Chereads / What if and Change Your View / Chapter 20 - Twenty

Chapter 20 - Twenty

He selected one of her odder looking arrowheads. It was swirled and resembled a drill. But the outer edges were ultra sharp, and it's tip lethal. It was even barbed to prevent someone from easily pulling it out. Still, it was beautiful.

"Impressive." Tilton commented.

"It is designed to deliver nasty things deep within the body. Pulling it out would do more damage and burst whatever is placed in the middle." She explained, pushing on the back of it slightly showing it had a mechanism to break a vial and push the contents out.

"Did you design this for someone or just come up with it on your own?" Tilton asked.

"I came up with it, though I am a peaceful Avarial, my family is close with a warring Avarial family. My father smiths for the warriors, though he says this is too frivolous for proper use." Cassae answered.

"An arrow made with this head would sell easily here in the mortal realm." Tilton told her.

Joshua was staying professional, but looking at the daggers. Tilton began checking out a different arrowhead as she layer a few more pieces on a table, along with the original ones she'd taken out. Noting this I mentally asked him, 'Did you want to look at them closer?'

'I would enjoy feeling those daggers, yes, but I shouldn't indulge my whims while on the job.' Joshua said.

'My safety is your top priority right now, correct?' I asked.

'Of course.' He answered.

'Then doesn't that apply with checking quality of a good that I am ensuring or sponsoring the production of?' I asked. 'You are a more experienced man than I am.'

'Fair enough, I think I will inspect them.' Joshua said.

"Joshua will look at the daggers, I'm just a kid after all." I said.

"That is fine." Cassae said. "I would hate for you to get cut."

"That's ok. Do you have any of the arrowheads that look like Persian Shield leaves?" I asked.

"Persian shields..?" She asked. Frowning. I showed her an image mentally, "Ah, this?" She asked taking one out. "This one is far too light."

"May I see that one?" Tilton asked.

She laid it flat on her palm and offered it towards him, "It is far too light, but it is still sharper than many expect. Be careful."

Gently, he picked it up and turned it about a few times. "It is beautiful."

He took out a small piece of armor, a scale mail shirt, and set it up on a table. He walked back a few paces, ensuring we all were out of the way, and threw the little arrowhead at the piece of armor as if it was a throwing knife. It barely made a noise when it struck the armor. It didn't fall, either. Instead it stuck firmly into the wall behind the armor.

He went, pried loose the arrowhead, inspecting it for damage. After seeing it had no damage, he said, "It is indeed very light, and very lethal." He carefully handed it back to her, "It is finely crafted. I dare say our Dwarven host will be place in quite the crafting frenzy."

She was quite embarrassed by the praise, blushing fiercely. But I had an idea, "Hey, what if a crossbow was made at a smaller size, just a little smaller than a hand crossbow, and bolts with that head made to fit it? Wouldn't that fix the weight issue with a redwood shaft?"

"It would. Easily. That would be one of the finest bolt in all the world, I'd say." Tilton said.

"There is plenty of demand for smaller weapons in the Material Plane as well. Plenty of small races." I pointed out.

"Then it is not entirely flawed?" Cassae asked.

Tilton looked at her in a serious manner. "Who told you this was flawed in any way?"

"My father and my own logic did." Cassae said. "My father has been a master for three hundred years, for the materials we have available the arrowhead is flawed due to it's light nature. I also lost the color towards the tip, see how it is clear?" She held up the arrowhead.

"Does the color have anything to do with it's lethality or it's integrity?" Tilton asked her.

"No, I suppose not." She said.

"If these were designed to be art pieces, then I could understand calling them flawed.. but they are designed to kill, and kill they will." Tilton said.

"They are designed for both, Tilton, to be art and deadly. Her main problem is that her father is sexist and only taught her in case they wouldn't have another child." I said dryly. "She should have been made a master and her own smithy made up already. Her talent is outstanding. I would know. I only keep talented people around."

"I can't say I understand making a weapon into an art piece, but these are beautiful works." Tilton said.

