Page 35 of On a Barbarian World

“That’s if you even really are a skyflyer,” Kata mumbled. “Warlord, I do not see how this woman can help us. She isn’t from here, and does not even know our legends.”

“Kata, you have had no success after many months of trying,” Kavon said.

The female scholar’s cheeks heated.

“I suggest you let Aurina have longer than a few minutes to try.” He swept the room with his gaze. “I want the sword found, and we’ll do whatever we need to do to achieve my quest.”

“Yes, Warlord,” Davin said.

“Yes, Warlord,” Kata mumbled.

Aurina was looking at him with a smile on her face. She straightened and turned back to the others. “When and where was the sword last seen?”

Davin stirred. “It was thousands of years ago.”

She froze, then groaned. “Thousands of years?” She ran a hand over her hair. “Okay, that’s not going to make things easy.”

“We have written records of what it looked like, and how the First Warriors revered it.”

“You said the First Warriors came from the north? Do you know where?”

Davin shrugged. “The north is all we know. Nowadays, the north is a barren land, sometimes covered in snow, and no one has ever succeeded in finding the cities of the warriors. Our records say the warriors arrived here at a time when the stars were falling from the sky. Before they came, the Markarians were living in the dark, were unenlightened.”

“Our native ancestors were a fearsome, animal-like race. Taller, broader, more muscular and some records say, with scales,” Kavon said.

“Hmm.” Aurina tapped some more on her device. “So, the First Warriors bred with your ancestors.” Her gaze dropped down, tracing over Kavon’s body.

It was an almost clinical appraisal, but Kavon still felt a flare of heat. “Aurina?”

She started. “Right. Well, you definitely look human-like. Your skin is unique. I know you have two hearts…anything else I should know about?”

“We have second copies of almost all our main organs,” Kata said. “It is perfect for warriors. It gives extra strength and stamina, and if one organ is wounded in combat, there⁠—”

“—is a backup,” Aurina finished. “Wow. You really are bred to fight.”

Kavon eyed her face. “You’ve thought of something.”

“I’m tossing a few ideas around. When I have something workable, I’ll let you know. Chaldora, you mentioned records. Can I see them?”

The elderly woman looked at Kavon, who nodded.

“Of course, all the tomes on the shelves in this room contain legends of the First Warriors.” She waved to the back of the room.

Aurina turned, gasped and sprung to her feet. “Holy stars, real books!” She hurried over, her hands clasped together like she was too afraid to touch the leather-bound volumes. “I haven’t seen real books in forever.”

“You have unreal books?” Davin asked, frowning.

She spun and held up her device. “Electronic records. Easier, but I think we lose something of the charm.”

“Mistress Aurina, I could help you go through the ancient records,” Davin offered eagerly.

Kavon’s gaze narrowed on the young scholar. The man had barely pulled his entranced gaze from Aurina the entire time they’d been in the room. He looked like a pup tripping over its paws to please its master.

Kavon could hardly blame the boy…and sincerely hoped he didn’t have the same look on his face. It wouldn’t be fitting for a warlord. “Davin, have the books delivered to my rooms. Aurina can study them there.”

The young scholar’s face fell.

Kata’s face screwed up. “She shares your rooms?”