B006T5JMRC EBOK (13 page)

Thomas sighed in discomfort as he pulled up a pair of red stockings beneath a long matching tunic. He longed for the day when he could once again wear his robe.

As the sun continued to rise, they could hear the townsfolk beginning their day; this urged them to make haste.

“So, how do you intend to find us human work?”

“For starters, Kale, do not refer to everything as
human
activities if you care to maintain your hidden identity. Second, we shall begin by finding the sources Mortimer spoke of. He mentioned last night—if you were paying any attention—there were two individuals in need of help.”

They made their way down a narrow flight of squeaking stairs to the dining room where Mortimer pleasantly greeted them with breakfast. “G’morning! Did you sleep well?” Before they could speak, Mortimer continued, “I think there may have been—” he glanced around to ensure no one walked in unnoticed, “rats in the building. I heard noises last night.”

Thomas and Kale said nothing, knowing the truth behind the mysterious night sounds. Thomas gulped, feeling slightly guilty that he had assured Mortimer they would bring no trouble to the inn. Luckily, Mortimer’s lack of attention saved them from the awkward moment. “I’ve got to go clean the cobwebs from the attic today. Good luck finding work!”

As they quickly ate their delicious bowls of warm porridge, Thomas informed Kale they would be taking separate paths. Kale was to seek the blacksmith, Galin, on the east side of the town square, while he would find Phyllis at the tailors’ on the west.

Although Kale despised the thought of doing human tasks, he knew it was necessary for them to live within the town. He needed to do his best until a year passed and he would be able to see what the destiny of the mysterious letter held for him. Kale knew that in his current state, he would stand no chance against the general in battle. He had never trained, nor even held an actual weapon within his grasp before. Kale placed a hand over the pocket where he kept his bracelet, feeling the rush of being one step closer to achieving revenge upon Jedah. He had to remain positive that whatever waited for him at the mysterious tree would aid him in victory. Until the time arrived, he wanted to learn as much as he could about the new body in which he was forced to remain. 

As Kale approached the building Thomas directed him toward, he could hear the steady sound of pounding. He walked past a front booth where many weapons were on display. He then headed back into a darkened room. He saw a large man hunched over and working so intently he hadn’t noticed Kale’s arrival. The man’s beige tunic was dingy and covered in soot.

Kale cleared his throat, “That’s a very nice sword you’re working on.”

The man immediately paused, pulling out a piece of cloth to wipe the sweat from his ebony forehead. His stubbly facial hair was filthy and smeared with remnants of black coal. “This must be important for you to interrupt my work. Who are you and what do ya’ want?” He rubbed his muscular forearm across his wide nose, sniffing loudly. “Irritating ashes...” the man mumbled.

“My name is Kale and I’m new here in Braxle; I was hoping you are still in need of help.”

The man seemed to ignore Kale and returned his focus to precisely striking the blade of a sword.

What is his problem
? Kale already grew annoyed with the man who he had only met moments ago.

“Kale, you say?” The man finally spoke. “The name’s Galin, and I guess I could use an extra hand; but only under the condition that you do as I tell ya’ and keep outta’ my way when I’m workin’.” He placed his hammer onto a nearby table, turning to face Kale. “You have any blacksmithin’ experience?”

Kale dodged his dark eyes, “Well...a little.”

“I’m warnin’ you kid, don’t lie to me.” He swung his index finger toward Kale’s face. “Let’s get this straight right now, as long as you work for me, everything that spats outta’ your mouth better be the truth.”

Kale bit his tongue, struggling to obey Galin who had already gotten under his skin. It oddly reminded him of the irritating small pebbles that would sneak between the layers of his scales. None the less, Kale knew he needed the job, so arguing was not an option. “Yes, sir,” he replied.

His first day of work was spent scrubbing the floors, wiping tools, polishing, and bending to Galin’s every demand. By evening, Kale was soaked in sweat and his palms bore multiple blisters. He was amazingly grateful when Galin informed him the day’s work was complete and he was free to leave.

“Here’s your pay, kid.” Galin flipped a single copper coin toward Kale who shot his arm out, catching it with ease. “I expect you’ll have shoes upon your feet by tomorrow. I’ve never seen such a fool who walks into a blacksmith forge with his bare feet out. A hot piece of fallen metal could melt right through your skin.”

