by Perrin, Don
“So, you haven’t eaten, eh? I can see the wolf in your eyes, lad.” Hrall sounded exactly like Hran—gruff on the outside, a friend beneath.
“Come on, then. I guess we should get some food in you.”
They went behind the shop, past the storage shed that was to be Theros’s new home. A path led to the next street. They turned right and entered the first building. It was Hrall’s house. Hrall’s mate brought out meat and fruit cider, along with some hard black bread. Theros thanked her and ate quickly, keeping his eyes on the food, for it would never do for a human to gaze directly at a female minotaur. After the meal, he belched loudly to indicate to his hostess that the food had been good.
After eating, he and Hrall returned to the smithy.
Hrall started with the rules of the shop. He emphasized that what he said was what Theros did. No questions asked.
Theros listened and smiled. It was the exact speech that Hran had given him.
Theros felt right at home.
* * * * *
Theros stayed two years with Hrall, learning the techniques and tricks of a master smith. When he had learned all that Hrall could teach him, he decided it was time to move on. In fact, in many areas, such as leatherwork, he was far more skilled than his master. He could have been the master of his own smithy, but he would never accomplish that goal in Mithas or Kothas. The minotaurs themselves would never allow a human to be the master over other minotaurs.
After that day at the Supreme Circle chambers, Theros never saw Huluk, except at a distance. Huluk was a hero now, leading a new Third Army in parades and military exercises. He was constantly challenged in the ring of the Circus, but never defeated.
One day, Theros bid Hrall farewell. The master smith was sorry to part with him. He gave him good advice and, as a gift, the axe Theros had been using for practice when Hrall first walked in on him.
Leaving the smithy, Theros headed down to the port. He had a ship to catch—the Jelez Klarr. Its captain was a minotaur by the name of Olifac.
Now, Theros would pay for his passage.
Book Three
Chapter 14
“I will not leave you in the Abyss. Your blood would be on my head. Your clan would seek revenge. If you want to get off here, you must pay double the fare.”
“This isn’t the Abyss!” Theros snorted. “It’s a city, like any other, except that it is reputed to need a good smith more than most. I’ve paid my passage. Take me into port.”
The minotaur captain shook his horned head. “You must pay for the privilege. That way no friend of yours will accuse me of selling you.”
Grumbling, Theros paid. The minotaur ship sailed into port. Olifac hustled Theros off without ceremony. The minotaur crew lined the rails, armed to the teeth, ready for any hostile action. This done, they weighed anchor and sailed with the tide, off to find glory in battle.
Theros walked along the docks and entered the town of Sanction. He had to admit he was not much impressed with what he saw, was beginning to think he’d made a mistake.
Sanction had the reputation of being an evil place. Nestled in the cradle of three large volcanoes—the Lords of Doom—the town of Sanction even smelled evil. Smoke choked its alleys. Canals of molten lava flowed through the town as waterways would through other cities. The heat and gases pouring off the flows made breathing difficult. People went about with their faces muffled, mouths and noses covered. Yet Sanction was a bustling, thriving town. Perhaps because it was a town that never asked questions of anyone.
The business section was crowded with warehouses, shops and markets. People shoved and pushed their way through the crowded streets. No one smiled or muttered a hello or good-day to Theros. Each person appeared to be engrossed in his or her own private business.
Theros spent his first day in Sanction roaming the streets, watching the people. He’d never seen so many different races. Humans were the predominant race, but mingled among them were the small chattering kender (of whom Theros had been warned), grim stocky dwarves, the occasional skulking goblin or hobgoblin, and half-breed mixes of every sort.
Theros was astounded to note that wizards—of both red and black robes—actually had the effrontery to set up mageware shops in Sanction. No other town would have permitted it. Theros gave the shops and shop owners a wide berth. He had no use for wizards.
He was, in fact, attempting to avoid falling into a refuse-filled gutter on one side of the street, while avoiding a wizardess on the other, when he brushed against someone.
“Sorry,” Theros said, starting to continue past.
