The Martin's Ferry School of Hard Knocks

‘That will be enough for the day, Hawkwood.’ the sword- master barked at Edward ‘Tanner’ Hawkwood.

‘Sir?’ replied Tanner.

‘Enough for today. That was good work.’

‘Thanks. Same time tomorrow?’ asked Tanner.

‘We’ll see. Lord Gahanna may have something else instead for you.

‘Very well.’ Tanner sheathed his sword and saluted, and then walked off to a room on the side of the yard.

In the dressing room near the practice area, Lord Gahanna was waiting.

‘And what do I owe the honor of your presence, Lord Gahanna?’ asked Tanner.

‘When word got out that an engineer was getting proficient with a sword, I had to see for myself. I didn’t think it possible.’ Gahanna grinned at Tanner.

‘Unfortunately, a fortified palisade and a Copperhead aren’t always at my disposal. So I had to do something. The Royal Crown Guard didn’t see fit to let me have mages and Salamanders on Election Day.’ Tanner laughed and Gahanna joined in.

‘So somewhere along the line you learned hand to hand combat and how to cast magic?’ Gahanna snickered.

‘I’ve been a decent hand to hand fighter for years. I’ve won Bardstown before. But I’m no magician.’ Tanner replied.

‘That’s a little impressive. But beating drunks doesn’t really count.’ replied Gahanna.

‘True, but I also went in close with one of those large brutes from The Underworld. The ridiculous thing was

that I fared better with my hands than a sword.’ Tanner said sheepishly.

‘Hand to hand? With one of those seven foot monstrosities?’ Gahanna looked incredulous.

‘Ask Faolan or his northern witch friend about it. Or better yet, ask Lord Huber. He was an impartial witness to it all.’

Gahanna remained silent for a moment. ‘I guess that would settle it. The sword-masters say that you have become an expert with the blade. And there’s no magic in it, oddly enough.’

‘I took it from a dead Royal Crown Guard. He didn’t have much use for it. But ‘Starlight’ is good enough as is. Besides, let those fools think I can create a wall of starlight. I’d prefer they think I am a magician, in addition to a captain and an engineer.’ Tanner replied with an amused look on his face.

‘It would seem that you have taken it upon yourself to try and equal The Red Wolf in feats of arms. You were always one for using your head to kill people, and not skill in arms.’ Gahanna remarked.

‘Mmm, I’m not in his class. Not by a long shot. But I had to do something. Sometimes I don’t have an army at my disposal. Unlike certain others in this room.’ Tanner laughed and Gahanna grinned.

‘Well, I did feel your improvements should be noted. They have not been unnoticed.’

‘Thank you, sir.’ Tanner smiled.

‘Now what about those war machines you were working on for me? It’s the least you can do for the hospitality I have shown you.’ Gahanna laughed.

‘I have not forgotten those machines. Captain McCormick sent me three of your most promising combat engineers. We worked through the schematics of designing Salamanders. Each one has assembled a team of carpenters and blacksmiths to build a machine. I have been checking their work. Tests are two days from tomorrow.’ Tanner was slipping into his patented engineer tone of voice that only 20 men in the known world found interesting. He remembered that Gahanna was not one of those twenty men, and promptly ended his droning tone.

‘Will they pass your test?’ Gahanna asked.

‘I expect the machines will work. They may need to be fine-tuned so that their range is 150 yards or more. But the primary goal is to get you a core group of men who can build these weapons, maintain them, and use them to deadly effect. If you have a core group of skilled workers, then you’ll have a weapon that no one else has.’ At that statement, Gahanna flashed a smile that was unmistakable. ‘Kind of like a child getting a new toy’ thought Tanner.

‘And unfortunately, I have need of those machines. I’m beset on all sides, east, north, south, and west with potential enemies. Not to mention below, in a magical sense.’ Gahanna looked slightly concerned.

‘I can’t speak for the east or the north, or magic for that matter. But no Anglian army from south or west is a match for your army as is. If I had had 1000 men in Brown’s Ferry on Election Day, I might have tried to send Red Legs and house guards home in burlap sacks.’ Tanner rubbed his head.

‘Would you have tried that if I had been there?’ asked Gahanna coolly.

‘I deal in realities and possibilities, not ‘what might have beens’. But, if I had 1000 men at my command, with Salamanders and Sunfire, and a few support healers, against 4000 Anglians and magicians, yeah, I’d take my chances. Add in a Gahanna legion, not so likely.’ Tanner replied thoughtfully.

Gahanna smiled and said ‘So I thought.’

Tanner stood straight up and looked at Gahanna. ‘But the odds were worse at Southgate, and we know how that turned out.’