The next morning, I awoke with a noticeable weight lying on the right side of my chest. The sound of faint breathing and the feel of the morning breeze entering the tent pulled me from my deep slumber. My eyes opened as I stared at the roof of the pavilion, an inaudible yawn escaping me as I blinked and turned my gaze downwards. Ruffled and tousled light brown hair was what greeted me as I tried to remember where I was.

Ah. We’re on the way to Xadria.

As I slowly entered a state of consciousness, I felt Sora stir against me, a faint, breathy groan escaping her. She grunted and pushed herself into an upright position, raising her hands into the air and stretching with a grunt. The blanket she was under fell to her waist, revealing the raised hem of her shirt. Her stomach was toned and flat, but along her back, I couldn’t help but notice a collection of faint scars that peppered her skin, disappearing beneath her shirt. With a heavy sigh, Sora’s arms fell, and her shirt once again covered her back. She turned her head to face me, somehow making her bedhead look like a fashion statement. A smile played at her lips. “How was your rest, Joey?” Her soft voice was rough and coarse from the night’s rest, but I found that I liked how it sounded.

“I forgot I was camping out, it was so comfortable,” I answered honestly, feeling a bit confused as I sat up.

Sora smiled playfully, her amber eyes glistening in amusement. “Magic makes it convenient; I have to admit.” She slid out from beneath the blankets, revealing her bare slender legs. Sora stood and stretched once more, clad in a pair of short shorts and a cloth shirt. “Well, we have a long ride today. Let’s get dressed and get ready.”

Forcefully turning my eyes from Sora, I climbed to my feet. “I’ll check around outside. Give you some privacy to change.” As I walked towards the exit flap of the tent, I couldn’t help but notice a faint frown from Sora. Stepping out of the canvas, I had to squint and lift a hand over my eyes to keep the sun out of my eyes. The crunch of the grass beneath my bare feet and the gentle freeze that tickled my bare shins and forearms pushed me closer to full cognizance. After my eyes had finally adjusted, I lowered my hand and took in the sight of the horses that Sora and I had eating the grass at their feet.

My horse shook their head and huffed out a breath, turning their…her eyes to me, as if acknowledging my presence. I hummed as I approached the horse. She seemed a little skittish at my approach, but aside from a faint whine, she didn’t react to me. “It’s fine. I’m a friend.” I murmured to her, my voice soft as I placed a hand on her neck, sliding my palm gently along it. Patting and rubbing kindly, I smiled as she pawed the ground, her hooves digging into the soft, pliable earth. A notable exhale from her caused me to let out a faint laugh. “I never gave you a name, did I? We were in such a hurry that it slipped my mind…” She shook her head; ears flickered back and forth aimlessly. I paused for a few seconds before a smile grew on my face. “Kel. I think that’s a good one. What about you?”

She huffed through her nose, butting her head against my shoulder. “Like it too, huh? I’m glad.”

“Joey? I’m decent. The tent’s free.” I turned around to see Soralynn stepping out of the tent, in a set of clothes different from yesterdays. She wore a knee length dress with a corset. She wore a pair of dark brown boots and a set of riding gloves, around her waist was a black belt. Her hair had a low ponytail. As I stepped away from Kel, I could feel her intent gaze washing over me. In her hands, she held a large bag.

“Alright. Thanks. It won’t take me long to change.” I walked back over to the tent. As I approached it, though, she held a bag out to me. “What’s this?”

The corners of her mouth curled upwards as her eyes brightened. “I managed to collect these over the year before meeting you. They’re nothing fancy, but they should serve you well enough until we find something more final in Xadria.”

I took the bag and nodded my thanks to Sora, before entering the tent. Setting the bag down, I opened it and felt my breath catch. Swiftly changing, I folded up my sleep clothes and put them away. Stepping out of the tent, I gave Sora an intense stare. “How’d you find these?” Sora didn’t immediately answer, simply looking like that cat that caught the canary. “My vambraces and greaves. I was pretty sure the armorer took them back after I died.”

Indeed, I was now wearing the very same armguards and greaves that I did the night I defended Nyrill. They didn’t look as new as they did when I first got them but instead appeared to be of a darker tint in color. I wore a leather jerkin, though it felt a bit heavier than usual. Over that, I was wearing dark leather and short sleeve jacket that felt like it was concealing interlocking steel plates for defense, with quite a few hidden pockets on the inside. My pants felt similar to denim, but somewhat rougher to the touch, with thick leather padding around my waist and thighs for protection. My hands were covered by a pair of dark brown gloves, though the fingers on my pinky and ring finger were missing.

