The Living Sword: Living Sword, #1

By Pemry Janes

Eurik was found adrift by the san and raised by them. Though he had read much about the outside world, he'd never considered leaving home. Not until his teacher revealed what he had inherited from his parents: a living sword, a sentient blade of rare power . . . and with it, the names of his father and mother.

Reluctant to go, yet curious, Eurik sets out to discover who they were, and what happened to them. But is he ready for all the attention his heritage will earn him? Can he survive in a world he has only read about?

The Living Sword has been revised and professionally edited as of November 2019.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pemry Janes
• Release date: Aug 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9781497785908

Book preview

I would like to thank my family for always being there. And I'd like to thank Mary Cain for taking the time to make my writings not only legible, but better.

Chapter 1

The Island

Water bubbled in his ears, drowning out the low rumble of a distant earth tremor. Eurik ignored these familiar sounds in favor of the prey lazily walking across the sea floor. The old crab, one claw dwarfing the other, hadn’t spotted him yet and Eurik moved into position. His bare feet touched the rocky bottom not a moment too soon; his lungs had started to burn.

Eurik connected with the earth chiri flowing through the rock—and through it, with the chiri in the crab’s armor. He closed his fist, and the crab stumbled as its legs no longer obeyed its own commands. A pulse of will locked the creature’s shell in place so Eurik could scoop it up.

Drawing strength of earth up through his feet, as Zasashi had taught him, Eurik pushed off toward the surface. The chiri fled his body the moment his feet lost contact, washed away by the water around him, but it was enough to get him halfway.

His head broke the surface and the spring sun greeted him. Taking several much-needed breaths, Eurik floated for a moment, soaking in the warm light of the sun before he started to swim back to shore. It wasn’t an easy trip with both hands occupied. He didn’t know if he was doing it right since he’d had to make up this whole swimming thing as he went. It was one of several subjects his teachers couldn’t help him with, because unlike Eurik they weren’t human.

In fact, apart from the occasional scholar who wished to use the library, Eurik was the only human living on the island. Everybody else was a san, and despite being surrounded by it, they never ventured into the sea. They couldn’t; their bodies shriveled up in the salt water. It made the fish and other sea life he brought in very valuable to the community.

Stepping out of the water, Eurik glanced at his catch. It had to be a frightening experience, to be trapped in your own body like that. Don’t worry, you’ll be free soon enough. He doubted the crab could understand him, and if it had such understanding then it wouldn’t be comforted by his words, since it would then also know its final destination.

He took another look at the sun. He’d better hurry up. His shift at the library started soon. He didn’t even have time to let himself dry off. Not if he wanted to stop by Hishiho’s to get his new sandals. The old straw sandals had started to fray badly and were the reason for today’s fishing trip.

The cool air chilled his damp skin. Eurik laid his catch down in the sand and gathered up his clothes. Everybody on the island wore the same dress, only differing in the color scheme. Light green trousers and a sleeveless shirt, tied off with a sash. His sash was brown, showing he was adept at Rise of the Mountain.

Not bothering with his footwear, Eurik walked along the beach. An evergreen wall of hishaisin bushes stood between him and the forest that was still waking up from its winter sleep, but there was a path into the trees not far from his fishing spot. By the time Eurik reached Hishiho’s home, he was a lot drier, but a bit colder.

The san was not at home, but the new sandals hung from a peg at the front porch. Before he took them, he eased the crab into the pond next to the home. The wooden cage on the bottom would hold him. Eurik released the crab from one prison into a roomier and wetter one. Only then did he pick up his new footwear, which he put on immediately, before hastening to the library.

The new footwear made walking on the island’s only stone road a lot more pleasant, protecting his feet from its rough, hard surface. He started to warm up again. When Sesoya greeted him, he gave his fellow student a cheerful wave.

How was the water? he asked when Eurik stopped in front of him. A san’s face was mostly immobile: only the lips could move, and their eyes didn’t help either. They were smooth ovals, and sort of looked like one of those gems Zasashi had shown him, an amethyst. It made it hard for Eurik to tell their mood before they opened their mouths, even after all these years. Sesoya’s voice shook with laughter.

The water’s fine. You should join me tomorrow. His reply wasn’t in San, but Linese. His mouth couldn’t make the sounds needed for the San language, nor could his ear pick up every sound that was used in it.

The purple-eyed san held up his hands in a warding gesture. That’s all right—I’ll take your word for it. I had to open for Aisaho and Hohosha, and don’t know how much longer they’ll take.