"Did you not make your own bow, Tilton? That longbow with the stylized grip and etched limbs?" I said, looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "Not to mention that it's made from a myrtle burl."

"Yes, I designed my custom bow to be to my liking and to be lethal." Tilton said.

"And yet you say you don't understand making a weapon into art." I shook my head, "Yet you've done just that."

"I would not call it a work of art. More like a personalized personal item." Tilton said.

"Tomato, tomawto." I said, nearly dismissively. Noting Joshua seemed fond of one of the knives with a tiger hilt and see through blade, I asked, "Do you like that one a lot Joshua?"

He wrote, 'I feel drawn to it, almost instinctually.'

"I see. Should I buy it for you?" I asked him. "You're the one who has to deal with my sass and ensure it doesn't get me killed."

'Depending on the price, I'd like to buy it myself. I'd hate to impact the royal treasury.' He wrote.

Tilton eyed me briefly. I said, "Well, as it turns out, my divine Father is interested in helping my ambitions along, so I really don't need to be concerned about funds. Unlike you who works for a living."

'Exactly, I work for my living which means I can use my earnings as I see fit. But if it's a royal decree, who am I to stand in the way?' He wrote. I could prelactically hear his sarcasm.

Cassae looked embarrassed and uneasy. So I said, "The typical cost of glassteel daggers would be eleven hundred gold. You could easily sell that dagger for twice to four times that price, especially to a wealthy tiger I know. It's up to you, Cassae. Or, we can bring Balnur into it and he can set the sellers price."

She hesitated and said, "Is that the case even though I am an apprentice?"

I scoffed. "You're a master by skill. Haah. Look, it would be considered an original work. In two hundred years, once you're renowned, you could sell it for ninety thousand gold. Because it is unique. The Mundane preciates things with great age like that. A fair price is two thousand gold. A cheap price is eleven hundred."

She looked at Tilton, "Is he right?"

"He is. That is both fair or cheap in price. The boy is a great deal many things, but a liar isn't one of them." Tilton said.

"Alright then, though I suppose I should probably speak to Balnur, since he is meant to be my partner so to speak.. I will allow the purchase of the dagger at a reasonable price.. And I will try to have more confidence in my work." Cassae said.

She set the price at a thousand gold, since it was a fifty year old piece. Joshua happily handed over the gold. "I'm gonna fetch Balnur if he isn't busy." I said, heading out of Cassae's forge, and into the shop. Joshua followed, of course.

Balnur saw us coming in and said, "I was wondering if you'd come in after Tilton did."

"Yeah, the nosy busy body. The Glassteel Smith is checking out the forge and showing off her current pieces to Tilton. Did you want to step around and see?" I asked.

"I probably should. It would be good to meet the smith." Balnut said.

"This way we can ensure you would like to market her wares." I grinned.

"Something like glassteel, I'm sure I'd love to market it anyways. Unless it looks like utter trash. But I doubt you'd make such a suggestion if it did." Balnur said.

I grinned, while he came around to the door, and said, "She's lacking a bit of confidence due to her father wishing she was a son. You know the sort."

"Well, that'll be sorted once people start buying up the work." Balnur said.

We went around and entered the forge where I'd left the elves. Cassae was saying, "Properly, it would be best to start with completing your knowledge of smiting and moving onto glass crafting before reaching the transmutation stage."

"It's understandable. A strong foundation builds all skills." Tilton said.

Seeing her glance at us, I introduced them, "Balnur, this is Ara, the glassteel smith. She is young by Elf standards, but skilled anyways. Ara, this is Balnur a Dwarven Master Blacksmith."

"I am pleased to meet you, Master Balnur." Cassae smiled.

"It is good to meet you as well, you've been spoken highly of." Balnur said.

She politely lifted a dagger from the table and presented it to him. "If you would like to inspect my work."

Balnur accepted the knife, inspecting it. After a moment he said, "This is masterful work, however the leather is fading and becoming dry. It'll start cracking soon." He moved onto looking over the other pieces she had out.

