Thirteen years before An Aimless War

There was a satisfying thud as the axe embedded into the wooden block. Evrik went to retrieve it, grabbing the handle and giving it a sharp tug. When that didn't work, he wiggled the axe back and forth until it was loose enough to slip out of the wood. Evrik smiled to himself as he ran his fingers over the cut. It was deep. The deepest he'd ever made. He was getting stronger.

Behind him, the bushes rustled and Evrik spun around, holding up the axe. When he saw who was pushing aside branches, he lowered the weapon with a sigh. "Evran, what do you want?"

"Father sent you to collect wood hours ago. He told me to come out and make sure you weren't hurt." Evrik's older brother stepped into the clearing and eyed the wooden figure Evrik had been attacking. It didn't look much like a person, but Evrik had draped one of his father's old shirts over it. So it was clearly meant to be a person.

Evran crossed his arms. "So... what are you doing?"

"Practicing." With the axe, Evrik gestured at a pile of chopped wood near his brother's feet. "I finished with that first."

"So who are you killing?" Evran asked.

"No one," Evrik said with a shrug, turning back to his wooden figure.

Evran was silent for a moment, then he nudged the pile of wood with his foot. "I'll help you carry these back home, then? You know, there are other chores you're supposed to get done today."

Evrik crouched next to his brother and helped stack wood in Evran's arms. "I know, but..." he shot another glance at his wooden enemy. "Do you really want to be a farmer forever?"

"What else is there for me to do?"

"Something exciting."

"Killing people?"

"I'm bored." Evrik helped Evran stand, but didn't move to pick up the rest of the wood. "All I do is check on the animals or chop wood."

Evran laughed. "That's because you're still a child."

"I am not. Evril's a child."

"You're two years older than him, it doesn't make a difference."

"I'm not a child." Evrik pointed towards the figure. "Look at what I can do."

Evran blew a strand of hair out of his eyes. "You can hit a wooden figure with an axe. Isn't that the same as chopping wood? Anyone can do that."

Evrik frowned. He turned and took a step closer to the figure, while unhooking his hatchet from his belt. He held it lightly in his right hand, hesitated a moment, and threw it. It slammed into the middle of the log, right where a human's chest would be. It was a really good throw. Maybe one of his best.

He turned to his brother. "Tell me that anyone can do that."

Evran's mouth was open in shock, his eyes wide. "How did you do that?"

"I practice. I started with knives but I like the hatchet better." As he spoke, Evrik walked to the figure to grab the little axe. "I used to play games when I chopped wood. I'd pretend I was a great hero and the wood was a horrible monster and I'd defeat it over and over again. But it was too easy, so I made up different monsters." He returned to his brother's side and started to pick up the rest of the wood. "Flying ones that I had to throw knives at. Then I broke my knife-"

"The one father gave you for your birthday?"

Evrik stood, precariously balancing wood in his arms. "Yes. But anyway, then I tried using the axe. It was different but I figured it out. And anyway... I want to go to West Draulin. I want to join the army and go on adventures like the ones grandfather used to tell us about."

They started walking. "West Draulin? That's days away. Why don't you go to Vasel?"

Evrik could hear the new respect in his brother's voice, and it made him smile. "West Draulin has more important lords and ladies. Vasel barely has an army. And West Draulin is so much bigger. Wouldn't you love to see it? The big fortress and the port filled with ships. I bet soldiers in West Draulin get to go on all sorts of adventures."

Evran nodded. "And maybe one day you'll even get to speak to Lord West Draulin in person!"

"Don't mock me. It could hap-" Evrik's toe caught on a rock and suddenly he was stumbling forward, the wood falling from his arms. Before Evran even had a chance to tease him, or possible to ask if he was all right, a new voice spoke up.

"Woah, shh." A well-dressed young man was sitting on a beautiful, cream coloured horse. The horse shuffled its feet, clearly startled, but already it was starting to settle down.

"I'm-" Evrik's words caught in his throat, and instead of apologizing he just dropped to his knees and started to gather up the wood that was now blocking the road.

"My apologies." The young man dismounted and joined him, much to Evrik's embarrassment. He was used to seeing lords at a distance, but he had never really interreacted with one before. He risked a quick glance at the lord. He looked like he was about Evran's age, so maybe four or five years older than Evrik. But something about being noble made him seem much older than that.

