Storm Rider (eBook)

Book 1: The Talons of War

Herb Mika (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2024 | 1. Auflage
300 Seiten
Vivid Publishing (Verlag)
978-1-923078-28-4 (ISBN)

Infos

'While we keep on fighting, we have the hope of victory. Once we give up, we have the certainty of defeat.' These words embody the spirit of the warriors locked in a relentless battle against an empire bent on galactic domination. They also echo the unwavering determination of the women who tirelessly support the men they love. Ballan, the battle-hardened commander of the recreated Storm Riders, is consumed by his experiences. His anger, barely quelled by combat, threatens to destroy him. As his friends and family watch him slip away on the battlefields of distant planets, they fear for his humanity. Who can save him? If she exists, will she arrive in time? Can her love give him the strength to endure and the determination to keep fighting, year after year?

Herb Mika is the author of 'The Talons of War'.

---

"e;While we keep on fighting, we have the hope of victory. Once we give up, we have the certainty of defeat."e;These words embody the spirit of the warriors locked in a relentless battle against an empire bent on galactic domination. They also echo the unwavering determination of the women who tirelessly support the men they love. Ballan, the battle-hardened commander of the recreated Storm Riders, is consumed by his experiences. His anger, barely quelled by combat, threatens to destroy him. As his friends and family watch him slip away on the battlefields of distant planets, they fear for his humanity. Who can save him? If she exists, will she arrive in time? Can her love give him the strength to endure and the determination to keep fighting, year after year?

Textauszug

Chapter 2
PRIME COUNCILLOR

Year 5,950 (Standard Valan Chronology)

Oran followed the narrow path as it wound through a grey world of mist and trees. He arrived at his destination just as the early-morning sun cast its first rays into the small clearing, adding a little light and colour to an otherwise dreary world. He sat down on the flat stone he had carried here several years back, when sitting on wet turf had lost its novelty, and gazed westward down the slope to the mist-shrouded lake below. At first he could see only a grey wall, but gradually, as the light strengthened and the mist began to fade, he could start to make out the area’s features.

To his right, the forest spread up the foothills of mount San, the highest peak for twenty kilopaces. To his left, thick woods created an impenetrable barrier to his view, but he knew they gradually thinned, giving way to open grazing lands and the well-tended farms and villages which fed the college’s many students, teachers, and support staff. A path led from the college’s western entry, through a small orchard, then meandered across fields and streams, and finally through woods to this glade. From here it went down a gentle slope until stopping at one of the lake’s many small, sandy beaches. He usually came here on lesson-free mornings. It was a good place to relax, think, and practice his swordcraft, free of the jests and laughter of his fellow students.

Everyone had to participate in some form of physical activity as part of their curriculum and the males at this college were required to include swordsmanship in their program. Most selected fencing since it was easier to master and the instructors were far less demanding. An added benefit was the presence of ladies, since quite a few enjoyed fencing, but more for its social life than any desire to excel. Very few students took swordplay seriously anyway. Their dedication to mastering their chosen art was less than inspiring and in most cases, just plain insipid. In an age when space exploration was common, the ancient skills were not considered particularly relevant. It was a reality their instructors begrudgingly accepted, all except Sword Master Kendar.

His philosophy was simple and unyielding. If you came to his class, you put your heart into it, or you were shown the door. He made no exceptions.

Oran enjoyed the challenge and had selected the long, slightly curved, two-handed sword fashioned after the ancient Orantis infantry weapon, which first appeared in the days of Balcar, and was even now strapped to his back. None could match him with this blade except his instructor, the Sword Master.

Today he had come to think, but out here, alone, around sunup, the sword was a prudent addition. Occasionally bears and mountain lions were seen near the lake and wolves were not uncommon. The weapon felt good, since becoming a free meal for some passing carnivore was a proposition without attraction. More than one careless individual had been taken by a wild animal over the years. Only when an animal developed a liking for human flesh and became a man stalker was it hunted down and killed. Chance encounters that went wrong were an accepted part of their culture. Centuries ago, as Valan technology advanced to planet-altering capability, the Council had resolved to minimize human impact and to curb the exploitation of technology beyond what was necessary to improve the life of all the planet’s inhabitants, including its wildlife which was considered as having equal claim to the bounties of a generous world. The presence of wildlife was valued and anyone venturing into the untamed country surrounding Valan settlements did so knowing there was always an element of risk. However, the Rangers tried to minimize any threat by keeping track of the location and disposition of the larger predators. Prudent individuals added their own precautions to further reduce the danger. The sword was his way of being prudent.

