Heavenly Shae

Chapter 20: "An Ax Named Marta."

Shae woke just before the sunrise, and because an attendant banged on her door. "Wake up call for Wise Shae! Mistress Ping is expecting you!"

She looked at the sparse dawn rays flitting through her blinds and mumbled, "At least it's not still dark out. Ping must not be in a rush today."

She was assisted again by the owner's daughter as she left, she was an older woman that could have filled in for anyone's mother. "Miss Shae? We have a bagged lunch for you, lots of fresh water, and please take something from the breakfast cart, to go, if you can. Mistress Ping was insistent we get you on the road as soon as possible."

Shae's eyebrows rose steadily. "Did she say why?"

"Not really, but she's not usually in such a panic. I think I heard some of the runners talking about a problem on the road North; so it's probably that. Between you and me, and if she's that panicked, make sure she doesn't ask too much of you. If she does anyway, charge her extra! Oh-ha ha ha!" The woman's laugh was deep and joyful.

Shae smiled. "Thanks for the advice."

She quickly found the breakfast cart and filled one of her waxed food-cloths. Peasant's Tupperware, she smirked. Then she shrugged and filled a second with items that would last longer. Filling up her waterskin, she spotted a few more and asked, "Hey, Mistress Chef?"

"It's Miss Dong, deary. Though I prefer Min-an, as you could imagine."

"Min-an, can I buy an extra waterskin?"

"Hmm, no, not at all. But you can take one for free, just for being such a polite young woman."

"Thank you, ma'am." Shae's mind caught up with the words and she froze for a beat. Huh, I guess I am a young woman now. I've been called a girl so long I didn't notice.

She winked at her, "Oh, I'm hardly a ma'am, and we low-born folk have to stick together."

She almost missed the woman's point, stuck in her own thoughts. "Ah, well, thanks all the same. Which way out is fastest?"

"The back door here, of course. Then follow the sun 'till the wide road and head straight North. Ping's not with the caravan though, so keep your eyes up!"

"Thanks again!" She said and grabbed another breakfast biscuit off the cart and dropped a large silver tael in the tip jar.

"What, what? That's too mu-" The door closed behind Shae before Min-an could refuse her.

Running and eating quickly proved a bad idea because of Shae's strange loping run. Her strong right leg did most of the work, but she needed to concentrate to maintain a decent place through the busy streets.

She arrived in front of Mistress Ping Anha, mortal caravan leader, with the half eaten biscuit still in her mouth. "Allo!" She gave a sloppy Earth salute.

Ping raised an eyebrow for half a second, then recognised the young woman. "Wise Shae, excellent! Thank you for arriving so quickly. Uh, do you need a half dozen breaths?"

She had begun to eat her breakfast in front of the woman. "Nah- ears work!" She tapped the side of her head with her pinky while holding a strip of bacon. Mmm, cooked just right! She thought while chewing it.

"Good. We've had a slight delay with the wagons. Someone broke an axle during hitch-up. No idea how, but that's not why you're here. We received news that the rain last night might have washed a hillside out onto the road, and brought a few trees, blocking it. You can swing an ax, yes?"

Shae nodded enthusiastically and flexed her right arm. A sight which looked particularly silly because it was thin, and her mouth was full of breakfast.

"We're going to put that cultivator strength to good use today. I need you to run ahead and clear it, at least a little. We would do it with the wagon's oxen, but with the existing delay, that will be a problem."

"Uh, can't send a few ahead?" The young woman asked.

Ping shook her head. "Can't split the 'van up. Merchant guild rules. Stops a certain kind of competition, and overzealous idiots from getting killed by spirit beasts. Even if it causes trouble like this sometimes. Oxen are slow anyway, wouldn't get enough of a head start. If the rumors are true on how bad it is," she muttered the last bit under her breath as she looked around.

Spotting her target, the caravan leader waved a man over who presented an odd looking tool that Shae first mistook as a spade. "So, yer the one?" The gruff man shrugged. "Well it takes all kinds. This her' is my baby. You lose 'er and you lose yer baby too." He pointed at Shae in an attempt to be menacing.

