An Excerpt from The Ballad of Alchemy and Steel
The Ballad of Alchemy and Steel is scheduled to release April 30 (free to newsletter subscribers: subscribe here) It’s only 16 days away, so it’s about time I share a little from that novella.
This piece comes from early in the story and sets the tone for much of the rest of the novella. The whole piece is written as a collection of memories from both characters that details their first meeting and how they came together. It also goes into more detail about the Murkor people and their culture, something the reader does not get to see much of in the trilogy.
Note: This story features LGBTQ+ themes. If it’s not your thing, that’s ok – I don’t expect everyone to read it. I wrote this story for my brother.
A memory from age 10
I watched as the uncoordinated, soft-spoken boy scurried away, his head hung low with despair. The first day spent amongst the soldiers was always the most difficult—particularly for those whose fathers weren’t part of the caste.
Sal’zar had mentioned his father was a tailor during our lengthy training session. It was little wonder he’d struggled. I believed he would pursue another caste, though a part of me hoped I’d see him again. He wasn’t like the others who regularly appeared to observe and train with the soldiers. He intrigued me.
Beside me, my father shook his head sadly. “I pray that poor boy will find his way. It’s not here.”
I nodded in agreement. As I did so, I noticed several of the older boys were making their way toward the tunnel rapidly, intent on following Sal’zar. I knew they meant to harass him further. Often, they would taunt and tease, but words held pointed barbs just as painful as a dagger’s thrust. A quick study of their collective stances told me today they sought more than mere insults—they craved violence. It happened now and again, but it wasn’t condoned by the soldiers.
I narrowed my eyes and swung my gaze up to meet Jal’manan’s. “Father, they—”
“I see them, Jal’den. Will you intervene on your friend’s behalf, or shall I?”
I smiled grimly; my father knew my mind too well. I was a better fighter than any of the group that currently pursued Sal’zar, and I was unafraid to confront them. They might be a few years older, but I’d bested each one of them previously. I would do so again.
“I will, father.”
He chuckled and patted the top of my head. “You’re a scrapper, Jal’den. Hurry, before they inflict too much damage.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” I called over my shoulder as I raced to catch up to the others. They’d regret their choice of actions today.
I saw the half-circle of gray hoods well before they were aware of my approach. They had Sal’zar surrounded, his back pressed to the cavern’s uneven wall. The two oldest in the group flanked him; one aimed a kick at Sal’zar’s shins while the other shoved him roughly. The rest jeered and laughed, encouraging and emboldening their leaders.
I growled beneath my hood, furious at the bullies. Sal’zar didn’t deserve such treatment. I quickened my pace and closed the distance while Sal’zar cowered and attempted to dodge another kick.
I was upon the onlookers in a flash. I swung at the shortest of the bunch, my fist connecting solidly with his jaw. I’d aimed the blow at the base of his chin, hoping that when his teeth clicked together, the force would be enough to cause him to collapse momentarily. My plan worked and he crumpled to the ground, but I no longer held the element of surprise. The others turned their attention away from Sal’zar and eyed me warily.
One of them shook his head, glanced at his compatriots, and muttered darkly inside his hood. I was unable to hear his words, but a moment later he trotted away toward the marketplace. Now there were three.
The oldest crossed his arms, his body language exuding disdain. “What, Jal’den? You came picking fights because you didn’t get your workout earlier?” He snorted and nodded his head in Sal’zar’s direction. “This one wasn’t a match for you, was he?”
I snarled in response and lunged at him. Startled, he was slow to react, and within moments I had him pinned to the cavern floor. I clutched the gray cloth at his collar in my left fist, while my right loomed in the air above his partially exposed face. He struggled beneath me, but I’d been schooled in combat by my father since the time I could walk—his resistance was futile.
“You will leave him alone,” I growled. “You’re no match for me, either.”
He swallowed and glanced toward his friends, two of which were hastily disappearing around the bend in the tunnel. If one of the soldiers came upon the pair of us fighting, each of us would be punished—the bystanders included. My actions were sanctioned by my father, and as one of the watch commanders, his word carried a great deal of weight. I wasn’t concerned by potential repercussions, but the others should have been.
I dropped my right hand to my side and stood up. The boy I’d tackled lay still for a moment before he pulled his hood down and rose to his feet. He dusted himself off, then moved toward his fallen comrade who was beginning to stir.
“You knocked him out cold.”
I shrugged in response to the accusation. He’d deserved it—and I could have done much worse.
He helped the other boy to his feet and they began to trudge toward the marketplace, the one I’d punched leaning heavily against his friend’s arm. I shook my head in disgust as they disappeared from my sight. If they were accepted into the soldiers’ caste, their behavior wouldn’t be tolerated.
“Jal’den?” Sal’zar asked uncertainly.
I turned to face him. He still stood against the wall, but his posture had begun to relax.
“Why did you defend me? You don’t know me.”
I shrugged. “I don’t like bullies, and I’m a better fighter than any of them.” I studied him for a time, uncertain of what to say next.
“Thank you.”
I smiled beneath my hood. “I’d fight them again, but I think they’ll leave you alone now.”
(C) 2022 by A.J. Calvin
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