Next up were the series of wooden barriers that you ducked under then climbed over and so forth. I slowed right down and crawled under the high ones, and then threw myself over the other ones and flopped onto the other side. Very graceful.
I was definitely failing. The Brotherhood would send me home and forbid me from ever coming back. Maybe that was for the best. But I was at least going to finish.
Next was the archery stop, and I got my arrow within a metre, which was major progress. I stopped to admire my shot then a shout from Eldon got me moving again. The ropes were next, and I actually tried today, though that just meant swinging from the first rope right into a puddle. Great, white sneakers ruined.
I snuck a quick glance at the old men. Yep, not impressed.
After the ropes was the dagger throw, and I managed to hit the fake ogre, even though it was the hilt and it just bounced off into the courtyard. Hey, I was definitely making progress. A few days ago I missed by two metres. From there was a bunch of vertical spears that you weaved in and out of—I knocked over four instead of the seven of last time—and another set of logs that I managed to get over without falling. I would have been proud of myself if I couldn’t feel all those condescending glares on me.
Eldon was just folding his arms and scowling.
The last stop was to attack a fake goblin—the one that looked like a scarecrow. There was always a sword or a spear on the little table, and you would scoop it up, charge, and stab the goblin or swing at it or whatever. The goblin was covered with holes and tears and was fraying a little on its head where the warriors had been hitting it.
I usually just lightly stabbed it in the stomach or something. Once I got the sword stuck in the leather and had to leave it there, which was very embarrassing. I decided to try a big overhead swing today. But this time there wasn’t a sword sitting on the table. Or a spear. It was a hammer, and it was even more impressive than the picture.
The weapon was huge—at least a metre long with a massive double-sided iron top as big as a portable barbecue. The top was inlaid with three crimson rubies on each side, and there was a large black handle at the bottom big enough for two hands. I doubted I could even lift the thing. Was this a last joke to finish the test?
I stopped to look at the hammer for a moment, and this time I heard some of the Swords and other Monster Crushers laughing. I thought I could even pick out Caria’s cruel laugh from the gate. My cheeks started burning again, and I felt that anger filling my whole body. I was really sick of being laughed at.
I reached down and scooped up the hammer. It must have been made of some special type of metal, because it was a lot lighter than it looked. Actually, it felt really good as I lifted it up over my shoulder. Kind of like a baseball bat.
My eyes fell on the goblin. I knew exactly what to do with a baseball bat.
I charged the monster, and when I got close, I swung the hammer right toward its head. The hammer connected with a massive thump, and the fake goblin’s head exploded in a billowing shower of straw and brown wool. The courtyard fell into absolute silence as the straw slowly floated to the ground all around me.
I turned back to Eldon, catching Caria’s stunned look on the way.
“Anything else?”
Eldon was the first to react. He walked over to me, giving me a quick smile on the way. When he reached me, he turned me toward the three old men.
“Well done,” he whispered.
I was still in shock. I’d seen a lot of Monster Crushers hit the fake goblin. A few had even used hammers, though they never trained with the actual Iron Hammers. But for all that, no one had ever knocked its head off, never mind exploded it.
I wasn’t even sure what had happened. I mean, I was a great hitter. But I’d never felt a swing like that—it was like the hammer was an extension of my arm.
The rest of the warriors still weren’t speaking. Neither were the old men. Lee looked pleased at least. He gave me a sparkling smile and a nod.
“We all have to find our strengths,” Eldon said loudly. “Brothers, I believe Laura has proven herself. She is not a runner or a jumper or an archer. But she is most certainly a Monster Crusher.”
The Brothers stared at me for a long time, and I felt their shrewd eyes looking right through me. I shifted, unsure if they were convinced.
But finally, the Brother in the middle nodded.
“I agree,” he said. “I name you a Monster Crusher, defender of two worlds.”
Instantly the Swords straightened and bowed their heads. Many didn’t look happy about it. Most were still stunned. But they all bowed. Even Caria.
I grinned. I didn’t exactly want to be a Monster Crusher, but it was kind of nice to prove Caria and everyone else wrong.
The three robed men suddenly turned and strode into the castle without another word, and Eldon looked at me, grinning.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” he said.
“Me either.”
“So it’s official?” a deep voice asked from behind us. “She’s it?”
Eldon smiled. “Yes.”
“Does that mean we can show her?” he asked.
I turned around, frowning. The warriors had all gathered in a group behind us. I noticed that five new people were there today, all wearing hoods pulled down to their noses. One of them was a huge man with a thick black beard, and he was smiling.
“Yes,” Eldon said quietly. “You can show her.”
The
