by Richard Wood
Jesse puts his hand on Pala’s shoulder slightly shaking him and asks, “Do we have anything to eat?” Chloe quickly answers back, “Yes Jesse, we do. I made deer with potatoes, you’ll love it!” “Good”, Jesse answers back and leads the way back into the house. As he passes the front door, the aroma of roasted deer mixed with the fragrance of his mother’s lavender brings a smile to his face. He knows that both of the aromas are a blessing from the presence of Chloe. He looks back at her and smiles. Her care for Shaira has done more than he could have imagined. He can now rest all concern about his mother’s care.
As Jesse sits in his chair, he rubs the palms of his hands together and exclaims, “While we are eating, I’m going to tell you all what happened to me at Lake Revel”. Sitting down next to him, Pala says, “Oh, I finished your sword Jesse. It turned out better than I thought it would. Feels good in your hands too!” “Good”, Jesse answers back, “I knew you would finish it fast”. Then getting a bowl of deer and potatoes from Chloe, he begins his story.
Jesse waves his hands as he tells the story about Abigale the ex-witch of Revel. He tells how she hid away in the cattails and how he tapped the tails and spoke out. He talked about the test she gave him in the form of a question and how if he didn’t answer it right, she swore to kill him. How she ducked back down again after she saw the carving on his staff. Jesse explained how she somehow knew his history in Payne and called him the Warrior of Elamor. He told about how she turned and ran from him but returned soon with the whole village. Then with a look of astonishment on his face, he said, “She cut the bones and feathers from her hair, which gave her the power of Queen Witch, and dropped them to the ground. The other villagers also dropped their own witchcraft items which were then burned”. He ended the story with the feast and his return home. The room was filled with silence as Jesse told his story, all listening intently, not wanting to miss a single thing. They were all surprised by the amazing turn of events. Then as the story ended, Chloe tapped Jesse on the hand and asked, “Master Jesse, what will the people of Revel do now?” Answering her back with a voice of confidence, Jesse says, “They will raise sheep”. Jumping into the conversation, Pala asks, “Sheep? Why in the world would they want to raise sheep?” “Wool”, Jesse answers back, “They will raise sheep for their wool”. Shaking his head, Pala replies, “I don’t get it”.
As breakfast ends and Jesse rises, Pala asks him to come out to the shop and see the sword he made. Leaving the house, they walk together to the blacksmith shop with Dararro following behind. As they enter the shop, Pala goes to a shelf and pulls a blanket covered object from it. Jesse knew right away it was the sword, the shape was unmistakable. “Here it is”, Pala says proudly. Reaching out, Jesse takes the blanketed sword. Pulling the blanket from it, Jesse grabs its wooden handle. Stretching the sword out, Jesse examines it closely then raising it into the air, he looks back at Pala and exclaims respectfully, “You did a good job!” Pala smiles and replies humbly, “Thank you. Since it was for you, I wanted it to be perfect”. Jesse swings the sword left, then right. Then holding the sword into the air again he tells Pala, “Soon, the time will come when you won’t see me for long periods of time but I will need you to stay here and watch the shop. Chloe will take care of mother and Valcor will travel with me”. Jesse, half expecting to get an angry answer from Pala, turns to his brother. Pala, who is now looking earnestly at Jesse, answers, “Your path has always been greater than that of a blacksmith. I always knew that. You’re the man the old woman of Revel said you are, you’re the Warrior of Elamor and our world will soon feel it”. Walking over to Pala, Jesse puts his hand on his shoulder and says, “Thank you Pala”. Then walking out of the shop, Jesse shouts out to him, “Tomorrow I go to Duesburg to see the leathersmith. He will make the perfect sheath for my sword”. Pala mumbles back, “It better be perfect if it’s going to hold your sword!”
The next morning, Jesse is up early. With his staff in one hand and his blanket wrapped sword in the other, he goes out to the center room. Reaching down with his staff in his hand, he loops a finger around Dararro’s harness. Chloe, hearing Jesse, sticks her head out of Shaira’s room and says politely, “Master Jesse, have a good trip and don’t worry about your mother. She is in good hands”. Outside, Jesse harnesses Dararro then slides the staff and blanket covered sword beneath it. Leaping up, he mounts his Peace Cat. Shouting into the house, Jesse asks, “Chloe, can I bring you anything from Duesburg?” Walking to the doorway, Chloe answers, “Honey, Master Jesse. Duesburg has the best honey”. Jesse points to her and says, “You’ve got it ma’am”, then gives the order, “Dararro go”, and the Peace Cat is off.
