Instinctively Klane flung his weapon upwards to intersect the arc of the descending axe and found himself shouting out a guttural roar of defiance. To Muttu, the strange instrument looked like no more than a flimsy twig, but it was his own axe that snapped as the dark energies of the ancient weapon snapped the top of the wooden shaft with a splintering cut of contemptuous ease. Klane rolled quickly to the side, so that the still dangerous and sharp metal head, now flying free, missed him and buried itself in the turf. He stumbled to his feet as the surprised Muttu drew a dagger.