Minx turned to find Alla standing behind a nearby tree, watching the procession of soldiers. “Alla?” she exclaimed, jogging over to her. “What are you doing here? I thought you were still near the mountain, with the dragons.”
The half-Fae smiled, combing a lock of silvery hair behind one of her ears. “The dragons are coming along, doing much better than they were when they first arrived. But I had to come out here and meet you. Gloirs sent me.”
“Gloirs?” asked Minx.
Alla nodded. She carried a large water skin over one shoulder. “He wanted me to bring you this. It's water—from the spring.”
Minx accepted the water skin. It was a heavy one, containing a fair bit, and would require no little muscle for her to haul. “Oh? What for?”
“He didn't say,” continued Alla, “but he insisted that you would be needing it.” She peered at the passing soldiers. “What are you up to?”
“Things aren't looking too good. Torrent is gaining ground. What little remains of the shield around Pandling Grounds is being stripped away, and he may even gain access to Heilo Lake. We have a plan for a final attack. It's risky, but...” She looked to the water skin and hefted it over her shoulder with a grunt. “Maybe this will help. Thanks, Alla.”
The half-Fae stepped back into the woods. “I hope to see you when this is all through. I'm going back to the mountain for now, to keep an eye on things. Be careful, Minx.” With that, she started through the trees.
What does Gloirs know that we don't? asked Mau as the two of them hurried back into formation with the others. That's a lot of spring water. Are we going to drown the Dark Mage, or what?
Minx shrugged. I don't know why he wanted us to have it, but maybe it'll be useful. At any rate, we need all the help we can get right now.
The group trekked silently to the edge of Pan and then passed into Pandling Grounds, the borders of which were then being contested by Torrent's spell-casters. The sun had nearly dropped from the sky, and a pale moon was rising to take its place. In this thin moonlight, one could make out threadbare patches within the magical barrier; everywhere, the wards were thinning. They had looked just like this prior to Kaleb's taking part in the ritual, and as she stared up at the vault of the heavens she couldn't help but marvel at Torrent's power. He and his men had reduced the new shields to near-ruin within days; an impressive, if horrible, feat.
The dark workshop sat against a gentle hill; a small building that Minx had wandered by many times but had never had occasion to enter. At sight of it, Haemon and his assistant broke away from the pack, jogging toward the entrance. They hastily lit torches outside the front door and then proceeded to enter. They would need time to make their preparations.
The First ordered five of his men to patrol the area and to keep an eye out for dark warriors in the event of a breach. He and the remaining four were stationed outside the workshop, while Minx, Kaleb and Mau were asked to assist the workers with whatever they needed. Haemon had set about lighting the charcoal within the fire-pot immediately upon entering, and a dull orange glow now seeped from the openings in the primitive forge. Within minutes, the chimney began loosing tendrils of smoke.
Minx left Mau outside with the patrolling Fae warriors and accompanied Kaleb into the workshop as he gently set the hunk of precious metal on the well-worn anvil inside. “Is there anything we can do to help?” he asked.
Haemon was busy arranging his hammers and uttering orders to his assistant, and barely looked up as he answered the dragon shifter's question. “It's going to take awhile to heat up—nature of the business, you see. We need it nice and hot, especially for a stubborn metal like this one.” Already accosted by the warmth of the fire, he ran a grotty hand across his brow. “Thom,” he said, snapping at his assistant, “fill this cauldron with water, will you? We'll need it for quenching.”
“Oh, yes...” replied young Thom. “I can run to the stream to get some, though it may take me awhile.”
“You need water?” asked Minx, conscious of the heavy water skin hanging over her shoulder. She peered at Kaleb and carefully lowered the vessel. “Gloirs sent us this gift—a good bit of water from the spring.” Turning to the blacksmith, she continued, “Is this enough?”
Haemon sized up the water skin and nodded. “Yes, I'd imagine so! Go ahead, pour it into the cauldron for me, if you would.”
“Are you sure you want to use that?” asked Kaleb as she went to open the water skin. “It would be a waste when we can just grab water from a stream, don't you think?”
