A Dwarf's Tale: Will of a Silver Coin

Several weeks have gone by since my meeting with Kosser. The new field was ready and prepared for the coming spring. Calvin and I cultivated the field and then, broke it up with hoes and pickaxes. The next part, I didn’t much relish, and neither did Calvin, but it had to be done. There was a large crate of animal manures and other organic trash. A compost box is what he called it. There was also a cart that had a large wooden barrel inside. The farm had a small brook running inside of the farm. Multiple times, we filled this large barrel with water, and put in a couple of shovels of this compost mixture and stirred it. I understood the concept-enrich the fields. I did not much relish the idea of dipping buckets inside of this barrel though. But then, Calvin showed a neat trick. At the bottom of the barrel, there was a wooden stopper. We would line up at the edge of the field, where he would quickly swap the wooden stopper with an apparatus of wooden pipes, each with a tiny opening. About twenty in all, with a wooden handle preventing the flow of water. He would then turn this handle, and walk with the horse. The spray of water with the compost, coated the field and sunk into the earth. I thought this was a great farming trick, not only in saving time, but also, minimizing the smell of animal dung upon my body. It took us several days, but the new field was ready with the coming spring.

Calvin and Talma were delighted I opted to stay with them for awhile. Talma joked about fretting for Calvin when working the fields, always worrying that he would sprain an ankle, or jar his fingers against tools. It was Calvin’s turn to blush a little and cough a bit when Talma told me. I also helped Talma at times with cooking too. With her, I learned how to prepare different animals in different ways, how to use blends of spices with foods of all sorts. I also learned how to prepare fish. And yes, as you could guess, I did try to take up fishing at the brook. Occasionally I got lucky and caught a couple of decent trout. It was never enough to make only a fish meal, but Talma said, accenting meals is as important as the meal itself. I couldn’t quite understand this, but, I accepted it.

With David and Stella, I became their instructor in weapons. The deal was, that they would pay me with chores performed. I, of course, only did this as a token. But, I didn’t want to have the farm slack in any way because I was teaching these two about weapons. What was a bit surprising to me, is that Calvin had a large assortment of different weapons in a specific part of the barn. Each of the weapons were well cared for, and nicely oiled to prevent rust and rot. Long sword, short sword, a couple of halberds, maces, hammers, morning stars, the list goes on and on. There was another reason for me training David and Stella-I wanted to know what weapons I knew. Every weapon of Calvin’s I picked up, it was familiar in my hand. He even had a huge two handed sword, which I picked up and wielded with ease. Dave and Stella were improving as well. At first, I could block all of their attacks with ease, even with both of them ‘attacking me’. After these past several weeks, I had to focus. I didn’t want to be brained with any of Stella’s blunt weapon choices or stabbed with any of David’s sword swings.

Griff, after her nest was complete, took to ‘patrolling the grounds’. She still could not yet fly as her wing was healing, but she would walk and run the area. Griff would be gone for hours on end, bringing back then various game: deer, fox, and the like. Her patrols were very successful and she became nicely fatter around her stomach area. Also, she always left the fur for me. This was perfect, for I was using these to teach myself the ways of tanning. Weeks ago, I recovered the worg skin. Right now, it was still cured in a salt barrel to preserve it. I was most interested in that worg hide. So, with the deer and fox skins, I learned how to make these into pelts. With the pelts, I presented them to Talma, asking her if there is anything she could do. She was completely delighted with them, telling me she could make different articles of clothing. Winter was approaching soon, and new winter clothes would be in order. This fueled my enthusiasm even more, as she said the pelts were of very good quality. At one point, I shown her the worg pelt still curing in the salt brine. “You want that one for yourself? Worg pelts are very tough to make into clothing.” “I do not want clothing, I wish it for armor.” Her eyes lit up and nodded.

