Chapter 1 - The Woodsman's Axe

Chapter One Woodsman’s Axe
Arc glanced behind him. He couldn’t see Finn. He pushed his legs faster, his feet pounding the dirt trail. His twin blade bounced on his hip. There was no way Finn was going to beat him to the place where the Woodsman said he left his axe. Not this time. The trail entered a deciduous forest. Aspens, Maples and cedar trees stood like sentinel as he entered. The heat of the day cool as shade covered the trail. Sweat chilled down his back and on his brow. A twig snapped somewhere up ahead. Arc could make out Finn’s messy dark hair. He was ahead of him. Arc pushed his legs to sped up. He had to catch up to his friend. He couldn’t let him have all the glory.
When Arc was racing side by side with Finn, Finn turned and waved, a big grin on his narrow face. “I’m gonna beat you again old man,” Finn jeered.
“Ha!” Arc replied. “Who will be calling who an old man? I’m gonna get to the axe before you.”
Finn laughed, a hearty sound that sent a flock of birds into the air. “Not unless your mamma was a four legged wild beast!” he said.
Arc scowled at him. The jab cut a bit considering that Finn knew Arc grew up in orphanage. “Hey, leave my mamma out of this, pudding face!” Arc called back.
“Are you calling me fat?” Finn replied. “Because my cheeks are all muscle!”
Arc belted a laugh. “So that’s why Frith calls you a muscle head,” he said. “Your fat cheeks gave it away!”
Finn glared at him. He sprinted away from Arc. Arc forced himself to go faster, his muscles burning with the effort. “We’ll see you at Frith’s Outpost!” Finn said. “You can buy the first round of ale!”
“What? No fair,” Arc said. “I didn’t even place a bet.”
They cleared the trail, running into a clearing just inside the edge of the forest. A circle of red cedar, tall and ominous towered over them. June bugs, beetles, and gnats buzzed under the trees. Wild flowers and thistles carpeted the clearing. Arc spotted the woodsman’s axe. It was on the far side of the clearing, stuck in the trunk of a cedar. He must have taken a swing, lodging the axe in the bark, and in too much of a hurry to vacate to retrieve the tool. “Finn, wait!” Arc put a hand on his twin blade.
Finn turned, a wide grin on his round face. “Wait? Wait for what? For me to kick your butt?”
Arc chuckled a dry laugh. “It’s not that. It’s just that something seems off,” Arc shivered.
Finn turned back to the axe. He made a grab for it. The ground rumbled. A trumpeted sound blasted Arc’s ears. Finn clasped both hands over his ears and stared at Arc, his face pale. He ran, stumbling away as the ground quaked. A beast the size of a deer emerged from the trees. It’s shoulder plates looked like an autumn leaf. Its front legs were longer than the back legs. Arc couldn’t tell where it’s neck ended and its head started. It was curved like a horse’s neck.
“Holy Arvalis!” Arc stumbled back. “That’s not a…it can’t be a…”
“Nettleback,” Finn yelled. He stumbled out of the way of the beast’s path. “Yes, that’s exactly what it is!”
“Holy Arvalis!” Arc shouted. He fell to his knees as the creature slowed its charged. “It’s magnificent.”
Finn stumbled his way over to Arc. The beast turned slowly, sniffing the air.
“Yes, but don’t let it lick you,” Finn said. “Her tongue is more poisonous than a nine headed hydra.”
Arc’s jaw fell open. “How do you know that it’s a female?”
Finn scratched his chin. “Well, can you see the red feathers on the top of her head?”
“Yes.”
“Those are for absorbing sunlight. The males have iridescent once and they are bigger.” The Nettleback veered to the right and pawed the ground.
“Are they normally this violent?” Arc asked.
Finn shook his head. “Not in the least but they are territorial. She must have gotten separated from her herd.”
“I read that Nettlebacks are blind,” Arc said.
“Yes but their sense of smell is impeccable,” Finn said. “When I say go left, go left.”
Arc chuckled. “Why would I want to do that?”
The beast burst forward, her shoulder plates creaking. The ground quaver, Arc’s legs vibration. Even his teeth rattled. The beast’s opened its small mouth and out lashed it thin, sticky tongue. It snapped the air between Finn and Arc. The Nettleback retraced its tongue like a Master whip wheeler.
“Is that reason enough?” Finn asked. “Or do you enjoy suffering from lethal posiening with zero antidotes?”
Wide eyed, Arc nodded. “Good point. I’d forgotten that part of the Nettleback’s unique gifts. The sticky, poisonous tongue.”
“Left!” Finn yelled.
Arc pivoted, as the Nettleback’s mouth opened. He jumped into the air, bringing his knees up to his chin. He flipped and shoulder rolled as he hit the ground. He came to a stop at the base of a giant red cedar tree.
