Abigail

5 - Abigail's Knack

Abigail's hands shook holding up the cool metal blade. In her peripherals, cat-calling grey squirrels sailed from tree to tree and white hares paused to watch the fight. The smile of wet pine filled her nostrils as she breathed in deep and tried to focus. A bead of sweat dragged down her temple. Has winter always been this cold? she thought.

Xander swung, and her feet flared. She jumped back, holding up her sword parallel to the ground. The clang left her body ringing. Danger – danger – safe – danger – safe. She hopped from step to step, but even though her feet knew just where to land, her sword was mostly useless. All defense, no offense.

"All defense and no offense—"

"—is the longest way to lose," Abigail groaned. "I know, I know!"

Xander laughed lightly. "I know you know," he said. "I want you to win!"

He was on her again. She raised her sword tiredly with one hand. It flew out of her hands as his blade struck.

"Dead." He held the blade up to her heart.

"It's not a fair fight," she said, throwing her hands up.

"Nope," Xander said grinning unabashedly, "it's not. Two people never have the same level of skill. And it will never be fair." She rolled her eyes, and he laughed. "You'll get better, Abby. Your feet are already wonderful. Lazarus!"

Abigail rested in the snowbanks in front of the fire, and she watched Laz and Xander fidget over Lazarus's latest block of wood. No one had thought to tell her anything about Laz's knack, or what on earth they were working on.

The thrill of learning to feel her knack everywhere somewhat made up for it. Somewhat. She chewed on her lip and tried to distract herself with making a pot of stew while they talked. The river was a roaring static now, and they often had to shout to hear each other.

The Falls must be close.

It was not long before Xander and Laz finished, and the dinner Abigail made devoured.

"What will you teach us tonight, Xander?" Laz asked, cocking his head back to the old man, ever fiddling with his knife.

"Tonight, a song." The warrior said, clasping his hands. Lately, he had looked more alive and cheerful than ever.

"Ppphhttt," Laz grumbled, fingers hollowing out the wood with his knife. "Useless."

Xander grinned. "Useful for annoying your older sister," he said cheerfully.

Abigail threw a pile of snow at him, but Xander merely laughed. Does he even know what this is about anymore? Abigail thought with a twinge of resentment. But the feeling quickly passed as Xander went on.

"Listen up, pups. It goes like this,

Troll land, troll land

Troll land is the worst land

If I am in troll land, I shan't be found.

Trolls are nasty and they smell like poo,

Yes everything about a troll

Reminds me of you."

As the echoes of his deep voice faded, Abigail burst into helpless laughter. Seeing her, Laz began to chuckle in return.

"I – can't – believe – you just sung that!" Abigail said between peels, and Xander returned her snow at her in a clump that met her face on.

"Aww come on!" she said. "I barely got you!"

"Calm yourselves before I throw somewhere," Xander said, mockingly serious. "If there is one thing you learn from me, learn this: troll land is nothing to joke about."

Abigail couldn't help it. She broke into laughter again. "You made up a whole song to teach us that!"

Xander rolled his eyes. "Children," he said shaking his head, "never appreciate anything. Sing it with me now!" he exclaimed, and wouldn't let them move on until the song was ringing in their ears incessantly.

"For spring sake," Laz said. "Now, this," he held up the finished wood, "is a much more useful piece of music."

"It's finished?" Xander asked, serious for the first time. "So quickly"

In his hands, Laz held a wooden flute. He lifted it to his lips and played almost casually. A simple melody. Branches fell off the trees behind them.

Abigail jumped, eyes wide.

"How are you doing that?" she asked.

Laz shrugged. "The old man told me to stop making stupid things," he said.

Abigail's flame of envy was a furnace then. She was barely learning to knock sticks together and Laz already could destroy trees?

Xander is holding out on me, she thought. The anger made her blood boil. Teaches me a song about trolls and Laz gets—that?

I hate that. The thought burst suddenly into mind, surprising Abigail herself.

I hate him. She tried to stuff the thought away, but it was difficult to shake.

The cold was bitter and biting that night.