Also, with the bower’s book, I learned how to make arrows. We had still plenty of sapling left over from clearing the field. Wooded areas were still plentiful too. I then set upon the task of making my first bow. This proved to be more difficult than the book described. The book instructed me of how to cure the wood with heat and warping the wood n specific ways to get a good bow. Several times however, I nearly lost my patience. It also gave me a new appreciation for woodworking. After several failed attempts, I did have a good haft of a bow. Nearly three inches wide, tapered, and fully six feet in length. From Talma, I got many strands of cotton. With a night of painstaking toil, I made a couple of good strands of bowstring. I bent back the bow, stringing it on the first try. I pulled it back, the bow bending nicely. Releasing it slowly, I picked up an arrow and pulled it back. I took aim at a very large oak tree and let the arrow fly. The shaft of the arrow imbedded itself into the tree by about eight inches. I was completely satisfied with my results.

It was a chilly fall afternoon, when David and Stella approached. Time for their late afternoon sparring lessons, I thought to myself. Also, it was time to get Steve involved too. I smiled at them. “You know, I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up with both of you attacking me. Before too long, it will have to be one on one.”

“You are holding back on us Tor.”

“Yeah, we can tell.”

“Well, true, I have been holding back. We are practicing and sparring. I am going to get a weapon. I want to try something new. Also, can you get Steve for me?”

“Um, yeah, but why?”

“You’ll see.”

They left confused, but, went to get their brother Steve. I went back into the house in my room. In the corner where my bastard sword still stood propped, were two staves as well. Even though both were made of hard oak, and cured to petrification, they were two sizes. The one I grasped first was for me. Fully three inches in diameter and nearly six feet tall, it had a good heft to it. Also, the middle of the staff, was wrapped with soft rabbit pelt and bound by cotton twine. The smaller staff, about five feet in height and two inches round, was wrapped and bound the same way. I took both staves with me and went back.

Upon arriving, all three kids were there. I unwrapped the larger staff, and presented it before me. “Now, it is true I have been teaching you both with bladed and blunt weapons. All weapons have purpose though. Weapons can be used for defense, or for offense. The staff however, is a weapon that has more purpose than any of the other weapons. Properly wielded, the staff becomes an extension of the body. Unlike other weapons, where you have to learn how to move and attack with them, the staff, allows the wielder to meld with it, becoming one.”

“How?” All of the kids had perplexed looks on their faces.

“That, I am about to show all of you. Now,” I moved into stance position. “Come at me.”

David was wielding a hefty axe this time, and Stella had her favorite hammer in hand. “We don’t want to cut and break your weapon Tor.”

“Don’t worry, you won’t.”

With that gentle goading, David came at me with a down swipe swing. I wedged the staff, holding it with both hands, catching the axe behind the blade and shaft, and flipped him over me. He landed with a hard thud and grunted. Stella came at me with a side-long swipe of her hammer. As I did with the axe, I wedged it, and jerked hard, the hammer came right out of her hand. For good measure, I pointed the staff at her mid section, and tossed her above me. She too landed with a hard thud.

They picked themselves up, bewildered a bit. I took a look at Steve. He was wide eyed. I do not think he ever saw anything like this before. I took a moment of satisfaction too. Not because I dispatched the kids, but rather, of how all of the movements were so familiar with me. Whether I was a dwarf king or not, I was trained in the use of weapons. And it seems like it was with every weapon I picked up.

I picked up Stella’s hammer, and walked over to them. “Are you both ok?”

“Yeah, just a bit winded.” David was still favoring his axe arm, and Stella was rubbing her middle.

“Sorry about that. I guess I won’t do that again.”

“Oh no! We want to know how you did that!”

Their enthusiasm pleased me greatly. But even more, is that Steve was really into it. With his studious mind, I am sure he was coming up with counter measures of what I had just done. So, I showed the kids. I shown them how to grip the staff with both hands, how to move with it, rather than moving the staff around. They were absorbing every word and action that I shown them.

