Severance Lost (Fractal Forsaken Series Book 1) Read online

  SEVERANCE LOST

  A FRACTAL FORSAKEN BOOK

  J. LLOREN QUILL

  Copyright © 2016 by Jason Quill

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

  Published by Jason Quill

  www.jllorenquill.com

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Cover design and map by Abby Haddican

  Editing by Ben Barnhart

  Book Layout © 2015 BookDesignTemplates.com

  Severance Lost/ J. Lloren Quill -- 1st ed.

  ISBN 978-0-9979887-0-3

  For the wonderful Quill girls,

  who are more amazing and fantastical than anything you will read in this novel.

  CONTENTS

  REFLECTION OF REGRET

  A LEAF IN THE WIND

  STONEHANDS

  INVESTIGATIONS

  AN ALLY LOST

  ESCAPE FROM RAVINAI

  CAMPFIRE STORIES

  AN ALLY LEAVES

  HOMECOMING

  REFLECTION OF REGRET

  GUILD LIFE

  PEACE, IN VARIOUS FORMS

  MAY THE WORST MAN WIN

  PAIN TOLERATED

  REFLECTION OF REGRET

  HOUSE OF CARDS

  AN UNSANCTIONED MISSION

  A FURIOUS BATTLE

  A NECESSARY CHOICE

  SIMPLIFYING THE EQUATION

  SLIDING FILAMENTS ALIGN

  THE CARDS CRUMBLE

  ORDER IS RESTORED

  INCOMPLETE DEFEAT

  REFLECTION OF REGRET

  PROLOGUE

  REFLECTION OF REGRET

  A single ray of light entered the room and carried with it the hope of a new day. The light warmed Slate Severance’s eyelids, gently rousing him from tortured dreams. In this moment when the nightmares end and the day begins, mistakes of the past are stripped away, leaving behind one’s true self. Slate felt honest, virtuous, and determined to protect the defenseless.

  Slate rose from bed, but wakefulness followed slowly and so the mingled moment remained. Aspirations for the day mixed with memories of yesterday. Yesterday wasn’t so bad. Memories of yesterday would not ruin today. He was destined for great things.

  He staggered toward the bathroom on waking legs and relieved himself, but memories from the week prior tainted the simple pleasure. It wasn’t his fault. He didn’t have a choice. The drunken soldier had attacked him and he had to defend himself. There is no dishonor in self-defense, his father would have said.

  He cleansed his hands in the basin. These hands killed that soldier. Memories poured into his head. Last month, a squadron tracked him to his campsite in the middle of the night and attempted to collect the bounty on his head. They failed. Were these hands good for anything but killing?

  Slate looked in the mirror. He shouldn’t have looked in the mirror. His muscular physique, born of life-long training, was drained of color and laced with scars that crisscrossed his torso like ribbons. More memories came back at the sight of his injuries, memories he wanted to forget, memories of pain. He could withstand any pain suffered. He could tolerate the memories of pain inflicted; he was destined for great things.

  His gaze rose to meet his eyes in the mirror. These were not the eyes of a righteous man. Blood vessels emanated from the accursed eyes in deep red reminders of his failures. These were the eyes that inspired fear throughout the kingdom. They called him demi-god. They called him a Shadow of the Night. They had once called him Stonehands. They told stories of him to frighten children at campfires. And the stories were true.

  Slate clung to the hope carried on the rays of the day’s first light, but he couldn’t escape the binds of regret. If only I could re-live my life… If only I could make it right…

  CHAPTER ONE

  A LEAF IN THE WIND

  Slate stood in the depths of the Arena, awaiting his introduction. From the tunnel entrance he could see a small portion of the crowd, and it comprised the largest congregation of people Slate had ever seen. Noble families proudly displayed their house symbols from elevated seats, but Slate barely registered their presence. He absently spun the staff from hand to hand to check his grip. He felt as if all the moisture in the air had been removed and sent straight to his palms, leaving him with a dry mouth and a healthy appreciation for the leather grips wrapped around the middle of his staff.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen of Malethya, welcome to the opening match of the Guild Tournament,” the crier yelled, and the musicians quieted their instruments. “Our first contestant comes to the city of Ravinai from the far reaches of the kingdom. Born in the northwestern mining village of Pillar and wielding a staff, here is Slate Severance!”

