Kruger stood intimidating before the delivery boy; he was taller than Kruger, but young and lean with muscles that were far from fully developed. Ten years and this one would perhaps be the intimidator, but for now he was a boy, and about to enter service to one nervous smith. "Tell me again where do you go, and who do you see!"
The boy looked to the dirt floor inside the forge and shuffled his feet idly. "I am to take this to the mage house at Bristle Crios and present it to Miranda Branson." He had already repeated it several times, but the smith wasn't letting up on him.
"Pick your darn head up and speak like you want to be heard boy. It just won't do for you to get there and be ignored because you are afraid to look a person in the eye." Kruger regarded the boy with a final nod. "That box has a special catch to it son"it won't open for just anyone, so don't you go getting ideas."
The boys clear blue eyes widened and he looked as though to strike at Kruger. "I have never been called a thief Master smith. I don't think I like that much, if you don't trust me?" The smith cut off his words.
Kruger smirked, and then his lips split into that broad grin. The wolf branded into his face almost looked like it was laughing at the boy. "That is who I want to show up there boy. Never be ashamed of who and what you are.?
The box contained the new alloy, and Kruger had precious little left after his work for the Scath priestesses had finished. Orders still came in of course but those were slowing, a good thing considering. The metal had been included in the cost of outsourcing. He had seen her eagerness to familiarize herself with its properties. He needed her to be able to get the compound correct if this alloy was to be seen much longer in this realm. The thought that perhaps this was his road to immortality had occurred to him. He could just as easily let the Scath weapons be the only ones with this property. He could perceive that a hundred years after he died that his name would go on as the man who had created those special shields. That however was too self serving for him, better to advance the entire field than pray for glory.
When the box was received, and finally opened there would be a message specifically for Miranda inside, sealed with that ring of his. The Falcon and the fire lizard locked in battle, and the words around the outside in the ancient language, Honor Loyalty Duty or Death.
Kruger remembered Miranda from their meeting, she was young but her clear eyes held intelligence. It had taken some time to find those who might be best suited to the job he was asked to do. She had just been the first; there were others that would come along as well. First formal requests must be made though. When she opened the letter, and he was certain that she would, she would read the following words.
My dear Miss Branson,
I knew that you would find your way around my lock; it was a prototype and easier by far than the intricate final stage. Perhaps it seems strange that I have gone to the trouble to lock away this mystery. I don't know how I feel; sometimes it seems there are eyes in the air around me watching for a mistake. This all may be just paranoia on my part; I have been accused of such before. I see no reason not to work as though I am being watched though, better to be prepared than to react. Even a partial defense can let a man escape to fight another day. This is my problem, and not the reason for my correspondence. The metal inside this box is that which we spoke of, the same that I promised you a sampling of. I hope that you find the key where I cannot. Also there is an itemized listing of the things I need from you and your armory. I have spoken with Council woman Silver and informed her of your involvement in these matters. I look forward to long and fruitful relations between your forge and my own.
Yours in duty,
Aristotle Kruger Allen.
The boy looked to the dirt floor inside the forge and shuffled his feet idly. "I am to take this to the mage house at Bristle Crios and present it to Miranda Branson." He had already repeated it several times, but the smith wasn't letting up on him.
"Pick your darn head up and speak like you want to be heard boy. It just won't do for you to get there and be ignored because you are afraid to look a person in the eye." Kruger regarded the boy with a final nod. "That box has a special catch to it son"it won't open for just anyone, so don't you go getting ideas."
The boys clear blue eyes widened and he looked as though to strike at Kruger. "I have never been called a thief Master smith. I don't think I like that much, if you don't trust me?" The smith cut off his words.
Kruger smirked, and then his lips split into that broad grin. The wolf branded into his face almost looked like it was laughing at the boy. "That is who I want to show up there boy. Never be ashamed of who and what you are.?
The box contained the new alloy, and Kruger had precious little left after his work for the Scath priestesses had finished. Orders still came in of course but those were slowing, a good thing considering. The metal had been included in the cost of outsourcing. He had seen her eagerness to familiarize herself with its properties. He needed her to be able to get the compound correct if this alloy was to be seen much longer in this realm. The thought that perhaps this was his road to immortality had occurred to him. He could just as easily let the Scath weapons be the only ones with this property. He could perceive that a hundred years after he died that his name would go on as the man who had created those special shields. That however was too self serving for him, better to advance the entire field than pray for glory.
When the box was received, and finally opened there would be a message specifically for Miranda inside, sealed with that ring of his. The Falcon and the fire lizard locked in battle, and the words around the outside in the ancient language, Honor Loyalty Duty or Death.
Kruger remembered Miranda from their meeting, she was young but her clear eyes held intelligence. It had taken some time to find those who might be best suited to the job he was asked to do. She had just been the first; there were others that would come along as well. First formal requests must be made though. When she opened the letter, and he was certain that she would, she would read the following words.
My dear Miss Branson,
I knew that you would find your way around my lock; it was a prototype and easier by far than the intricate final stage. Perhaps it seems strange that I have gone to the trouble to lock away this mystery. I don't know how I feel; sometimes it seems there are eyes in the air around me watching for a mistake. This all may be just paranoia on my part; I have been accused of such before. I see no reason not to work as though I am being watched though, better to be prepared than to react. Even a partial defense can let a man escape to fight another day. This is my problem, and not the reason for my correspondence. The metal inside this box is that which we spoke of, the same that I promised you a sampling of. I hope that you find the key where I cannot. Also there is an itemized listing of the things I need from you and your armory. I have spoken with Council woman Silver and informed her of your involvement in these matters. I look forward to long and fruitful relations between your forge and my own.
Yours in duty,
Aristotle Kruger Allen.