For as much as I was wearing, I was confused about why I wasn’t already sweating like a dog from the layers. Even if the weather wasn’t hot, it was nowhere near chilly.

“This is a placeholder armor?” I asked her incredulously.

Sora nodded to me, looking like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. “Well, yes…” At my deadpan glare, she offered me a playful smile. “It’s good enough to make a good impression, but it’s not professional adventuring gear.” Sora shrugged as she adjusted the pack on her saddlebags. “It’s all I was able to smuggle on my person. We’ll still have to get you a weapon, though.”

I hummed at her answer but nodded nonetheless. I then went about breaking down the tent to pack everything away. “What’s on the schedule today?”

“Still making our way to Xadria. It’s a two days’ ride at the pace I want to take, but we should reach a small checkpoint later today.” She answered as she set out food and water for the horses. “There’s a blacksmith stationed there, though. They’ll likely have a few weapons for you to pick from.” Sora paused and looked over her shoulder at me. “What’s your preferred weapon, Joey? I know your Affinity makes it redundant, but I’m curious to know what you prefer.”

“A sword,” I answered her, feeling my lips parting in a simple smile. “Even with my Affinity, after using so many different weapons during my time with Knights, I can’t help but feel a personal connection to the sword.”

“Which type?” Sora asked, and I felt deep regard from her.

“Hand-and-a-half hilt. Single-edged, straight. Standard length and weight.” I then opened and closed my hand. “I’m a bit more particular when it comes to the hilt, but then I’d be getting too nitpicky.”

“I see,” Sora mused as she took in my words, still getting the horses prepped for our ride.

“This checkpoint. What does it have and should we have to be concerned with being found out?”

She cleared her throat as she stepped away from the horses, putting away her remaining tools. “It has a barracks for the Knights stationed there, an inn and tavern for the occasional traveler, stables for horses and a variety of stores for those who are on the road.” I stood as I packed the last bit of the camping supplies. “We’ll likely get something to eat there and stay the night at the inn if there any available rooms. Though, the most important reason to stop by would be to arm you, Joey.”

“Okay,” I accepted her answer as I approached Kel and attached the bags to her saddle, testing them with a tug to see if they stuck. “What about you?” Sora gave me a perplexed look, cocking her head to the side. “Don’t you need a weapon? I figure it would be a smart idea not to advertise your magical abilities.” I asked her as I rubbed the side of Kel’s neck.

Sora smiled and shook her head, her dark hair shifting with both the motion and in the gentle breeze. “I’m armed, so you do not need to worry, Joey. I’ve done this long enough that I know what I’m doing.” She then approached her saddlebags and pulled out a pair of leaf-wrapped objects. “We need to get moving as soon as possible, so eat this. It’s a calorie supplement.” I took it and unwrapped it. It looked similar to caramelized bread covered in blue cream. Taking a bite, I couldn’t help but blink in surprised at how sweet it tasted. I finished it in record time and blinked in wonder at how full I felt after eating it.

I couldn’t help give Sora dry glare at her amused giggles from my reaction. After that, though, we mounted our horses and continued our trek down the path. “Okay, so our first goal is recruiting Mina. Where are these swamplands, specifically?”

“Along the border of Veritas and Kohinoor,” Sora explained, her voice carrying above the clopping sounds of our galloping horses. “It’s a natural occurrence in that area, from the excess runoff of water down the mountains. The marsh is an ideal base of operations for Mina so that she is both left alone and not tempted to run amok.”

I blinked at that before a sense of trepidation filled me. “Why don’t they?” Sora gave me a confused look. “The four of them. They’re powerful if they terrify people as effectively as the four seem to do, so why don’t the generals, I don’t know, take whatever they want?”

“It varies.” Sora hesitated as if carefully considering her words. She bit her lip, staring forward. “Among them, Eir is most content to follow Penemue’s orders, to a certain extent. She’s willing to stay inactive, but not willing to obey as she would you, should she acknowledge you.”

