The Cloak Of Moonlight

Ch. 8: Sword And Sweat

Mazicane recovered almost fully within two weeks, Lovetta Brought her books to keep her occupied. Ariam rarely came by, he seemed to be avoiding her. She didn’t really understand why. Lovetta said he had felt guilty for not being there. She was allowed to get up and walk around the clinic, between Lovetta and Ella she was also allowed two short walks a day. She had been in the hospital almost six weeks when she was released, with orders to continue taking it easy for another week before resuming training. Begrudgingly she accepted.

At least I can get to know Rainstorm, and I can go meet Torsos now. Maze thought. An elf, in these parts, I wonder why. Maze knew there were elves, she had heard stories from her childhood, beautiful humanoid creatures embedded in magic and nature. Tall, graceful, musical, slender beings who could live for centuries. Some of which chose to live life in complete harmony with the forest, shifting into trees themselves. They hid, deep in the woodlands past London and into England.

She made her way to the stable and stood there awkwardly until an Omega directed her to Rainstorms’ stall. She gazed up at the stallion. A beautiful pitch black horse with milky brown eyes stared back. He was majestic, tall and completely muscled. Midnight black from head to hoofs with a long mane and tail. He blew his nose at her and threw his head back his mane flying in a Spectacle of shimmering spirit.

“Whoa there, easy boy.” She cooed to him unlatching the door. He blew softly in response.

“He’s sweet but fiery that one there. Alpha bought him for a personal war horse, He hasn’t got much training yet though, just the Basics.” A Keppa said taking the lead from her hand. “I’m Dolf by the way, 2nd to the current horse trainer Harou, and stable overseer.” Dolf said smiling, He was young, only about 14 himself, she was surprised by this but nodded.

“I’ll go ahead and saddle him for you, the Alpha said you would be dropping by any day now, it's Mazicane right?” He asked, while tying the horse to a post and brushing him down.

“Yes, that’s right. I thought I would take him out for a day trip and return him this afternoon. Since I cannot train with him yet, I figured this would be a good time to get acquainted.” She smiled grabbing a comb and joining him on the mane and tail. They chatted while they groomed and saddled Rainstorm. When they were finished he smiled and bowed gracefully.

“Mazicane I look forward to helping you train, I’m told you will be our top priority once you are ready.”

“Thank you Dolf, I look forward to seeing what you and Harou can teach me.” She curtsied before mounting up and taking off. The sun had just finished peaking over the tree line and the morning was still chilly but had the promise of being a beautiful day.

The ride was long, Rainstorm walked quickly pulling at the bridle to run, he was defiantly spirited and opinionated, he frustrated easily and she had to keep talking him through her plan. When they were far enough away from the village she loosened up to reins and squeezed her heals slightly into his sides. That was all it took, He was off.

He was fast. So fast in fact Mazes’ eyes began to water and she had to grip to saddle with her legs for support, which in return Rainstorm thundered forward. They ran like this for about an hour when she had to fight with him to slow. His neck sweaty, head bouncing roughly up and down with his mouth chomping, clearly angry at being held back.

She talked softly to him patting his slick wet coat, and he eventually calmed. The river was beginning to widen finally. They continued on, Rainstorms head bobbing in rhythm of his gate. She hummed a tune in unison with his head, and watched in mild amusement as his ears flicked forward and backwards catching her notes.

Once the river split into two they crossed. She looked at the sun which hung high in the sky, noon was here. She stood between the roaring currents and called out over them.

“Torsos, Torsos, Torsos.”

There was no reply, she was greeted with only silence. She stood there for about five minutes then she opened her mouth to call out again. She caught a pair of green eyes peering at her behind a tree that made her stop. She c****d her head at it and a meow soon followed. She guided Rainstorm towards it and a black cat took off to the edge of the river, hoping skillfully from rock to rock across. Once it appeared on the other side the cat turned around and meowed again looking up at her. She shrugged and followed it through the forest.

The cat took her in what seemed to be a pattern of circles, stopping to look back and meow every so often. Eventually they arrived at a little hut, where the cat jumped through the window leaving Maze standing there confused. She dismounted and tied Rainstorm to a nearby tree, before shaking she wrinkles out of her dress and smoothing out her hair.

She knocked on the door tentatively. To which there was no reply. She sighed and knocked with more vigor and she heard a call.

“Come in.” She entered, eyes cast down.

“Hello Torsos, I have heard great things about you, can we talk for a moment?” There was no reply she waited and eventually she looked up to see the most beautiful person sitting at a desk. His eyes cast down as he scribbled and mouthed the thoughts he was writing. His jaw perfect and femininely shaped, long blonde straight hair flowing around his slender shoulders, All of his features sharp and pointed. He was just as the tales described. She stared at him a moment before she spoke again a little more loudly.

“You Mustn’t of heard me. Torsos I was told you could help me.”

“I heard you. You asked if you could, not if I could. So the question is only one you can answer Mazicane, Can you talk to me a moment?” Torsos asked sharply looking up at her annoyed, laying down his quill.

“I apologize for the lack of clarity in my words.” Mazicane stuttered confused immediately looking at her feet in response of his gaze and pushing her shoulders forward to appear smaller in a submissive manner.

“You Wolves, always so brainwashed into apologizing and submitting. Where is the backbone of the spirit that embodies you? You never answered my question Mazicane, well can you?

“Y…Yes” She stuttered again caught completely off guard. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting but definitely not this. The cat was perched on the desk studding her intently.

“Then sit.” Torsos stated firmly gesturing at a chair across from him. She sat awkwardly, fiddling with her dress, eyes dancing between his gaze the cat’s gaze and down at her hands, unsure of where to look, waiting for him to speak. There was a taunting mischievousness in Torsos gaze that made her cheeks burn and palms sweat.