“Next, is how to move in defensive form. This is real useful when confronting multiple up close attacks.” My hands moved and twirled the staff around, weaving it to the right and left. I just stood there, awaiting their attacks. Dave and Stella looked at each other, and attacked at the same time. Within a split second, both weapons were bounced off of the outer edge of my staff and I tapped both of them lightly on the shoulders of their weapon arms. David and Stella stood back a moment, again, be-wildered and shocked of what I have done. All of the tactics I showed them up to this point with other weapons, they could come up with counter measures. But with me wielding this staff, they were confused. Nothing I have showed them in the past was any good to them at this point.

That’s when they came at me again and again. I allowed their barrage of swings, deflecting each swing with ease. They both rushed me suddenly. Pointing the staff down at the ground, I used as a pole and vaulted over both of them, taking enough effort to give them each a swat on their behinds. They spun around, rubbing their behinds, shocked as to what I just did. I winked at both of them. They came at me again, swinging. I blocked each one of their blows, and tapped their weapon hands with the end of my staff, causing them to drop their weapons. Immediately, they rubbed their wrists. Finally, they just stood there.

“Tor…how…what…” Stella stumbled around with her words. I also knew Dave and Stella were training with Calvin and Talma. They were shocked. They were at a loss as to what to do and how to proceed.

I saw the look on David’s face. I also heard the few steps rushed forth behind me. I went down low, and brought my staff up. Calvin and Talma were there, Calvin had an intricately carved broad sword, while Talma had an intricate mace. I blocked both weapon attacks, flipped behind, came to my feet, and stood there in stance. Their faces, were in earnest, as they continued to advance towards me. I had no idea this was going to happen. Giving a small smile, I twirled the staff again, deflecting their blows. They also were equipped in armor, fine banded and scale mails, each with a crest emblazoned on their chests. I had no armor. Which, suited me just fine.

Calvin’s sword attacks were extremely fast, his sword arm and blade moving more like a fencer rather than just a sword wielder. Several blows came very close to penetrating my defenses. At the same time, Talma’s attacks were calculated, looking to exploit split second openings in my defenses. I twirled the staff around and danced in-between them. They circled around me, causing me to split my attention between the two. I nodded my approval. Calvin rushed forward as I spun to my left, the end of my staff hitting his ankle and I jerked the staff upward. He landed heavy on his back. Spinning around in a half circle, I did the same thing to Talma, tripping her forward, and pushed her back with the staff. She was about ready to fall on Calvin when I pointed his sword away from her, and then, her mace away from him. She landed with a thud on top of Calvin. I heard Calvin groan loudly. I noticed Talma’s leg was right in Calvin’s groin area. I stepped back and pointed the staff down.

After a few seconds, they were laughing, with Calvin giving the occasional grunt here and there. Smiling, I helped them both up. I looked behind Calvin’s shoulder, and noticed Steve’s face. He was absolutely mesmerized as to what he witnessed. David and Stella were also standing there, their mouths gaped open.

“I haven’t had that much fun in a long while fighting!” Talma was still a bit winded

“Neither have I! Tor, that was magnificent!” Calvin was still favoring his groin section a bit. It is a good thing both of them were wearing armor. Of course, knowing Talma’s healing ministrations, maybe he would of enjoyed being hurt further. I know not.

“Actually, it was great. I knew that I could wield the staff. How well though, that remained to be seen.”

“Oh no. From the first day you took to sparring with Stella, I knew you could wield weapons. You have a flair and style that I have not seen before Tor. With your skill, you could take down a full army!”

With Calvin’s comment, that brought a sobering thought to me. That is when I sat down hard.

“Tor, what’s wrong!”

“Nothing, just a memory.”

“A memory?” Talma kneeled next to me, asking me gently.

“What memory?” Calvin asked.

I looked around, and then I looked at Talma. “You didn’t tell them did you?”

“No, I have not. I took that as a talk of confidence.”

I kissed her hand. She gave me respect and dignity. But, looking around at the others, I think it is about time they all knew. “Thank you, but I think it is time. Can I ask you all to sit with me?”