“What do you mean, sorry?” A hoarse voice roared in his ear.
Theros looked down. A man clad in a bright maroon coat glared up at him, blocking Theros’s way. The man was of average height, but he reached only Theros’s broad shoulder. “You got dirt on my boots!”
The man pointed to a bit of mud on the toe of one boot.
“I said I was sorry, sir,” Theros repeated and started to walk around the man.
To his astonishment and ire, the man doubled up his fist and punched Theros hard in the chest.
“Clean it!” snarled the man.
“Clean it yourself,” said Theros and again started past.
Steel flashed. Voices growled. Theros was surrounded by six men in maroon coats, all carrying swords. Each sword was now pointed at his throat.
“Clean my boot,” the man repeated.
No minotaur alive would have suffered such an insult. Theros was just contemplating the fact that his stay in Sanction had been incredibly short—as had his life—when he felt the touch of a hand on his shoulder.
“Do as he says,” advised a voice, speaking the minotaur language. “There is small honor in dying in a gutter in Sanction. And you were in the wrong.”
Theros looked up to see a large minotaur, towering head and shoulders over everyone else in the street. What the minotaur said made sense. By now a crowd had gathered. Theros, feeling his skin burn, knelt down on the sidewalk, and using the cuff of his shirt, cleaned the man’s boot.
The man lifted his foot, planted it in Theros’s chest and shoved. Theros toppled over backward. Laughing, the man and his comrades strolled off.
Theros jumped to his feet, with half a mind to go after them. The minotaur stood eyeing Theros.
“I saw you leave Olifac’s ship. What are you? A freed slave?”
“Yes, sir,” said Theros, dusting himself off. He did not ask about the minotaur. For one, it wouldn’t be polite and for another, he noticed the notched mark on one of the minotaur’s horns—a badge of dishonor, made by the minotaur’s own relations. This was an outcast.
“Take my advice,” said the minotaur. “Forget it. No one gets the best of Baron Moorgoth’s men. They run Sanction, at least for now, until someone stronger comes along. You can either fight them and lose, or use your cunning and let them make your fortune for you.”
The minotaur walked off. Theros never saw the minotaur again, but he thought long and hard on the advice.
Baron Moorgoth. Could that be Huluk’s friend? Huluk never mentioned the fact that Dargon Moorgoth was a baron.
Now probably wouldn’t be a good time to go to the baron and remind him of old friendships. Theros had too much pride. He’d make it on his own. When he was successful, he’d go visit Moorgoth.
* * * * *
It took Theros almost a year of working odd jobs before he had saved enough money to purchase an old smithy in the merchant quarter. No smith of quality operated in the town, and this one had gone out of business years before. The shop had been turned into a warehouse, but the forge, central chimney and most of the workbenches still stood. A huge anvil languished in the corner. When Theros found it, it was stacked with crates of produce. To Theros, it was worth its weight in steel.
He purchased the building for a mere pittance, which was, in fact, all he had. He was forced to begin his business by sewing leather, in order to save up for the tools necessary to
start metal smithing.
Six years later, he had an established shop. He owned one of the largest smithies in Sanction, with a reputation for making fine quality swords and daggers. He had Baron Moorgoth and his men in their maroon uniform coats to thank for his success.
Baron Moorgoth had arrived in Sanction with a large amount of wealth that he claimed was his inheritance. Rumors followed of a murdered uncle and stolen jewels, but no one could ever prove anything and Sanction wasn’t the town to believe all the gossip it heard. Through a number of wise investments in various businesses, Moorgoth doubled and tripled his wealth. He used his earnings to buy men and steel, and backed by these loyal supporters, he bought up even more of Sanction.
He claimed himself as nominal ruler of the town, although he refused to be bothered by such mundane matters as keeping law and order or making civic improvements. He had, by now, amassed a small army and was, rumor had it, looking to expand his holdings.
