The sun was shining the next morning as Thyre woke. There was a change of clothes waiting for him on his bed. Dressing in a clean tunic, Thyre walked out into the sun. The village was busy with creatures going about their business. He looked around at a tap on his shoulder. Athe stood there, a smile on her face. "Arese wishes to see you, when you have the time. He says it's important."

Thyre nodded. "Thank you." At her nod, he turned and walked down to the lake. The shores were almost completely quiet, only the noises of the village and the creatures relaxing on its shore breaking the silence. He sat on a log close to the water, staring into the ripples. He suddenly saw a face. A mouse, the same he'd seen in the abbey on his first night there, watching him.

"Martin?" he whispered, leaning closer.

The mouse smiled, then disappeared as a voice jarred Thyre out of his thoughts. "Thyre?"

Thyre turned. Triss stood there, her paws folded guiltily. "I…I wanted to say that I'm sorry."

Thyre shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Triss. I was angry. I was wrong to vent it on you." He rose. "Arese wants to see me. I have to go."

He walked past her, leaving her standing there, confused. As he walked away from the lake, Thyre blinked. "What do you want, Martin?" he asked himself in a whisper. "What can you gain from me?"

More… a voice in his head whispered. Thyre blinked. He could definitely hear something, but only snatches of it.

You…she…on your own…

Thyre shook his head. "I don't have time for this." He walked even faster, towards where Athe had said Arese's dwelling was.

Coming into the badger's home, Thyre looked around in awe of all the weapons that hung on the walls. Enormous axes, daggers the size of regular swords, massive bows and arrows to match, spears twice as tall as he was.

"Thyre? Is that you?"

Thyre turned as Arese made his way from another room. "Yes. Athe said you wanted me for something."

Arese smiled and nodded. "Yes, I did. Come." He beckoned, then went off into another side room. Thyre followed, curious. When they entered a large room, this one largely empty except for a small table on one side with a wrapped object on top of it, Arese stopped. Going over to the table, he picked up the object and carried it over to Thyre. "I worked even later into the night than you did, making them fit for you. You were so tired I wanted to stop you when you started again, but you seemed so focused that even when I tried, I couldn't get you away from the forge."

Thyre took the package and, to his astonishment, it felt as light as a feather. Opening it, he looked on in wonder at the two swords, perfectly straight and of equal length. The hilts, wrapped in brown leather, fit his paw precisely. The balance was perfect. Arese took them back, letting Thyre draw them and practice for a short time. "How do they feel?"

Thyre looked up. "Perfect. Like they were made for me."

Arese chuckled. "In a sense, they were. You were the one that made them. I merely finished them."

He took the other two objects that were lying amid the folds of the wrapping. "Here, take these. You'll need them."

Thyre slid the swords into their scabbards, then slung them onto his back, parallel to each other. Arese nodded. "Good. Very good."

Thyre smiled and bowed. "Thank you. I don't know if I can ever repay you for what you've done."

Arese chuckled and patted the squirrel on the shoulder. "I believe killing Valcyn will settle the debt."

If you were paying attention to the last chapter, you'll know that Thyre made his swords out of the same kind of metal as Martin's sword.