Oath: CXXVIII
'Do not think about it. Do not think about it.' Vestus thought about it. He sighed bringing down his hammer on the new metal. It was morning time, with the gold safely in the tavern he had decided to go to work, at least he could try to keep his job right?
"Hey, Vestus." Avi regarded him warmly while he stepped into the smithing room carrying a loaded chest of metal. "Happy Founders week." Founders week, while the holiday according to Riu was simply that of a day, the festivities tended to take place over an entire week. Music, and shops along with plenty of stands for food. It honestly sounded wonderful to him.
"Happy founder's day Avi." He replied, taking in a deep breath and moving back to his metal.
"Whatcha working on?"
"Well.." He faltered, technically nothing that was ordered.. Yet, Herod had shared his desires to order a set of half-plate with some rudimentary measurements Vestus sought to begin the second Damascus pattern immediately rather than wait, he wouldn't be able to give Herod the best, but he'd ensure he got the best he could at this point. "Just preemptively folding some extra Damascus.. I find it inefficient whenever I need another set to start then." it wasn't entirely untrue, he did in fact prefold sometimes, but the issue was that metal didn't work that way, each piece had to be more easily melded for the creation, but like everything there were exceptions.
"Ah alrighty.. Also on another note, have you finished Lord Shaladin's rapier?" Avi asked politely. Vestus grinned reaching behind him in the racks of finished work he pulled forth a long three-and-a-half-foot rapier, its design glistened with long rippling patterns forming an almost sea wave-shaped V's along its path.
"Wow." Avi whistles taking the blade carefully, the odd goose crest on it was a tad bit weird for Vestus, but he'd scrawled in Estral's family sigil enough time to simply accept it. "This is a beauty.. Thanks. I assume the other bits of stuff is done as well?" While much lower quality, Vestus pulled free the few spears, knives, and blades he had made. They were all his signature metal yet prepared more hastily than others. Avi twisted the rapier in his hands inspecting the hilt and guard all of which were elegant, sometimes, nobles paid for simply nice-looking things. He scoffed at that, he'd known far too many nobles in Denayianus who ordered toys they couldn't even wield. However, this weapon was deadly, he made sure of that. The blade's hilt had small rubies studded in its grip with a black iron handle and gold accents running down it. "Thank you, your work never disappoints." Vestus laughed with him. Avi brought the weapons aside, most likely preparing them for delivery or pick up. Though a blade like that would probably get an honor guard. With that task completed Vestus finished up his folding and placed the metal in the fiery furnace. His attention.. Was on another task now. Chisels and long strokes were required, by the time Vestus had finished he was staring out the window at a noon sun.
"Embric, Avi!" Vestus called, he slung the blade over his back precariously. And held it close to his body the long sword he had been working on for several days now finally had a purpose he could feel. Perhaps it was the guilt.. Or maybe even some form of mixed-up anguish that made him feel this way. But it was right. Just like Blazor, or Grey, Mend, Estral, or any others. He had the sense this was needed. "I'm gonna head to TrollSkull manor. We're opening today." He grinned, knowing the party Estral had adventured with for so long was excited to finally open the bar. Embric's face lit up.
"Oh really?! Well, we gotta swing by.. Enjoy the festivities for us will you?" Embric waved happily.
"You mean the.. VEStivities?" he smiled. Neither of them laughed. Well, it worked more on Blazor. "I will.. The Pride of Zeus was a great celebration in my hometown.. I have a feeling I'll fit right in." He assured the two Gensai. Exiting the building he was taken aback by how alive the city was. Perhaps he'd grown far too used to the empty still being setup stands over the last week, but what confronted him outside was splendid, to say the least.
Fire dancers played on the side of the streets, while carts bustled with people going from one end of the city to the next, TrollSkull alley looked as if it had been flooded with people seeking comfort, the roads which normally looked dirty yet sturdy seemed to have been flooded with wine staining them red and washing the impurities free. The sun was hot overhead but he dealt with a forge most of his life. He swept the sweat aside and smiled. Children played in the streets running up and down the lots. In the distance, he saw wine tasting stands and could have sworn he saw the back of Herod's head.
"ooF!" a little thump could be heard by his side. Had someone run into him? At his feet sat a small boy, no older than ten looking up at him sheepishly. Vestus smiled.
"Are you ok young one?" he reached out a hand to help the boy up, but he refused.
"Uh. hes- He's alright." Above the child, Vestus saw a tall tanned skinned woman approach him. She had dark blue eyes and was dressed in somewhat formal attire. Vestus looked to her, and back at the boy. Sensing discomfort, he reached up knowing full well it was his misshapen face. He kneeled down and lifted the boy by his shoulders much to the boy's surprise. "I- I said hes-"
"I know." Vestus held up a hand and grinned he turned the kid's palm over and inspected it a long scratch mark dotted its surface. The child began to cry as soon as he looked at it. "Shh, shh its alright.." He placed a hand against the kid's head and whispered to him. "It's all gonna be alright.." From his satchel, he pulled a load of salve from his travels. He rubbed it slowly letting the cool soft medicine soothe the boy's hand. "Here you go, son.." Reaching behind him once again Vestus pulled free a small toy soldier. Melted and shaped with aluminum the figurine bared a resemblance to a knight just without the ridiculous plume. Slowly but surely the boy stopped crying and began to smile. Vestus got back onto his feet and gave the mother he presumed, a smile.
