Ulf studied Martin’s eyes, waiting for the moment when they tensed, announcing his attack. The boy had grown cautious over the last few days. Ever since their encounter outside the stable, Martin had started learning the lessons he had been trying to teach. With his anger released, he had become a quick study. There it was, a slight twitch in the left eye. Martin swung a right hook at him, and he ducked. It was not a great move. He was so much taller than the boy, the blow still managed to glance off the top of his head. Unfortunately, for Martin, it wasn’t enough. Ulf grabbed him around the waist and stood. When he was upright, he flung Martin over his shoulder. He heard the air escape Martin’s lungs as he hit the ground behind him.

“You gotta do better than that,” he said. “If you’re gonna fight a man as big as me, ya can’t go ‘round aiming everything at the face.” He neglected to mention the headache that was forming.

Martin got to his feet and nodded. “One more time.” He said.

“Don’t ya think you’ve had enough for one day?” Ulf asked.

This was a familiar exchange between them now. Ulf was worried that if he kept up like this, the boy was going to get hurt for real. He didn’t know any other way to teach and, while he was no longer tormenting the boy, he was rough on him. Martin kept getting back up and asking for more, though. He was strong and quick. It wouldn’t be long before these exchanges were no longer one-sided, no matter how much bigger Ulf was.

“I’ll tell you when I’ve had enough,” Martin said. “Please, Ulf, one more time. I almost got ya that time.”

Ulf shook his head, trying to rid himself of the pain. “One more time, but if ya don’t get me down, you’re doin’ the dishes for a week.”

Martin paused. Ulf knew he hated doing the dishes. Alexis had stopped putting up with him leaving them for her all the time, and since she could not make him do them, Martin got the job occasionally.

“Fine,” Martin said resolutely.

Ulf sighed. If the dishes weren’t enough of a deterrent, the boy must really want to keep going. He faced Martin and set his feet. There was no pause, no chance for him to read Martin’s eyes. As soon as his feet were set, Martin came at him. They were a few feet apart, and Martin used the distance to charge. Ulf leaned forward and prepared for the impact. Again, not a great move. Just before the boy hit him, he dropped and rolled to one side. He tried to turn with him, but his lean put him off balance, and he stumbled. He felt an impact behind his left knee, and the leg buckled. He dropped to his knee and turned in time to see Martin’s fist coming at his face. Reflexively, he threw up his right arm, and the blow landed solidly against his forearm. He and the boy, both, bellowed. Martin grabbed his hand, and Ulf took the opening. He swung a left-handed punch at Martin’s stomach. It landed weakly, but he was still much larger than the boy was. Martin doubled over and wretched a little.

“Ok,” Ulf groaned, “enough for today.”

Martin was obviously in pain, but he was grinning from ear to ear. “I almost go ya that time!” He shouted.

“That ya did,” Ulf said, “that ya did indeed. Tell ya what; I’ll take care of the dishes tonight. Ya took me to a knee, after all.”

Martin looked stunned. “You’re gonna do the dishes? You never do dishes.”

“Fair’s fair,” Ulf said. “Ya got me to a knee, so I’ll take care of the dishes.”

He had to make sure the boy wasn’t around when he told Alexis that he was too tired to do ‘em. After all, he had only promised to take care of them.

“Now,” he said, “you run along and see about getting warm. I need to go check on some things.”

He left Martin standing there with his stupid little grin and walked toward Aedon’s house. His knee hurt, and he limped. The walk wasn’t long, but it was longer than it needed to be. When the three of them had shown up, unannounced, at Aedon’s door, he had not been hospitable. When Alexis told him why they were there, he had been downright rude. He forbade them from entering the house, and they had to live in the wagon. He had managed to cut some small timber to shore up one side and keep the worst of the wind out, and Alexis had sewn the other to make a passable entryway. The only good point was the space was so tiny that the small stove kept it entirely warm inside. Well, there was one other good point. He found he liked the brown liquor Aedon kept. Perhaps Aedon would not like that he knew about it, but that was a conversation for another time.