  Slate ran through the tunnel and controlled his breathing to calm his nerves. Deafening clapping, stomping, and shouting resonated through the stone around him and urged him toward the sunlit entrance of the dueling courtyard. The brilliance of daylight blinded him, and he failed to notice the step down to the sandy courtyard. His instincts responded quicker than his feet, and he planted his staff in the sand and vaulted overhead. A slight over-rotation during his flip caused him to drop to a knee upon landing and swing his staff back into position. What the crowd witnessed was an acrobatic, staff-flourishing entrance. Applause erupted, and Slate unwittingly became a crowd favorite in the eyes of the raucous citizens.

  He counted his good fortunes and waited for his opponent. Most contestants in the tournament were seasoned from service in the King’s army but hadn’t yet reached their physical prime. The crier announced, “His opponent hails from the nomadic tribes of the Southern provinces, Rainier Tallow, who has chosen two short swords for this contest.” An unimposing figure, both short in stature and boyish in looks, entered the courtyard. He did not entertain or even acknowledge the onlookers, so the applause died quickly. Despite minimal enthusiasm from the crowd, Rainier’s lithe and confident gait reflected much experience. Slate didn’t see him adjust his grip on his short swords or lick his lips to combat the dry air, so he presumed the fighter came by his confidence honestly.

  The crier outlined the rules of the match for the crowd. “A bugle signals the start of the contest, and the two combatants fight with magically blunted weapons within the confines of the dueling courtyard. The first combatant to knock down his opponent is the winner. Contestants, turn and acknowledge the members of the Crimson Guard in attendance.”

  In the seats of honor above the commoners and nobility sat the Crimson Guardsmen. An impressive showing in the tournament could earn an invitation to train for the Crimson Guard in one of the guilds. Citizens of Malethya and members of the King’s army could participate in the Guild Tournament, requiring Slate to win dozens of preliminary fights in the outlying provinces before making it to the Arena.

  Slate and Rainier bowed to the Crimson Guardsmen and faced each other. Rainier’s darting eyes locked on Slate and a nearly imperceptible smirk found its way to the tiny fighter’s mouth. They crossed staff and sword and a bugle sounded.

  Rainier advanced in a series of feints and testing blows, forcing Slate to use the longer staff defensively as he kept the short swords at bay. Rainier darted left and right, changing forms fluidly and keeping Slate on the retreat. Slate kicked dirt from the ground to daze Rainier, but Rainier anticipa
ted the trick and struck Slate’s unguarded ribs. Rainier backed away before Slate’s counterattack could reach its mark.

  A backward glance marked the approaching edge of the dueling courtyard. Slate gave ground more rapidly to counterattack with more forceful blows in the space created, but Rainier deflected the counterattacks and pushed Slate even closer to the edge of the dueling courtyard and victory.

  Slate decided on a painful gambit. He kicked sand at Rainier once more, purposefully leaving his wounded ribs exposed. He had difficulty predicting Rainier’s position during his offensive flurry, and by exposing his wounded ribs, he was hoping the aggressive nature of the fighter would leave him vulnerable. Rainier avoided the sand and came at Slate with a high-guard on his right side, expecting a blow from above by his taller opponent. It was exactly what Slate wanted, and he thrust his staff into the right leg of Rainier. He felt his blow land just as a blinding pain spread across his ribs.

