The Dance of The Blacksmith and The Huntress Anthology

By Paul Willson

The Anthology edition of The Blacksmith and The Huntress series.

Doyle was taken towards the tavern and saw the silhouette of a woman waiting outside. The girls mysteriously told Doyle he needed to be blindfolded. He was guided by the girls until they stopped. Doyle suddenly was filled with nerves; he knew who this woman was, and he would be forced to deal with feelings that he had repressed for many years.

In a world where catarans fight to keep the worlds of humans and monsters apart, two rise to be perhaps the greatest of them all, Doyle, The Blacksmith, and Ophelia, The Huntress. Their exploits fighting the monsters that roam the farmlands around the town of Frieden inspire many stories but they are only half their story.

Their story is one of triumph over adversity, overcoming the physical and mental scars that their lives afflict on them but most of all romance. Their romance is one of a dance, dancing around each other but never having the courage to confess the love they feel for each other.

Can they finally express their love or will their feelings for each other remain unfulfilled?

 

Their stories are now compiled in an anthology.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paul Willson Fantasy
• Release date: Mar 23, 2024
• ISBN: 9781738578405

Paul Willson

Paul Willson is a fantasy writer with five published books. He began writing after being made redundant from his IT job during the Covid pandemic. This was short stories at first then he began attempting longer fantasy novellas. It was then that the fantasy action romance, "The Dance of The Blacksmith and The Huntress," trilogy was born and Ophelia and Doyle began their eternal dance. Not long afterwards, "The Demon and The Raven," come to fruition which has received 5* ratings on Amazon. This year his first full-length fantasy book, and the first book in the "Gods and Runes series", "The Fall of Cadoria" was released.  

Book preview

The Dance of The Blacksmith

Prologue

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Tell us Sara, how do you plan to tell the story of Doyle and Ophelia, The Blacksmith and The Huntress? We see this book as an important way to boost tourism to the city, the bored-looking city official who was chairman of the interview panel asked in an excited yet false voice, repeating the same opening question he had made many times that day. His voice echoed in the empty high-ceiling hall. The other two officials on the panel looked equally bored. They had seen plenty of interviewees and most had given the same dry historian-like answers. There had been a lot of recent interest in the stories of caterans fighting monsters in the countryside and the bustling city of Frieden was many years ago the centre for caterans. Frieden was keen to cash in on that popularity.

Back then Frieden was a small backwater town left behind by the rest of the country this was because for reasons unknown monsters were prevalent in the fertile countryside surrounding the town which wasn’t the case in the rest of the country. Cateran was the name given to those who made it their job to take contracts to hunt and kill the monsters that threatened the human population. One story that captivated people the most was the story of The Blacksmith and The Huntress the greatest caterans of them all. It was a story with everything: action, adversity, and romance. Statues had been placed all over the city and a museum was built to tell their story to bring tourists to the city and cash in on their popularity. There were so many versions of their story that the city council wanted one definitive version.

Sara sat in front of the panel, her palms sweaty and her heart beating fast with nerves. This commission could make her career as a writer and fulfil her lifelong dream.

Well, she began her reply, pausing briefly to calm her nerves, I intend to bring them back to life, use the statues as inspiration as well as the stories Grandmama and Grandpapa used to tell me when I was little-

I beg your pardon, Grandmama and Grandpapa? interrupted the head of the interview panel, removing his glasses as he looked at Sara in disbelief. The ageing lady and the young but old-fashioned-looking gentlemen on the interview panel also woke from their bored stupor.

Yes. I apologise. I thought you knew, Doyle ‘The Blacksmith’ and Ophelia ‘The Huntress’ were my grandparents. Sara explained her face flushing slightly red from embarrassment at this revelation.

Smiles of incredulity crossed the faces of the panel members as they looked at each other. They could not believe their luck.

No, no we didn’t know. Well, this is a surprise and a welcome one at that! said the chairman of the panel with a small laugh as he came to life, trying yet failing to hide his delight.

You’re not an experienced writer, do you think you are up to this task? The lady on the panel asked quickly, her furrowed eyebrows showing concern.

No, I am not an experienced writer but when I said I wanted to be a writer, I remember Grandmama looking me in the eye and telling me I could be one and I knew right there she was right.

The lady gave Sara a knowing smile, You know Ophelia taught me just before she retired, and I remember that look. It made me feel I could achieve anything.

The panel then began whispering amongst themselves.