The young woman raised an eyebrow to the taller muscled man, then she continued chewing her bacon and biscuit sandwich. She had also found leafy greens and something like a partly dried tomato to fill out the meal.

"You have it from here, Fedir?" Ping asked.

He nodded.

"Err, wait." Shae protested. She swallowed and put on her game face, which was her normal face but with a crumb stuck to her chin. "Is this covered by our original agreement, Mistress Ping?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" She squinted.

"Hmm, I believe I was hired for scouting, not infrastructure engineering."

"What?" Fedir said.

"I think she means the road work." Ping filled in.

Shae nodded. "I wouldn't object to a one time amendment. It does seem rather important."

Ping squinted harder. "And if I said this is part of your existing job?"

She shrugged. "Then I will take you at your word as a respectable caravan leader often hired and trusted by the Honorable sect."

Ping turned to the side and half coughed. She turned back to examine the young woman again. "You seemed more relaxed last time we bargained. Why the sudden need?"

"Honestly, I'm not convinced I'll be staying with the sect, I may need to afford my way to a further destination."

The woman cracked a smile and relaxed instantly. "Too honest! You just killed your last argument in the street. Points for trying, though, and I'll not rip you off."

"And danger pay? I'll be alone, yes?" The young woman scrambled to keep up her argument.

Ping waved it off. "You're already a scout, danger is in the job. But I'll include a bonus if the road is fully cleared and flattened. And a second if there were more trees than expected. Heavens, if you have time to chop the dry stuff into firewood, someone will pay for that too. Agreed?"

Shae stopped her nod partway through. "You didn't mention a baseline payment?"

"Didn't I?" She smirked. "I said I wouldn't rip you off. That counts in my books, but good catch, not all are as kind as I. Credit of half a stud for the rush job. Plus the bonuses."

Fedir coughed loudly to the side. "Mistress!"

"Agreed!" Shae jumped.

"It's fine, Fedir. A cultivator's time is valuable, and I know what it'll cost us if we're late." She grimaced. "See you in a few hours, Miss Shae." She called and waved back as she left.

"Pah! Half a stud, I woul' 'ave run the boys out ther' for that."

"But would they have the energy to clear it quickly after that run?" Shae asked with honest curiosity.

The man wavered side to side briefly, "Fair point." He looked down. "Will you?" He handed her the large tool.

"Hmm, we'll see. Depends how large the trees are." She hefted it and found it was heavy towards the metal end, but only a little more than expected.

"Used one like this before?"

"Nope. What is it?"

"An ax, but better. An' it'll pinch as a shovel and sledge if you need."

"Ah, I see it now." And she did: the spade-like tip was rounder and very sharp on one side, then flattened and dull on the other. She shifted her weight to test swing it overhand. "Um, does it do anything?" The ax head slammed into a log the man had set up as an example, easily splitting it into firewood.

"With qi you mean? Nothing real fancy. Mostly just some passive 'chanter work. The hammer side has a wide rune, so it's-a more hammer than edge. The real treat is the gravity runes. Set it inta dirt and channel some qi, for yer strength."

She used some qi without seeing it down first, to see if it reacted. It didn't, but it did feel easier to wield with her core strength reinforced.

She halted channeling, then pushed it into the ground. When she channeled this time, she felt it shift slightly. Like someone else had stomped the spade into the dirt.

"Keep yer qi up, you'll need it."

When she tried to lift it from the earth it felt like a twenty kilogram sledge. Maybe more, I do have super-strength now. She moved it slowly, widening her stance to better use her own weight. She glanced at Fedir and he gestured to another small log that had been set up for chopping, this time it was on its side so she could cut across the grain instead of along it.

Her first swing was more of a test. To check the weight and her own balance. Still, the blade dug deeper than she expected. She was further surprised when it pulled free easily; she looked at the blade end sideways.

"Heh, noticed it quick, did ya? Third little treat on ther' stops it getting stuck in logs. Also, works better as a shovel when muck don't stick to it." He smiled wide, showing pearly white teeth.

