51st Zi'da, 718
"Well ain't that a fine thing" the Smith said, admiring his own handiwork as Varlum picked up the broad-axe outside of his shop. Awe filled his eyes as the smouldering head of the monstrous axe burned like a flame, as if it was still burning hot. "This is incredible" the Ithecal growled with an amused look on his face, the sheer size of the axe enough to scare off most people. As a soldier the axe was amazing, but as a fellow Blacksmith the axe was beyond that - it was perfect. Heavy, sharp and balanced. Everything an axe should be to make it effective, this was and then some. Small markings ran down the side of the axe head, swirling patterns that added just the personal touch of the smith that made it, marking it as his own creation. Varlum''s name was carved in to the handle with swirling flames underneath it and riding up the handle.
"Blade is Adamantite, meaning it'll cut through anything, especially with the weight and your size. That thing could cleave a man in two if you tried hard enough" the Smith laughed, watching intently as Varlum felt the weight in his hands, moving the weapon around a little to get a feel for it. Before Varlum had an axe that was above standard. It wasn't anything special but it had been impressive enough. Now, however, he had something that no other weapon would compare to. At least in the Lightning Knights. Most people used the standard weapons provided, some had a slightly higher quality weapon of their own, but few had a smouldering axe made so perfectly. If his size and scars didn't already grab someones attention the axe would.
Varlum looked over to the Smith, putting the axe on his back. Chances were he wouldn't get the chance to use it for a while, but it was always safer to carry it around just in case. If the Aukari or some other bandits decided to attack while he was unarmed then his life could come to a swift end. If he had his axe then, at the very least, he could fend them off. Bandits were rarely well trained from his experience, very few able to use their weapons well. They lacked the training that most places offered - and anyone with talent for a weapon was wasting it being a bandit. Looting small towns for barely any gold and some fresh food wasn't a worthwhile trade when armies would pay triple it just for a good soldier.
Having already handed over the gold, Varlum offered his hand to shake. Both the smith and Varlum exchanged a handshake and nodded to one another before Varlum glanced over to the house that was being worked on. He'd helped do all of the heavy lifting with it, bringing over all the resources they need and holding planks and foundations in place. In truth, the Ithecal knew nothing of making houses, but if it meant he could help the villagers out in any way then he would. Thus far they had been hospitable and friendly, caring for him as if he was one of their own. In the trials he had spent here the village had become like a small family to him, each person he'd met friendly and kind.
Once their handshake was over, Varlum heard the sound of weapons being removed from sheaths, both men immediately turning to look. In the middle of the town Kane was stood with a javelin drawn and pointed to a man - with burning red hair. Varlum had seen him before in the village, working the bar. As a matter of fact, so had Kane. Both of the Lightning Knights had been in the bar more than once, Kane meeting the Aukari with caution. But the villagers had assured them that the life Faldrun laid out for most Aukari was not one that the man had ever followed, raised by two Aukari that had deserted as soon as they could. But it seemed that wasn't enough for Kane.
"Hey!" Varlum roared and immediately ran over to the scene, stopping beside Kane as a few of the villagers pointed swords at him and stood in the way of the Aukari. Cautiously, Varlum raised his hands before turning to look at Kane, eyes sharp and firm. "Put that fucking Javelin down. What in Ilaren's name are you doing?!" he snapped with a loud snarl. One of the villagers looked to Varlum with anger and hatred, as if he had something to do with this. It was then that Varlium noticed every man here, aside from a couple, looking to him with a look of caution.
The man stepped forward, keeping his sword pointed at Kane who held his Javelin tight in his hand. "Your friend stopped by as Kyba was walking past, threatened him. Said 'e knew that we were just hiding him from justice" the man explained, frustration running through his tone. Varlum looked to Kane, the burning desire in his eyes telling the Ithecal all he needed to know. Kane was one of these Knights, the kind that had a vendetta against the Aukari for reasons of their own, calling their personal revenge justice to keep the people of Rharne happy. But it wasn't justice, which meant Varlum wouldn't sit by and watch it happen.
"I said put the Javelin down" Varlum snarled under his breath, so only Kane could hear it. As he did his hand gripped the soldiers shoulder, both an act of reassurance and a threat. Hone or not, Varlum figured he could be quick enough. One wrong move from Kane and he could snap down through his shoulder, or his head if that was what it took. It wasn't an option he wanted to act on, but the injustice to Aukari had left someone he cared about hurt. It had left innocents hurt. Each man that Varlum didn't challenge was a man that would ruin lives, tear families apart and destroy Rharne from the inside. Small, threatening snarls left Varlum as Kane looked from the Aukari to the Ithecal. None of the other soldiers worried him, but Varlum was a mage of some kind too. Kane had no idea how strong he was, but that wasn't a risk he could take. Not in a direct fight.
