Forsworn

Begin writing yourDistant memories filled his mind, even as he fought for his life against the mysterious attackers. Surrounded by two katana-wielding foes he heard echoes of his former sergeant barking commands…
 
“Damnit Steelestone! If you move like that in real battle, you’ll be skewered like an Orthalion stinkrat! Parry! Parry! Strike! Counter! Finish!”, the gravelly voice of the sergeant bellowed.
 
“Aye aye Cap’n!”, the young soldier blurted breathlessly.
“Curse you if you call me that once more! Again! Parry! Parry! Counter! Strike! Parry! Finish!”
 
He desperately fought off the two sparring partners, with their four wooden practice blades in the small training ground. The dwarf was inexperienced with armed combat and briefly hesitated with each action. A deadly habit that the sergeant was committed to breaking.
 
“Parry! Parry! Strike! Counter! Strike! Par…”
 
Pulled to the present his enigmatic enemies landed several blows, one glancing off his armour but two more piercing through, causing him to cry aloud involuntarily.
Parry. Parry. Strike.
Parry.
Counter.
 
They were quickening their strikes and he was unable to keep pace. A blade glanced across the top of his head and blood burst forth. Momentarily losing his focus he dropped to one knee and raised his axe to defend against the inevitable blow.
 
A different voice spoke from within. Deeper. Confident. Irritated.
In a fleeting moment, Sikander glimpsed a butterfly briefly float in front of his eyes and briefly land on the haft of his axe. It blazed a fierce ember glow from its wings which appeared to be alight with dancing flames.
 
“Damnit Steelestone! Get up and tell me… where in the five hells did you get that cursed armour?!? By the Stone, you meddle with dangerous things! Parry! Parry! Strike! Counter! Finish!”
 
Sikander Steelestone rolled to his side and narrowly missed the killing strike. Rising to his feet he raised his axe and briefly noticed a single red rune on the blade that glowed briefly before disappearing. It was the dwarven rune kalash-shokrin with a definitive single meaning.
Forsworn.