"I.. thank you, sir." She smiled warmly. "Happy Founders.. Day.." He nodded and headed towards the TrollSkull Manor. The line outside was massive and unexpected. The interior lights were blazing in glory. Inside Vestus could see people moving to the bar itself, the tables that lined the windows were chock full! He even spotted a familiar face; the man Renaer who had accompanied them twice now, inside drinking at a table. Vestus moved past his enormous rock which he'd placed firmly in the front yard, reading the gold inscription on its surface; 'TrollSkull Manor.' He walked into the bar. The noise was crazy with people arguing from one side to another. Vestus inspected it all, behind the bar itself glasses and goblets floated about handing people drinks. Alekzandr nearby furiously worked to help Lif the spirit supply thirsty patrons.
"Vestus!" Alekzandr cried, he gave the old drunk a grin and approached the counter sliding into the back with him. The counter had roughly eight people hunched over it yelling at each other about something. The room was a ruckus of noise yet it oddly felt homey, he'd dealt with the mess hall in Exitium house, so this was really a cakewalk. "Dear Dionysus this place is packed tighter than a can of grenushoka!" Alekzandr cursed Vestus laughed a little and handed a mug of ale to a man on the bar counter. He wasn't sure what that was.
"Where are the kids?!" He asked, trying to ensure those little idiots weren't running around down in the tavern while others drank and shouted to the heavens.
"Upstairs! I told them to stay, don't want any foolishness while we have company, eh comrade?" Vestus knew there was a reason he liked Alekzandr.
"I need three mugs of beer, they don't care what kind, and a batch of those fried.. Potato thingys." Vestus turned to Vaelle's voice. The once gaunt girl shocked him, she was dressed in a gold and black uniform that looked to be a mix of a traditional bar maidens suit, and an armored dress. Her long black hair was pulled behind her, her skin was much more tanned and lacked that pale color hed originally seen. She had full large lips and her cheeks looked to be complete. No longer as scary thin looking.
"Potato.. T?" He questioned but Lif seemingly retrieved the food and Alekzandr piled on the beers to Vaelle's plate. The girl went off to deliver the goods. "We have one worker?" Vestus criticized. Alekzandr seemed to laugh.
"We didn't really think we'd be THAT busy so, there wasn't any need as far as we saw.. Also.. not just.. one.." Alekzandr shrugged with a chuckle. He narrowed his eyes. He looked over his shoulder spotting a few gold-clothed men.. The same ones from the vault- oh it was the half-elf's cultists.. He sighed.
It took nearly two hours of hard labor before the place began to quiet down, the line outside had disappeared and in the air, the soft music of Andraste and Mattrim could be heard throughout the bar, it was a slow song.. Full of hope. He breathed a sigh of relief while customers drank in their booths. The look on Alekzandr's face was priceless. He understood, unlike Alekz, Riu, Markos, or really any of the others he had only arrived recently, he had no real stake in the business but his glee was not for the bar but for Estral's friends. Asher. Damnit. Asher. He reminded himself, he hoped his kids would always be patient with him when they picked new names.
"That was mayhem.." He joked prodding Alekz in the ribs.
"Is it over?" Markos emerged from behind Alekzandr pulling an apron off as he looked beaten with sweat and dust. Vestus grinned.
"I see where the food was coming from n- did you let the cultist cook the food??" He criticized. Alekzandr shrugged.
"Amazing." Vestus got a pat on his back with Renaer leaning over the bar, people were still drinking but luckily it was far less now. "This.. I would not miss this for the goddamn world. It was fantastic." Renaer started laughing. Making his way back to a bar table.
"Well, now comrade.." Alekzandr laughed "What's that you've got?" he pointed at Vestus's back through all the chaos and random openings. Vestus had completely forgotten about the sword he was carrying on his back wrapped up in a long cloth.
"Ah.. thank you, that actually reminds me.." Vestus pulled it off of his back inspecting the blade's cover. "Alekz, do you mind taking over the bar with Lif? I.. have to do something.." The soldier gave him an odd look.
"Can I handle a bar of people and alcohol? Absolutely. I await your return, comrade." Vestus smiled back and excused himself from the bar, he crept around the edges slowly opening the door that led to the upstairs, careful to not bump into any customers. In the distance, he saw Vaelle whip her hair around heading to the bar counter with a smile. It made him.. Happy. Bounding up the stairs with deep thuds he hastily made his way to the second floor and into the common room. That's where he found them. Sitting on the couches, he saw Squidly reading through a book, and Nat was sat on the floor playing with something or other. Vestus recalled all the nights he spent taking care of Estral, Blazor, and so many of his other kids.. He clenched his fist. 'I will find you again Estral.. I promise.' He took a deep breath.