"Renewing wrappings would be a good idea." Cassae noted. "I should keep it in mind."

"Balnur, would constant snow storms or cold weather effect the leather on the hilts?" I asked.

"Yes, it would dry them out extremely fast." Balnur said.

"Then it should last longer here once replaced properly. Her home land is snowing than the mountains to the North." I told the men. "Right, Joshua?"

Joshua wrote, 'It certainly snows more than winter's halt.'

"That didn't used to be the case Bry- I mean Ashtar told me that Tilton and she used to attend festivals and have snowball fights in Ymir's Town and that Winter's Halt used to be surrounded by snow, though the town itself didn't have snow in it because of magic devices." I said.

'Well, that would have been interesting to see.' Joshua wrote.

"Oh, Ara, if Tilton's being a grump, just go to the Guildhall and ask for Ashtar. She can deal with him." I said.

'I feel I've been ignored.' Joshua wrote.

"Yes, you have been." Tilton said.

"I don't think I'd bother to go find Ashtar just because Tilton was being grumpy." Cassae said.

"I suppose. Mostly idiots and jerks make him grumpy anyways. Or me." I said.

"Simply because I feel it is your goal to annoy me." Tilton said.

"Pftt. No, it's because I generally have bad news when I seek you out. Or you've been kidnapped." I said.

"Kidnapped..?" Cassae said, looking surprised.

"Hmph. A devil's poor joke, really. " TIlton said.

"To be fair, it is still safer from chromatic dragon's in this area." I said, seeing her look a little anxious. "Plus, my mansion can be a safe hiding place if necessary. Alinta will protect people should I ask it."

"My town is perfectly safe except for the very random roaming devil. But even then, he doesn't bother the normal citizens." Tilton said.

"Plus he's only not been a snail for a short time." I said.

"What?" She said.

"Oh, I turned Tilton's stalker devil into a snail. He was only recently released again." I replied.

"Oh, yeah. And just so you are aware, all of the group has started carrying scrolls of true polymorph, just in case he gets any ideas." Tilton said.

I grinned like a devil and said, "Awesome. Cassae, er I mean Ara, did you want to stay around here a while, or did you want to go back home? Either is fine."

"Why do you keep calling me Cassae?" She asked.

"Because when I met you first, in the future, you had your adult name already. I am not used to you being Ara." I said. "It's a silly practice to me."

"I see. If Cassae is easier for you, then that is fine." She said. "I think I will stay for a week, since I have packed for such. Then when you go to check on the Elder's decision I will go with you to get the rest of my things."

"Sounds good. Would you like to stay at the Inn or poke around town?" I asked.

"If you would like to poke around town, I have no one currently who can guide you so I can do it myself." Tilton said.

"Will that not be a bother for you?" Cassae asked him.

"As I've said, my town is quite peaceful. There is not much for me to do at the moment." Tilton said.

"Then, I wouldn't mind it. I could even take you for a flight if you wanted." She grinned.

He thought for a moment, "We would need to stop by Tibon's store, first."

"Alright." She nodded. "Did we need to sign anything, Master Balnur?"

"Sign anything? Unless you mean to set this deal in stone, no." Balnur said.

"I understand Isarial set a lot up with it, but the final say is between us, isn't it?" Cassae said, sounding more confident. She really wanted this.

He chuckled, "Aye it is. Sorry, I had to be sure you wanted it. Come with me, we'll get it done."

"I'll leave her to you, Tilton. Cassae, if you need me, send word to my mansion or the Guard Captain, Haril, of Hearthstone, to the left of the second bridge East. Anyone can direct you to either." I said, with acknowledgment, I headed out with Joshua following.

We left the town, and passed the first bridge. This was when something seemed off. My mansion was nearby, but there was no sound in the trees. I made my steps less confident and stuck closer to Joshua, making myself seem more like a normal child. I glanced around, looking for any signs of whatever had put the forest on edge. Goblins were semi common in the area. It wasn't to the point that it was in the future, which was fine either way. Even I could deal with a goblin, though Joshua would get chewed out if I had to.

