Boro and Littume left the city in the quiet of early morning. They and a handful of soldiers as an escort, slowly marched down the cobbled streets of Helfa, people were just beginning to fill the streets, preparing merchant stalls and storefronts for another day of business. They barely gave the small procession a second glance as they went about there morning.
There were twelve of them total, Littume, Boro, nine of Lord Jetir's strongest household guards, and his most trusted officer. When they arrived at a private gate house, Boro was surprised to see Lord Jetir himself there to see them off. He had an entire procession of guards of his own, one of them held the reins of two horses laden with packs and supplies. Lord Jetir clapped Boro on the shoulder with one hand, the other holding a long folded piece of cloth, and told him that the two pack horses were his, to feed and supply himself while on the road. He also handed Boro a fat sack that clinked heavily when dropped in to his hand. It was filled with copper, silver and gold royals, all to help supply them while they sought out allies.
After Boro said his farewell and accepted the money, he quickly made himself busy checking out the two pack horses. He wanted to give Littume and Lord Jetir space for there farewells. He saw Jetir give his son a firm hug and share a few words with him. Then he saw Lord Jetir unwrap the cloth and from it pulled out an ornate brown and gold scabbard. The scabbard was too thick to belong to a rapier, and too wide to be a katan, the long slightly curved, single edge style sword that Boro himself used. This one was as wide as the width of his palm and had two edges to it. A broadblade, an older style of blade, but also much more deadly than the rapier. With both hands, Lord Jetir offered the blade, hilt first to his son. Without pause, Littume pulled the sword from its sheath, hearing the sword make a clear SSSCHWWING! as it was drawn. He held the blade up in the early morning light, inspecting its surface from tip to pommel. Every head turned to Littume as he held it.
The broadblade was a deep blue color, even from where he stood Boro could make out the fineness of it. The blade seemed to ripple as the light of the sun hit it, and Boro could see the pattern of waves in the center of the blade, showing that the blade metal had been twisted over and over in the forging process. Though the blade was mostly a deep blue color, Boro could just slightly make out a hint of red in the pattern of the blade. This sword must have taken spans to forge, and it looked as if it had never been used.
"This sword once belonged to me, and has since been reforged using our more advanced techniques." Lord Jetir told his son, who still stood silently admiring his new blade.
"Father... Thank you, but I do not deserve to wield such a fine blade. I have embarrassed you on too many occasions. If I used this sword, I will dishonor it."
When Boro heard that, he decided to interject, "No Lite, you will only dishonor this blade if you turn it away right now"
"But mas-"
Boro raised a hand to the young lord, silencing him, "Am I not you master? Did you not promise to follow my lead?"
"Yes bu-" Again Boro silenced him with a hand, this time Littume grew a bit red in the face, unaccustomed to being cut off by anyone but his father.
"Then you WILL take the blade, and you WILL use it well when the time comes."
Lord Jetir had listened quietly to the short exchange between his son and Boro. Silently praising Boro.
I choose well with this one, young Master Boro will be a great leader and will teach Littume much Lord Jetir thought with growing satisfaction.
Without further argument Littume placed the sword back into its sheath and tied it to his waist. He gave his father one last hug, and then they departed Helfa. It would be some time before they returned to the city. So Littume turned one last time, just outside the city walls, and said farewell to his home.
They traveled in peace for a few spans. Every morning Boro and Littume would run ahead of their procession, stopping after Littume was too tired to continue. At first, Littume was ashamed of how tired he was after running for only a short time, but Boro told him, after he collapsed on the second day, that knowing one's limits was just as important as pushing past them. After their morning run they would stretch, then Boro and Littume would spar until the rest of their guards arrived again. Littume was a eager student, and a fast learner. He picked up the basic forms Boro had invented quickly, and was soon flowing from one advanced form to the next. He was also able to keep up with Boro after just a few days of morning runs.
At night, Boro and Littume would talk, going over plans and possible allies, how to best approach each lord, which ones might support them and which would shackle them and throw them in a dark cell. They talked battle strategies, and argued which type of weapon was most effective at what. Eventually they would talk of their lives, they would even begin sharing personal stories and getting to know one another after the first few days.
Boro found Littume to be an intelligent young man, and despite how they first met, he was very likable. He did still behave like a young, pampered noble sometimes, but overall he was agreeable and respected Boro for his skill, and eventually his leadership too.
After the first thirteen days of travel, while walking through a wide, dry, ravine that was once a river, and just a few more days out from the first city since Helfa, they were set upon by a particularly large group of bandits on foot, numbering over thirty. With the help of the guards and the officer, Boro and Littume managed to destroy them, but not without some injuries, and casualties, of their own. In the end four of their own party were killed, and two with minor injuries. Nearly twenty of the bandits were killed and six captured, the rest had managed to flee, using the rocky terrain against the horse laden party.
Littume had killed several bandits that day, one was a fresh faced young woman, when the fight was over and Littume stood over her corpse, blood and gore spattered across his face, he began to weep. All of them, except for Boro and the officer Johanas, had never killed a person before. After they tied up the captures, and buried the dead, they traveled just a bit farther, just enough to leave the ravine behind, and then stopped to make camp. That night was a quiet one, they mourned the loss of their companions and shed tears for their first kills. Boro volunteered to take first watch that night, making sure to keep an eye and ear out for their captives, as well as for more bandits.
When the moons were high in the night sky, Littume came to sit by Boro. They did not speak, but they shared in the loss of life and blood shed that day. Boro thought back on those bandits he had killed before arriving in Helfa. It seemed like a lifetime ago and it felt like Boro had aged many years since then. In truth he had aged, not physically, but mentally. He knew he was a different person then he was just two full moons ago and he knew, Littume would be the same.
So they continued on the next morning, still silent mostly. Boro and Littume continued their training. When they finally arrived at the city, they went straight to the castle and turned in their captives, then Boro told them all, except for Littume, to enjoy their day as they would.
Meanwhile, Boro and Littume made their way to the Lord office, unsure what their reception would be but adamant that they should at least feel out the Lords stance.