Splintered Lands by James Tallett

Author:James Tallett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, short story, epic fantasy, end of the world, postapocalpytic
Publisher: James Tallett

We hope you’ve enjoyed these Deepwood Publishing stories. As part of our mission to give readers the best of up and coming fantasy and science fiction, the following pages contain a glimpse into Chloddio, the second full length novel from James Tallett and Deepwood Publishing.

CHLODDIO

Chloddio’s hammer crashed against the shield of his instructor, a muffled thud as the training weapon impacted solid metal. He followed with a sweeping strike, coming in high and from the right, aimed at the side of Cavrel’s head. The instructor’s shield rose as he ducked slightly, and the blow glanced away, momentum carrying the war hammer above his helmet. Chloddio threw his strength into reversing the strike, pulling it into a backhand aimed at Cavrel's skull. A frown spread across the instructor’s features as his weapon struck true, the cloth-swathed war hammer slamming into the haft of Chloddio’s weapon, knocking it flying.

“You are a dead man Chloddio. Again. A sweeping side-arm blow with a war hammer? I could have stepped inside and gutted you. I just chose to knock it high and then disarm you. It’s flashier, and it proves a point. Either way, you're dead. You use great swinging strikes, building from your shoulder. I'm not a rock, and I will not stand still while you mine me. Those spikes,” Cavrel pointed at the top of Chloddio’s weapon, lying in the dirt, “are not for decoration. Use them to thrust or backhand, a change of direction, anything aside from your continual hammering. Subtlety in combat will save your life.”

Cavrel paused. “Another thing: This is a battle, not a show. You flourish. You wave your weapon above your head as if that will inflict damage. It's costing you here in the training ring, and it will cost you more when someone doesn't fight fair and kicks you in the groin.”

He sighed. “Gather your gear, put it back in the armoury and go home. I’ll get nothing further from you today. Remember to be here by sun-up tomorrow. We’re working on squad tactics and marching.”

“Yes sir. By sun-up.” After picking up his hammer and shouldering his shield, Chloddio jogged to the armoury and handed the tools of his new trade to the weaponsmith who prepared them each morning. Two assistants helped the recruit out of his heavy practice armour, thick padding overlaid with metal and stone layers, added weight to make real armour feel light and free.

One of them tapped the cuirass. “You should be more careful with this, you know. It's getting more costly to repair it.”

“More costly? Why so?”

“Well, you hear there's been a mine collapse or two? Seems with those mines shut down, the price of ore and ironstone is going up. Quite a bit.”

Chloddio knew the mine collapses all too well. He had been the lead safety engineer at the first, tasked with examining the tunnels and caverns, and shoring them up when there was any danger. And he'd failed. A large fall had sealed the entire mine, killing everyone inside, despite all he could do.

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