"May I see the tomahawk?" Grace asks and Bruce hands it to her. She looks it over carefully. "This gap between the lower beard and the shaft… it should be narrower." Bruce looks at her puzzled and Grace continues "Make it so a sword blade will be caught there. If a blade gets wedged in there … Do you have a wide sword or machete?"
Bruce retrieves a wide unfinished sword. Grace has him stand as if he were striking a downward blow that she's blocked with the shaft of the tomahawk allowing the sword to slide into the gap. Bringing the tomahawk to the side and down, the twisting motion she uses makes use of the superior length of it against the width of the sword to wrench the sword from Bruce's grip. Bruce is shocked.
"If that gap was smaller, it would work for smaller blades as well. She might be the master of her forest, but she hasn't been around people who rely upon their knowledge of sword fighting to survive. Jeanette has learned much, but there is a limit to what Wolf or any fae can teach her about being an immortal. We live in a different world."
"You are assuming it is intended to be used against swords. Tomahawks are multipurpose." Bruce explains. "It might not even be for Jeanette. But you are missing perhaps the most interesting feature…" Grace looks at Bruce for the explanation. "This one can be used as a 'peace pipe'… peace between whom?"
Grace ponders. "Perhaps…between the fae and humans... Well, we'll have to wait and see. Why don't you take a shower and wash up for dinner, I'll put the food out."
Bruce guides Grace into his surprisingly small house. It was dark inside and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust. There is a small living room with two comfortable chairs and a table, a stone fireplace, a kitchen with a wood stove, a sink, and a simple table and chairs, a bedroom with a large sturdy bed, a bedside table, a dresser, a closet and a large full bookcase, and a bathroom. The home has wood and hand wrought iron everywhere. There was nothing feminine about it, yet the overall feeling was like a womb. Grace thought, to paraphrase the words of Tolkien's famous opening to "The Hobbit" …it was Bruce's cabin and that means comfort. For Grace, it was a little like returning to her childhood home and she instantly felt very comfortable. Grace was surprised when Bruce turned on a few lights and she's returned to the modern world.
Grace begins to unpack her basket and she hears the shower running. Soon the couple is having a pleasant dinner as it grows dark outside. When they finish they move to the living room where Bruce starts a low fire to ward off the cold.
They discuss their backgrounds and time goes by quickly. Suddenly Bruce realizes it has gotten late and he becomes concerned about Grace's safety. "Shall I walk you back to Bo's house?" he asks. Grace smiles "No need to worry. I have a cell phone. Bo offered to pick me up… or I can let her know I'm staying…" Bruce blushes.
Grace, seeing Bruce's turmoil, changes the subject. "This chair is new" she says referring to the one she's sitting on. "I added it recently. I never had someone else I thought would want to be here. I'm used to being alone. As much as I cared about Kenzi, I never really believed she'd spend time here. But recently…"
Grace nods. "May I use your bathroom?" Bruce nods and Grace goes into it. For a few moments he sits confused watching the low burning fire. When Grace returns from the bathroom, she walks slowly passed him and says "I'm going to bed." Bruce watches in disbelief as she goes into his bedroom. A moment later he hears her getting into his bed.
Bruce watches the fire burn down for awhile and finally turns out the lights and goes into the bedroom. He sees all of Grace's clothes neatly placed on the dresser. "I was beginning to worry…" Grace says hopefully as Bruce stands taking in the situation. When he doesn't respond she adds sadly "I can call Bo and tell her I won't be staying after all." Bruce shakes his head "Stay."
Bruce takes off his shoes, socks, shirt and pants. Grace opens the covers for him to get under and he sees he's over dressed. "Get in…" Grace says crinkling her nose "…I'm catching a chill." Bruce slips in and Grace cuddles up to him. "Much better" she says. "In case you're wondering… it was what you said about the chair…"
Tamsin is awoken by a knock on the window of her truck and is startled to see Adam at her door. Yawning, she pushes off a blanket and gets out of her truck. "Do you know what time it is?" Tamsin asks grumpily, fighting off the effect of the previous night's whiskey. "Not really, does it matter?" Adam responds. "Only that it's too damn early." Tamsin grumbles.
Adam lifts the antler pendent. "Do you know what this is?" he asks. "A necklace." Tamsin responds annoyed. "Yeah, it's a necklace… Do you know what it means?" he asks. "It means Jeanette has gotten good enough to slip it around my neck without waking me up." Adam shakes his head. "Yes, and it means you can enter her forest wearing only that without being stalked and eaten by a very ancient and crafty wolf shape shifter." Tamsin digests the information. "When you say, 'only'… you mean…" Adam gets a wolfish grin. "Pick a warm day." He adds. "Oh…." Tamsin responds. "By the way, that necklace is more than just a pass to her forest. But I'll let you figure out the rest. Congratulations by the way."
Tamsin is shocked when Adam holds out an elegant sword in a leather scabbard. The sword is beautiful and somehow feminine. The cross guard is gold plated and curved gracefully forward. There is a loop on one side to protect the hand.
As Tamsin looks at the sword she asks "Congratulations?" Adam chuckles "You'll find out."
Adam draws the sword a few inches before reseating it in its scabbard. "I was going to wait at the edge of her forest until she might appear in order to give her this. But, since you might be going in with a pass I thought it might be better if you gave it to her… certainly safer for me." Holding the sword horizontally in one hand by the middle he pushes in fully into the scabbard and presents it to Tamsin.
As she takes it she says "Perhaps I should keep it… for awhile." Adam gives her a stern look and warns her "Do that and I'll tell somebody you stole it." Tamsin is not intimidated. "Who?" Adam shakes his head "A woman who was the student of the one who owned this blade." Tamsin is intrigued. Adam explains "The bigger concern is the people that the student might enlist to help her recover it." Tamsin looks at him for the answer but she gets none. Tamsin nods and Adam releases his grip.
"Tell Jeanette that this blade belonged to Rebecca Thorne. She will understand."
Tamsin draws the sword fully and wields it briefly before returning it to the scabbard. "I understand as well. I conveyed her spirit to Valhalla. It was an honor. She was legendary to the Valkyries. Her blade shall be delivered."
Adam nods and starts to leave. "Why didn't you give this to Kenzi?" Adam turns back and with a chuckle explains "It just isn't her style. Besides, Rebecca was an adviser to the Light Fae so it is more fitting that it goes to the student of Cassandra."
"Who will teach her how to use it?" Tamsin asks. "Unlike most shifters, Wolf prefers her animal form and when in human form her preferred weapon is the tomahawk, but she's good with a sword… unless, of course, you want the job." Adam answers.
As Adam begins to leave again, Tamsin calls out "You foresaw her coming when you commissioned Kenzi's sword?" Adam glances back and responds "I suspected." As he walks away she asks "What happens next?" but he only shrugs.