The Hammer's Fall

by Summers, Derick

  “I did, but apparently you were too busy to notice.”

  He could hear the laughter in her voice as she spoke. Logan struggled clumsily into the new shirt and quickly found himself tangled. El couldn’t contain her laughter any longer, which only added to his embarrassment and his inability to extricate himself from the tangled mass of shirt.

  “Allow me.”

  Firm hands found and steadied him. They ran down his body, pulling the shirt into place and smoothing out the wrinkles. He tucked the shirt into his breeches and turned back to her.

  “Thank …”

  He lost his words and found himself just gaping open mouthed at her.

  “What? Don’t you like?”

  El pirouetted before him.

  “Wow.”

  He had thought she was beautiful before when he first saw her in the forest. Now, she was absolutely gorgeous. She wore a dress of soft forest green that clung to her body like a second skin. The neckline plunged low and Logan was amazed that it managed to stay in place. Her long golden hair cascaded down her back and fell to her hips. Small flowers were braided through it.

  “Wow.”

  It was all Logan could manage to say and El started to blush as she saw the sincerity in Logan’s gaze.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so beautiful,” Logan finally managed.

  Their eyes met and held for a long moment before El finally murmured.

  “Um … We should probably get going.”

  “Yes of course,” Logan agreed.

  It was several moments before the two managed to tear their gaze away from each other. El turned and led the way from the chamber. As she mounted the stairs, Logan couldn’t help thinking that this view was almost as impressive as the earlier. He blushed at the thought as El turned to hold the leaf door for him. She seemed to guess what he’d been thinking and soon was blushing furiously herself.

  Chapter Twenty: Making New Friends

  Again, Logan found himself following El along the elfin tree paths. This time he didn’t even notice the heights, he was so mesmerized by El’dreathia. They seemed to be moving towards a different area of the village and he couldn’t help but be curious about what wonders it might hold. Night had fallen on the forest and moonlight shone through breaks in the canopy. Torches had been placed intermittently along the paths to provide light for travelers. Logan hadn’t thought it possible, but the elfin village was even more spectacular by night.

  As he walked, Logan thought about the changes that had taken place in his life. It was hard to accept that less than a month ago he was safe and sound in his parents’ home, looking forward to a simple life as a blacksmith. Now here he was, his parents were gone to the eternal forge, and his sister was Gods knew where. He was walking along a tree branch more than a hundred feet above the forest floor, following the most beautiful creature he had ever seen to a feast in his honour. Logan shook his head in wonder. His life had changed so much, so fast.

  Eventually, El led him along a particularly wide branch towards a large arch. Many elves were following the same path and looked at him in wonder. He felt incredibly out of place amongst these delicately beautiful creatures. He felt so clumsy and heavy compared to them.

  As if reading his mind, El’dreathia turned and waited for him to catch up. She reached for his hand and held it as they passed under the arch together. She gave him a reassuring smile as they stepped into the chamber.

  The room before them was crowded with people and Logan felt more than a little uncomfortable. It didn’t help when El stopped him so that they could be announced to the crowd. He couldn’t actually understand very much of the announcement, though he did manage to pick out his own name. The cheering from the crowd that followed made him even more uncomfortable and he could feel his face and neck reddening. El squeezed his hand reassuringly.

  The festivities quickly resumed and El led him through the sea of bodies. Logan’s attention was immediately drawn to a figure moving purposefully through the crowd toward them. The elf in question was a tall male and quite powerfully built for his race. His skin was the same golden brown that Logan was getting used to seeing amongst the elves and his hair and eyes glittered a dark metallic blue.

  As those eyes glittered, Logan noticed that they never left El. Logan cast a quick glance to his side to see if she was aware of the male elf, but she seemed completely oblivious to his presence. Oblivious, that is, until the big elf stood directly in front of her. El’s eyes narrowed and her hand tightened its grip on Logan’s.

  Logan was immediately on guard and instinctively began evaluating the elf as a possible threat. He was tall and big for his race, but that still meant he was thin by almost any other standard. Logan had already seen how fast the elves were and the narrow branch paths throughout the village told him of their dexterity. He had no reason to believe the elf before him wouldn’t possess those attributes.

  The two elves spoke quickly and sharply to each other in their own language and the crowd had moved back a bit to give them more room.

  And probably to get a better view of the entertainment, thought Logan bitterly. Some things are universal.

  The tension between the two elves was almost tangible and El seemed to be growing agitated. When the male elf reached out to touch El’s arm, Logan felt her reflexively pull back.

  Enough is enough, thought Logan.

  He gently released her hand and raised his to touch the small of her back. It had the desired effect of drawing her attention back to him. His voice was calm and level as he spoke.

  “Is everything all right, El?”

  The tall elf half turned to face Logan and glared down at him, his tone harsh as he spoke.

  “Mind your own business, little man!”

  After the friendliness he had received from most of the elves, this open hostility surprised Logan. He stared up at the taller man, squaring his shoulders and moving El behind him, his own voice icy as he spoke.