“Show off,” Finn grinned.
“Jealous much?” Arc stood up and dusted his pants off.
“Arc right!”
“Wha-a-at?”
The whip sound of the Nettleback’s tongue snapped passed Arc’s head. Startled, he veered right. The Nettleback retracted its gooey tongue. The creature pawed the ground and grunted.
“Which way is out of her way?” Arc asked. “Nettlebacks always this aggressive?”
Finn gathered pebbles from the forest floor. He tossed a handful, pelting the Nettleback. She kept her senses on Arc.
“They’re not usually aggressive,” Finn shouted. “This one must be scared. She seems to have your scent. I’d keep running. She has to tire eventually.”
Arc grimaced. This job was taking too long and Frith might start complaining about how long it took them to get it done. Though, knowing how laid back Frith is, he probably wouldn’t say too much. Arc set his sights on the axe. He drew his twin blade. He unfolded the blades, extending the shaft so one blade pointed to the sky and the other at the ground.
“Don’t kill it!” Finn warned.
“Are you crazy?” Arc said. “I’d have the whole herd after me. Shush for now, I’m thinking!” Finn laughed. Arc glared. “You could help me, you know?” he told Finn.
Finn threw another handful of pebbles. They rained down on the leafy animal’s hide, bouncing harmlessly away. Arc rolled his eyes. The beast charged. Arc stuck one blade in the ground and using the shaft, he launched himself into the air, towards the woodsman’s axe. Landing away from the beast, Arc folded his blade and heaved the axe out of the tree. He let out a whoop of joy. He’d beaten Finn to the prize. A blast that sounded like an angry steam engine pierced Arc’s ears. He almost dropped the axe to plug his ears. The beast spun herself around, snorting and slobbering poisonous goo, charged at Arc again.
“There you go again, Arc,” Finn jeered. “Always ticking off those beautiful ladies!”
“What ladies?” Arc glanced about. “This female beast has lost her mind and I don’t know why.”
“Run, Arc, run!” Finn shouted.
Arc bolted through the trees, his hand tight on the wooden shaft of the axe. He could figure out what this beast’s problem once. He jumped over a fallen log, the ground quaked. Arc thought it would burst open and swallow him. In the distance, he could hear other noises. They sounded like Nettlebacks. With the young female crashing through the underbrush behind him, Arc ran directly towards the sounds he had heard. The trees parted, giving away to a ravine. Arc plunge the axe into the trunk of a tree, hauling himself up into a low handing limb. The Nettleback skidded to a halt at the edge of the ravine. She sniffed the air. She trumpeted a cry. The other Nettlebacks answered her. Slowly, she crept down the embankment. Once she was at the bottle of the ravine, Arc climb down from the tree. He cupped a hand to his brow and squinted against the bright light of the sun. The herd were by a river, drinking. They welcomed the young female back, nuzzling her. Arc grabbed the axe and headed back to Finn. He found him, laying under a tree, taking a snooze. Arc kicked his boot.
“What?” Finn said lazily. He sat up. “Oh, I see you’ve gotten rid of your latest girlfriend.”
“That wasn’t my girlfriend,” Arc said and kicked Finn again. “That was a wild animal…a danger to my health animal. You…you were not help!”
Finn got to his feet. He shrugged. “She didn’t seem taken by me. I have no idea what the ladies see in you but even the female beasts take a liking to you.”
Arc shook his head. “I’ll meet you at Friths. You owe me ale!”
Arc wiggled the axe in the air. He sprinted out of the forest.
“I was just joking…” Finn yelled.
Arc laughed. “No take backs!”
They raced each other all the way back to the Outpost at the edge of the Frewen city. The Takkan’s Den built out of white marble with rooms build above to houseguests. Arc and Finn shared the top floor with their employer, Frith. Out of breath and sweating like a hog, Arc dropped to the wooden steps. His thigh muscles quivering after the long, hard run and his back spasmed from the workout. Finn dropped down beside him. He patted Arc on the back.
“Old man, you finally beat me,” Finn laughed.
Arc gulped in air. He got to his feet. “You owe me ale!” He hobbled up the steps to the large, oak door. He pushed it open and plunked himself down on a bench just inside. He laid the woodsman’s axe across his lap. The noise of the crowd blurred in the room like the buzzing of insects. Finn walked in and signaled the serving girl. He plunked down beside Arc.
“Should we grab a table?” he asked.
Arc shook his head. He stretched his legs, curling his toes inside his soft leather boots. The serving girl carried two tankards of ale over to them. Finn paid her for the ale.
“Frith is lookin’ for ya,” she said. “Best report in.”
