3rd day of the 7th month 580th year of the 8th era

Akuchi stepped out of the forest wearing his trousers and riding boots. His sword was strapped to his bare, muscled chest. On the belt hook of his trousers swung two water skins. He carried two wood-chopping hand axes and a knapsack. The knapsack contained two sharpening stones, a bedroll, a fire starter kit, and his father’s now-threadbare shirt.

The mid-morning sun shone out over the ocean to his left, the waves on the rocks below a soothing counter beat to the thumping inside his chest. Here I am with everything I own ready to start my dream. Dad would have been so proud of me. Leaving home and becoming my own man. Elation swelled in his chest as he stepped out onto the grass and set down his tools. Taking an axe in his hands he looked at the first tree.

Akuchi swung the axe and it bit into the tree with a resounding thud. Withdrawing the axe’s blade, he swung again. Soon he settled into a routine: swing, thud, remove, repeat. Sweat broke out on his back and chest as the exertion wearied him. The work was back-breaking. Each swing was rewarded with a small chip or chunk falling to the ground.

As the sun reached its zenith, Akuchi had chopped his way through half of the tree trunk. He stopped and lifted a water skin off the ground and took a large gulp. The water refreshed him as it passed down his throat and into his stomach.

His stomach grumbled in protest. Casting his eyes around, he noticed a bush with ripe berries. Relief flooded through him as he grabbed the berries and tossed them into his mouth, their bitter taste a great sensation in his empty stomach.

“Several hours and all you have is half a tree?” a voice mocked from behind him.

Akuchi turned, lowering his axe. Nurarfed stood, hands rested on his great-axe and a mocking smile curling his lips. Nurarfed lifted his axe and rested it over his bare shoulder. He sauntered over to look at the tree.

“You have great form, but with that axe, it could take you all day to cut through this tree,” Nurarfed rambled.

“You think you could do better?”

“Aye,” Nurarfed reflected, “this is a monster of a tree. What are you planning on doing with it once it is down?

“I was just hoping to clear enough space to plant a crop in the next few days,” Akuchi said.

“This tree will create more problems than it will solve.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, once you feel it you will then have to move it, and then you would have to move it out of the way and then clear the stump out of the ground.”

“A truly epic task!” Akuchi leant back and looked at the top of the tree, emitting a low whistle.

“I know you are a farmer, but do you have any experience clearing the land for farming?”

“Not really,” Akuchi admitted, “my father’s fields had been cleared long before I was born.”

“Farming runs in the family?”

“Yeah,” said Akuchi. “My grandfather started the farm.”

“So, he most likely cleared the land, if he did at all.”

Nurarfed tossed a bag to the ground next to Akuchi’s meagre possessions and rolled his shoulders. The action rippled across his arms and torso. Nurarfed picked up his great axe and took a swing at the tree. The great axe bit into the tree trunk and glided through the wood with a loud thud. With deft swings of the axe handle, he extracted the blade and beckoned Akuchi over.

“See here.” Nurarfed pointed. “At this point, the tree has settled into the new position, it now leans a little.”

“Oh yeah.”

“So, the tree will fall that way,” Nurarfed indicated into the forest.

“Now we just need to nudge it a little more and let the tree do all the work,” Nurarfed explained.

Akuchi stepped back and watched as Nurarfed took another swing at the tree just below the previous spot. A thud and a creak echoed from the tree. The tree swayed and then toppled over into the forest, pulling the roots out with it, showering the area with dirt.

“If you are clearing land, this is the way to do it,” Nurarfed instructed, “the way you were doing is good for selling the wood to a lumber yard.”

“Did you bring anything to eat?” Akuchi questioned. I’m starving. I am not going back to ask Taya for food, not after what she wanted me to do for these axes, and they are not as good as the axe she gave to Nurarfed. A bitter taste rose in his mouth. She cheated me. Oggy had given me permission to get whatever I needed.

“Oh, yeah, Taya said that you left in a hurry after getting your equipment,” Nurarfed said. “Didn’t say why though.”

“I just wanted to get started as soon as possible,” Akuchi lied. What else did she tell him? Akuchi eyed Nurarfed as he passed him some dried meat and fruit.

