Hearthglen

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “Of course: blades, Camouflage, Shaping, and everything else we can teach,” Myna smiled. “You’re welcome as a member of our number and the stronger you are, the stronger we are as a whole.”

  Ryann looked from Sean to Fiona, then back at Myna. “I see. I’ll need to become stronger, then.”

  Sean’s brow furrowed slightly at her wording but Fiona rubbed his thigh before he could say anything, deflecting his train of thought. “Sean, we should get going.”

  Looking out the window, Sean was surprised to see the sun was rapidly approaching midday. “Didn’t think I took that long to explain. Thank you for the reminder, Fiona. Get your things together. We’ve someplace to be.”

  Once they were out of the inn, they turned south. Ryann walked at the head of the group and Myna trailed behind them, while Fiona was on Sean’s left. Sean kept his eyes moving, taking in the people and their clothing. Concentrating, Sean Shaped his clothing, altering it to more closely match the style he saw most often. Once he was done with his, he did the same to Ryann’s clothing, making her slow her steps a touch when she felt the clothing shift.

  Fiona, seeing what Sean was doing, altered her own clothes and Myna’s as best she could while keeping her left side covered, trying to get their clothing as nearly identical as possible.

  The sound of hammering grew louder as they walked along the street. Sean looked at the signs above the doors as they passed them. Each building was a business dedicated to a craft, with an obvious home above the shop itself. Alleys between each building held stairways that gave access to those apartments.

  Seeing his looks, Fiona murmured, “The main door to each house, mainly for guests and household deliveries.”

  Sean gave her a smile. “This part of town is certainly noisy during business hours.” The sound of hammers on metal had grown increasingly louder as they progressed toward their destination.

  “Well, this is better than the leatherworking part of the city,” Fiona added.

  “Because of the tanning?” Sean asked, getting a nod from Fiona.

  “The tanners are outside the city walls. The leather workers are inside, but next to that same wall,” Fiona said.

  “The noise, I can deal with,” Sean said. “The smell might have been harder.”

  Ryann slowed briefly in front of a building, then continued past it. Sean glanced at the sign: a picture of an anvil with lettering that read ‘Heingerd Smithy’ underneath it. The building was the same as most of the others they had passed, except it was larger. Hammering echoed from behind it, contributing to the overall noise level. Shifting to Mage Sight, he glanced at the building and could see points where it needed repair. Letting the Sight go, Sean followed Ryann on down the road. Have to check the building with Mage Sight when we’re looking it over... maybe offer to do some repairs as part of the Bond to bring down the cost.

  Chapter Four

  When they arrived at Bronzeshield’s Armor, Ryann paused to make sure she had the right place. Sean grinned and motioned her toward the door, then followed her into the shop. Display cases lined the walls, each one showcasing different armor types and styles.

  “Can I help you?” a Dwarf asked from behind the counter. His full black beard was well maintained and kept in check by several ornate leather ties. His right sleeve was pinned up to his shoulder, his right arm missing from the elbow down.

  “I’m Sean MacDougal. I talked with Bronzeshield last night.”

  The beard drew up at the corners and gave away the smile on the Dwarf’s face. “That you did. I’m Brendis Bronzeshield; Sam is my wife. Let me get her and we can walk over to the property you were discussing.”

  “We’ll wait here,” Sean smiled.

  Brendis stepped through the door behind the counter, leaving the four of them to look at the armor. Sean found himself examining an ornate breastplate with beautiful tooling. Pulling up Mage Sight, he found a couple of places where the metal was weak, corresponding with the more intricate scrollwork.

  “What do you think?” Sam asked as she came out of the back with her husband and a young woman.

  “If you did this, I think you’re probably the best armor smith within a few hundred miles,” Sean said honestly. “There are two places where the armor is a bit weaker, because of the scrollwork; here and here,” Sean pointed to the two spots. “It’s not enough to cause a major problem right away, but I would expect those spots to be the first to fail.”

  Sam sighed, “Yes. I thought as much, which is why I made it a display piece. Are you ready to see the property?”

  “Indeed,” Sean said. “I also wished for you to meet Myna and Fiona. They’re both Life Bonded to me, and run a number of errands on my behalf.”

  “A pleasure,” Fiona said, bowing her head to the family.

  “An honor,” Myna added.

  “I didn’t expect you to have Life Bonded,” Sam said, eyeing both women briefly with a fleeting frown.

  “Sometimes, life takes us places we didn’t expect to be,” Sean said, glancing over to the young woman beside Sam.

  “You’ve met my husband, and this is our daughter, Ida,” Sam said.

  Sean nodded a friendly greeting to the sturdy young woman. “Sean MacDougal. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ida.”

  Dipping her head and smiling, Ida replied, “My mother said you were very personable, MacDougal. I now know that she was perhaps understating.” She brushed at the small braid of black hair beside her right ear.

  Looking from Sean to her daughter and back, Sam smiled briefly. “Should we go look at the property?”