Sora paused and scanned the surrounding area, eyes searching for something amiss. “Jeanne is also compliant, but only when it either interests her or if she’s resting with her hoard.” A grimace crossed her face. “She has her moods, though, so Penny tries to keep her requests to a minimum.”

I nodded to her as I waited for her to continue. “Mina is…difficult.” She stated with a faint frown. “She’s proud, commandeering and demands respect.” Sora shrugged her shoulders with a grimace. “It’s warranted, all things considered, but anyone who is not her King will earn no courtesy from her.”

Sora then offered me a complicated smile. “Kaede, on the other hand… she feels nothing for anyone, aside from our King. Aside from remaining hidden from the world, Kaede will not listen to a single request from Penemue, our Regent.” She turned her head to face me. “In my opinion, it will be Kaede that will give you the most difficulty in recruiting. First impressions are everything to her.”

Taking all this in, I couldn’t help but sigh heavily. “This…it’s exhausting to think about.”

Sora let out a laugh; it was a velvety sound that tickled my ears. “You agreed to be our King. Too late for regrets now.” She then gave me a beautiful smile; eyes narrowed in amusement. “It’ll be like herding cats. Frustrating, at first. But when it all works out, it’ll all be worth it.”

Hearing her words and seeing her happy smile, I couldn’t help but feel hopeful. “Yeah… Let’s get it going.”

----

The checkpoint appeared to be a small, yet heavily fortified town. The road that we traveled along reached a wood and stone gate with a pair of armed and armored villagers in front of it. There was no wall, just a single, standalone barrier. A part of me found it ridiculous, but I could understand that it was a statement, seemingly a belief that they would defend their station regardless of what one would attempt.

Well, that, or there was a magic wall, but thinking along those lines would only drive me nuts. The town seemed to be surrounded by a forest, not unlike Nyrill, but it was nowhere near as thick or all-encompassing.

The two men stationed at the gate struck me more as members of volunteered militiamen. Sora and slowed our horses to a gentle trot as we came within sight of the entry gate. She reached into her side satchel and pulled out a few copper coins. She looked over to me and smiled faintly, though her voice came out dull and empty of emotion. “Let me do the talking. Guards are more thorough in their examination of newcomers as of late.”

“Why?” I asked her, allowing a small smile to appear as I looked over to her.

As if falling into our charade, her cheeks darkened at my smile. “Rabid monsters on the borders of Veritas and the other nations have been on the rise, so the militaries of Verum are increasing patrols and presence.” She then motioned to the guardsmen. “They’ve also requested the militia of the various villages and towns to increase their activities. As such, checkpoints now require a toll to be paid, to better support a more active militia.”

I took her words with careful consideration as we approached the checkpoint. When we came close enough, one of the guardsmen lifted his hand and waved at us to stop. He wore what looked like hard leather armor and what resembled a rugby helmet. A small circular shield was attached to his right arm, and a sheathed sword at his waist. His partner wielded a spear, watching us almost lazily as his partner stepped up. “Hold. I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but these checkpoints require a toll. A tax paid to both the Royal Capital and the support this town.”

“I understand. My friend and I came from Nyrill, where the proprietor of the inn told me of the new developments.” Sora spoke plainly, her tone strong and confident.

“A runaway noblewoman?” The guardsman murmured as he took the offered coin from Sora. As he counted them, he shook his head. “Not my business. You’ve paid your toll. We’ll wave you in then. Welcome to Del. We’re a simple town, for those who are just on their way.”

We made our way to the entrance and Sora continued speaking, offering the man a nod in thanks. “Thank you. Is the blacksmith still operating? I’m looking for a weapon that my friend here can use until we reach Xadria.”

The guard offered me a scrutinous look, before turning back to Sora. “Yeah. It’s been a slow few weeks, so the old man’s been a bit ornery for lack of work. He’ll probably try to push for a brand-new weapon, rather than one off the shelf, if only for something to do.”

Sora hummed warily, as if unsure, as the gate opened in front of us. “I’m not sure. Coin’s a bit tight for us at the moment. I don’t know if that would fit within our budget…”

The man just waved his hand at us. “The old man’s not intimidating, just high strung.” He then turned his head and faced down the road, dismissing us.

I looked over to Sora to see her smirking, motioning with her head to follow her. She continued into the town, and I push Kel to trail her. “First thing we’ll do is rent some stables for our horses. From there, we’ll play it by ear, depending on how packed the inn is.”

