‘Forgive us Lord Acton, we’ve wasted enough of your time, come now Argonar.’ He said quickly as he tried to hurry Argonar away.
‘Argonar, I shall remember that name.’ he smiled for a final farewell which Argonar tried to respond but Ebony almost picked him up to get him away.
‘E-Ebony why did you lie to him?’ he asked as they were finally away from the crowds. ‘Is he really mother’s cousin?’
‘Yes.’ He sighed. ‘That’s Lord Acton, only son to the Beldon family.’
‘Then maybe he can help us!’
‘Now isn’t the best time Argonar.’
‘But, he’s family right? Surely he’d help the elves.’
‘Argonar.’ It was rare to see Ebony stern so Argonar took his tone very seriously. ‘I promised your mother that I’d keep you safe, no doubt her uncle would as well but he can only stay here, we move around so we’re kept safe.’
He knew Argonar wouldn’t understand, Adonia’s uncle would most likely sweep Argonar up in an instant, the elves would probably be paid handsomely but not enough to sustain them forever, they lived off resources not money. But it wasn’t just that, in reality Ebony wasn’t ready to surrender Argonar so quickly, he had the perfect opportunity to give him to a home of safety, yet when it came, he couldn’t help but hesitate. He led Argonar back to the stable where Ivory prepared their bedrolls in some hay.
‘He said we can get to work right away.’ Ivory said as he made the final adjustments.
‘Work?’ Argonar asked.
‘People can’t afford to trade, so we have to work to get money to buy food.’
‘Is that what humans do?’
‘A lot of them yes.’
‘Why not just hunt?’ Ivory chuckled and knelt to his nephew.
‘Now Argonar you know that when you hunt you don’t get something instantly don’t you?’
‘Yeah…’
‘When people have money, they can go to a merchant and buy what they need instantly.’
Argonar understood but was still slightly confused about the idea, the twins themselves haven’t really worked properly either but they were willing to do so if it meant keeping the camp fed. They knew they wouldn’t receive much, but something was better than nothing. The boys walked outside to the farmer and were each instructed on their own jobs, the twins were obviously given the heavier manual labour tasks that he no longer had the strength for, Argonar was asked to help harvest which he was both nervous and excited to get underway. He followed the farmer’s instructions carefully and tried to work his hardest to complete his tasks, but often found himself distracted.
‘The boys never worked before has he?’ the farmer asked Ebony.
‘No sir.’ He grunted as he lifted a heavy bale of hay onto a wagon.
‘He’s almost eight, he can hunt small game, we’ve never really had to work you see.’
‘Where are you boys from again?’
‘We’re nomadic.’
‘Like the elves?’ he scoffed.
‘I guess you could say that.’ Ebony chuckled.
‘People may think it’s odd two men and a small boy wondering the forests.’
‘He is my nephew, and Ivory’s my brother. Nothing strange in my eyes.’
‘I suppose.’ He said as he scratched his chin and leant on a pitchfork. ‘Just when I was your age, I was married with my third child, don’t see why you two haven’t settled with your own.’
‘Not many women in the forests.’ The farmer chuckled. There was a sudden crash followed by a yell which instantly made Ebony stop his work and rush to the commotion. Ivory was hoisting up heavy equipment to a storage shed but the pulley had broken and sent the equipment onto his brother.
‘Ivory! Ivory are you okay?!’ Ebony yelled as he went to his brother, he was face down in the dirt and could barely speak, even breathing seemed to be a struggle. Ebony instantly tried to lift off the heavy equipment, the farmer tried to assist and even little Argonar mustered all his strength to pull his uncle out from the debris. ‘Ivory look at me!’ he yelled as he clenched his brother’s face and stared into his eyes desperately. ‘Breathe in slow, you hear me slowly.’ He struggled to fill his lungs as he tried to force the air inside. The equipment had crushed him and by the looks of it he had tried to get away, but it wasn’t enough. ‘Your legs, can you feel them?’ Ebony squeezed at his thigh and his shin which instantly made him wince and cry out.
