Hammerhold Tales: Thrallborn Read online

  “Where is everyone, Axel?” Sawain inquired.

  Axel slumped down in one of the chairs and began gnawing furiously at the turkey leg.

  “Mf, the Segrammir’s messenger called for them late last night. Had some sort of mission for us. I stayed behind to do yer schooling. That old fool probably has them spying on gnolls again. He’s paranoid as they can get. Thinks that those beasts are smart enough to start a war against him. Those fiends can’t even get along with their own tribe-mates. Kyra went to Mosivik’s tower about the same time Rylie and Syd left for the Segrammir’s Hall. She’s probably doing some research for old Relsted.”

  Fury gnawed at Sawain’s soul at the mention of gnolls. He tried to suppress it, to little avail.

  “Who is Mosivik and Relsted?”

  Axel leaned forward, propping himself up on the table with his elbows. He bore an expression of intellectual superiority on his face.

  “Mosivik Leafturner is court magician and head scholar to our dear ‘hero king’, Relsted Gildlister. Mosivik is an arrogant little gnome who thinks he is better than everyone else because of all his books. I’m not fond of him particularly, but he’s a true noble when compared to our current Segrammir. He is descended from Bruhimn, the first Segrammir of Anvilheim. He is nothing like his great grand sire. He is a weak ruler who struggles with coming to a decision, then struggles further with holding to the decisions he makes. It is because of him that Jordborg was able to conquer southern Anvilheim. Our hold’s influence has suffered greatly under his reign. But they say his general is likely to become the next Segrammir, since he himself has no heir. Now that’s a shift in power many of us heroic types are waiting for.”

  Sawain’s heart sank into his stomach at the mention of Jordborg’s conquest.

  “Axel, what can you tell me about the war between Jordborg and Anvilheim?”

  Axel perked up, eager to share his knowledge of the war with his protege. He opened his mouth to begin when the main door swung open. Rylie and Syd came striding in with grim countenances. Axel noticed and forgot his tale. He spoke cheerfully to them.

  “Well, what did the hero-king want?” The sarcasm dripped from Axel’s words.

  Syd sank into a chair at the end of the table and Rylie slunk to a seat on the other side of the table. Both looked uninterested in acknowledging the other. Axel raised an eyebrow at their curious behavior.

  “The two of ye look like a pair of Spriggans in a barrel.”

  Sawain, who had never seen or heard of a Spriggan was confused, “What does that even mean?”

  “It means we look ready to kill each other,” Rylie answered in a low tone.

  Axel looked from Rylie to Syd and back again, concern replacing curiosity on his countenance.

  “What is going on here?”

  Syd, who had been staring a hole into the table, looked up at Axel, “The gnolls have defiled one of the standing stone sites.”

  Axel grew as grim as his companions. Even Sawain felt his face grow dire and a rage stir in his chest at the mention of gnolls. Axel’s words came out in a low growl.

  “What do you mean?”

  Rylie answered. “They have destroyed the stones of Nath, The Forked One.”

  Sawain had heard of Nath, the two-headed snake god before. He was a prankster who plagued the other gods in the old stories. He had to ask, “What would they want with a bunch of old stones?”

  Everyone looked at him sternly. He shrank in his seat, feeling the blood rushing into his cheeks. He didn’t speak again.

  After a moment, Syd spoke again, “ The segrammir believes that they are searching for some sort of artifact that could help them invade Anvilheim. He is calling on heroes to stop them at all costs. He is especially keen on the idea of genocide at the gnoll’s expense.

  Sawain did not understand what genocide meant, but it sounded painful for the gnolls, so he liked it.

  Rylie slammed his tiny fist on the table. “So what if we were to commit genocide? Isn’t our goal to keep Anvilheim safe? Aren’t the gnolls a constant threat to our home’s safety?”

  Syd scowled fiercely, the unrefined elvish fury glaring in his eyes as he grit his teeth, “Genocide is unacceptable in any situation. The gnolls are no less a threat to us than the humans and gnomes of Jordborg. If you can justify using it against one race just because their values are different, what stops them from committing it against the halflings because they hate their vagabond ways?”