Akuchi settled onto the log and gazed into the fire. Clearing those two trees had taken all day. Man, I am glad that Nurarfed had come along with his great-axe; otherwise, I would only have had the one tree down and not two. The smell of cooking meat on the fire made his mouth water. Good food after a hard day’s work. A gentle thump sounded behind him and Akuchi turned. Hiwot was standing just inside the light of the fire, wearing a light blue summer dress that clung to her body like a second skin. She blushed under his gaze and came and sat beside him on the log.

“I missed you,” she murmured into his ear, placing a hand on his arm.

“It has been a while,” he replied.

Hiwot placed her head on his shoulder and gazed into the fire.

What is she doing? She normally isn’t like this. Normally she is already kissing me by now.Akuchi’s gaze travelled over her firm, caramel legs, across her flat stomach, and over the blue dress. Akuchi leaned his head on her head and a sweet smell wafted up into his nose.

My goodness, that is amazing.

“What is that smell?” Akuchi asked. I love it.

“That might be me,” Hiwot stammered.

“It’s great,” he said. “What is it?”

“Before I came I washed in lavender water.” She shifted and looked at him. “Do you really like it?”

Akuchi looked her in her eyes.

Hiwot bit her lip.

“I do.”

“Thank you so much.” Hiwot smiled a huge grin and wrapped her arms around him locking him into a deep kiss.

Akuchi was knocked off balance and he fell off the log, dragging Hiwot with him. Laughing, Akuchi wrapped his arms around Hiwot as she snuggled into his chest.

“Hmm,” Hiwot breathed. “You smell nice.”

“Thank you,” Akuchi responded. He ran his hands down her back and gently caressed her buttock. It’s still so firm. With her, it was never wrong. Why is it right with her but not with the others?

“Why didn’t you come to see me this morning?” Hiwot asked.

“I was here working.”

“This is where you want to build your farm?” Hiwot asked as she propped her head up and gazed into Akuchi’s eyes.

“Yeah, the soil is good here,” Akuchi quipped. A small smile sprung to his face. His hand travelled down Hiwot’s leg and came to the end of the dress. He glided it up and slipped his hand underneath the dress. He worked his hand up her smooth leg and caressed her bare buttock under the dress.

“If you want to, I guess you can,” Hiwot commented.

Akuchi took both his hands, grabbed her waist, and lifted her in one swift move.

Hiwot giggled as she was lifted and then brought down into the dirt. Akuchi shifted himself, swung one of his legs over hers and climbed on top.

“Thank you,” she murmured, kissing Akuchi lightly on the cheek before getting up and walking over to the bag she had left at the edge of the camp light. “In here you will find some things you need to help you get your farm running. A small gift from Oggy.”

Akuchi pulled up his trousers, did the button up and took the bag from her proffered hand.

“When will I see you next?” Akuchi asked.

“I am not certain. When I feel the itch again.”

“When you come back could you bring me some more supplies please?”

“Yes, I think I can do that.” She cupped his chin. “I have to keep my boys happy.”

“Boys?” How many are there?

Hiwot turned and looked at him. “You thought you were the only one?” She paused and looked at him with pity in her eyes. “You’re so cute when you’re jealous.”

Why am I jealous of her having more partners? I have Mayu and Aquillia.

“I take it there will be no chance of us making it more than just about sex?” He asked.

“No,” she said and pulled her dress over her head. “Maybe one of your other girls can?”

“You know about them?”

“I do now.” She smiled and gave him a quick kiss.

“Is there any chance for me to have more than just sex?”

She smoothed her dress over her hips and looked him in the eyes. “Maybe you, but not with me. Goodbye,” she called as she walked away.

The fire burned low. Akuchi stared off into the distant night and watched the stars come out. His arms and legs ached from the day felling two trees.

The bag that Hiwot had brought in lay unopened in his hands. He sat on the log. The axes and sword rested on the other side of the log.

A faint rustling sounded in the grass beyond the campfire light. Akuchi’s eyes focused on the sound, adjusting quickly to the darkening light.

