Read Online Hand of Fire (The Master of the Tane) by Thomas Rath - Free Book Online
Authors: Thomas Rath
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ground.
Thane struggled at his bindings now more frantically. “That’s right PocMar!” Dor yelled. “Beat up on a little girl! You coward!”
All went quiet. Thane stopped his struggling and all eyes turned to Dor. To call a Chufa a coward was the strongest insult that could be given. Any Chufa would rather die than be considered a coward and to wrongly accuse one of being such was to invite a fight to the death. PocMar’s expression became icy cold as he drew the knife that hung at his waist and approached Dor. “I will cut out your tongue and eat it for that remark, DorMar.” PocMar grabbed Dor’s mouth and forced it open while everyone stood frozen in disbelief except Thane who jerked around more heatedly trying to get loose to save his friend.
Just as PocMar brought his knife down to Dor’s face it went flying from his hand and stuck into a tree, an arrow through the blade. “That’s enough!” A hard voice growled. All eyes turned to see DaxSagn stroll easily up the trail. “Maybe DorMar was right in his estimation PocMar. Were you actually going to attack an enemy who was tied up and helpless?” PocMar looked around to the others with him for support but they had backed up and now stood with eyes intensely admiring the ground at their feet.
“Nnno…DaxSagn,” PocMar finally stammered. “It was just a joke we were playing.” He smiled weakly and patted Dor on the shoulder like they were old friends. Dor couldn’t help but smile at the shear panic in PocMar’s voice.
“And you,” Dax asked evenly turning his stone-faced gaze on Dor. “Were you just joking or are you prepared to face PocMar in a fight to the death to prove your words?”
The smile immediately left Dor’s face as the attention turned to him, his own voice cracking as he replied. “No. I mean Yes! I mean it was just a joke and a game, Great Protector.”
“DaxSagn will do just fine,” Dax said as if weary of the title.
“Uh, yes DaxSagn,” Dor returned quietly.
“Well then,” Dax’s voice brightened. “If you are all finished playing then we can get to work. Untie them PocMar, shake hands and you young lady,” he said helping Tam to her feet, “you go home and leave us to our work. We wouldn’t want a stray arrow to skewer you, now would we?”
Tam looked at Dax with wide eyes and shook her head before quickly turning about and running off.
Thane stared in amazement at the arrow that had bored through the metal of PocMar’s blade as DaxSagn retrieved it from the trunk of the tree . What sort of arrow could do such a thing and not be shattered? he wondered as he rubbed the raw marks on his wrists. He would ask DaxSagn later.
The rest of the day was all Thane and Dor could have hoped for and more. First they started off with a silent run through the woods. As they ran, they tried to step lightly and pick their way carefully so as not to snap a twig and give away their position to DaxSagn who ran nearby trying to locate them. Since it was their first day, Thane and Dor were caught every time within seconds of starting their runs. The other boys were also caught but not as fast due to the amount of practice they had already received. Thane quickly became frustrated, and bruised, since every time they were caught DaxSagn smacked them with an arrow shaft. Thane could walk as silent as just about any of his peers, but running was something completely different.
“You must concentrate on making yourself as light as the wind and touch lightly with only the front of the foot,” Dax explained to him after giving Thane another whack on the back of his leg. “It is also important to pick your way
Thane struggled at his bindings now more frantically. “That’s right PocMar!” Dor yelled. “Beat up on a little girl! You coward!”
All went quiet. Thane stopped his struggling and all eyes turned to Dor. To call a Chufa a coward was the strongest insult that could be given. Any Chufa would rather die than be considered a coward and to wrongly accuse one of being such was to invite a fight to the death. PocMar’s expression became icy cold as he drew the knife that hung at his waist and approached Dor. “I will cut out your tongue and eat it for that remark, DorMar.” PocMar grabbed Dor’s mouth and forced it open while everyone stood frozen in disbelief except Thane who jerked around more heatedly trying to get loose to save his friend.
Just as PocMar brought his knife down to Dor’s face it went flying from his hand and stuck into a tree, an arrow through the blade. “That’s enough!” A hard voice growled. All eyes turned to see DaxSagn stroll easily up the trail. “Maybe DorMar was right in his estimation PocMar. Were you actually going to attack an enemy who was tied up and helpless?” PocMar looked around to the others with him for support but they had backed up and now stood with eyes intensely admiring the ground at their feet.
“Nnno…DaxSagn,” PocMar finally stammered. “It was just a joke we were playing.” He smiled weakly and patted Dor on the shoulder like they were old friends. Dor couldn’t help but smile at the shear panic in PocMar’s voice.
“And you,” Dax asked evenly turning his stone-faced gaze on Dor. “Were you just joking or are you prepared to face PocMar in a fight to the death to prove your words?”
The smile immediately left Dor’s face as the attention turned to him, his own voice cracking as he replied. “No. I mean Yes! I mean it was just a joke and a game, Great Protector.”
“DaxSagn will do just fine,” Dax said as if weary of the title.
“Uh, yes DaxSagn,” Dor returned quietly.
“Well then,” Dax’s voice brightened. “If you are all finished playing then we can get to work. Untie them PocMar, shake hands and you young lady,” he said helping Tam to her feet, “you go home and leave us to our work. We wouldn’t want a stray arrow to skewer you, now would we?”
Tam looked at Dax with wide eyes and shook her head before quickly turning about and running off.
Thane stared in amazement at the arrow that had bored through the metal of PocMar’s blade as DaxSagn retrieved it from the trunk of the tree . What sort of arrow could do such a thing and not be shattered? he wondered as he rubbed the raw marks on his wrists. He would ask DaxSagn later.
The rest of the day was all Thane and Dor could have hoped for and more. First they started off with a silent run through the woods. As they ran, they tried to step lightly and pick their way carefully so as not to snap a twig and give away their position to DaxSagn who ran nearby trying to locate them. Since it was their first day, Thane and Dor were caught every time within seconds of starting their runs. The other boys were also caught but not as fast due to the amount of practice they had already received. Thane quickly became frustrated, and bruised, since every time they were caught DaxSagn smacked them with an arrow shaft. Thane could walk as silent as just about any of his peers, but running was something completely different.
“You must concentrate on making yourself as light as the wind and touch lightly with only the front of the foot,” Dax explained to him after giving Thane another whack on the back of his leg. “It is also important to pick your way
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