He remained as vigilante as I was. It wasn't until we could see the second bridge that an arrow whistled through the trees at us. Bandits. I reached for my Mom through the Quori, 'Mom, can Haril send some men to the bridge? There are bandits attacking.'

'We will be right there. Who do you have with you?' Mother asked.

'A mute bodyguard. You shouldn't come.. You're pregnant.' I protested, watching Joshua's defensive movements. He was throwing smaller knives with grand accuracy. 'Help is coming.' I told him mentally.

'They better hurry up or there won't be any left. I'll gladly keep all the fun for myself.' Joshua responded.

"Get they kid! The guys disposable." Someone shouted from the trees.

'We should move to the bridge.' Joshua suggested.

We started edging that way, when some large dogs emerged. 'Well, this is unfortunate, I like dogs.' Joshua commented, unexpectedly, he scooped me up and started to run for the bridge.

I didn't like it, but what could I do. The dogs were faster, though. As one bit him, he dropped a tar ball, sticking them in place. The second Joshua's feet touched the bridge, guards swarmed onto the bridge from the other side and past. Slaying the free dogs and getting to the bandits in seconds.

I guided him to Hearthstone, as soon as we entered my Mom took me from Joshua, holding me and checking me for injury. 'You should eat more snacks, Kid. You're lighter than a feather.' Joshua commented.

"I'm ok, Mom. That's Joshua, my bodyguard from the Lucky Stone personel. The guards were really fast. Haril bellowed, didn't he?" I asked, looking at my Mom, then I glanced at Joshua, "And I do snack. Everyone keeps making me."

"Oh, he did more than bellow." Mom said.

"Joshua, Dad will want to interrogate the bandits, can you see about capturing one or extricating them from the guards?" I asked. "I am with my mom right now so it isn't going to impact your pay."

'You can ensure my pay? I'll be right back.' Joshua said, looking amused.

I took out my chatting device and leaned my head against my mom, while Joshua left, I said, "Dad, we got ambushed near Hearthstone. The guards of my town helped get us out of the situation. They were especially after 'the kid' so I thought you might like to know."

"Do any of them yet breath?" Dad asked.

"Hm. Maybe. Mom took me from Joshua, so he is fetching one, if he can." I informed him.

"If possible, bring it to me, and I will deal with it." Dad said.

"Will do." I said, ending it. Then I reached out to Plight again, "I'm at Hearthstone if you wanted to chat."

"Oh? Sure I'll come meet you. Where should I go?" Plight asked.

"Hm. Guard area. You can bring your lady friend if you want." I said.

"Alright be there in a bit." He said.

I ended the connection and said, "Sorry for scaring you, Momma."

"I'm just glad they didn't reach you. I'll have to thank that man." Mom said.

"No need. He did what my Dad pays him for." I told her. "He finds me to be amusing, and so is happy with the assignment."

"Alright, then. Let's get you something to eat now that you're here." Mom said.

"Ok. I met my father.." I said. "He said he'll come talk to you."

"Oh? What did that fool have to say now?" Mom asked, heading to her home with Haril and Simon.

"Not the Cross guy. Pyreleos, the god." I clarified. "He stopped time to speak to me because he was concerned about how advanced my mind is."

"Oh, now he's worried about you. Wait.. you sent a god to talk to me?" Mom looked at me.

"Yes. I told him he owed you an apology." I told her.

"And he agreed? It's going to be odd to speak to the God I worshipped." Mom said.

"He said he always intended to speak to me when I turn ten. He isn't sure why he didn't, but I assume it's to do with myself being separated from you. He said he can't see into the future." I told her.

"One of the texts that were passed around to believers was that if he saw into the future, he could no longer be merciful." Mom said.

"I look just like him.." I said.

"Well, unfortunately, I cannot comment on that. I never actually saw him." Mom said.

"I can share the memory with you." I said.

"Alright. Let me see this god." Mom said.

