The Axe's Edge

by Summers, Derick J. M.

  Still snuggled in their bed she noticed that Logan wasn’t there. She sought him out with her mind. As she expected, he was already at the forge stoking the fires and preparing for the day’s work. She watched him in her mind’s eye for several moments. Whatever made him different from the rest of them also meant that he didn’t need nearly as much sleep. Logan looked upon the extra time that gave him as a gift and liked to get an early start. She was also aware of the tranquility that infused his spirit. This quiet time at his forge, before the rest of the world was awake, helped to centre him. He’d told her that it was in these moments that he felt his adopted father, Hagar, the strongest, felt his presence and his guidance as he prepared for the day.

  She felt sorry that she had to intrude on his morning routine, but she knew that he’d want to know about their pending visitors as soon as possible. El’dreathia gave the mental equivalent of a soft cough to draw Logan’s attention. Logan’s awareness focused inward immediately, centering directly on her. He no longer became disorientated by the feel of her in his mind. She could feel the smile in his thoughts.

  Good morning.

  His thoughts were cheerful as he greeted her. El sighed to herself. She hated having to ruin this mood for him. She opted to get right to the point rather than drawing things out.

  We have visitors coming.

  She opened her mind to relay the impressions she had gathered earlier. Logan was quiet for a moment as he studied her impressions.

  Well, we knew they’d come eventually.

  He thought for a moment.

  I’m still new at all this, how long do you think we have before they arrive? He finally asked.

  No more than a couple of hours, maybe less.

  Logan considered this.

  His control’s improving, she thought. Not so long ago all of his thoughts would have been played out for me to read, now he’s able to keep them to himself. He only shares when he wants to.

  Wake the others and let them know, he sent finally. I’ll be in shortly.

  With that, she felt him focus back on the forge, banking the fire he had been stoking and returning his tools to their resting places. Today wouldn’t be a forge day.

  Closing their communication, El’dreathia stretched in her bed before slipping out from under the warmth and comfort of her heavy comforter. She donned a soft blouse and breeches before splashing some of the cool water from the basin on her face. Padding softly down the hall she knocked lightly on Tanel’s door.

  “Come in.”

  El pushed the door ajar and peeked her head in the room. The young woman within was just finishing her own morning ablutions and smiled at the Elfin mage.

  “Good morning,” said Tanel with a smile. “You’re up early this morning.”

  El frowned slightly.

  “It’s not like I sleep late or anything.”

  “I’m just teasing you, El,” Tanel laughed softly. “I just happen to come from a family of early risers.”

  “Humph! I know your brother is already up and at the forge.” El snorted with a smirk and Tanel gave her a wide smile.

  “Better get used to it. So what’s up?” asked Tanel.

  “We have visitors on the way.”

  “How long?”

  “My guess is no more than a couple of hours, probably a bit less,” sighed El.

  “I’ll wake Smash and meet you out front. Logan knows?”

  El nodded in reply and hurried off to make her own preparations.

  Half an hour later, Tanel joined El’dreathia in the front yard. The mage was staring off into the trees, her mind scanning the forest, reading the energy patterns and searching out those that did not fit the forest’s natural rhythm. Tanel had seen El work before and knew to keep quiet so as not to distract her. After El had left her room this morning, Tanel had quickly reached under her bed and retrieved the large crossbow and quiver of bolts she had purchased in town. After the last unexpected visit, Tanel had realized that she was not at all fond of being unarmed and waiting for others to protect her. Sure she wasn’t bad at hand-to-hand, but none of these visitors ever came unarmed. More often than not, she found herself easy prey. As a healer, she knew she shouldn’t injure or harm others, but since her status as a healer didn’t seem to stop people from attacking her, she’d just have to deal with the ethical conflict. Hopefully the crossbow would act as a deterrent and she wouldn’t have to actually fire it.

  Not likely, she thought with a snort.

