The Axe's Edge

by Summers, Derick J. M.

  El moved to object, but Aerlian’thor held his hand up for her to be silent.

  “No, El. I’m not speaking as your father, but as your clan chief,” he explained severely. “You pushed this bond on Logan when he didn’t fully understand what he was getting into. That was both foolish and dangerous for you both, it’s fair that he be given the opportunity to sever the link he unknowingly entered.”

  El was silent, her father’s admonishment too accurate for comfort. Logan could feel the tension in her as he considered Aerlian’thor’s words.

  “I understand your concerns,” Logan finally answered. “And I thank you for all the information that you have provided me on the nature of the bond El and I share. However, if it’s still acceptable to El, I will maintain our link.”

  Logan felt El relax at his side, while her father seemed to sag back into his chair.

  “As for your concerns for the future,” he continued. “Death can come at any time to any one and I, for one, have no idea what the future may hold. I know that I’ve been blessed with some measure of Elfin blood and I truly have no reasonable understanding of how long I can expect to live, especially with my history. However,” he added with a cold smile. “I do promise you that I am relatively hard to kill and I don’t plan on dying anytime soon.”

  “No one ever does, Logan. No one ever does,” replied El’s father with a small sigh of resignation. “Very well, and El, can I assume you feel the same?”

  “You can.”

  The elder maintained his stern expression as he nodded his acceptance.

  “So be it. I assume that the pair of you will be wanting to return home before too long.”

  Logan felt the sudden spike in El’s tension level and realized that as far as she was concerned her father had effectively told her that she was no longer welcome in Er’thaental. He sent as many reassuring feelings to her as he could, knowing full well that they could never be enough, but knowing that they would be appreciated anyway.

  “No worries, we won’t stay long,” El replied icily.

  Splish Splash I Was Taking A Bath

  For the sake of propriety, El’dreathia and Logan were given separate chambers for their stay in the Elfin village, or rather, El returned to her old chambers while Logan was provided with one of the guest suites. The rooms were formed from the living acorns of the great trees. As soon as Logan stepped into the strange acorn chamber, he was reminded of his first visit to the Elfin village. Though the chamber wasn’t the same one he had used on his previous visit, its interior was nearly identical.

  Even after living in the house El had grown for them for the last several months, he still found the Elfin kinship with nature to be a marvel. The bed, the table and the chairs all seemed to grow out of the chamber itself. He smiled to himself. On his first visit he had been certain that this was simply a trick by some very talented carpenters, but now he knew that the furniture really did grow. Of course, that meant that much of it was stationary, though that wasn’t true of everything. Things like the chairs that you might want to move, actually grew on the ends of springy stalks. Logan thought of them more as well formed leaves. They had a fair bit of flex and could be moved around the chamber within reason.

  The entire room was a wonder but, as it had last time, it was the mirror that held his wonder. The Elves didn’t use metal of any kind. Lan’thor’s use of a sword had to be causing fits through the village and Logan sincerely hoped that his friend wouldn’t be forced to give it up. They also didn’t use glass as far as he was aware, either. What they did use was magic and they used it as naturally as breathing. The large mirror located on the wall of the chamber was a great example. It seemed to be entirely composed of water. Still and tranquil, it looked like perfectly ordinary water only, it was held vertically against the wall to provide the user with a reflection. It was that sort of everyday, mundane use of something he knew so little about that really struck Logan. It wasn’t like they were expecting guests. The Elves didn’t really get a lot of visitors, so why go to all the trouble?

  Unless of course, thought Logan. It really wasn’t any trouble at all.

  “Why is it you always seem to be admiring yourself in front of mirrors?”

  El’s voice startled him and he turned to face her, an indignant expression on his face.

  “I am not admiring myself!”

  “Sure, sure, that’s what you always say.”

  He knew she was teasing him, so he did the only thing that seemed even remotely appropriate. He stuck his tongue out at her. El frowned for a moment before returning the gesture.

  “To you, too.”

  Stepping into the room, she allowed the leaf door to close behind her. Logan could feel the tension in her and knew something was bothering her. He assumed it was the last meeting with her father, but as the tension continued to increase he realized it was something more. She sat on the edge of his bed simply staring at him for several moments.

  “Logan,” she finally began. “Logan, I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you about the bond. I didn’t mean to put you at risk, it was just….”

  Logan gave a small sigh, he’d figured this conversation was going to come eventually and luckily, for a change, he was somewhat prepared for it. He’d been giving their bond a lot of thought since the incident in the throne room and especially after El’s father had made it so abundantly clear the risk that it entailed. Thankfully, he had made his peace with it. Sure it was life threatening, but in his estimation, life itself seemed to be pretty life threatening - at least his did - and as far as he was concerned, he gained far more than he risked. Moving nearer, he sat beside her on the bed and put his long arm around her, holding her close.

  “It’s okay, El. Like I told your father, it wouldn’t have changed anything. I love you. I’ve known that since the first time you yelled at me for saving your life,” he commented, giving her a wink.

  She gave him a slight frown at his phrasing and quickly let it morph into a smile. Holding his gaze, she leaned in and kissed him lightly.

