Side Stories - The Linsey Ashguard Books: A Dystopian Sci-Fi Fantasy (War of the Tarot Extended Universe Book 1) Read online

  “Love hails it, day and night,

  The sweetest thing that may be,

  Yet cannot praise aright,

  A baby.”

  Babyhood – Algernon Charles Swinburne

  CHAPTER ONE

  She struck my ass with the flat edge of her wooden short sword. The blow was quick, precise, and above all else stung like hell. I stumbled forward and barely managed a sloppy pirouette, but it was enough to keep my balance and return me to the forward position. The sharp pain spreading across my backside served as an insistent reminder of how dangerous it was to leave your back open to attack.

  “Focus Linsey, you’re a member of the Queen’s Guard now, and there will be zero tolerance for the moves of a rank amateur,” Ella taunted.

  To have Ella of all people make such a jab at me set my blood on fire and the vein on my forehead pulsed. I couldn’t help it, I was who I was and Ella knew it, she knew it well. Without taking the time to fully recover from my stumble I stepped in and pressed the attack. I never once stopped to consider slowing the pace to seize control of the situation, a tactic Ella had perfected years ago, “Rank amateurs don’t graduate at the top of their class!”

  She took a single step to the side and with a gentle flick of her wrist she parried my blow, “They don’t graduate two years early either, but somehow you’ve managed to pull off both.”

  Having thrown all of my weight into the strike I had little say in the outcome of my anger-fueled lunge. Three heavy clumsy steps followed and then my face slammed into the cold hard floor of the elite guard’s training room. Searing pain erupted behind my eyes and I instantly dreaded the headache that would follow in the coming hours. I quickly shook the shock of pain away and sprang to my feet.

  The room wobbled and the dim light of the setting sun falling through the crystal skylight cast both our shadows long across the room. A trickle of warmth ran down the side of my face and I glanced down only long enough to see a drop of my blood splatter against the polished white marble floor.

  Anger and humiliation flooded over me and my muscles tightened so much that I quivered. I can’t say with any certainty why my body shook. It could have been the emotional monsoon raging at my very core, or the unsettling lightheadedness that accompanied a good strong blow to the head. I’d worked so hard to get where I was and to be made a fool of was a humbling experience. I did my best to remind myself, (or rather reassure myself of my own abilities), that Alessandra Celeste was no ordinary opponent. She was the captain of the Queen’s Guard and the second youngest person to ever graduate from the academy.

  Next to me that is.

  She stood barely an inch taller than me but her presence alone was enough to make me feel insignificant. Her long shimmering black hair was pulled back in a tight bun but when she wore it down it reminded me of the clearest night sky. A night sky that not only invited me to, but insisted I stare long into the heart of something greater than myself. Her magnetic crystal blue eyes were set upon me and their mesmerizing beauty was only eclipsed by the passionate lust for battle that radiated from within her very being. Glistening beads of sweat ran down the curve of her slender neck and accentuated the ethereal glow of her ivory skin. The supple leather of her training tunic creaked as she prepared for my next advance and the scent of the battle heated leather teased my helpless senses. I reveled in the perfume of battle and sex. Focus she said… she was as demanding a trainer as she was voracious a lover, “alright,” I gasped. “Let us be done with this.”

  “In a hurry?” She cocked a wry smile and tapped the edge of her wooden short sword against the soft leather of her boot.

  I suddenly felt hot in all kinds of places not necessary for success in battle but if I knew Ella, (and I knew Ella well…) there would be no fun to be had until the intense flame of her battle fury was fully satiated. So, if I wanted my… desires… pacified I needed to focus, or it was just as likely I’d end up in the infirmary instead of enfolded in the bliss of her tender caress.

  Ella lunged forward and thrust her wooden sword at my stomach.

  I barely managed to deflect the blow and before I knew it she had me on the defensive. Every second of training with Ella humbled me to no end. Even as I back stepped and side stepped to match her quickening pace I scolded my foolishness. I’d let my feelings for her cloud my judgment.