I nodded at her. Overall, the town looked like it had not too many people. We trotted down the empty road, the clopping sound of our horse’s hooves dominated the morning atmosphere. Along the path, on either side, were a pair of single-story wooden buildings, built in size and wide, no doubt the barracks for the knights and militia. As we continued down the road, I caught sight of an open-sided building with an adjoining structure with a horseshoe on the front door — the stables. There were five sections, with two of them occupied by horses.

We continued down the road until we reached the inn, which was close to the stables, thankfully. We led our horses to the stables and ordered space for each of them, let us resume our trek on foot. “Let’s check on the inn and see if there are any available rooms,” Sora said as we walked over to the inn. I pushed open the door only hear the faint sound of ambient music in the background of talking people. I walked inside to see a set of round wooden tables with straight-backed wooden chairs occupied by peopled drinking, eating and talking. On the back wall, there were a handful of booths, though only one had occupants. There was a bar on the opposite side of the building, where a young woman with long blonde hair, dressed in a white apron over a black dress was wiping down a glass.

She looked over to the door to see us at the entrance and flashed a welcoming smile, before going back to cleaning her area. “Let’s see if there are any vacancies,” I said to her as I motioned to the bar. Sora nodded, and we walked over to the bar.

As we reached the bar, the woman’s smile widened. “Well, you’re both new. What brings both here?” She spoke with a very prominent country accent, causing me to blink in surprise. I guess accents like that are multidimensional.

Thankfully, Sora proved to be nonplussed, smiling as she answered her, “We’re stopping by for the day. My friend and I are making our way to Xadria, but it’s a bit too far to travel in a single ride safely.”

The woman hummed, her brown eyes flickering from her to me, before ending back on Sora. “Y’all came at the right time, then. We’ve got plenty of empty rooms.”

“How much for the night,” Sora asked her, leaning against the counter with a smirk.

“For the two of you? Twelve copper, meals included.” She replied with an easy smile, eyes rolling between the two of us. “Though, that could change…would be sharing a room?”

I was about to respond, but Soralynn cut me off. “Yes. We are. Traveling together keeps us both safe from the dangers of the open plains.”

The woman frowned at her words. “Hmm, I understand. I’ve learned that it’s become far more dangerous since Veritas’ borders have come under attack…” She hummed faintly, placing the glass on the counter and looking to the side.

“The borders?” I asked her, finally speaking up and catching her attention. “Along which side of Veritas?”

She frowned at me. “The west, along the borders next to the untamed wilderness. Have you not been paying attention to the criers?”

“I’ve been…indisposed for a few months, unable to contact the wider world,” I explained carefully, motioning towards Sora. “Sora managed to find me after a while, coining a family emergency of sorts.”

“Oh…” The woman mused, offering me a friendly smile before she nodded and picked up the glass and putting into beneath the counter. “Well, if you’re able to pay, then I’ll show you both to your room for the night.”

I was about to motion towards Sora, but I stiffened at the feeling of cold metal pressed into my palm. Without looking to my companion, I pulled my hand from below the counter and placed it in front of me. Twelve copper coins dropped onto the table in front of her. “Here you go.”

She offered me a smile. “Thank you, good sir.” She then quickly counted the coins, picked them up and dropped them into her apron pocket. “If you’ll both follow me.” She then motioned for us to do just that as she walked along behind the counter, towards a set of stairs on the wall opposite from the entrance. We ascended the wooden stairs, with the woman leading the way and Sora in front of me. White bulb sconces dimly illuminated the hallway on the second floor with a flickering ember in them. We continued down the wooden floors until we reached the third door on the right. It had a symbol I didn’t recognize, but as I stared at it, it seemed to morph before my very eyes before ending on the Roman numeral for 3.

As I blinked away a faint migraine, she woman unlocked the door and motioned us to go inside. Sora and I walked inside. It was a good-sized room, reminding me of a generic hotel room, but primarily wood and stone, with a pair of twin beds with plain white sheets and small dressers at their end. There was a single window with no curtains, but worn blinds.

“We just cleaned the room, so it should serve you well for the night. We’ve already served breakfast, but lunch will be in a few hours.” She explained a few more things about what we were permitted to do after purchasing the room for the night, then gave me the key, before returning to her bar.