"Hey Squidly." The tiefling boy only then seemed to notice him, he stood up and threw the book to the side in a hurry. "It's alright.." He wanted to laugh. "You can read.. You.. Squidly." He got on one knee. "I told you.. We're gonna take care of you, Jenkx, and Nat. so.. Read, eat the food, and be a child. I promise you it'll all be ok." There was a part of him nudging for closure, but he focused on the kids instead.
"Oh.. ok. Thank you." The supposedly one-eyed tiefling grinned happily.
"Now do you mind.. Telling Nat to close her eyes? I.. have something for her." Nat was still pretty absent-minded on the floor coloring in the lines of some booklet Vestus had purchased at the store a night prior. Squidly cocked his head.
"Sure!" Walking over, Squidly moved his hands quite rapidly performing some specific version of sign language Vestus didn't know. This wasn't his first time raising a deaf child. Jericho had been deaf as well, but that child went deaf over time and knew a standard common sign language. This on the other hand was completely made up and unique. Nat clenched her eyes shut and stood up making her way to Vestus. The small girl was adorable dressed in clearly far too large of clothes she had refused to change, but that was alright. He saw a spirit in her and wanted anything to help. Carefully Vestus unwrapped the blade behind him and gently set it in her hands. It didn't even take her opening her eyes to tell what it was. She threw them open and looked down, her little spectacles grew wide with excitement. She inspected the weapon. It was around forty-nine inches hilt and all. Its pommel was decorated by a badger's head, more specifically a mouse badger, small little creatures with no hearing at all. He thought it was befitting. She ran her hand along the hilt and dragon leather-wrapped handle, a resource which he had brought to the city. The blade was covered by a massive sheath colored red with gold Damascus edges. Folding and twisting Damascus was hard, but he was Vestus Konstotte.
"You'll grow into it," He assured her. Squidly signed it back to her. Carefully because it was almost too heavy for her to carry even with two hands Nat drew the blade out of its sheath and inspected it. Close to the intricate V-shaped guard was the stamp of Exitium house. The blade was rippled with the finest Damascus he'd forged in a long time folded on itself hundreds of times using shortcuts he'd learned long ago. It was twisted in a form that bladesmiths called impossible. The blade seemed to pull the light out of the very air, drinking it into the rippled steel alloy. It was a masterpiece. Across the blade itself between the carved runes and fuller, Nat recognized a spelling; NAT. The little girl looked up with tears on her face as she hugged him. "Woah!" He yelled. She tackled him, he grabbed the blade with Squidly helping in the grip of the sheath together they tucked it away. Nat sobbed into his shirt. That's all the thanks he needed.
While being hugged Vestus reached into his sack and pulled free a small knife he made for the child, he wasn't sure what Squidly was interested in but a knife was always a useful weapon, regardless of who used it. Eventually, Nat pulled away, wiping tears from her narrow eyes. She signed something, turning her fingers towards him in thanks. "You're gonna have to teach me this language some time.." He gave the two a happy grin, feeling tears well up in his own eyes.. 'Oh Asher.. I wish you were here.. I will find you, son.. I will succeed,' He thought. 'I will not fail you.'
"Of course!" Squidly cheered excitedly.
"Now.. I.. have to go and attend to Alekzandr downstairs. But you two will be good alright?" He patted the kids on the head and left the room making his way back towards the staircase. However, instead, he turned left and charged for the balcony. He was only on the second floor, quietly closing the door behind him. He looked over the railing and hopped down straight into the backyard. It was a decent plot of land, with a few small trees and a horse stable filled with two horses. In the middle of the wide yard, Vestus spotted a large Orange tree with full green leaves and oranges dropping from its top. He took a deep breath and made his way to the tree, kneeling on its opposite side to the house. Vestus set his bag on the ground. He knelt in a praying manner and pulled objects from his sack; first, a small silver bowl filled with coal dust, he lit it using a flint and steel the same kind on Adleth's swords. Next came the four gold coins. Three times larger than that of the gold dragon currency that had been used in Waterdeep.
No these were old-fashioned peach-sized coins round and dented on its edges. He set each coin in the roaring flames before finally setting down a small painting and a knife. He stared forward. "Lord Hephestus gives me strength.. Lady Athena.. Wisdom.. Ares, I beseech thee.. Guide my son.. Wherever he.. Wherever..." His voice broke and he stared longingly at the small painting, Estral no older than sixteen smiling back at him. Tears flooded his eyes. He gripped the grass below him. They began to spill down his cheeks. The pit of his stomach felt as if it were going to fall, and Vestus prayed he would have the strength to rise. "Guide my son.. Wherever he may need to be.." He touched the photo longingly thinking about Nat, Squidly, and Jenks wondering what he'd do if a poor fate befell them. The gold coin glowed hot in the brazier. The Drachma's turned to dust, floating into the air. "Goodnight Estral.. Goodnight Asher.. I'm sorry.. I'm sorry I wasn't there.. I pledge to you.. I will not fail you again." His heart was heavy, what parent should ever feel this grief? The pains of feeling they'd outlived their own child. He clenched his eyes shut and continued his prayer. "I will see you again.." He growled, he was a man of his word. If not.. He did not want to live. "I swear it.. On the River Styx."