An Unexpected Hero by Rhett C. Bruno & Jaime Castle

Author:Rhett C. Bruno & Jaime Castle [Bruno, Rhett C. & Castle, Jaime]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2024-10-15T05:00:00+00:00

NAME: Arkadios

OCCUPATION: Grand Master

RACE: Wellick (male)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Paralyzing Strike, Fists of Fury, Dagger Feet.

WEAPONS: His hands are registered as lethal weapons.

“Grandmaster Arkadios!” Curr exclaimed. He lumbered closer and bowed at the waist. A ridiculous sight to be sure.

“You have returned, Brother Curr.” Arkadios offered only a nod to Curr’s full bow. “Is this wellick with you?”

Curr slapped me on the back. “He is, indeed! Danny is searching for a purpose in life, and I believe he could prove to be a worthy guild member after a great deal of training.”

Arkadios put his pipe away and approached me. He wasn’t as big as Curr, but his muscles had muscles. And his one dark eye scoured me like I was fresh meat at market. He lifted my pink cloak and let it fall unceremoniously. Grabbing my chin, he turned it side to side. Then, he blew in my eye, causing me to flinch.

“Jumpy,” he said.

I stayed quiet, though inside, I was exploding.

Of course, I was jumpy. Who wouldn’t be if someone did that to them?

Curr wouldn’t have shied away.

Arkadios flicked one of my biceps.

“Scrawny.” He looked to Curr. “I remember when a young braug stumbled through my doors, tired of shedding blood for a king he didn’t know in a war he didn’t understand. You vouch for this man?”

“I do,” Curr said without hesitation. That made me feel good. “He defeated a wraith and saved my soul. And he aided in a battle with three wild korken. He nearly died, but⁠—”

“A master is forged by his scars,” Arkadios finished for him. “Yes. Indeed, they are.” His eye returned to scrutinizing me. “Let him be tested, then, to see if he carries the ability to stand amongst our ranks.”

Arkadios walked by, hands folded behind his back.

OBJECTIVE UPDATED:

Pass the Fighters Guild entry test.

It’s finals week, baby. But I don’t think this exam will be multiple choice…

“There’s a test?” I whispered to Curr.

“Of course,” Curr said. “Recruits cannot be useless. People all around the land hire guild members to help with situations requiring warriors. What use would a weakling be?”

I swallowed.

Yeah, Danny. Show him what weaklings can do!

“You will be fine!” Curr assured. “Every fighter must start somewhere. I did not wrestle my first boarbear until I was three, for example.”

“Three?”

Oh, but you said braugs can live hundreds of years. Is three like our thirty?

No. Three is like your three.

Who was this killing prodigy I was traveling with?

“Come,” Arkadios instructed.

I looked to Curr, who followed without hesitation. As always, I did my best to keep up.

CURRENT LOCATION:

The Fighters Guild Hall of Balahazia.

The oldest branch of the guild, home to Endwinbart VonHolfensteimeranni, the first council, and the current residence of Grand Master Arkadios—and they are damn proud of it. Be on your best behavior.

The main hall was lined with more beefy stone columns and iron-grated fire pits. Rooms branched off it, within which people trained in plain gray tunics. Instructors led them in one series of moves or another.

One fighter looked half-man, half-bull.

What was that called, a minotaur? Centaur?

He roared, then broke a solid chunk of stone with his head.

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