Possessing the Grimstone - By John Grover Page 0,5
The way the clouds lit up was something I had never seen.”
“Well, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t natural.”
###
In the top of the tallest black spire, Sooth-Malesh slammed his grimoire onto his pedestal. Dust puffed into a cloud from beneath the book. He flipped it open, and turned each page of parchment. He studied the various energy fields of magic, and looked over the after effects and the residual energy. He re-read about the mist and the legends surrounding it. He then found the page with the most powerful magical item of all: the Grimstone. The only one of its kind, a war that almost tore the fabric of their world apart was fought over it. The stone could not be destroyed, nor could it be kept in storage by any living thing. Thus, the First People managed to break it into three pieces, and had hid them in secret, scattered throughout the world.
Only one thing could get through that mist: magic from the Grimstone. Even one piece of the stone could probably do it. It had to be what was attempting to break through the misty wall. Once whatever it was got through, then what?
Sooth-Malesh shut the book. He ran to his crystals and laid them on the work table before him. He wove a withered hand over them, but nothing happened. He lit a candle and gazed into its flame. No vision came.
“I’m being blocked,” he said with trembling lips. He was even more alarmed than before.
Chapter 2
Pim stood in a circle with his friends. He dropped a spiny shell to the ground—the husk of a bristle back coon—and kicked it.
Ono dashed over and kicked it as it spun in mid-air. Arc leapt behind him and caught the shell, passing it back to Pim. It overshot him, but the young Wivering flew like the wind across the grass, and caught it before it hit the ground.
He rejoined his friends as they bounced the prickly shell from one to another.
“So, you’re feeling better?” Ono asked.
“Never better,” Pim said. “Thanks for the tree branch.”
“It was nothing. Better luck next time.”
“Oh, I’ll make it all the way next time. I was halfway there.”
“Yeah, okay,” Arc said.
“You don’t believe me?”
“Not saying that, it’s just, well, the river bested you.”
“For now. I’ll prove it to both of you. Not only will I master the water, but I’ll leap over the trees.”
They both laughed.
“Pim, stick to kicking the bristle back shell. It can’t kill you when you fail.”
“I won’t fail. I’ll show you both.”
The shell flew right at his face, and Pim ducked. It flipped a few times, then hit the ground, skidding to a halt.
“You lose!” Arc called.
Pim waved him off and chased after the shell. Nearby, Jun of the warrior sect walked past the shell. Pim caught up to him, and stopped him as he scooped up the shell. “Hey, Jun, wait a moment.”
Jun was a few years older than Pim, but he had joined the sect at the age of eighteen, the same age Pim was about to reach.
“Yes?”
“I was wondering if you could teach me to use a sword… to defend myself, and others.”
“Why? I’m on duty, checking the perimeter.”
“I know, I mean when you’re off duty. I was thinking of joining the warrior sect when I turn eighteen. It’s only a short time away, now.”
“I don’t know, Pim. I don’t think your parents would like it. They’d be angry with me for teaching you when you’re not ready, yet.”
“I am ready. They just don’t understand. They’re very old fashioned.”
“I don’t know.”
“Please, Jun, the sect needs all the members it can get. It’s still very small.”
“Alright. Meet me by the White Oak in two hours.”
“You’ve got it! Thank you.”
“Hey, Pim, c’mon! Are you playing, or what?” Ono yelled.
He patted Jun on the shoulder, then turned and kicked the shell in Ono’s direction.
###
As promised, Jun met Pim by the White Oak. The tree was on a hillside to the rear of the village, away from prying eyes.
Jun carried two swords; he threw one to Pim. “Okay, start by raising the sword, keeping it parallel with your body. Use it to keep your opponent at bay. Keep your eyes on them and try to anticipate their moves. Counter each strike as you look for an opening. When they make a mistake, take your opportunity.”
“What if they don’t make a mistake?”
Then you’re dead.”
“Okay.”
“That is what the parrying and blocking is for: you want to keep them off balance. But that’s a little aggressive for