Sparo Rising: Blade of Wexbury: Sparo Rising, #1

By Erik Schubach

Sparo Rising is a spinoff series from the Techromancy Scrolls.  Each book features a standalone story of a different side character from the Techromancy Scrolls that readers wished to hear more about.  This first book centers around Lady Verna of Wexbury, and her rise to Knighthood.
 

Almost three thousand years after an extinction level event on Earth, mankind seeks to regain its former glory, in a new world where magic and technology collide.

Verna had always dreamed of becoming a knight and protector ever since she was a child and a stranger gave his life to save her family from marauders.
 

She and her best friend, Celeste, share the same dream and aspire to become Squires so that their dreams could be realized.  After being passed by in the first choosing when she had been fifteen, both she and Celeste are chosen by knights the following year.
 

The threat of an army of marauders calling themselves the Horde, under a man called the Reaper. casts a shadow upon their training over the years, until things come to a head and Wexbury answers the call for help from the realm of York... the Reaper is at the gates.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Erik Schubach
• Release date: Jan 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393570240

Book preview

Chapter 1 - Squire

It's funny the things that come to mind when you're sure you are about to die.  Here I was, far from home, in the detachment sent to liberate York Keep from the siege.  My knight, Lady Anita, led a third of our people to head off the marauders behind the main battle who had breached the walls of the Keep and were dragging off the women and young, while killing all the men they could.

The Knights of York were as valiant as any I have ever witnessed, but were outnumbered five to one... the few left to defend the people of the Keep were being slaughtered, while Wexbury and Flatlash Knights engaged the Reaper's Horde, an army of outlaws who spread terror throughout the Lower Ten realms of Sparo.  These animals took everything, raping, pillaging, plundering... and even engaging in cannibalism if they didn't steal enough supplies to feed their growing army.

I was exhausted but kept pushing forward like Lady Anita.  She always inspired me with her unquenchable spirit and one day I hoped I would rise from squire to become a knight she could be proud of.

That's when I stepped in front of a large marauder who was about to strike down his battleaxe on a scrappy young girl who had bit his leg on the blood-soaked ground just outside the walls.  A child, the man was going to kill a child.  I couldn't allow that, but we had been fighting for so long, and I was stronger than many full knights but even I was beyond exhausted.  And as invincible as I had felt at the beginning of the battle, taking down the enemy, I couldn't get my blade up fast enough this time since my arms felt like lead.

As the blade struck me in the face, it was sort of odd, because it didn't really hurt... I mean, I felt the bone-jarring blow as I watched the spray of blood arcing away, so I knew that this was it... my end.  Part of me was afraid, but it was overwhelmed by pride that I was to die protecting others, and it gave me a moment of introspection, my mind wandering, as I felt the axe slash across my face and neck to embed in my collar bone, back to the day I had become Squire just two years ago.

It was as if I were re-living it while I watched the morbid excitement in the big brute's face over my death.

VERNA!  WHERE ARE YOU, lady?  Duke Fredrick is about to make the proclamation!

I looked back from where I had the son of the new nobles in the keep, pinned against the back corridor wall of Castle Wexbury as the cocky redhead smiled into our kiss.  Gods above, why was it the redheads that always did me in like this?

I smirked at the pretty boy and said, You know, a little facial hair would make you look rugged, Lord Kristof.  Now if you'll excuse me, I've someplace to be.

Of course, I as well, I just wished to see you beforehand.  I may have news this evening.  Most of the boys I knew weren't built as solidly as Kristof, and most didn't like that I was more muscled than them.  But this son of a buffalo ranch Baron from Perth Hollow seemed to get tongue-tied as he appreciated my physique with hungry eyes.

My best friend rounded the corner and saw us as I let him go.  Tall and slim and full of confidence that was earned not assumed as she padded along almost like a predator, Countess Celeste of the House of Donovan.  Yes, that House of Donovan, as in the daughter of the freakin' Prime Techromancer of Wexbury.  But this girl?  She was no toff, and even as a child when we first met, she didn't suffer fools.  And with that flaming mane of dark red hair that sort of streamed behind her as she moved... I have to tell you if she wasn't my best friend, and I didn't find strong men so damn sexy... I'd be tempted.

She rolled her eyes and said to my latest fancy, Run along, lover boy, this muscled maiden has places to be, people to crush.

I held out a hand to grab her face as she approached, where she had speed and coordination that bordered on uncanny, I had a superior wingspan.  She glurked, then the woman actually licked my hand.  Who does that?  I screwed up my face as I yanked my hand away and she followed the motion and had me in an arm-lock faster than I could start to react.  Say goodbye to the arm candy, we can't miss the proclamation.

I called out to the chuckling lord as he headed past us,  Goodbye arm candy.  Then I remembered etiquette. Countess Celeste, this is Baron Kristof of Wexbury, formerly of Perth Hollow.

Celeste chuckled as she released my arm. The same boy you left the Holy Day Feast with last night?