What Moorgoth did or didn’t do was now of no interest to Theros. He had worked hard over the years to develop his skills as a weapons-smith and was just now beginning to enjoy the fruits of his labors. He had even been able to take on an apprentice to do the tooled leatherwork and other chores, leaving Theros more time to concentrate on the craft of swordsmaking.
The smithy stood several blocks from the port area. The sign out front read, in Common, “Weapons and Armor. Theros Ironfeld, Proprietor.” Ironfeld was a name Theros chose for himself. It served both as a name and an advertisement. The name also showed he was proud of his skills. The sign’s lettering was crude, but the populace of Sanction didn’t mind. Most of them couldn’t read it anyway.
One of Moorgoth’s maroon-coated guardsmen was his first customer into the shop this day. Theros glanced at the man, nodded, but continued work. He hammered on hot metal, fashioning a new sword from molten steel. The guardsman, knowing he would not be heard above the din, waited impatiently for the smith to take a break.
Theros had not grown much in height during the past seven years, but he had increased his girth immensely since his days with the minotaurs. His arms were massive, muscles rippled. His chest was as big around as an enormous water barrel. His black skin glistened in the light of the forge. Compared to the minotaurs, he had been viewed as short and puny. Among humans, he was head and shoulders taller than most men. Now, when Theros walked the streets of Sanction, people skirted out of his way.
Theros straightened, groaning from the strain. The guardsman coughed to attract Theros’s attention. He turned to see who it was.
“Ah, Morik. You are here for a new scabbard! I told you you’d be back. That horrible, tattered scabbard is no house to keep the jewel I made for you.”
Theros was proud of the work—the first long sword of the season. A good sign, coming so early. It looked as if it was going to be a good year for business.
The guardsman pulled the blade from its scabbard. “Actually, no, Master Smith. The scabbard will do. Could you make a dirk to match the sword, though?”
Theros smiled. “I see you like the finer things in life, Morik. Yes, I can make you a matching dirk. Do you want your family crest on it, as before?”
The guardsman nodded.
“Very well,” Theros concluded. “It will cost you forty steel. Pay me half now and half on completion. It will take me two weeks.”
“Forty steel!” The guardsman gaped. “I could get it for fifteen down the street at Malachai the Dwarf’s!”
“Then do so,” Theros said. “You know the way.”
“Twenty pieces,” the guardsman bargained.
Theros didn’t even bother to answer. He turned back to his work. He was not interested in haggling. He was the only smith in the town capable of making a weapon of such fine quality. Malachai the Dwarf could not do much more than forge horseshoes and building nails.
The guardsman fretted and fumed and walked out, glancing over his shoulder, obviously hoping Theros would run after him. Theros continued to work. A few minutes later, the guardsman came back in. He had his purse in his hand.
“Yuri!” Theros bellowed.
A boy of sixteen dropped the leather gauntlet he was stitching and came forward from the back of the shop.
“Sir, that will be twenty steel in advance, please.”
It was the boy’s job to take the money.
Theros thrust the sword on which he was working back into the fire to reheat it. He overheard the conversation between the two.
“Doesn’t that bastard ever bargain?” the guardsman grumbled.
Yuri shook his head. He was proud of his master. “He doesn’t have to. He knows that if you want the weapon, you will pay. If you don’t, you won’t.” The boy held out his hand.
“He should watch who he offends in this town,” the guardsman muttered as he emptied the steel coins into the lad’s palm. “Some people might think he’s getting too big for his boots.”
The boy counted, nodded and went to the back of the shop to deposit the money in the strongbox. The guardsman stormed out.
Yuri returned. He paused a moment, gazing out the door to watch the guardsman leave.
“You have offended him, master. He is one of the baron’s top lieutenants. He thinks his position should have garnered him more respect, and thus a lower price.”
Theros snorted, a habit he had picked up from his days among the minotaurs. He paid no attention to the politics of the town of Sanction or any other town.
“Get back to work,” Theros said. “And I believe I’ve mentioned before that you’re to speak only when you’re spoken to.”
“Yes, master.” Yuri sighed.