Still quite a distance from Duesburg, Jesse can see that the village is now completely walled. The Forseean Elder has kept his promise. He has destroyed his fortress and buried its walls and now has built a protective wall around his village. Jesse nods his head and whispers, “Good job!” Soon he reaches the village gates. Putting his hand above his eyes to shade from the sun, he sees along the wall, a team of archers. All of them have arrows drawn down on him. “What is your business here?” A guard shouts from the wall. Not knowing from whom the question came, Jesse shouts back, “I am Jesse, from the village of Payne. I come to do business with your leathersmith”. The guard waves his hand downward, signaling to the archers that all is well, then shouts back, “So you are Jesse, the son of the blacksmith Eli and this is your Peace Cat?” Jesse shouts back, “Yes, that is us”. The guard waves welcoming him and shouts, “Come in then, you were always welcome here in Duesburg”.
The legend of Jesse’s last visit to Duesburg and the death of the former Elders has never left the village, so as he enters the village through the open gates, the site of he and Dararro created an instant reaction in the crowd. The village streets clear, women scream while grabbing their children and men flee like rats from a sinking ship. It was not the welcoming site Jesse expected. He supposed that the most frightening sight of all to the villagers was Dararro’s royal blue breastplate shining in the light of the sun. But there did seem to be an added heaviness beyond the fear of him and Dararro. It almost seemed that the Forseeans movement from tyrant to fellow villager has left the villagers unwelcoming and arrogant. These villagers were not the same people he knew as a young man. As Jesse and Dararro stroll through the streets, he finds that some people even turn their backs to him in a sign of disrespect. Ahead, he sees the village well and the leathersmith shop next to it. Jesse stops Dararro at the well and dismounts. Patting his Peace Cat on the shoulder, Jesse orders him, “Dararro down”. The Peace Cat gives a well-earned stretch then lays on his stomach. Taking the wells bucket, Jesse bangs it against the short stonewall. Slowly, a crowd forms at a distance. Most of the people of Duesburg remember the defeat of the four Elders and the transformation of the fifth so they gather out of interest to see what crazy event the blacksmith’s son would do today. As the crowd finishes forming, Jesse drops the pail.
Looking sternly into the village’s crowd, Jesse begins to speak, “People of Duesburg, you have come so far. Your village is walled in and safe. Your gardens are overflowing with squashed, beans, and potatoes. You even have strong gates to close at nightfall. This all proves your ability to work as a village. Your homes are protected and secure but your people have lost the true greatness that was once Duesburg. These walls cannot protect you from the enemy that lives within them. You, the people of Duesburg, have become your own enemies. You have become self-righteous. You once knew the needs of each other’s hearts, you watched out for one another as well as for visitors. But now, I come into your village well known to you all yet I was greeted by guards with drawn bows and hateful glares. Where is the Duesburg of generosity? The first time I came here, you welcomed me with food and conversations. You offered me your village goods but now you show me disrespect in disgrace. Return to your old ways Duesburg. Be generous, care for the strangers, bring back the peace of Duesburg. Renew your family’s greatness. Don’t
let your worst enemies be those in your own walls”. Then looking down at Dararro, he gives the order, “Dararro stay”. He then pulls the blanketed sword from Dararro’s harness and turns toward the leathersmith.
Entering the leathersmith shop, Jesse sees the leathersmith working at the table. “Hello”, Jesse says as he walks in. Looking up, the leathersmith instantly recognizes him and says with a smile, “Well, hello Jesse. It’s good to see you today. Tell me, what can I do for you?” Walking to the table, Jesse lays his blanketed sword down then answering the leathersmith back, Jesse says, “Here is my sword. I would like for you to make me the finest sheath you have ever created”. “Ok”, the leathersmith replies, “How will you be using the sword, and what style of sheath would you like?” Looking down at the sword, shaking his head, Jesse things for a second answers, “It must be very tough leather, the sword is heavy and very sharp and I would like the sheath to be a unique, one of a kind design”. Pointing at the covered sword, the leathersmith asks, “Do you mind if I take a look at it?” “Why yes”, Jesse answered, “Please go ahead”. Uncovering the sword, the leathersmith takes a good look. Looking back at Jesse, he begins, “You note Jesse, I owe your father for services he did for me many years ago. I would like to do this sheath for you free of charge, in memory of your father and for all he did for me. Would that be OK with you?” Nodding his head, Jesse answers, “That would be very kind, thank you”. “Good”, the leathersmith replies, “I’ll be right back”.