  Rylie was up on the table at this point, screaming and throwing accusing gestures at Syd, “You are just a sap sipping mange-lover! The gnolls are monsters! They are cruel, savage fiends bent on killing us all and ravaging our lands! They are raiders, land pirates! All of them! How can you defend them?!”

  Syd was up, drawing a curved short sword as he went. Axel moved quickly to position himself between the two adversaries. In a flash, he was standing on the table as well, his hands held straight out to his left and right, “Alright, lads, that’s enough! Settle down! I will not have ye spilling each others’ blood. We have more than plenty of others trying to do that for us every day. Let’s just sit down and talk this out calmly. What is all this talk of genocide?”

  The front door swung open yet again. Kyra came in with a large tome under her arm. She closed the door again and trudged slowly to the table. She looked exhausted. Her left hand was bandaged up, with crimson stains seeping through the linen. She slumped into a chair and opened the book in front of her.

  “Sorry I’m late,” Her voice sounded strained, “I was just waiting outside for the perfect moment to burst in dramatically and that seemed like the perfect chance. As for the genocide, I think I can answer that one. Gildlister commissioned me to help Mosivik research an ancient artifact that is said to give the wielder the power of the gods. Well, we found several that fit that broad requirement. However, after some closer looking, we found some interesting things. First of all, if you don’t know the legend of Orkir and Nath, The long and short of it is that Nath tried to play a trick on Orkir, who is the greater god of deception, and it backfired. Orkir defanged the Forked one and set the fangs in an orb made from the sap of the Heart of the Forest. Well, that’s all we had on Nath, but the Segrammir thinks The gnolls are looking for his fangs. He is convinced they are going to try to use the fangs to kill him somehow. His conspiracies are too many to relate, but more importantly is the research we did on Orkir.”

  Axel was getting impatient and tired of having to stand on the table, “Get to the point, lassie!”

  Kyra looked offended that she was interrupted and let out a loud huff, “My point is, the Segrammir is wanting us to find Orkir’s Staff, Faethabal. He wants to use it to purge the gnoll threat from Hammerhold. But there are so many more problems with this plan of his than the questionable morality of his actions. We don’t know what this weapon could do. Sure, we know he’s the god of Fire, but he is also the god of deception. Also, who is to say that he left something so dangerous on the material plane after the gods left?”

  Kyra’s drawn out explanation gave everyone a chance to cool down. Axel looked confused.

  “Did the Segrammir dispatch any troops to stop the gnolls or did he just sit around tossing out maniacal plots for revenge?”

  Syd shook his head wearily, “He did not order any troops out, but I heard that Jaren Turinthrek was gathering a small army together to ride out and disrupt whatever it is they are doing. Maren from Frostwing Alliance told me her entire company was riding out with him along with another larger company right after we left the meeting.”

  Axel’s face radiated joy, “See? That is the kind of man we need leading this city! I would have rode out with him in a heartbeat. In fact, what is stopping us from going tonight?”

  Rylie hopped down from the table and began to storm off, “ I have no plans of riding out with anyone tonight. Jaren’s a fool, too!” Axel called after him, “Stop right there, Paladin. I need to meet with ye and Syd privately. We have much to discuss
before we do anything. I want ye to come downstairs with me. Now.”

  His command was stern. It stopped the halfling knight in his tracks. He hesitated for a minute, then turned and stormed off towards the basement, muttering about sap sippers the whole way. Syd was even more hesitant. To follow.

  “I am not in the mood for this, Axel, let the small one cool off more.”

  Axel would not hear of it. “Downstairs, Syd. Now. Kyra, wait a moment or three then come down as well. Bring yer book, too.”

  Axel jumped off the table and strode off to the basement. Syd followed reluctantly behind them. Then it was just Sawain and Kyra. Sawain felt the awkward silence pressing against his lungs, smothering him. He stood up and began gathering the table scraps and bowls he and Axel were using. Kyra stood up too and made herself look busy as well. After a moment, she spoke, breaking the silence.

