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Chapter 4 (Begging and threatening)
With
the mayor’s mansion across the street, I took a deep breath and backed into the
blacksmiths’ shop behind me.
Chimes
on the door rang, announcing my presence. The smell of wood smoke, metal
shavings and steak hung heavy in the air. Ah, the refreshing scent of a forge
reinvigorated my courage, but it didn’t wash the sour taste of bile from my
mouth.
Just
making this request to the mayor could get me arrested. And if I was reported
to the Regime, I’d surely be executed.
It
was worth it, though. I’d put my life on the line for Igu four days out of
five. Just like she’d do for me. I’d probably even do it all five days despite
the commandments to rest on your soul’s day.
Pictures
of weapons, jewelry and other works of art hung around the room, all
masterpieces created by the Yaye Brothers. The small counter in front of the
door, which led to the workshop, held a cash register, just for show, and a
stack of books, each with countless designs that I’d combed through for ages.
I
cupped my hands over my mouth. “Uncles!”
Someone
grunted in the back before the creaking sound of old hinges announced the
eldest, and smallest, of my three uncles. Like me but half the scale, Uncle
Weron Yaye had a broad chest and more muscles than hair. Well, our hair was
dispersed differently. I had hair on my head. My eldest uncle didn’t wear a
shirt despite working at the forge. He was fire forger after all.
I
bowed before setting the case with my soul crystal in it on the counter.
“Nephew?”
Weron asked.
“Remember
the design I gave you before?” I nudged the soul crystal forward. “With all my
savings?”
Weron
sighed. “You know your mother doesn’t want us making a weapon for you. Like
some type of gladiator.”
“Tell
her it’s for working in the mine.”
“At
the proportions you gave us?”
“You
could wield it without a soul crystal forged into it, and I’m twice as big as
you.”
“And
despite my age, I could still bend you over my knee and make you squeal.”
I
swallowed. Uncle was right. I may be strong, but working the forge was far
different than working in the mine. Especially since he had full control over
his soul crystal. “Sorry. I just mean that I’m an adult now. I should be able
to make my own decisions.”
“Your
mother will always be your mother. Be happy she’s still around.”
“I
guess. It’s just, well, I need this hammer within the next few hours.”
Arching
and eyebrow, Weron stepped around the corner and placed a hand on my shoulder. “What
happened?”
“Igu—”
“Your
girlfriend.”
“No.
My friend, but nonetheless, she is dying. And I. I. I don’t know if anyone will
do anything to save her.”
“So,
you plan to save her yourself?”
I
shook my head. “That would be impossible, but I won’t let any group leave
without me.” I swallowed, starting to feel sick to my stomach. Uncle Weron had
always helped me out. He had always helped me. And of everyone, he was the only
one, besides Mother, who I never wished to disappoint. “Please.”
“Duty,
huh?” Weron nodded. “Go do whatever you’re antsy to do, and when you come back,
your hammer will be done..”
Antsy?
I looked down and just then noticed my foot was tapping. I forced it to stop
before lunging forward and wrapping my uncle in a hug. “You won’t regret this.”
“I’d
better not. Especially since the utility of a ring is better, even for
fighters.” He was right about the ring, but gladiators needed the extra power
of a weapon. Not the utility.
So,
without responding, I turned and bolted from the blacksmiths’ shop and across
the street, slipping past the Mayor’s guards before they realized I had even
approached. Raised voices shouted for me to stop, but I just ignored them and
continued into the mayor’s mansion.
Up
two flights of stairs. Potted plant knocked over in my haste to slow whoever
was chasing me. Through a pair of double doors.
I
slammed the doors behind me, panting. Drool dribbled onto my chin, but my arms
wouldn’t move; they just stayed planted to my knees.
Across
the office, the mayor put his pen down and stood up behind his desk. All and
all, he was only a mining pick shorter than me, but he was the skinny type.
None of that really mattered as long as he wore the bracelet with his wind soul
crystal in it. The extra speed it granted him on top of his specialties with
binding would be all he needed to defend himself. Especially since his guards
were incompetent.
“Mayor.
Mayor.” I took a deep breath and held it to steady myself then stood up
straight. “Please. I need—”
The
door slammed open behind me with the force granted by fire and threw me to my
face onto the carpeted floor halfway across the office. The crack of impact only then registered in
my senses, and a burning pain rolled down my spine.
Gritting
my teeth, I held in the howl of agony. Rage powered my muscles, and I shot back
to my feet. That bastard would pay. I clenched my fist and froze in place as a white
hot short sword seared into the flesh of my neck.
“Move,”
the mayor’s chief guard, Yalrein, said with his hoarse voice, “and I’ll take
your head clean from your shoulders, boy.”
The
burning heat of his sword against my flesh made the room blur. The stench of
roasting rat hit my nose and reminded me that I hadn’t taken a bath in a few
days. Maybe more since my cooking flesh carried that odor.
“Put
your weapon down, Yalrein.” The mayor’s melodious voice relaxed the tension in
my body. He didn’t have the natural speaking abilities of a psychic, but he
came close.
“But,
sir—”
“Put
it down.”
Yalrein
gulped before the searing pressure lessened on my neck.
I
stumbled to the side and placed my hand over the hot pain in my neck. I wanted
to turn around and punch Yalrein in the face. To knock him onto his smug butt—ass.
I was an adult now. I could use swear words. Though, I shouldn’t say them
aloud.
Within
the blink of an eye, the mayor stood in front of me, not two feet away. “What
do you need? Mati was it?”
“Tima,
sir. And my friend is dying.”
The
mayor groaned. “Not this again.”
I
blinked and cocked my head to the side. “Huh?”
“Aiga
asks something of me that isn’t possible. Any men sent after the Fevered Five
would be marked as terrorists themselves, and the city guard would deal with
them and the Fevered Five accordingly. And even if they didn’t, the Regime’s agents
would report that we’re harboring terrorists, and we would pay the price.”
“But.”
I shook my head. My throat felt dry, and not because of the heat of Yalrein’s
blade. “Please. Sir. Igu. She’ll die if a water healer can’t come.”
“Sorry,
boy.” The mayor shook his head, and his words sounded pained. “I can’t risk the
lives of everyone for that of one girl.”
Next: Chapter 5
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