by A L Issett
“You keep that helm on like some kind of warrior Queen” Malfry began. “When you have your enemy where you want them, do not hide your face, it shows weakness. Meet them eye to eye and let them see your resolve, helms work if you are facing easily intimidated men. But in these surroundings let the enemy see the true you, let them see it in your face that you are not scared.”
The general then rose out of his seat followed by the others and turned to leave, before they could get out of the door Tanner watched the Queen take off the helm and sit it on the table. Tanner saw her steel her face and grunt a little. The generals turned around to see her, the oldest smiled a little and turned away. The other generals looked frightened as they made their way out of the tent. Tanner watched Darlene as she let out a deep breath and allowed herself to have a smile. She picked up his helm and walked over and gave it to him, Tanner could see she was still nervous but relieved. Farlane rushed past them both and Tanner could hear him giving orders for men to follow the generals out of the country but not to attack them.
“Your countryman is in the dungeon” Darlene began.
“A fool is in the dungeon” Tanner replied. “Well I have done my bit here and made sure you were sorted. Those knobbers don't look like they will give you any trouble, I have bad news to hand out back home, you take care of yourself Darlene” Tanner finished as he put on the Helm of Time.
Tanner admitted he had played Darlene, he wanted her to wear the helm because it instantly gave him the other person’s knowledge. The girl was craftier than he gave her credit for, she had deduced Perry was in league with her advisor and ensured he was given the grand bracer. She wanted ten of his mages stripped of their power so they could feed him the power he needed to use the bracers, with their sacrifice she had made other items that she so far had kept hidden. She knew all about the Hammer of Champions and bracers were just one item that were made, she was secretly making herself a full suit of armor but special care was being made to make the whole thing one solid piece with an opening in the back for her to get in and out of. If the armor was one big piece than it would only take only one mage to power her, only the strongest were getting their power taken for that project. What made Tanner pause was that she had machinations for either him or Perry, she wanted someone with influence from Ket in case something like this ever happened again. She was behind the kidnapping of Carolina and Jessica and Tanner had played right into her trap by thinking she was being outmaneuvered.
“You can't leave now” Darlene said. “We have to have a feast after all of this is over and you still have to collect your swords.”
“Send them to me” Tanner replied. “I don't need them right now, I already got a sword and no mage wants to live in my lands.”
“Well we still have to celebrate” Darlene said.
“Let's raise up this log so all the bugs and crawling things can be seen” Tanner said looking at Darlene. “You took a gamble and played me like a bard on a lute, like an idiot I thought you were being manipulated instead of the other way around and wanted to help you. I did my part, now I’m leaving. If I hear about you yanking one of my people over here again I am going to fuck this place like a wealthy merchant in a room full of cheap whores.”
“How did you know?” Darlene asked.
“I lot of things gave it away” Tanner lied. “Now I know you have eyes for that carriage licker down in the dungeons. Go rescue him and be on your way to whatever happily ever after you are looking for.”
“What if I wanted you?” Darlene asked.
“Out of luck” Tanner said. “I don't do slippery and shady shit like sending that idiot Perry to go get slaughtered or kidnapping girls. Perry is your man though, he is a good fighter and has a lot of resources.”
“So you are not interested?” Darlene asked.
“Not in the slightest” Tanner said as an idea struck him. Tanner was able to use the sword because of his unique abilities. Tanner was able to use his helm because of the same abilities. Perhaps the Hammer of Champions was the same way, maybe he didn't need to have mage blood or anything else for it to work. Carolina had gotten the short end of the stick, despite both of her parents being powerful mages she had not gotten the gift like her brother had. Carolina could perform little tricks here and there but not enough to keep anyone off of her. If she had her own bracer and dagger combo she could have fought off a lot of people and Tanner wouldn't be here in the first place.
“You are thinking about it” Darlene replied.
“I want to use your hammer as my payment” Tanner said. “I want to make my own items and you can have your men watch me like a thief watches a passed out drunk with a heavy coin purse. I want to keep the items I make and you can consider us square.”
