Chapter Nine: A trader's adventure and the Beloved
Next Tresday Skye and Ferral went back to visit the Wood-factor again. Skye even remembered to bring his coin pouch, along with the eight platinum coins that Glynn had required for the rest of the fee. “I wonder what it's going to look like” Skye wondered, as he and Ferral approached the busy, little workshop. This time the Wood-factor's assistant was there also, who greeted them when they opened the door. “Welcome Sers. What can I do for you?” the assistant, named Kempton, asked them cheerily.
Glynn looked up, “go back to work. These are the two coming for the staff” he instructed his assistant, then disappeared out the back. “He has made a beautiful staff, one of the best I have ever seen, Ser” Kempton stated, then he got back to work, sweeping up the sawdust on the ground. Wood-factor Glynn appeared after several moments, with a beautifully carved Iron-wood staff. “Your assistant was correct, it is well made indeed” Skye gasped. “Thank you Ser. I only finished it yesterday, but it is a good staff and it won't break easily, no” the Wood-factor told them directly.
“Thank you Ser.” Skye pulled out his pouch and counted out eight platinum coins and two bronze ones, “here's the seven we agreed on, and an extra platinum and two bronzes” Skye said generously. “That's too much Ser. I insist you take back the extra coins” Glynn pushed the money back into Skye's hands. “No I must insist. You have done a splendid job and you are a magnificent Wood-factor” Skye frowned and handed the extra coins back. “I'm afraid I won't take no for an answer, Ser” the magician persisted. “You are too kind, Ser Mage” the Wood-factor replied. “Think nothing of it Ser. It is better to be kind than to not” Skye philosophised. “Indeed” Glynn murmured, then handed the staff over to Skye.
They walked slowly back to the Metal factor's large workshop and cottage. “That is a nice staff” Ferral commented sparingly. “Spar you when we get back” Skye challenged the swordsman. “No not with that staff, you might break my blade” Ferral sniffed. “Oh come on. I won't break your sword, and we need the practice” Skye prompted stubbornly. “Fine” Ferral sighed. “What are you worried about?” Skye asked, “nothing, why do you think I'm worried?” Ferral asked. “You just don't seem yourself lately, and you haven't smiled since I turned that tree into the hut, excluding the jokes about my impracticality” Skye said with concern.
“Oh. I'm just worried that something will happen on the way to Kaladacia, I just worry about our lives. We were almost totally helpless against those Ice Wizards and the Ice Lancers” Ferral admitted anxiously. “That's why we need to practice our skills, so we can survive. If it makes you feel better we can go to the Printing-Factor's before we leave. We should get a copy of The Foundation of Link-Magic and a copy of Making the Weather Change: A Simple Guide to Changing the Weather Patterns Through Cloud Magic” Skye said reassuringly. “Okay then. I guess you do have a point there anyway, and we do need to get better at our skills. Although I've never heard of the first book” Ferral noted.
“That's because it is a most obscure book. My skills are based around the manipulation of link-magic, which effectively means that I have to teach myself the most vague way of using magic” Skye explained. “Sounds like you have your work cut out for you. Have you read that book before?” Ferral wondered. “It was the one I had been reading before I was exiled. Director Hyolt destroyed it before I left” Skye admitted. “Why?” Ferral asked tenaciously. “I don't know. He probably thought I'd get into trouble if I taught myself more magic. He never exactly liked me anyway” Skye replied.
They cut through the town centre and walked down the main road, then stopped and opened the door to Greevyn's workshop. They walked in through the door, hoping to see Greevyn hard at work. “There you are Sers. Did you get your staff?” he asked them. “Aye. And a fine staff it is” Skye commented happily. Greevyn stopped heating the steel and took it off the heat of the forge. He strode over and lifted the staff up. “This is very well done, you must have paid him many platinums for this” Greevyn exclaimed. “That I did. Fifteen platinum coins, and I gave him an extra platinum and two silvers” Skye told the Metal-factor. “I bet he's happy now” Greevyn chuckled gleefully. “Ser, we need somewhere to spar” Skye notified the Metal-factor. “You can use the back courtyard. Make sure you don't break anything though” Greevyn cautioned them. “Thanks Greevyn” Ferral spoke courteously. They advance out the back to start sparring. They have to walk through the cottage to get there however. They opened the door to the house and walked inside. Greevyn's spouse, Kilana, was in the kitchen, washing plates and tidying in general. “Hello boys” she said softly. “Good morning Kilana” Skye smiled brightly, “have you got your staff... oh I see you already have it” the housewife then corrected herself quickly.
“Aye. We were just going out the back to spar each other actually” Ferral grinned and nudged Skye in the ribs; Skye grimaced and nudged the swordsman back. “Oh, take some biscuit before you go. I'm sure you boys will have forgotten to eat today, or am I wrong?” Kilana wondered about their eating habits. “Ah, well we have been busy today” Skye acknowledged slowly. “Well take these before you spar. I know you boys will run yourselves ragged” Kilana said firmly, then jerking open a tin of biscuit. “Thank you Kilana. You are most kind” Skye bowed humorously. Then Skye took the plate of biscuit and nodded to her. “One day we will be able to repay you for all that you have done for us, once we advance in the military. We can send you money and letters in case anything happens here” Ferral nattered on. “You would do that for us?” Kilana sighed in relief. “Yes, times will get rough for Counquan. It doesn't have an army really, and I heard the barbarians have attacked Argate” Ferral explained. “Oh that's horrible. What will we do?” Kilana exclaimed and then sighed sadly.
“Maybe you should move to Kaladacia. It won't fall to the barbarians and if it does, then no-one will be left to oppose the barbarians” Skye answered abruptly. “I think we must think about it. Now off with you, go do your sparring!” the middle-aged woman shooed them off firmly.