‘Ebony is he going to be okay?’ Argonar panicked.
‘He needs a doctor; I don’t know healing magic.’
‘There’s a medic not far from here, get him in that wagon, I’ll show you the way.’ The farmer said quickly as he prepared the wagon.
‘Ivory this will only be for a second alright?’ Ivory briskly shook his head, but his brother still proceeded to pick him up and carried him to the wagon which made him cry out in pain once more.
Argonar stayed behind nervously, he waited in the stables until he heard the wagon return to which he ran outside and only saw the farmer and Ebony.
‘Where’s Ivory?’ Argonar whimpered. Ebony jumped down from the wagon with a sombre look on his face.
‘The doctor said he’ll be alright…But he can’t work, not for a long time, might even be a while until he can walk again.’
‘Isn’t there anything we can do? Can’t we ask grandmother for help?’
‘They don’t like elves here Argonar.’ He sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. ‘Ivory knows more healing than me…We’ll just have to work extra hard.’
‘I’ll work harder than ever Ebony I promise.’ Ebony gave a small smile before trying to rest in the stable still worried about his brother. Ebony never told Argonar the truth, not only were they trying to work to get money for the clan but now they worked to pay the medical fees, he believed the boys honest words but he knew no matter how much they worked it would never be enough.
The boy painstakingly worked the fields in all weather conditions, but even he noticed it was nothing in comparison to how much Ebony worked, he would always be up before dawn and practically collapsed come the night-time. He barely ate and gave what scraps he did gave to Argonar. As Ebony slept from yet another hard day’s work, Argonar looked on at his uncle and for such a small boy even he felt as if he wasn’t pulling enough weight. His hands bled from the calluses and blisters, yet it still wasn’t enough even as the silver coins were placed in his hand.
I have to do more.
Argonar paced through the streets the next day, searching for something, anything he could do until he heard the clanks of metal. There he came to the city blacksmith and admired the flying sparks from the hammer and stone. He saw another boy a few years older than himself polishing and tending to the metal work, maybe he could do that.
‘Excuse me sir.’ He said to the old blacksmith, the towering figure stared down at the boy just as he was about to bring down the hammer again, he whipped the sweat from his brow and answered in a grizzled voice.
‘What can I do for you boy?’
‘Have you any work available?’ the blacksmith chuckled but saw the seriousness in Argonar’s face.
‘Bit young for metal work ain’t you?’
‘I’ll do any work you give me, just give me a chance.’ The blacksmith laughed again before signalling to the other boy behind.
‘See if you can keep up with him.’ Argonar gave a quick nod and joined the other boy in polishing the metal, the other boy grunted as he handed Argonar a shield and he quickly went to work on it. But something began to trigger in the boy as he halted his brisk work and quickly looked over at the other boy’s work, his work was brisk and shoddy, Argonar looked down at the shield and saw that his work would become the same, so he decided to take his time. To bring out the best in his work he watched every minute detail, polishing carefully until it produced a mirror shine.
‘Kid’s not very fast.’ The other boy scoffed as he finished another piece of equipment and went to start anoth
er. Another man looked over and was about to scorn Argonar before his master had the chance but was quickly taken aback.
‘Boss look at this.’ He said as he took the shield from Argonar and showed his employer. The men looked over the work, it was immaculate, the master blacksmith quickly turned to Argonar and pointed at the shield.
‘You’ve never worked on metal?’
‘No sir.’
‘It’s a good piece, keep it up.’ He said as he gave Argonar a new piece of equipment. The other boy glared slightly but ignored the boy, he was too slow who cared if his work looked prettier, the army needs work fast. The more Argonar worked the quicker his work became, but he never once lost his focus on the details of his work, so much so the other blacksmiths started to take notice.
‘You think he can work real metal?’
‘He’s only a kid, don’t think he’ll have the strength for that yet.’
‘Worth a shot, if he can make it look that good maybe he’s got a real talent there.’