  With the quiver of bolts fitted over her shoulder and the crossbow cradled loosely in her arms she went to warn Smash of the impending visitors.

  The big man was instantly awake when she knocked on his door, but she could tell by the crackle in his voice when he called for her to come in that she had woken him from a sound sleep. As she pushed the door open, she smiled at his tousled hair as he pushed his heavy frame to a sitting position in his bed. Another late sleeper, she thought and smiled wider.

  “Good morning, sleepy head!”

  “Morning,” replied Smash with something between a growl and a greeting.

  Tanel quickly explained the situation and Smash was up and moving before she had finished speaking. Tanel blushed at the sight of the big man in his under clothes and quickly turned to face the other way while Smash splashed water on his face and reached for his breeches.

  “So, we’ll meet out front,” Tanel finished and Smash nodded in reply to her back as she left, letting the door close behind her.

  That had been about half an hour ago and as she waited by El, Tanel could see the big man crossing the yard from the forge. He had gone to retrieve the new weapon that Logan had been making for him. As he approached, Tanel could see that he held a massive metal club propped against his shoulder. Tanel shuddered, it was an incredible piece of work, inspiring in its simplicity and yet horrifying in its effectiveness. Smash had explained that traditionally, the Trolls of the mountain tribes carried large stone stalagmites as their weapon of choice. The columns of stone were readily available in the caves the Trolls called home and the troll’s great strength made the heavy columns of rock feasible weapons in battle. With no caves nearby, Logan had crafted Smash’s club from iron with leather wrapped around the hilt to offer a better, more stable grip. The weapon was incredibly heavy, though to see Smash carry it, you’d never know. Tanel blanched at the thought of seeing him wield it in battle. She had a feeling the effect would be … messy.

  Following a few steps behind the big man was her brother Logan. She noticed that he also carried his weapon casually over one shoulder. Leveller, Logan’s double bladed war axe, created by the Dwarven blacksmiths in the Spine, gleamed in the morning sun. Logan smiled at his friends as he joined them,

  “Any idea how many visitors we can expect this time?” He asked of El who had just returned to herself.

  “I’ve been trying to figure that out,” she replied with a grimace. “Not yet, but I’m working on it.”

  Logan gave her a reassuring smile before turning to face the forest.

  Welcoming Party

  El’dreathia watched Logan with mixed feelings. He was prepared for battle and her Elfin difficulty with both metal and death warred with her love for the man. She knew that he was simply doing what he had to do to protect all of them. She understood the martial benefits of the metal he worked, she’d seen it in battle enough times that she couldn’t deny its effectiveness, but she’d also seen the beauty Logan was capable of creating in his forge. Still, the use of metal challenged her Elfin sensibilities. She had grown up being taught that the use of metal was an abomination, an insult against nature due to the way it was attained. She had changed a great deal since she’d left her home in the trees, and she’d made her peace with many new and different things in Tir’an, but the sight of Leveller in all its shiny, destructive power glowing faintly from the runic magic that flowed through it still caused the hairs on the back of her neck to rise. It might not be an abomination as she’d been ta
ught, but she also had some idea of just how devastatingly destructive that axe could be. Just thinking about it made her shiver.

  Runic magic was a closely guarded Dwarven power, thought to be long lost even to those diminutive people who’d first created it. The fact that Logan possessed such a weapon, a gift no less from the Dwarves themselves, made her question if the knowledge was really as lost as the Dwarves allowed the world to believe.

  If the knowledge were really lost, as they’d claimed, then any runic weapon still in existence would be incredibly valuable to the Dwarves themselves. After all, it would represent a nearly lost piece of their history, and the Dwarven clans were as big on familial history as her own people were. It made no sense to El that they would give such a treasure to a stranger. Then again, it could be argued that Logan hadn’t been just a stranger. Hephaestus was the Dwarves’ most revered deity, and since Logan was the god’s champion and creation, outfitting him with a weapon of Leveller’s power could very well be viewed as a form of worship.