  “I’m sorry. I was speaking to the lady.”

  Logan let his gaze run over the elf from head to toe. He allowed a slight hint of disdain to play across his lips as he continued.

  “Though I can see how you misunderstood.”

  He then made a show of turning his back on the elf to face El. It was a cocky and dangerous manoeuvre with an unknown opponent, but it was also arrogant and insulting, which was exactly what he was going for. El’dreathia stared down at him in open amazement. Her gaze flickered over his head and Logan saw her expression change as she unconsciously took a half step back.

  He’d been counting on her reaction and he moved instantly. Spinning quickly, Logan managed to block the tall elf’s punch as it came down towards his head. The tingling in his arm told him that the elf was stronger than he looked.

  Logan reacted almost instinctively as he returned the elf’s strike with a quick jab to the elf’s solar plexus. A feral smile spread across Logan’s lips as he heard the air rush from the elf’s lungs. His father would have been proud at his speed and technique, though probably not so thrilled over the situation.

  The tall elf found himself gasping for air, but he quickly regained his composure. His voice was angry.

  “So, the little man wants to play.”

  Chapter Twenty-One: Back to the Party

  As Logan and Lan’thor began circling one another, the other guests moved back further to give the combatants room.

  “STOP!”

  Aerlian’thor’s bellow stopped the two before they really got started. The elves surrounding them quickly parted to allow the chieftain to pass. He strode purposefully between them and stopped. His hands rested on his hips as he surveyed the two fighters. The anger flowed from the man in waves that Logan could almost feel. Logan dropped his fists and straightened to face El’s father. The tall elf stiffened and did the same, though his eyes burned in barely controlled fury.

  “El’dreathia, please take our guest to get some refreshment.”

&
nbsp; Her father’s voice was calm and steady but Logan couldn’t mistake the edge he heard in it. El was quickly at Logan’s side leading him away through the crowd.

  “I’m sorry, Logan,” she said softly.

  They moved through the crowd toward the refreshment table at the far end of the chamber. Logan held her hand and turned her toward him.

  “I’m the one who should be sorry, El. I never should have let things get that far. I shouldn’t have baited him the way I did.”

  Logan shrugged slightly.

  “I just hope your father won’t be too angry with me,” he added.

  “No, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

  “Good. After your people have been so nice to me I’d hate to do anything to offend them.”

  That beautiful smile returned to El’s face briefly only to be replaced by a look of curiosity.

  “Logan, can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure.”

  “Why did you do that? I mean, it’s not like I was in fear for my life this time.”

  Logan blushed and dropped his eyes as he answered her question.

  “I just didn’t like the way he was treating you, El. I’m sorry if I overstepped my place.”

  She smiled brightly and hugged him fiercely.

  “Thank you,” she whispered before pulling back quickly with a slight blush on her cheeks.

  “Come on, let’s get something to drink.”

  With that she grabbed Logan’s hand and led him towards the refreshment table.

  “So you don’t think your father will be too angry with me?”

  “Nope, he’s angrier with Lan’thor than with anyone else. Lan’thor should have known better than to start something with a guest.”

  When they reached the table, El filled an earthenware goblet with a honey yellow liquid and handed it to him. Logan took a sip as El poured one for herself. The liquid had a sweet taste and was quite refreshing with just a hint of alcohol.

  “So, who was that anyway?”

  El took a swallow of her drink before answering.

  “That was Lan’thor. He’s supposedly my betrothed. At least, that’s what he’s decided.”

  She led him toward the outer wall of the chamber, away from the main press of the crowd.

  “His family is quite strong in the community and he figures he should be next in line for the throne.”

  Logan watched the crowd press around Aerlian’thor and remembered a question that had occurred to him earlier.

  “Why were there five thrones in the other chamber?”

  “Oh. I’m sorry, I should have explained earlier. They represent the five elements of existence–Earth, Air, Water, Fire and Spirit. Each element is represented in the community by a clan and the head of each clan sits on the throne for that element. My father sits on the spirit throne and currently holds the position of chief.”

  “Do only males rule then?”

  El smiled as she answered.

  “No, women have as much right to rule as the men but before anyone can rule they have to achieve their clan’s throne. The five leaders then choose one from amongst themselves to sit as head of their council. My father sits as head of the spirit clan and was selected to be head of council forty-five years ago. He’ll hold that position until his death,” she explained. “Or until he chooses to relinquish it.”

  “I see. So your father is the chief of the community but there are actually five leaders.”

  “Pretty much,” El shrugged. “Father provides the unified voice, but all five clan leaders make the decisions together.”

  “So what is Lan’thor up to?”

  “Lan’thor is second in line for the clan of the fire element. He figures that by marrying me, the current chief’s daughter he will be able to secure a better position from which to acquire the title of clan chief.”

  She flashed him that dazzling smile again.

  “Or maybe he just figures I’m easy to control.”