‘Boy! Come here a second.’ Argonar looked up and placed his equipment to the side before joining them. ‘How do you feel about really working metal?’
‘You mean make it?’
‘Sure.’
‘Well…I’ve never done it.’ He was ushered to the anvil that he only just stood over, he was shown the ways of making weapons, heating the metal and contorting it to make the items needed. True to the master blacksmith’s words he really didn’t have the strength to pound it into shape by hand, but he did give a good effort.
‘What? why can he learn before me; he’s only just got here!’ the other boy snapped.
‘He’s a kid but he shows passion for the work.’
‘He can’t even make a knife that’s not fair!’
‘Quit being a brat or go home.’ The boy threw his equipment to the floor and kicked some more before storming off.
‘He won’t be back, ignore him kid he’s used to having his own way, but I see you’ve got talent.’ Argonar gave a soft smile and continued to watch the new craft fold in front of him.
Argonar took to his new skill quickly and the better his equipment the more handsomely he was paid, before another day’s work Argonar quickly went to visit Ivory who was still bed ridden at the doctors.
‘How are you feeling Ivory?’ Argonar asked as he briskly walked to the bed, he often spoke quietly here mainly out of respect for the other patrons that lined the room alongside his uncle.
‘Better.’ He hissed as he tried to sit up. ‘Still can’t walk but I’ll get there eventually.’ He reassured with a smile. Argonar smiled too but then sat by his bedside. ‘How’s Ebony?’
‘He’s tired, works as soon as he gets up…I’m a little worried about him.’ Ivory gave a sigh.
‘I should’ve been more careful; the farmer did say that the pulley was getting old.’
‘It’s hardly your fault, it was an accident.’
‘The doctors said I was lucky to be able to make a recovery, but I guess being a mage helps out.’
‘Can’t you heal yourself?’
‘I’ve been trying where I can, it takes a lot of energy, how my mother managed I’ll never know.’ He chuckled, Argonar knew he was trying to make him feel better about the situation.
‘Why can you heal but Ebony can’t?’ Ivory gave a gentle smile.
‘My mother was born gifted with white magic, a lot of mages do have the power for minor healing, but white magic users are pretty rare, I just took it from her, Ebony took our father’s magic.’
‘I just thought it was all the same, like if you’re a mage you can do any magic.’ Ivory looked up at the ceiling in an exaggerated thinking expression.
‘Kind of, there’s a lot of different types of magic, some people are just a bit better at doing different things than others.’ Argonar gave a smile as he continued to swing his legs from the bed, Ivory leaned back and gave a sigh. ‘I just hope Ebony isn’t stressing out too much about paying for the doctor.’
‘Wait…You have to pay for this?’
‘Of course, he didn’t tell you?’
‘No…’ the guilt suddenly struck, so that’s why Ebony worked so hard every day, but he was also filled with determination now he knew he had to work extra hard and learn his new craft. ‘I’m training to be a blacksmith.’ He forced a smile.
‘But you’re just a kid Argonar, how’d you get into that?’
‘I was looking around the city and I came across the blacksmith, at first I was just polishing the equipment and they noticed I was doing really well so they want to train me.’
‘As long as you’re careful Argonar, blacksmithing can be very dangerous, I know your mother would kill me if you wound up with another scar.’ He smiled as he ruffled the boy’s hair.
‘Don’t worry Ivory I will, I best head there now.’ As he left the room where the patients were kept, he noticed the medic and knew what he had to do. ‘Excuse me, my uncle is in your care, the man with the white hair? I want to help pay for his treatments.’
‘The Divine smiles on children such as you but it won’t-.’ Before he could finish his sentence Argonar produced a handful of silver coins that he made from his work at the smithy. The doctor stared in shock at how such a young boy came across such money.
‘I just want my uncle to get better and my other uncle to stop worrying about being able to pay for it, will this help?’
‘O-of course it will son, we’ll make sure he gets the best treatment.’
