The God Warriors by Sean Liebling Read Free Book Online

including the commander, who wryly shook his head and asked another question.
    "When standing at attention, if the king approaches you, what is your response?"
    "Drop to my right knee, bow my head with my hand on my sword, and not speak. If we are on review or receiving a visitation from a foreign diplomat, then I am to simply remain at attention until told otherwise."
    "I see your father coached you well."
    "Yes, Sir."
    Just then, a large soldier ran up, grasping two practice swords and helms, snapping to attention before the commander. "Sir! Guard Gunnor reporting with two practice swords and helms as ordered," he shouted.
    "Gunnor. You won gold in the last quarterly field competition, didn't you?" inquired the Colonel as he took one of the swords and a helm from the guard whose hands were full, holding both swords in one and the helms in the other. As he stood there, the commander removed one of the swords and a helm holding them both loosely with one large hand.
    "Three out of four, Sir! Sword, spear, and bow. I didn't make it into the finals on siege craft."
    "Aye, well, it takes a special talent to operate one of those beasts, so don't feel bad. This here is Elsa. She's Captain Mad Dog's daughter and seeks a position within the guard. How well she performs will determine if I sponsor her into a superior company or another of the lesser units. The two of you will spar here in the courtyard, then we'll test her on spear and bow." With that, he handed Elsa the wooden blade and the steel helm which she quickly donned. With pleasant surprise, she found the sword was weighted to resemble the steel short swords that were guard standard issue. Tentatively, she took a few practice swings to accustom herself to its heft and was pleased to see that it was similar in length to the ones her father used with her back on the farm. Then, handing her own sword to her Da, she stepped away from the men and waited.
    The guard named Gunnor approached her while the others moved back far enough to clear a large space around them. Looking at the massive man who was at least four inches taller than her, and probably outweighed her by sixty pounds, she could already see his eyes had not left her chest, which caused her to snort softly as she assumed the two-handed on guard position her father had taught her for the short sword. Pommel raised to neck level, the blade pointed downward at a thirty-five degree angle. She kept her left side to her target—she was ready to block or strike as the need arose.
    "I'll try to take it easy on you, girlie," he chuckled, still watching her chest. She shifted left, then slightly right, just enough to cause her breasts to bounce heavily within her leather jerkin. Her mouth stretched into an evil grin as his eyes widened, following the movement. She knew right then, no matter how good this opponent was, she would beat him.
    "And I'll try not to damage you too badly, though you should know that my eyes are up here," she said calmly as she pointed two fingers at her eyes before placing her hand on the hilt again. He laughed in return while holding his own sword loosely in one hand.
    "Alright, tap swords and come out fighting. Three strikes or a single incapacitating one and you're out," called the Sub-Captain.
    Gunnor lazily swung his sword to tap her blade, and Elsa instantly a half step back, waiting for his first move. She did not have to wait long. He quickly followed her movement with his sword raised and swung at her shoulder.
    With a short step forward, she rotated her wrists and arms sideways to block his blade while using the momentum gained from the force of his blow to arc her own sword in an overhand semicircle to rap him sharply on the top of the head, almost driving him to his knees.
    Infuriated, Gunnor came at her in earnest this time, his blade swinging back and forth like a scythe, almost as fast as the eye could see, but not fast enough. Elsa dropped into a crouch, letting Gunnor’s blade