She smiled, carefully pouring the contents into the cast iron vessel near the anvil. “Actually, Alla brought it to me as we were heading over. She insisted that Gloirs wanted us to have it—that it would be useful to us. I don't know how he knew, but that old dragon was a step ahead of us. If we're making special weapons, we ought to quench them in the finest water, wouldn't you say?”
“Speaking of weapons,” interjected the blacksmith, “what're we makin' tonight?”
Kaleb regarded the chunk of metal narrowly. “A sword—and several arrowheads, too, if possible. Is there enough metal for all of that?”
Haemon gave a thumbs up and stirred the coals with an iron rod. “Sure, I think we can manage that. As I said, it's going to take awhile to get this thing up to temperature. Once it's hot enough, we can begin at once—though this stuff, being as dense as it is, might be a hassle to work with. I'll try and have something for you by daybreak.” He glanced out the window with a slight frown, adding, “Unless we have company before then...”
Kaleb chuckled. “We'll do our best to keep interruptions to a minimum,” he promised. “You have water and material... Can we get you anything else to speed this along?”
The blacksmith knelt down to inspect his coals once more and smirked. “I don't suppose you could find me a hotter fire, could you? It'll take two, maybe three hours to get up to temperature. If I'd known you were coming with this request, I would have started it earlier in the day.”
“A hotter fire?” Kaleb approached the forge and knelt beside Haemon, peering into the gaps in the fire-pot. “As a matter of fact, I think I can help you with that.” Much to the blacksmith's horror, he leaned toward the nearest opening, the coals within already glowing a dim orange, and looked on the verge of climbing inside. He stopped just short of inserting his head fully into the fire-pot and opened his mouth, a small column of molten fire bursting from his lips and igniting the contents of the forge in an instant. The floors rumbled at the intensity of the blast, and searing steam poured from the chimney as Kaleb drew away from the opening. The ambient temperature within the workshop had risen substantially in the space of an instant, and Minx had been forced to back out the front door in search of cooler air to breathe. “Is that hot enough for you?”
Haemon, so stunned as to be at a loss for words, was left dripping with sweat and merely nodded.
Kaleb exited the building and joined Minx outside. “All right, so all we need to do now is keep Torrent at bay till the weapons are finished. It'll take them till morning to get these things hammered out. Should be simple enough, right?”
The Fae huntress adjusted the quiver on her back and looked into the distance. Night's hold on the continent had become absolute, and the darkened skies beyond the nearest barrier were thick with the haze of battle. No matter their exhaustion or fear, they would have no choice but to remain vigilant till the early morning hours, when the weapons were completed. This was their last chance, the only path they could rely on for victory.
Minx put up her hair and sighed deeply. “I think it's going to be a long night.”
Chapter 22
The sound of the hammer broke the night at regular intervals.
Haemon worked the metal tirelessly, his hammer-blows sending showers of sparks across the workshop. Minx and Kaleb watched from the safety of the window as Thom took the nigh-molten metal—gradually being lengthened into the shape of a sword—and dunked it in the cauldron filled w
ith spring water. The thing hissed, resulting in waves of steam.
And then the process started all over again. With only a brief pause, Haemon placed his work-in-progress into the forge, pulled it out when it began to glow a fiery orange, and then returned it to his anvil, where he began to strike it all over again. Beads of his perspiration fell upon the glowing blade and sizzled with every blow. The sound was jarring, and certainly carried across the otherwise quiet night.
As she stood outside, Minx couldn't help wondering who else might be listening to the blacksmith's furious work as the hours passed.
Though things were largely quiet, they knew better than to mistake this for inaction on the part of Torrent's forces. The patrolling Fae warriors had spotted numerous marauders during their tours of the territory's borders, and one even alleged that some had managed to break through the barrier. Those stationed outside the workshop steeled themselves in preparation for battle.
