Gilded Chaos

Broken Farce

I have officially been shocked into silence; much to my disdain and Mr Murphy's apparently pleasant surprise. 

I then do the only reasonable thing to do in such a situation: I laugh.

Mr Panda stares at me as though I've grown an extra head. Not by any tangible response, no; the only change in his expression is a slight twitch of his right eyebrow. 

"You must-" laughter"- be joking. I'm not going anywhere with you, Mr Panda."

At hearing this, Mr Murphy doubles over with loud booms of laughter rumbling through his belly while his companion's face hardens after he throws an annoyed glance at Mr Murphy.

"I'm known for many things, but joking isn't one of them. I'll also be needing you to forge something for me. A dagger. You- and you alone- will use the material I supply you with to make this dagger and absolutely nothing else. If you're in need of anything, let me know. I'll be stopping by to keep track of your progress. I expect you to complete this task before the week's end.  Oh, and you will address me as Mr Eric Terrignem", he says in a fast, clipped tone. 

With that, he stands abruptly, extracting a small parcel from his coat and laying it on the table. All the while holding my gaze, which is more of a scowl.

Breaking eye contact, he gives an almost imperceptible nod to Mr Murphy and proceeds to exit the shop without another word. I notice that his footsteps are near silent, despite his size. He was probably the reason I got the eery feeling that someone was watching me earlier. Creep.

As soon as I hear the bell above the door chime, indicating Mr Terrignem's exit, I snap out of my reverie and turn on Mr Murphy with a scowl and fiery rage coursing through my veins to rival the heat of the forges of hell. 

What I find on his face leaves me even more off-kilter. He's sporting that sad expression again. My scowl deepens. 

"Mr Murphy, you cannot simply barter me off like a slave! How could you?! I've been your most adequate employee for years!" I've risen out of my seat now, unable to remain still for a moment longer.

"Calm down, Pandora. He'll keep yer safe. Just get the dagger started, would yer?"

I'm completely unsettled now. First Mr Terrignem then Mr Murphy... I never told anyone... I made sure of it, I took every precaution. I sit back down, feeling utterly drained and far beyond my seventeen years. 

"Sir... P-Pandora is not my name and you know it. As nicknames go, that's awful. Besides, it is a girl's name, and I-"

"Oh get off it. Don't play stupid with me, Pan; doesn't look good on ya. I've always known you weren't a lad since you were a wee street rat, ye' hear? We've all got our secrets. That silly cap ye' wear to hide all that stuff you call hair? Ye' never fooled me. It helps yer case that you're a skinny lass, all that food ye haven't been eatin', tsk. That right there ain't good for any-"

"You knew?!" 

How could I not have known? More importantly, if he knew, who else did? My heart starts hammering in my chest. This entire farce had its reasons and the man seated before me has just trampled all over my mask.

Instead of replying, he faces me with a bemused expression and says, " You will be going with Henry but on a temporary basis, if it helps yer big head any. You'll remain a part o' my staff. Don't know why you're complainin', though. Made him promise you a sum worth more than yer yearly salary, knowing the little leprechaun that ye' are".

Hmm...

"Bloody hell, Murph, you know me too well", I grumble, and for good measure, I add, " I'm not promising any good behaviour, though. I'll be a blacksmith. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Aye,  you never promise that anyway. Blacksmith indeed, with all that blimey soot on yer face", he mutters. " Get to work now". Passing me the parcel Mr Terrignem left on the table with an uncharacteristically sombre expression, he shuffles off to the front of the shop, leaving me alone.

Tentatively, I take it and place it carefully on my desk to examine under the light of a candle. The cloth he'd used to wrap whatever's inside is of a soft, cream-coloured material that I have a feeling was meant to be white. This threadbare piece of fabric seems an oddity against Mr Terrignem's outward persona. Hard and unyielding. 

Upon unwrapping the contents, I see a block of... Steel? It's entirely black, the darkest steel I've ever come across. It feels strange as well, like it's soft but won't let up a single centimetre. This is what I'll forge into a blade, I presume.

Looking at the rest of the contents, I can't help my growing fascination.

Underneath another fold of fabric lay a cylindrical mound of something akin to marble. It is of the most beautiful pearl colour, with pitch black ribbons running through it as though someone poured the night sky into milk. 

Oddly faint, I feel sweat forming at the nape of my neck. It's probably due to fatigue. 

Spreading out the parcel to reveal two of the last pieces to this odd puzzle, leaving me more bewildered than anything. A chain connected to what looks like... A tooth or talon of some large creature. 

Picking it up, my heart lodges itself in my throat. It feels warm, as though it's still enveloped by some creature's breath.

What have I gotten myself into?