“We will,” Finn took the ale. He gave a mug to Arc. Arc raised his ale and slurped the musky foam. After a long swallow, the brew warmed his insides, relaxing his muscles. He sighed. He gazed about the den. There was a mixture of city folks, merchants and farmers. They came to the den for the ale, to gossip or talk business. Most of the time they hired Frith’s mercenaries for odd jobs like retrieving this axe. Frith, a stout, gray haired man emerged from the kitchen with a loaf of bread and hot meat on a platter. He dumped the platter on the bar and carved the meat. The smell wafted through the den. Arc’s mouth watered.
“Lunch time!” Arc grinned. He made his way to the bar. Frith glanced up from his job as Arc laid the axe on the bar.
“Grab a plate,” Frith said. “Get Finn one too.” Arc hopped up onto the bar and landed on the other side. He pulled silver plates and cutlery from a shelf beneath the bar. He set them on top. Frith loaded the plates with meat and bread. “Eat up quick,” he said. “I have some more work for you two.”
Arc motioned to Finn. He pulled out a stool and sat upon it. Frith wiped his large, hands on the rag tied to his belt. He picked up the axe, looked it over, and nodded his approval. He walked into the back. Arc savoured the greasy seasoned meat. The fat dripped down his chin as he chewed. The bread was light and fluffy…fresh from the over. Frith knew how to spoil his workers. Finn pulled up a stool and dug into the second plate. The serving girl poured them a second tankard of ale. Frith pulled his belt purse from his waist and plunked it on the bar. He counted out the payment to the boys. Arc took his share and stuffed it in his belt pouch, the coins clinking as they fell into the leather bag. Finn did the same.
“Good work, Arc,” he said. “Job well done, Finn. I’ll ensure the woodsman gets his axe back.”
“Thanks,” Finn replied. He stuffed meat into his mouth.
Frith removed the axe from the bar and put it behind it. “Once you boys are done with food and drink, I need…” The door banged open, hushing the room. Everyone turned to stare at a woman in peasant’s clothes and sturdy shoes, rushing in.
“HELP ME! For the love of Arvalis, help me!” cried a woman. Then she began to sob.
“What’s the problem, ma’ma,” a farmer asked. “Your cart broke it axel?”
The woman shook her head. “My daughter…she wandered away from me in the Market Place,” she wrung her hands, “When I finally caught sight of her, she wandered into the sewers. It’s dangerous down there. My poor little Elly.”
The woman dissolved into tears again, covering her face with wash worn hands. The farmer, who asked her about her cart, guided her towards his table. She sat down, facing the bar. She grabbed an abandon tankard a swigged back its contents. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
“Please someone help me find her. I’ve got one gold crown. That’s all the money I have but I’m willing to pay it for my Elly.” She said, tears rolling down her ruddy cheeks.
Frith fixed Finn and Arc with a serious look. “Change in plans, boys. You two got help that poor woman.” He produced a ledger from beneath the bar. He walked over to the woman. Arc turned in his chair and watched as Frith spoke, quietly to the woman. He made notes in the ledger. That was where he recorded all the jobs and the pay required to fulfill them.
Once he was done with the weeping woman, he met Arc and Finn at the bar.
“Okay boys,” Frith said. “The girl is petit, with red hair in braids and blue eyes. She was wearing a dark, green dress. She’s four. Hurry…rumour has it there’s a beast in the sewers.”
Arc hopped to his feet. “We’ll shove off.”
They hurried out of the Den. Arc’s feet and legs ached and he needed more to distract him. “I’ll race you.”
Finn laughed. “Why bother. I think we should take horses. It’s be faster than the job through the forest.”
Arc nodded. “I’ll still race you.”
“Okay but last one to the stables…” Finn started running. “Pays for the ale!”
“Not fair!” Arc yelled.
They ran around to the back of the Takkan’s Den. A small, wood shack that served as the stables was out back, behind their training grounds. Finn beat Arc inside. He was busy saddling a horse when Arc arrived. Arc grabbed a saddle from the wall, threw it over one of his favorite horses, a brown mare, and tightened the straps. He put his foot in the stirrups and swung himself up into the saddle.
“Stand still!” Finn ordered.
Arc grinned. He spurred the mare and shot out of the stables. Hooves thundered after him, as he raced down the trail towards the city. Arc glanced back, and saw Finn sitting forward on the saddle and the gray stud, galloping at full speed. Arc jolted his horse’s sides and she sped up. Hooves thundered the cobble stones as they ran down the street.
“Out of the way!” Arc shouted. “Move it.”
The outskirts of the city were small cobblestones houses but the further they rode in, the more beauty and architecture rose up. Tall, tower like spires rose showing the wealth and art of the people that lived within its walls. Each home was like a miniature, marble castle. They made their way to the older part of the city where the Market place was held in the city square.