184 Meeting the Blacksmith
It was a death sentence for a commoner to attack a noble, terrified more for Doren than for himself, Charliye has rushed out of the house and made his way home. He had quickly confessed everything to Doren. It was Doren who had suggested that they leave Windermere immediately. The two had packed a small satchel quickly and had snuck out of the city.
Fortunately, Charliye and Doren hadn't hesitated, they had already left the main gate of the city, by the time the law officers arrived at their house to arrest Charliye. Charliye had cursed his life at that time. If he had been a Knight ranked, the law would have protected him, and that arrogant young lord would never have gotten away with defrauding him.
But that is life in the Lower Realm, Charliye thought bitterly. Only when you break through and become a Knight are you recognized as a mage, and only mages have rights in this world. The rest of the people are just weak meat, their lives held in the palm of the hands of those stronger than them.
Charliye listened as Jayde, and Elder Terrakeep finalized the quotas that would be allocated to each member of the clan. Since Jayde had little idea about the amount of Qi Gathering potions that each member would need, she relied on Elder Terrakeep's knowledge. Charliye watched as Jayde scribbled notes down on a piece of parchment.
How strange, Charliye thought dazedly. This young woman had just handed me the only thing I have so desperately wanted—the resources to increase my sons' strength and allow them to be recognized. All he ever wanted was for his sons to have the legal standing as a mage in this world. Charliye greatest nightmare had always been that his sons would suffer the same injustices that he and Doren had.
Who would have thought when Doren and I stumbled into this village so many years ago that this would be the place where we would cross paths with this incredible woman. For the first time in his life, Charliye didn't feel bitter about his experience in Windermere. He started to think that if his experience in Windermere was the price he had to pay to get him to this point in life where he could cross paths with Jayde, then everything he and Doren had gone through over the years was worth it.
Without even realizing it, a small fire lit in Charliye heart, a fierce burning loyalty to Jayde, which would only grow stronger, he would walk into hell for her, and in years to come, he would literally brave hell for her. Not just him but everyone in Shaihshire would devote their lives to Jayde. Just like a small pebble thrown into a still lake, the ripples of Jayde influence would have a tremendous effect on hundreds of thousands of lives.
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Once Jayde had finished her discussion with Charliye, she and Elder Terrakeep bid him and Doren farewell. Elder Terrakeep then led Jayde to Braedyn Steelstream residence. One the way Elder Terrakeep warned Jayde that the blacksmith was a strange and difficult man. Most people found Braedyn Steelstream to be rude, but Elder Terrakeep felt it was more like the man was socially uncomfortable.
"He lacks social skills," Elder Terrakeep said. "But he is a gifted blacksmith, as a matter of fact, he is one of the best blacksmiths I have ever seen."
Jayde nodded her head slightly, acknowledging Elder Terrakeep's statement.
"Don't worry, I won't take offense," Jayde said reassuring Elder Terrakeep.
Jayde had picked up on how protective Elder Terrakeep was of the people in Shaihshire. His attitude reassured Jayde that she had found the perfect person to help her run this village. Jayde felt confident that Elder Terrakeep wouldn't abuse the people under his care, if anything, he would defend and look after them.
Before long Jayde and Elder Terrakeep came to a large stone building. Jayde could see black smoke billowing from the large chimney. The familiar smell of smelting ores filled the air, making Jayde nostalgic. It brought back memories of Master Whitestone and Telia. Jayde wondered how the villagers of Tardide were doing. She hoped that they were safe and doing well.
Elder Terrakeep strode up to the front door and banged loudly. It took a couple of minutes of Elder Terrakeep banging on the door and yelling for Braedyn Steelstream before the door finally opened.
Jayde was taken aback by the giant man filling the doorway. Appraising the brute of a man, Jayde was surprised to find that he looked quite young. He didn't look older than thirty, but Jayde recalled that according to Elder Terrakeep Braedyn had been in Shaihshire for nearly twenty years. His wild black hair and craggy face gave him a savage look. His pure black eyes stared at Elder Terrakeep and Jayde coldly.
"What you want?" Braedyn Steelstream demanded, his voice so deep that it sounded like a mountain was speaking.
"Braedyn," Elder Terrakeep said kindly. "This here is Lady Jayde, the new owner of Shaihshire, she would like a moment of your time."
"Why?"
"I have a proposition for you," Jayde said.
"What's it, I'm busy and don't have much time."
"May we come inside?" Elder Terrakeep asked softly.
Braedyn Steelstream scratched his wild beard, looking back and forth between Jayde and Elder Terrakeep. Shrugging his massive shoulders, he then stood aside. Elder Terrakeep took that permission to enter Braedyn Steelstream's house. Jayde quietly followed Elder Terrakeep into the large building.
