Varheiman Myths: The Dragon And Her Fire

The Mace And The Sword.

Sanlysia traced the mace with a repulsive face. Her detest was very evident. Teis noticed it. That remark had deeply stirred in his stomach. He wanted to speak up, but fear kept him. He had realized by now that the princess wasn’t really a cruel and petty person. She was very passionate about the battle arts. Sanlysia raised her eyebrows at him and asked. ‘Looks like something is happening inside your head. What is it?’

She picked up the mace and pointed at Teis. ‘You want to say something about this? You do seem like a dim person,’ she said.

Teis sighed and straightened himself up. No more looking down at the ground. Instead, he looked straight towards the princess in her eyes and said, ‘my father wielded a mace, your highness…,’ he said without stammering. His voice was firm, ‘and I imagine your father and brother also excelled at mace and swords?’

Sanlysia nodded and smirked. She swung the mace around and bashed it against a pillar where Teis stood. He stood there without flinching. ‘You didn’t flinch, huh?’

He slowly moved to his right, looking at the small dent in the pillar. ‘No, your highness, it seemed that you would miss it anyway. And your blow is weak.’ he said.

The princess smiled. She was impressed and she didn’t hide it. She never hides anything. ‘Looks like you know a thing or two. And yes, I know my blows are weak. Like I said, a mace is for slow-moving, dim people, people with no brains,’ she said again.

‘No, your highness…,’ Teis argued, ‘… mace is for people who are resilient. Who don’t give up. A mace wielder can move mountains. They can shake the earth, yes, they are slow. But wielding a mace is not about speed and stealth. It’s about patience and a perfect blow. One hit is enough to make a victory.’

Sanlysia laughed as she slammed the mace on the floor. ‘Aye, young soldier, pick it up…,’ she said.

Now Teis was shocked again back into his timidness. ‘But, your highness - ’

‘- It’s a command, young soldier.’ She said.

Teis didn’t realize the sweat gathering on his forehead again. ‘But, your highness, I don’t wield a mace,’ he said,

‘Well, your father didn’t teach you?’ Sanlysia picked up her sword and casually swung it around.

Her movements with her short sword were so lethal and almost untraceable. They were so fast they were almost a blur.

Teis clenched his grip around the hilt of his word. ‘No, your highness, he didn’t. I was taught to wield a sword. Not a mace.’

Sanlysia nodded again. ‘Looks like even your father was aware of the imperfection of a mace.’ She taunted.

‘No, princess, a person doesn’t get to choose a mace. A mace chooses the person,’ Teis suddenly regretted retorting.

‘Oh by fire, your tongue is just running out without reins, isn’t it? You are learning to speak up, finally. I’m glad,’ she said.

‘Forgive me princess…,’ Teis looked and gulped down the regret.

‘So your father…, Sanlysia sheathed her sword and tied the scabbard back around her waist. ‘He is a soldier too?’

Teis looked up. Sanlysia saw something in his eyes, something resembling an emptiness but not quite the emptiness. He slowly spoke, ‘Yes, your highness…,’ he licked his lips and spoke again, ‘as was my brother.’

Sanlysia sensed the tension, her eyes crinkled. She knows this story, she’s heard it multiple times and every time this story makes her question her father's judgement and reign. ‘Thank you for your service.’ She said her head hung, or maybe she was just looking at the mace. ‘So your father… went to war?’

Teis nodded. ‘Yes, your highness…,’ he looked at the mace and smiled, ‘… he did, and he sacrificed himself while fighting beside his majesty, your father. And so did my brother.’ he finished.

Sanlysia had only heard of the great war. Everyone whispered about it into the palace walls, nobody dared to speak it out loud. Nobody ever dared to question it. The history was very limited; People just knew a part of it that glorified her father. ‘I am sorry, Teis. For what it is and how it had to end…’ she grabbed the mace and walked close to him, ‘ Here take it, let’s see how much of your father you have in you.’ She smiled.

This was the first time Teis had seen the princess smile so affectionately towards him. He felt a warmth filling him up as he looked at the princess. This time he really looked at her. A rogue strand of her hair just dangling against her right eyes. A rogue tooth, too, coming slightly outward from her perfect smile. Her smile was the only thing that told Teis otherwise about the princess rather than just being somebody skilled at killing.

Sanlysia raisedher brow. ‘What are you looking at, young soldier? Pick up the damn mace. I really don’t like repeating my commands to my subjects,’ she yelled.

And there’s the princess Sanlysia. Teis thought.

‘Uh, but, princess, …’ he shook his head, ‘… I mean your highness, my father didn’t teach me how to wield a mace. Neither did he teach me to swing a sword, but his brother did. He was taught by my father. So he taught me the sword. He would train me with a mace though, while I had the sword.’

Sanlysia blinked, her lips pressed. ‘Oh, I see…,’ she said and lifted the mace. ‘… why don’t you pull your sword then, eh?’ her eyes shone and the smirk on her face was back.

She jumped a few paces back with the mace and lifted it up with both her hands. She put the mace on her shoulder and then swung it over her head, pointing it towards Teis. ‘Are you at least decent with a sword? I’m pretty certain you won’t defeat me in a sword fight, but maybe let’s see if you can in a mace and sword fight. I am not good with a mace anyway.’ She winked.