They all sat down around me, and I recalled my story, of waking up among the dead of my dwarven brethren and of the goblins and hobgoblins, of how I wound up here, meeting Griff, and recalling again how I saved Steve from the worg.

“I’m sorry Tor. I did not mean for my army comment to cause you any pain. You see, I am a retired captain of Stalvinport. I have trained all manners of warriors. I just never have seen anyone flow with weapons like I have seen with you. ” Calvin was truly sorry. However, that isn’t what caused me pause earlier.

“Calvin, you misunderstand. If I am as good as you say I am, then, how come I could not defeat the goblins and hobgoblins? That means, either I am not as skilled as you say I am, or….”

“Or that army is extremely skilled to have taken you out and killed the other dwarves.” Talma finished my thought for me.

“Exactly. Either I am a real good actor, or, there is a truly lethal army out there, an army of goblinoids with a skill to decimate.”

Calvin was thoughtful then. “If these goblinoids are on a warpath, then, why haven’t we seen any of this army? It is true I haven’t been in the direction at the main road for a couple of months. My occasional business is with Stalvinport. But an army that big, we would be able to hear them I would think.”

“Or the lone worg. I have been awaiting to see other worgs, but none have arrived or threatened anyone here.”

Stella added softly. “Maybe it was that there were two armies, they met, and you and your clan beat them back so badly, they had to retreat. You may have reduced their numbers so much, that they had to go back to where they came from. I’m sorry they killed your kinsmen in the process. But, I am glad that you are with us Tor.”

“I am too! Training with you Tor, I am ready to travel to Stalvinport. I want to join the guard in the spring, and follow my father’s path! But, also, you have become a dear friend to me.”

“To all of us.” Steve has been silent all this time. “I have been holding this back for a long time, but now that Tor shared with all of us his pain and thoughts, I want to share mine.” He looked at his family. “I know I have been a burden. I have tried to be strong like all of you wanted me to be. But, I am not a fighter. I do not know how to use the sword and mace, the hammer or axe. I know I am still young, but, I am not that young any more. I also know, all of you love me, as I love all of you. But, I don’t want to feel like I am a burden anymore. I don’t want to feel like I am something to be sheltered from whatever adversity comes around. When that worg attacked me, I thought I could outwit it and get away. But then it chased me. I was scared, scared that I was going to die. And my last thought before it was going to pounce on me, was ’they were right, I am a weakling. I should of trained harder, better. I am not worthy to be part of my family. And when Tor and Griff saved me, I was in despair. I didn’t know what to do, or how to act.”

“With Tor, I thought there was another fighter, another person to tell me that I need to toughen up. That I need to become a fighter. And it threw me more into a despair. When we walked back from Kosser’s home however, Tor shared with me his thoughts about me. And he was completely right. There is always another way to be, another way to live, and another way to fight. Not all fights, are with weapons and armor. But another way, to merge the mind with the body, to protect the ones that you love.”

“And I love being with Master Kosser. He is a mage, and lives on his own, even as old as he is, he lives on his own. I want that. I don’t want to be scared anymore. I don’t want to fight, but I know I have to fight. There are just different ways to fight. I want to learn the ways of magic. I wish to study magic with Master Kosser. He already has taught me a couple of spells. But more than that. I want to know how to flow, how to master the body, mind, and soul. And Tor, just shown me how. I never thought that a wooden stick would be useful. But I saw Tor. The staff was a part of him. And, I want it to be a part of me.”

This was too good to be true. I got up and got the smaller staff and came back. Sitting before Steve, I presented him with it. “Is this truly what you want Steve?”

“Yes Tor, it is. And, can you teach me?”

“Only if your parents say it is ok.”

Calvin and Talma, with tears down their eyes, came and hugged their youngest son. David and Stella joined them. The scene even brought a tear to my eye as well. A family, whole again. And this time, no prison.

“Well, I will assume that to be a yes.”

We all laughed at my assumption.