Shae almost dropped the shovel at that distraction. Blinding white teeth were not what she expected from the man. "Uh, when does it get lighter?"

"Return it to ground and stop cycling qi."

She nodded then decided she wanted another swing first, the log's not chopped yet. She lifted the unbalanced tool and reinforced her core with qi. This is less of an arms task, and more a whole upper body swing. She threw the heavy metal end high above and behind her then yanked it over and down into a chopping motion.

It felt exciting just to do. The blade hadn't quite lined up with her previous cut. It landed with a less satisfying chunk, and vibrated the handle out of her left hand. Her right stayed firm and she frowned at the crooked blade. It had turned in mid air and was now slanted over.

"Hah, good effort, but you gotta work on yer technique. Ha-ha ha!" The man enunciated technique like it was a hilarious punchline, then laughed because it clearly was, to him.

Shae only gave him a smirk, "Yep, one more try then." She twisted the blade out, trying to break away some of the wood. Only a little came away, chipping out to where her first cut landed.

She froze part way through moving the ax back behind her. Hmm, if I leave my feet planted, the chop distance should be reliable. She moved the blade back to the log, reaching out while visualizing her last strike.

"Heh." Fedir chuckled and Shae looked over to see him smiling and nodding.

She pulled the ax behind her and began another swing. Less effort, more control. She moved fast but focused on controlling the swing, getting her aim and the blade's rotation just right.

Thwack! Clunk-clunk.

The blade stuck nearly perfectly upright in the chopping stump; the two log halves had fallen to the ground on either side of it. Shae grinned.

"Hah! Well done lass. Well make a timberjack outta you yet!"

"Timber jack?" Shae tilted her head.

"Course, 'cause we work with timber!"

Shae opened her mouth and then realized she didn't know the Empire's word for lumber. Well, the peasants do all just build with timber, anyway. "Right, makes sense."

He nodded, then looked around. "Err, the Mistress was supposed to brief ya a bit more. So, I guess that leaves me to fill in yer blanks."

Shae coughed to the side.

The unknowns Fedir filled in were how far the obstruction was, and about how long she had to clear it, based just on when they expected the caravan to reach that point. Then, he gave her a short tutorial on how to flatten the road with the weird ax, including how to cut timbers to fill ruts.

He claimed the tool did have a proper name, but he couldn't pronounce it so he called it Marta. Shae was a little surprised by the Earth name, but she chose not to comment on it. Perhaps it's more surprising I hadn't heard one before. Hmm, wait, I suppose I could have, just that I would only recognize the more English names. Is the name Fedir from Earth too? Could be, and Marta isn't really English... maybe eastern Europe, could be Ukrainian? Huh. And they're probably not modern names either. If Go and Chess have had time to get around, people have probably been reincarnating here for a long time.

As she walked and thought she didn't notice the tiny trickle of enlightenment qi seeping into her qi channels and mixing with the qi still in her system. An event that was surprisingly common for new cultivators.

When she reached the North gate, there was a lineup. It was moving slowly, but it was moving. She saw most were being questioned, and some turned away. Another guard was patrolling the line, talking briefly to people and some of those left the line, most with carts. They looked disappointed.

Maybe because of the blocked road? Shae thought.

She took the opportunity to pull out and look through the day's Manifold Journey practice. Having read it over last night, she just wanted a quick review. I'll have to wait 'till I have the road cleared, anyway. She froze, then hit her own thigh. No, Yun said to think. She cleared her mind and thought about her morning plan.

Fedir had said the obstruction was "about a set and a half out." So that's 18 li. The caravan was expected to get there around noon, it would have been sooner but the wagon's repair would eat their spare time. Stopping a whole caravan for one wagon, weird, unless it's an important wagon, or just an excuse to flex those guild rules.

So, I can get there in an easy hour, maybe half if I push. Giving me four or five to clear the road. She sighed. I have plenty of time to do the practice, and even think of some solutions while I run and plan my afternoon. She smiled to herself. "Thanks, Yun."

