(no subject)
The man tousles Matthias’ hair “Let’s go see Johnny. Maybe sometime later I could show you how to make a bow and arrows.”
Matthias folds the cloak and drapes it over his arm and walks with Bartolo towards the town center. Matthias looks to the distant mountains beyond the forests, “Sir, what is outside our town? What lies at the end of the roads that lead into the forest?” his eyes still distant.
“Peoples, places, and things, you have never seen before, some wondrous some bleak and all nothing you need to worry about. Now come on Johnny will be closing his shop soon.” Hurrying his pace a little “My wife will be wondering where I’ve been.”
Matthias broke into a trot to keep up with the tall man. They made the village square thirty minutes before sundown. The sound of pounding metal mingled with the calls of shopkeepers and haggling of customers. People stood around chatting, some with the day’s purchases clutched in their arms. The smell of alcohol was just beginning to permeate the walls of the tavern and raucous singing was heard inside. Horses metal shoes clinked their way down the cobblestone streets. The tavern, blacksmith, town hall, and the butcher stood on the corners of the square.
Crowds of children ran by as Matthias and Bartolo entered the smithy as smoke poured from the large chimney above the roof of the shop. The man was working on the head of a war hammer as the two entered the open space under the overhanging upstairs of the building. As the smithing hammer struck the glowing metal a shower of sparks flew up in the air, bounced off the leather apron he wore, and lit up the rapidly darkening area.
“Johnny!” Bartolo called over the noise of the hammer. The smith looked up from his work and saw them. “Be with you in a minute just let me finish this hammer.” He continued to pound at the work until satisfied that it was complete, he set it into a trough of water to cool the metal down. Removing his goggles he looks at the pair, “Ah, Bartolo and young Matthias. What brings you to my humble shop this fine… dusk?” noting the darkening sky.
“Matthias here has come to collect on an agreement you made with him two years ago. Matthias show him the fruit of your labor.” Bartolo gestures for Matthias to come forward. He unfolds the cloak as he steps forward and holds it up above his head to show its full splendor. Johnny’s eyes light up at the sight of the fine cloak.
“My Lord, that is the best cloak I’ve seen since a traveling Lord from Theandora came to visit you, Bartolo, and this is of far better quality. Tell me m’boy. Did you make this?” Matthias smiles wide with pleasure, “Yes I did, sir, an’ it took me five total seasons to do it. Had to wait till the rabbits changed their furs for the winter.” Johnny washes his hands before taking it up to feel it. “So soft and obviously very warm. What is it I promised to trade to you for this?”
“You were going to give me a dagger and as many arrow heads as I could carry.”
Bartolo comes forward, “Matthias I’ll get some arrow heads while Johnny shows you his selection of blades,” and he moves to one side of the shop. The smith takes the cloak into his storeroom and a few minutes later after a few crashes are heard and a bit of cursing Johnny returns with a fairly large box that he places on a workbench. He opens it with a bit of a flourish and shows a number of small, rather nondescript daggers, “Take your pick,” as Matthias moves to pick up a dagger. Bartolo moves next to Matthias with a basket of varied arrowheads. Looking at the selection his face shows disbelief.
“Johnny! How could you offer him these paltry knives? You are a skilled blacksmith! Surely you can do better.”
Indignant Johnny once again goes into his storeroom and returns with a much smaller box and this one had a lock on it. Taking a key seemingly from nowhere Johnny opens this new box to reveal a dirk, a blade not quite the length of a sword but longer than a dagger.
“Now that’s more like it,” Bartolo exclaims, “the handle is larger than Matthias’ hand but he will grow into it.”
Its hilt and handle are a dull bronze color that split into three prongs at each end of the crosstree. These prongs hold a red and green stone at the ends. The pommel is a stone that shimmers with an inner light that is both blue and white. Its keen edge makes the wind whistle.
Matthias’ breath is caught in his chest as he looks at the beautiful blade. He carefully removes it from the box and notices a black leather belt with a buckle that the dirk would fit into perfectly. He attempts to put the belt on around his waste but Johnny takes it and loops it over Matthias’ shoulder so it crossed his chest diagonally.
