Belly of the Beast by Warren Thomas (story books for 5 year olds txt) ๐
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- Author: Warren Thomas
Read book online ยซBelly of the Beast by Warren Thomas (story books for 5 year olds txt) ๐ยป. Author - Warren Thomas
BELLY OF THE BEAST
By
Warren Thomas
* * * * *
PUBLISHED BY:
Rollicking Dragon Press
Copyright 2021 by Warren Thomas
Cover by Willsin Rowe
Cover Art by Vanette Kosman
This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, and locations within either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, or locales is entirely coincidental. All characters in this story are 18 years old or older.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
List of other books by Warren
About the Author
Belly of the Beast
Tane Kyleson lifted the glowing length of steel and eyed it critically. The blade was almost the right color for the final ritual to give the sword life and a good temper. The barrel of blessed bearโs blood sat to his left, with his father beside it watching him and the blade with a critical eye.
โSteady, boy,โ Kyle said. A little pride crept into his stern face. โPatience.โ
It felt good to see the pleasure in his fatherโs face. Kyle Raymondson was the greatest swordsmith in the region, swordsmith to princes, dukes, and barons. And Tane had to admit, the blade in his gloved hand was the finest he had ever made.
A heroโs sword, for certain, he thought.
It was a regular enough looking sword, nothing ornate like the nobility wore, but had a double fuller instead of a single. And if he ever decided to sell it, Tane could dress it up with a fancy hilt.
โAnd there it is!โ
The color of the blade was perfect. Without hesitation Tane thrust the glowing sword all the way into the deep red bearโs blood, until his arm was immersed halfway to the elbow.
Tane named the blade, โBearclaw!โ
The blood hissed and boiled, foul smelling steam erupting up into Taneโs face. The whole shop suddenly reeked of cooking bearโs blood. The blood quickly rose in temperature as it cooled the precious blade at just the right speed, while he listened intently for that telltale ting that said a blade cracked during the quench.
Nothing, until the very blood began to glow. Tane felt hot and cold flow up his arm. He almost released the blade.
โSomething wrong?โ his father asked.
Tane pulled the blade out and laid it across the shopโs small altar to Kamain, God of the Forge and Smiths. It remained perfectly straight and unblemished.
โNo. I justโฆโ he said. โIt was nothing. My mind wandered for a second.โ
His father leaned over to look at the sword. โItโs a beautiful blade.โ
โThank you. I worked so hard on it.โ
A big grin spread across Taneโs face. I did it!
Quickly removing the heavy, blood-soaked glove and wiping his bloody hands on a waiting towel to clean his fingers, Tane began drawing the Leltic runes of victory, bravery, and strength in the blood along one side of the blade while chanting the required prayer. Then flipping it over, he used a clean finger to write the swordโs name on the other side.
โA good name, Tane,โ Kyle said. โI, too, named my Master Blade after Kamain.โ
The bear was sacred to the God of the Forge and Smiths, and was His animal manifestation.
A noble beast, Tane thought with a smile of pride, And my Master Sword is just as noble.
Reverently carrying the blood-dripping blade over to the forge, Tane placed it in a wrought iron stand over the fire. The qualities inscribed in the blood would be imbedded within the steel once the sacred bearโs blood dried. Then Tane would clean, polish, and test the blade.
โThank you, Kamain, for guiding my hand and blessing my work,โ Tane said, bowing to first the small altar, then the sword. Finally, he grinned at his father, โAnd I finished just in time for dinner, if my stomach and nose are any judge.โ
Kyle took a deep breath, smiling contentedly, โSmells like roast pork. By Kamainโs Hammer, I swear that woman can cook! And your uncle said I was crazy to marry a wild forest born Lelt! His civilized wife makes him do the cooking!โ
โI havenโt heard him complaining much,โ Tane said, grinning just as fiercely as his father. โTo hear him tell it, he doesnโt let her cook.โ
โHa! No wonder,โ Kyle laughed. โI ate her cooking once. I was sick for a week. She canโt boil water without detailed instructions. And adult supervision.โ
Tane chuckled as he stripped off his leathern apron before the rain barrel and began washing the blood, sweat and grime off his face, arms and bare upper body. Like his father, he had short-cropped brown hair and blue eyes, and the stout body and musculature of a long line of smiths. At six feet, he was a six inches shorter than his Jarlander father. His fatherโs side of the family always clicked their tongues woefully and lamented on how his โdwarfishโ stature came from his Leltic motherโs blood. Then everyone would grin and wink at her.
His mother gave him his pug nose and right to bear the sacred tattoos of her tribe and clan. Tane had already earned all he was allowed. Blue geometric tattoos encircled both wrists and the upper arms halfway up from the elbow to make him strong and brave. A vertical bar of intricate, interlaced geometric designs and oak leaves ran the length of his spine to give him the
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