The next night, I surveyed the newly made sword closely, bringing it close to my face. Finally, perfect. It had to be the best sword I had ever made. My blue eyes reflected off of it. Light. It was so light and quick; the speed was incredible. I noted as I swung it back and forth at a rhythmic speed. Swoosh. My mouth began to water. Perfect sound. This sword had to be the best in the world!
I tested its endurance and flexibility, softly clanking it on the wooden post that I had set up for tests like these. Holding on to the hilt, I thrust it into the air; I also kept striking and cutting the post to my satisfaction. The blade was double edged, even the cross guard was perfectly aligned.
I used to compete in dueling matches, and I was a great dueler at that. I ranked in the top five on the entire east coast. Of course, these matches never involved death, unlike Lord Gaube's matches. No one left alive there, and it constantly ate at my heart, such poor sportsmanship. And what happened to those men's families?
No. Lord Gaube doesn't deserve this sword. What he doesn't know, won't hurt him or my family. He will get the second-best sword, no one will ever know. I went and grabbed another block of Damascus steel, casting the new sword down to a shelf. This block was just waiting to be customized by the master's hands. Formed and molded to be merely the second best. If only Lord Gaube knew, he would definitely have me killed.
*******************
Early the next evening, Lily strode in bringing me food, and a beautiful leather strap she customized to attach to the sword's hilt. She had been bringing me food several times a day, and the children have been in to visit several times as well. Sam had come to visit after he was worn from playing with the children, he just loved to nap in the corner.
"Thank you love. Do you know how much I love you?" I asked as she handed me the leather strap. It looked exquisite, it had Lord Gaube's family crest engraved in it.
"I've had an idea for a while now. I honestly can say that I don't know what you would do without me, that is for certain," she winked. "You have been nodding off; you need to sleep," she said while cupping my face.
"I know, I know," I raised my hands in surrender. "I never even want to think about not having you, because you are right, I don't know what I would do without you. And to answer my question, I love you more than life itself."
"Awwww," I could tell her heart was melting.
"Anyhow, the sword is finished, so once Lord Gaube's goons show up, I'll go to sleep for the evening. Then we'll go camping in the morning. It'll be nice to get out of here for a while." I smiled, and then kissed my wife's smooth lips.
She kissed me back, her mouth parted and our tongues met and danced with each other. I put a firm grip on her hips, mine. I needed her body, I needed to have her right here! I lifted her onto the workshop and opened her legs with mine. She moaned as I caressed her breast.
Thump thump thump. Sam's ears perked. Horses hooves slapped the dirt outside. I put my arms around my wife's neck, my wrists hung limply on her shoulders and my forehead leaned on hers. My face cringed, "Dang-it!! Speaking of the devil," I whispered into her ear.
She sighed as I helped her off of the counter and she slowly went to escape through the back entrance and take the trail back to our cottage. She knew that I wanted her nowhere near Lord Gaube, even if it was just his goons.
As the horses came to a stop in front of my shop, Elstan and Milo hopped out of the wood trimmed carriage. I hurried with the leather strap, attaching it properly to the hilt of the sword, as the two goons invited themselves inside. Sam sat up and growled, waiting intently for his master to give him queue.
"Down boy," I said sternly.
"Good evening Nicholas," Elstan spat out.
I looked up from the sword and gave him a nod as they approached me.
"I take it you have completed the sword," Elstan said.
"Yup," I replied, handing him the sword suspiciously.
Elstan grabbed it, slicing it through the air a few times to test its movement. He then landed it against my neck, lifting my chin with the tip. Elstan seemed appeased with my livid glare. This kid really had some nerve. Rage seared through my veins, attempting to resist taking Elstan down and stabbing them both in order to show them how to respect. Instead, I asked, "satisfied?"
Elstan lowered the blade to the floor, "Yes, I suppose this will do. You do beautiful work you know." He threw ten pence to the ground from his pocket. They scattered and rolled on the ground, each finding its own hiding place. "Lord Gaube should be satisfied, I still don't know why he paid you double," Elstan said as he turned to walk out to the carriage. Milo spit on the floor before he turned to follow Elstan, feeding my irritation. I had rolled my fists into a ball as Milo glanced back, smiling and reveling in my anger, he loved it completely, they were immature and learning from the wrong man.
Finally, they got into the carriage and left. My mind quickly went from anger to Sleep and was completely blurred after the adrenaline stopped pumping through me. They'll get theirs...
I was in a poorly lit castle, cobwebs and skeleton bones were everywhere I looked. The torch that I carried lit my way. My breath came out cold, I could see it. Yet, I didn't feel cold, which was strange. I turned down into a hallway and it didn't look like it had an ending, It just went on for ages.
What the hell? Where am I?
I began to walk down it.
'Nicholas,' the end of the hallway hissed which piqued my curiosity.
I began to walk faster, but it seemed like the hallway kept extending itself even though I could see the end of it now.
'NICHOLAS!'
It echoed through my bones and I began to run towards the voice!
I couldn't explain why but I was drawn to it...and I needed it!
I kept running and it got louder and louder which made me run faster.
"Wake up Nicholas!" Lily was shaking my shoulders with a firm grip, and a worried look covered her face.
"Oh!" I gasped.
"Shhhhh," she held me in her arms and rocked me, "it was just a dream."
If only she knew.....
*********
Happy holidays my lovelies!!!
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Black Tide Rising
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