“Well Mazicane, you have my attention now pray tell what you will do with it.” he said in a harsh tone. Maze straightened herself in the chair while shaking her chocolate curls back and meeting his eyes with her own. If he wants to play this game then lets play. I am no ones play toy.

“Rutha said I was to come here. She said you would forge me a blade of unequal value to avenge my family.” Mazicane stated in a mater of fact tone.

“Ah, Yes, that’s much better. Direct, I like that. With me cub never cast your eyes down, in our culture it is a sign of weakness, not respect. I do not forge for weakness.”

“Yes Torsos.” Mazicane said, fighting her urge to look at her hands and returned his gaze.

“Good, Now that that’s out of the way. Tell me everything about you, your family, your bloodline, your birthday. I need to know everything.”

Where do I start?” Maze asked sincerely. The cat jumped to her lap and curled up purring softly, Torsos raised an eyebrow at the cat and looked back at Maze.

“The Beginning, why of course.”

So she did. She found herself subconsciously stroking the cat, as she talked about her parents leaving Hemlock Grove and the secrecy around their reasons. She went on to tell about her pup years on the farm and her daily life with her parents. She shared every heartfelt memory, every fear, every tear. She went on to the night of the slaughter. She talked about Ariam and Cathwulf and her trials with transitioning from rouge to Keppa. Along with everything in between. She finished her story with a single tear.

“...That’s why I must avenge my ancestors, those humans robbed me of every memory, every story they hadn't had the chance to share with me.” Torsos seemed satisfied as he studied all the expressions that crossed Mazicanes’ face. The cat would look up at her every so often and c**k it’s head before laying back down pretending not to care. One eye open clearly listening.

“Come now.” He stated, standing up and snapping his fingers. Maze gently picked the cat up and placed it in the chair, patting it lightly as she stood. Torsos mouthed a few words and the room shimmered and transformed. The space widened and the humble little room turned more elegant, the Desk was still sitting in the same place but the wood was revived, darkened into cherry red and the scuffs erased. What was a dull paneled little room became a white cheery space with green vines bordering the ceiling and corners.

She followed him in awe down a hall that wasn't there before, outside to a small clearing. On the edge of the clearing was a small structure with a roof but no walls, inside was a coal forge. Scattered throughout the clearing was various targets, but the center was composed of sand and cleared of everything. He placed a hand over her stomach and another on her shoulder and said a few words in elvish. Her skin glowed blue and a cool sensation flowed through her. He picked up two swords and handed her one.

“That was a healing spell, Although it won’t completely mend the mussels it heals the skin, so you won’t rip open while we spar. In order to forge a sword for your soul I must know how you move with a blade, how you recover from an attack, how you balance, and strike.”

Torsos and Mazicane Spared. Stepping and swinging in unison. Their blades clashing, sparks flew. He moved rhythmically dancing on his toes, pushing and testing her every angle and studding her every facial expression. He danced, unleashing a furry of blows seemingly from all angles at once. They went on for what seemed like hours. Maze had given up trying to be offensive and switched to defensive as her strength dwindled and her sweat pored. She was only able to block about half of his attacks to begin with. By the end she was saving her strength to only block his power attacks. She panted and fell to her knees, sword in front of her tip on the ground, both hands resting on the hilt of the sword and her head hung between them. She was spent, her body screamed and her mouth was dry from breathing so heavily for so long.

Torsos hadn’t even broken a sweat as he stood watching over her. ”You should never touch the tip of a blade to the ground.” He stated

“I… I’m… Sorry” she panted as she tried to stand on weak shaking legs.

“I hope your wolf will lend you strength once she comes.” He frowned at her.

“I’m sure she will. I haven’t been able to train in six weeks, so I’m sure I’m not up to my usual strength either.” Maze said between gulps of air.

“Come inside, I will make some tea before you leave.” He said while handing her a rag.

They walked inside and the cat followed, apparently it had been watching the whole time. Torsos pored her a cup of water which she gulped down and refilled herself a few times. While the tea kettle hung over the fireplace.

“Lux likes you, She doesn’t take an interest in anyone.” He stated calmly.

“Your cat?”

“Trust me, she’s not my cat, she’s her own cat.” He laughed musically. Maze looked over at Lux who was licking her paw ignoring them. How peculiar, that creature. She thought tilting her head towards Lux.

“I hope you don’t intend on wearing dresses when you battle.” Torsos said with a smirk handing her a cup and poring hot green tea into it.

“I wasn’t expecting to spar today.”

“Well, how else will I forge you a personal sword? You still have much to learn and when you are finished with your personal quest come to me, I will teach you.”

They chatted for about an hour about different things. She was intently curious on his culture and customs, for it was a different world then what she was used to. She wondered what it would be like to live in the tree tops and have magic at her fingertips.

“It’s a long ride back to the village, I should get going.” Mazicane said looking out the window as the sun was setting.

“Yes, very well. Your sword will be ready with the new moon next month, I will forge it with steal and magic. We will discuss it further once it is finished.” He smiled, walking her to the door.

“Thank you Torsos. I’m really glad I got the pleasure of meeting you. You have taught me much already.” Maze said with a smile and a curtsy before mounting Rainstorm and leaving. She was exhausted, and was dreading the five hour trip home. But she was also happy, although her muscles screamed and her body ached she knew meeting an elf such as Torsos was a rarity indeed. The fact that he wanted to train her was wonderful on it’s own. Even from her childhood she remembered the stories of elves being unmatched in both sparing and bowman ship. She really was a lucky cub to receive such support and help for her quest. But why me? And if not me then who? She thought riding off into the sunset to her village.