Ok, Sara you have the commission, the panel chairman said. Having the granddaughter of Doyle and Ophelia will give the book authenticity. We look forward to seeing your work, However, time is of the essence. We want something to publish before the spring Drethian festival. Can you do that? he asked with urgency and hope in his voice.

Yes, I think I can, replied Sara with an excited smile.

Sara walked out into the cold, crisp winter air with her hat pulled down tight over her ears and her coat and scarf insulating her from the cold and began walking, unable to stop smiling and resisting dancing in the street. She was elated. She had so wanted to do this. This would be a labour of love and she wanted to bring her grandparents back to life so much and she wished so much that they were with her now so she could tell them her news. She knew they would be so proud.

Sara began walking purposefully through the city. She walked past the proud woman overlooking the square, hair flowing down her back with an eye patch and her good eye shining in the sun looking down upon the man walking forlornly past her in the square below, past the couple in love dancing on the balcony, past the stern-looking headmistress until she found what she was looking for, a small boy walking hand in hand with a cateran in armour.

Instinctively Sara knelt and embraced the little boy and tried to wipe away the cold hard tear rolling down his face. The poor boy must have been terrified she thought.

That boy is Doyle, a miserable-looking man told Sara like he was talking to a tourist, But if you ask me the whole story is bollocks.

Sara gave him a look of disgust and disdain but resisted the urge to tell him what she thought of him. This is where the story will begin, she decided, at the beginning.

Chapter 1

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Goblins, Tyler, the red-headed swordsman in simple yet worn armour said grimly.

How do you know? the archer accompanying him asked.

See those cuts? They’re from the short swords goblins like to use and I thought an archer would have recognised goblin arrows. Poor bastards. Probably got ambushed. Didn’t stand a chance. Tyler said with genuine sympathy.

The scene the two were looking at was a cart tipped over, and a dead horse at the front with arrows in it. A man and a woman, covered in blood, next to it. Flies were already swarming over them in the warm sun. It was a messy and tragic scene.

Looks like they were on their way to town. They nearly made it, the archer said, grimacing.

Suddenly there was a movement. Quick as a flash the swordsman was in his ready position, sword above his head, the archer had an arrow knocked in his bow with the string pulled back, ready to fire. There was then the sound of a child crying. The two men looked at each other with puzzled expressions. They nodded at each other and then Tyler moved carefully to the cart, the archer covering him in case something nasty should jump out. Tyler pulled back the sheet covering the cart and found a scared and crying little boy of no more than three or four years old, with light brown hair and blue eyes.

Hello, young master, The swordsman said kindly, sheathing his sword as he did so.

Careful, Tyler! The archer said cautioning his friend unnecessarily.

Mate, it’s a little boy! Relax! Tyler replied, rolling his eyes with exasperation.

What are we going to do with him?

Well, he can’t stay here, can he? We’ll have to take him back to town with us.

He can’t stay with me, the man with the bow said unhelpfully.

You’re all heart! But you’re right living with caterans isn’t a place for a little boy either. Tyler thought for a bit then said as an idea popped into his head, I’ll take him to my brother he always needs a pair of hands to help in the blacksmith’s shop and the boy can learn a trade. That simple thinking was typical of caterans.

I take it we’re not going to get paid for this? The archer lamented surveying the scene and only seeing lost earnings.

Tyler shook his head sadly. Caterans were always in it for the money.

Tyler lifted the frightened boy onto the saddle of his horse and rode with the boy in front of him. He liked children, spending his life killing and seeing so much death and destruction in his job that watching them play innocently made him realise why he did what he did. He would hate it if the world was less safe. Monsters never differentiated between adults or children.

The three of them rode to town with the boy riding with Tyler on his horse. Tyler left his horse at the stables, and he walked hand in hand, up the steep hill, to the blacksmith's shop with the boy. Despite the boy’s tears, Tyler felt the boy’s grip. "He’s strong," he thought, he’s a survivor.

What have you got there, Tyler? asked the Blacksmith impassively looking down at the boy.

It’s a boy, Nate, Tyler replied. I found him in a cart that had been ambushed by goblins. He’s lucky to be alive. His parents weren’t so lucky.

Does he stop crying?

His parents just died, Nate! Give the poor boy a break! Tyler pleaded.

What’s he called?

I don’t know, how about Doyle? Tyler offered.

Doyle? Funny name, Nate said unimpressed.  What’s he doing here? he asked already knowing the answer.

