Chapter 81: Bearing Arms

They rushed back to the market street they’d last met Pile at. They were a little early. Ann checked the door to the Tailor’s shop and found it just opened to the normal shop inside. She waved sheepishly to the person at the counter and retreated quickly.

“Guess she’s not here yet,” Ann said, re-joining the group.

“So, we gonna press her on who she is this time?” Rosalyn asked.

“If she even lets us,” Ann shrugged. “She seems damn good at avoiding clarifying anything. She’ll just change the subject, and there's not really anything we can do.”

“True. Maybe she will reveal something on her own? She seems to enjoy talking,” Bren suggested. “We just need to pay attention.”

“Pay attention,” Kat nodded. “An’ the worst tha’ can happen, Ann gets some neat gauntlets, an’ we don’t learn anythin’.”

“Right,” Ann nodded, leaning up against the wall.

The road was as busy as the last time they’d been here. Merchants and citizens moving on with their days. A gaggle of children raced by, chasing a ball, laughing loudly as they played. The taller kids led the pack, with the shorter Inlon and Bultrong kids trying to keep up. Seemed a bit unfair to Ann, but they all seemed happy enough. Especially the little Bultrong girl with a gap-toothed smile and bouncing blonde pigtails.

“Cute little bastards, huh?” Pile chuckled.

“Yeah,” Ann laughed. “Reminds me of growing up.”

“Shit, am I getting predictable?” Pile cursed, kicking a rock across the street.

“Eh,” Ann shrugged. “More that I knew to expect what I wouldn’t expect and you talking about kids fits that.”

“I get the little trollops as customers now and then. Dunno how they wander in, but it happens.”

“You take kids as customers in a weapons shop?” Bren asked, recovering from his shock.

“I don’t only sell weapons, books for brains,” Pile retorted. “At least, not all deadly ones. I can make the finest wooden sword you’ve ever seen.”

“I bet,” Ann laughed. “So, you able to finish my order?”

“Does a Gildrak shit in the dark?” Pile asked.

Ann took a second, trying to remember if she’d heard that one. “No?”

“Yes, it does,” Pile corrected. “Which also means your gauntlets are done. Good lookin’ things too. Come on, the rest of you. Quit gawkin’ at little old me and let’s get to the shop.”

“It’s not in the Tailor’s?” Kat asked, shaking from her surprise.

“Nope. Got set up in a bakery this time. Follow.”

They followed the scent of bread and pastry around a corner, down a few hundred feet, through an alley onto another road, before arriving at their destination. Just like last time, nothing looked like it was out of the norm, but by now, they knew better.

Pile opened the door, and they stepped into the odd forge.

“Findigal’s balls, it’s chilly out there,” Pile shivered, moving over to her workbench. “Spend all your time working with this heat and you get used to it. Alrighty, pup. C’mere and take a look.”

Ann moved over, with Kat and Rosalyn close behind, and stood before the workbench. Pile pulled back a sheet of leather dramatically, revealing the gauntlets underneath.

They were gorgeous. The metal was a blue black that sparkled like the midnight sky. They looked like they’d run up Ann’s forearms with articulated joints to allow for movement. Ribbons of a dark purple ran the length from the base, meeting to form the symbol of Orenous on the back of the hand, and then splitting up to the five fingers. While Ann found the heart on the gauntlets a bit cheesy, she couldn’t deny the splendour of the work.

Gently, she picked one up, almost not wanting to touch the things lest she mark them up, and slid her hand in. It fit perfectly, and her fingers slipped into the metal casing with ease.

“Hey, while I appreciate the appreciatin’ of the work, they’re weapons,” Pile huffed. “Built to deal with a lot more than you can dish out. For now, at least. You’ve got straps to tighten and secure them on the wrist and forearm. Give ‘em a tug.”

Ann found the black leather belt fastened by shining buckles and pulled it tighter. She did the same for the other gauntlet, securing both to her hands. They were surprisingly light, but she could tell they were sturdy. She twisted and turned her hands, curling and unclenching them to get an idea of how they influenced her flexibility. They were incredibly well made and gave her almost her full range of motion. The plates over the knuckles, which Pile had decorated with an embossing of a wolf’s snarling face, limited her bending her fingers backwards, but that was acceptable.

