“Will do. It’s going to be an hour before I’ll want to tackle the next one,” Sean said as he rested his back against a tree.
“We’ll finish up the first one quick, so you can drop the third whenever you’re ready.”
“Got it,” Sean said as he yawned. “I got enough sleep…”
Cian nodded, “Just recover for a bit. We already have two down and the sun is hardly above the horizon.”
“Good idea,” Sean said through another yawn.
Sean wasn’t sure how long he’d nodded off for, but the woodsmen were working on the second tree when his eyes opened again. The dark axe was resting just in front of him, and the first denuded log had been moved down the bank.
“Time to get back to it,” Sean muttered as he picked up the axe and got to his feet. “How you guys doing?”
“Maybe halfway through this one,” Cian called back to Sean. “You about to drop the third one?”
“That’s the plan,” Sean replied as he walked over to his next target.
It took him longer for the third tree and his arms were going numb by the time it fell. Wincing, he took a seat again and waited to drop the axe. “Fucking thing is persistent.”
“Yes, it wants to be used until you fall over,” Cian said as Sean was finally able to set the axe aside. “We finished the second and can start on the third, but Ward will be going downstream before we finish trimming it.”
“Understood,” Sean murmured as he tried to relax and waited for his hands to return to normal. “The last tree is going to be harder than I thought.”
“If need be, we can all take a few swings to spread around the energy drain,” Cian said as he went to the third tree. “Just rest until we send Ward off, at least.”
“That’s a good plan,” Sean replied as he closed his eyes, letting the muted sounds of the forest wash over him. He smiled as he listened in on the conversations, small talk between friends. It reminded him of James, and again he wondered how his only real friend was doing.
“Sean, we’re sending Ward off,” Taavi called out from the streambank. “Help us get it into the water?”
“Coming,” Sean said, stretching as he got to his feet. Pausing for a drink from the stream, he felt more refreshed. “I’ve got it, if all of you will be ready to steady it for him.”
A minute later, Ward was on the log, being reminded to be careful by Cian. With a wave, Ward said his goodbyes and started poling the log downstream.
“What lives down there that you guys have to kiss?” Sean asked.
“A Naiad. They control the lake and the stream down a bit from here,” Cian said. “The Agreement is that we can have safe passage, but we must kiss one of them each time. The problem is that to kiss one is to want to kiss them more. That is why we trade off, so we all have days between kisses. Even with that, the temptation is strong.”
“What do they get out of it?” Sean asked.
“A small bit of our vitality, and if one of them can lure us into the water, she can take us under and drown us. The bottom of the lake is littered with bones from their many victims.”
“Fun times,” Sean muttered.
“Ward will get to the town just before sundown. The sawmill will put him up for the night and he will walk back tomorrow. Byrne will be back at the village an hour before the women come for the branches. He will walk out here with them.”
“Why the singing?” Sean asked as he looked at the fourth tree to be felled.
“Some things that live in the woods have a craving for women, but they will leave them alone if there is song. So they sing on their way out to us, and we sing on the way back.”
“Interesting,” Sean muttered as he picked the axe back up. “I’m going to get started on number four.”
“It’s just past noon, so don’t rush it,” Cian told him. “We’ve already doubled our normal productivity for a day.”
“Wait, what? Darragh said the average was two trees a day,” Sean said.
“If you take our best days as the average, then yes, two is the average,” Cian chuckled. “I take it the crafty bastard angled you into four.”
“I erred when I asked if two was the average,” Sean sighed. “Right. No more volunteering information.”
The men all chuckled at his obvious discomfort over being had. “Darragh knows the game of the Fey the best,” Eagon said. “Don’t feel too bad for being on the bad end of a deal with him. Besides, we might do this after all.”
“Fair enough, Eagon,” Sean said, getting ready to make his first cut on the fourth tree. “Here we go.”
