There was quiet in the room for quite a while.  Kre wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or a bad one, but even he could read the room and judge that he wouldn’t be the one to break the silence.  To ensure that, he stopped polishing the blades, afraid of making a noise...Read More

Beleg tapped the paper but didn’t open it.  Kre could scarcely believe his own ears.  A hundred gold.  They never worked in gold in Mintas, so he had no real actual concept of the value, but that made it all the more overwhelming. “It doesn’t have the same wow factor if you tell me the...Read More

“It seems to me that if I were to lose in the finals, it would damage my stellar reputation greatly.” “Oh, I don’t believe that it would,” the Master retorted smoothly. He was clearly getting into the groove of the impending negotiation. “In fact, I dare say that it would help. Show that you’re only...Read More

“I am no loser,” Beleg snarled, clenching his hands into white knuckled fists.  The Master raised his free hand and gently motioned for the fighter to calm down.  “I’m not indicating that you’re a loser at all.  In fact, it’s because you’re clearly the best among the best that I make you this offer. “This...Read More

The Master waved his fork to settle his companion and gave Beleg a critical look.  “You certainly do seem the part.”  He resumed eating in such an unconcerned way as if the topic was no longer one of consequence. The other man barely ate, instead using the time to poke at the food and to...Read More

Beleg glanced back and winced.  “Ah, yes…” he stammered.  “I… uh… had initially chosen those two swords during the selection process but found them to be… lacking?” “I heard about his trouble,” the other man interrupted, his smooth voice seemingly far more accustomed to stretching the truth than Beleg had been, “and as I was...Read More

Even with his intuitive twin blades, Kre had a difficult time keeping up with Beleg during practice.  The large man moved with exquisite grace and speed, weaving his large blade through the air like a leaf on the wind.  Although Beleg’s sword was heavily padded, Kre could still feel the power come through as a...Read More

Beleg slumped in a chair and sighed loudly, “Where the heck is Dain? I can’t handle this on my own.” “Master Dain,” Grivallt said, kneeling down next to Beleg, “is with the others working on verifying funds for the first part of the auction later. He will be other indisposed for quite some time.” “Blast…”...Read More

Kre took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  ‘Lord Tralagar, would you please bless me with your wisdom?’ There was no response for several seconds and then, ‘That was pitiful, but it is a start, and we shall work on that.’ Kre gritted his teeth, ‘And the sword?  My honorable Lord Tralagar?’ ‘Oh...Read More

Beleg reached for a long, wrapped bundle that Kre hadn’t noticed before and tugged on the strings holding the wrappings tight.  Beleg seemed overly careful as he peeled the cloth away, using just two fingers to do so, until a large, sheathed sword was revealed.  “Grivallt had to listen to me complain about trying to...Read More