“How’s the fit?” Pile asked, grabbing Ann’s kilt and pulling her down to her knees like a child before grabbing one of her hands. “Make a fist. Now flex. Anything too tight? Pinching?”

Pile continued to fuss over the gloves. There was a slight pinching on Ann’s middle finger. Pile all but ripped the things off. She took a hammer to them, muttering to herself as she tapped at the offending piece with a small hammer.

“There, that’ll do it. Forearm protection’ll be a good bonus there too. They’re meant to hold up to anything you’re hitting, hitting back, so don’t be all gentle with them. They’re weapons. Now, noticed the last time you came through, you’ve got something going on with your fingertips. Some sort of magic. Figured it’d be something like claws, so I went ahead and did something. Go ahead and pop those suckers out.”

Ann did as instructed. Kat gasped as they watched the tips of the fingers on the gauntlets elongate and sharpen, almost as if Ann’s claws had become part of the metal.

“Enchantment is stored in the hearts,” Pile explained. “Helps with the fit, also keeps your natural talents. Here,” she trundled off and pulled out a padded dummy. “Give ‘em a whirl.”

Ann approached and fell into her fighting stance, hands loosely open and up to guard. She took a jab, then another. She felt the impact of each blow, but not as much as she was used to with her bare knuckles. Two more hits and she felt satisfied. They didn’t add much to her strength, but they definitely protected and supported her hits. She then extended her claws and jabbed them into the dummy. They punched in easily and tore free stuffing as she pulled her hand back.

“Yeah, I like them,” Ann laughed as she took another appreciative look. The way they shone in the firelight. That unearthly blue flame glinting off the blue-black metal was gorgeous. “Sorry, I love them.”

“Good. I’d kick your ass if you didn’t. How’s that going by the by? Still feedin’ her to the Xeldor, Elf?”

“Er, not sure what tha’ is, but still workin’ on ‘er fighting, aye,” Kat said, looking confused.

“Good. She’s gonna need it if the whispers I’ve been hearin’ are right. Gods, my clients love to gab. Especially the fucking Gods. Well, you’ve been a fucking delight, but it’s time to go.”

“Wait wait wait,” Ann stopped the woman, holding her hands up. “I’ve got a couple questions. More than a couple. Who, or what, are you?”

“Me? I’m me. Pile. Weapons and armour smith. That’s all,” Pile shrugged.

“Like the Hells you are,” Bren burst out. “The kind of magic you’re displaying, talking about things you shouldn’t know about if you were just some Inlon?”

“Ok, maybe I’m a little special. I’m good at what I do, after all.”

“This goes beyond that. Are you divinity?” Bren asked bluntly.

“What? Fuck no, kid. I’ll tell you that much. Wouldn’t want to be bogged down with all them rules that keep that lot in check. I’m just Pile. That’s me and is who I am everywhere. Trying to make too much sense of it’ll make you crazy. Just roll with it. It’s what I do.” Pile leaned back her head and let out a bark of laughter. “All right, question time’s over. Here’s my card. Do NOT fucking lose it. Let me know if you break those, and don’t let anyone else touch ‘em. Oh, and tell that floozy that’s got her fingers all over you she still owes me for the last commission.”

With that, an invisible force kicked them out, and the door to the bakery slammed behind them.

“So at least she’s not a Goddess,” Ann said, grunting as she got to her paws and smoothed her tail.

“But she seems to know them,” Rosalyn pointed out. “Did she really just call Orenous a floozy?”

“I believe she did,” Bren sighed, standing up. “And even more questions are now present. Did you hear those terms she used? Xeldor? Findigal? Gildrak?”

“What? I thought those’d be names of some minor god or weird animals,” Ann said, taking a moment to attach her gauntlets to her belt so she wasn’t walking around armed.

“Not any Gods I’ve heard of,” Bren muttered.

“Or type o’ beastie, neither,” Kat agreed. “I dinnae what tae think, but I do know she’s a damn good smith, and apparently enchanter.”

“Yeah, these things are pretty dope,” Ann laughed, patting her new gauntlets. “Can’t wait to break ‘em in.”

“Don’t think we’re ready fer another night in the guild,” Kat said, starting to pace in her usual restless manner. “Not that another tournament’s tonight.”

“By the way,” Rosalyn interjected. “Your mom said something about us being on reserve for Mercenary Duty? What’s that?”