On Kale’s stroll back to the inn he could hear the faint rapping of Galin’s hammer pounding down upon steel. By this time, most townsfolk had gone home to eat supper with their families and the streets were relatively clear of activity. Kale began to wonder if Galin had a family within the town. He wondered why Galin continued to work, despite the approaching nightfall. As the sun set behind the thatched roofs, Kale opened the wooden door to the inn. He was pleasantly surprised to see Thomas seated at a nearby table awaiting his arrival.

“How was your day?” Thomas glowed with anticipation—eager to hear the details.

“Well, the blacksmith is really callous. I think he hates me.” Kale placed the coin onto the table, “But I did get this.” He smiled proudly.

Thomas looked down at the copper piece in confusion; he had anticipated Kale would have earned a greater amount for an entire day of work. A single copper coin was the lowest payment one could receive—next to nothing. “I’m proud of you Kale—I really am.” Thomas didn’t want to discourage Kale.

“How did you fare today?” Kale took note of Thomas’ prior expression and grew curious to see if his pay had been worth pressing his body so hard to fulfill the menial tasks Galin required.

“It was pleasant; Phyllis is a very kind woman.” Thomas knew where Kale was going with the conversation and chose to play ignorant, changing the direction of the subject. “She hired me without question and even taught me how to sew.” He smiled.

“Good, then you can make me a pair of shoes. The ill-tempered curmudgeon I work for said I must have them if I care to continue with him.”

Thomas nodded, assuring Kale he would ask Phyllis about the issue the following day.

At the end of their night, Kale lay in bed, sore and exhausted from the long day. His mind began to drift as he thought about the town of Braxle. Aside from his experience with Galin, the small town was full of humans who were quite pleasant. Living at the inn was turning out to be better than he had anticipated; the beds were comfortable, the baths were warm, and the food was amazing. Mortimer took great care to ensure they were satisfied and Kale enjoyed not having to hunt for his food each night. Everyone so far had been welcoming toward him, despite that he was a stranger. Even Galin, with his rough exterior had still given Kale a job. Until now he had thought of all humans, with the exception of Thomas, to be cruel and uncaring. This experience was already altering his opinion and he began to perceive that humans were not as horrible as he once assumed.

The next few days went smoothly and, aside from Galin’s routine bickering, Kale began to enjoy working at the blacksmithing shop. He had even managed to get a high quality pair of shoes thanks to a friend Phyllis knew who was a leatherworker. As each day would pass, he grew accustomed to a routine in which he would rise at dawn to join Galin. Eventually, a mutual confidence was established and Kale was taught how to forge the perfect blade.

Weeks turned into months and soon Kale became a well-skilled blacksmith. He was able to handle orders and craft weaponry without supervision. With his newfound experience came higher pay, and soon Kale was able to afford his entire half of room and board while still having a few copper pieces to spare.

On a beautiful day when business was running slow, and they had nearly caught up with their restock, Kale took a bold chance and requested to be excused for an hour to visit Thomas and explore the town. Until this point, Kale had yet to explore any areas aside from the town square and was excited to view more of what Braxle had to offer.

“Sure, kid, but don’t take too long if you wanna’ have a job when you return.”

Kale thanked Galin. He had grown accustomed to the blacksmith’s moody behavior and even adjusted to being called a kid—despite the irony of being nearly three times Galin’s age.

“Good afternoon, Thomas.” Kale smiled at him from across a long table covered with rolls of cloth. He choked back a laugh as Thomas finished the final stitches on a pink ruffled dress. “That will look great on you.” He couldn’t help himself.

“Jumping balt toads—hello, Kale. I hadn’t expected to see you here. Shouldn’t you be working?”

As Kale finished explaining the reason for his visit, an older woman approached the sewing table, wearing a white apron and plain brown dress. Her graying brown hair was held back with a small silver pin that gave a clear view of her almond eyes.

“So you are the Kale I’ve heard so much about.” She smiled warmly. “You would think that Thomas here was your father by the way he praises all you’ve accomplished since your arrival in Braxle. He’s very proud of you.”

Kale began to formally introduce himself, as Thomas had taught him, when a young woman approached wearing very scanty clothing that revealed a fair amount of cleavage.

