Dreisterne

CHAPTER 10

The sun hung high in the sky, casting light upon the glittering cobblestone streets of Trevorton as Nathan worked diligently at his makeshift workbench: a barrel as the table with a smaller crate for him to sit on, set up beside a small stall. The buzz of the marketplace around him faded into a distant hum, his focus locked on the task at hand. The simple tools before him; a small file, a hammer, a chisel, seemed inadequate to the task of crafting something so precise. And yet, in Nathan's hands, they were more than enough.

With steady hands and an intense gaze, he carved a key with the practised motions of someone who had done this a hundred times before. His movements were smooth, almost rhythmic, as he worked. The customer, a portly man with a thick beard and a wide smile, watched in awe as the thin curls of metal began to shape into the exact key he needed for his padlock.

"That's impressive," the man muttered, leaning closer to get a better look. "I've seen locksmiths before, but none as quick as you."

Nathan smiled, not breaking his concentration. "It's all in the wrist, sir. And hours upon hours of practice," he replied in a calm tone, his voice tinged with the satisfaction of knowing his craft well. After a few moments, the job was done. Nathan slid the newly carved key into the padlock, twisting it with ease. The lock clicked open without a hitch, and the customer let out an impressed whistle.

"Well, I'll be... You're good," the man said, his grin widening. He reached into his pouch and pulled out five gold pieces, handing them over without hesitation. "For your time and skill. It's worth every florin."

Nathan raised an eyebrow, looking at the gold in his hand, and then back up at the man. "Th-thank you very much, sir!" he said, still not quite used to being handed gold so easily for a simple task. He accepted the payment with a nod of gratitude.

The customer gave a hearty laugh. "It's not every day you see someone who can do the job right, and quick, too. Keep at it, friend." With a satisfied nod, the man wandered off, leaving Nathan, Keith, and Harald to exchange glances.

Keith grinned as he tucked his hands behind his back. "You know..." he said with a twinkle in his eye, "With all the lock and key-related jobs you took up since we got here, maybe we could become travelling locksmiths. We could strike it rich!"

Harald raised an eyebrow and shook his head with a smirk. "Ja, we definitely could be. But imagine establishing a noble house, and then proclaiming to the world about how we take pride in making and breaking locks. Not only does that sound unimpressive to the ears of the general populace, but we would also invite unwanted attention to unsavoury people from the underworld looking to use us for their crimes. I prefer House Dreisterne be known for anything more upstanding than that."

"Good point, guv. Would've been a key to disaster, otherwise," Keith deadpanned.

The trio laughed together, their voices mingling with the murmurs of the marketplace as they made their way down the winding cobbled streets of Trevorton. Pristine buildings built of white stone blocks dominated the townscape, and the denizens walked about in an almost orderly manner. Nathan breathed in the town's crisp, dust-free air as he basked in its clean and peaceful atmosphere.

"Harald? Once your House Dreisterne dreams come true, do you suppose it would be fine for you to establish a stronghold here?" asked Nathan half-jokingly.

Harald was busy admiring the townscape when he heard the question, and he turned to Nathan with an incredulous expression. "Herr Festivus, I will have you know that I would rather establish my own fiefdom from the ground up rather than conquer someone else's town, in a foreign country much less." His expression turned lighter as he continued. "But you know, waking up to chill mornings in a castle on top of a hill does sound rather nice..."