Chapter 4: "Two Silver"

“Okay, Mom, I’m headed out now!” Theodore called from the front door. He didn’t wait for a response. She wouldn’t give one anyway. She was too caught up in her own mind most of the time.

He closed the door and whistled a tune as he strolled down the cobblestone walkway. He turned the corner to Main Street. Carts passed him on the right and people on the left. Store fronts opened up on either side of the road. Vendors stood auctioning off their wares. The city was always such a busy place and often times he felt the sheer number of bodies pressing in like a weight around him.

He ducked his head and threaded through the crowd. It was best to as inconspicuous as possible. Not everyone in the city was friendly. His small frame allowed him to be agile as he darted through the people.

After a few more turns, he came to his destination. A metal worked sign of an anvil hung outside the door. The door itself read “Anders’ Blacksmithing” for those who could actually read. He pushed opened the door. The smell of smoke and liquid metal assaulted his nose before he even took his first step in.

The stone floor clicked beneath his leathers boots as he navigated the large open room. Swords, pikes, armor, and other equipment littered the walls and tables. The blacksmith himself was deeper within. The metal clangs of his hammer echoed off the stone walls. Theodore followed the sounds until he stood in the furnace room.

The tall blacksmith, Anders, leaned over his anvil. The corded muscle of his arms flexed with each hit of the hammer as he shaped the metal into a sword. His blonde stubble was almost long enough to be a beard and his long hair was tied neatly back at the nap of his neck. Anders’ brown eyes flicked up at Theodore’s arrival and then back to his work. Theodore waited patiently. Anders dropped the iron in a bucket of water. The waters hissed as the hot metal cooled and sent steam swirling into the air.

“You’re early,” Anders said.

Theodore nodded. “Yes, sir.” He stood ready to start his new apprenticeship. He hoped he didn’t look too eager, but he couldn’t help it.

Anders looked him up and down. “I didn’t expect you to be so… skinny.” He frowned.

“I may be small, sir, but my dad was a black--,”

Anders waved his hand. “I know. That’s why I accepted you. Let’s just hope you grow into it, eh?”

“I’m ready to do whatever you need me to. I’ll do anything.”

Anders looked around. He jutted his chin out towards the corner. “There, grab that broom. You can sweep. If any customers come in, you come get me, alright?”

Theodore nodded enthusiastically. He snatched up the broom and went to work. He started in the corner and worked his way away from the furnace room. He was careful not sweep the ash and soot in the direction of the blacksmith as he worked. After finishing the furnace room, he moved on to the larger area towards the front.

The bell at the door rang as a customer walked in. Theodore, who was in the middle of the main room, stopped mid sweep and looked up. It was a middle aged man with dark hair that was just starting to grey at the edges.

Theodore smiled warmly as the man approached. “Good morning, sir.”

“Is Anders here?”

Theodore nodded. “He’s in the back. I can go get him.” He turned to leave, but the man spoke.

“Are you new here? You look kind of familiar.”

“This is my first day. My dad was a blacksmith. I really want to follow in his footsteps.”

The man turned his head and frowned in thought. “Ah, are you Morrison’s boy, perhaps?”

Theodore nodded. “That’s me.”

“I see it now. You have the same nose.” He gave a laugh. “Well before he broke it. You’re kinda short though, aren’t you? I mean, Morrison was a big man.” He held his arms out to demonstrate.

“I’m only fourteen, sir.”

The man nodded. “Ah, I see. You haven’t hit your growth spurt yet. We’ll don’t worry, you’ll have all the ladies falling at your feet if you’re anything like your old man. I always used to see him around town with a different lass in his younger years.”

Theodore just nodded and smiled. Anders appeared around the corner and drew both of their attention.

“I thought I told you to come get me if we had customers.” Anders dark eyes glared at Theodore.

“I… he…”

“Oh, don’t be so hard on him on his first day. I was chatting him up about his father. I wouldn’t let him leave.”

Anders frowned as he approached. “What do you need?”

“I was looking for someone to shoe my horses.”

Anders put his hands on his hips. He somehow grew taller when he did it. The frown on his face deepened. “I don’t do farrier work. Find someone else.”

“But I hear you’re the best in town. I’m willing to pay a good price.”

“It’s not worth ruining my reputation.”

The two men stared at each other. Theodore felt like he was impeding, but was too scared to move and draw attention to himself.

“Show me what you have to offer, then. Your most expensive piece of work,” the man said.

“You can afford it,” Anders countered.

“Don’t tell me what I can’t afford.”

“Leave.”

The man’s eyes narrowed. “That’s no way to do business.”

“We’re not doing business. You’re wasting my time.”

“I wouldn’t be if you would offer me something.”

