“Akemi Nox,” I say looking up at Torvi. Leaf is a tall man, but Torvi makes him look like an adolescent. “Nice to meet you.”
“You as well,” Torvi says pleasantly to me before looking back at Leaf. “What brings you to my shop? Is your curved sword serving you well?”
“The sword is perfect,” Leaf assures. “We are here to seek your counsel for Akemi. She is preparing for the Summit Presentation and needs a weapon. Something she could master based on your assessment.”
Torvi begins to circle around me pensively, undoubtedly taking in my height, weight, arm length, and overall strength. I had heard about the legendary half-giant blacksmith before but almost didn’t believe the stories until seeing them myself. Torvi looks as hard as the steel glinting from the light of the forge. Though something tells me that they aren’t as sharp on the inside.
“Short. Slim. Not much weight on her bones…” Torvi assesses. They lift my arm and roll my wrists, flexing them in various directions before testing and prodding other parts of my arm and shoulder.
“Flexible ligaments, small hands, but good shoulder dexterity and leg strength. Hmm...” Torvi continues to circle me.
“I’m faster than I look. Proficient at the staff and working on throwing daggers,” I say, sounding more defensively than I intended.
“She’s a smart fighter too, but realistically, we need to get her as many weapons in her arsenal before she’s forced into hand-to-hand combat.”
Ouch. As much as I hate to admit it, Leaf is right. I need as many defenses as possible before fighting hand to hand.
The past few weeks of Battlefield, we have been paired up for one-on-one combat battles in the Pitts. The circular craters in the ground were already uneven enough for me to struggle to keep my footing in, let alone fight another person.
I have yet to win a duel.
Everyone else seemed to be bred for fighting or at least had more experience going into the Academy than a Prentice Teller from a small Midlander village.
“I see, I see,” Torvi contemplates until they disappear for a few minutes behind a large leather curtain. Leaf and I exchange quiet looks before they return with a deerskin pouch in hand.
“Try these,” Torvi says, handing me the pouch. “Tie the leather straps around your waist on your left hip.”
I do as they say and tie the heavy leather pouch around my waist. Torvi adjusts it slightly before grabbing my shoulders and pivoting me until I’m facing a wooden wall laden with holes. Likely from testing the various weapons surrounding us.
“Go on. Give them a try,” Torvi encourages.
I carefully open the pouch and look inside.
“Throwing stars!” I gasp and carefully grab one, practically giddy at how light yet sturdy its weight feels in my hand. The star has four blades that curve to a point. I can’t explain it, but the star feels… right.
“Hels! Torvi, those are illegal ever since the accident with Elder Markus!” Leaf takes two steps back then hesitates and steps forward again with a twisted grin. “Well, technically, they were only banned from the Watch, and since we are in Olywithion…” He trails off, mentally calculating if this is a good or bad idea. “Let’s see them.”
A weapon can be banned from the Watch? This is the first I’m hearing about it. “What happened?”
Leaf shrugs. “Just that they were used during an assasination attempt on the Elder Superior after he was appointed. Left a nasty scar on his chest, I guess. Hasn’t allowed them since.”
Is it terrible that this makes me want to use them more?
“Stars are a formidable weapon,” Torvi explains while walking behind me and places the cool metal star into my palm. “Staggeryour feet for support. Thumb here. Elbow in—that’s it—and throw overhand like this.”
Torvi demonstrates a throw, their elbow staying inward while their arm pulls back by the ear and straight toward the target.
I mimic the movement and smile while I practice it a few times. This is the perfect weapon for me. I can feel it in my bones.
“Good. Keep your line vertical and release right at your target, careful not to release too early or late, which could land your star too high or low. Let your wrist flow through.”
I nod, staring at the target ahead, and pull my hand backward then fling the star across the room.
The star lodges into the target, perfectly in the middle of a small circle outlined on the wall.
“Burning Hels!” Leaf says.
Warmth floods my chest. I throw another star. And another. And another in quick succession. Ending my show with a small bow. Elation, power, and hope tingle through my body in waves. I haven’t felt this good in a while. Like I found something that wasmine. Something that comes to me as easy as singing or memorizing Tellings.
