Snippets

Snippet 2 - From Book 2: The Bloody Diamond

☼ ELENA ☼

I moved silently down the stairs and past the drunkards sleeping on the tables and floors. Stepping out into the fresh air, the chill nipped at my nose, the sunlight barely tipping over the horizon. But there, off to the side of the inn, was Cody. He was dressed once again in his training outfit, his breath visible, and he had one sword unsheathed, raised above his head. I quietly made my way toward him. I was only about five feet away when I realized that the sword was lower than before. My breath caught in my throat. He was performing a Seelyu, but at such a slow pace, it was as if he wasn’t moving.

His eyes were closed, and I flinched when he suddenly spoke. “Were you looking for me, Elena?”

“Yes. I was worried when I awoke, and you were gone.”

He smiled slightly, his eyes still closed. “I do this every morning. You just woke up sooner today.”

I had Sodom to thank for that.

“Do I mind if I watch you? I’ve never seen such a perfect Seelyu.”

A snort escaped his lips, the breath visible as it floated away. “That, is thanks to my father. And yes, you can watch. You could even join me if you’d like.”

I shook my head. “I’d rather watch for now.”

“If you must.” My cheeks flushed but fortunately, he kept his eyes closed. I then found a comfortable spot on a barrel and watched as Cody moved through the Seelyu.

“Which move are you practicing?”

“The dancing spider.”

“Hmm…I don’t know that one.”

Cody smirked. “You wouldn’t. It was a move only my father knew.” His movements began to speed up. “My father would make me practice these every morning since I could lift a sword. I abhorred it. If I did even one spot too fast, he would make me restart from the beginning.” The sword cut through the air, faster and faster with his every word.

“Then, when he died, I couldn’t even touch a sword. What good was it? When it didn’t save him?” He spat out the words, as if the pain was still raw. Perhaps it was. “But then after two years of that, Jake knocked some sense into me.” The sword became a blur and Cody’s feet danced across the ground. Then the sword struck the wood next to me, Cody’s arm outstretched, sweat glistening on his forehead, his brown eyes filled with what I could only describe as power. “Now I never miss a day.”

I glanced at the sword and then back at him, breathless. “That- that was incredible.”

Barely breathing hard, Cody grabbed a small towel from the ground, wiping the back of his neck. “Thanks. Sorry if I scared you at the end.”

I frowned at his words but then looked back his sword, embedded in the wood next to me. My eyes went wide. “Faher’s sake, Cody. Did you really have to throw it?”

A wonderful laugh escaped his lips. “No but, where’s the fun in that?”

“What if you had missed?”

He scoffed. “Me? Miss?”

I struggled to find my words when Samantha’s voice came from the inn’s door. “Cody, Elena, you better come get your hot breakfast before Lisa eats it all!”

“Coming Samantha.” I hopped off the barrel and turned to Cody. “Will you teach me how to do that?”

Cody yanked his sword from the wood, sheathing it in one fluid movement. “I think I can teach you something.”

Snippet 1 - From Book 1: The Power Within

♠ CODY ♠

I crashed through the trees, the branches slashing at my face and arms, but all I could focus on was the screams. Last month, three students almost died, and it wasn’t going to happen again. Not if I could help it. Cawing came from above and I caught a glimpse of red and yellow feathers above the trees. I yelled up through the noise. “What do you see, Adamson?”

He swooped low, his golden eyes scanning. “Head northeast, young knight. There’s a lot of fighting over there.”

“Any Syprents?” I didn’t care about any other creatures.

“It is too soon to tell.” With powerful beats of his wings, he flew ahead, and I followed, trying to keep his feathers in sight. Suddenly, I broke into a clearing. A black forge was in the center, surrounded by students fighting a horde of Skelees. I scowled at the sight.

Skelees were ugly creatures. Born from the skeletons of other creatures, no one knew what made them come to life. One thing was certain though. They lived to kill, and they were good at it. The Skelees of undead humans and elves used bone bow and arrows to impale their victims, while the animal Skelees of wolves and horses attacked with tooth, claw, and sheer power. I had never seen this many in one place though. They were known to be more solitary creatures.

Adamson flew past the clearing, and I moved to follow, not wanting to waste my time here, when a Halfling Goblin boy screamed and fell to the ground, an arrow protruding from his stomach. A wolf Skelee turned, staring at the boy with its empty eye sockets, and leapt, teeth snarling.

My twin swords sliced through the air, cutting through the wolf’s front legs at the knee joints. The wolf crashed into the ground, mud and rain splattering from the impact, but immediately it began to pull itself closer, snapping at my legs. I twirled my blades and brought them down through the wolf’s skull and pinned it to the ground. It squirmed and tried to claw with stubby front legs, but I held firm, and a moment later, the entire Skelee broke apart and dissipated into dust. I yanked my swords out of the ground and spat.

The Halfling Goblin pointed behind me. “Watch out!”

I ducked and spun, an arrow whizzing over my head. I dashed toward the elf Skelee, swords ready, when I noticed movement to my right. The hairs on my arms rose. A horse Skelee barreled toward me, and I barely leapt out of the way, dodging its diamond-hard hooves. A bow twanged and I rolled on instinct, mud and rain soaking through my clothes, my breath coming out in gasps. The horse Skelee spun around, preparing to charge again, while the elf Skelee notched another arrow.

I clutched my swords and dashed toward the elf Skelee. His quick arrows would be more hazardous to me than the pounding hooves. I dodged another arrow and slashed upward, knocking the bow form the elf’s hands. It sliced at me with its bony hands, cutting me across the face. I grunted and brought my other sword through its midsection, cutting its legs out from underneath it. It crumbled, but its arms grabbed my legs, and its gaping mouth tried to bite me. I snarled and cut one of its arms off, but the other arm held on tight, cutting into my skin, and its body got caught between my legs, causing me to trip. I rolled and smashed at its head with the butt of my sword. It cracked but did not crumble. Whinnying came from behind me, followed by pounding and sloshing mud. The horse was charging. I slammed my sword into the elf Skelee’s skull again, and this time, it collapsed. I turned around, ready to roll, when suddenly a knife protruded from the horse’s skull. It reared in pain and surprise, cracks spreading across its body.

A hand reached under my arm, pulling me up. “Come on! Get up!”

I stumbled to my feet. “Fancy seeing you here.”

Elena’s brown hair was soaked, sticking to her face, with mud splattered across her clothes. “Did you think I would just let you go and have all the fun?” She held out her hand. “Mind if I borrow one?”

I tossed her my left sword. “Just don’t scratch it.”

Elena deftly caught it and smirked. “I’ll keep that in mind.”  She dashed forward toward the horse Skelee as it struggled toward us, cracks covering its body. The horse reared as Elena came closer, but she ducked the kicking legs and drove the sword deep into the horse’s chest. The entire body collapsed into dust, swirling around Elena as she picked up her throwing knife. She was good. I would give her that.