‘Thank you.’ Argonar smiled before hurrying off to his work.
Another day toiling in the smithy, a soldier walked past and saw the finely designed metalwork and paused to look at the wares.
‘Master smithy, these wares look excellent have you taken on a new hire?’
‘Actually, we have. Argonar!’ he called out, the soldier expected to see a young apprentice, not a small child come to the front.
‘A boy?’
‘Don’t let looks deceive you, the kid’s got remarkable talent and a fine eye, I’m taking him under my wing.’
‘Work like this I’m sure his lord would want him in the castle.’
‘That’s up to the boy’s uncle not me I’m afraid.’
‘I’m sure he’ll pay you very handsomely especially with work like this.’
‘I’ll ask my uncle, can I?’ he asked the master blacksmith eagerly.
‘Go ahead kid.’
The boy quickly ran back to the small farm to his uncle eager to tell him the news.
‘Ebony! Ebony!’ he called out.
‘Hm?’ he leaned up from a tool, clearly exhausted from his work. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘A soldier said my work was so good that I could work at the palace, we’d make so much money we could easily buy food and anything else we need for the camp.’
‘Really? But you’re just a kid.’
‘It doesn’t matter Ebony, come on please.’
‘Let me come with you.’ He yawned, Argonar smiled as he grabbed Ebony’s hand and pulled him back to the blacksmith to agree to the work.
‘You’re the boy’s uncle?’ the soldier asked as he held out his hand.
‘The name’s Ebony.’ He said as he shook his hand trying to show some energy in his voice.
‘Your boy has some real talent, I’d like to take him and yourself to the palace, you’d have a room, you’d get fine meals and not to mention very well paid.’
‘Please Ebony, they could help Ivory too.’ Argonar pleaded as he squeezed his hand. He looked at the boy with his tired eyes then back at the soldier.
‘We aren’t from here, we’d work until we have enough supplies to move on, and of course until my brother recovers.’
‘Understandable sir, not to mention it will protect you from the conscription, I can see you’re exhausted but that won’t deter the army from taking you away from your boy…We have enough orphans in these streets.’ He gave one deep sigh but forced a smile.
‘If that’s what Argonar wants.’ Argonar smiled as his uncle agreed. They said their farewells to the farmer as they moved to the castle, as Ivory was still bedridden, he had to stay but the castle made sure that he became a priority to keep their promise to the talented child.
Just like the first day they came Argonar looked up in wonder at the castle walls, it was nothing like he had ever seen before, yet they were welcomed with open arms.
‘Is this where the lord Beldon lives?’ he asked as he kept close to Ebony.
‘Certainly is.’
‘Will we see him?’
‘We’re just the help here Argonar, we might catch a glance, but I doubt he would take the time to actually talk to us.’
‘Lord Acton did.’
‘Hm.’ He chuckled. ‘Because you look so much like your mother that’s why.’ The pair were shown to their room, just a basic bedroom with two beds, a wash basin and a simple wardrobe for clothing.
‘Nice to finally have a bed again.’ Ebony sighed as he laid down on the bed.
‘Warmer than the stable.’ Argonar replied as he lightly bounced on his bed but noticed he never got a reply. He looked over and saw Ebony already fast asleep in the bed’s comforting embrace, no wonder, the man was completely exhausted. Argonar tried siting around for a while, absorbing his new surroundings but eventually became bored and decided to explore the servant quarters. Servants chatted idly as they worked and didn’t give a second glance at the boy, maybe a few just to see that scar across his face.
So, mother used to live in a place like this. He wondered the more he explored, as he came to a garden area, he saw several more people but much better dressed than himself and the other servants.
Argonar had no real experience of social classes, he knew the camp had leaders, but they never saw themselves above anyone else, they just had the harder responsibilities of effective leadership. He watched these people tending to an older woman who sat quietly in the garden, she looked sad in a way.
‘I’m sure his lord will return soon.’ But the elderly woman kept quiet.
Bitter Wars- Ashes Page 8
