Swordwoman’s Tale by Inkroost
Swordwoman’s Tale
The Sword in the Storm · Ch.1
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Mara Venn stands in a blue tunic with a sword at her hip and a long red scarf sweeping around her, as a star glows above her eyebrow and the same star shines over a walled city, desert, forest, coastal village, fields, and snowy mountains.
Mara, wearing a blue tunic and long red scarf, crosses a rain-soaked stone bridge, then looks back and faces a broken section of the bridge.
Mara Venn stands on a rain-soaked stone bridge beneath a bright streak in the sky, then grips a sword with a thin cyan line along its blade and asks, “What are you doing?”
Mara kneels at a broken stone parapet in the rain, finds a small brass token marked with a star, and looks at it beneath a bright streaking star in the sky.
In heavy rain on a stone causeway, Mara Venn faces the armored Warden Voss, holding a sword and a round marked token as she questions him.
On a rain-soaked stone bridge, Mara Venn faces the armored Warden Voss with her sword raised as he blocks it with his gauntlet and then points toward her.
Mara Venn holds a sword across a rain-soaked stone bridge as Warden Voss faces her in armor, with a bright star visible above the ravine.
In the rain on a stone rampart, Mara Venn parries Warden Voss’s sword, a burst of energy sends him flying backward, and she kneels facing him as he sits on the stones.
In the rain, Mara Venn holds a sword while facing the armored Warden Voss, who turns and walks away; Mara then looks up at a bright star in the sky.
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Mara Venn stands in a blue tunic with a sword at her hip and a long red scarf sweeping around her, as a star glows above her eyebrow and the same star shines over a walled city, desert, forest, coastal village, fields, and snowy mountains.
Mara, wearing a blue tunic and long red scarf, crosses a rain-soaked stone bridge, then looks back and faces a broken section of the bridge.
Mara Venn stands on a rain-soaked stone bridge beneath a bright streak in the sky, then grips a sword with a thin cyan line along its blade and asks, “What are you doing?”
Mara kneels at a broken stone parapet in the rain, finds a small brass token marked with a star, and looks at it beneath a bright streaking star in the sky.
In heavy rain on a stone causeway, Mara Venn faces the armored Warden Voss, holding a sword and a round marked token as she questions him.
On a rain-soaked stone bridge, Mara Venn faces the armored Warden Voss with her sword raised as he blocks it with his gauntlet and then points toward her.
Mara Venn holds a sword across a rain-soaked stone bridge as Warden Voss faces her in armor, with a bright star visible above the ravine.
In the rain on a stone rampart, Mara Venn parries Warden Voss’s sword, a burst of energy sends him flying backward, and she kneels facing him as he sits on the stones.
In the rain, Mara Venn holds a sword while facing the armored Warden Voss, who turns and walks away; Mara then looks up at a bright star in the sky.

Chapter complete

You finished The Sword in the Storm (Ch.1) of Swordwoman’s Tale. Nice roost to rest at.

Hollowmere · Ch.2 → All chapters

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Text Version A written companion to this chapter — for accessibility, screen readers, and search.

On a storm-lashed bridge above Cinder Pass, courier Mara Venn discovers that her father's old sword answers a falling star. A masked warrior arrives demanding the blade, forcing Mara into her first real fight and revealing that the sword holds a power she cannot yet control.

Page 1

Mara Venn stands in the center, with small silhouetted figures looking up from a walled city and views of a desert, forest, coastal village, farmland, and snowy mountain hamlet around her. A bright star appears in the sky above each landscape. Caption: “ACROSS THE EARTH REALM, THE SECOND STAR WAS SEEN.”

Page 2

In heavy rain, Mara walks across a stone bridge above a narrow river, with stone towers and rocky, tree-covered slopes around it. She rests a hand on her sword, looks back over her shoulder, then faces a gap in the bridge. Mara: “One more pass, and I can sleep indoors.”

Page 3

Mara Venn stands on a stone bridge in the rain as a bright streak crosses the sky; she looks startled and grips her sword, whose blade has a thin cyan line. Mara Venn: What are you doing?

Page 4

Mara kneels beside the broken parapet and lifts a small brass token from a crack in the stone. She studies the token, which bears a star mark. A bright streak crosses the rainy sky above a wooded ravine. Mara: “Father...”

Page 5

Mara Venn stands on a rain-soaked stone causeway facing Warden Voss, who wears dark plate armor and a cloak. Mara holds a sword; she also raises a round token bearing a star-like mark. Warden Voss: “Surrender the sword.” Mara Venn: “You know my father’s mark. How?”

Page 6

Mara Venn, wearing a red scarf and carrying a sword, faces the heavily armored Warden Voss on a stone bridge in the rain. Her sword meets his armored gauntlet; in the final scene, he points at her while she holds her sword ready. Warden Voss: “You do not know what you carry.” Mara Venn: “Then stop speaking in riddles.”

Page 7

Mara Venn, wearing a red scarf and holding a sword, faces the armored Warden Voss on a stone bridge in the rain. The sword has a thin cyan line along its blade, and a bright star is visible above the ravine. Warden Voss: “It is a danger, not a prize.” A close view shows Mara’s hand gripping the sword; the bright star shines in the rainy sky. Mara Venn: “You could have started with that.” Warden Voss: “You would not have listened.”

Page 8

In the rain on a stone rampart, Warden Voss thrusts his sword toward Mara Venn, who blocks it with her own. Their blades meet in a burst of angular energy and black dots, sending Voss backward while Mara keeps hold of her sword. In the final scene, Mara kneels with her sword in hand as Voss sits on the stones opposite her. Mara Venn: “I didn’t—”

Page 9

Rain falls over a stone courtyard and walls. Mara Venn, wearing a red scarf and blue clothing, holds a sword and faces the armored, blue-cloaked Warden Voss. Voss says, “Others will come for it.” Voss walks away as Mara watches, then she looks up toward a bright star and says, “Then I suppose I should keep moving.”