  “Sawain, what do you think? If you were given the opportunity, would you kill all the gnolls for what they did to you?”

  Sawain knew the answer in his heart. Of course he would. He would not hesitate, “What would I know of such things? I’m just a shieldling. No better than a thrall.”

  He did not look up from the table. Kyra was still and silent.

  Sawain finished gathering up the scraps and turned for the kitchen. Kyra’s hand caught him by the elbow. He stopped where he was as her voice filled his ear. The regret in her plea was enough to weigh on Sawain’s heart.

  “I’m sorry, Sawain. I should have never snapped at you like I did. I was embarrassed and I—”

  She hesitated for a moment, “ I just don’t know how I am supposed to treat you. I’m a hero, but I was an apprentice myself a few months ago. Look, I’m sorry, I’m really sorry. Can we start over?”

  Sawain stared at the bowl of half eaten food. He nodded and turned to face her.

  “Sure, Kyra. If you are willing to treat me like a friend and not a slave.”

  Kyra smiled, her eyes glistening. “I can do that.”

  The rest of the night passed uneventfully and the next morning, no mention of the gnolls was made and no one would allow it to be brought up. The next couple of weeks rushed by for Sawain as he continued to learn smithing, strategy, and even how to read and write common. Sawain was indeed a fast learner. By the end of the first month, he was able to read and write complete sentences. His first sword was completed by the end of the second month, and he was able to beat Syd at Chess from time to time in the third month. His mind and his body grew keener with every passing day. He could wield the striking hammer like an artist wields a brush. Within six months under Axel’s tutelage, Sawain could produce dwarven steel blades and armor like a true dwarf. He was even picking up more and more dwarven from Axel when he would swear by his gods after Sawain struck him on the hand with the striking hammer. Sawain soon understood why Axel wore his full armor into the forge. He was always told it was because a warrior must be ever ready for battle, but Sawain figured that it was to protect himself from his apprentice’s wild swings early on. Axel certainly looked more comfortable after a few months.

  The only thing Sawain was not excelling at was combat. In fact, Axel refused to teach him how to fight yet. Eery time it was brought up, he would be told that his education in the sword would come after his basic education. On the day Sawain completed his first dwarven steel breastplate, he begged Axel to let him try it out along with the sword he completed months earlier.

  “You said once I could make the weapons, I could learn to use them.”

  Axel frowned, tugging at his beard, “I’m pretty sure I never said that. I told ye that ye’d be making them, not using them.”

  Sawain snorted, “What’s the point in making them if I don’t know how to use them? Come on Axel, if I’m going to be a hero some day, I’m going to need to know how to use a sword.”

  Axel hesitated for a moment then nodded, “Alright, alright. Ye want to learn to fight? Let’s see what ye can do.”

  Sawain was ecstatic. He grinned broadly and grabbed his blade, running out into the training yard like a child who received a new toy. Axel followed suit with two log swords in tow. These blades were rounded on the end and edgeless.

  “If yer gonna learn to fight, ye’ll do it with a practice sword. I’m short enough as it is. Don’t need ye chopping off me head and making me shorter.”

  He tossed Sawain a sword. He caught it effortlessly, frowning as he laid his own blade aside. Axel took up a fighting stance with both hands on his sword. Sawain flourished his blade in his right hand, taking a more arrogant stance. Axel grinned, as his eyes filled with battle lust.

  “Alright boy, let’s see what ye can do.”

  Sawain flourished his sword again and closed in quickly on Axel. He lifted his sword over his head and felt a stinging blow to his ribs. He backed off, nursing his new wound that Axel delivered deftly. Sawain snarled and put all of his strength into another attack. He rushed Axel again, stabbing at his chest. His blade was pushed away by Axel’s and Axel’s foot caught the crook of his foot. Before he knew it, he was airborne. He hit the stone surface hard, smacking his face against it. He staggered to his feet, spitting out the blood that filled his mouth from the open wound in his lip.

  “Yer using too much power, lad. I’m a moving and breathing opponent, not some piece of steel ye can strike with all yer might!”