  Whatever the full rationale, El couldn’t deny that Leveller was a devastating weapon, more so when wielded with Logan’s great strength.

  El watched Logan approach. She could see the tension in him as he walked. She knew he would lay down his life to protect them. It was one of the things she very much loved about him.

  May the gods help whoever tried to make him pay that price, she thought with a grimace.

  She was easily as protective and potentially lethal when it came to looking after him in return.

  Bracing herself for the impending confrontation, she once again sent her thoughts into the surrounding wood. The presence hidden by the trees was much closer now and easier to read. All at once awareness El was flooded with recognition and she relaxed with an audible sigh. The tension that had been building left her.

  She could feel Tanel and Smash staring at her oddly. She knew that Logan was curious as well, but their link had already relayed to him that the need for tension had passed. He might not know the reason, but he knew that there was no threat. All three of them joined her as she watched a spot in the tree line. Waiting. For a long moment, nothing moved but she continued to keep her gaze on one specific spot. Then with no indication transmitted through the surrounding brush Lan’thor stepped out of the dense foliage into the clearing. Even Logan with his heightened senses seemed surprised at his friend’s sudden appearance.

  “He has got to show me how he does that,” Logan grumbled to himself and El chuckled.

  “Years and years of practice,” announced El.

  Lan’thor moved toward them and Logan studied the tall Elf curiously.

  “My friends!” Lan’thor boomed pleasantly before subsiding into a more normal tone. “El’dreathia, your father sends his warm regards and he would like you to come home. He says there are some things the two of you need to talk about.”

  “Welcome back,” El replied with a smile. “I figured this wasn’t just a social call. Though, he should have sent you the first time instead of that fool, Ar’n’tor.”

  “Yes, well, lets just say that Raeth caused quite the stir back home,” Lan’thor explained. “It took a while to get people comfortable with the idea of a Dark Elf in the community. They’re starting to come around but your father decided a bit of distance might aid the process.”

  “Speaking of Raeth,” Logan interrupted, his eyes scanning the tree line. “Aren’t you missing someone?”

  Lan smiled at his friend, but El answered before he had the chance.

  “No, she’s here.”

  If Lan’thor’s entrance was impressive, then Raeth’s was flat out disturbing. One moment she wasn’t there, then the next she was standing in the clearing. Logan shook his head in wonder.

  “How do you two do that?”

  Lan’thor laughed and Raeth favoured Logan with a wink.

  “Don’t worry,” offered Lan. “She makes me feel like I have two left feet, too.”

  Raeth stepped in close to the warrior and slipped her arm around his waist.

  “Oh come on, it’s not that bad,” Raeth said with a chuckle.

  “So, what about the rest of your party?” El’dreathia finally asked.

  “Speaking of ‘how does she do that?’” Lan laughed before turning and making a birdcall into the forest.

  Five Elfin warriors stepped into the clearing. Their stealth as they entered the clearing would have been impressive if it had not been already over shadowed by Lan’thor’s and then Raeth’s entrance. The warriors were good, but Logan had heard them before he had seen them and, if he guessed correctly, so had Smash.

  A slight sound in the forest brush caught Logan’s ear.

  “You forgot one, Lan.”

  Frowning, Lan followed his friend’s gaze toward a spot in the tree line.

  “Everyone!” Lan’thor shouted into the trees, doing nothing to hide the frustration in his voice before turning back to his friends.

  A sixth Elfin warrior stepped grudgingly out of the woods, directly at the spot where Logan was staring. Logan could see the tension in the Elf. Younger than his companions, his eyes burned with anger as he studied the group. The anger surprised Logan. To the best of his knowledge he had never met the young warrior before. Like his cohorts, this new arrival carried one of the fierce Elfin long bows. Unlike his comrades, he already had an arrow notched and his bow was half drawn.

