The Hammer of Champions

by A L Issett

  “So I talked to your men Earl Tox” Duke Haggerty started. “They say the war Quet had going is over?”

  “Call me Tanner Your Grace” Tanner replied. “I am not big on some stuffy title, it is one of the reasons why I stay in Tox and rarely venture out. But yeah, that war is over with. We broke them once we started taking their mages down, that let us get to their catapults and other things. They were foolish, they spread their force out too wide and by the time they consolidated we had momentum. Your daughter, is she safe?”

  “She is in the capitol with Princess Carolina” Duke Haggerty said. “I don’t think my lands are safe enough just yet and the King has agreed to put her up until I am satisfied the hostilities have passed. I heard you were involved in a fight that killed most of the enemy leadership and that you were good at taking down mages?”

  “I have been called many things but daft is not one of them” Tanner said as he narrowed his eyes at Duke Haggerty.

  “You are every bit as gruff as everyone says” Duke Haggerty said with a smile. “I know you and Perry Wayne have some secret you are not sharing with the rest of us or even sharing with the king. My son Telrin and Perry grew up together and have a rivalry of sorts. Every noble male wants to grow up to be some great hero, I fanned those flames and made sure Telrin got the best teachers available. Up until almost a year ago Telrin was slightly better than Perry, now he says Perry is much too fast for him to even get a hit on. Telrin has sparred with great swordsmen including one bolt masters, he at least can force them to block instead of dodge. Perry also has grabbed Telrin by the collar, lifted him off his feet with one hand and tossed him back a few paces. No man at that size should be able to do anything like it. You stayed with Perry during your duel, he was slightly faster than you were and I think he was stronger as well. Telrin tells me your skill was greater but he was better physically. I think whatever you have going on he has it better.”

  “So that's why your boy looks like he is the only rabbit in a room full of wolves” Tanner laughed. “When I fought Perry I thought it was going to be over with quickly, I hit him a number of times and he didn't have a mark on him.”

  “I noticed that as well” Duke Haggerty said. “I have read things about you and listened to others about your exploits. I became curious after your duel and I want the secret, name your price.”

  “When he is augmented I cannot beat him” Tanner admitted. “It was hard for me to keep him off me. I found out all about the technique from the Quetian Queen, even got a chance to see it performed. I think it is a waste of time depending on how you look at it.”

  “And what technique is that?” Duke Haggerty asked.

  “Not so fast” Tanner smiled. “You told me to name my price, I know when I am being fattened up like a hog in time for feast day. I’ll tell you on a few conditions, the first is that no one here tries to tell me of any business venture that has anything to do with Tox. That is including opening up some business or getting me to invest in something. The second is that everyone here probably knows I had problems with my lady friend, I am not looking to be on the hook to deal with any women for a good while.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Duke Haggerty asked with a feigned look of shock.

  “At least you have the decency to pretend this was all honest” Tanner said. “I have my own magic, what I do and what Perry does are two different things. I am sure you were briefed on me from the old king, what do you know about me? I can settle the facts from fiction right now.”

  “You led a barbarian horde here to our doorstep and was somehow allowed back into the kingdom” Duke Haggerty said.

  “Do you know why I hated the old man?” Tanner asked. “It is the same reason I am not square with Golden despite growing up with him and marrying his sister.”

  “I heard your wife was killed by someone the royal family trusted and you blamed them” Duke Haggerty replied. “It is the reason you and the Royal Couple do not get along. If I am being honest I don't know why they did not wash their hands of you, you were adopted and given a title and threw it back in their faces.”

  “We don't get along because my wife was kidnapped by the old king because he needed me and a few others to go on a suicide mission to destroy the four magic schools Tavor was using to spit out battlemages” Tanner began. “He knew about my gifts, I am anti magic, I can shut a mage’s gift off and I can draw their power into myself making me much faster and stronger. If I draw too much in I will pass out like a drunk in a tavern while my body tries to compensate, that is why I look like an ox. The same gift lets me stay young looking, that is why I have the face of a boy who looks like the second one hasn't dropped all the way in the sack yet. My wife was used as leverage, I was made to go into the Black Hand and then out into Tavor. I finished my mission and came back to a dead wife, she wrote me a letter about the horrible things that were done to her, things her brother let go because he was happy that as a commoner he was getting a chance with a Princess. I served this kingdom and all I got out of it was a tortured and dead wife. I would have killed them both right there if I thought the kingdom would be a better place. Instead I buried my dead wife and promised if I ever saw anyone of them again I would say fuck this kingdom and kill everyone. I was content being a barbarian and Ket brought the war to me. You are up to date on everything after that, that is why I will never see eye to eye with Golden and his kids call me Uncle. Most people think it is because the old king adopted me and Caroline, it is because of the history Golden and I share.”

  “That is a horrible story” Duchess Haggerty said. “Is that why you tore down the statue that used to sit in the capital, the one of the king’s sister?”