“Get out.”

The two men stared at each other a little longer before the man sighed.

“Fine. I don’t want to deal with a pompous ass like you anyways.” He turned to Theodore. “Get out of here while you can, kid. He’s a rotten egg.”

Theodore froze. The man turned and sauntered towards the door.

“Hav… have a good day, sir.” Theodore finally spit out as the bell to the door rang upon his exit.

Anders headed back to the forge.

“I’m sorry,” Theodore called after him.

Anders paused. “Don’t worry about it.” He continued and disappeared around the corner.

Theodore stood frozen and watched him. What could he have done differently? Should he not have chatted with that man? He shook his head. He wished Anders would give him more direction so he could do a better job. He felt like he was going to get fired on the first day. His heart beat fast with terror. He needed this apprenticeship. He had to do his best if he was ever going to be as good as his father.

He dropped his eyes down to the broom in his hands then started vigorously sweeping. He was asked to sweep and that’s what he would do. He finished the job. The echoes of Anders steady hammering still filled the room. He didn’t want to bother him, but at the same time he did want to be useful. He noticed dust on some of the weapons. After a small search, he found a rag and started wiping them down.

There were numerous tables and racks housing an array of both weapons and farming equipment. He did his best to clean what he could reach without disturbing their positioning. He wasn’t sure if the weapons needed oil or special care, so he just dusted what he could and moved on.

When he was finished, he walked around the room. The hammering still continued. He paused and looked out the front windows. They were hazy with soot. He took his rag and wiped at it. It looked like the windows used to be clear instead of just white. He grabbed a bucket of water and started scrubbing at them. After that work was finished, he climbed on a stool and wiped down the windows at the top, too.

“What the hell are you doing, kid?” Anders came in while he was at the top of the stool scrubbing at a high window.

Theodore jumped. He hadn’t noticed the sudden silence over his own whistling.

“I was just, well, I didn’t want to bother you.”

Anders looked around. “Just ask. Don’t be such a wimp. And now it’s so damn bright in here.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I was just thinking that it might bring in more customers. I mean, if they can see your wares, you might sell more.”

“You mean, they might interrupt me more.”

Theodore hung his head. “I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t think of that.”

“Well you better start thinking, then.” He reached his palm out towards Theodore and dropped two silver coins in his hand. “Go get us a couple of sandwiches. There’s a good place down the street. Her name’s Martha. She knows what I like. Be back quick.” He raised his finger at him. “And don’t do anything else unless I ask you.”

Theodore nodded. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry, sir.”

Anders waved his hand. “Just go. And when you come back, finish those windows. They look terrible half done.”

Theodore nodded again. He jumped off the stool and ran out the door. The bright end of summer sun felt good on his face after the darkness of the store. He whistled as he walked down the busy street and looked for food vendors that sold sandwiches. When he turned the corner, he went pale.

Ahead of him, three boys his age stood leaning against a wall. He tried to back pedal away from them, but knocked against a sturdy man who grumbled. Theodore apologized and turned, but one of the boys grabbed his shirt before he could take another step.

“Sorry, sir. My friend here doesn’t watch where he’s going.” The tall boy said. It was Flynn Wallis and he was the head of this band of bullies. His blonde hair caught the hair as he gave a winning grin to the man Theodore had offended.

The man mumbled something and continued along his path.

Flynn wrapped his arm around Theodore’s shoulders and led him down an alley away from the street.

“Ppp… please. I’m on an errand for my master. Please Fff… Flynn,” Theodore stuttered.

“Don’t worry buddy. We just want to talk.” When they were shielded from the street, Flynn pushed him against a wall.

Theodore turned and flattened himself against it. “Please… My master…”

“Give.” Flynn held out his hand.

“Give what?”

“Boys?” Flynn jutted his chin at Theodore.

Flynn’s friends stepped forward. Rough hands assaulted Theodore’s clothing. One of them pried Theodore’s fingers open from around the pieces of silver. After a few new bruises from being shoved around, the boys stepped back to Flynn’s side. One of them passed over the coins.

Flynn held up the silver. “See, I knew you were holding out on me. Why can’t you just be honest?”

“Flynn, please. It’s my master’s coins. He sent me for lunch.”

He flipped the coin and caught it. “Well, maybe he should have hired a better apprentice. And next time, why don’t you just hand it over? You won’t end up with this.” He wrapped his fingers around the coin, cocked his fist, and launched it forward.

Theodore’s nose met the fist with a sickening crunch. His head hit the wall. Flashing auras filled his vision. Blood spurted out and the boys laughed. Theodore covered his nose with both hands as he fought the stars. The boys turned as they laughed. Flynn flipped the coins in his hand and they walked away.