“Mother, I’m going to need a new dress. I ripped my skirt while out last night.” She flipped her dark ponytail over a shoulder. “Men can be such animals.”

“Theresa, I’m going to mend your tear; you don’t need an entirely new dress. I’ve already made you three this year.” Phyllis sighed. “I did not raise you this way. It also would not hurt you to come here and help me from time to time. You can’t always expect your natural beauty to get you by in life. Trust me, the day will come when you’re old and withered like your mother.”

Theresa huffed, appearing about to throw a childish tantrum. Then, as if she had been in her own secluded realm, she took notice to Kale’s presence. Her mood immediately shifted as she straightened her posture and quickly approached him.

“And who might you be, handsome?” She winked flirtatiously.

Kale took a step back, overwhelmed and uncomfortable by her presence. In an attempt to help Kale, Thomas stepped into the conversation, explaining to Theresa that Kale was on a short break from his job and needed to leave in order to have the time to explore the town. Kale took the opportunity to politely bid farewell to Phyllis and her daughter. He wanted to quickly leave the awkward situation behind him.

Suddenly, as if a brilliant idea sparked within her mind, Theresa’s eyes lit up. “I’ll show him around! I’ve lived here my entire life and know every nook and cranny.”

Kale shot a glance toward Thomas for assistance. The old sorcerer sighed, shrugging as if to tell Kale that he was now on his own. By the look on Theresa’s face, there was going to be no discouraging her from what she wanted. She didn’t bother to wait for a response as her arm slid around Kale’s bicep.

“What are you doing?” Kale questioned, confused by her gestures.

“My name is Theresa Vascallar and I’ll be your guide today, handsome. Let’s get going.” She tugged him toward a narrow street to the right.

Kale frowned at the thought of having Theresa along for what would have been a relaxing stroll. However, he knew better than to upset the daughter of the woman who was paying Thomas.

They eventually came to a halt in front of the tallest building in town. Up until now, Kale had only seen its peak towering above the rooftops. The building was solid, made of grey stone and accented with large windows trimmed in white. The double cherry wood doors were only approachable by climbing a set of six steep steps bordered with square trimmed bushes.

“This is where the town Lord lives. If you plan to remain here in Braxle, you’ll need to know where it is. Only Lord Zalimond has the authority to answer requests from the townsfolk.” She leaned in close to Kale’s ear as she spoke softly, “I don’t think his wife favors me very much.”

I can’t imagine why,
Kale thought as he glanced toward her low-cut bodice.

“I’ve heard the lord has a secret room beneath his home where he keeps his valuables.” She continued to speak in a low tone. “I would love to get a closer look one day...” Her voice trailed off and Kale could see the look of excitement in her eyes at the thought of sneaking away with his wealth. “Anyway,” she shook her head, tightening her grip on his arm, “let’s keep moving. I’ve already said more than I should to a man I barely know. It’d be wise to keep that information between us.”

Kale nodded, not wanting to cause any problems. They continued to walk around different sections of the town as she explained each area in brief detail. Finally, they came to a building where Kale noticed a great deal of commotion.

“What is this place?” Kale questioned, pointing toward the structure.

“That? It’s the tavern; haven’t you ever been in one for a drink?” She paused a moment to think. “I believe I understand. You’ve probably assumed the inn also serves as our town tavern. I’ve heard from travelers that most inns serve the purpose of both. I guess we, here in Braxle, do things differently. I couldn’t ever imagine Mortimer converting his inn to such a place.” She gestured toward the Tavern.

Kale shook his head, still unsure of what she meant. He had perfectly fine juice and water from Mortimer at the inn each night. He could only assume whatever drinks the tavern offered must be spectacular to draw in such a crowd.

“Hello, Theresa.” A man walked by and tipped his hat to greet her. “Care to join me?”

His words triggered Kale to remember that he was supposed to be back at the blacksmith’s ages ago. “Oh, no—I’m late! I’ve got to go, Theresa.” He knew Galin was going to give him an earful and, hopefully, would allow him to keep his job. “I’m sorry, I really do appreciate all you’ve done, but I need to get back to work or Galin will have my head.”

Theresa smiled, “I understand.” She pressed closer to his body, ignoring the man who stood impatiently in front of the tavern.

Kale looked away, embarrassed by the scene she was making.