
place and survive using your wits, your magic and the edge of your
blade. Return in a year and I shall give you the sigil I have
forged for you and reclaim my own.”
    Her back straightened and she swept her sword
in an elaborate salute. “I will return in one year Master. I will
prove myself and claim my reward.” She sheathed her blade and
turned to run from the clearing, not looking back even when shouts
of pain and explosions of power rang in her ears.
     
     

Chapter 10
     
    Callindra crouched, easing forward carefully
through dead leaves and dry twigs. She had been surviving thus far
on snared rabbits but if she was going to survive the winter larger
game was going to be needed. The deer lowered its tail but its ears
kept twitching, obviously knowing something wasn’t quite right.
    She stilled her breathing, using the
breathing exercises she had learned from Glarian. The deer turned
its head to nibble on a twig and Callindra sprinted forward, sword
in hand. Using him like a wolf would use its fangs;