They had been listening to the din of the hammer for some hours when Minx first eyed a lone Krah loitering near the boundary line. The lizard-men, immune to the effects of the magical barrier, had been able to pass through without resistance. This ability of theirs had resulted in numerous Krah raids upon Pandling Grounds in recent days. All such attacks had been rebuffed, but during this sensitive phase in their planning they could not risk even a single intruder getting in the way of Haemon's work. At sight of the invader, who was armed with a broadsword, Minx had climbed to the top of the hill. There, staying low to the ground, she monitored the situation.
Mau, lingering outside the workshop, was soon in contact. What's the matter? Someone coming?
We've got a Krah, replied Minx, scanning the lowlands as far as the border. At least, I think there's only one. He's got a sword on him—a big one. I don't see anyone else with him, though. It's possible he's running reconnaissance for Torrent, or else he's lost.
Want me to pay him a visit? asked the Faelyr.
No, replied Minx. She carefully loaded her bow and propped herself up on one knee. It's possible he's been drawn this way by all the noise in the workshop. I'd rather be discrete and take him out from a distance. She drew her bow, lowered it till she was sure her trajectory accounted for the night breeze, and then exhaled.
The arrow flew. Silent death flashed through the air at incredible speed, arriving within inches of the Krah's right arm. Quite unexpectedly however, her aim had been off by a hair's breadth, resulting in her arrow striking the blade of the warrior's broadsword. The clatter saw him drop the weapon, stunned, and then look immediately to the hillside in search of its source.
Oh, no. I've been found out.
Spying Minx on the hilltop, the Krah hurriedly picked up his sword and turned tail. Running back toward the boundary with all the speed his stocky green legs could generate, he would undoubtedly report what he'd seen to his superiors. It was likely he'd been sent to investigate the noise and smoke issuing from the workshop. At finding armed resistance outside of it, a larger force would surely be by to investigate more aggressively. Torrent's scrutiny was the absolute last thing they needed.
Minx gained her feet, firing off a second shot. This one didn't even reach its target, however, landing in the soil some feet short of the mark. Panic had overcome her; frazzled, her aim had suffered. She cursed to herself and loaded a third arrow, hoping to snipe the Krah before he left range.
Suddenly, the Krah loosed a cry and crumpled. Minx lessened the tension on her bow and slid down the hillside a short distance, trying to figure out what had led to his collapse.
The source had been the bow of a fellow Fae—a young warrior returning from his patrol along the borderline. He'd spotted the Krah while emerging from a thicket of trees and dropped him with a perfectly-timed arrow to the breast plate. He inspected his target for a moment and then continued trudging toward the workshop, glimpsing Minx in the process and sparing her a nod.
One of the rookies saved the day, she thought with a laugh. She lowered her bow and gave the lad a wave. I totally blew it. That Krah could have been our undoing. She remained on the hill a long while, monitoring the distance in search of others. For a time, silence and calm returned to the area, though she couldn't find it in herself to trust either of them, and when she finally returned to the workshop she did so while still peering over her shoulder.
“One measly Krah? Torrent had better step up his game before it's too late!” mocked Kaleb at hearing of the most recent takedown.
“Don't tempt him,” interjected Minx, taking a seat beside Mau and running her hands through the Faelyr's fur. “He may very well send more next time.”
The First, who'd been stationed beside the workshop entrance for the duration of their operation, glanced into the window from time to time and monitored the blacksmith's progress. “The blade is coming along,” he remarked, obviously impressed. “I think he may hit his goal of morning for a completed sword.”
“And those of us standing out here, listening to this racket till daybreak, may also wind up hard of hearing, too!” quipped one of the nearby Fae warriors with a grin.
Mau rolled onto her back, exposing her belly to Minx. To be fair, he may have a point. That hammering is unbearable to listen to. I'm getting a headache already and he wants to keep it up till sunrise?
Go for a walk, suggested Minx. Let me know if you find anything out there, all right?
The dozy Faelyr slowly rose and stretched. Well, if you say so. She strode around the edge of the hill and sought out a quieter vantage point from which to keep an eye on their surroundings.
