Forged Destiny [Book 8: Ch. 2]

"Ha!"

Crocea Mors struck the tree hard. Not as hard as I could have, but hard enough not to topple the whole thing and instead wedge the blade deep into the trunk. Bark splintered left and right, but it was the trunk itself I paid attention to as ice sprung out from the wound, creeping maybe two or three inches up the side in every direction.

It stopped there.

Pulling and twisting the sword out of the trunk, I leaned closer and tapped my finger against the ice. It came from the point of contact when the sword stopped moving. I wasn't sure why. That meant that if the wound bit deep, the ice would come out that deep, whereas a lighter blow on the side that didn't penetrate would let the ice creep further.

—Forged Destiny [Book 8: Ch. 2]