Kristof flourished a bow. One and the same, Countess.  I bid you ladies farewell, I've someplace to be right now.

I sighed heavily, he was a good kisser.  Then Celeste sighed in a sappy manner, and with an ironic tinged flat tone said, Two silver you never see the boy again.

Shoving her shoulder as we started jogging out to the outer courtyard where the Knights trained, I sighed again and said, I know, especially if it goes well this time, I'll not have time for boys for a while.  But did you see his...

Now she was chuckling jovially as she interjected, Yes, I saw his red hair.  I see red hair in the mirror every morning so it is hard to miss.  Is that all it takes to woo you?

Well, that and he was a great kisser.

Then I added as we approached the exit near the barracks, Oh, and happy birthday, trouble.

She smirked like she only did around me and her father.  The girl was always so closed off and rigid with everyone, I think it is because she feels she isn't a real noble since she had been just a commoner, a trapper girl when the Prime Techromancer and his wife, Countess Shavey fostered her.  So she keeps up this detached front, not letting anyone in.  Hell, it took long enough for her to loosen up around me.

And she was even more closed off when nobles from around the realm started making overtures to Count Donovan about their teenage sons courting his daughter since she was almost fifteen.  While the age of consent was nineteen, the minimum age for noble courting and arranged marriages was fifteen.

I knew something about the bonnie lass that not even her father knew.  I had started to suspect when we were thirteen, and whenever we went to market or the shops in the Belt, Celeste would get quiet and distracted by the shopkeeper's daughters, right around the time I was noticing boys.

But Prime Techromancer Donovan refused all overtures, stating that his daughter knew her own mind and would choose to court or not on her own timeline.  I really did like the man, he was one of the good ones.

How are you fifteen already? I asked.

You talk as if I were a child, just because you're sixteen.  That's only one year older than me, moose.

Wench.  Then I added, Is there going to be...

She chuckled. Yes, Cook has made a cake with the butter frosting you like.

I beamed a toothy grin at her and then she got serious.  You know I don't like a big to-do about birthdays.  Damn, she was going dark on me again.  The life of trappers is hard, and she had lost her parents to pneumonia and was raised by her uncle until Lord Donovan and Lady Shavey bought her from her uncle, then just as tragic, she lost her new mother less than five years later to Wasting Syndrome a week before her birthday, so Celeste never really wished any big celebrations on birthdays and such when she was younger.

So I offered in a tease, Then we can just say it's a celebration of me becoming squire today.

This got her little half-smirk back. Isn't this the second time you've been on the list?  How did that go for you last year?

You're mean when you get broody, lady.  But I've bulked up since last year, put on twenty more pounds of muscle.

Like you need more muscle.  You've already got more than most full-grown men.  Then she brightened and said with surety, And there are three open slots this year instead of two, any knight would be a fool not to take you on.  You'll get called this time for sure.

I sighed and smiled at her confidence and held the door open for her.  She just ducked under my arm and outside.  I dashed after her as she pulled me along by my arm.  I wish I could be as positive as her, but we both knew the only reason they had three openings this year was that she was going to be announced as the first Techno-Knight Ascendant in three years.

They always created special openings when a candidate held more magic potential in them than the spark of a mere sensitive.  It was just a matter of time before she matured enough that her spark ignited, making her a full-fledged magic-user.  Damn, my best friend was the whole package, if she were a man, I'd be in line to court her myself.  But alas, I'd probably break the little twig in half if we did.

I snorted to myself and she cocked a brow before all emotion slid off of her face as we started moving into the crowded courtyard, her cold mask of indifference to the people around her taking its place.

We reached the line of knights who stood shoulder to shoulder, blocking the crowd of nobles from the small raised podium set up just a few yards behind them, where the Duke and Duchess of Wexbury stood, surrounded by palace guards.

We moved to the side, to a little roped off area with around thirty squire candidates.  I recognized the squire insignia on the crests of the knights blocking others from entering the candidate area.  That would be me and Celeste one day... hopefully, today.

I said to a squire with two blades sheathed on his back and a cocky grin on his face, Baroness Verna, Lady of the Keep.  He checked a list and nodded, lifting the rope as he looked me up and down with a raised brow.  So what if I was half a head taller than him and wasn't in a gown. I found them too restricting when I was working out, bulking up.

Then both his brows rose at the statuesque girl I was with, who was two inches taller than the Squire as well, as she recited her title, Countess Celeste of House Donovan, Lady of the Court.

She too preferred fitted trousers and a tunic to gowns and dresses since as proper as she held herself and looked, she trained just as hard as I did to be taken into consideration for a squireship, even though it became a moot point when her un-ignited spark started exerting itself six months back.  And every realm is scrambling to get more Techno-Knights, they all see it as unfair that Wexbury seems more apt to have nobles with a spark than most any other realm.

So I'm proud to say that my best friend is on the fast track to Knighthood because of her gift.  Duke Fredrick would be a fool not to snap her up in case she changes her mind.

The squire actually questioned her, Why are you not appropriately adorned for court? 