  Logan sputtered his laughter into his goblet. A broad smile crossed his lips as he regarded the beautiful elf beside him.

  “Then he’s a braver man than I.”

  El placed her fists on her hips and playfully gave him a dirty look.

  “And just what is that supposed to mean?”

  Logan quickly changed subjects before he could get himself into too much trouble.

  “So are all of your people magic users?”

  El leaned against the wall and looked at him evenly. Her little smile told him that she hadn’t forgotten his comment.

  “We call them mages and no, actually very few of us are. It runs in my family, which is one of the reasons my father is clan chief. But the majority of the others, like Lan’thor, have no magical ability whatsoever.”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” mused Logan. “Watching your people move through the forest earlier seemed pretty magical to me.”

  El smiled warmly at him.

  “No, that was just the result of a life spent amongst the trees and a great respect for the nature that surrounds us.”

  The ringing of a gong interrupted their conversation. As Logan looked around he noticed that many of the people had begun moving toward an arch at the back of the room. El took Logan’s goblet and placed it back on the table.

  “C’mon, dinner’s ready.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two: A Feast

  As Logan followed El through the arch he found himself in another extremely large chamber. This new chamber was circular like most of the ones Logan had seen in the elfin village. A few feet in from the chamber wall there was a large circular table that formed a ring just inside the room. This ring was broken at five points that corresponded to the five entrances of the chamber itself. Inside this outer circle was a large table, shaped into a large star. The star table’s points bisected the crescent tables of the outer circle. In the centre of the star-shaped table stood a large crystal, which reflected the moonlight throughout the room.

  “The circle represents eternity and the points of the star represent the five elements of life,” El whispered.

  Now that she mentioned it, Logan quickly saw the pattern. It was a pattern that his father had taught him. A consistency of form that Hagar had told him could be found throughout the world. Logan smiled to himself as he remembered his father’s words.

  Most of the people seemed to know their positions and took them quickly. Logan noted that El’s father had already seated himself at the apex of the spirit position. He also noticed that at the head of each of the other four elements was a seated figure. He turned toward El.

  “Who are they?”

  El followed his gaze and leaned in close to him again.

  “Are you familiar with the star?”

  Logan nodded.

  “Okay, as you can see at the Spirit head is my father. As I told you earlier he is currently the village chief and the head of the Spirit clan, which makes him the patriarch of the elfin mages. To his right at the Earth head is Frea’lin, matriarch of the healer’s clan. Next to her at Fire is Lean’thor, patriarch of the warrior clan and Lan’thor’s father. Beside him is Taelen’thor at Water, patriarch of the traveler’s clan.”

  At Logan’s confused look she explained.

  “Generally we try to avoid dealing with those outside our own community. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. The members of the water clan are our representatives when we are forced to deal with others. They handle almost all of our dealings with the outside world.”

  Logan nodded his understanding.

  “And finally, at Air is Arian’tae, matriarch of the artisans. Moving down from the apex of each point, are the various members of the clan, until located directly behind the head are those seated in the outer ring, the members of the clan with the lowest status.”

  Logan’s head was starting to hurt. El smiled at Logan’s look of confusion.

  “Don’t worry, it gets easier with time.”

  She laughed softly an
d led him toward the spirit tables.

  “The positions are always changing due to marriages, births and deaths though everyone in the community knows their position at any given time.”

  She nudged him gently as they walked and indicated the empty chair to Lean’thor’s right.

  “Lan’thor’s seat?” he asked quietly.

  El nodded in response. It looked like she wanted to say more but stopped as her father rose to greet them.

  “El’dreathia my child, as lovely as always,” said Aerlian’thor, embracing his daughter and smiling at Logan. His sweeping bow took Logan by surprise.

  “Ah Logan, the man of the hour, we have a place of honour for you. Please this way.”

  Aerlian’thor indicated the chair to the immediate left of his as he sat his daughter to his right. As Logan stepped toward the chair to seat himself, he caught movement from the corner of his eye. He turned slightly and was surprised to see Lean’thor rising from his chair and making his way around the outer ring of the table.

  This can’t be good, Logan thought to himself.

  El’s father had also caught the movement and after seating his daughter casually moved to stand beside Logan. Logan felt the elf’s firm hand rest on his shoulder.

  As Lean’thor came up to him, Logan had to crane his head back to meet the elf’s gaze. The elf was massive, easily seven feet tall and wider than any elf Logan had seen yet. Logan could see where Lan’thor had inherited his size. The big elf carried himself with the assuredness and grace of a jungle cat and Logan could definitely understand how he had been able to attain the status of patriarch of the warriors. Lean’thor looked to be in his fifties, and Logan couldn’t even guess what that translated to in actual years, but everything about the elf spoke to his ability and strength. Logan instinctively knew that Lean’thor would be a devastating opponent.

  So when the elf dropped to one knee before him, Logan almost fell over in disbelief. The hand on his shoulder tightened involuntarily and Logan could tell that the act had surprised Aerlian’thor as well.