So, I shared with her the memory while telling Joshua with the chatting tool where we were. Once it was completed, she said, "You're right. You look just like him. And I see the two of you are similar when it comes to spiting gods."

I smiled and said, "I like to be spiteful towards anyone who perceives themselves higher than me. To me, all people capable of thought are equal until they prove otherwise."

"You're right, and I'll smack anyone who says otherwise." Mom said.

I smiled at her and said, "I thought Haril kept some boys patrolling the road, too."

"Oh, he's already stated if they aren't dead they are going to be." Mom said. "He may just mean a very stern talking to and severe retraining."

"Well, anyone can be jumped and smashed upside the head." I shrugged.

"True. But the rest of the patrol should have noticed that they were missing." Mom said.

"True. So that begs the question of how long they've been laying in wait. Was I the target or any child?" I frowned. I noticed Simon looking out the window as we drew closer. He stayed in the house, or was sent into the house, clearly.

She looked towards the entrance. "Looks like we will be finding out soon enough."

I looked, too. Joshua and the guards were dragging people in. "Yep. Momma, you can let me down. I need to make a portal to send one of them to the Lucky Stone."

She set me down, "Alright, alright. Send one off to be interrogated."

I started on the glyph while Joshua dragged the person towards us. "Did you check him for anti-interrogation methods?" I asked.

He flicked a tooth up in the air and caught it. He wrote, 'Had a real interesting cavity.'

"Well, that'll be interesting. How is the dog bite? Would you like me to heal you?" I asked. He knelt and rolled up his pants leg. The bite was gone. I nodded, finishing up the glyph. "Thank you for your escort today, I don't think I have anything else to do. My Mom or Plight will bring me home. Dad wants him brought to the office."

'I don't know if James has anyone in the office at present, so I will at least bring him to it.' Joshua wrote.

"Alright. In the future, you can tap your forehead and I will connect to you mentally." I informed him, then activated the portal. "I think I'll get Cassae to make you an interesting tool. I'll call you when I next need you."

He smiled, 'I am always at your service Your Majesty.' He then dragged the captive through to the Lucky Stone.

I let the portal close and scuffed it out. Haril was overseeing the remaining captives being jailed. So I approached him, "How many of your men are missing?"

"Currently six are unaccounted for." He answered.

"Any search parties, or is there going to be questioning?" I asked.

"Luckily, thanks to your funding, I have enough people for both tasks." Haril said.

"Technically, your men are paid via the towns profits and Jaden, one of the council members.. You're basically the only one I pay directly." I admitted.

"I may turn some of that money into more people." Haril said.

"Hm. Then just so you are fully aware, I can provide you funding directly if you want to hire people that way. Children are expensive, you know. You're also free to request raises for people you find to be outstanding." I said, rolling my eyes. But one of the men getting jailed caught my eye. I tensed up a bit. "Dane?" Seeing him reflexively look my way due to hearing his name unexpectedly, before dropping his gaze, I glared.

He kept his gaze down as he was locked away. He had no family, no real connections. A mercenary, essentially. He occasionally worked for my Dad. So I looked at Haril. "That man there is named Dane. He is essentially a mercenary. His only primary goal in all situations is to survive. Even if he's equipped with anti-interrogation methods, he is unlikely to use them willingly. I'll make a truth potion."

"Then we will keep him seperate." Haril said, then directed his men.

I started heading to an herbalist, when Plight arrived. I saw that he had indeed brought Nia. They looked apprehensive and curious. I let him come to me, "What is happening right now?" Plight asked.

"Oh, some people decided to test out Hearthstone's jail. They are in for a cozy stay." I said.

"I can only imagine that they have done something terrible. Thus, not something I'm going to get involved with." Plight said.

"But I'm going to poison one of them." I said.

"Nevermind," Plight looked at Nia. "I seem to be needing to get involved with this one."

"They jumped my bodyguard and I, set dogs on us, and said to take me, but kill my bodyguard. The poison is merely a truth potion." I explained properly. "They also seem to have made six Hearthstone Guards disappear."

"Well, then, I believe we need to get to work." Plight said.