  Her sword whipped past my head. A gust of wind followed the blade and stirred my hair.

  I’d learned in the academy exactly how many thoughts could pass through your mind within a split seconds time. Your first reaction would always be an uncontrollable response. For me that uncontrollable response showed itself in a flash of startled panic. If you’ve never been struck in the temple with a wooden training sword, you’d never understand. It hurts and the fear of that pain is instinctual. I jumped back and lowered my sword to my side as I expelled a sucked in breath that all but dictated my state of panic. For future reference, you don’t ever want to show your opponent that kind of response, but I digress. The next thing you do is all reflex, because apparently sometimes your body knows better than your brain. My reflexive action was to immediately press an attack because we’d been trained that such an act could break a combo before it started. And the final act is when logic and speech comes into the picture. My logical reaction was to realize all too late (only a second after the initial attack) that I’d made a terrible mistake.

  Ella’s sword caught mine and she deflected the attack with such grace that the blades didn’t bounce apart, but instead they slid together. Had they been normal swords sparks would’ve flown through the air as they slid steel to steel. In essence she’d seized control of my blade and with that control she’d disarm me.

  I knew it was only a matter of seconds before I lost the match. Dozens of scenarios ran through my mind at warp speed, but the sad truth was that Ella never used the same tactic twice in a row. It was a skill that made her the most dangerous sword master in the Queendom. My eyes assessed her battle stance and desperately searched for any body language that’d betray her intentions, but for all my training I’d never been able to read her. So, I did the only thing I could. I loosened my wrist so I could follow through with a roundabout (The act of spinning one’s sword in a large arc, which would pull it from their grasp and send it flying.) It was the most widely accepted form of disarmament taught at the academy and when in doubt go with what you know, right?

  Ella spun my blade around with superb grace.

  A tremendous joy flowed through me as a large smile spread across my face. With my wrist loose and my grip firm I stepped into her arc to retain control of my own blade, “Today is my day!” I cheered.

  “Tisk, tisk,” Ella sighed with disappointment. She wrapped her leg around mine, slid her blade down to my hilt, and then quickly snapped her wrist up. As the force jarred my sword from my hand she pulled her leg back and it acted as a hook on my own.

  Fuck! I’d lost my sword and was headed for a one way trip to the floor. Once on my back, she’d press her blade to my neck and even though she’d look like a Goddess come to tame me, I’d be defeated. Unacceptable! I leaned into her enough to put some distance between her leg and mine. Not much, only an inch or so, but it was enough. I slipped my leg free and matched her grace as I spun to the side. The move threw her off balance and she had no choice but to spin in the opposite direction. When all was said and done we were standing back to back.

&nb
sp; My sword flipped several times in the air and landed across my foot where it teetered as if it were a seesaw.

  Hot blood rushed through my veins and my heart pounded against my chest hard enough to shake my whole body. In over a hundred training sessions I’d never made it past the disarmament portion of our spar and that was enough to make me question every action my body took. Any mistake at that point would rob me of my first victory.

  “Not bad,” Ella said.

  My ears perked up at the sound of her voice. She was impressed and I could detect a sense of wonder in her tone. We’d been in many positions over the past year and every time a sense of excitement accompanied them. What will happen next? It’s a terrifying and exhilarating question. “Thanks,” I rasped and instantly regretted giving away my state of mind.

  “Maybe this time, you’ll get to be on top.”

  Trickery again, I thought. She not only understood, but relished that huge blind spot I had for her, but I had to think beyond that. I could feel the heat radiate off her as our backs barely touched and every little breath and quiver caused warm tingles to erupt over my body. It wasn’t easy, but I forced myself to focus on our current state. I was lucky Ella was lost in a state of wonder. She was at her most dangerous when she was allowed to react to her opponents attack. That allowed me an advantage. I knew she wouldn’t make the first move, so I had time to think.