  Sawain quickly rethought his strategy. He circled Axel, looking for an opening. He slashed at the dwarf. His blade was forced down as Axel closed the gap. A chain-clad fist impacted with his chest, winding him and leaving him sprawling.

  “In war, yer adversary will be in a hurry to kill ye. Don’t do any of that silly circling and studying. Ye’ll never have time for it in a real fight.”

  Sawain pulled himself off the ground and adopted Axel’s stance this time. He studied Axel for a moment. Like a flash of lightning, the dwarf lunged forward. His sword struck Sawain’s with such force that Sawain was staggered back. The reverberation shot up his arms, numbing them. Axel moved again. His blade came down on Sawain’s right thigh. The pain was enough to make Sawain kneel. He closed his eyes to keep the tears from spilling out, and felt Axel’s blade rest on his shoulder.

  “Lesson one. If ye can’t think like electricity, ye’ll die on the battlefield a young man.”

  Sawain gasped for air and spit out more blood, “Think like electricity? What does that mean?”

  Axel offered a hand to Sawain and pulled him up from the ground, “Electricity always takes the path of least resistance, and it does so quickly, without hesitation and without regret. If ye over think things, ye’ll end up on the ground every time.”

  Sawain let the lesson sink in, looking down at his blood on the ground. Axel crossed his arms, smiling at his bloodied apprentice.

  “Care to go again, shieldling?”

  The master and apprentice sparred for hours. Each time Sawain would get beat down, but rise again, never willing to surrender. As they fought, Axel watched his protege’s movements closely. Sawain tried to remember to take the path of least resistance against Axel, but the dwarf was like a wall of resistance. Finally, in a rage of frustration, Sawain launched himself at Axel. He brought his sword up to attack, but waited last second for Axel’s counter attack. He used his sword to bounce off of it and moved behind Axel. As the Dwarf pivoted to defend himself, Sawain was already on the offensive with his blade ready. The stroke came swiftly and deliberately. Sawain chopped down on Axel’s Shoulder. His sword snapped, sending the broken piece hurdling back in Sawain’s face. The dwarf grunted loudly and fell to one knee. When Sawain lifted his sword from his master’s shoulder, he saw that the steel pauldron was cracked. He brought a hand up to his eye to make sure it was still there. The broken blade gashed him under his right eye. He was lucky this time. He wiped the blood away and helped Axel to his feet. The dwarf groaned, massaging his shoulder.

  “Good hit, laddie, I think ye dislocated it. Ye know what? I don’t think the sword is the we
apon for ye.”

  Sawain’s heart sank. “Come on, Axel, that’s not fair. It was one lucky hit, don’t quit on me just because I got a good hit in.”

  Axel raised a hand to calm Sawain down, “Now, now, laddie, I never said anything about quitting, but tomorrow, I think we will introduce you to a weapon that’s more your style. Swords are fine and all, but I think a war hammer would suit ye much better. What do you say to that?”

  “What happened to fighting like electricity?” Sawain inquired, still riled up.

  “Sometimes, the path of least resistance can be forged. What’s lightning without thunder? Tomorrow, I will teach you how to fight less like electricity and more like a powder keg.”

  Sawain was confused, “What’s a powder keg got to do with fighting?”

  Axel smiled devilishly, “Ever seen what a spark of electricity can do to a powder keg?”

  Sawain shook his head. “I’ve never seen a powder keg.”

  Axel folded his hands tightly as if he was holding a small creature between them, “Powder kegs are airtight kegs that are packed with explosive black powder. When a spark of electricity hits the keg’s fuse-” He slung his hands apart dramatically, making an explosion sound with his mouth, “Ye get enough raw power to level a mountain. That’s the potential I see in e, laddie.”

  Sawain was silent for a moment. “Doesn’t that destroy the powder keg?”

  Axel scratched his head for a moment, “Okay, so it’s not a perfect analogy, but ye get the point. That’s enough for today, go get cleaned up. Ye can have the rest of the day off. I need to go pop my arm back into socket and fix my armor now, thanks to you. Not to mention reforging my training sword, my young sword breaker.”