Next Tresday Skye and Ferral went back to visit the Wood-factor again. Skye even remembered to bring his coin pouch, along with the eight platinum coins that Glynn had required for the rest of the fee. “I wonder what it's going to look like” Skye wondered, as he and Ferral approached the busy, little workshop. This time the Wood-factor's assistant was there also, who greeted them when they opened the door. “Welcome Sers. What can I do for you?” the assistant, named Kempton, asked them cheerily.
Glynn looked up, “go back to work. These are the two coming for the staff” he instructed his assistant, then disappeared out the back. “He has made a beautiful staff, one of the best I have ever seen, Ser” Kempton stated, then he got back to work, sweeping up the sawdust on the ground. Wood-factor Glynn appeared after several moments, with a beautifully carved Iron-wood staff. “Your assistant was correct, it is well made indeed” Skye gasped. “Thank you Ser. I only finished it yesterday, but it is a good staff and it won't break easily, no” the Wood-factor told them directly.
“Thank you Ser.” Skye pulled out his pouch and counted out eight platinum coins and two bronze ones, “here's the seven we agreed on, and an extra platinum and two bronzes” Skye said generously. “That's too much Ser. I insist you take back the extra coins” Glynn pushed the money back into Skye's hands. “No I must insist. You have done a splendid job and you are a magnificent Wood-factor” Skye frowned and handed the extra coins back. “I'm afraid I won't take no for an answer, Ser” the magician persisted. “You are too kind, Ser Mage” the Wood-factor replied. “Think nothing of it Ser. It is better to be kind than to not” Skye philosophised. “Indeed” Glynn murmured, then handed the staff over to Skye.
They walked slowly back to the Metal factor's large workshop and cottage. “That is a nice staff” Ferral commented sparingly. “Spar you when we get back” Skye challenged the swordsman. “No not with that staff, you might break my blade” Ferral sniffed. “Oh come on. I won't break your sword, and we need the practice” Skye prompted stubbornly. “Fine” Ferral sighed. “What are you worried about?” Skye asked, “nothing, why do you think I'm worried?” Ferral asked. “You just don't seem yourself lately, and you haven't smiled since I turned that tree into the hut, excluding the jokes about my impracticality” Skye said with concern.
“Oh. I'm just worried that something will happen on the way to Kaladacia, I just worry about our lives. We were almost totally helpless against those Ice Wizards and the Ice Lancers” Ferral admitted anxiously. “That's why we need to practice our skills, so we can survive. If it makes you feel better we can go to the Printing-Factor's before we leave. We should get a copy of The Foundation of Link-Magic and a copy of Making the Weather Change: A Simple Guide to Changing the Weather Patterns Through Cloud Magic” Skye said reassuringly. “Okay then. I guess you do have a point there anyway, and we do need to get better at our skills. Although I've never heard of the first book” Ferral noted.
“That's because it is a most obscure book. My skills are based around the manipulation of link-magic, which effectively means that I have to teach myself the most vague way of using magic” Skye explained. “Sounds like you have your work cut out for you. Have you read that book before?” Ferral wondered. “It was the one I had been reading before I was exiled. Director Hyolt destroyed it before I left” Skye admitted. “Why?” Ferral asked tenaciously. “I don't know. He probably thought I'd get into trouble if I taught myself more magic. He never exactly liked me anyway” Skye replied.
They cut through the town centre and walked down the main road, then stopped and opened the door to Greevyn's workshop. They walked in through the door, hoping to see Greevyn hard at work. “There you are Sers. Did you get your staff?” he asked them. “Aye. And a fine staff it is” Skye commented happily. Greevyn stopped heating the steel and took it off the heat of the forge. He strode over and lifted the staff up. “This is very well done, you must have paid him many platinums for this” Greevyn exclaimed. “That I did. Fifteen platinum coins, and I gave him an extra platinum and two silvers” Skye told the Metal-factor. “I bet he's happy now” Greevyn chuckled gleefully. “Ser, we need somewhere to spar” Skye notified the Metal-factor. “You can use the back courtyard. Make sure you don't break anything though” Greevyn cautioned them. “Thanks Greevyn” Ferral spoke courteously. They advance out the back to start sparring. They have to walk through the cottage to get there however. They opened the door to the house and walked inside. Greevyn's spouse, Kilana, was in the kitchen, washing plates and tidying in general. “Hello boys” she said softly. “Good morning Kilana” Skye smiled brightly, “have you got your staff... oh I see you already have it” the housewife then corrected herself quickly.
“Aye. We were just going out the back to spar each other actually” Ferral grinned and nudged Skye in the ribs; Skye grimaced and nudged the swordsman back. “Oh, take some biscuit before you go. I'm sure you boys will have forgotten to eat today, or am I wrong?” Kilana wondered about their eating habits. “Ah, well we have been busy today” Skye acknowledged slowly. “Well take these before you spar. I know you boys will run yourselves ragged” Kilana said firmly, then jerking open a tin of biscuit. “Thank you Kilana. You are most kind” Skye bowed humorously. Then Skye took the plate of biscuit and nodded to her. “One day we will be able to repay you for all that you have done for us, once we advance in the military. We can send you money and letters in case anything happens here” Ferral nattered on. “You would do that for us?” Kilana sighed in relief. “Yes, times will get rough for Counquan. It doesn't have an army really, and I heard the barbarians have attacked Argate” Ferral explained. “Oh that's horrible. What will we do?” Kilana exclaimed and then sighed sadly.
“Maybe you should move to Kaladacia. It won't fall to the barbarians and if it does, then no-one will be left to oppose the barbarians” Skye answered abruptly. “I think we must think about it. Now off with you, go do your sparring!” the middle-aged woman shooed them off firmly.