Theros pretended he didn’t hear. He was training Yuri as an apprentice the same way Theros himself had been trained by the minotaurs. If that way was a bit harsh, it was the only way Theros knew and, he assumed, as good as any. Yuri lacked discipline in his life. And if Theros had to treat Yuri like a slave in order to instill discipline, Yuri would be the one to gain in the long run. At least, that was Theros’s view.
Yuri finished the gauntlet, began working on a small leather jerkin, putting metal strips inside the jacket to conceal the armor. The jerkin was bright green and decorated with painted designs across the front and back.
Theros, spotting it, glared at the boy. “Isn’t that jerkin done yet?”
Yuri looked up, flushed. “No, sir. I’ll be done within the hour. The kender will not be back until late this afternoon, so I have time to finish it.”
“You be sure that you do. I don’t want that damned kender wandering around my shop, ‘borrowing’ my tools and weapons. When you’re done, wait for him outside and give it to him there. Don’t let him in the door! And make certain you get good money for that, too.”
It had been a week since the kender had shown up in the shop. Usually Theros was quick to throw them out, but this time he’d been busy engraving a blade and hadn’t been able to leave his work. Yuri had foolishly allowed the kender inside and, once there, they couldn’t seem to get rid of him. He had wandered around, picking up this, looking at that, chattering all the time about his father—Trapspringer or something was the name.
Finally Theros was able to stop his work long enough to collar the kender, catching the little fellow just as he slipped a pair of steel tongs into one of his pouches. Theros grabbed the kender by the lapels and began to shake, trying to loosen his tongs and whatever else that may have dropped into the pouches and pockets. He turned the kender upside down, shook him by his ankles. All the while, the kender screeched and tried to whack Theros across the legs with his hoopak. A mountain of objects cascaded down onto the floor. Theros’s anger at the small being was replaced by wonder.
Theros was sure there was even more in the kender’s possession, but the pile was nearly a foot and a half high—nearly a hundred items lay there—when he set the kender down.
The kender was offended. “Never before in the history of the Trapspringers has such an injustice been p
erformed!” The little fellow jumped about, trying to retrieve his precious possessions. All attempts were blocked by the huge smith.
“Yuri,” Theros ordered, “sort through that stuff and take out everything that is mine.”
Yuri sifted through the items, discovering the pair of tongs, a leather needle, a small dagger and leather thongs. He set these aside. The remaining items were a marvel. There were, among other things, maps of all shapes and descriptions, jewels, a purse of gold, an apple pastry that looked as if it had been through the Cataclysm, tiny mechanical items that neither Yuri nor Theros could fathom, a book of dwarven recipes, several buttons from a fancy tunic, a pair of wrist restraints, a silver goblet with Solamnic heraldry on it, and a small bag of glass beads.
Yuri looked over a knife, handed it to Theros. “I don’t think it’s one of yours, sir.”
Theros studied the weapon. Sure enough, the design was good, but not one of Theros’s. He tossed it back into the pile.
“That’s for slaying rabbits!” Trapspringer proudly announced. “It was given to me by my Aunt Slipjail! That’s what I came to talk to you about.”
From still another pocket, one Theros had missed, the kender pulled out a purse. “Look, I have money. I want you to make me something.”
Theros eyed the purse. “That’s a woman’s purse. How much gold is in there?”
Yuri picked it up and counted the coins. His eye caught something else in the pile, and he pulled out another purse. This, too, had gold in it. “He must have stolen it.”
The kender was outraged. “Steal? Steal! How dare you! That’s a present from some ladies I met in Palanthas. Or was it Solace?”
Yuri counted the money in the second purse. “All told, he’s got ninety-one gold pieces!”
Theros shook his head. He turned back to the kender. “What do you want us to make for you? A knife? A small sword?”
The kender’s eyes brightened. “I already have a knife. And I don’t think I’d be much good at using a sword. What do you have to offer?”
Theros thought for a moment. During the scuffle, he had ripped the kender’s jerkin. “How about a brand-new jerkin?”