  Not trying to be a hero, Slate distanced himself from Rainier. He assessed the damage his blow had done to Rainier and saw he clearly favored his left leg. Slate took the offensive, swinging his staff from a distance that left Rainier unable to counter with his shorter weapons and loss of mobility. The skill of the nomadic tribesman prolonged the match awhile longer, but then Slate landed a sweeping blow to Rainier’s left leg, and his wounded right leg could not support his weight. Rainier fell to the courtyard and a bugle sounded, signaling the end of the match.

  Slate reached down and offered his hand to his opponent. Rainier shook off his disappointment in the loss before accepting help onto his feet. They both soaked in the applause of the crowd before making their way across the courtyard. Rainier then surprised Slate by following him out of the tunnel, outside of the Arena, and into Slate’s camp.

  Each fighter returned to his tent to rest between fights. Slate’s tent was nearly empty. He had traveled to the tournament by foot, carrying rations for the trip and a sleeping blanket. In addition to the tent, the tournament had provided a cot, armor, and a stand of blunted weapons. Slate returned the staff to the weapon stand, sat on his cot, and started the slow and painful process of removing his armor. Rainier hauled a discarded crate into the tent and used it as a chair.

  “That was well fought, Slate. Many of these soldiers trained in the King’s army stick to their forms with too much rigidity. This makes them predictable and unable to turn the tide of battle if they are outmatched. They don’t take risks like you did,” he paused, “You fight like a tribesman.”

  Slate smiled at the backhanded compliment that valued cunning over might. But Rainier had also clearly stated that Slate had won with a fair amount of luck. “I fight like my father,” Slate replied.

  As they talked, Rainier’s servants entered the tent. Each had the olive skin associated with the southern provinces and dressed in silks wrapped and tied at the waist. Ornate tattoos covered their hands and feet. Within a matter of minutes, the servants transformed his tent into a room fit for a nobleman. Blankets and lounge pillows covered the dirt floor and hanging silks provided privacy for bathing. Rainier ignored the changes around him, so Slate didn’t acknowledge them either.

  “...then your father should be proud. I thought I was the only remaining fighter without formal training in the King’s army.”

  The tent flap opened and two people entered, and Slate understood the servants’ preparations. The first was a man dressed in simple traveler’s robes with a well-worn woodcutter’s axe hanging from his side. He carried himself with the self-assuredness of a king. “My name is Lucus. I am a wizard currently traveling with the Tallow tribe.” Slate had never met a wizard, but enough tales had reached the small village of Pillar for him to know of magic in Malethya. Lucus’ simple attire did not fit Slate’s preconceived notions of wizards gathered from campfire stories. Lucus said, “Rainier has resisted the traditions of the Tallow tribe up until this point by refusing to name a Teacher, but it is with great pleasure that I formalize Rainier’s acceptance of your offer to serve in this esteemed position.”

  “I didn’t intend to offer anything…”

  “You extended your hand to Rainier when he was fallen. He accepted your hand, sealing the pact.” Rainier remained silent and Lucus contributed little in the way of explanation. “I believe I can shed some light on tribal customs, but first I offer a gift to celebrate your honorable victory and help you prepare for your next match. Would you allow my apprentice Sana to treat those injured ribs?”

  “I thank you for the offer, Lucus, but magic is not allowed in the tournament,” Slate responded, temporarily ignoring the misunderstanding in favor of keeping the tournament rules. But the pain in his ribs became sharper and made breathing more difficult now that the adrenaline of the match had subsided. Slate feared that several of his ribs were broken rather than just bruised or cracked.

  Lucus gave a knowing smile. “Magic may not be applied during tournament matches. There are no stipulations preventing healing between matches. The tournament is intended to showcase our most talented warriors, not to leave them bloodied and broken.”