“My smith is a master” Darlene said. “Whatever you want he can make it for you. If you want bracers you are going to need a mage that doesn't mind having their power changed.”
“I don't need a mage” Tanner replied. “I want to bang that hammer like a fat man on a pretty girl.”
“You don't want a mage?” Darlene said smiling, “All you want is to make an object?”
“Yes” Tanner replied.
“What object?” Darlene asked.
“I want to make my own hammer” Tanner replied.
“It is useless” Darlene said shaking her head. “It is the first thing we tried to do, we wanted to replicate the hammer. The replica we made cost twenty mages their power and it takes thirty mages to power it up. The separatists have it and I am sure they have been making things with it.”
“Why do you…” Tanner said as the answer sprang into his mind. The Quetians were wary of mages, many remembered the pain and suffering the people of the former nation of Tavor went through at their hands. Darlene and her family wanted to take the power away from mages and redistribute it to their loyal allies, the trade off was worth it they thought. Tanner thought they may have been on to something but dismissed it, they were forcing mages to undergo the procedure. Many questions Tanner wanted to know the answer of was now in his mind, like how the hammer was discovered and what they wanted to do with it. None of it was his business although the shield she was trying to perfect would be useful if she could make it work. She wanted a magic canceling shield like she knew his sword could do but the problem was it had to be powered, powered by magic, magic the shield was made to cancel out. Tanner couldn't see how they could fix it but got it out of his mind.
“Why do I what?’ Darlene asked.
“Nothing” Tanner replied. “Can I use the hammer or not?”
“The hammer is heavier than it looks” Darlene replied. “I am looking for someone else strong enough to handle the weapon but so far only my smith can. The copy though can be wielded by a normal smith, you would still need a lot of mages to make it work.”
“That’s my problem” Tanner replied. “I know my smithing.”
“Well I do not want to be in your debt” Darlene said as she rubbed her chin. “And you know only the hammer can make the kind of mages you need for any magic item to work.”
“Then it is settled” Tanner replied. “I’m going to go see your smith, Orecrusher.”
“You know how to smith?” Darlene asked.
“I am a master smith” Tanner replied. The Helm of Time gave Tanner knowledge of any skills anyone who had previously worn the helm had. A few of those people had been dwarves and they were considered masters of their craft.
“Well then I will walk you there myself” Darlene replied. “I am going to give the rats a little more time to squirm.”
~
“Who was your teacher?” Orecrusher said as he watched Tanner quench the hammer in oil. “You do not smith like others I have seen.”
“You mean like a human?” Tanner said as he could hear the dwarf gasp slightly. “No need of denying it, don't piss on my face and tell me it's raining. You are no halfman, my best friend is a halfman and he doesn't look anywhere as wide around the shoulder
s as you do.”
“You have seen dwarves before?” Orecrusher said.
“Aye” Tanner replied. “Mostly in paintings, thought you folk had turned into dust. You must really be hard up to turn to Quet for help. You ain't getting shit out of the deal and you are making weapons far above what anyone else has. Even without the fancy mageblood your swords are crafted nearly as well as my own.”
“Your sword” Orecrusher said. “Was made by a master, a master intent on getting rid of our oppressors.”
“You know more about my sword than you let on” Tanner replied.
“I have only heard whispers and rumors long ago” Orecrusher said as he looked over Tanner’s hammer. “A magic hater is in that blade, it is better to say he was banished to that blade. He hates mages and he thirsts for their blood, I heard the blade was destroyed. All who wield the blade will become bloodthirsty like the poor soul inside of that weapon.”
“That’s why I don't touch it too often” Tanner said. “It’s like an old man’s cock, the old man is happy to have it around but doesn't ever know if it will get any more use and knows if it does then a bunch of new problems would open up. When I get home I am putting my blade back up.”
“This hammer you made” Orecrusher said picking it up. “It still needs a good handle, ebonwood is the best kind to use I think. You can find an already made handle on that shelf that should work. You are some kind of important human where you come from?”
