56th Day of Spring
514 AV
21st Bell
514 AV
21st Bell
Hadyn stared with no particular amount of intent at the six weapons laid out before her. Finished products. But they weren't for sale. They were meant as examples of her work - her skill. She, Orion, Emily and Liam were (unenthusiastically) vacating the City of Peace, traveling across the territory of Sylira to the City of Peril. Sunberth. To say she was displeased was an extreme understatement. She loathed the idea. But Orion had presented his case and there was nothing she could counter with.
But both she and former squire had crafts and the ability to work. He could be employed in any manner of profession: guard, cook, doctor. And she was sure there were other skills he possessed. He was nothing if not resourceful in that way. Hadyn, however, was limited in her capabilities. She was a weaponsmith. Sure, she could take up work as a blacksmith or an armorsmith if the need was dire for Miza. But her real delight and skill lay in the designing, forging and embellishing of weaponry. Eanos had been an exceptional teacher.
In order to prove her worth, however, she would need examples of her work. To serve this purpose were the eight blades she'd been working tirelessly on. She stared at the six completed weapons, each with their own example of decoration. A sap-pommeled dagger, double edged with an inlaid oval of obsidian in the butt of the pommel. A stiletto blade bearing an example of her skill in copper rivets. A kopis with its forward facing blade, the hilt showing off a gilded surface. The wave-like blade of a flametongue, its hilt enameled with colorful glass paste in form of hounds and stags. The small sword-catcher was likely her most intricate, the narrow prongs difficult to maintain structural integrity. She hadn't made one in year but the final product was impressive, albeit useless, given its hilt was embossed with gold for appearance. And finally, a handaxe with etched patterns along the flat blade, the hilt lacquered with resin of blues, silvers and greens.
The next two on her list: a gladius with a silver encrusted hilt and an angled knife to bear openwork displaying decorative motifs on the hilt. She leaned over the table, staring at the multiple sketches of the gladius. Her hands were sore from work intently on all the decorative aspects of the weapons, her eyes narrowed with wavering concentration. It was time to go home. Liam's caretaker was going to charge her extra for being so late. But her drive to finish pushed her on.
The smithy was empty, the other smiths having departed bells ago though the woman kept the fire burning for her late night occupation. Rubbing the back of her neck Hadyn released a sigh. As long as she worked continuously she didn't have to come to terms with reality. It was too much. The weight of it was heavier than the stress of working, her muscles crying out for a break. Turning the scrap of parchment to the right ninety degrees she began formulating how she would create this weapon. She'd made this sword more times than she could count but somehow, as with each of these blades, it felt like this was the most important one she would ever create.
But both she and former squire had crafts and the ability to work. He could be employed in any manner of profession: guard, cook, doctor. And she was sure there were other skills he possessed. He was nothing if not resourceful in that way. Hadyn, however, was limited in her capabilities. She was a weaponsmith. Sure, she could take up work as a blacksmith or an armorsmith if the need was dire for Miza. But her real delight and skill lay in the designing, forging and embellishing of weaponry. Eanos had been an exceptional teacher.
In order to prove her worth, however, she would need examples of her work. To serve this purpose were the eight blades she'd been working tirelessly on. She stared at the six completed weapons, each with their own example of decoration. A sap-pommeled dagger, double edged with an inlaid oval of obsidian in the butt of the pommel. A stiletto blade bearing an example of her skill in copper rivets. A kopis with its forward facing blade, the hilt showing off a gilded surface. The wave-like blade of a flametongue, its hilt enameled with colorful glass paste in form of hounds and stags. The small sword-catcher was likely her most intricate, the narrow prongs difficult to maintain structural integrity. She hadn't made one in year but the final product was impressive, albeit useless, given its hilt was embossed with gold for appearance. And finally, a handaxe with etched patterns along the flat blade, the hilt lacquered with resin of blues, silvers and greens.
The next two on her list: a gladius with a silver encrusted hilt and an angled knife to bear openwork displaying decorative motifs on the hilt. She leaned over the table, staring at the multiple sketches of the gladius. Her hands were sore from work intently on all the decorative aspects of the weapons, her eyes narrowed with wavering concentration. It was time to go home. Liam's caretaker was going to charge her extra for being so late. But her drive to finish pushed her on.
The smithy was empty, the other smiths having departed bells ago though the woman kept the fire burning for her late night occupation. Rubbing the back of her neck Hadyn released a sigh. As long as she worked continuously she didn't have to come to terms with reality. It was too much. The weight of it was heavier than the stress of working, her muscles crying out for a break. Turning the scrap of parchment to the right ninety degrees she began formulating how she would create this weapon. She'd made this sword more times than she could count but somehow, as with each of these blades, it felt like this was the most important one she would ever create.
