THE BATTLE MAIDEN edited
this is the first three pages of the rough draft of my novel hope you like (got suggestions/comments: comment below and let me know what you think)
the title is refering to something more commonly know known as a valkerie (norse mythology)
The Battle Maiden
As I fought my way through enemies I remembered what my mysterious telepathic correspondence had said; "beware of the dragon blade. It will be tempting to accept its power but if you cannot overcome the toll that is taken from you mentally and physically then you will lose yourself and your unintentional sacrifice will unleash the greatest natural disaster in the brief history of this world and unleash the great ghost army of Orin upon mankind" as I let this sink in, it still not making any sense, I made a wild slash with Backslasher and Wolfclaw and took out most of the enemies in my path.
As I blocked an overhead blow struggling to keep my head intact I saw just beyond this guy was a river. Even more important was what was on the river, anchored to a tree was a merchant ship about to set sail if I could get to it I could make it to the ship just as its getting underway I could offer to help on the ship in exchange for safe passage.
By my calculations I need to get past this guy right about...."NOW!" I screamed as I landed a wild kick to his knees and fled to the ship and got to it just as it set sail. As I jumped on I heard the captain give an order that sounded strangely like he was ordering the crew to kill me.
Oh I forgot; let me pause this story right here before I die and tell you about myself. My name is Trinak Okritrn and this day happens to be fifth full moon night on the fifteenth year of the reign of King Seradar Okritrn's reign (I'm not so sure on how or even IF were related.) My parents died shortly after I was born and picked up off the street by an old knight that retired just before the old king died so I don't know how old I am, I was little when Seradar took his throne so that would put me at about twenty five.
Anyway, back to me about to die. "WAIT!" I screamed in desperation, "I only wanted to get a ride to the capital." The crew kept coming and in a last ditch effort I blurted out "I'll work for transport!" and prayed that the idea of a little less workload would get them to stop their advance. It worked. As it so happened one of their men had been stabbed and robbed the day before.
The next three months went by painfully on deck. With captain Alonji it was learn FAST or die. The first day on deck I nearly got my head cleaved off as the central of the three masts turned. The only thing that saved me was the calm as always voice in my head that told me to roll left and just as I did the mast ripped the sleeve off my shirt. I know you think I'm crazy but this voice-angel-whatever-ya-call-it thing has saved my life on numerous occasions.
Despite my rather numerous near death experiences aboard this fine vessel (aptly named the sea barrel) I grew from it both physically and mentally. My six-pack was even more toned and could be seen through almost any shirt. I was all muscle no fat from lack of food and too much exercise. I had thighs and calves as muscular as a triathlon competitor with biceps and triceps to match.
Talking with the crew gave me a new perspective on being a sailor. I used to think sailors were limited to thieves, run-aways, gays, and people who couldn't afford their own food. As I talked with the crew I found out that Gregory, the first mate, had five kids and a ill sister to provide for so he took up sailing under Han-Xiq (hawn-sheek) five years ago and was now his first mate and longest partner. Steelfist (no one knew his real name) was a kid and saw a ship get robbed by pirates and swore he would protect a ship one day. At six foot eight and probable four hundred pounds of pure muscled mass I was pretty sure he probably punched a hole in the hull of an enemy ship to get that name. Han-Xiq was thrown out by his parents because he didn't want to be a soldier.
As we were pulling into port near the main trade city we saw the huge battle raging. The merchants, city guard, and even some loading hands were fighting against marauders, pirates, thieves, and mercenaries that had banned together and from the looks of things the fight wasn't going well. The pirates were bombarding military ships with flaming arrows and javelins to keep help from coming. The mercenaries were keeping the city guard from reaching the battle area, keeping them at least a good half league away. Marauders were attacking the merchants on the ships and on land while thieves took good from the ships and passed them over a series of rowboats to the pirate ships.