  She still has her sword, was the first thought to cross my mind. I had to retrieve mine somehow, but any overt move would goad her into action. If I dropped down she’d simply turn and put her sword to my neck, which would result in a loss. I could initiate the move and spin to catch her sword hand, disarm her, and then pray I could match her hand to hand skills, which was unlikely. No, what I needed was a compound move that’d get my sword back in my hand and allow me to make a finishing blow.

  I lifted my toes and felt the weight of my sword across my foot. With enough force I realized I could kick my sword up to me but once I made that move I had to be prepared to finish it. It was just a simple matter of kicking the sword, catching it, and then spinning into a power slash for the win. I can do that, no problem.

  “I’ve never had the pleasure of waiting so long for an attack from you,” Ella prodded.

  “What’s wrong? Afraid I might come up with something you can’t handle?”

  “Not at all,” Ella said, and I could hear the smile in her words. “Though, I must admit that the prospect has set my blood ablaze.”

  “It’s not nice to play on a girl’s emotions you know.”

  “Oh, is that what I’m doing?” Ella teased. “In all seriousness, I have no doubt that the day will come when you best me.”

  “You just don’t think it’ll be today.”

  “Try me and see.”

  “Tonight, you’ll be the one sleeping in my arms,” I couldn’t help but smile. Ever since Ella and I had moved into a less than professional relationship it’d become a running joke between us. She’d always hold me while I slept, and she’d tell me it’s her job to protect me until I’m good enough to protect myself. I thought it was silly but no matter what sneaky move I made, I always ended up wrapped in her arms; with my head against her chest listening to her heart lull me to sleep. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining but it was as good as telling her she was going to eat crow.

  “We’ll see.”

  Before she even finished her statement I was moving. My toes curled and I flicked my foot at the ankle. The sword flipped into the air. It spun twice and the hilt landed perfectly in my hand. I could feel Ella spinning already so I spun as well. I brought my sword around in a wide arc aimed directly at her head.

  She caught the blow effortlessly with as much grace as before and before I knew what was going on she whipped my sword out of my hands and slammed an open palm into my chest.

  All the air in my body rushed out and the blow drove me to the floor. I heard my sword clatter against the cold marble several feet away but the sensation that made my spirits drop was that of Ella’s sword pressed against my neck. I looked up and she was there.

  The sun set behind the horizon and a glorious warm glow surrounded her silhouette. I was right, she looked like a Goddess come to tame me and my libido was thankfully stronger than my ego, so it wasn’t all that disappointing.

  “Don’t worry love, you’re always welcome to sleep in my arms,” Ella simultaneously rubbed it in and offered me her hand.

  I gladly accepted it and she pulled me to my feet, “I’ll get you next time.”

  “Not until you curb that arrogance,” Ella strolled over and picked up my sword. She walked away to return them to their holders.

  I followed her. My insides tumbled and rolled and anyone nearby could probably feel the heat rolling off me. I did my best to hide my frustration. The last thing I wanted was for Ella to scold me for being pissy, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  She slid the swords into the rack and shook her head, “If I have to tell you what you did wrong at this point, you don’t deserve to know.”

  I crossed my arms and stuck out my bottom lip. Cut me some slack here, it’s not like I knew I was doing it; remember when I mentioned those reactions earlier? Anyway, I’d moved beyond frustrated to somewhere between livid and petulant, “Well, if you don’t tell me, how will I ever improve?”

  Ella turned to look at me and immediately rolled her eyes, “Well, you could always try thinking about it. You know? Assess the fight, go over your mistakes, evaluate yourself Lins, at this point, I believe it’s the only way you can progress. There comes a time, when the only teacher we have left is experience.”

  “If you say so.”

  Ella sauntered toward me and unbuckled her training tunic as she went. As she reached me it fell to the floor and revealed her tantalizing breasts, “Now, what do you say we forget about it for a while and go take a nice steamy shower?”