The lord placed the last piece of wood on Evrik's stack, then helped him to his feet. "I'm afraid Goldie and I might have startled you. I hope you didn't get hurt?"

Evrik shook his head silently.

The lord smiled. "Good. I'm glad. Have a nice day." He nodded once at Evran, then pulled himself back onto his horse's saddle and continued riding down the road.

Evrik watched him until he felt Evran nudge him.

"If you can't even talk to a country lord, I don't think you're going to be able to talk to any of the city ones," Evran teased.

Evrik shot him a glare and continued walking. "You didn't say anything, either. Besides, I won't have to deal with the lords. I'll have to deal with captains and generals, and they'll talk to the lords."

"Hmm. And who do you think the captains and generals are?" Evran asked, then continued to answer his own question. "They're country lords."

"Well..." Evrik adjusted his hold on the wood. "I'll have to practice talking to them, then. I know it isn't going to be easy. But you saw what I can do. Don't you believe in me?"

It took Evran a moment to reply, and Evrik's heart sank. Until his older brother started to speak. "I think, if this is what you really want, then you should go. I can take over the farm, the girls and Evril can stay or get married and move or get jobs in Vasel, whatever they want. But what I just saw you do was special. A gift from the Goddess herself. I think it would be a tragedy if you don't use your gift."

Evrik thought about that. He had always been afraid of sharing his dream with his brother. Evran loved worked with the animals and the crops. He was perfectly suited to life as a farmer. Evrik had always been afraid Evran wouldn't approve, which would have crushed him. He had always looked up to Evran.

When their little farmhouse came into view, a new thought popped into Evrik's head. "What will father and mother think?"

"I think they'll be worried but proud," Evran said. The brothers carefully stacked the wood in the little shed beside the house. Their younger sister Elline was sitting on the porch, sewing. Their older sister Ellana was probably helping their mother prepare dinner. Evril was in the barn with the pigs, his shrieks and laughter made that clear.

Evran brushed woodchips from his pants. "Why don't you show everyone what you can do before dinner? When they see your gift, they'll have to understand why you want to go."

"Do you really think so?" Evrik asked.

"I think it's the best way to tell them," Evran said with a firm nod. "It'll be hard to believe without proof. I'll get Evril and father. Elline! Get mother and Ellana to come outside. Evrik needs to show us something."

Their sister looked up from the tunic she was repairing and sighed. "Just because you're the eldest doesn't mean you can order me around like that."

"Please?" Evrik said hopefully.

"Fine. I'll do it for you, not because Evran shouted at me." Elline neatly folded the tunic and put it aside before heading into the house. Evran, laughing, went to the barn.

While his family assembled, Evrik pulled blocks of wood from the little shed and stacked them. He was nervous. He had never thrown for an audience before. With Evran in the woods, he had been too annoyed by his brother's dismissal to even think about being nervous. When the stack was ready, he backed up a comfortable distance and stared at his target. In the forest he could throw quickly and with relatively good aim. He just couldn't think about it too much. He had to let his arm take over. He was good at this.

When they arrived, Evran gathered their parents and siblings together. He said something, but Evrik didn't listen until he heard his name. He looked at his family, taking in the confusion on their faces. Then he saw Evran's encouraging smile, and he made up his mind.

Like he had in the forest, Evrik unhooked his hatchet. He didn't pause, he didn't try to think or aim. He threw quickly, letting his muscles do what was familiar. The axe head buried into the highest block of wood with a loud thud. There was a moment of silence, then the block slowly tipped and fell from the top of the stack.

Evran broke the silence by clapping. "Amazing!"

Evril ran to inspect the block of wood, like he thought it was some sort of trick.

The girls spoke over each other, both trying to ask how he had learned to do it.

Evrik's parents were silent, frozen with identical looks of awe.

Evrik smiled at his family, and with new confidence, said, "Father, mother. I want to join the army in West Draulin."

His father took his mother's hand and gave it a squeeze. He still looked shocked, but he cleared his throat, and said seriously, "Of course."

Then Elline and Ellana pulled Evrik into a hug, and quickly he found himself enveloped by his whole family. Evrik laughed. His dream was going to come true.