Chronicles of the Overworld Book 1 — Nihal of the Land of the Wind Read Free Page A

testing her finger against the blade, trying to hide the fact that she was overcome with joy. Her first weapon!
    “But remember, don’t ever lord it over a vanquished enemy. It’s in very poor taste.”
    Nihal looked at her father with knowing eyes. “Thanks, Pop.”
    She was shrewd enough to know when someone allowed her to win.

2
SENNAR
    Nihal had been hanging out with a gang of hooligan boys ever since she was little. True, the others had their misgivings at first, partly because she was a girl and partly because of her strange looks. But it didn’t take her long to win their acceptance.
    A couple of duels made it clear that no one in the group had anything to teach her about fighting, even if she was a girl.
    Once she became a full-fledged member, the boys grew to like her more and more. They idolized her after she beat their leader, Barod, in a sword fight. That was when she took over command.
    But though Nihal was rarely alone, there were times when she felt lonely. At those times, she’d climb to the top of Salazar and take in the view from the large rooftop terrace, where her eyes could roam over the endless fields. The only man-made structures visible were the Tyrant’s Fortress and the faint silhouettes of other cities.
    When she sat gazing at that spectacle, Nihal felt a calm descend upon her. For a moment, her warrior nature was still. It was strange—only when sky and fields were ablaze in the light of sunset could she quiet her mind, and in those moments she could hear murmurings come up from the depths of her soul, a whisper in a language she did not understand.
    The other kids admired Nihal even more after she won Livon’s dagger. She strode about with it hanging from her hip, feeling as strong as a knight. On more than one occasion, she offered it to anyone who could beat her. As it was, she could still boast that she’d never lost a battle.
    One morning during the fall of Nihal’s thirteenth year, Barod came looking for her because a kid had shown up, wanting to challenge her for the dagger. That was enough for Nihal. She headed to the roof of Salazar, where all the duels were held.
    When she saw the challenger, she almost burst out laughing. He was tall and thin, with long, disheveled red hair. He looked to be a couple years older than she was. She could see in a glance that strength was definitely not his trump card, and neither was agility, given the bulky tunic he wore. How could anyone fight in a getup like that?
    His intelligence might be his only secret weapon. Nihal caught a glimpse of it in his light-blue eyes, but it didn’t worry her. She’d beaten her fair share of crafty challengers.
    “Are you the one who sent for me?”
    “In the flesh.”
    “And you want to challenge me?”
    “Yes.”
    “You’re a man of few words. I’ve never seen you here before. Where are you from?”
    “I came here from the edge of the Forest, but I’m from of the Land of the Sea. And to answer your next question, my name is Sennar.”
    Nihal couldn’t understand why this kid was so cocky. He knew her by reputation, or else he wouldn’t have come to challenge her. Was he underestimating her?
    “Who told you about me, and why do you want to challenge me?”
    “Everyone’s been talking about the unbeatable demon with pointed ears and blue hair. So, what happened? Did you forget you’re a girl?”
    Nihal clenched her fists. She knew it would be counterproductive to lose her temper before the duel, which was precisely what Sennar was aiming for with his mocking tone and that derisive smile on his face.
    “What I do is my business. You still haven’t answered me. Why do you want to challenge me?”
    “Look, I don’t care about all the honor and glory nonsense that fills the brains of the little kids you brawl with. I want your dagger because Livon made it and he’s the best armorer in the Overworld. If I have to play childish games with you to get it, fine.”
    Nihal wanted to have at him, but