I took offense to not just the question, but also over the fact he hadn't asked me the same.

I might ask you why you're addressing someone above your station so glibly, Squire.

The boy's eyes narrowed but he bowed slightly. Apologies, Countess.  Then before he could lift the rope for her, she just swiftly ducked under it to move to my side with her signature liquid grace.  I was biting the inside of my cheek hard, trying not to smile as she just stared ahead at the podium as nothing had occurred.

You know who that is, right? I whispered.

The little tick of her lips restraining her smile told me she knew exactly who it was.  He was the senior Squire that was besting seasoned knights in the practice yard with his dual blades that he has trained with under all the blade masters since he was eight.  He was to be Knighted later this year.  What was his name? Bolen, or Boran?  No, Bowyn, that was it.

We've seen him on countless occasions when we've gone to observe the training grounds over the past three years.  And he has a right to be a little smug since he was as good as he thought he was, and you can't deny that his dark flowing hair played into his whole cocky persona.

We stood taller when two short blasts from the Keep's bellows powered war horns sounded, silencing the crowd as Duke Fredrick and Duchess Lucia, looking so regal, took to the podium.

The Duke looked around the courtyard and stood taller, and asked his wife with pride that made all the knights stand taller themselves, Have you ever seen a more awe-inspiring sight, love?

She shook her head, smiling as she placed her fingertips in the crook of his arm.  They were the picture-perfect couple that you hear about in the fairy tales we're told as children.  He was a hard but fair ruler who inspired loyalty in his subjects, only Prince George himself garnered as much respect from the knights of Wexbury.

We may be one of the smallest realms, but we had the fourth largest defensive force in the eleven realms of Sparo, the land of Hope.  It was our reputation of lending our blade to any allies in need that has allowed us to have such a large fighting force.  If we were one of the more aggressive realms like Treth or New World, then Prince George would send a decree from Highland to either retire part of our forces or to transfer Knights to other realms of the Lower Ten to regain balance.

And nobody wished to defy Highland Reach in such matters, or they would send an overwhelming force to make you comply and would leave forces in all the Lower Ten, reminding us that we are all one kingdom under the Crown.  It has happened in the recent past, and it took years for them to withdraw after restoring the peace.

The man scanned the line of knights, the nobles gathered to witness the event, and his eyes settled on the bevy of squire candidates behind the roped-off area.

His voice carried well, echoing off the half-mile expanse of stone walls of the castle proper. We are all here today to select from the many brave petitioners who wish to answer the call to protect the people of Wexbury.  It does my heart well to see so many valiant nobles who aspire to become Knights of Wexbury, and if I could, I would appoint you all squires for that selfless act alone.  But alas, there are but three knights at this time in need of squires to be their apprentices, to train to be the shining protectors of our realm.  So if your name is not called out today, it is no reflection upon you, as your courage makes you all heroes in my eyes.  And you can answer the call at the next choosing when we are in need of people of your caliber.

Lucia's chin rose in pride with his words.

Then he looked to the side. The knights who will be selecting today are the commander of the Mobile Battalion, Sir Edwin.  Second in command, Lady Anita.  And lastly, our newest Techno-Knight, who was knighted just this solstice, Sir Tennison, who will be in training to take over the Mobile Battalion when Sir Edwin retires in six years.  It is about time we had another Techno-Knight commanding the Battalion... no offense Ed.

A booming laugh sounded and a man who needed no introduction strode up, casting a long shadow as all the knights stood at attention.  The middle-aged man with what looked to be a jaw of granite, salt and pepper hair, and matching goatee, in battle-scarred armor that made him look twice as dangerous, moved like a bear on the hunt as he moved to our leader, bowed to him, then stepped to his left side as he chuckled. None taken, my Liege.

The hero of the Battle of the Burning Sands added with a roguish smirk that made him look ten years younger, I didn't need any of that magic shite to whip this rabble into shape.  He waved his hand absently toward the line of knights who just chuckled too.  Then he paled and looked past the Duke. Beggin' your pardon for my foul language my Lady.  And might I add, you're looking lovely today.  Doesn't she Fred?

Duchess Lucia just inclined her head at him with a slight smirk on her own lips as she rolled her eyes playfully as her husband said with patient amusement, If you're done making overtures to my wife, could you get along with your selection you oaf?  I hear Cook has sweet rolls baking for lunch.

The regal woman beside him cocked an expectant brow and the man deflated and mumbled, Yes dear, to the chuckling of the crowd.  I knew this whole event was to put people at ease and show our rulers were as personable as it is rumored Prince George and Princess Everly were.  But you could still feel the true comradery between the men.

If I remember my history correctly, before he took command of Wexbury after his father died, Fred himself led his troops to aid Hell's Gate to route the large raiding parties of Rogues that were threatening their Keep in the Battle of the Burning Sands.  This is why all the knights were so loyal to him.  Only a few of the Dukes of the other realms have ever seen battle.

Sir Edwin stood taller, a half hand