Upon entering the building, Jayde was surprised to find that inside the building, everything was neat and tidy. Although one couldn't call it home. The whole area was filled with furnaces and tables which were covered with various bits of machinery, tools, and weapons. Besides a large bed which was pushed up against the wall, one wouldn't think anyone lived here.
Braedyn Steelstream looked at the two standing in his domain quietly. Elder Terrakeep just walked over to one of the large tables that had a clear surface, pulling out a chair he sat down while indicating for Jayde to take a seat next to him.
Jayde walked over and sat down. Then she looked at Braedyn Steelstream expectantly.
"Humph," Braedyn Steelstream rumbled before he stalked over and sat down.
"So what do you want?" Braedyn demanded, glaring at Jayde and Elder Terrakeep.
"I want you to come and work for me," Jayde said matter-of-factly.
"Not interested."
"Now see here—"
Jayde, held up her hand, interrupting Elder Terrakeep. Reaching into her satchel, Jayde withdrew a folded piece of parchment. Jayde held out the folded paper to Braedyn. Braedyn threw a suspicious look at Jayde before reaching out and taking the folded piece of parchment. Curious about what Jayde was up to, Braedyn unfolded the paper and had a looked at what it contained.
Braedyn's eyes widened as he looked at the diagram and notes written on the parchment. His head jerked up, and he stared at Jayde in amazement.
"This will actually work?' he finally asked.
"Of course, its already been tested," Jayde answered succinctly.
"You actually have a prototype?" Braedyn asked excitedly.
"Not anymore, but I have detailed etchings, also that," Jayde said, pointing to the parchment in Braedyn's hands. "Is only one of my designs."
"By the gods, you have more?"
"Naturally," Jayde said, smiling faintly as she noticed Braedyn's cheeks were flushed red with excitement.
"Give me!" Braedyn demanded.
"Sorry," Jayde said, shaking her head. "Only members of the Centauri clan can have access to this secret technology."
Elder Terrakeep's eyebrow furrowed, he had no clue what Jayde and Braedyn were talking about. He neck felt tired from swinging around, looking between Jayde and Braedyn as he tried to follow their rapid conversation.
"You will give me all your designs if I join your clan?" Braedyn asked, his deep voice rumbled out, more of a command than a query.
"Of course, if you join the Centauri clan you will be our master blacksmith,' Jayde said flatly.
Braedyn stared at Jayde as he thought over his options. Looking down at the etchings on the parchment in front of him, he again marveled at the detailed drawings. Never in his life had he ever seen anything like it. From the notes, he read this machine could plow the earth. Just thinking about the wonders that such a device could do, his hands started to itch. He desperately wanted to get the rest of the designs from Jayde and begin to make one.
The people in the Lower Realm relied solely on magic for farming. An earth mage was required to till the soil, and as earth mages were not abundant, most poor families used basic tools like spades and sticks to till their land. Which meant that all poor or common families could only plant just enough crops to feed themselves, something like this design could change the fortune of those families.
Like most people in Shaihshire, Braedyn came from a poor family. He knew just what a hardship low born families had to endure. Due to his enormous size, his family had struggled to keep him fed, his mother and father had worked themselves into an early grave just trying to keep food on the table for him and his siblings.
His father work worn body caught a severe illness during the winter, and with no extra gold, the family had been unable to pay for a healer. Braedyn had sold himself to the local blacksmith hoping to raise money to pay for a healer for his father, but the two pieces of gold he had earned hadn't been enough. The local healer had demanded ten pieces of gold just to visit their farm. His sisters had thought to sell themselves as well to raise the gold needed.
They had tried all the local factories, but had been turned down as his sisters looked frail, ironically even though Braedyn was so big, his sisters were dainty. The only way they could have raised enough money was by his sisters selling themselves to the local brothel, but their father had found out about their plans and had threatened to kill himself if his sisters had carried out their plans. He had only relented when his sisters had sworn they wouldn't sell themselves.
Although his father was a big man just like Braedyn, his body had been worn out by decades of toiling, and late in the winter had finally given out. Since Braedyn had sold himself to the local blacksmith for ten years, he couldn't help out on the farm, and the hard work had fallen on to his mother and sisters.
Braedyn's mother had quickly realized that she and her daughters wouldn't be able to survive working on the farm by themselves. Dividing the farm up between Braedyn's three sisters, she used the land as dowry's for the girls and quickly arranged marriages for them. By the time Braedyn found out, it had already been too late, the young girls were already married off.
When Braedyn had managed to get a day off after working for a year, he returned home to find his sisters were already married, and his mother was on her death bed. Having arranged her daughters future well being his mother had given up on life and was eager to join his father in the afterlife.
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📌 Quote of the day
"Your own mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except by your permission." --Arnold Bennett
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