“I ain't shit but some dumb country boy” Tanner replied. “I don't put no special meaning on titles.”
“You gave a lot of people here a writ of passage to your lands” Orecrusher began. “I want one that lets me bring whoever I wish with me.”
“You thinking about leaving the girl?” Tanner asked.
“No” Orecrusher replied. “She has not lied to me.”
“You must have more cotton in your ears than a fat woman’s small clothes” Tanner said. “That girl has been lying to me since I met her.”
“No she hasn’t” Orecrusher said. “She let you make your own conclusions and never told you otherwise.”
“Well I can give you the writ” Tanner replied. “I wonder if this thing is going to work. I have tried to recreate my sword a number of times and although I have decent copies they are just fancy swords.”
“I am amazed that you can even wield the Hammer of Champions” Orecrusher said. “I struggle with it while I am wielding it, none of the wielders can even touch the thing. They say it is like gripping fire, it leaves burns on their hands even through the gloves. If they are not wearing the bracers then they can barely pick the thing up.”
“I can barely pick this thing up, it's as heavy as a bull moose” Tanner replied. “And being all bent over in this wagon isn't helping.”
“Well I think you have made a decent recreation” Orecrusher said. “Why would you make such a thing though, you can only use it as a regular smithing hammer.”
“It is a nice looking hammer though” Tanner replied. “You see how nice these etchings look on it? I think it is a good recreation and will use it as soon as I get home. Once I finish putting this handle on why don't you give it a few whacks, I know that girl or her advisor wants to make sure I am not making off with anything really powerful.”
“She asked me to take a look at whatever you made” Orecrusher began. “And it looks like the one I made the others have control of, just out of different materials. Go ahead and take it, even if it could do what this one could you would have to cripple your mages which is exactly what Quet wants.”
Tanner finished his hammer and left with his men, Darlene was in her capital city probably wreaking havoc on whoever she found inside of there and Tanner was not going to wait around for her to finish. Tanner was in a hurry to get back home, he had widows and parents he needed to talk to and things he needed to finish. He needed to let everyone know about Perry and how he knew the entire thing was an inside job, Darlene wanted some kind of leverage and was going to go for the girls. Her advisor was able to manipulate Duke Wayne who was still angry his son didn't get Carolina, into helping them out. Tanner would not be able to prove any of it and knowing Golden he would just be wary instead of crushing the Duke like a bug. His son Perry was able to benefit, people now thought he was some great swordmaster instead of an average one with an unfair advantage. Tanner smiled as he thought about this, Tanner had an unfair advantage himself with the helm and the sword both giving him knowledge and experience it took others years to gain.
“We are almost to the border Tanner” Darouth said as he withdrew his sword. “Looks like Duke Haggerty’s men are there as well.”
“They don't want the problems I will give them” Tanner said as he checked his hip again to see if the hammer was secure.
“Just as well Tanner let me do the talking” Darouth replied. “There has already been enough killing and I get the feeling that you and the other nobles do not get along.”
“That is easy to tell” Tanner laughed. “A blind man doesn't have to see to tell someone farted.”
“Halt” said a man wearing the colors of Duke Haggerty.
“Step aside” Darouth said. “This is Earl Tox and we are his men, we rode through here two months ago to help out in Quet.”
“Earl Tox you say?” the guard said as he eyed Tanner.
“You moving or am I going to have to get off my damn horse” Tanner snapped.
“Your Lordship” the guard began. “His Grace wanted me to extend his hospitality to you whenever you passed back through this way.”
“I am in a hurry” Tanner replied gruffly.
“We will be there” Darouth said as he looked at Tanner. “Please lead the way.”
“What are you doing?” Tanner snapped at Darouth.
“The man is a Duke, Tanner” Darouth replied. “And he is a perfect tosser, I used to be one of his guards before I came to you. If you pass on by he will consider it an insult, it is one thing to ignore missives while we are in Tox, it is something different to pass by his home without stopping.”