Beam weapons were only used against animals which were known man stalkers and then only by the Rangers responsible for securing the areas close to human settlements. No potentially dangerous animal was permitted to establish a hunting ground within close proximity. If it hunted stock they would try to drive it off. If it refused to leave, or hunted people, it died. The protected zones were usually large enough for it to take a good day’s walking to reach the boundary and return. Large predators that had not yet proven dangerous were monitored but otherwise left alone. Encountering them in the wild enhanced the nature experience and made for excellent stories to be endlessly related by those sensible enough to give them due respect and adequate clearance. The system worked well but was not infallible. If game was scarce, or a large predator was injured (which was usually the case with the man stalkers) the occasional unfriendly encounter was possible, even in the protected areas.

Twice in his college career he had come across a dangerous animal. His first contact was with a mountain lion enjoying the fruits of a successful hunt and which was not about to share its meal. The cat had shown its displeasure at the untimely intrusion with considerable feeling. He had carefully backed away and the animal had been satisfied that the threat to its catch had been repulsed. The second time, just six months ago, had nearly resulted in bloodshed. A large bear had ambled onto the track he was following and was less than a short stone’s throw from him when they saw each other as he rounded a bend. Again he had tried to back away, but when the bear started moving toward him he had immediately abandoned the tactic. They might appear to be lumbering brutes, but they were fast. Trying to outrun one was wishful thinking and showing the bear your back was poor strategy. Climbing a tree was equally futile. The bear would follow, perhaps even to the breaking point of the upper trunk. The result of crashing to the ground from a significant height beside an angry animal was best avoided. Beyond discreetly sliding his sword out of its scabbard, he had remained absolutely still, hoping to forestall any unnecessary conflict. If not, he had no intention of losing.

He was downwind of the animal and saw it trying to catch his scent. The bear approached slowly until it was no more than fifteen paces away, then reared up on its hind legs, looking down at him. In an effort to avoid provoking the animal, he kept still, waiting while the bear decided what to do about this unknown creature.

It sensed no fear in the smaller animal, which was strange. It should be afraid, like all others. The bear dropped onto all fours and approached a little closer. The creature still remained motionless. By now it should have started running. The bear glared at it and when their eyes locked, it became aware of the latent power behind them. This thing was dangerous! Should it be attacked and killed, or should a fight be avoided? The creature had no fear but neither could the bear sense animosity, just a calm waiting. That was worrying since its intent was shrouded in uncertainty. The bear took a few wary steps backward, never taking its eyes off the animal. Oran stayed still and waited, concentrating on maintaining a calm, non-threatening demeanour. Again the bear attempted to capture his scent. A random wind eddy that wafted his scent toward the bear, enticed it to stand up again, sniffing the air cautiously. The scent was unlike any it had ever encountered. Again it went down and advanced two steps, growling as it came, trying to prompt some type of reaction.

As the likelihood of a bloodless encounter lessened, Oran decided on his first stroke, shifting his balance almost imperceptibly. To the bear, this minute shift was a beacon shouting danger as it correctly judged the movement to be a prelude to attack rather than flight. The bear once again retreated. Still the creature did not move, but the bear now sensed tension not previously felt. This creature was definitely dangerous! How to get away? It felt certain that if it backed away further the creature would take it as a sign of weakness and attack. It would be better to attack first.

As it prepared to rush him, Oran sat down, placing his sword horizontally on crossed legs and focussed on the track halfway between him and the bear. To the bear, this move was completely unexpected and it hesitated. The creature could not easily attack from a sitting position. Sitting made it vulnerable, so what was it planning? A low growl made Oran shift focus and he again locked eyes with his opponent. He held the creature’s gaze while thinking, “I have no wish to harm you, but I will kill you if you attack.”

The creature showed neither fear nor aggression. It just sat and waited, acting as if merely wishing to be left alone. To the bear, such behaviour was unknown. In an attempt to intimidate its opponent, the bear advanced another step, stopped, swayed back and forth and gave a great roar. No response. The creature still remained motionless, neither trying to escape nor attack, but the leave-me-alone message seemed stronger and its tension increased. The bear retreated two steps and the tension lessened.

The bear had no wish to fight anything so strange. It backed away another three steps, growled a warning for the creature to keep its distance, backed away a further three steps and again growled a warning. Since the bear had no idea how fast its opponent could run, it was not certain that flight was possible. However, each step backwards decreased the tension. That was encouraging and suggested that being left alone was the sole requisite to avoiding a fight.

The bear looked sideways into the woods, wanting to...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 1.7.2024
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Fantasy / Science Fiction ► Science Fiction
• ISBN-10: 1-923078-28-3 / 1923078283
• ISBN-13: 978-1-923078-28-4 / 9781923078284