The Castle on the Hill

Chapter 2 Judged by Many

                    The morning of his presentation dawned bright and clear. Thomas laid out the sword and some of his other works out on the display counter in the front of the store. He really needed this job. He needed to be able to get his father out from under the ever-growing pile of debt before his father passed and got the burial of a level 10. They weren't slaves or homeless and he would be damned if they treated his father like such because of the debt he had accumulated in the past couple of years.

                 "Not bad. Not as good as I used to be, but not bad." Eli was actually mostly sober for once as he came into the shop.

                 "Thanks." Knowing it would do no good to do anything but thank him Thomas moved along with getting the shop set up for the day's work.

                  "Just remember this doesn't get you out of working today." His words cut deep into Thomas's pride. Did his father really not realize that he was doing all of this for him?

                  Thomas was busy hammering out a new arrowhead that he had designed that would cause way more damage, when he looked up towards the door. A lady was standing there. Claudia. She was a 22 year old level 6 widow. Her 4 year old son, Justice, was clutching her leg desperately.

                 "How can I help you today, Mrs. Grantit." Thomas wiped his hands on a nearby rag and walked over.

                 "Ummm, yes. I was wondering if you could fix this and sharpen it?" She handed him an elk-horn knife that had multiple small chips our of the edge of the blade.

                 "What happened to it?" Thomas had never seen this blade before in his life. Which was a strange feet since his father and himself were the only two blacksmiths in this town.

                 "I found it in one of the building along the outskirts of my property and I thought it was too pretty to pass up." She smiled nervously. "You can fix it right?"

                 "I can, but this is extensive damage. It will be expensive." He really hated charging widows for work but he had to eat to, right?

                  "How about, two blocks of cheese, three dozen eggs, and 2 pounds of flour?" She had blurted out the exchange before he could even think of a price.

                  "That's over double what I was going to say." Thomas was shocked. It was highly unusual for someone to offer higher than he was asking.

                   "It shouldn't be a problem then, correct?" She nodded without giving him time to respond and walked out.

                     "I've thought she was a strange one." Eli shook his head as the young mother hurried away with her son.

                    It took Thomas until lunch to get the blade back into working condition. He would still need to sharpen it and make sure the handle was sturdy, but he was proud of how far he had come.

                  It was well after noon before the General showed up. He Quickly introduced himself and showed him the swords and such he had made.

                  "These are really good quality blades, boy." He spoke shortly as he picked up individual swords and knives that Thomas had been creating recently. "You seem to be very talented."

                     "Thank you, sir." 

                      "I didn't ask a question. I don't want your feedback." He was short tempered that was for sure.