Sean stopped after he got the undercuts done, his arms starting to tingle again. “I’m not recovering fast enough,” he told Cian after the others had finished the third tree.
“We can drop it,” Cian said with a look of hesitation.
“If you do, we’ll have issues getting it trimmed in time,” Sean said as he flexed his hands. “After we get this one trimmed, we still need to carry the trunks back before the women come out.”
“Oh, right,” Cian said, not having considered that before. “We’ll wait for you, then.”
Everyone settled in to rest while Sean waited for his hands to stop tingling. “You’ve done more than we could have,” Walden said. “None of us can use it for as long as you have, and cutting trees down with the bronze takes forever.”
“I bet,” Sean chuckled. “Too bad you only have bronze and not some of the harder metals.”
“It is a crime to own iron, or anything that contains any large amount of it” Cian said. “We can use mithril or adamantine, but those cost more than we have. Like this axe,” Cian continued, touching the haft of the blade. “It’s the only reason we can get a log for the village every other day on average.”
“So, we’ve already accomplished two days’ worth of work?” Sean asked.
“Yeah,” Cian chuckled.
“I need to watch myself when making Agreements in the future,” Sean said as he got to his feet. “Taking it down, then it’s all on you guys.”
“We’ll handle it,” Eagon said, quickly backed up by the others.
A few down cuts in, Sean’s hands started to go tingly. Growling, he kept up the attack on the tree, chunks flying off it as his arms started to tingle and his hands went numb. “Motherfucker,” he hissed as he pushed on. A few more cuts and the tree creaked, close to falling as his arms went numb and his chest began to tingle. Stopping, Sean took a few steps back and eyed the tree.
“We’ll finish it,” Cian said as the others all grabbed the bronze axes.
“No, I got it,” Sean said, a touch of anger to his voice. “Just clear the area, it might not fall clean.”
They all got out of the way as Sean took two steps forward and planted his foot just above his cuts. With a loud snap, the tree tumbled, twisting a little as it fell. With a savage grin, Sean called out, “Timber!”
Shaking their heads, the guys all moved over and patted him on the back, congratulating him. Smiling, Sean sat down and waited to be able to release the axe. “Thanks. I’ll be over to help with a regular axe once I can.”
“Just recover,” Cian laughed. “No one is going to believe this until they see it.”
Glancing at the sky, Sean gauged they had a little over three hours before the women came out to gather the branches. It would take them most of that time to clear the fourth tree. Hanging his head, Sean closed his eyes and took deep breaths as he felt his hands start to relax a little. After another minute, he was able to release the axe.
“I’ll take it,” Cian said. “We’re going to pass it around to get this done faster, then we’ll carry the first one to the village. I want to get all three trees in so we can help the women with the branches.”
“Works,” Sean said as he laid back on the ground. “I’ll come join you guys in a minute.”
“Sure,” Cian chuckled and walked away.
“Sean, we’re ready,” Cian called out, what seemed like just a
moment later.
“Huh?” Sitting up, he wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth. Blinking, Sean saw the sun dipping towards the horizon. “Shit, I fell asleep again?”
“Or, you were speaking in tongues,” Taavi laughed.
“And snoring, great,” Sean snorted as he got to his feet. “Okay. I’m lead again?”
“We think you can handle it,” Cian said. “We should be able to grab Byrne when we drop this one off, which will make the other two easier.”
“Got it,” Sean yawned as he got to his spot.
The first log back to the village was easy. As they dropped it off, Fiona looked out her window with a raised brow. “So soon?” she asked.
“We have to make another trip or two,” Sean grinned at her. “I look forward to speaking with you tonight.”
Fiona’s eyes got wide, then narrowed. “You’re having me on.”
“Not before the first date,” Sean laughed. “See you later, Fiona.”
Byrne came over, puzzled that they were back already. “Not waiting for the women?”
“Well, there’s a story about that,” Cian laughed. “Come on, we have to make another trip.”