“That old bastard Farald had a hand in this” Tanner said eyeing Darouth.
“And I am married to his daughter” Darouth replied. “We don't have to stay long but I was instructed by both him and Lord Stephen to ensure you don't piss off any of these nobles while we are riding through their lands.”
“That old halfman is back?” Tanner said shaking his head. “Whatever, let's get this over with, the sooner we get there the sooner we can leave.”
Tanner followed the guards back to Duke Haggerty’s estate. Tanner was showed to a bath and servants took and laundered his clothing. Tanner was unsure if Haggerty had a part in Carolina’s kidnapping but doubted it, his daughter Jessica was involved so it made no sense. What Tanner was sure of was that Haggerty was like the rest of them, conniving and money hungry. Despite being rich himself, the man always wanted more. He had made it known he did not like the fact that Tanner was handing out land to commoners. Tanner finished his bath as servants came in to comb his hair, Tanner covered himself with a towel and figured the reason it was a bunch of young women was because the Duke figured Tanner might be in to that sort of thing to sex up the help. Tanner let them do their job and was happy his hair was now combed and his puny beard was now shaved. Tanner sent them away much to their surprise and waited for some clothes. His clothes were eventually brought back in nice and pressed, Tanner was never big on mages but had to admit they had their uses. Tanner thought there was no other way to dry out clothes that fast that didn't involve magic as he got himself dressed. Now it was time to dine with Haggerty, it was morning when Tanner reached the border and now it had to be midafternoon, a decent time for a meal. Tanner figured he would enjoy sleeping on a bed and let his men enjoy their time as well and leave first thing in the morning.
“Milord” Tenkay said as he peeked his head into Tanner’s room. Tenkay was the Duke’s seneschal and was the man who Tanner snapped at when he
went to Duke Haggerty’s daughter Jessica’s coming out party.
“Alright spill it Tenkay” Tanner said as he eyed the man. “Who am I supposed to be having this meal with and why?”
“Milord?” Tenkay said shocked.
“Enough of this Milord shit” Tanner snapped. “My name is Tanner, now let's hear it.”
“You will be dining with the Duke and his family” Tenkay said nervously. “There may be some other influential people there that want to do business with you.”
“Any of those men run brothels and the like?” Tanner asked. “No way those three that were in here earlier were regular servants, the Duchess would shit a boulder before she allowed a bunch of women looking like that around her husband and son.”
“Yes Your Lordship” Tenkay replied. “Mr. Steele though always pays his taxes on time and lends his personal guards to help out the city watch if they ever get into it with a mage or something.”
“Good for him, not happening” Tanner replied. “Who else is there?”
“Lady Wallace will be there” Tenkay replied. “So will two of her daughters, Lady Wallace is a widow who has fallen on some difficult times. She knows you are single and hopes one of her girls catches your eye. She is a friend of the Duchess and is a decent person, most of her fortune comes from her cotton fields. The only reason she is in debt is because she is still trying to pay off all of the debts Lord Wallace brought on them by gambling and bad business deals. She will climb out of the hole eventually, the stress from it has made it hard for her to find matches for her girls. She was able to match her son up with a Knight’s daughter, I think you are familiar with Lady Minka who set at your table and got into a little quarrel with your guest.”
“Is that it?” Tanner asked.
“Yes” Tenkay replied.
“Well let's get this shit over with” Tanner replied.
Tanner walked into a dining room and saw Duke Haggerty was already seated with more people than Tenkay had told him about. Tanner figured he couldn't blame the man too much and was happy to get any information as he shook Duke Haggerty’s hand and gave other greetings to those around him. Duke Haggerty’s heir was there, he was a plain looking man who looked nervous at being seated around everyone. Tanner figured the woman next to him with the look of awe on her face was his wife. Tanner took a seat next to Haggerty as the food started coming in, Tanner had to admit it smelled good and was preparing to dig in when Duke Haggerty spoke.