Path of the sword

The world of the novel is the conditionally Arab-Islamic world of the Caliphate, the border countries are similar to the countries of the east: China, Japan, Mongolia. Kabir emirate also includes countries like the Mediterranean, and local analogues of the North European countries are also mentioned. The action takes place in countries such as the Kabir Emirate (Afghanistan; Kabir corresponds to Kabul, near which, in our reality, the Safed-Kuh mountain range mentioned in the novel is located), Meilan (China and Japan), Shulma (Mongolian steppes). Kimena (Greece), Harza (Arab country), Lawle, or Lawles (northern Europe), and others are mentioned.

In the world of the novel, edged weapons are reasonable, can communicate with each other, and at the same time consider their civilization to be the only one. Weapon self-name - Shining, people who “own” a weapon, Shining call Appendages and consider something like their symbionts (this word is not used in the novel, but the Appendage for Shining is clearly more than a pet).

The shining ones are sincerely sure that they control all the actions of the Appendages.

Fights are popular, always without injuring the fighting people (“spoiling the Appendages is the last thing”). Fights are called Conversations. The Culture of Conversations originated in the days of the Wild Blades - when the Shining ones were at a low level of civilization and still spoiled the Appendages, and by now has developed to perfection.

On the other hand, the people of this world are just as intelligent, and they also consider their civilization to be the only one, treating the Shining ones as things - almost sacred, but nonetheless, things.

Kabir emirate is almost utopia. Its residents practically do not commit crimes related to violence - Shining does not allow. There are neither class, nor racial, nor other troubles. But the happy time is coming to an end, for the emirate, a troubled time begins.

In Kabir, murders suddenly begin to occur. Rumors are creeping about the Dim sect (among the Shining), and the assassins - (among the people). The emirs of Kabir (man Daud Abu Salim and Scimitar Sheshez) are thinking whether to allow the tournament, and the Higher Meilan people Chen Ankor with the Unicorn sword give him advice to conduct the tournament. Their voice is decisive. But in a duel with visiting strangers, Cheng loses his right hand to the middle of his forearm. He and his sword are depressed - the art of Conversation is no longer available to them.

But both of them are advised by the court jesters (man and dagger-jutte) - to forge Chen a new, mechanical arm. He takes this crazy advice, and it turns out to be a turning point in his life. By some miracle, Chen’s iron hand becomes a means of communication between him and his sword - and so for the first time the Shining and the man meet.

Trying to investigate the circumstances of unprecedented crimes, Unicorn and Cheng enter a group of Shining and people who can shed blood. In a night skirmish, the foolish man Drudle is seriously injured, and his scimitar Child Teacher dies, and Chen and Unicorn are killed for the first time in a state of passion. Like a trophy, Chen gets Sai Second. He takes with him the second Shining, seriously wounded Drudle (Chen considers him dead), the jester Jutte.

Cheng and Unicorn decide to go to Meilan to answer all questions posed by fate. Their former butlers (a man and a sword) go with them, and they are secretly followed by friends and lovers of both - the peak of Wolf's Broom and the noble Mrs. Ak-Ninchi, respectively.

After Meilan, their path lies in the terrible Shulma - to where people and Blades are still Wild, killing is considered normal and even an honorable thing, and mercy - weakness ...

• Cheng Ankor Wei - the protagonist, a young cabaret from a family of immigrants from Meilan, a descendant of a noble family, part of the narrative is conducted on his behalf, a unicorn man. Cheerful, with a light character, man, master of the “drunken sword”. Once in Shulma, by the will of circumstances was named Asmohat-ta , the last earthly incarnation of the yellow god Mo.
• The Meilan Unicorn is also the main character, Shining Chen, the direct sword is dan gien ( jian ), part of the narrative is conducted on his behalf. The character is similar to your man, as is usually the case.
• Drudle Muzdry is a jester of the Kabir emir, a short, stout man of middle age, wise, sarcastic and cruel. He has two Shining, and, in addition, he has the skills and hand-to-hand fighting - a rarity in that world. He is fond of the history of Kabir, collects the creative heritage of Al-Mutanabbi, the legendary emir-poet.
• Jutte Chip - one of the Shining Drudle, later passed to Chen - dagger-jutte, also an emir jester. An even more venomous personality than his person. Able to kill the Shining - to break other people's weapons (for which in antiquity he received the nickname "Kabir executioner"), but is not able to shed the blood of the Appendages - since it does not have an edge and blades.
• Kos al-Tanya is Chen’s butler, a very peculiar person. Ready to go with Chen anywhere, even if he protests.
• Zarrachid is the sword- estock of Kos, the butler of the Unicorn. Looks like his own person.
• Sai Second is one of the Shining ones who learned to shed blood in Shulm. According to the account of swords, it’s quite a child, after the death of the Appendage, he came to Chen, and Jutte took up his re-education. Then Saya took Kos.
• Chin, Ms. Ak-Ninchi is Chen's lover. A man of spades named Wolf Broom.
• Mother Qi is an old woman who knows too much for an ordinary person, the man of the staff of Chan Bo. Likes to pretend to be a silly chatty grandmother.
• Younger is the ruler of Meilan, the Dowager Empress, who had plans for Chen, a very beautiful woman. Her Shining - two combat Emey spokes, Aun and Aunuh.
• No Dachi - Brilliant, who learned to shed blood in Shulm and brought this art to the peaceful Kabir Emirate. His man is Asahiro Lee. Both are deeply unhappy because of their choice.
• Jamuha the Eight - Arms is the ruler of Shulma. The Chinqueda sword man nicknamed the Snake of Sheng.
• Kush-tengri , nicknamed the Wrong Shaman, is a shulmus, a servant of the Faceless. Born gray-haired, they say, was fed by wolves. A good shaman and a worthy man.

• Let them die
• I'll take it myself