He got to the house and walked around to the back. Aedon had set up a small pen that he used to teach Mika the sword. They were there now, swinging the wooden practice blades in time with each other. When Mika would make a mistake, Aedon would stop to console her. This was the second time Ulf had watched them, and she seemed to be making the same mistakes. Aedon looked up from his task and saw him standing there. He called a halt and walked over to him.

“Come to spy again,” he spat.

“No,” Ulf said. “Just finished with Martin and thought ya might like some company.”

“I don’t remember asking for your company,” Aedon said.

“Look,” Ulf said patiently, “I don’t like this any better than you. If I had my way, I’d be anywhere but here.” He paused to scratch his shoulder. “But there ain't no reason we can’t at least try to get along.”

“I don’t want to get along,” Aedon barked. “I want to be left alone.”

“Fine, but ya ain't doin’ the girl no favors,” Ulf said, turning to leave.

“What do you mean by that?” Aedon asked.

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“Just that you’re goin’ too easy on the girl. Ya can’t treat her like she’s you’re daughter.”

Aedon looked flummoxed. “She IS my daughter,” he retorted.

“At the dinner table, sure,” Ulf said. “But out here, she’s your student.”

“I suppose you know all about how to train men?” Aedon said.

“I know ya can’t be half-assed about it,” Ulf replied. “But you ain't training a man, and ya should be.”

“I don’t need you to tell me how to handle my child,” Aedon said. “And I don’t need you hanging around here getting in the way either.”

“If ya say so,” Ulf said with a shrug.

He didn’t know what was going on, and why it was so important that the girl learns how to fight, but he sincerely hoped she never had to use a sword in earnest. She would be killed. He left Aedon standing at the edge of the pen and walked away. Damn, his leg hurt. He didn’t think anything was broken, but he wasn’t looking forward to waking up in the morning. He limped to the wagon for some much-needed warmth and maybe a drink.

When he entered, Alexis and Martin were whispering. He still had that stupid grin.

“Martin was just telling me you were doing the dishes tonight,” Alexis said.

“Did he,” Ulf said. He shot a look at Martin. “Maybe instead of flapping his lips, he should be out gathering up some more firewood.”

Martin stood without a word and left, still smiling. Ulf was beginning not to like that smile.

“Don’t worry,” Alexis said after the boy left. “I will not tell him that I am doing the dishes tonight.”

Ulf grunted. “I only told him I would take care of them.”

“Now who’s talking like a mage,” Alexis teased.

“Don’t even,” Ulf said. “I ain't in the mood.”

Alexis straightened a little. “You have been to see Aedon again, haven’t you?”

“The man’s a fool!” Ulf shouted.

“I take it, then, that your talk did not go well?”

He poured some tea and added a hefty dose of liquor. “It’s like tryin to tell a blind farrier where to swing the damn hammer. Only there ain't no horse to kick him in the head when he misses.”

“It seems to me,” Alexis said, “that you are almost as large as the average horse.”

“You want me to be the one to kick him?” Ulf asked, draining his cup.

“Well, it’s either that or let him alone. We both know you will not do that. Ulf, you are like a hound with a stick.”

“So, I’m a dog now?”

“No,” Alexis said, “but when you get your teeth into something, your only goal is to chew it up and spit it out. You seem to have some chewing left to do on Aedon.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t think your friend Reka would like that too much.” He said, pouring another drink.

“I am not sure Reka wouldn’t just shake your hand while looking the other way. He seems to genuinely dislike that man.”

Ulf chuckled. “I wonder why that’d be.”

“Ulf,” Alexis said.

He recognized that tone. They were about to have a serious talk. He refilled his cup, but this time forwent the tea altogether.

“Yeah,” he said cautiously.

“Why have you not asked any questions about the order?”

He scratched his arm again. “I figure it’s best if I don’t know much.”

“I told you it is not as bad as Gregory made it seem.”

He looked at her. “I don’t know if ya noticed, but I ain't great at keeping my mouth shut. I don’t wanna say something that’s gonna get me killed. If I don’t know nothin’, I can’t say nothin’.”

“Look,” she said, “the loyalty stone is dangerous, but it isn’t as bad as he said. It was something Reka came up with to help with communication, and he was not pleased when he learned how Gregory put it to use.”