"Sure. I can teach you to make poison." I said. "But Haril will have everything well in hand otherwise."

"Whereas I am sure he will have the things here taken care of, things tend to roll out of control." Plight said.

"Hm. Perhaps." I said, continuing along, with the vampires and my Mom following. During a point when we had less people around I casually commented, "Your God is my father. I had a conversation with him today."

"You.. talked to my God? And he is your dad?!" He said, shocked. "How did that go?"

"He doesn't hate you." I said.

"He doesn't?" He said, shocked.

"He can't answer you because that would harm you." I said. "Apparently being a holy God is conflicting to you to the point of being deadly."

"I suppose that makes sense." Plight said, resigned.

I patted him. "Do you want to know about that cleric?"

"Yes. I would." He said. "I would like to know who he was."

"He was once a cobbler before he turned to worshiping Pyreleos. Thing was, he began to place bets on being able to heal better than others through Pyreleos' power... so he had stopped answering. The situation that led to his death was a trap of Pyreleos' law of mercy. It was merciful to let you regain your sanity, then it was more merciful to allow him to die." I explained.

"Well, that's.. sad really." Plight said. "To be a god and be bound by your own convictions."

"He agrees you are a kind soul." I told him. "He was never angry with you."

"I don't know how to.. take this information." Plight said.

"He's seen you through my eyes and still doesn't hate you." I said.

"I am going to need time to process this." Plight said.

"Do you need a hug?" I asked.

He chuckled. "Sure." He crouched down.

I reached up and gave him a hug. "Plight.. er.. you seem to be less.. skinny..?"

"Oh.. found a way to do non harmful meals." Plight said.

"And that's improved your health like this?" I asked. "Good."

"It is an interesting change of pace." Plight said.

I gave him a light squeeze then stepped back from him, and he stood up. "I really am glad that you're more healthy. Do you need to take time to yourself now? Or are you alright?"

"I can.. sort it away for later. It's not something I can deal with in a day, I'm sure." Plight said.

I blinked. "I should have asked if he was the one who allowed me to heal others. I was more concerned with you and Mom and spiting another god."

"I'm sorry, what was that last part? Spiting another god?" Plight said incredulously.

I started heading for the herbalists' again. "Yeah. I mentioned about my plans to protect Haril's Beach house I'm gonna have built and Pyreleos thought the other god would see it as a challenge. Then he mentioned about asking some maybe not people to expand the island for me, and that gave me more ideas for the island. And so, when the protective layer is added to the beach, I will have Pyreleos' symbol placed where the god Aegeaon would be most offended by it. Not that he'll be able to do anything about it."

Plight rubbed his temple. "I can't let you out of my sight. I leave you alone for a short time, and you're off to spite gods."

My mom laughed. "Indeed. I should pen you to his waist."

"... I have my Father's blessing in this." I sai, amused and trying to hide it.

"See now, it concerns me even more because you have a god wanting you to spite another god. These things don't end well." Plight said.

"The gods are notorious for their fighting each other." Nia said. "I believe Aegeaon is the god of sea storms. He is the opposite to Pyreleos.. actually, a god being your father makes more sense considering how your life has been."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"You died, was brought back to life, fought an undead war, was banished to the Dal Quor, which no living being is meant to live through, managed to escape, though went to the wrong reality, and came back as a small child. It only makes sense that gods have played with your life." Nia explained.

"When you say it like that, it makes sense." Plight said.

"I'm going to have a long conversation whenever he shows up." Mom said.

"I still don't quite understand your reasoning behind returning in time, though." Nia said.

"I was jealous of my other reality where I got to have a loving family and wasn't constantly scared I'd be abandoned again.. That day that Dirthin took me home from the alley is still firmly etched into my heart... I know I behave well, but my life was really hard before. I worked for everything I recieved, and still struggled." I shrugged. "Life's so easy now, it's easy to spread my good fortune to others."

"It's mostly through your own power that your life is like this." Plight said.

"The best part is that I got to meet you, Plight, and save my Momma." I said.