  It took an act of the Goddess for me to pull my eyes away from the luscious curve of her bosom, but when I met her eyes I realized I’d looked onto something far more dangerous. Those magnetic baby blues mesmerized me to the point that I didn’t even realize she was moving in to press her full pale pink lips to mine until her tongue parted them and her hand grasped my hair. Suddenly, a nice long steamy shower sounded wonderful.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Lying in bed with Ella evoked such a sensation of contentment and amazement that when piled on top of the ceaseless butterflies in my stomach, sleep became a fickle beast. Her welcoming arms laced gently around me and my head rested on her breast. The sound of her heart steadily beating trumped counting sheep on any ordinary day, but today would hardly be an average day. As I lazed in her embrace and admired how the moonlight accented the elegant curves of her face my mind raced with concerns. I prayed silently for her presence to dispel the insecurities unbound in my thoughts, but the Goddess saw fit to let me suffer.

  I eased out of her arms and slid from beneath the red satin sheets. The cool night air assaulted me and pebbled my naked flesh with goose bumps. I quickly tip toed through the plush black carpet, which felt divine on my bare feet, and grabbed the nearest robe. Once again I found myself encased in the warm embrace of cotton lined satin. I cast an envious yet impressed gaze at Ella as she lay oblivious in our bed. Being the Captain of the Queen’s Guard came with perks and benefits beyond my belief. The furniture, clothing, and adornments that occupied merely the room I stood in would take me several years of service to even barely afford.

  Atop the fireplace mantle rested a long silver box clasped shut by a latch that resembled the royal seal, two doves flying in opposite directions, but bound at the feet by a short piece of chain, set against the backdrop of a rising sun, and our two setting moons.

  I took the box into my trembling hands, took a deep breath and lifted the considerable weight. Once in my grasp I peered down at the ominous engraving that made my butterflies freak the fuck out. It read, “In the na
me of Queen Serine, fourth of her name and matriarch of all the lands beneath and skies above, I present thee, Linsellya K’rease Ashguard, this mark of achievement, and accept your pledge to the Queen’s Guard with honors.”

  Oh Goddess, give me the strength to open it, I thought as I eased into the night through the double glass doors onto the balcony. Even within the controlled climate of the environmental protection sphere that surrounded our great Queendom, I could feel traces of the violent frigid winds that ripped through the air of our world. Standing on the balcony in nothing more than a slip of cotton and satin felt impossible compared to the view in the distance. Sharp ice capped peaks stabbed the clear starry sky as they rose from a frozen and snow covered land. The light of our dual moons painted the ghostly white landscape in hues of blue and light green as the reflective surface of the ice caught the stars and glistened like diamonds. I often wondered what our world looked like before the Great War and the end of mankind. No pictures or records remained from the time before, so I only had my imagination to rely on. In light of the beautiful yet bleak landscape and surrounded by such dark thoughts the box felt much heavier.

  I sighed and placed it on the balcony. What if I’m not good enough? What if Ella is right and I’m too arrogant? What if I trip and fall right on my face the first time I meet the Queen? Ah, shut up Linsey! Just open the damn box! So I did. My fingers caught the royal clasp and popped it open. I know the clack wasn’t very loud, but in my ears it sounded loud enough to evoke an avalanche of epic scale. As I eased the lid up, the moonlight bounced off the polished cold steel blade and forced me to squint.

  Lying in a bed of plush red cotton laced with deep purple thread was a sword. The blade was short, perhaps two and a half feet in length and it winked at me. No, the sword didn’t have eyes, but I could easily see the traces of red caused by the star stone the smith had used to strengthen the steel. The blade would never tarnish and never break. No one knew exactly what star stone was, but everyone knew of its immortality and invulnerability. They also knew that only members of the Queen’s Guard possessed steel tempered with it, it was more than a sword, it was my badge of honor, and for that reason alone it terrified me.