"Who?" The guard in front of her said.

"Err, what?"

He waved the confusion away. "You know the road's blocked?"

"Yep." She gestured to the ax. "Me and Marta here are going to clear some of it."

"Uhhh," he stared awkwardly, "ah, you're a cultivator?"

"Sure am!" She smiled and nodded.

"Skip to the front then?" He asked, but didn't wait for an answer. Instead he looked to the gates then waved, followed by a guard there warning back. "Go on then." He immediately went to the next person.

She quickly moved up and waited for the next free guard.

The one to speak to her wasn't the same one the guard had waved at. "What's your business?" He spat out roughly.

"Going to clear the road for Mistress Ping's caravan." She tapped Marta where it was securely strapped to her back.

"You. Just you?"

"Yep."

"You are going to clear a set or two of trees washed over the road?"

"Um, yes. That's what I said."

"Prove it."

"Oh-kaay." She took a breath to think, then stepped away slightly and checked for enough clear room around her. With a bit of qi to her legs she focused on her balance and jumped straight up, clearing her feet above the guard's head. Then landed softly, fairly close to where she jumped from.

"Oh. Well, why didn't you say so? Hope you had a nice time in Flame Well, Miss Cultivator." He bowed slightly and looked to the next person in line.

"Un-huh. Err. By the way, why are you stopping everyone, anyway? Not just for the road, yeah?"

The guard froze and hunched his shoulders, then raised a finger to get the next person in line to wait. He turned back to her, leaned in too close and whispered, "Smugglers." Then nodded like she should know what he meant.

She looked back at the line of people, many of which weren't carrying anything more than simple packs. It would be the line into the city in the evening when people brought goods through the gate. She raised her hand, palms facing out, and said, "Alright, carry on, I guess." Do not want to stick my nose in that.

Shaking her head, she scurried away from the gate to find somewhere to sit and read. Like Minlin City, there were more houses and farms outside the city walls. A park bench with a dedication plaque on it drew her attention.

The plaque read:

"Dedicated by the illustrious Choun family to memorialize those lost during construction of the grand walls of Flame Well City, protected by the honorable and steadfast Flame Bulwark Guards."

She grimaced at it. "Bleh." She sat roughly, and her nose quickly found the inside of the practice manual again.

This time she made sure to check her surroundings before entering meditation. No one seemed to be obviously spying on her, but the Guard Captain's warnings from half a week ago kept her internal reflection short.

This day's practice was called Cresting the Hill, a clear allusion to a halfway mark. Like some of the others it recommended heavy exercise and exertion during the practice; though, yesterday's was about rest. She skimmed over the others. Yep, alternating exercise and rest days, I approve. Particularly convenient today.

Day one had been leg training, three was arms and back, today, day five, was mostly core. Oddly coincidental. She raised a skeptical eyebrow. The other days had not lined up with anything in particular. I guess one coincidence was bound to happen.

Now that she was looking for it, today's practice looked a lot like an exercise guide. The qi movements were fairly minor, but it encouraged upswings of qi activity during physical recovery. Training to use qi for recovery maybe? My qi is pretty good at that, but neutral qi wouldn't be.

She decided to push for a neutral qi heavy balance. Half and half was the balance she found when traveling down the mountain. My personal qi is denser now, so maybe I can get it down to a third. Maybe that will help it work?

This decision was curiosity and exploration as much as practically. I might swap my qi type when I get to the sect or finish cleansing. Would be good to not rely on it.

After the first few Li of running she got into a rhythm. Two li of sprinting with very little qi use. Just enough to support her left leg and keep Cresting the Hill going. Then one Li of a slower pace where she cycled the practice harder.

Near the start of the fifth cycle she found the road blockage. A few individuals are already trying to navigate around it with smaller carts, a few others helping out.

The guard had undersold the task. Easily two dozen trees were spilled across the road like someone knocked over a jar of toothpicks. The offending hill to the east had coated the whole road in mud, and filled the eastern ditch, further blocking that side.