  “I love you, too. And, you so didn’t save me!” she corrected and kissed him again.

  Several minutes passed in that contented state until a soft knock at the door broke the couple’s reverie. Breaking away, Logan hopped to his feet.

  “Come in.”

  The leaf door pulled back and a regal looking Elf with long deep blue hair tied neatly in a tight braid stepped into the room. He was extremely tall and extremely thin – even by Elfin standards and Logan recognized him immediately. He felt his grin stretch from ear-to-ear as he moved to greet the wizened, old Elf.

  “Rael!” He exclaimed as he swept the stately Elf into a massive bear hug.

  Rael looked extraordinarily indignant at the treatment, though El was sure she saw the beginnings of a smile tug at the sides of the old Elf’s lips. Rael had bathed and outfitted Logan the last time he visited and El knew the two had had a nearly instant connection. It was hard to explain, they just seemed to take an instant liking to each other, even though they couldn’t have been more different. Logan was young, brash and a savage of unknown origin, while Rael was everything an Elf was expected to be, elegant, refined and reserved. And yet, watching them, El could see that Logan’s affection for the old Elf was clearly reflected in Rael’s affection for him, though in a far more reserved manner. Not that Rael would ever admit such a thing. No, he was far too proper, far too mannered for such sentimentality. Logan, on the other hand, had no such concerns.

  “How have you been?’

  The Elf nodded stiffly as Logan released him.

  “It’s good to see you again,” the stately Elf said his usual prim tones. “Though it seems that like our last meeting you are once again in desperate need of a bath.” The Elf wrinkled his nose slightly.

  Logan blushed deeply and El’s laughter filled the room, making Logan blush even deeper. Logan was searching for something to say to her, but Rael saved him the trouble as he wrinkled his nose a
gain.

  “It might not be such a terrible idea for you to also freshen up, young lady.”

  It was Logan’s turn to laugh and El glowered deeply at him.

  “To the baths it is,” Logan announced quickly. “Lead on, Rael.”

  “This way,” he announced and led the way from the chamber. Logan caught El’s arm in his and led her to the door. She was still glowering.

  “Come on, El,” he chirped at her. “It’ll be fun.”

  They separated at the bathhouse, attendants coming out to lead El away as Rael led Logan into the men’s chamber. Now that Logan was there, the steaming hot water so close, he wanted nothing more than to slip into the waiting tub, but Rael insisted that he retake Logan’s measurements. As he had on Logan’s last visit, Rael was tasked with outfitting Logan so he would be presentable in the Elfin community. He produced a tape measure and went to work, commenting in surprise at how much Logan had filled out in the chest and arms since their last meeting. It wasn’t a surprise to Logan, he had been pretty thin on his first visit. Wandering the woods for however long he had in a state of near shock had stolen much of his mass and size. The last several months of good food and hard work had put it back on.

  The water, when Logan finally managed to break free from the tall Elf’s ministrations, was hot and wonderful. Logan was still impressed with the Elves’ ability to bring hot water in through the faucets, though after his time with the Dwarves it wasn’t quite the wonder it had once been. His curiousity now was whether or not the water was brought using mechanical or magical means. Given what he new about the Elves, his guess would be the latter.

  With some regret, Logan eventually allowed himself to be drawn from the baths, donning a fluffy white robe after towelling off. Joining El in the common area, he found her similarly attired and remarkably relaxed.

  “Good bath?” she asked.

  “Wonderful. You?”

  “Mmhmm,” she agreed. “I needed that.”

  When Rael re-joined them he explained that he was already preparing clothes for Logan and that they would be ready in time for the evening’s gathering. El and Logan regarded the stately Elf in confusion.

  “What gathering?” Logan finally asked and Rael seemed genuinely surprised.

  “Oh. Did word not reach you? The chief of the warrior clan has called for a gathering and you, both of you, have been invited. I believe you are to be the guests of honour. I assumed you would be going?”

  “Absolutely,” agreed Logan before El could comment. He was looking forward to sharing more stories about Lan’thor with his father.

  El wasn’t so sure.

  My father’s not going to be impressed, she thought to Logan. Logan smiled back at her.

  I’m sure Lean’thor knows exactly what he’s doing.

  Of that I have no doubt.

  Those Tree Top Highways

  El’dreathia walked Logan back to his chamber so that he could get ready. In all honestly, there was no way she was going to let him travel through the village alone. It wasn’t that she was worried he’d get lost.

  Not likely, she thought. The man has an uncanny sense of direction.

  No, she was more concerned with his seemingly innate ability to get himself into trouble. The last time she left him to find his way home through the Elfin village, he had run afoul of Lan’thor. Both hot headed, things had come to blows and the two had taken to fighting on the narrow tree branches, far from the safest place to engage in such a brawl. It was amazing that they hadn’t managed to kill themselves. No, she absolutely would not make that mistake again. This time she would see him safely to his room.