Eurik nodded in understanding. Standing guard at the sole stone building on the island was a duty bestowed on those students advancing on the Rise of the Mountain. It tested their ability to manipulate earth, as only those who wielded that element could open the door. But even more challenging was opening it for those who wanted to leave, since it was impossible to see or hear what happened inside from the road. So he had to listen to the earth, and pay attention.

Eurik had been doing it for three years now. He’d already advanced to the point where another student should have taken over, but none were available at the moment, and he didn’t mind.

One of the reasons was now coming toward them, his robes making him stand out as much as his pink skin and long graying hair. "Ah, Eurik my boy, good to see you. Hmm, you’re . . . Sesoya, right?" the old scholar ventured.

He couldn’t help but shake his head a little. Patheos is-Ilad had been on the island for over two years now, and still had trouble distinguishing one san from the other. Eurik honestly couldn’t see what the problem was. Sesoya was unperturbed and greeted the human politely in passable Linese.

Patheos, though, seemed very pleased he’d guessed correctly. Ha! I can finally tell you people apart. And just before I leave.

You’re leaving? Eurik asked, dismayed. He’d enjoyed his company. The old man had given him a lot of answers he hadn’t been able to find in books. For example: What did a bed look like? They were mentioned in stories all the time, but writers never bothered describing the thing. There was a lot that went unmentioned, more than Eurik would have guessed before he’d met Patheos.

I finished my manuscript and the only ship on the island leaves in a week. I wouldn’t mind spending another six months here; my patron, however, does. He wants to read my work before I croak.

Oh . . . oh, right. He’d almost forgotten Patheos was human. A san as wrinkled as the scholar could still count on living for several decades, if not a century. But he and Eurik weren’t so lucky. For them, a single century was more than they could hope for.

It was a truth he’d only become aware of five summers back when he’d started to rapidly outgrow his playmates. They would remain children for years to come. Eurik, on the other hand, would soon be a man.

The Linesan laughed. Cheer up! Not like I expect to keel over tomorrow.

Smiling, Eurik nodded in agreement, but Patheos wasn’t finished and his face grew serious. I came to say goodbye, and to thank you. You helped me fit in—as much as someone like me can, anyway, and I won’t be forgetting that. If you ever come to Linese, look me up and I’ll do the same for you.

Ah, thank you, but I have no intention of leaving the island. I’ve only begun learning Dance of the Whirlwind and I’m still mastering Rise of the Mountain. And that’s just two Ways. It’ll probably take the rest of my life to learn it all.

To be young again. So sure you know what the future holds. You’re what, eighteen?

I . . . I’ve been on the island for seventeen summers now.

Patheos didn’t press; Eurik had already told him the story of how he’d come to live on the island. Whatever your age is, you’re young, and have no idea what the future brings.

Ah . . . I still see no reason why I’d ever leave my home.

Is-Ilad, did you come here for Eurik, or did you wish to make use of the library? Sesoya inquired.

"Hmm? Oh, yes. I found a scroll by Aborev on the creation of the Blood Lords during my research. Not very relevant for a book on the Nesans’ arrival to these shores, but now that it is finished, my curiosity will no longer be denied."

Then I should do my duty, Eurik concluded. Turning around, he took a moment to extend his senses. This task wasn’t about drawing chiri in; it was about molding the element outside his body. The door was a part of the building right now, a structure that had been raised from the bedrock by some of the first san to settle on the island. They’d been far more powerful than Eurik was, but he didn’t have to undo their work.

He found it helpful to imagine what he wanted to happen. Separate the wall from the rest, then slide it out of the way and into the ground. Taking a firm hold of the chiri in the door with his outstretched hands, he lowered them and pulled the door along with it. The rumbling noise of rock sliding against rock filled the air as the slab sank into the ground until a large entrance appeared.

That never stops being impressive, Patheos said. Take care, Eurik. And don’t forget, if you ever visit Linese, look me up!

Snickering and shaking his head, Eurik waited for the scholar to vanish into the building before he raised his hands, pulling the door back up. Saying his goodbyes to Sesoya, he lowered his gaze and cast his awareness out through his feet, waiting for the telltale signs of a person walking toward the entrance. It was nice of Patheos to offer, but this was where he belonged.

***

Eurik knew better than to disturb Zasashi in his meditation, so he left his sandals outside and took care to slowly slide the screen out of