Stories from RhyDin & The Rings

After the Panther Claw

"I'm back," she called out into the blue darkness of the small two bedroom apartment.
"Welcome back."
"Thanks." she replied. It was still an unfamiliar thing. She was never at one place, or time, long enough to afford such little things. But at least he was nice enough to let her stay until work was finished.

He sat in sat on the only couch in the the deep dark lit by the soft blue light from the small flickering box in front of him and the grey moon of the winter sky through the window.

Val had seen a few of these in her travels. Some big, some small, others old and run by magic while others seemed shiny and run with electricity. Each one seemed so different yet always showed the same droll crap.

"You didn't have to keep it so dark just for me. It's night time outside." To her the street outside appear like day, and the apartment seemed like dusk. He was ever polite with her vision, but he'd told her time and again, that he didn't mind. He even preferred to work night jobs, so he'd assured her he was just used to the darkness and it didn't bother him.

"You know I don't mind. How did it go?" He avoided her comment some what as he asked her, scratching at the beard that was growing a little out of control.
"Okay I guess. I didn't last long." As she dropped her purse onto a small chair she let out a big sigh and looked at the television
"That's to be expected your first time. Well come here." He said in a gravely voice as he patted one of his legs.

She kicked off her shoes, dropping her good couple inches and laid on her back on the couch and rest her head on his leg. Looking up to the dark ceiling she opened her pale eyes as wide as she could.

"Yeah. They were nice though." His scarred rough face came into view as he narrowed his eyes, staring in to hers.

"How were they?" His finger tip hovered over her eye.
"They are too bright still. But they helped a lot, thankfully." she paused as he skillfully pulled a contact lenses from each of her eyes.

She blinked quit a bit as she could feel the air chill her eye and the small shade was lifted. He'd help her find someone willing to craft the small contacts that acted more as a normal person would wear sunglasses. She couldn't wear them during the day, but in bright building or areas like the arena or event, it was much better suited than sunglasses that could and have fallen off.

He pulled away with a simple, "Okay."
She sat up straight and closed her eyes a few minutes. "Thank you. Like I said they are better than nothing, but the light was still bright and made things fuzzy during the fight from time to time."
"We'll see what we can do."

"Thanks J. Oh, there is some soup in the fridge I made you for tonight's dinner. Make sure you eat." She waited... "Okay?"
He looked at one contact, holding it up to the moonlight between his calloused fingers while she shook her head and went off to her own room.

It was sunset when she opened her eyes, a familiar ceiling above her. Her body refused to listen to her as she tried to get up. That was when it all came back. She’d left the arena, bits of her blood causing her black tights and shirt to stick to her.

It wasn't too bad except for the fact that one or two of the non magical weapons or moves that drew blood had just the right amount of iron. The wards of the place worked well, stopping the bleeding, but the wounds beneath her clothing were still open. She’d been at the fights too long and the constant combat, or near constant, had taken a toll on her along with losing a little blood. She’d been near collapsing but J had been to her rescue again and caught her before she hit the floor.

He’d carried her to her room and helped patch up the smaller cuts under her instruction. While it was small amounts, her blood was akin to quicksilver in in not just appearance but in fact was liquid mercury.

She sat up and pulled the blankets of her bed back exposing her legs. Little bits of white paper and cotton covered her from the thigh down. It looked like she’s been bombed with large confetti or got stuck in a thorn bush instead of a weapon spar. Regaining her strength quickly, she reached over and lifted one of the little papers to find no trace of any damage the night before.

One by one she quickly removed and tossed the papers away, her skin just as pristine as before. She looked skyward and thanked Teorus for making her bring the special healing parchment. She sent a wink across the vastness of the sky before she hopped out of bed rejuvenated.

She had the squireship now, which gave her a bit of extra leeway and a new, well new to her, rapier. More than a few remarks made her aware that things might get a little bumpy for a while.

A lost night...

It was nearing dawn when she returned to her little room. It was cast in darkness except for one small light, purely ornamental, it couldn't even be considered a night light it was so small.

As she stood with her back against the bedroom down, she lifted each hand, her fingers along the frame. her fingertips on one hand ran the length of each of the hinges while the other barely graced the door handle. The sound of metal pushing against metal was soft but evident as the fused together locking the plates together in a lock no key could open.