Kane lowered his weapon and pulled his hand away, glaring to Varlum. "Remember who's side you're on. Remember who attacked our city, the one we swore to protect" he snapped and shoved Varlum back a little, the Ithecal using his strength and weight to keep himself standing with a loud snarl. Part of him wanted to fight back, but the last thing they needed was to tear each other apart from the inside. They had a mission to do, one that would require both of them to work together. One conflict was all it took for the mission to fail. "I know exactly who's side I'm on and who my enemies are. But that man did not burn down a part of Rharne or attack it. Not that we know. Which means he is innocent."
With a growl of frustration, Kane shoved his way past Varlum and head out towards the woods, leaving all of the villagers hearts racing. Yet despite the act of protection Varlum had just given them, a few still kept weapons drawn and ready with caution in their eyes as they looked to Varlum. Slowly the Ithecal looked back to them, a small growl as a blade pointed up to his neck. "Don't think you telling him to leave is enough, Ithecal. You brought him here, you work with him, your people hunt down innocent men like Kyba!"
With a small inhale, Varlum kept as cool as he could. His hand slowly moved, the men all freezing and readying their weapons to thrust, the Smith watching cautiously from the side. He trusted Varlum, but if these men didn't then little he could say would persuade them. Scaled hands wrapped around the sword and held it, the blade pressing in to his palm. If it had been any sharper even a light grip like this would have cut his hand open, or if his hand was flesh and not scales. "My people protect our city. My people work day and night to protect innocents, be they Aukari or Ithecal or Human. My people die to defend lives like yours."
"He is not me - and I am not him" he snarled, pausing for a moment as the men considered before Varlum pulled the sword out of the mans hand and threw it aside to the floor, small drops of blood leaving his palm. "But if any of you point a sword at me again, you become a threat. Which means you are an enemy" he snapped, eyes glancing over them all as each one lowered their blade immediately. Varlum turned towards the Smith with authority clear in his features, wiping the blood off his hand and on to his shirt.
"Keep men around Kyba at all times. I'll deal with Kane."
"Well ain't that a fine thing" the Smith said, admiring his own handiwork as Varlum picked up the broad-axe outside of his shop. Awe filled his eyes as the smouldering head of the monstrous axe burned like a flame, as if it was still burning hot. "This is incredible" the Ithecal growled with an amused look on his face, the sheer size of the axe enough to scare off most people. As a soldier the axe was amazing, but as a fellow Blacksmith the axe was beyond that - it was perfect. Heavy, sharp and balanced. Everything an axe should be to make it effective, this was and then some. Small markings ran down the side of the axe head, swirling patterns that added just the personal touch of the smith that made it, marking it as his own creation. Varlum''s name was carved in to the handle with swirling flames underneath it and riding up the handle.
"Blade is Adamantite, meaning it'll cut through anything, especially with the weight and your size. That thing could cleave a man in two if you tried hard enough" the Smith laughed, watching intently as Varlum felt the weight in his hands, moving the weapon around a little to get a feel for it. Before Varlum had an axe that was above standard. It wasn't anything special but it had been impressive enough. Now, however, he had something that no other weapon would compare to. At least in the Lightning Knights. Most people used the standard weapons provided, some had a slightly higher quality weapon of their own, but few had a smouldering axe made so perfectly. If his size and scars didn't already grab someones attention the axe would.
Varlum looked over to the Smith, putting the axe on his back. Chances were he wouldn't get the chance to use it for a while, but it was always safer to carry it around just in case. If the Aukari or some other bandits decided to attack while he was unarmed then his life could come to a swift end. If he had his axe then, at the very least, he could fend them off. Bandits were rarely well trained from his experience, very few able to use their weapons well. They lacked the training that most places offered - and anyone with talent for a weapon was wasting it being a bandit. Looting small towns for barely any gold and some fresh food wasn't a worthwhile trade when armies would pay triple it just for a good soldier.
Having already handed over the gold, Varlum offered his hand to shake. Both the smith and Varlum exchanged a handshake and nodded to one another before Varlum glanced over to the house that was being worked on. He'd helped do all of the heavy lifting with it, bringing over all the resources they need and holding planks and foundations in place. In truth, the Ithecal knew nothing of making houses, but if it meant he could help the villagers out in any way then he would. Thus far they had been hospitable and friendly, caring for him as if he was one of their own. In the trials he had spent here the village had become like a small family to him, each person he'd met friendly and kind.