Passing through a doorway, the leathersmith disappears into the back of his shop. Jesse sees the flickering from a small flame in the room then finally hears the leathersmith say, “Oh, here it is”. Returning, the leathersmith is carrying a folded piece of very thick leather. As he lays it on the table, but he unfolds it and exposes an amazing piece of leather filled with a half circle crisscrossing design. The design was perfect, it covered the piece of leather and was somehow slightly embedded into it. Looking over to Jesse, the leathersmith asks, “Have you ever seen real leviathan leather?” Looking back at the leathersmith, Jesse replies, “Sir, I don’t even know what that is”. Smiling, the leathersmith answers, “It’s a giant sea creature Jesse, the design you see on the leather is the placement of its scales. It’s a leather is the strongest ever known. The only way to cut through it is to use a knife made from its own scales. This will make a perfect sheath for your sword, it will probably last longer than the sword itself”. Smiling back, Jesse asks the leathersmith, “Sir, could you follow me?”
Together, they walk out of the shop and turn toward Dararro. The leathersmith steps backward and shouts, “It’s true you ride a Peace Cat!” “Yes”, Jesse replies, “His name is Dararro, but that’s not what I want to show you. Watch this”, Jesse adds, “Dararro rise”. As the Peace Cat rises, he exposes his breastplate. The leathersmith steps back again and shouts, “What, what is the blue thing on your cat Jesse?” Looking back at the leathersmith, Jesse answers proudly, “It’s a breastplate sir. The sword in there is a copy of my original one. It is made from the same metal as the breastplate”. The leathersmith looks Jesse sternly in the face and asks, “Jesse, what is going on? You have a Peace Cat, a sword made from a metal I’ve never seen before and a piece of leviathan leather I swore I would never use laying out on my table. What is going on here Jesse?” Jesse steps back, and patting the leathersmith on the shoulder, he answers, “I’m find sir, I just need you to make me that sheath. When can you finish it?” Breathing in deeply, the leathersmith gathers his emotions and replies, “Ok Jesse, I’ll have it done about midday”. Shaking the leathersmith’s hand, Jesse smiles and says, “Ok then sir, until then I will water Dararro and take him out to hunt and eat.
As midday approaches, Jesse returns to Duesburg and the leathersmith’s shop. As he enters the shop, he sees his replica sword laying on the table in the most beautiful sheath, complete with belt and buckle, he had ever seen. The leathersmith stands across from him with arms crossed and smiling. Looking over to Jesse, he remarks, “Looks good, huh?” “Yes”, Jesse replies excitedly. The leathersmith points to the sword and says invitingly, “Well try it on!” Picking it up, Jesse is amazed at how much weight the sheath added to the sword. Strapping on the belt, he places the sword on his left side. The sword felt totally natural on his side. Jesse reached for the sword handle as the sword set snugly in the sheath. Grabbing the sheath with his left hand, he pulls the sword free with his right hand. He swings the sword to the left and then to the right then looking over to the leathersmith, he says, “It feels good”, and slides the sore back into its sheath. Jesse looks thankfully over to the leathersmith and asks, “How can I thank you, sir?” Looking back at Jesse earnestly, he answers, “Just be careful Jesse. Your mother has already lost a husband, don’t let her lose a son”. “Yes sir”, Jesse replied, “That’s my plan exactly”. Turning, Jesse walks proudly from the leathersmith shop and leaps onto Dararro. Looking over to the leathersmith standing outside of his shop, he asks, “By the way, I was supposed to get some honey. Where do I find it?” The leathersmith points down the street and answers, “Over at the fruit seller, he has plenty”. Stopping at the fruit seller, Jesse trades a coin for a vessel of honey. He carefully places it between his legs, grabs the steering hoops and orders, “Dararro home”. Dararro’s spins toward the exit from the village, the streets instantly clear, and in a blaze of speed they are on their way home.