  “Please,” Sean said, motioning toward the door Myna had opened for them.

  Ryann was the first outside, one of her hands resting on the hilt of a throwing knife while she looked around for threats. Sean recalled throwing those blades, and thought of several ways he could improve them using what he’d learned since then. Sam was the last one out of the shop, hanging a sign on the door as she closed it behind her.

  The property she was showing him was right next to her shop, just as she’d said the previous night. Sean turned his Mage Sight on and looked over the exteriors of both buildings, not surprised to see that Sam’s shop and home were both in very good repair. Sam led them through the shop and smithy on the ground floor, then the living space upstairs. By the time they’d covered the entire property, Sean had gotten good looks at both the building and the family. Brendis had a small, tight, dim core of grey energy, and Sam held the vaguest hints of grey gas filling the outline of her figure. Ida was a mixture of both of them; her core exactly like her father’s, with slightly thicker vapor floating throughout the rest of her.

  “What do you think?” Sam asked. “Is it what you’re looking for?”

  Sean pushed the Mage Sight away while he thought about his answer. “It has a lot of potential. It’ll really come down to what you’re asking for payment.”

  “We should go back to my house, where we can better discuss all the options,” Sam said.

  “I accept your offer,” Sean said.

  Once they were back at Bronzeshield’s, Sam led them to a sitting room, then took Ida with her to arrange for refreshments. Fiona and Myna stood against the wall out of the way while Ryann shared a small couch with Sean. He did his best to squelch his anger that it was the social norm here, because he didn’t wish to give away his Outsider status. Brendis sat nearby and they all waited for Sam and Ida to rejoin them.

  “You run the counter?” Sean asked, making small talk.

  Brendis frowned at him. “Yes. It is the best I can do for my family.”

  Sean felt the chasm open under his feet and backpedaled as best he could. “I didn’t mean to upset you—”

  “I know you’re new to the city,” Brendis cut Sean off. “There is no reason you would know better.” Without seeming to notice what he was doing, Brendis straightened the sleeve of his missing arm.

  The door opening interrupted Sean before he could try to apologize
again. Sam and Ida came in, followed by a young man carrying a heavily laden tray. Once Sam and Ida got everything laid out, the young man bowed and left. Sean caught sight of a thick band on the man’s left wrist.

  “Apprentice?” Sean asked as Ida poured wine from the pitcher into cups.

  “Warrick is my apprentice. He shows the most promise, after Ida,” Sam answered. “Now that we have refreshments, we can discuss your interest in the smithy. If you wished to buy it, I would ask for six gold... but I believe you would prefer to rent it, correct?”

  Sean’s eyebrows had gone up at the price she quoted. “That’s correct. I’m seeking to rent it, at least for now.”

  “Rent for a year will cost a large silver,” Sam said. “Of course, we can adjust that price if you’re willing to offer something other than just coin.”

  Sean sat back in his seat, sipping at the apple flavored wine. “I’m willing to listen to anything you think will bring the price down. What did you have in mind?”

  “You’re a Shaper,” Sam said, sitting forward and putting her cup on the table. “Good enough to make the hair clips that your Bonded flaunt. I wonder how much control and energy you have to work with, though? Each of those might have taken you days or even tendays to make. From what I’ve heard, the more intricate the work, the longer it takes to perfect.”

  “I’m passable in Shaping. I’m sure I’m not the best,” Sean said honestly. “Are you asking for me to Bond with you?”

  “Of course not,” Sam shook her head.

  “Perhaps you meant Brendis?” Sean asked, a thought forming in his mind. Would his arm regrow if I shared equally with him? Would I have to re-open the wound?

  “You would dare mock—” Brendis’ began, his eyes full of anger.

  “Master would never mock you,” Myna cut in, much to everyone’s surprise. “It isn’t my place to speak up, but please excuse me. He didn’t mean to mock or hurt. He was thinking along a different line.”

  Sam nodded slowly, having seen Sean’s distant gaze. “Maybe. What were you thinking that you’d offer such offense to my husband?” Her voice was cold, but also curious.

  “I’m sorry. Myna is right that I wasn’t meaning to be hurtful,” Sean said, trying to reestablish the goodwill he had inadvertently broken. “Sir, you feel the best you can do is minding the counter for your family. But if you could feel flaws in the metal and let Sam know, would you want that?”

  All three of the Bronzeshields stared at Sean with various degrees of shock. Ida was the first of them to be able to form words, “You can feel the flaws in the metal, besides just Shaping?”

  Sean kept his face impassive as he cursed himself internally for giving away more than he had meant to. “It’s possible, but it does take a lot of energy. I might be able to impart enough for him to do it once a day or so.”

  The family exchanged looks before looking back to Sean. “You’d be willing to share that much with one of us?” Sam asked, clearly uncertain.

  “One of you, yes. Shaping and that ability are closely tied,” Sean said.

  “Would you take my daughter as an apprentice for the year? Give her the Talents you speak of and help her learn how to use them to the best of her ability?”