  A low rumble carried from Smash’s throat as he, too, noticed the partially drawn weapon, instinctively lowering down into a fighting stance, making himself as small a target as his big frame would allow and ready to move in an instant. Smash watched the Elf intently, pulling his club from his shoulder in preparation. The mountain troll’s low, rumbling growl set everyone’s hackles on edge. Smash’s movements clearly made the other Elfin warriors nervous and they quickly followed the young Elf’s lead, notching their own arrows and drawing on the big man.

  “Lan!” Tanel’s alarmed shout drew Lan’thor’s attention to the conflict sparking behind him. Lan glanced back before whirling to face his warriors, his bellow echoing across the clearing.

  “Hold!”

  Pin The Tail On The Troll?

  Lan’thor’s bellow rang out clearly as he ordered his warriors to hold their fire. Five warriors, seasoned veterans all, pulled up short in a near instant response to their leader’s command. They stood tense and at the ready with arrows notched and bow strings taut, but they held their fire. The sixth warrior, the youngest and least experienced of them all, the one whose actions had escalated the whole situation, did not.

  When confronted later, the young Elf, Le’land by name, would swear that he did not disobey Lan’thor’s order. He would insist rather, that the order came too late - that his arrow, which had already been notched and ready when he stepped from the forest brush, had already been released when Lan’thor’s command came. Many, even the young warrior’s comrades-in-arms, had their doubts.

  Wherever the truth lay, the outcome was the same. Le’land’s arrow released from his bow with a soft ‘thrum’ and streaked towards the crouching troll. Though the youngest and least experienced of the warriors, Le’land was still an Elf and his skill and accuracy with bow and arrow were beyond question. If any had been watching Le’land, they would have seen a slight smirk play across his lips as he watched his arrow speed toward the mountain troll’s heart. Thankfully for Le’land, no one noticed as everyone’s gaze was taken by the blur of motion that was his arrow. Smash, already in a defensive crouch, shifted his weight to dodge the speeding projectile. At this range, there was no way he would be fast enough to dodge the arrow completely. Rather, his instincts were doing their best to make a potentially lethal wound into a simply serious one. He prepared himself for the coming impact.

  A series of things happened in that next moment, all of them nearly too fast for the eye to follow. First, Lan’thor stepped into the arrow’s path. Then a second, even faster blur ensured that neither Lan nor Smash felt the a
rrow’s impact. Third, a glint of metal sparkled in the sunlight and Le’land’s bowstring snapped, rendering the bow useless. Not that Le’land would have been able to attempt a second shot as he suddenly found himself unable to move.

  Lan’thor saw Le’land’s arrow and knew that his large friend wouldn’t be able to move quickly enough. Mountain Trolls were surprisingly fast for their size, but dodging arrows, especially at this shortened range, was well beyond their abilities. Lan had brought the young warrior with him and as leader he was ultimately responsible for the young Elf’s actions. He’d be damned if he was going to let him kill someone, especially one of his best friends. All of this flashed through Lan’thor’s mind as he used his faster Elfin reflexes to put himself between Le’land’s arrow and Smash’s body, positioning himself as an Elfin shield. If he did this right, he’d take the arrow high in the left shoulder, a painful but non-lethal wound. If he did it wrong he wouldn’t have a chance to worry about it.

  Raeth, who felt the best defence was a good offence, decided the best thing she could do was to take out the immediate threat. Knowing that the young Elfin warrior was under Lan’thor’s command, she didn’t want to simply kill the boy. Instead, she aimed for the bowstring. Her throwing knife, a glinting metal sparkle in the sun, severed the young Elf’s bowstring.

  With no time to throw up a shield around Smash, El’dreathia also focused on disabling the immediate threat. Her magic flashed out from her, an invisible wave of energy that locked the young warrior in place. She tried to avoid killing whenever possible, and this time was no different. These magics were designed to disable her opponent, to hold him in place until you could figure out what to do with him, not kill him outright.

  And for Logan’s part, he completed a strange pirouette toward the enemy. When he came to a stop he held the young Elf’s arrow in his hand.