“Oh, right, ye’re from the country. So, basically if anythin’ comes up they need tae assign a group o’ mercs tae handle, that’ll be us. Could be a warped report like the one we handled when we found ye, could be some civil duties the guard is too busy tae handle, or maybe some other random shite. Not the worst punishment, tae be honest. Barely one, since we’re already in the business.”

“I guess that is pretty good, huh?” Rosalyn said, looking back at the bakery. A glint in her eyes caught Ann’s eye, and she excused herself for a moment.

Shortly after, she returned with a slew of pastries. Some were meat filled, others fruit and berries. She passed them out to her friends happily. Rosalyn’s wide eyes as she took her berry tart made the expense extremely worth it. The woman practically worshipped the pastry as she slowly ate it, savouring each bite. Little hums escaped the ebony cheeks as she closed her eyes and lost herself to the tastes.

Kat took her own meat pie, eating noisily, and Bren picked through a fruity muffin. Ann had taken something that looked like a honeyed pastry. Biting into the flaky crust coated her tongue with some sort of nutty paste. It was close to walnut, but not quite. A bit earthier, with a sour hint to it. It was still good, so she chomped down the rest.

“So, think she’ll be calling on us soon?” Ann asked around a mouthful.

“We can not be sure,” Bren advised. “This sort of thing is at the discretion of the one placing us on reserve. While we are on reserve, we are forbidden from leaving the city, or taking actions that would cut contact for when we are called to duty.”

“Well, that sucks,” Ann grumbled. “Now it feels more like a punishment. Can’t go looking for Seeds to save, adventures and shit?”

“I mean, who knows?” Rosalyn shrugged. “Maybe it won’t be that long and we have a decent experience from it anyway? It also gives us more time to learn from the people we’ve met? I mean, you and Remmi definitely have a lot to work on.”

“Hey!” Ann protested.

“I mean, you’re getting a lot better, but still a little wobbly. I said you were doing better!” Rosalyn cried as Ann pinched her cheek. “Sheesh. Anyway, I have my own things to study. Lots of Warped research. I can’t imagine Bren has nothing to read. Kat, um, training? With Ann?”

“Eh, I’d probably actually humour da’ a bit an’ deal wit’ royal ‘responsibilities’.” She said the word like she was having to eat a slug. “Feckin’ balls an’ shit.”

“Never been to one of those,” Ann said, eyebrows raised.

“Me neither,” said Rosalyn.

“Well, then I can drag ye lucky lot wit’ me. I’m sure Bren’ll be happy tae engage in the court socialisation that’ll be happenin’.”

“Indeed, I will,” Bren nodded. “So, you all have a meeting soon?”

“Yeah. That’s gonna be… interesting,” Ann sighed. “We should probably get ready for that.”

“Then I’m off to the Qu’Sella temple to do more research,” Bren decided. “I’ll catch up with you three tomorrow?”

“Sounds good. We’ll see you at breakfast.”

With that, they parted ways. Bren headed off in the direction of the temples while Ann, Rosalyn and Kat meandered until they found a somewhat private courtyard to talk.

“So, we’re really doing this?” Rosalyn asked. “It still doesn’t feel entirely real. Punishing a priestess? With us having sex in front of her?”

“You know, sex can only be part of it,” Ann put forth. “She’s supposed to see our devotion, love, and all that. We can do other stuff besides the hot and steamy.”

“Like what?” Rosalyn asked.

“Well, a few things. Massages, sincere words, talking and being close. I’ve got some ideas. Might need to flag down a priest to get a couple things.”

“Well, tha’ give me an idea too. Feck, might be able tae get tha’.” Suddenly, Kat was next to Rosalyn with her thumb and forefinger wrapped around her neck. She retreated as quickly as she approached, then did the same to Ann.

“All right, we’ve got two hours before we need tae be there? I gotta run if I’m gonna get this done. See ya there!” Kat said as she darted off.

“What was that about?” Rosalyn asked, cocking her horned head to one side.

“I’ve got a pretty good idea,” Ann sighed. “And she’s not going the innocent route with that, I guarantee you. Might as well get something for her, too. Come on. I need to find a jeweler and somewhere with a healing potion.”

They wandered off into the streets in search of their supplies for the upcoming event.