  “Are you willing to let me use the smithy for free?” Sean asked.

  Sam winced and glanced at her husband, who was also grimacing. “That might be too much... we need to be able to pay taxes for the property soon.”

  “How much is the tax?” Sean asked.

  “Two silver,” Brendis said evenly.

  Sean put his cup down and looked at Ida. “What are your thoughts on the matter, Ida?”

  “I’d wish to know what being your apprentice would entail, before I say more.”

  “You’d be my first apprentice,” Sean said. “Fiona is in charge of all my other Bonded. Would it bother you to have a Life Bonded with more authority than you?”

  Ida stared at Fiona for a long moment, then at Myna, before resting her eyes on Ryann. “I see. I will have to be iron, but that I can be, if needed.”

  “Ida, are you sure?” Sam whispered, placing her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “What he asks is well outside the norm. We can still check with the other Shapers.”

  “None of them can sense flaws, mother. You know that as well as I,” Ida whispered back, not knowing they were being overheard by Sean, Myna, and Fiona. “As humble as he is, I doubt his Bonded are going to be bad. The fact that he even talks with us as equals intrigues me. None of them would lower themselves to meet with us like this.”

  Brendis leaned forward, making Sean focus on him. “You’ll not be touching my daughter without her consent. You understand?” Brendis’ dark eyes promised what would happen if Sean did.

  “Sir, I have never laid a hand on a woman without her consent. I have hurt and killed a few who have done so in my presence.”

  Seeing the open honesty, Brendis nodded and sat back in his seat. “What you’re offering sounds too good to be true.”

  “If I might speak?” Fiona said softly from her spot against the wall. When Sam gave her a nod, Fiona bowed her head to the smith. “My Master is unlike anyone you’ve encountered before, and unlike any you’ll encounter after him. I vow on my life that Sean MacDougal would never force himself on a woman.”

  “There is one thing,” Sean said slowly. “Ida, I will need an Agreement outside of the Bond, if this is going to happen. To be around me for such a length of time will put you in position to learn things I can’t have people knowing. I would need an Agreement that you will never divulge my secrets to another person who hasn’t taken the same oath.”

  Eyes narrowing, Brendis snorted, “I knew it was too good to be true. Who is your enemy?”

  “No one that I know of, yet,” Sean replied. “I’m almost certain that in time, I’ll wind up with a number of them.”

  “I’ll do it,” Ida said, standing up.

  “Daughter,” Brendis growled.

  “Ida,” Sam said with a touch of worry in her voice.

  Spinning on Brendis, Ida spoke quickly, “Father. You’ve always told me that following one’s intuition could lead one to greater heights. My gut tells me that this is the chance to reach higher than even Opa. Will you hold me back and stop me from flying?” Brendis sat back as if stabbed in the heart, clearly unwilling to refuse her. “Mother,” Ida continued, turning to Sam, “you told me a story once of a chance meeting that led you to happiness. I think this is mine.”

  Sam’s eyes widened, “I see.”

  Ryann grimaced at the words, exchanging glances with Myna and Fiona. Sean, Sam, and Brendis missed it, as they were focused on Ida. Seeing her parents no longer trying to stop her, she bent to hug them both, whispering thanks to them as she did.

  “Sean MacDougal, I will pledge an Agreement and Bond with you,” Ida said, turning to him.

  “Very well,” Sean said. “A year’s apprenticeship for you, Ida, and two silver, along with an Agreement from you is the price for renting the smithy next door for the year. Is that right, Sam?”

  Sam nodded, “The Agreement for the rental of the smithy, between myself and MacDougal, is that he takes my daughter on as an apprentice for the year, doing all he can to train her in metal Shaping by Bonding to her for the year. In addition, he will pay two silver to cover the taxes due. An addendum to this Agreement is Ida Bronzeshield making an Agreement with Sean MacDougal.”

  “I accept these terms. I will Bond Ida Bronzeshield for the length of one year, treating her as equal to my other Bonded,” Sean said. A heavy weight seemed to hover around him as if waiting to bind him, and Ryann stirred restlessly at his words.

  Ida took a deep breath, her slate grey eyes meeting Sean’s gaze. “I, Ida Bronzeshield, vow to keep all secrets I learn during my apprenticeship to Sean MacDougal. I will balance this with my very life.” The last few words caused her parents to look shocked. Before anyone could speak, the three involved all felt the heavy weight of the Bond
and Agreements settle on them. Eyes fluttering, Ida swayed for a moment and her lips parted as she breathed deeply, a thick band forming on her left wrist.

  “Ida! What did you do?” Brendis shouted as he jumped to his feet.

  “I hadn’t meant to say that, but it felt right,” Ida told him calmly. Her eyes went back to Sean, a strange look in them, “Sir, I’m ready to learn.”

  Ryann’s eyes widened, but she nodded as if understanding something that had happened in the past.

  Sam’s hands were clenching and unclenching as she stood up. “Since it is done, there is nothing we can do now. Daughter, your room will be here whenever you need it.”