The Tale of Shadowus and Sorrow

Followup Blacksmith visit

Shadowus was standing in the Office of the Royal Treasury talking with the two new tax collectors, when he heard a strange, metallic noise. He soon recognized it, and turned around to see a small spider scuttling up to him with a small notice attached to it, with the royal seal combined with the seal of Vertican, the blacksmith. He dismissed the two taxmen with a wave of his hand and lowered his other one to allow the spider on top of it. It scuttled on to his hand, and stayed still as he took the note off. After he did, it jumped off of his hand, and scuttled back out to begin its journey back to its creator. It had been almost a week since he visited the blacksmith. He read the note, and them immediately set off to visit his friend. He whistled a special tune, and Sorrow came bounding into the room.

“Our stuff is ready,” he told her as they began their journey to the blacksmith. It was only a few minutes later that they arrived at Vertican's store. They walked in, and noticed a large crate had been set up, with Shadowus's name on it.

“Ah, so my spider found you!” Vertican said, walking out from one of the back rooms. “Well, as you well know, then, your stuff is ready for you. It is all in the crate over there,” he told them, pointing to the crate. “I do hope you like the quality of our work.”

Shadowus walked over and opened the crate. Inside were his bracers, which had been repaired, reinforced, and studded with steel studs, as well as Sorrow's leather armor which also had been repaired and reinforced. He noticed there were some bronze studs around the leg holes and the neck hole. He took out his bracers, and gave the armor to Sorrow, since she could put it on without needing any help. He then pulled out his crossbow, and swords, and put them in their respective sheaths. He took the knives out, and inserted them into their respective sheaths as well, including two on Sorrow's armor. Finally he took out his hand-crossbows and put them, with all the ammo, in a special sack he had with him. He then turned to face Vertican. “My Lord, I do hope everything is to your liking,” he said with a slight expression of worry on his face.

“Everything is as I hoped it would be, along with a little extra,” Shadowus said, indicating the studs on Sorrow's armor and on the hilts of the knives. “You and Rox did more than I could have hoped. Thank you. Please, do give her my regards.”

“Absolutely, my Lord,” Vertican said, with a bow. “It was the least we could do as our way of thanking you for what you did, not only for us, but for our fellow shopkeepers. In case you did not know, we have a meeting every week to discuss how everyone is doing. Everyone who you put in full ownership of their stores told me that they wish they also were under Royal ownership, like I am. However, I told them that it is better for them to own the stores themselves. Which, I did want to talk to you about,” Vertican told him, a little nervous.

“I already know what you are going to tell me, my friend. You wish to have full ownership of your store, instead of having it under Royal ownership. Well, I will allow it immediately. As of this moment, this store is completely under your ownership. You will have to pay a small rent, much smaller than the sharks had you paying, and you do not have to allow discounts for the Royal Court. This entire property,” he said, with a flourish of his arms, “is entirely yours, by Royal Decree.”

Vertican was stunned. Shadowus then gave him a quick nod, and walked out, Sorrow following him.

“Shadowus,” she said after they got outside. “Why did you do that? Do you really think he is going to be able to manage?”

“Oh, absolutely,” he assured her. “He knows what he is doing. He has been doing things like this since he father owned that store.”

“Wait, his father owned that store?” she asked, as they walked down the street.

“Indeed. And so did his grandfather, and great-grandfather. His great-great-grandfather, however, was not a blacksmith. He was actually a teacher,” he said. Sorrow was surprised, but did not let it show. They continued walking down the street, on their way back to Shadowus's house. “Well then,” Shadowus said, breaking the silence. “Are you ready to test how these work? I know Lux and his gang have been itching to practice against us. Naturally, our injuries will automatically heal. We will not be able to die, while we practice against them. But, we will still feel the pain of getting injured,” he told her. “Oh, and our armor will repair itself as well as we are practicing,” he added, noticing the slight worried look on her face.