A shape charged out of the darkness wielding an ebony blade.

Akuchi jumped up and dodged to the left as the blade came down and embedded it into the log where he had been sitting.

The shadow was a man covered with differing types of paints marked into a swirling pattern over his body. The man let go of the sword and rushed at Akuchi.

Akuchi reached for his sword and brought it up to block the second attack.

The man battered his sword with his fists before stepping back. He snarled at Akuchi.

Akuchi brought up his blade and swung it in a downward stroke across his body at the man.

The man dodged to the right and tripped over the log, knocking aside the wood axes. He scrambled to his feet grabbing an axe. Akuchi swung down and sliced the man in the chest. The man gurgled and spat blood before dying. Akuchi approached the dead man and examined him.

Not an ogre or a troll so why did he attack me? He pulled the man into the light of the dying fire and rekindled it with another log. The man was completely naked except for a leather band strapped over one shoulder and across the body. Akuchi picked up his sword. The length was about right for a longsword, but it was a lot lighter. What metal are they using to make this blade? Where did he come from? His skin is covered in paint. Who is this guy?

The next morning Akuchi entered the fort carrying his dead attacker on his back. He walked past the muster yard and into Oghenekaro’s command tent. There he dropped the body onto the floor.

“Akuchi!” exclaimed Oghenekaro. “What is the meaning of this? And who is this man you have brought?”

“I was attacked late last night by this guy,” said Akuchi. “I, too, would like to know who he is.”

“Leave him here. Follow me.”

Oghenekaro led the way out of the command tent and walked back along the mustering field.

“Aquillia,” Oghenekaro beckoned. “Come here please.”

Aquillia made her way out of the assembled training soldiers.

“We have something that you might be able to help with,” Oghenekaro stated, then turned and led the way back to the command tent.

Upon entering the command tent, Aquillia at the man covered in paint.

“A dark elf,” said Aquillia. “Where did you find him?”

“He attacked me last night.”

“Did he attack you alone?” Aquillia asked.

“I assume so. After he was dead no one else came out of the darkness.”

“He is a border guard,” Aquillia said. “He probably watched you and waited until you were at your weakest, then attacked.”

“I doubt it. I was fully awake, and a couple of hours before, I had distracting company.”

Aquillia looked at Akuchi for a moment, before continuing. “I doubt that this dark elf will be the last.”

“What do you mean?” Oghenekaro asked.

“I think that if as you say he wasn’t a sentry but a patrol, then he will be missed, and another will be sent.”

“So, we can expect more?” Akuchi stated.

“Yes, I believe so,” Aquillia affirmed.

“We need to know more about them,” Oghenekaro said. “We need to know why they are attacking us and more about who they are.”

“The dark elves have been embroiled in a war with the orcs and trolls since they can remember,” Aquillia explained, “there were some attempts at peace, but usually only when the orcs and trolls were fighting each other or when they had nearly wiped each other out. The construction of this fort by the humans, dwarfs and gnomes, after the trolls invaded from the north in the third era, has protected the dark elves. Why they didn’t come out to help the humans then is still a mystery, but it’s the opinion of the elves that the dark elves fought a guerrilla war against their western flank without the humans knowing about it. The fort was built by the sea, circumventing the forest route and placing the fort here because of the strategic location. The humans at the time thought they could then colonise the forest for their own people. However, once colonists started to break into the forest to settle, they were exterminated. We believe in the dark elves but have no proof of this. The human settlers’ fear of the unknown has prevented us from entering the Bloodwood Forest as it is called now.”

“Wow,” exclaimed Akuchi. “I want to continue to set up my farm here to help feed the fort, but it will take time if I have to watch my back all the time.”

“The dark elves prefer attacking at night so will not attack in the daytime,” informed Aquillia. “Attacking in the day time they will lose their advantage. They normally carry a black blade with them that is more effective at night.”

“The fort will provide a sentry to you at night time,” offered Oghenekaro.

“Thank you,” Akuchi said, “what should I do with this guy?”

“Leave him here, and I will attend to his burial rights,” offered Aquillia.

“Okay,” agreed both Akuchi and Oghenekaro.