Took along time to get this much typed out. that's all folks
Matthias folds the cloak and drapes it over his arm and walks with Bartolo towards the town center. Matthias looks to the distant mountains beyond the forests, “Sir, what is outside our town? What lies at the end of the roads that lead into the forest?” his eyes still distant.
“Peoples, places, and things, you have never seen before, some wondrous some bleak and all nothing you need to worry about. Now come on Johnny will be closing his shop soon.” Hurrying his pace a little “My wife will be wondering where I’ve been.”
Matthias broke into a trot to keep up with the tall man. They made the village square thirty minutes before sundown. The sound of pounding metal mingled with the calls of shopkeepers and haggling of customers. People stood around chatting, some with the day’s purchases clutched in their arms. The smell of alcohol was just beginning to permeate the walls of the tavern and raucous singing was heard inside. Horses metal shoes clinked their way down the cobblestone streets. The tavern, blacksmith, town hall, and the butcher stood on the corners of the square.
Crowds of children ran by as Matthias and Bartolo entered the smithy as smoke poured from the large chimney above the roof of the shop. The man was working on the head of a war hammer as the two entered the open space under the overhanging upstairs of the building. As the smithing hammer struck the glowing metal a shower of sparks flew up in the air, bounced off the leather apron he wore, and lit up the rapidly darkening area.
“Johnny!” Bartolo called over the noise of the hammer. The smith looked up from his work and saw them. “Be with you in a minute just let me finish this hammer.” He continued to pound at the work until satisfied that it was complete, he set it into a trough of water to cool the metal down. Removing his goggles he looks at the pair, “Ah, Bartolo and young Matthias. What brings you to my humble shop this fine… dusk?” noting the darkening sky.
“Matthias here has come to collect on an agreement you made with him two years ago. Matthias show him the fruit of your labor.” Bartolo gestures for Matthias to come forward. He unfolds the cloak as he steps forward and holds it up above his head to show its full splendor. Johnny’s eyes light up at the sight of the fine cloak.
“My Lord, that is the best cloak I’ve seen since a traveling Lord from Theandora came to visit you, Bartolo, and this is of far better quality. Tell me m’boy. Did you make this?” Matthias smiles wide with pleasure, “Yes I did, sir, an’ it took me five total seasons to do it. Had to wait till the rabbits changed their furs for the winter.” Johnny washes his hands before taking it up to feel it. “So soft and obviously very warm. What is it I promised to trade to you for this?”
“You were going to give me a dagger and as many arrow heads as I could carry.”
Bartolo comes forward, “Matthias I’ll get some arrow heads while Johnny shows you his selection of blades,” and he moves to one side of the shop. The smith takes the cloak into his storeroom and a few minutes later after a few crashes are heard and a bit of cursing Johnny returns with a fairly large box that he places on a workbench. He opens it with a bit of a flourish and shows a number of small, rather nondescript daggers, “Take your pick,” as Matthias moves to pick up a dagger. Bartolo moves next to Matthias with a basket of varied arrowheads. Looking at the selection his face shows disbelief.
“Johnny! How could you offer him these paltry knives? You are a skilled blacksmith! Surely you can do better.”
Indignant Johnny once again goes into his storeroom and returns with a much smaller box and this one had a lock on it. Taking a key seemingly from nowhere Johnny opens this new box to reveal a dirk, a blade not quite the length of a sword but longer than a dagger.
“Now that’s more like it,” Bartolo exclaims, “the handle is larger than Matthias’ hand but he will grow into it.”
Its hilt and handle are a dull bronze color that split into three prongs at each end of the crosstree. These prongs hold a red and green stone at the ends. The pommel is a stone that shimmers with an inner light that is both blue and white. Its keen edge makes the wind whistle.
Matthias’ breath is caught in his chest as he looks at the beautiful blade. He carefully removes it from the box and notices a black leather belt with a buckle that the dirk would fit into perfectly. He attempts to put the belt on around his waste but Johnny takes it and loops it over Matthias’ shoulder so it crossed his chest diagonally.
Took along time to get this much typed out. that's all folks