  “Aye” Tanner replied. “It was a crock of shit and they made it to make themselves feel better about being a bunch of tossers. Now on to Perry, like I said, his technique is different than mine. I think anyone can do what he does with the right equipment.”

  “He doesn't even train anymore” Duke Haggerty said. “I want Telrin to close his mouth.”

  “The next time I fight him I think I can close his mouth” Tanner replied. “I don't think your boy will be able to though, not unless he is taken by surprise. I do think with the technique Perry is using that your boy if he has any skill can become a two bolt swordmaster.”

  “Two bolts?” the younger Haggerty said as he got up from his chair.

  “Yeah boy, two bolts” Tanner said.

  “Well what is it?” Duke Haggerty asked.

  “Perry has something on his forearm called a bracer” Tanner began as he then told the story of how it worked and how it was made. Duke Haggerty swore everyone at the table to secrecy then wanted to know how he could get in contact with Queen Darlene. He was sure he could pay off some of the poorer mages in his lands to change their magic, Tanner was sure the man had plans to make a bracer for his entire family complete with swords. Tanner enjoyed the rest of the meal and didn't take offense when others around the table started asking about his personal life in a slippery way. The rest of the night flew by and Tanner was gone in the morning.

  CHAPTER 8

  “Uncle?” Carolina said as she opened the door.

  “What took you so damn long to get here?” Tanner said as he came walking into the room.

  “What do you need, you never send for me” Carolina asked.

  “I need for you to stop letting flies in my damn house and come on in and shut the door” Tanner said as he took a bracer off one of the tables in his front room.

  “Uncle I never got a chance to thank you, mother wanted to throw you a parade in the capitol” Carolina said. “Father wasn't sure if you would come, he said you asked him not to retaliate against Quet.”

  “I wouldn't come to some damn parade in the capital if they were handing out good ale and I was dying of thirst” Tanner barked. “And I did ask that he left Quet alone, didn't know if he would do it or not, you know what I think of the man. Enough about your Da, I want to try somethin
g with you but you can tell me to go choke myself on horsecock.”

  “Try something with me?” Carolina asked.

  “I know how Perry was so good when me and him sparred” Tanner said.

  “Perry is the best warrior in the kingdom Uncle” Carolina said. “You held yourself well. Of course, the only thing I can remember about that night is how you broke that poor girl’s heart. Have you even spoken to her since you got back?”

  “Her Da came down here madder than a clean pig” Tanner replied. “He thought I had gotten me a little bit of her sweetness and was trying to turn her out once I was finished. I told him it was a lie and if she is saying otherwise we can get one of the female healers to check her out.”

  “That doesn't answer my question” Carolina said.

  “She was there the whole time” Tanner replied. “It was her own fault, I refuse to let your Da into my life. She knew I wanted my business to stay my business but instead spread it to the world. When I told her I was ready to go she made it clear she didn't give a shit and wanted to stay while that idiot Perry talked like he was a cock in a room full of hens. That right there ended it for her, it was enough so that no matter what happens we can be no more than friends.”

  “So because she is a woman she should jump at your every command?” Carolina asked.

  “You know me better than that girl” Tanner replied. “If she asked the same of me I would do it. We were around people she didn't know and no matter what you are about to say I am going to believe she chose them over me. It is not like I left her stranded or destitute, her family still works for me and they still have money.”

  “I think it is still a stupid reason to break up with someone Uncle” Carolina said. “I wish you would give her another chance, my mother and father both love you contrary to what you think. They love you and would have welcomed Tara into the family regardless of if she was a commoner or not. Did you know many people were outraged you brought a commoner on your arm when there were so many single noble women? You didn't see any of the single noblemen bring a commoner as a date. I even read some of the messages, some were from nobles from the Tavorian side and they were beyond incensed.”

  “They can all lick the ass of a horse with irritated bowels” Tanner said. “Now stop trying to get me sidetracked. I found out Perry’s little secret and I want to share it with you. I don't know if it will work the way I think it will and you could be giving up something for nothing.”

  “What are you talking about?” Carolina asked.

  Tanner explained everything to her and showed her his hammer, he didn't have a good name for it so he called it the Hammer of Champions after the original. The hammer had worked decently enough, it drew energy from him to work and he had made two copies of the Sword of Ages. The copies only kept the unnatural sharpness and strength of his sword and that was only when he was pouring his energy into it, Tanner wasn't skilled enough to make the enchantment where the sword kept knowledge of past masters nor did he know how to trap some demon or something inside of it. His copies though did not make anyone who picked them up suicidal either so that was a decent payoff.

  “So Perry is a cheat” Carolina said shaking her head. “To think I was impressed with his skill, he was fighting a much bigger man and was getting your respect. I’m sure I wasn't the only woman in there admiring him and I am happily married.”

  “Well now you know” Tanner replied. “I will leave it up to you if you want to do anything about it.”