After she left, I shut the door and watched as Sora released a breath and walked over to the bed closest to the window. She dropped her bag on the mattress and fell onto it, sitting down as she leaned back. Sora’s expression darkened as she frowned, muttering to herself as she rolled her shoulders.

“Sora?” I pulled her attention to me. I walked over to my bed and sat down across from her. “Everything alright?”

Soralynn didn’t respond immediately, merely staring at me for a few moments. Then she closed her eyes, a smile playing at her face. “You’re too kind, Joey…” Sora paused, looking to the side as her expression darkened. “I just…I’m not too fond of my former race.” A scowl played at her lips before she smoothed her expression. “They fear the unknown and lash out in anger when frightened. Most are unwilling to embrace change when it’s clear that it is inevitable.” She then closed her eyes and leaned her head back, lips pursed in disgust. “Their willful ignorance is a frustration that the world can do without.”

There wasn’t much I could say to that. A part of me wanted to defend humans, to speak up and tell Sora that there was more to it than that, but… After growing up in the world that I did, after practically being abandoned by my parents, after being betrayed by someone I considered family, my faith in humanity felt pretty damn shaken, if not nonexistent. Still, I couldn’t just say nothing. “People will do drastic things for the sake of comfort,” I said softly, leaning backward. “After staying in one spot for so long, they tend to get territorial. I’ve found that change will happen regardless of a person’s wishes; it’s how they react to that inevitability that defines them.”

Sora looked over to me, her eyes inscrutable as she locked hers with mine. After a few moments of silence, her lips curled in mild amusement. “You do not directly defend them, despite living as one your entire life. You do not disparage them either.” Her smile widened into a faint grin, slightly baring her teeth in something not unlike a shark-like smirk. “It seems the Human race doesn’t fail to disillusion themselves even to those across the veil.”

“I may have seen faints shadows of humanity…” I started, smiling faintly. “But I haven’t seen the worst, so I still have some faith.”

Sora’s smile sharpened as she seemed to hug herself, arms wrapped around her torso. “Be patient, my King, for we shall see the true face of humanity as we progress with our goal. We are the unknown they fear. If we're unprepared when they discover us, they will lash out.”

I wasn’t sure how I felt about this ‘them vs. us’ mentality, but since I’ve technically become Verum’s Satan equivalent, I shouldn’t be surprised. Still, I did choose this life. I will have my freedom, even if I have to fight the whole world for it.

Before I could feel my mood dip, even more, Sora sucked in a sudden breath and abruptly rose to her feet. A wide grin appeared on her face, half-forced, half-amused, as she turned towards me. “Well, we rested enough. Let’s get to the blacksmith. We still need to get you your sword and help you get used to it.”

Thrown off by her sudden exuberance, I allowed myself a small smile as I rose to my feet as well. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

Sora gave a mischievous laugh as we left our room and headed downstairs, having locked the door behind us. “You’ll find that your preferred type of weapon will be easier to find than you initially thought.” We offered our formal farewell to the woman at the bar as we left, walking outside into bright late morning air. We walked relatively slowly and talked about anything and nothing if only to pass the time.

When we finally reached the blacksmith. The building was primarily stone with a wooden storefront. Several generic weapons hung from a collection of hooks at the open window, no doubt advertising the weaponry. My discerning eye, from both my Affinity telling me what best fits me and my experience let me know what I worked with the best, allowed me to see which I felt would be most effective in my hands.

“Let’s get inside. I’m sure the proprietor will have more options within the store.” Sora grabbed my arm, already pulling me towards the door. We reached the wooden door, and she pushed it open, allowing a wave of heat to smack us in the face. I grimaced as I looked around the sweltering smithy. Stone shelving covered by cloth rags appeared filled with weapons resting on the sides — a wall, filled with arms that hung by their hilts. Along the wall opposite them, rested an assortment of armors, shield and stray handles with sheaths. At the back wall, the forge and well were still going strong, where an older man dressed in leather coveralls, gloves and in a leather and stone welder’s mask. The man was currently working, focused solely on the task before him.

Seemingly without a care in the world, Sora continued to pull me forward, releasing my arm as she rang a bell at the stone counter. The blacksmith lifted a hand, pointing his finger in the air, the universal sign for ‘give me a minute.’ With that, I decided to browse the available wares while Sora saw fit to wait patiently. Swords, axes, bucklers, and a variety of other types of weapons and shields were set out to display for a customer to see. Honestly, I was half-tempted to pick one or two of them up, if only to add to my repertoire.

