To Serve the Light (Part 11)

“Now, fighting with a hammer is different than using a sword or axe,” Bernhardt explained loudly, in a tone of long-suffering patience. “There’s no point, no edge, and no blade. Some liken it to the mace, as both rely on bludgeoning force.”

Wyn grunted as she continued to attack the wooden figure before her. Her tormentor droned on, and she tried to focus both on her target and his words. She knew better than to ignore the lecture.

“The hammer is not a weapon for the impatient, Stelhamor. You can’t cut or pierce, to bloody your opponent and weaken their resolve. Fancy twists and flashy moves won’t help you. All you have is the weight of your hammer, the force of your will, and the strength of your convictions.”

Her father’s voice rang strongly through her memory. Th’ weight o’ th’ hammer, th’ force o’ yer will, an’ th’ strength o’ yer convictions, lass. All yer havin when standin afore th’ anvil, shapin red-hot metal ta th’ visions in yer head, he’d told her, on more than one occasion.

A sharp smack interrupted her reverie. “Pay attention, Stelhamor.”

She rubbed her head, where the small pebble had hit. “Yes, sir,” she muttered sullenly. Where in the bloody hell was he finding that down here? she wondered.

Bernhardt nodded at the dummy. Sighing inwardly, she resumed her measured strokes. Over the clacking of wood on wood, Bernhardt continued. The words were familiar to her – after a moment, she realized they were in the same vein as all the copy work she’d been doing of late.

Damn, more of THIS blather? But she grit her teeth and set herself to endure.

“As you should know, Stelhamor, the key to using a hammer is focus, persistence, and patience. With each strike you must focus your will, to transfer the strength from your arm through the face of the hammer and into your target. But one must be careful as well, for focusing too much force means sacrificing speed, which can be deadly against a quick-footed foe.”

“Also, each individual strike by itself is capable of transferring only so much force. While one good strike can be enough to fell an opponent, such opportunities may not present themselves. More often than not, a hammer-wielder must rely on attrition – outlasting the opponent by dealing more damage over time than one takes.”

“At the same time, the user of the hammer must judge the opponent, his intentions and convictions. Each blow – is it a feint, a ploy, or real? For what reason does he stand against you – greed, rage, fear? How does he judge you – obstruction, annoyance, enemy? The correct assessment of your opponent and his convictions is the key to victory.”

“For this reason, it is imperative for the warrior using the hammer to always maintain concentration and focus, balancing speed against strength, power against patience, and attack against defense.”

“Now, maintaining concentration and focus can be difficult, especially for the untrained. It is a matter of distancing yourself from that which can distract you. Emotions such as rage, for example. It’s a common tactic for experienced warriors to use insults and mockery to effect the concentration and conviction of the weak-willed. A warrior without unwavering conviction is dead. Remember that, Stelhamor.”
_____

Later that night, lying sleepless on her bunk, she heard his words again. Felt them pounding against her mind with the same incessant cadence as her hammer against the training target. She knew there was some deeper meaning hidden within them, something Bernhardt was saying without saying. But she didn’t understand it, didn’t comprehend it, didn’t – couldn’t – accept it.

The way the bloody old man goes on and on, ye’d think fighting was all about thinking and thinking, like a pair of old greybeards talking philosophy over the smoking pipe or something!

She snorted in derision, then turned to her side, trying to drive the alien thoughts out of her mind. Gah, all this scribbling copy work is making my mind all daft. What I’m needing now is sleep.

Wyn closed her eyes.

Sleep was long in coming.