Matters of commerce

Keldava Wolfe-Denahlii · 08-24-2012, 06:10 PM

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Word Count → 693 :: Dated the 3rd of September

Almost a month had passed since Jace had attacked her and still Keldava’s hand was all but crippled. It was better now than it had been but that wasn’t saying much, the most she could really do with it was half curl the fingers into a crooked claw and doing so caused her great pain. Even when she wasn’t trying to move it her hand would occasionally spasm randomly, causing her great pain to the point where she had blacked out once or twice. Add to this the fact that her back still wasn’t completely healed – the wound itself had finally healed but the area was still scabby and extremely sore – and all in all, Keldava was a mess.

Her back pained her if she did anything much more strenuous than walking and her hand was useless at best and a ticking timb bomb at worst. Really Keldava should be staying well inside Arte’s borders but instead she found herself trecking through the forest between Arte and its neighbours Casa di Cavalieri, leather rope in her good hand guiding the horse trotting along behind her.

Keldava was on her way to Casa to try and trade for a sword. The idea itself was folly – Keldava’s dominant hand was the one injured in the attack and could barely hold a knife to cut food, never mind a sword – but still she was determined. Aside from the practicality of one walking the warrior rank path holding such a weapon Keldava’s want of a sword was also a way to try and force herself to believer that her hand would get better, that Tal’s exercises would work. A sword was an expensive item and would cost her a fair amount after all, there would be no point in buying one if she was never going to get use of her hand back. The logic was circular and heavily flawed but it seemed to work, and if nothing else Keldava could use the blade to retrain her hand once it was a bit better.

A change in the air signalled that Keldava was getting close to Casa, wafts of the border scent drifting down to her on the wind. There was likely somebody in Arte who could make her a sword but when Keldava had last been to Casa there had been weapons everywhere, and large ones as well like axes and oversized swords. Surely such a well armed place as Casa would have a skilled blacksmith to maintain the arms.

Seeing she was near her target Keldava slowed a bit, coming alongside the horse she had borrowed. Snowdrop was a gentle and obedient mare and had been good as gold on the trip despite Keldava’s inexperience when it came to dealing with horses. Coloured a light brown aside from a section of white at her rear end Snowdrop was an attractive looking horse, though much of her hide was currently covered with the goods Keldava had brought with her. With little skills other than her hunting – currently Keldava’s attempts at leatherwork were usually worth less than just the raw leather – Keldava had simply saved the supplies from hunting deer and was going to trade them raw. Bags of hardened fat, bundles of bones, rolls of fur and a small barrel containing dried meat all were strapped to Snowdrop’s back. Crowning the lot were three hides, tanned enough that they would serve as blankets or clothing but still containing the animals hair or fur. Two of them held the soft, short hair of a deer while a shorter but more luxurious one had been stripped from a cougar.

A quick perusal showed Keldava that all her goods were still strapped securely in place on Snowdrops back. Smiling she scratched the horse behind it’s ear, snowdrop replying by exhaling happily – an odd sound somewhat like a sigh to Keldava’s ears – and bumping her head gently into Keldava’s elbow.

Soon the border was upon them and Keldava brought Snowdrop to a halt with a few metres to spare. Sniffing to make sure she had the right pack Keldava then lifted up her head and howled, calling for a smith.

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