“Sorry ‘bout the wait. Had a few last-minute projects to finish. What do you need?” A gruff voice pulled my attention from the display weaponry. I turned around to see an older man with worn, weathered features and long reach scar along his left cheek, going from the chin to behind his ear. His eyes were dark and narrowed, with pronounced crow’s feet. His apron was dirty, and he smelled faintly of sweat.

Sora spoke up immediately, replying to the man with a smile. “I’m looking to commission a sword for my friend here.” The man furrowed his brow, turning a skeptical gaze to me.

“Sora, let me take it from here,” I said to her, my tone kind, yet stern. I approached the man and took a moment to measure his temperament. How to take this route…? “I’m looking for a hand-and-a-half sword, single-edged, straight blade with a simple guard. No fancy additions, just a good sword that passes the examination of a skilled blacksmith.”

The man narrowed his eyes at me as if searching for something. “Those specifications…are you another brat trying to emulate Veritas’ lost Hero?” He scoffed and crossed his arms. “Ever since the tragedy that happened in Nyrill, fools trying to recapture the hope he inspired asked for those specs time and time again. After a few months of that, no self-respecting blacksmith would accept such monotonous craftsmanship.”

Though I felt frustrated at his words, I could recognize feeling frustrated. Seeing his reluctance, I offered him a shrug. “I apologize for making such a repetitive request, then. Do you happen to have any weapons already made that are close to such specifications?”

The man furrowed his brow at me as if searching for any deceit from me. If his expression was any indication, it seems that the average person didn’t give in that easily. Still, I remained silent as I waited for his response, arm resting on the counter as I waited for his response. “Hmm. I’ll check if I have anything in the back. Wait for a moment.’ He pushed himself away from the counter and went to the end of his store.

After he disappeared through a door in the back, Sora looked over to me with a frown. “Why didn’t you let me ask him? I could’ve convinced him to craft you a new sword to those exact specifications.”

“There’s only one blacksmith I want to make my most ideal weapon,” I replied with a slowly widening grin. “She isn’t here,” I answered without a care in the world, crossing my arms. Her eyes widened at my answer, before she laughed under her breath, shaking her head as she looked forward once more. As we waited, I turned my attention to the display weaponry and armory to pass the time.

A faint crash in the back, followed by a muffled curse caught my attention. The door to the backroom was pushed open, and the man came trudging through his store, grumbling into his beard as he reached the counter. He continued to give me the stink eye as he placed a three-foot-long wrapped, rectangular box. “I made this a few months ago, but the ignorant who commissioned it decided to leave town before picking it up. It’s not an exact match to your request, but it’s close enough.” He pushed the box towards me and pulled off the cloth wrapping the box. It appeared to be a simple black box with a silver latch keeping it closed.

I stepped right up to the counter and undid the latch. With a click, I flipped the notch up and grasped the edges. Pushing upwards, the top of the box opened almost too quickly. The smell of freshly oiled steel tickled my nose as I opened it. A bare blade rested on a white cloth, next to its pale brown sheath. It had a longer hilt than that of a standard longsword, though shorter than most hand-and-a-half grips, greeted me. Thick and wrapped in sequentially tied leather strips that encompassed the entire handle. I studied the cross-shaped guard, left and right edges sticking outwards to fixed points. The dual-sided blade rested on the cloth, showing my reflection as I studied it.

“May I?” I motioned to the sword.

“You’re planning on buying it, right?” He asked me, his voice hard.

I offered him a playful smirk. “If I like how it feels, yeah.” He grunted and waved his hand at me. I glanced to the side to see that Sora was stepping away, to give me space. Reaching forward, I wrapped my hand around the hilt of the sword and lifted it out the box.

The first thing I noticed was that it wasn’t cumbersome. It was almost like a feather with how light it felt in my hands. A part of me wanted to swing it, to get a better physical feel for how the sword felt, but I don’t want to push my luck with the old blacksmith. Still, while the hilt didn’t have that same lived in feeling that the one Amber had made for me did, it did feel…familiar in the way I held it.

Lowering the sword, I picked up the sheath and slid the sword into it. I then looked to the blacksmith and allowed myself a satisfied grin. “How much?”