“Then how can you say it ain't that bad?” Ulf said.

“I do not know exactly how it works, but I know how it doesn’t work. The stone that is placed inside us is a tiny piece of a much larger stone. Because the stones are the same, there is a link, and it lets us send messages instantly. It is always monitored. Only a mage can activate it for messages, but Gregory managed to set the link up to activate if certain words are spoken, but it cannot kill you on its own. If the link activates, then someone takes down what is said, and the council decides what to do.”

“So, it can’t kill me?” Ulf asked.

“Well, it can. If the council decides someone has betrayed us, they can absolutely use the link to kill.”

“Well, that makes me feel a whole lot better,” Ulf said derisively. He thought that maybe he should have been more polite at the meeting. “Still,” he said, “the less I know, the better I’ll feel.”

“If that’s the way you want it,” Alexis said. “If you change your mind, I will answer any question you ask.”

He understood that she was trying to make up for the weeks of secrecy. She didn’t have to. He knew why she had done it, but it was kind of fun watching her try. Martin came in, carrying a large bundle of wood. He set it next to the stove, and they sat together.

“So, we gonna go again tomorrow?” Martin asked.

“If ya keep smiling like that,” Ulf growled, “we’re gonna go again now.” Gods, he hoped the boy didn’t think he was serious.

Martin laughed, and it took him by surprise. He hadn’t ever done that before. Ulf supposed the smile didn’t irritate him that bad after all. They ate together in comfortable silence. The food was excellent as always, and Alexis didn’t chide him one time about his drinking. Overall, things were looking up. Then the flap opened.

Aedon was standing in the entryway. “I need to talk to you,” he said.

“How dare you come in here?” Alexis shouted.

“No,” Ulf said calmly to her. “The horse, remember?”

He got up slowly and limped the two steps that were required to reach Aedon. Then he shoved him out of the wagon. Aedon went sprawling to the ground, and Ulf leaped onto him. This was not the time for words. He punched every inch of him he could reach.

Too bad Aedon wasn’t the boy. He wriggled out from under Ulf and got to his feet. The men stood face to face, and it seemed Aedon wasn’t in the mood to talk anymore. The punch that hit Ulf had come too fast to see. He reeled back and spit blood out of his mouth. Growling, he closed the gap between them again. Martin streaked by and engaged Aedon before Ulf could get there, though. Aedon dodged his clumsy attack and landed a fierce blow to the boy’s head. He crumpled to the ground.

Ulf roared. He tried to close again, but this time Alexis was between them.

“That is enough!” She shouted.

Aedon stood still, panting heavily. “I deserved that,” he said.

“Damn right ya did,” Ulf snarled.

“Ulf, I said that is enough!” Alexis shouted again.

Ulf limped over to Martin. He was still breathing, but it looked like he might be unconscious. Ulf slapped him gently on the cheek.

“Get up, boy; I’ve given ya worse than that.” He tried to make his words light, but he was furious.

Martin stood, and the two of them, helping each other, moved to stand beside Alexis.

“By the gods, ya better start talkin’,” Ulf said.

“I came to talk to you about what you said earlier,” Aedon said, wiping blood from his own lip.

“And,” Ulf replied.

“Someone once told me that life was about choice,” Aedon continued. “It’s time I chose right.”

“I do not know what you are talking about,” Alexis said, “but I suggest you make it clearer, and quickly.”

Aedon held up his hands. “Ulf made some good points earlier, and I wasn’t kind to him. I’ve had time to think about what he said, and I wanted to apologize. And ask for his help.”

Ulf didn’t know what to say. He was comfortable not liking Aedon. If he was forced to change his mind, it might make him puke. He held onto his anger.

“I wouldn’t help ya if all the gods…”

“Ulf,” Alexis interrupted. “I said enough.”

“You will forgive us if we are not in an understanding mood,” Alexis said.

“I get that,” Aedon said. “Let me make it right. Please join Mika and me for dinner.”

“We just ate,” Ulf snapped.

“Ulf, if I have to tell you enough one more time,” Alexis said, leaving the rest of the thought unfinished.

“We accept your invitation,” Alexis said to Aedon.