Once their handshake was over, Varlum heard the sound of weapons being removed from sheaths, both men immediately turning to look. In the middle of the town Kane was stood with a javelin drawn and pointed to a man - with burning red hair. Varlum had seen him before in the village, working the bar. As a matter of fact, so had Kane. Both of the Lightning Knights had been in the bar more than once, Kane meeting the Aukari with caution. But the villagers had assured them that the life Faldrun laid out for most Aukari was not one that the man had ever followed, raised by two Aukari that had deserted as soon as they could. But it seemed that wasn't enough for Kane.
"Hey!" Varlum roared and immediately ran over to the scene, stopping beside Kane as a few of the villagers pointed swords at him and stood in the way of the Aukari. Cautiously, Varlum raised his hands before turning to look at Kane, eyes sharp and firm. "Put that fucking Javelin down. What in Ilaren's name are you doing?!" he snapped with a loud snarl. One of the villagers looked to Varlum with anger and hatred, as if he had something to do with this. It was then that Varlium noticed every man here, aside from a couple, looking to him with a look of caution.
The man stepped forward, keeping his sword pointed at Kane who held his Javelin tight in his hand. "Your friend stopped by as Kyba was walking past, threatened him. Said 'e knew that we were just hiding him from justice" the man explained, frustration running through his tone. Varlum looked to Kane, the burning desire in his eyes telling the Ithecal all he needed to know. Kane was one of these Knights, the kind that had a vendetta against the Aukari for reasons of their own, calling their personal revenge justice to keep the people of Rharne happy. But it wasn't justice, which meant Varlum wouldn't sit by and watch it happen.
"I said put the Javelin down" Varlum snarled under his breath, so only Kane could hear it. As he did his hand gripped the soldiers shoulder, both an act of reassurance and a threat. Hone or not, Varlum figured he could be quick enough. One wrong move from Kane and he could snap down through his shoulder, or his head if that was what it took. It wasn't an option he wanted to act on, but the injustice to Aukari had left someone he cared about hurt. It had left innocents hurt. Each man that Varlum didn't challenge was a man that would ruin lives, tear families apart and destroy Rharne from the inside. Small, threatening snarls left Varlum as Kane looked from the Aukari to the Ithecal. None of the other soldiers worried him, but Varlum was a mage of some kind too. Kane had no idea how strong he was, but that wasn't a risk he could take. Not in a direct fight.
Kane lowered his weapon and pulled his hand away, glaring to Varlum. "Remember who's side you're on. Remember who attacked our city, the one we swore to protect" he snapped and shoved Varlum back a little, the Ithecal using his strength and weight to keep himself standing with a loud snarl. Part of him wanted to fight back, but the last thing they needed was to tear each other apart from the inside. They had a mission to do, one that would require both of them to work together. One conflict was all it took for the mission to fail. "I know exactly who's side I'm on and who my enemies are. But that man did not burn down a part of Rharne or attack it. Not that we know. Which means he is innocent."
With a growl of frustration, Kane shoved his way past Varlum and head out towards the woods, leaving all of the villagers hearts racing. Yet despite the act of protection Varlum had just given them, a few still kept weapons drawn and ready with caution in their eyes as they looked to Varlum. Slowly the Ithecal looked back to them, a small growl as a blade pointed up to his neck. "Don't think you telling him to leave is enough, Ithecal. You brought him here, you work with him, your people hunt down innocent men like Kyba!"
With a small inhale, Varlum kept as cool as he could. His hand slowly moved, the men all freezing and readying their weapons to thrust, the Smith watching cautiously from the side. He trusted Varlum, but if these men didn't then little he could say would persuade them. Scaled hands wrapped around the sword and held it, the blade pressing in to his palm. If it had been any sharper even a light grip like this would have cut his hand open, or if his hand was flesh and not scales. "My people protect our city. My people work day and night to protect innocents, be they Aukari or Ithecal or Human. My people die to defend lives like yours."
"He is not me - and I am not him" he snarled, pausing for a moment as the men considered before Varlum pulled the sword out of the mans hand and threw it aside to the floor, small drops of blood leaving his palm. "But if any of you point a sword at me again, you become a threat. Which means you are an enemy" he snapped, eyes glancing over them all as each one lowered their blade immediately. Varlum turned towards the Smith with authority clear in his features, wiping the blood off his hand and on to his shirt.
"Keep men around Kyba at all times. I'll deal with Kane."
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