Stepping out of her shoes as she walked forward, she struck her arms, splaying her fingers in the direction of the already curtained windows. The shutters meant for storms slowly swung shut and the song of the twisting metal was briefly heard. Valentina sighed softly to herself as she stood before the dark windows, the little slivers of the false dawn trying to pour through, her small hands clenching the heavy fabric of a final layer of drapes to meet in the middle cut the dawn’s light out of existence.

“I don’t know which is more cut off, me or the light.” She phased across the room to come to rest before a posh and lace vanity. Sitting on the heavily padded chair, her toes barely touched the carpeting as she looked to a mirrored skull that seemed to be smiling back at her with feline blue eyes aglow.

“You can come out now, baby.” She smiled as she looked into the black mirror of the vanity, removing one special contact then the other.

In the midnight blue of her room everything took on a blue halo. Even the darkest tiniest bulb dripped from string lights held a glow of starlight, casting the room with shafts of light only she could see. It was a paradise of warm and cool blues.

As if on queue, the little spectral colored tabby floated out of the skull and purred nudging along Valentina’s cheek and wrapping itself about her neck like a phantom stole of starlight.

“I missed you too,” she gave him a pat as she stood up to make her way to the metal framed bed. “I hope you were not too lonely. I wish I could take you with me, but…”

As she had with the door and shutters, she touched the metal frame and drew her fingers in the air pulling the metal frame with her as if conducting an orchestra just for the two of them. Pulling the frame thin and tall, the soon looked like the roots of a metal tree turned turned topsy turvy into the skeleton of an elaborate canopy bed. A quick snap and flutter of a few linens and throw blankets secured not a drop of daylight would would touch her while she rested.


Valentina gave a yawn much too big for her small frame as she finished dressing for bed. The kitten had already found a comfy spot on a pillow and curled up, leaving Valentina only one pillow tonight. “Sneaky.”

But sleep was different for her kind than most. As she settled back in the blankets and closed her eyes, it was a matter of time before she in a deep drifting blackness between the wake and slumber. She stood before a large aged door of a run down minor castle set on a cliff side on the edge of nowhere. A glowing field of wild flowers behind her shone nearly as bright as the stars above.



*Click*

The sound of the door opening made her look back front of her as soft candle light poured into the unkempt courtyard. A small girl stood there silhouetted in the door frame.

“Your Highness!” she ran over and clung to Valentina’s legs. “Your brothers will be surprised to see you!”

She patted the little laurel framed head of Vega and smiled. “Well I can’t meet them if you won’t let me move my legs.” Vega let go at once, her face still red from excitement and smiling so bright. Vega grabbed a hold of Valentina’s hand and practically pulled her inside where the worn castle transformed into what was meant to be, immaculate and ornate. Shine could be seen in the gold and marble everywhere anyone looked. She too changed, her simple sleeping gown changed into ancient flowing silks bound with cords and ribbon of pure gold.

“Sister, You are late.” A voice carried down the long alabaster hall.

It was Scorpio. His voice was as cold and heartless as he was. His sharp gaze pierced right through her as he stood in front of her, blocking her way into the parlor. While he was second in line, he put himself second to none, an attitude that had the other gods even afraid of him. His black hair wavered as he snapped his head in the direction of the others.

“I’m surprised you took time away from your department. Did you tear down enough wishes today?” Valentina seemed to float past him in her grand silks. She didn't have to turn her head to know the hateful look he was giving her.

“Vaaaaal!” Teorus, one of the youngest of her older brothers flung his arms about almost knocking her from her feet.

“Hello to you too Teorus.” She couldn't help but smile as they kissed each other's cheeks in greeting. He was always the happier one, until, well that was another story.

“Come sit. Leon was just about to tell us of his news.” Huedhaut spoke from a place on one of the grand couches. He stood with a fluid grace they all envied and motioned for Valentina to sit. He took to leaning on the arm of the couch instead and gave her an apologetic smile.

Even as she opened her mouth to ask, a puzzled look was easily read on her face. Teorus still glomping her and taking up room from Ichthys as he tried to force more room. This only agitated him and resulted in a sharp pinch for Teorus’s side.

“Ow!” he sulked as the two matched glare for glare until Scorpio raised his voice. “Knock it off. We don’t have all night for idiots.”

“Anyways, what is this news?” Valentina looked from Scorpio to Huedhaut then to Leon. Leon’s brown hair glistened in the golden light of the room but his smile outshone all.

“I’m going back home.” He stood there triumphantly with his arms cross in front of him.
“What?!” Valentine jumped up so fast she elbowed Teorus in the face with out thinking.
It was then Huedhaut reached out and put a hand on her shoulder to have her sit back down. Val shook it off and walked over to the eldest.

