Shadun

One Night

Chapter Six

<One Night>

"I need a weapon," Relda said as they hurried downstairs.

"This guy is a blacksmith isn't he?" Holden asked.

"Now Holden," Scars said as they walked into the living room. Her voice held a hint of amusement. "Don't pretend you haven't searched the whole house yet."

Relda gave them a look. "I am going over there," she pointed at the door leading to the smithy and walked away. To her surprise they followed her.

The smithy was a big room that had a door leading outside, currently closed. Lamr is Six towers lord's blacksmith. That's why he owned such a big house. Swords and shields and a large assortment of other weapons were piled on a big table next to the forge and anvil. Mosa was there, hugging a bundle of swords. Her eyes met Relda's as she came in.

"Oh girl," the plump woman looked confused. "What do you want?"

"I came to find a weapon." Relda shrugged. "What are you doing anyway, mother Mosa?"

"Doing? Oh!" Mosa looked flustered. "I.... Well, Lamr and the kids are closing the doors and windows. I..... We need something to defend ourselves if the monsters do come in. That's if we don't end up stabbing out feet first."

"Then you stick it away from your person to avoid such clumsiness. Anyway, you should probably go with another weapon that's easier to handle instead. Like spears."

Holden grunted his agreement.

Mosa paused for a moment then dropped the swords back on the table. "You are going out there?" She asked with feigned casualness.

"I am an adventurer," Relda answered.

Mosa scowled at her in disapproval. But Relda held her gaze quietly. Finally, the older woman sighed and backed down. "I don't like it," she said. Relda shrugged. "Fine, but you'll need a good weapon." The plump woman moved to the chest by the wall and knelt to rummage inside. She brought out a long thin sword in a black scabbard, tangled with webs. She handed it to Relda. "Go ahead." Mosa urged.

Relda felt a storm of emotions. The reason she had borrowed money from master Trom was to buy good equipment for adventuring so she could adventure better and be less dependent on tricks and traps. But she lost all the money unfairly. Relda gulped holding the black hilt tightly and pulled. A brilliant silver blade emerged, showing in the smithy's lamp light. It was beautiful.

"She's called Veil." Mosa said. "It was my brother's sword." She sniffed. "It's supposed to be passed from generation to generation. I want none of this life for Bral, you get it? But I couldn't just throw it away. But you, you already live this life. So take care of it, it's yours."

"Thank you." Relda croaked with emotion. "But I can't take this, I will return it. I promise."

"You must not!" Mosa said. "You don't listen.... Please Relda girl rid us of it. It was supposed to pass down to my brother's child anyway but he died before he got married. It's not Bral's so don't feel any guilt. I just don't want him to start getting any ideas.

"This adventuring thing is already difficult to stop. And he has argued with his father already to go outside and help."

Relda nodded reluctantly, then turned behind her to Amy. "Don't you need a weapon?"

"I have my sling." Amy blushed then reached under the sleeve of her brown unflattering dress and pulled out a sling. "And," she reached to her other sleeve. "I have stones." She opened her palm to reveal five stones which quickly disappeared back under her sleeve leaving only one.