Cian explained to Byrne as they walked. Byrne looked at Sean with wide eyes, “You’re human, right?”
“Last I checked,” Sean answered with a chuckle. “You’re going to be on your own tomorrow. I think you’ll be good with just the one for the town.”
Everyone chuckled, but Sean noticed the glances the others were giving each other. “We’ll see what we can do,” Cian said after a moment. “We won’t try for four, or even three, but it will look bad if we don’t get two tomorrow.”
“Sorry,” Sean winced. “I didn’t mean to raise the bar.”
“It’s good. Something to strive for is good,” Cian replied, patting Sean on the back. “Besides, you’re still the lead carrier for the next two logs.”
“Sure thing,” Sean laughed with the others.
As they dropped the second log off in town, Tamaya spotted them. “Two logs for us? You sent one to town, right?”
“Yes, wife,” Cian said as he grabbed her and kissed her. “We’ll be back in a bit to walk with you to the bank, so don’t leave without us.”
“Wait, what?” Tamaya stood there staring, joined by Fiona who looked out her window again. “Cian, get back here and explain,” she called after the men.
“Busy, be back soon,” Cian laughed.
“You’re going to pay for that,” Byrne chuckled.
“Sure, but it will be worth it to see her face when we drop the third one,” Cian laughed.
In high spirits, the woodsmen made good time back to the stream. Getting the log up, they marched along without singing, staying in step even without the song. When they made it back to the village, all the women were waiting by Fiona’s house, and she was standing outside by her window.
“Three, with one sent downstream, for a total of four,” Cian said simply. “I think you’ve lost a bet, Fiona.”
Fiona looked at Sean, who wore a small smile on his face. “It seems I underestimated you, Sean MacDougal. I will not do that again.”
“I look forward to our talk later tonight, Fiona Treeshaper,” Sean said, deliberately using her previous name.
Fiona took in a sharp breath, turning and rushing into her house. The rest of the women scowled as they looked at Sean.
“I might have just fucked up,” Sean sighed loudly.
“Yes you did, you idiotic moron,” Tamaya snapped. “Come ladies, we have branches to gather.” With that, the women moved towards the forest, their song loud. This was a new one, detailing the many shortcomings of men.
The men gathered around Sean with looks of exasperation. “Well, you’ve landed all of us in the kennel,” Cian said as he nudged Sean. “Come on, maybe we can grovel enough that they will forgive us. You, though, Sean, you are going to have a much harder time tonight.”
Staying where he was as the woodsmen followed their wives, Sean shook his head. “I meant it as a compliment. Fuck me, I need to learn things faster.” He turned and trudged after the others. He didn’t notice the shutter open a crack, nor the single blue eye that followed his steps. A single tear fell from it before the shutter was gently closed.
Chapter Ten
They made it back to the village just as the sun was sinking below the horizon. A dozen people each dragged a pile of branches behind them. Sean’s pile was the largest of them all. Fiona’s window was still closed when they got back. Sean looked away from it, angry with himself for hurting her. Dropping the limbs near the garden behind the houses, Sean stretched as everyone else went towards their homes.
Finding himself all alone, he debated whether to go to Darragh’s or try to apologize to Fiona. Best to apologize without the hunters around, Sean thought. Walking to Fiona’s house, he felt a twist in his gut as anxiety kicked in. He’d never been good with women, always managing to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Just like today, Sean chastised himself.
Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he knocked once and waited. He heard someone moving inside, so he kept waiting. No response came, so after a minute he knocked again. “Fiona, might I please talk with you? I wish to apologize.”
A few seconds later, the door cracked open. Fiona looked around the edge at him, her face mostly obscured by her hair, her blue eye barely visible behind the curtain of red. “Speak,” she told him, but the word was soft.