“Where's Mau off to?” asked Kaleb, leaning against the side of the building with arms crossed.
“She's tired of the noise,” explained Minx. “I told her to go for a walk and keep a lookout. Better to have her doing something useful than to listen to her complain till morning!”
Kaleb chuckled. “The noise doesn't bother me, honestly. Every smack of the hammer represents progress—progress towards defeating Torrent once and for all.” He pushed away from the workshop and settled in the grass beside Minx. “This could really be it, you know? We might have actually found a way to win this time.”
She admired his optimism—and, to a degree, she even shared it. “It would be wonderful to finally put this nightmare behind us...” Still, something troubled her. “Winterlimb said that our love was a necessity though, right? In order for this to work... In order for us to put a stop to Torrent with these weapons, our love has to play some role, doesn't it? What did he mean by that?”
“In typical Winterlimb fashion, he didn't tell me,” replied Kaleb. “Suffice it to say, the two of us will have to go into battle against him together—a united front. We've risked everything for each other up to this point, and will be carrying weapons made of the same ancient material. When the time comes, I think it'll all make sense. The love that lives within us, which burns in our hearts, is going to be what makes these weapons really perform. Or, at least, I imagine so.”
Hearing him talk about love in this way set her own heart fluttering, and for a long while she said nothing, merely pleased to be seated beside him. “In ancient times, Fae and dragons were a united front,” she finally continued during a lull in the hammering. “It was only the influence of the Dark Mage that thrust them apart. I think that, in order to defeat Torrent and his dark magic, the two of us are going to have to work together with the same love and courage that Gloirs and Heilo once shared. The two of them couldn't salvage their love so many years ago—the rift between dragons and Fae had become too great. But now, you and I have a chance to bridge the gap and bring our people together. Our peoples can have a bright new future starting with the two of us...”
Kaleb took her hand in his and nodded. “I think you're onto something. This one's for Gloirs and Heilo, then—and to a promising future for both our kinds.”
Framing their struggle in this way helped to assuage her nerves. Things have looked so dark for us in recent days, but mayb
e this is what it's all been leading up to. Perhaps the two of us were meant to fill this role, and to reunite our peoples. Torrent came to drive us apart, but in defeating him we have a real chance at being brought together.
Her rosy thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Mau, who'd only been gone a few minutes. Minx, we've got a problem.
The Fae huntress sat upright. What kind of problem? You see something out there?
That's right, replied the Faelyr. A whole lot of something’s. At least a dozen Krah. They're all armed to the teeth. Taking out their buddy while he was investigating the area may have tipped off Torrent that something important is going on hereabouts. How do you want to handle this?
A dozen? Though not an insurmountable threat, that was a larger force than Minx had hoped to encounter at this time of night. Moreover, if they successfully defeated this group of Krah, their deaths would prove a good deal more conspicuous to Torrent than that of the previous intruder. “Kaleb, Mau tells me we're in for trouble.”
“Oh?” The dragon shifter slowly gained his feet. “What are we looking at?”
Noting Minx's tense body language, the First approached the two of them. “What's this now?”
Minx decided to bring them both into the loop. “Mau tells me she's just seen a dozen or more Krah—they're headed this way, well-armed. Taking out that scout earlier probably clued in Torrent. Whatever we're up to over here is obviously worth defending. Now he's sending a larger force to investigate further.”
The First rested a hand upon the hilt of his sword with a grimace. “I see. If only those Krah could be held in check by the warding spell like the other races... There are a dozen, you say?” He glanced at the men in the vicinity. “With you and Kaleb in our corner, surely we can defeat them, yes?”
“Defeating these Krah isn't really a problem,” replied the Fae huntress. “Taking down one Krah led Torrent to send a dozen. If a dozen disappear on him, he's likely to send many, many more. I don't know how many Krah remain in his ranks at this point, but we stand to be overrun if he sends a force of, say, a hundred. And, knowing him, he just might...”
How to Bond a Mage (Heir of Dragons Book 3) Page 12
