Lesson Learned

~38 Years ago, Northern Midgard~
The young man stopped to catch his breath, his climb up the mountain side had been very...interesting and he was grateful for the natural ledge he had found. Trying his best to control his breath, he gripped his chest as the freezing air brought a stitch.
Perfect, just what I need right now.
After a few moments, he heaved himself to his feet and after careful examination of the mountain side, stuck a hook into the stone and began his climb once more. The only reason he was on this freezing rock was for the money. He had tracked his target, a dwarven smith, across much of the north, but here was the only place he was alone.
So he climbed, eventually hearing the faint sound of a hearty smith at work. Dwarven songs were floating down from a cave, occasionally a piece of bone and gristle was sent flying into the eternal blizzard, one of which hit Theo on the head, almost sending him hurtling down.
"And as the last spark flies from the forge, raise a toast for the work is done!"
Silence finally claimed the cave, no more noise coming from the dwarf. A curious bounty hunter peered from the ledge in front of the cave, seeing no signs of life other than a freshly lit forge and a recently used forge hammer.
Theo yelped in surprise as a red hot bar struck the rock in front of him, once again almost flying off the mountain.
"Aye laddie, an awful lot of trouble you went through to get to me."
Looking up at the grinning dwarf with a silent shame, he allowed his target to help him out of the storm. The smith was rather hospitable, giving the boy some ale and a slightly over cooked leg of meat. Without thought, Theo devoured the meal, not questioning the gesture.
The dwarf returned to his forge, heating the bar again before sending the hammer onto its glowing frame, sparks flying with each hefty strike.
"SO, what brings a youth to this mountain? Am I mistaken or does it seem odd to be rock-climbing in this blizzard."
Theo shifted nervously, this was not how he wanted this to go. At least the dwarf didn't seem to think he was after his head. Good.
"I was traveling, got lost in the storm and was hoping to find a cave to seek shelter in."
The dwarf chuckled at this alibi, rolling up his sleeves as he worked, revealing massive muscles that strained with another round of strikes as the bar was molded.
"A storm eh? I guess it is a little nippy out."
Another guffaw erupted from the squat being, the hammer ringing off the anvil.
Rising from his seat, Theo awkwardly tried to leave.
Another swing from the metal bar, sharper this time, stopped him.
"Funny thing, you sayin about the storm. Last I recalled, this storm rages forever, but never at the base of this here mountain. Care to retell why you came here?"
A lump formed in Theo's throat. Out of pure instinct, he drew his blades and assaulted his target.
The dwarf easily dodged and blocked the blows, the boy was being careless in his attack. When an opening appeared, the dwarf brandished the bar with master skill, forcing Theo to defend himself against he still glowing metal.
"I must admit, it has been ages since anyone sent an assassin after me, but you lad, are by far the worst of that lot."
Ducking under a swing, Theo fell on his hands and pushed, kicking the dwarf square in the chest and sending him flying into the wall. Falling to his knees, he roared in anger and grabbed his hammer, charging Theo.
Barely on his feet, Theo was forced to defend himself once again, this time having to actively dodge the blows rather than risk the shattering contact of the heavy weapon.
"You have pluck boy, i'll give you that! As Nabbi is my name, you will be remembered in my drunken tales."
As Nabbi continued to boast, Theo was at his breaking point, letting out a feral cry, wielding his blades with reckless abandon, but succeeding in sending Nabbi back.
Giving a cry to Odin, Theo charged at Nabbi, deflecting his hammer before tackling him to the ground.
Nabbi cursed and dropped his weapon, working to grapple the boy. Proving to be difficult, he began showering him with blows. Theo couldn't feel much of the attack due to adrenaline, but he could still feel bones displacing and breaking.
A swift strike to the head knocked him out.
Waking to a series of firm smacks, Theo groggily came to consciousness with a smirking dwarf on his chest.
"Alive again are we? Well, I have an interesting idea for the two of us."
Nabbi paused to let Theo finish waking, pulling an extravagant knife from his belt.
"You know, this was gift from a king I served once. Made him a fancy what-not and he felt moved to give me compensation. Very few men like him."
Letting Theo get a close look of the designs on the blade, Nabbi cleared his throat, spitting a thick phlegm next to his face.
"Onto my idea, the way I figure, you can let me go and I won't kill you. You tell your boss that I AM dead and leave me the bloody hell alone!"
Sitting up, he reached to rest the knife on his forge. This gave Theo the chance to see one of his blades was close by, it looked to be within reach. Jerking around, he hoped the movements would distract the dwarf as he desperately stretched for the blade.
"Woah boy, I guess that you don't quite agree with my plans. Guess I'll have to be more persuasive."
Grabbing the dagger, which now glowed bright white, Nabbi's smirk became a grim scowl.
"I didn't want to do this lad, but these days it appears merely sending the boys back with a sore arse isn't getting the message across. Hopefully they learn from you."
Straining with all his might, Theo began to panic as the knife was slowly lowered.
Fingers were just able to grip the pommel before the hand curled into a fist. An earsplitting scream rang from the cave, an avalanche falling elsewhere on the mountain. Nabbi fought to keep Theo still as the burning blade stabbed into his eye, before a sickening pop set the organ free from it's resting place.
Blinded by pain, Theo grabbed his blade and swung wildly, blood spraying over his face.
~Two Weeks later~
The tavern was easy to find, a good distance south, but was a relative haven for travelers.
The owner loomed from the bar, a bear of a man who worked with his wife, normal to those without a trained eye.
Theo knew she was half-elf, but made no attempt to attack her here, too many people. Instead, he payed for a beer, then sat with his employer.
"Is the runt dead?"
Theo nodded quietly, fingering a hammer on his belt loop. He could sell it for a fair price, what smith wouldn't want a legendary tool.
"You did well, though, I will need proof of his death."
The man recoiled as Theo held a glaring eyeball, while also hinting at his bag, which held a bloodied scalp.
"By the Gods, why the bloody eye?"
Drawing his hood back, his employer nearly retched at the empty socket.
"Eye for an eye, no payment needed."