I thought you could use another pair of hands to help. Especially as your last apprentice left you. Tyler said. Kneeling to talk to the boy, Tyler said kindly, Your name is Doyle, okay. You are going to live here with Nate. He is my older brother and the best blacksmith in these parts. Learn from him well. I will visit from time to time to see how yer doing, alright? Tyler ruffled the boy's head and left before his brother could object.

Doyle settled into the blacksmiths. He was made to work. Just a small amount of work in the beginning. Just some fetching and carrying which became more and more as Doyle got older. Nate taught him how to wield a hammer and forge steel when Doyle was old enough. The blacksmith’s shop was hot smelly and dirty, but he did what he was told quietly and obediently and rarely complained even when Nate’s wife beat him whether she had a reason to or not. She thought Doyle was a burden. They didn’t have children which suited her as she hated children. Nate didn’t really hate the boy and he was a help around the place, but he didn’t love him either. He only kept him around because his brother was generous with the money for Doyle’s upkeep.

Tyler visited regularly in the beginning. Doyle adored him. Tyler would always play with Doyle. They would pick up knives they would find in the blacksmith’s shop and have pretend sword fights until the blacksmith’s wife, caught them and threw Tyler out and hit Doyle around the head. Tyler though was a cateran and he had to go out and earn. He enjoyed the company of the ladies more than most which meant his visits became less frequent.

Nate and Tyler were totally different which you would maybe find normal from brothers born five years apart. Nate was tall, with dark hair, brown eyes, and large muscular arms as you would expect from a blacksmith. His choice of wife was the only disappointment to his parents. Tyler was smaller yet more athletic with red hair. Nate was the sensible one of the two. He grew up and learned a trade. Tyler was more carefree. A trade did not suit him, but being a cateran was the ideal living for someone so carefree. Money was the only restriction in his life. That carefree attitude made him popular with the ladies, married or not, and the reason he often got into trouble. The two brothers argued a lot. Tyler’s carefree attitude was often a source of frustration for Nate. Despite their differences, the brothers were very close.

As Doyle got older his hair darkened and his blue eyes became piercing, he went to school and learned the basics of reading, writing, and counting but nothing more. Doyle wasn’t very studious and wasn’t encouraged to study either. He preferred pretending to fight with swords with the other boys in the town or with real blades with Tyler. Anyway, he was learning to be a blacksmith, so his real education was at the forge.

Soon Tyler began training Doyle properly as he could see Doyle had an aptitude for sword fighting. Due to his work at the blacksmiths, Doyle became unusually strong and tall for his age, and by the time he became a teenager, the girls had started to notice him. His dark hair, piercing blue eyes, and above-average size and strength made him look big and brooding and he won most fights, so much so that the other boys stopped fighting him. His punch once broke another boy’s jaw. This earned him a severe beating from the blacksmith as Nate had to pay compensation to the boy’s parents.

Tyler thought that not fighting was not a good thing for Doyle though, so he took him to Freeman Square so he could fight up-and-coming caterans. Freeman Square was a large square in the centre of the town with a large stone floor surrounded by terraced stone walls making it a natural amphitheatre.

In the beginning, this was just with fists then once proven with wooden swords. Doyle was just fourteen but had the physique of an eighteen-year-old. He did well but when getting down to the last few combatants his lack of technique and footwork meant he lost. Tyler vowed to correct this. Doyle looked up to Tyler. He loved his stories and Tyler was the only one who looked out for him. Very few looked out for orphans.

Doyle never let his duties drop at the blacksmith's though. The blacksmith and his hated wife had to admit that. Soon Doyle was winning fights in Freeman Square. This meant he could fight with real blades. Care was taken in these fights, but accidents did happen and there were some fatalities. At sixteen Doyle decided he wanted to be a cateran and against his better judgment, Tyler decided to take Doyle with him so he could see how a cateran earned their living and the risks they faced.

Tyler wanted to retire, he was well past what was considered a safe retirement age for a cateran, a job where there was a high mortality rate, and he saw Doyle as almost a son who to pass on the family business. Doyle was more than happy to take on the role of surrogate son. With Doyle with him, Tyler could teach Doyle properly and earn some extra crowns.

The contract was to clear out some problem goblins who were attacking travellers on the road. They were hard to find, and Tyler was getting worried. The harder it was to find goblins meant that they were watching you. Goblins were