NaNoWriMo 2014 - Day 11-17

- Chapter 3 -

- Ben -


Ben was nearing Elliot’s farm when he began fantasizing about marching towards a skirmish outside of town. Despite the sword at his side, he didn’t draw it when he imagined ranks of enemy soldiers coming his way. Instead, he held an imagined shield in front of him, his gaze glancing around, watchful for arrows or an ambush.

It was the kind of situation, however fantasized, that made his idea of paper armor seem like a flight of fancy. More so when he began imagining what an arrow in the right place would do to such armor.

I could add some leather backing to the paper scales…or do I even need to?

He stayed lost in thought until he heard his name being called, then looked up. Elliot was readying to meet him on the road. “How’s my sword?”

“Fixed and cleaned, like new.”

“You looked like you were about to practice with it on the way.” Elliot said as he examined the blade.

Ben shook his head. “Wouldn’t be good business,” He continued after a pause, “and I was thinking about a set of armor.”

“Thinking of making a second set?”

“After I test a few things, yes.”

“I see.” Elliot went back to examining his blade for a moment. “Was it you or your old man who fixed this?”

“I did.” Ben replied. Elliot didn’t respond for several seconds, but Ben remained confident about his work on the blade.

“Hmm…do you have to be anywhere soon?”

“Jean’s store doesn’t close for some time, so no, but why?”

“Because I have something I think you’ll want.”

“What, exactly?”

“Let me find it, then I’ll tell you. Wait here.”

As Elliot began walking away, Ben strained his thoughts to picture what he was referring to. Something he thinks I want…he was asking about the blade before that…no, I did a good job and he’s already paid…hmm. Wonder what it is. Ben soon stood under the closest eternal lamp, continuing to think until he needed to gaze into the darkening area around him.

When he saw Elliot returning to him, the first thing he noticed was an object tucked under his arm; the sword was gone, likely re-shelved for the next slasher event. As Elliot passed by another eternal lamp, Ben could see the outlines of a hardcover book and what looked like a metal gauntlet.

The few books Ben had seen before now were Gilder’s property; his family had borrowed two from him several cycles ago, and hearing him speak so highly of the contents at the time urged him to look over one before they were returned. What he’d found was a collection of tales, all of which were fanciful in his eyes, aside from one particular story in the way it was told. That of several warriors and magicians, knights as the story had titled them, joining forces to find and return the son of a dying, heirless queen. Did he trade that with Gilder?

“I found it.” As Elliot pulled the book from under his arm, Ben heard several chinks of metal on metal. “I received this book during my service to Acansus. Never needed it though, being a soldier and not a craftsman, but I figure you can make good use of it.”

“What kind of book is it?” Ben asked after reading the title.

“It’s partially a history book, but it’s also a smithing and crafting technique manual.”

“I see.” Opening the book to a random page about a third in, Ben’s attention was initially drawn to an image of scaled metal armor. The lettering surrounding it was difficult to read in the spot he and Elliot stood. “Never seen a book this thick.”

“If you ever visit the major cities of Acansus, you’ll find more that are this thick.”

“What about our empire’s cities?”

“I can’t say. I never gave further thought to traveling after settling here.”

“Hmm.” Ben glanced at the gauntlet again. “That gauntlet you have. Was that part of your suit?”

“For less than a cycle, then it and its twin retired with me. I take it you want to try it on?”

Ben nodded before sliding the steel and leather gauntlet onto his hand. Each flex of his fingers curled the plates of the digits, the gauntlet as a whole giving him the feeling that one punch would knock someone on their rear.

“You’re probably thinking what I was when I first wore those.”

“I don’t know…but this construction…” All these grommets and metal plates. How much would just this one piece cost in materials?

“There are a lot of parts to it, and that’s just part of a full plate suit.”

“I was just thinking that,” Ben said as he returned the gauntlet, “and if I could even afford to build the suit I want.”

“You may have to become an apprentice or shop assistant somewhere to get the money and materials you’ll need. Or see if Gilder can trade some of your personally crafted tools.”

