This choice: Argamir, the village Blacksmith • Go Back...Chapter #4Argamir, the village Blacksmith by: SurferJim   "Hail then Argamir, why do you look for me?"
Argamir, the heavy set blacksmith of our small town looked at me, his brow furrowed in concern.
He spoke in a deep rumble, but softly as though he was afraid of being overheard.
"Lad, I owe you and your father debt. I'm paying it. You saved Avi, my little girl."
It had been two harvests ago, a nacken had set itself into the local river.
Avice, Argamir's youngest daughter of thirteen at the time, had taken the laundry for washing.
Fortunately I and my father had been passing and dispatched the water spirit before it could draw the girl to her deathin it's embrace.
"Argamir, you know neither I or my father hold you to debt. We did what any man should have!"
The man's face stayed impassive, hard work having set his face almost to stone.
But a slight glint of a smile tugged as his eye.
"Aye, it should be expected of any good man. And you and your father are both good men. If you won't accept it as repayment of the debt I do owe you, then consider it the same act. What I tell you now could save your life. Consider it either a debt repayed or a favor from one father to yours."
Metal is not prone to conversation, and Argamir resembled it in that way.
If it was serious enough to draw so many words from him, then it was worth listening to him.
"Boy, do you know our Baron?"
"Only that he is mostly fair in taxes, that he has never worked with with his hands if it could be avoided. I hear he tends towards foppishness with his dress. I've never seen him, though."
"He is not a bad man, as Baron's go. When I was a lad, his grandfather was heavy with the taxes, took enough of us so his dogs grew fat while we damn near starved. Baron Roger is good in that regard. And a Baron who interferes little with the lives of his people is not such a bad thing."
He took a breath, and thought for a moment. I'd never known Argamir to be so chatty. The wind blew from behind him, and now I could smell drink coming off of him, though it only seemed to lubricate his words.
"But like all Barons, by the hells, like all men, he has his pride. At the last gathering held by the king, the Baron of Tawnion gave him insult and demeaned our lands. I don't know the full details, but while Baron Tawnion was put in his place, our Baron Rogers does not see fit to let the insult slide.
He has given me and all the blacksmiths of his barony the order for weapons and armor. To repair the old tools of your father's day and make new replacements for has been lost. Do you see what I am saying?"
I had felt the dread rise as Argamir was speaking.
The Baron sought battle to repay the insult?
While wars had been fought, it had only been to keep out those that wished to conquer our lands.
The King held sway over fifteen lands, each held by a baron who managed them for him.
And battle fought between them would see the death of the Baron starting the conflict.
"He would not draw the king's ire down on himself, surely! He would be a fool!"
"I do not know the nature of the insult Tawnion gave, I do know that Roger has certain pull in the King's court, even if not so much with the king himself. Perhaps he thinks should he win, that he will be able to use the insult as an excuse for the battle. I do not know. Whatever the reason, he is truly a fool. Tawnion controls greater lands, has more men and resources at his control. He may manage a surprise blow, but he can in no way win such an attack. He will soon begin to conscript young men, like yourself, to fight for his foolish cause."
I started to speak, but he moved forward and clasped his hand to my shoulder.
"Simon," he said, his breathe reeking of ale,"you must leave. If you stay, you will be forced into his army, and you will be killed by his mad plan. I'm sending my boy away as well. There's call for young men like yourselves to the north. In the docks at Taerop, or the King's works at Caereth. Even the great city of the king, should you go so far. Anywhere, but leave this land."
I felt shock to my core. I had never wanted to travel, unlike some I loved this land. My father had been granted it after serving time in the King's army, and it was good, rich farming land. I knew the rivers, the fields, it's people, and it's beasts who sometimes ventured out of the forests and waterways.
My father and mother needed my help working the lands. I couldn't leave them and my sisters, could I?
"You must listen to me lad, if you stay you will die. No curse is so great for a father than to lose a child so nearly their own person. The brush of it was enough to wound me. Heed my advice, make any preparations you need. I will provide you whatever you do not have, but you must leave!"
My head was swirling, How could I leave everything I'd known?
Even drunk, I couldn't question the blacksmith. Beneath the drink, I could see the fear in his eyes, hear the panic of his words.
If he was truly sending Ake away, then he held no doubt of his fear.
"I must speak with my father and mother. I cannot believe this!"
His other hand clasped my other shoulder.
"You must." He didn't raise his voice, but leveled his gaze at me.
"Speak to them, tell them what I have told you. But you must ready yourself to leave come morning, noon at the latest. The Baron will soon come to start gathering men. You must be then gone, or he will take you!"
In a sort of dull panic, not thinking I left the scythe where it lay and started walking to the home I shared with my family.
"See me come morning, I will have some of that needed to guard yourself on your travels!"
Having left his message of woe and destruction, destroying the peace of my day and future, Argamir left.
Presumably back to make sure his drink hadn't decided to slip away on him.
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