FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Dark Destiny

3

I was practically bouncing with every step on the way to the Blacksmiths, my father knew Krolan , the master smith, pretty well and occasionally gets some kind of work from him, but he never said what kind it was.

This part of the city was usually layered in a blanket of smoke from the forges, but most of the townsfolk are used to it.

'So what are we going to get?' I asked my father, trying to keep myself contained as I knew it was most likely for some kind of weapon, which I am obsessed with.

He chuckled and replied with 'We're going to go pick up some arrowheads, the ones I can make won't be as effective for this culling, maybe we'll get a few other things too, besides I heard Krolan has something for me, and for you'

He had something for me? I could barely contain my excitement, I wondered what it could be, a dagger? A hatchet? Maybe even a sword?

We got to the blacksmith but it looked to be closed up for something, father looked at me and saw my expression change from excitement to disappointment.

He put his hand on my shoulder and said 'don't worry, it's always like this at this time of day' He then let out a high pitch whistle.

After a few seconds he let out another one and the doors to the forges opened up, I was in awe. 'Did you just do that?' I asked.

He chuckled again 'It's a code we have, between me and Krolan, we've used it since we were younger'

He nudged me in the back to get me to move forward with him, which I eagerly did, once inside the doors closed again and the heat was intense, I was already starting to pant a lot. We were greeted by Krolan, who was a dragon kin, which would explain how he can handle this heat.

My father and Krolan gave each other a hug and exchanged pleasantry's while I was looking around the forge. I was interrupted from this by Krolan kneeling down in front of me.

'I understand it's your birthday today young Azoth' he asked me, I answered yes, he then said ' I shall have to arrange a gift for you once I am done with your father's order'

I smiled and he stood back up and walked back over to my father, I followed him as well. They could both tell I was fascinated by all this, so my father leant over and whispered something to Krolan before they both smirked and turned to me.

Krolan said 'Azoth, would you like to take a look around the forge and see how everything is made? From knives to the biggest of swords?'

My eyes absolutely shone at that question 'by the bronze dragon, really?'

I was so excited.

He nodded at me 'Of course, I'll get my apprentice to show you around and he'll answer anything you should have to ask' he said to me. 'Kitas!, get in here' he bellowed.

This boy came running downstairs and joined us pretty quickly 'Y-Yes master Krolan?' he said rather nervously.

Kitas was a male cat with a rather small frame, his fur was grey with blue streaks and his voice was rather...girly, but he seemed nice.

'Show our guest, Azoth, around the forges if you will Kitas' Krolan asked.

'Oh, ok then master, come along Azoth' Kitas said cheerily

I followed him through all of the rooms of the forge hanging on his every word as he explained the entire process of making weapons and armour, I found it fascinating. After about an hour of being given a tour of this hot, humid, molten heaven, he stopped outside a wooden door and said 'Right, any questions young Azoth?'

Only one sprung to mind 'Could I have a job here, please?' I asked

He was a little shocked at that, he wasn't expecting someone my age to want to work at a forge. 'I'll talk with Krolan and see if I can sort something out for you' he said with a smile.

He opened the door for me and it lead into the blacksmith store, where I saw my father and Krolan talking with each other at the counter. I noticed that father was wearing a new belt which had 2 silvery pieces of metal in it, he also had the arrows in a quiver on his back. He turned to me and smiled briefly, then handed a poach over to Krolan.

I walked over to them and Kitas stepped in front of me and said 'Master, could I have a word please?' Krolan nodded and they both stepped outside.

Father smiled at me and said 'So, how did you like the forges Azoth?'

I explained to him everything I had seen and all that Kitas had told me, and I told him about my question.

'You asked for work here? Very good Azoth, Krolan is a nice guy, just stick to your work and you'll get on with him just fine' He told me

I then asked father about the metal pieces in his belt, he pulled one out and showed it to me 'It's a throwing knife, for when I can't draw my bow quick enough, there very helpful' he explained.

After a while of us talking Krolan and Kitas came back inside, Kitas went back into the forges and Krolan came over to us, he sat down and said to me 'So, Kitas says you want to work here eh? I don't usually take on young ones your age, but I'll make an exception this once'

I was shocked, my heart skipped a beat when he said that 'by the dragons, thank you sir, I'll work my hardest' I exclaimed

'Good, now then, your pay will be 2 groats per day and you can work 5 day a week starting next week, is that ok Azoth?' he asked

I nodded yes and we shook hands in agreement, he then stood up and went and grabbed something wrapped in cloth from behind the counter, he passed it to me and said 'Here, consider this a birthday present, the person who ordered it is way past the collection date and I was going to smelt it but you can have it for yourself'.

I unwrapped it carefully and what I saw just made this day even better, it was a dagger, very finely crafted with an 18" blade, it must have been worth a lot. I thanked him for it and we headed outside before I got too excited. On the way back, the sun was already starting to set and my father was talking to me and asking me how I enjoyed the day, we were nearly out of the main town when we heard bell's ringing, but not the church bells, the tower bells.

We stopped and turned to see behind us, the guards running to the main gates and people running for their homes. I was a bit scared but my father turned to me and said ' Listen, I'm going to go and see what's going on, I want you to go home to your mother and stay there, use that knife if you have to, understand?'

I didn't answer, I was still scared

He shook me and asked again, but more fiercely 'Do you understand Azoth?'

I nodded, and he hugged me 'Be safe Azoth and look after your mother until I get back' he said before letting go and running with the guards to the gates.

I turned and started running home.

It looks like this day could still go bad after all.