Getting home at dusk, Jesse stops at his home and takes the honey to Chloe. “Here’s your honey”, he says with a joyful smile. Taking the vessel, Chloe smiles back and replies, “Thank you Master Jesse. This is going to make our bread taste so much better”. “You’re welcome”, he says, then goes back out and walks with Dararro to the shop. Inside, Pala is hard at work. Looking up, he sees Jesse and the sword hanging at his waist. Nodding his head with eyebrows raised, he says with amazement, “That sheath looks like it was made for the king!” Jesse shouts in as he replies, “And it didn’t cost me a thing. Father did some work for the leathersmith few years ago so in payments, the leathersmith made it for me for free. Taking a better look at the sheath, Pala asks, “What kind of leather is that Jesse? And that design, I’ve never seen it before”. Patting his sheath, Jesse replies, “It’s a natural design. It’s from the scales of an animal called a leviathan, some kind of giant sea creature”. Then waving his hands, he says excitedly, “But you haven’t seen anything yet, Pala!”
Walking over to the darkened corner, Jesse moves the wooden box and begins digging. Raising the covered sword from the hole, Jesse exclaims, “Look at this”. Unwrapping the sword, a frosty blue haze fills the darkened corner. Pala flinches, then pointing at Jesse, he shouts loudly, “Hey Jesse, be careful with that thing”. Jesse walks over to the anvil and carefully lays his royal blue sword on it, then grabbing the sheath with his left hand, he pulls the replica sword free from it. Passing it, handle first, to Pala he asks, “Could you hold this one for me please?” Having created the sword himself, Pala takes it proudly. Then in an almost ceremonial respect, Jesse grasps his royal blue sword firmly. As he raises the blade upward, the perfectly smooth, razor sharp royal blue weapon transforms into a crystal clear royal blue blade. As Jesse held it still in the air, it transformed back. Looking down to his sheath, Jesse lowers the weapon and slides it carefully into its amazing sheath. The royal blue frosty gleam disappears as the sword sets completely in place. Lying against Jesse’s left hip, the leviathan leather sheath hung securely. With the sword’s carved antler handle exposed, Jesse was an awesome sight as he stood in the shop across the anvil from Pala. Nodding his head, Pala smiles at Jesse and says, “You know Jesse, that thing looks way too good for you!” As they both laugh, Jesse walks from the shop and mounts Dararro. Together, Dararro with his breastplate and Jesse with his sword, they look completely unstoppable.
One week later, a lone rider comes into Payne. From his dress and saddle, everyone knew he was from the capital. Riding into the village, he asked one of the vill
agers, “Can you help me find the blacksmith Jesse?” The villager points to the blacksmith shop and replies, “I think he’s in there sir”. Riding to the shop, the visitor dismounts and ties his horse to a post. Walking into the shop, he says to the person inside, “Excuse me, I’m looking for the blacksmith Jesse and his friend Valcor”. Pala, who is standing next to the fire, answers back, “Jesse is out hunting with Dararro and Valcor is cutting wood. I’m Jesse’s brother, Pala. One is there any way that I can help you?” Replying, the rider exclaims, “My name is Elven, I am a Royal Page from the capital. My Master Emissary, Spause, Valcor’s father sent me here to find the both of them. Master Spause is very ill and needs Master Jesse and Valcor and soon as possible”. Pala places his tools on the table and says, “Follow me, I will take you to our home. We will wait for them there”. At home, Pala introduces the Page to Chloe, who offers him something to eat and a place to sit. After eating, the three start a conversation and a knock is heard on the front door. Chloe goes to the front door and opens it, then bending down she begins to speak. Both Pala and the Page look intently, both wondering who she had to bend over to speak to. Seconds later, Chloe closes the door and walks back to them with a held out hand and a smile, “Look”, she says, “A little girl made it for mother Shaira”. In her hand is a very roughly carved wooden dove. Chloe continues, “The little girl said that Master Jesse pulled one of his cat’s feathers and gave it to her. To thank him, she did her very best to carve it”. The Page looks up to her, and in a confused voice, he says, “Plucked a feather from a cat?” Chloe laughs out loud. Waving her hand, she says, “No, I’m sorry sir, my master rides his Peace Cat, Dararro”. Putting his hand over his mouth, the Page says excitedly, “That’s the thing Master Jesse went hunting with? I thought those things were myths”. Handing the Page and other bowl of soup, Chloe adds, “Dararro is hard to explain, you really have to meet him. But don’t touch his breastplate”. That statement only helped to confuse the Page even more.