“How? IS it true?”
“It is.” It was the tawny haired Dui that spoke up. He was one of the nicer of the brothers, but not with out his own secrets. “His mark is gone.”
“What? How?” Valentina was looking back and forth once more as Leon opened his shirt to expose the faintest shadow of the mark that was there binding him to a mortal realm.
“By tomorrow it should be completely gone.” His smugness was suffocating.

Valentina looked down to her wrist, turning it over fearing what she would see. Her own mark remained as strong as ever. Her shoulders slumped as her voice was barely above a questioning whisper. “But how?”

Leon’s voice suddenly filled with something like pity, he reached out and stroked her hair as he spoke. While she may be the only girl, the accidental princess, she was the little sister. “You know father said, for each of us it is different. Something to suit our sins. I can not tell you. I am sorry, little Valentina.”

With that he bent down wrapping his arms about her shoulders from behind, hugging her. His smugness given up for now. He was the noble protective lion when he wished to be. She lifted eyes the shade of polished silver to the other five gathered. She didn't have to ask, it was too plain on her face. Each of them shook their heads softly, no. Each banished prince brandished a part of their mark, each just as dark as hers.

She let her head drop and hide behind a curtain of moonlight colored hair. She was no closer to being released from this punishment.

It was early for her, but well into night fall for others when she's arrived one evening to the forge Kruger used.

She'd happened weeks ago to come across him with a new shipment of a curious ore he'd been commissioned to turn into a rather interesting set of weapons.

While she was no stranger to metals, yet the ways being worked them from plane to plane, planet to planet fascinated her and she'd asked to watch the work that could easily eat away few days time. She had no need for time and happily agreed....

-----------------------------

The heat of the forge made breathing difficult for those unused to it. Sulfur seemed to hang in the air with a palpable thickness that coated everything it came into contact with. Kruger was at home with it though, he'd spent more of his life in it than he had out. Whether that was something that could be removed he'd never considered. On a workbench metal fragments were arranged.

Some were pounded thin, he looked over those now, a heavy hammer in his hand. The pieces were darker than what was further down the bench, ingots in equal sizes though the colors of them went from grey to nearly black.

He looked at Val, did his best not to grin and started to lecture as if she were one of the students at the academy.

Valentina didn't mind the lecture at all. She even gave him a near cheesy grin back. She’d asked to learn after all, to watch at least to see how he worked this alloy.

"There is a way to tell, which pieces you fold into the metal that is only realized once you have hammered them all flat. The higher carbon steel shatters on impact." He brought the hammer down on the thinner piece, lifted it to display the jagged fragments.

"This is the key to tamahagane."

Laying the hammer aside he brushed a few of the bits into his palm and handed them over to her for inspection. She’d pulled her eyes away from the hammer that had just struck to her out stretched hand to take the fragments. She was dressed down today, simple black, no frills no lace. She even was able to go without her special contacts, something about fire was just different than daylight. She flipped them over in her fingers trying to read something that may or may not be there. She’d listened, she watched. Each place had it’s own way, but this was that metal that had given her issues. Even rolling it before to try and learn it, well it just wasn't near the same.

“You talk well with it.” for lack of a better phrase. It was all she could think to call what she did. But that was that It was hard for her sometimes to say what she meant, languages and words were not always universal. But a blind man could see he had a talent that few possessed.

Her statement was odd, the words were as close as any had come to knowing exactly what he did. She looked from the fragments to the ingots and then back to him. He nodded, small but abrupt in confirmation.

"I've listened for a long time." It was all he would offer on the matter for now. He repeated the process several times until he had a pile of the shards of metal. Then he produced some rice paper, spread it out and laid the ingot with the lightest color on top of it. Kruger used his fingers and sorted the shards placing the largest ones on top of the ingot. Then slowly building upwards biggest to smallest. He kept talking as he worked.

"The paper will be wrapped around the entire thing, to keep it together when it goes into the forge." He folded it, and placed a tie around it to keep the paper from opening. Then he added a clay like liquid over the top of it. "This will keep the paper from burning away too quickly."

The smith placed the bundle deep into the flames, his left hand went to the bellows chain, and began to pull it slowly in time with his own breathing. The flames jumped, and the temperature noticeably began to increase in the shop.

"There is no instant gratification using this method, every stage takes time and effort. But the end product will reflect the maker."




cont...