Steel Meets Steel

[Harundar Veilborn]

Harundar couldn't believe his luck. Who'd of thought he'd just happen to run into a fellow blacksmith! He made a mental note to give an extra session on prayer to Izurdin tonight. Haru's expression and glee didn't seem to resonate with his new friend. In fact, the Isur thought that Alexander had suddenly gotten more serious for some reason. His grin faded, and Harundar returned the chisel he'd picked up back to it's place on tool belt that lay on the table. It was now Haru's turn to cock an eyebrow as the other blacksmith ranted on about the nature of the city and the consequences of not contributing. What Alexander was saying made a lot of sense to him, after all, he held the same kind standards and beliefs. Knowing this, he scratched the side of his head, somewhat embarrassed. Haru waited to speak only after Alexander had finished. "Yes... I see..." Haru responded. "What you say makes sense, however, I didn't have the luxury to plan this particular leg of my journey, you see. The chance to journey here was a fleeting one, and I had to choose to make better plans and wait what could have possibly been a very large amount of time, or to simply seize the opportunity and pray to Izurdin that he keep me safe. So I chose faith and opportunity." Upon mentioning this, he squinted a bit in deep thought. "I've always planned on contributing, that's beyond a doubt." "I, Harundar Veilborn, wish to make a sentient golem capable of unimaginable feats unknown to man. I wish to see just how much of a soul metal may have." His eyes lighted up in excitement. "...And I implore you, Alexander, to help me reach my goal."

[Alexander Magnus]

Alexander sat there for a time thinking about the things that Harundar told him. Then when the meal came he pointed a fork at the man's plate indicating for him to eat. While the discussion would continue the main focus of Alexander attention at the moment was the meal in front of him. It wasn't easy work being a blacksmith and worked up quite the appetite. It didn't take long to plow through the meal on the table and split the rest of the gallon of ale with Harundar. With that out of the way Alexander slouched down in the chair slightly with one hand on his stomach while letting out a modest burp this time.

“Nothing like a solid meal after a hard day's work,” Alexander said. “Now, back to the matter at hand. In regards to helping you, I'm willing to do that because you seem like a decent guy, don't prove me wrong. I'll let you stay at my place until you get on your feet, but I expect you to apply to the Iron Works within a few days. You'll also have to sleep on the couch because I only have one bed and no offense, but you're not my type. One last thing as well, I won't charge right away, but if you plan to stay for any length of time I will charge fifteen gold mizah a season for rent.”

With that Alexander took his tool belt, stood up, and motioned for his new roommate to follow. After the meal he was ready to go home and relax for a while. Once the two were outside he weaved through the throngs of people moving about and back toward the area where all the housing was located in the citadel. Alexander did find it rather odd to be so readily helping someone who was practically a stranger, but considered himself to be a good judge of character. Harundar seemed like an honest hard working man. While Alexander wasn't one to give people handouts, he was willing to offer a hand up to someone who needed it.

More than once in the past he'd been in a situation needing help, and knew better than most how hard life could be at times. Alexander had tripped and stumbled before and it was a lot easy to get back up if someone offered you a hand. It didn't take long to reach the apartment and using the key he'd been given after initially renting a room, he unlocked the door. Without any windows it was unusually dark with only a single oil lamp on the table in the middle of the room. Using a flint and steel on the table Alexander lit the lamp then looked back.

“You might want to watch out for my guard cat, vicious that one,” Alexander said. As if on cue when he turned the lamp up a little head popped up out of a simple cloth covered basket used as a bed.

“Meee,” Sparky said. The kitten's meow was weak and sounded like it wasn't even finished. With a big smile Alexander walked over and picked Sparky up scratching him under the chin. The kitten loud out a loud purr that belied its size and tried to snuggle up to Alexander's chest as it was held close.

“There's my killer guard cat,” Alexander said.