  Slate nodded his acceptance with some trepidation at having magic used upon him, but his fear dissipated when Sana lowered the hood of her robes. She likely had suitors from the highest courts, but she approached with a purposeful stride that implied she was unaware of her beauty or purposely dismissive of it. “Healing is easiest when I have direct contact with the wound,” Sana told Slate as she started removing his leathers without bothering to ask permission. When she unhooked and pulled away the last of his leathers, the pain in his ribs spiked as his chest was allowed to expand, making the full extent of the wounds apparent. Thankfully, his inability to draw a deep breath made it impossible to scream in agony, and he only managed to produce a stifled grunt. Sana turned her gaze from the wound to Slate and lectured, “Your leather armor distributed the force of the blow over a large area and prevented puncture of the skin, but the red color and immediate tissue swelling suggests internal damage. I am going to touch the wound and probe its extent. You will feel a slight tingle.”

  Slate needed to stare at something to ignore the pain and found Sana’s face convenient for the purpose. Her eyes fixated on the wound and reminded Slate of the focused state he entered in battle preparation, but it differed in a manner he couldn’t quite place. Her lips articulated an inaudible conversation with herself that her clenched jaw resisted. Sana placed her hands on his side, closed her eyes and a warm tingling sensation radiated from her cool touch. The warm sensation moved around through his chest, always probing deeper and never staying in the same location. After several minutes, Sana opened her eyes and explained her diagnosis. “You have two broken ribs with multiple fractures of each. They have damaged the surrounding muscles and connective tissue but have not impacted your lungs. I will realign your bones and then stimulate them to grow and reconnect. There will be pain as the bones realign and travel through the damaged tissue. The growth of the bones and the final healing of the surrounding tissue will leave you fatigued but should not cause significant pain. Try to remain still until I have finished. Are you ready?”

  Slate grabbed the edges of the cot for support, clenched his teeth, and nodded. As promised, the pain of the bones realigning was excruciating. When they were broken, it had happened in an instant. Realigning the bones required more time and exacting focus. Slate began to worry that if it took any longer he would lose consciousness and Sana would have a perfectly still patient to work upon.

  Finally the pain abated, but Sana’s continued concentration told Slate that her work continued. Sana’s lips moved inaudibly as she worked and Slate realized why the nervous habit bothered him. When he first learned to fight, his father told him to concentrate. He squinted his eyes, clenched his jaw, and tightened his muscles. Later in his training he understood these reactions were counterproductive and that true concentration required an open mind to read your opponent and the control to use only the muscles nece
ssary to prevent fatigue. If training to use magic was anything like his experience with combat, then Sana had not yet gained this experience. This realization coincided with Sana straightening up with a smile on her face, leaving Slate to feel foolish for questioning her talents. But before he could thank her, a new pain throbbed in his sides. It felt like his skin was being stretched from the inside. He gasped in pain.

  Sana probed the wound again, but Lucus intervened. “What did you find?” he asked his apprentice calmly.

  “I have properly aligned the bones, but they continue to grow.” Lucus casually took her place near Slate and within seconds the warm feeling returned and the pain subsided. Sana hid her frustration behind a mask of professionalism. “You are healed and will require some rest before your next match. I wish you the best, but I have other matters to attend.” Sana abruptly left the tent, leaving the impression that her early exit had more to do with her failed attempt at healing than anything else on her agenda for the day.

  Lucus explained. “Sana has immense potential but struggles to control her spells. Unfortunately, this can be the most difficult part of being a wizard. The use of magic is not difficult if you have the ability. If you apply the correct techniques, the spell is cast, but applying it in the correct dose for the situation is what differentiates a wizard from a simple traveling magician and his tricks.” Slate intended to ask Lucus about the Tallow clan, but fatigue ran over him like a wave. He fell asleep in his cot before he could verbalize his questions.

  Rainier awoke Slate by gently shaking his shoulder. “Teacher, the crier is announcing your semifinal match. Prepare for battle.” Slate jumped out of bed and suited up with Rainier’s help as he offered information on his opponent. “I have sparred with this contestant. He is powerful and relentless, but slower than you. Your staff will not withstand a direct blow from his broadsword. Try to deflect his blows rather than block them. Good luck, Teacher.” So far, Rainier seemed to be the Teacher in this relationship.