  When they arrived without incident at Logan’s guest chamber, El kissed him goodnight at his door before heading back to her own rooms to get changed for the evening. Walking in the fading light, a soft breeze playing through the leaves, El felt incredibly at peace despite the earlier trials. She had always enjoyed this time, dusk in the high branches of Er’thaental was always beautiful with the setting sun glowing red through the trees. It always felt to her like the sky was alight with beautiful crimson flames. The world was on the edge of night, so many of its creatures were preparing for sleep while others were just rising. The air moved gently through the high branches, cooling her skin and bringing the sounds and smells of the surrounding forest. It was in moments like these that she felt most at one with Tir’an.

  She thought about the last couple of days. In many ways she had so been looking forward to seeing her father. She really had missed him desperately and she knew that she had been wrong to just leave so long ago. If she were being completely honest with herself, she could even admit that she had been a bit of a coward, avoiding the confrontation. If she had it to do over, she would have stood her ground, made sure he knew that she would be leaving and that there was nothing to be done to stop her. Instead, she had snuck off to avoid an uncomfortable situation and rather than avoiding it, she had simply postponed it and made it worse. But she had been a kid then, young, foolish and still very much in awe of her father. It had been a rebellion of sorts, a rebellion against being the clan chief’s daughter, a rebellion against all the expectations and pressures that position put on her every day.

  But the link with Logan, that was different. The link had had nothing to do with rebellion, nothing to do with her Elfin history at all. The link had been about love, about understanding on a deeper level that you had found the person who made you more, about knowing with unwavering certainty that the path you chose was the right one. It had been a certainty she had never felt before, a certainty that she still felt when she thought of him, a certainty that he felt about her.

  Some would have called it a gamble, a gamble that could have cost them their very lives. But, she had never felt it was so. She had known, for her it had been a certainty.

  As she meandered through the branch paths contemplating the past and the decisions she had made, El became aware of a presence behind her. The sun had nearly completely set and the main thoroughfares of the village were quiet and deserted. A sense of unease crept down her spine as she continued to walk, careful not to change her stride. She did not want to alert her pursuer to her awareness of his presence. Questing out with her magic, she felt the energies of her follower. Recognition came almost immediately and with it the knowledge that her pursuer was aware of her magical probing. Stopping she turned to face him,

  “Something I can help you with, Ar’n’tor?”

  The Elfin mage stared malevolently at her and she could feel his hostility as a tangible force.

  “You should have come back with me,” he sneered. “You made me look bad before the council.”

  El sighed in frustration. Here we go again, she thought.

  “I’m sure you did a very good job of that all on your own.”

  Ar’n’tor’s face grew red as he tried, and failed, to suppress his mounting anger.

  “How dare you,” he spat.

  The angry mage began drawing power and El, feeling the pull, responded in kind.

  “You will show me the respect I deserve!” Ar’n’tor growled.

  “I am!” She’d had enough of this nonsense.

  As she watched, Ar’n’tor shook with anger, the power and magic crackled off of him.

  This is going to get messy, she thought. Really, really messy.

  “El’dreathia?” came a voice from the darkness.

  Turning slightly so she wouldn’t have to take her eyes off Ar’n’tor, she saw Le’land, the young warrior from Lan’thor’s troop, approaching. His movements were cautious, that of a warrior entering into a hostile and potentially dangerous situation. It was clear he could tell that something was up. His eyes moved from El’dreathia to Ar’n’tor and back again.

  El could see that Ar’n’tor was trying his best to pull himself back under control now that there was a witness present. El realized that the Elf mage was still very concerned with his perceived reputation amongst the Elves, and El wonde
red what the mage’s end game looked like.

  What is he after? El snorted to herself. I wonder if he even knows himself.

  Ar’n’tor had successfully released the magic he had been gathering harmlessly into the branch beneath him and was now trying very hard to look nonchalant. His eyes, however, still flared with rage as he spoke.

  “This isn’t over, El’dreathia!”

  El knew he was right about that, but she said nothing and just held his glare. Ar’n’tor finally broke the standoff and stormed away. El watched his retreating back.

  “What was all that about?”

  Le’land’s question pulled her attention away from the mage.

  El turned toward the young warrior and she smiled slightly at his concern.

  “Games. Just games.”

  “Dangerous games if I’m not mistaken.” Le’land snorted.

  El chuckled out loud at that.

  “You’re probably right,” she said, sighing again before shaking off the confrontation with Ar’n’tor and giving the young warrior her attention.

  “Now, what can I do for you?”

  The young warrior shrugged and blushed slightly, before continuing.

  “I was hoping you could tell me where to find Logan. On the way here, we’ve been training in the mornings and I was hoping we’d be able to continue for a while.”

  El smiled at this, she had watched Le’land working every morning with Lan’thor and Logan. They weren’t working him as hard as they did each other, but they definitely weren’t going easy on him either. Even so, the young warrior had responded well to the lessons, eagerly learning everything he could from his two new mentors. She had to admit, if only to herself, that she was slightly amused at Logan’s ability to bring people into line with his own ideals.

  “No problem, Le’land, he’s staying in the guest chamber in the south end of the village. But I should let you know we’re not going to be staying in Er’thaental long.”