Closing his eyes briefly to center his thoughts, he spoke, “I am sorry, Fiona. I didn’t mean to upset you earlier. I meant no disrespect or harm, I used that name as I truly think it fits you. I’m ignorant of the customs and ways of this world, though I am trying to fix that. If I angered you, I ask that you let me make amends for it. Whatever you think is fitting, I will abide by.”
“Fool,” the words were almost inaudible. “That is a blank slate, begging to be used against you.” The door opened a fraction more, “We will speak of what you can do to alleviate the pain you caused. Enter, if that is truly what you want.” Stepping back, she opened the door to him.
As he entered, he heard a mocking voice behind him. “Going hat in hand to a Shamed, you truly are pathetic,” Whelan laughed.
Hands clenching, Sean felt his blood begin to boil. He paused in the doorway, torn between ignoring the taunt and having it out with Whelan, damn the consequences.
“Enter, or leave and talk to me no more,” Fiona said from behind the door.
That made up his mind for him. His hands relaxed as he entered, and the door closed behind him. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. There was a buzzing fly that annoyed me.”
A faint smile came to Fiona’s lips, “He will always buzz, that is what makes him feel special. The best thing is to ignore him. But you aren’t here to speak of Whelan. Please sit, and I will pour tea for us.”
Sean took the same seat as before. Fiona came over with two cups of mint tea, placing one before him as she sat. As he thanked her, he noticed that her eyes were puffy and red rimmed, and a sharp spike of pain hit him. “I apologize again, Fiona,” the words were soft.
“As you should, Sean. Calling me by that name brought back everything I can no longer do. You dug up things I had buried and made me look at them again.” She held out a hand to forestall his protests. “I know you didn’t do it out of malice, as many others would, but it still stung me deeply. We are here to talk about moving past the blunder you already made.”
Sean bowed his head, his sense of self-loathing high as he listened to her words. “I stand by my statement on your doorstep.”
“Which is the most foolish thing you’ve done today, including calling me… Treeshaper…” She stumbled over the name, her face twisting in pain and anger. Shaking her head, she met his eyes. “Do you understand why?”
“Because here, words have more power than they ever did where I came from,” Sean said. “I don’t think I spoke wrongly to you though, Fiona. I trust what
you would deem fair punishment for my words.”
Her eyes searched his face, not finding any hints of malice or antagonism. “My price to rebalance the scales is simple. Tell me the truth about where you came from, and why you are here.”
A weight heavier than any he had felt before settled on him. “That’s a long story, and it might be hard to fully explain,” Sean said, feeling the weight press down on him. “Can I hold off on the telling until tonight while I watch you work?”
Fiona licked her lips before nodding. “Agreed, but if you fail to do so, I will level a Punishment as severe as I can.”
“Agreed. I won’t disappoint you again today,” Sean said.
Lips twitching, Fiona fought the smile from her face. “You really brought down four trees today?”
“I brought them down, but they had to trim them all,” Sean said.
“I wouldn’t think bronze axes would survive four trees in a single day,” Fiona chuckled.
“They wouldn’t, which is why I didn’t use them,” Sean replied as he sipped the astringent tea.
“Wait, you used Dark Cutter all day?” Fiona sat up straight, brushing the hair away from her face, eyes wide as she stared at him.
“I had to rest between the trees, even napped twice, but yes. Darragh is a better man than me, if he can wield that beast without issues,” Sean said.
“He can wield it without issue because it’s linked to his soul,” Fiona said. Shaking her head, she looked at him with wonder, “All four trees?”
“Yeah. I’m sure Cian will be telling the story before dinner,” Sean said. “Is it that odd?”
“Unheard of,” Fiona said simply. “To use the Soul Linked item of another for so long in one day...” Shaking her head, she tried to find the words and failed, “It just doesn’t happen.”
“As I’ll explain tonight, I’m not a normal person anymore either,” Sean said. “Can I ask you to keep what I tell you to yourself?”
Fiona’s head tilted slightly as she ran her tongue over her teeth, “As long as it won’t harm the village, then yes.”
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