  “If this doesn't work then I haven't lost anything” Carolina replied. “If it halfway works then a least I can give that ankle bracer to Edmonson and let him play super warrior. Even with his magic I know he gets jealous sometimes of the guards and soldiers we have. If it does work, I would trade the little magic I have for the chance to be dangerous. No one would think about trying me and maybe I can become the first female swordmaster. I can hear the uproar now if that were to happen, I want to try it.”

  Tanner went to work making a cut in Carolina’s arm and repeating the process he saw Orecrusher do and went to work. The ankle bracer he made fit her calf perfectly and it looked like jewelry. Tanner was happy and studied his niece. Just from looking at his niece’s face he could tell something had happened to her, she looked like someone drug her up from the abyss. It was the same look the other mages had who were changed, Tanner helped her up out the bed he laid her on while he went to work. She still looked like she was dozing off despite the racket he had made and he shook her a little. Carolina snapped out of it a little and looked down at her still bleeding arm and her leg. Tanner was about to tell her something when it looked like the cut he made on her arm started healing itself and her color started returning. Carolina gasped at the sight and was stopped when Tanner screamed in excitement.

  “This shit really worked” Tanner said loudly.

  “I don't have much magic left” Carolina said. “I feel different, like a child that misses her mother. It is hard to explain, I can feel the loss of my magic, I know it is not like it once was. When I connect to the bracer though I feel like I did the day I married Edmonson, even better but I would never tell him that.”

  “Do you feel any stronger when you connect to it?” Tanner asked. “The one Perry has lets ten mages connect to him, fighting him is impossible with that much power flowing through him. I fought a man with only one bracer on and he was stronger than he should have been.”

  “I don't know” Carolina said as she walked over to the small bed Tanner had brought into the smithy and tried to lift it. It rose from the ground a little as she put it down, Tanner watched as she connected to her bracer and lifted the entire bed off the ground and over her head before letting it crash to the ground.

  “Depending on what you are doing it draws more power from you” Tanner said. “Well I made a dagger and a sword for you as well. The other bracers I made you can take with you, the Jinx Flinger owes me a beating for me making his wife stronger than he is. At least if he wears one he can feel like a big shot if you want to give him the power.”

  “Uncle you know I have to say something” Carolina replied. “I can't keep this to myself.”

  “I know girl” Tanner said. “I knew it before I made anything, I think the tradeoff is worth it. The next time someone tries to take you on they are going to be surprised as hell.”

  “This could change things” Carolina said. “My parents are in a bad spot, they are ready to crush any rebellion and this could do it. Your technique can permanently depower the mages who fight against us, just the threat of it will be enough to make our enemies fall in line.”

  “You need to find someone else then” Tanner replied. “I ain't helping your mum or your da hold on to this kingdom. They are welcome here but that's it, I already made a copy of my hammer to take with you. I doubt you can use it to make things since it is heavy as hell but it should be good enough to strip magic away.”

  “I need to rest up” Carolina said. “My grams is going to be here tomorrow, she is tired of the gulf between you two and she hasn't been herself since my grandfather died. She talks about your father a lot, she talks about how she failed him and how she failed you.”

  “That old woman ain't failed me” Tanner replied. “She was a mouse stuck in a room full of cats and did what she needed to. I am assuming you are talking about the former Queen and not your other grandmother.”

  “I know you send Nan letters often to see how she is doing” Carolina said. “I think it is nice you let her stay in your home in Ketol, it gives her some autonomy.”

  “Well when Aundrea gets here we can have a proper chinwag” Tanner replied. “Until then I have shit I have to do, get some rest.”

  Tanner left the smithy and went to his yards, they were always kept clean and he was itching to get some of the loquat fruit. Tanner could see that most of them were ready and plucked a couple, he closed his eyes as the tart sweetness exploded in his mouth. Tanner smiled as he finished one, this was what it
was all about he thought, a nice quiet place to sit and enjoy nature. Tanner eventually took a seat against one of the trees, it provided a good back rest and was so comfortable he closed his eyes. Tanner often rested outside when he needed to clear his mind, he had a lot of thoughts running around in his head. The first was Tara, Tanner was gruff but he had let Tara know he was interested. Tara was pretty but she wanted a fancier life than what he could give her, well what he would give her. Tanner hated the pomp of being a noble and she loved it, the more he thought about it, the more he thought them breaking apart was a good idea. Next was Perry, with the power he had at his disposal Tanner thought he would be practically invincible. If the magic canceling shield became viable then many of the mages would have to watch out for him. Next was Darlene, the young Queen was not shy about letting him know she was available. She was as sly as a fox in a hen house but she had access to the real hammer and although his was a decent copy Tanner knew his was not in the same league as the original. Last was Carolina, she would need sword lessons and other things Princesses shouldn't have, that way if she was ever attacked again she could defend herself.

  “Are you going to rest out here all day?” Farald’s voice said as Tanner opened his eyes and could see it was dark.

  “Maybe” Tanner said as he stretched out. “This is the first time I haven't had to worry about something or other in months, if I want to be as useful as a chocolate teapot then that is my business.”