“When he gets back, I’ll see what he can tell me about all of that.”

“I’d suggest traveling with him if he’s willing to bring you along. Better to learn about trading first-hand than by word-of-mouth.”

“True, and thank you for showing me the book.”

“You’re welcome. If you’re wondering, so long as you have a use for it, you can keep it.”

“I believe I’ll have many uses for it for some time.”

“Glad to hear it. See you around the smithy, then.”

As Elliot departed, Ben turned to another page, finding only text this time. He soon began walking back to town, coming close to the eternal lamps he passed to allow some moments to read. The idea proved unreliable, but once back home with the paper sheet he needed, his bedroom lamp ensured that the next several hours were taken up with his attention set on the book.


- Gilder -

- Eschalon -
- Next Day, Morning -


Upon waking up the morning after his and Apren’s arrival at Eschalon, Gilder was quick to notice hints of frost sweeping under the door to his inn room. “Standing guard?” he asked as he pulled himself up, barely noticing the grogginess of his voice. No reply came.

She said she’d meet me by morning… At first thinking she was resting somewhere outside the door, another thought crossed Gilder’s mind as the seconds passed: Had she left a chunk of ice near the door instead? And if so, for what reason? His thoughts then went to his wagon and trade goods. The horses were being kept in a nearby stable, and the key to the shed his wagon was locked in was still on his person, but half of his goods were still left to be sold.

If she’s not in the hall…that firearm. Did something scare her off? Now more anxious to find out what had changed since he’d been asleep, Gilder slowly slid out of the bed, cushioning his hooves to mask his steps and keeping as silent otherwise as he could. A glance into the hall was all he needed to get an initial idea of things, but as he made his way to the door, his axe was in hand and at the ready.

The unlocking of the door latch ruined the stretch of hushed sound in the room, but again, no sounds came from the other side of the door. Hoping Apren was indeed outside, Gilder allowed just enough of the door to open to see the other part of the hall, opening it further once he was certain no one else was walking, or standing, by.

What he found was Apren sitting and leaning against the wall near the door, with one of her arms, from which the wispy streams of cold had been running, laid over her massive pack. Unable to tell if she was asleep or simply resting, Gilder stepped back, easing the door closed as he began wondering how long she’d been sitting there.

That train of thought continued throughout his morning routines, branching into other questions as his concern for his goods and horses never fully relaxed; he’d dealt with very few Elementals, business or otherwise, up to now. How much he believed she’d heard some important news was mixed with questions about what caused her to rest in the spot she was.

I hope nothing spooked her into staying near the room. At that thought, Gilder glanced outside. With his room’s window facing away from the town’s main square, what activity he could see showed little change in guard posts and patrols. She said the tavern was her first stop. Where else did she go last night?

Gilder’s thoughts ceased as he heard movement by the door. Scraping and sliding sounds at that. Repeating his ‘standing guard’ quip in turn, he got a groggy response from Apren. “You could say that.”

“Were you resting long?”

“Don’t think so.” Apren continued before he could. “Mind if I come in?”

“One moment.” Once the door was open, Apren zeroed-in on a nearby desk and chair, her bag laid aside once she’d sat. “Did your barkeep friend have any information or news?”

“Nothing besides hearsay from the patrons, so…I suppose official word of the theft hasn’t come this far.”

“We should both be glad of that.”

“I suppose, but I couldn’t help thinking that the mages wouldn’t want word getting out about the theft.”

“Having such an item stolen from them would be an embarrassment, but if hearsay has made it this far, official word will follow.”

“Then…” Apren paused long enough to prompt Gilder to repeat the word as a question. “Then would you object to traveling with me? You were there. You know I wasn’t involved in the theft.”

“You’ll have to follow me back to where I live, let me explain to my countrymen what is going on so they can prepare for my departure.”

“Where’s that at?”

“A town well west of here. A day and half travel-time, usually.”

“That suits me. The sooner this thing is gone, the better.”


- Chapter 4 -

- Gilder -


The questioned temporarily stopped once Apren agreed to what Gilder proposed.