Theodore staggered. He used one hand to guide him along the wall and back to the street. He didn’t know what to do. His nose hurt, but even worse was the knot in his stomach. He had lost his master’s money and he couldn’t return looking like this.

He reached the street. A few people cast glances at him, but none stopped. He held his arm over his face and continued forward towards the public bath house. After a short journey he pushed open the door. In another few minutes, he had wiped the blood from his face and rinsed most of the blood from his shirt. He had no choice, but to put the wet shirt back on. He took a deep breath and headed back to the blacksmith shop.

He stood outside the shop with his hand on the door. He wasn’t sure what he would say. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t just run away. If he did, that would be it. No one in town would hire him, let alone any blacksmith in the area.

He finally pushed open the door. Anders sat polishing one of the swords. Theodore’s heart sank. He was at least hoping the blacksmith would be in the forge so he would have a few more moments to gather his thoughts.

Anders looked up. His eyes narrowed. The door closed behind Theodore, but he didn’t step further in.

“Where are the sandwiches?”

Theodore hung his head. “I lost the coins.”

Anders set the sword down and closed the distance. He looked down at him. A hand came up and he pinched the wet shoulder of his clothing and dropped it. He lifted Theodore’s chin then turned his head this way and that. Theodore could feel the blood crusted inside his nose.

“What happened? And don’t lie.”

Theodore opened his mouth but he couldn’t form the words.

Anders frowned. He grabbed Theodore by the arm. “Come.” He pushed opened the door and hauled Theodore in front of him. “Lead the way.”

Theodore didn’t have much control as Anders pushed him forward with a hand on his arm and another on his shoulder. Theodore sort of pointed in the direction of the alley. They walked to the other side and up the street a ways. He hoped with all his heart they didn’t find the boys. He didn’t want to make a scene. He already felt bad enough for disappointing Anders.

They marched up and down the street before Anders turned to him. “You don’t see them?”

Theodore shook his head.

Anders’ frown deepened. He released Theodore’s arm and turned back down the alley. Theodore followed after him. When they were halfway down, three boys turned the corner. They laughed amongst themselves, but paused when they saw Anders and Theodore.

Anders looked over to Theodore and then back to the boys. He lifted his finger and beckoned them. Their faces went pale and they turned to run, but Anders caught Flynn by the back of the shirt in three long strides. He spun the boy around and slammed him into the wall. The other two boys hesitated, then bolted.

“Did you take this boy’s money?” Anders asked Flynn.

Flynn’s blonde hair covered his eyes. “No, sir.”

Anders looked over to Theodore. Theodore looked at the ground.

Anders tightened his grip on the boy’s collar and lifted it. “Don’t lie to me, boy. Did you take his money?”

Flynn nodded slightly.

“Did he tell you that was my money?”

Flynn went to shake his head. Anders slammed his fist against the wall next to his head.

“Yes. He told me it was your money,” Flynn stammered.

“And you took it anyways?”

“Yes.” Flynn dropped his eyes.

“And where is my money?”

Flynn smacked at his shirt pockets and then down to his trousers. He produced a handful of coins.

Anders took the handful of coins. “How much of this money is actually yours?”

“Some of i--,”

Anders punched the wall again.

“None of it, sir.”

“That’s what I thought.” Anders looked down to Theodore and then back at Flynn. “Since you have so much time on your hands, here’s what I’m going to do. You’re going to come work for me and Theodore here is going to be your boss. But first, an eye for an eye. Theo.”

He turned to Theodore and nodded to indicate Flynn. “Ball your fist up tight and bring it back next to your head. Now, you don’t want to go straight, but sideways with a follow through motion.” He demonstrated in slow motion on Flynn. Flynn squeezed his eyes shut as Anders very gently pressed his fist against his nose and passed it.

“But I don’t wa…”

Anders glared.

“Yes, sir.”

Anders released Flynn’s shirt and stepped away. “If you move a muscle, you’re going to wish Theodore hit you instead of me.” He looked back at Theodore. “Ready?”

Theodore frowned. He pulled his fist back over his shoulder and aimed for Flynn’s nose. He gritted his teeth tight and swung. At some point he closed his eyes, but he felt his fist connect with Flynn’s nose and upper lips. He pulled back wincing as Flynn let out a squeal. Theodore shook his hand. He didn’t realize hitting someone was so painful on both ends. He looked up to see Flynn holding his nose. A little trickle of blood seeped out of his nose, but other than that he left only a red mark.

Anders laughed. “Well, not bad for your first punch.” He hauled Flynn up by the back of the shirt and propelled him down the alleyway. “Come on Theo, let’s get some lunch.”

Theodore trotted after him, still shaking his hand.

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