Keepers of the Ancient Wisdom (Kalie's Journey Book 3) by Saidak Sandra

Author:Saidak, Sandra [Saidak, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Uffington Horse Press
Published: 2014-11-23T16:00:00+00:00

In an empty wheat field outside of the town, Kariik and his strongest warriors were busy matching skill with a small group of Stonebridge’s trainees.

And everyone lacking more pressing business was watching.

Once again, Kalie had to admire her partner. Hunger and exhaustion, as well as the shock of such an overwhelming defeat, had weakened the warriors to the point they were well matched with the less experienced townspeople. Kariik wisely chose the same number of his men as there were locals to fight them—about ten for each side. And, Kalie noticed, one of the contenders was Kelvin.

The crowd parted as Riyik made his way to her side. “Most of the warriors too ill or badly injured to fight tried to leave their beds in the temples to come here when they heard about it,” he told her. “So Kariik insisted on a small demonstration. Ten against ten. He even promised the men he would choose randomly, since his ten best would not be needed.”

“Smart,” Kalie agreed. “He won’t insult anyone, or start feuds between the men, and can save face if any happen to lose.”

“Which is just about to happen.” Riyik pointed.

Since the newly arrived horses would need many days of rest and care to be of any use to the warriors, all of the mock battles were fought on foot, with blunted spears and daggers. Swords, still newly arrived among the nomad tribes, were not present, since few remained among the surviving warriors of Aahk, and the new warriors of Stonebridge had yet to learn their use.

Kalie stared in amazement as two heavily padded, helmeted opponents circled each other with spears. The smug arrogance had already faded from the face of Kariik’s man as he panted and struggled to disarm the local fighter who had barely broke a sweat. The experienced warrior leapt in a sudden lunge that would surely have injured his opponent despite the padding—if it had connected. Instead the local fighter, moving fast enough to impress the entire crowd, leapt to the side, and knocked the spear from the foreigner’s grip. Then his spear connected with the unarmed man’s throat.

No one disputed the outcome. Kariik and many of his men even applauded. When the victorious fighter offered a hand to help his opponent up, it was accepted. The two removed their helmets, and for a moment Kalie hoped to see a woman’s face appear on the winner. But it was a man, a farmer she was slightly acquainted with, which was probably just as well.

Several more bouts followed. The warriors from the east, trained since birth in the art of war, won most of them. But not all. And Kalie could see the effect it was having on the men of Aahk. A few more of these, she thought, and respect would begin to grow. And from that, their salvation might follow.

Things only threatened to turn ugly once while she was there. Sirak, now nearly thirteen years old and a fighter of great skill, defeated a young warrior a few years older.

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