The Quest Continues

Writers: Aaron, Estelle
Date Posted: 23rd March 2021

Characters: Brennault, Lorican, Wirnan
Description: Brennault catches a ride to Sunstone to ask Lorican what he would need to make him a sword.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 8, day 5 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Dunrik, G'ran, J'ackt, Lusilk

Brennault

Wirnan

While not as cold as it had been at Barrier Lake the day before, it was
still chillier at Sunstone than it was at Dolphin Cove. This time,
Brennault remembered to dress appropriately without having to be reminded.

Brennault thanked his ride again and headed into the Hold to try to
track Lorican down.

"Excuse me, young man," Wirnan intervened once he caught wind of the
outsider poking around like he belonged there. "What business do you
have here? We've already had messages delivered for the day, and I don't
remember seeing you here before."

"Ah. Forgive me." Brennault bowed to the man. "Steward, yes? I've come
to visit a friend, Journeyman Lorican. I spoke with Master Dunrik at
Barrier Lake yesterday, and he told me Lorican had been transferred
here. I am Brennault, a runner from Dolphin Cove Weyr. Lorican will
recognize my name if you might ask him whether he has time to see me."

"Then you came in with the dragon?" Wirnan asked. Dolphin Cove was quite
s distance from Sunstone, and folks from Dolphin Cove had no business
there. But he said he came as a friend, not on business... He narrowed
his eyes and considered for a moment. "Come with me."

Wirnan led Brennault along into the Hold into a common area. As they
walked, he tapped a guard, who followed along behind them. Brennault was
relieved, actually, to see them taking precautions to protect Lorican.
No more exploding smithies. The fact that Wirnan had not confirmed
Lorican's presence was not lost on Brennault.

"You'll wait here," the Steward said simply.

"Of course, sir." Brennault resisted the urge to make eyes at the guard.
He was at work, after all.

Wirnan left the boy under the guard's supervision and took a circuitous
route to reach the smithy, where he presumed Lorican would be at work.

"Pardon me, Journeyman, but might I have a word with you when you can
spare a moment? No hurry," he asked once he found him. Wirnan had no
compunction against letting the outsider stew for as long as he had to,
so he was also not about to press Lorican to speak immediately if he was
busy.

And if Lorican did not confirm the boy's identity or if he did not want
to speak with him, well. Perhaps Lord Bryvin might be interested in
having a word with him instead, from behind bars. Surely, no assassin
would be so clumsy. But that was exactly what an assassin would want him
to think.

"Yes, of course, Steward." Lorican took a moment to finish the piece
he'd been working on before putting it aside to cool, checked the fire
and then came over to the door, where the air was cooler. "How can I help?"

"There's a young man here to see you," said Wirnan, "in the guise of a
runner who claims to know you. Says Master Dunrik told him where to find
you and goes by the name of Brennault." He lifted an eyebrow.

"Shall I see him back to the dragon that bore him here?"

"Oh! No. I know him." Lorican hesitated a moment, the events of the past
months having taught him caution. "I know someone by that name, anyway.
Is he about my height, with blond hair?"

"He does match that description, yes," said Wirnan, though he was not
quite placated – especially if Lorican thought it possible someone might
be impersonating his friend. "If you please, come with me, and I will
arrange for you to get a look at him to confirm."

"Of course. Let me just make sure everything's safe here." Lorican
called to one of the other journeymen to mind the forge fire while he
was out, and hung up his apron and tools. Then he followed Wirnan out
and back to the main hold.

When they entered the room where the visitor was waiting, Lorican
recognized Brennault immediately and relaxed, greeting the young man
with a warm smile. "Yes, this is my friend, Steward. Thank you.
Brennault, it's good to see you here at the Sea Hold!"

"Very good. I'll leave you to it, then." Wirnan nodded to the guard, who
nodded in return and left. Or appeared to leave. And then Wirnan
returned to his business as well.

Brennault pulled Lorican into a hug.

"It's good to see you, too. I was a little worried after... you know,
all this." He gestured vaguely. "Master Dunrik told me where to find you
because he had seen me with you at Barrier Lake. I'm sure he's not just
telling anyone who waltzes into the forge where you've gone. And I hope
I'm not making things more difficult on you by just turning up all of
the time. If you need to be a little harder to find." He looked into
Lorican's eyes.

Lorican shook his head. "No, not at all. I'm truly glad to see you."
Brennault's arrival was a bright spot in what had been a dismal
sevenday. Although he'd been treated courteously at Sunstone, he'd
continued to struggle alone with his grief for Lusilk and his horror at
how she'd died and at times, sleepless in the early hours, dark thoughts
had threatened to overwhelm him. If it hadn't been for Silgan he might
have given in entirely to despair. "I imagine you think I've been
behaving strangely these last few months and I'm sorry. I can try to
explain." Some of it, at least. He didn't know who might be listening.
"But I haven't asked how you are! You're looking very well."

"I'm on a crazy quest," Brennault laughed. "But I'm ready to listen if
you're ready to talk. I understand things have probably been crazy for
you, too." His laugh turned to more of a warm, supportive smile.

"It's been a difficult few months." Lorican considered how much he could
say. "I can't remember if I ever told you, but I have a younger brother,
back in Garnet Valley where I grew up. He got himself mixed up with a
bad crowd, and the family was receiving threats over an unpaid debt.
That's why I was being cautious about seeing much of my friends. I
didn't want to drag anyone I cared about into the mire as well.
Thankfully, the matter is settled now, and my brother has found himself
honest work in a tavern up in the hills near the gem mines."

That explained the near-death experiences as far as Brennault could
guess. He nodded, his face showing his relief.

"I'm happy to hear it. I'm sorry I never could do much to help... but
I'm glad it's taken care of," he said. "But maybe I can do something to
help now. I have a bit of a commission I'd like to ask you about – and I
know that doesn't sound much like help... But my plan is to bring you
all of the materials you'd need and then get you something brilliant to
make up for the labor. How much do you know about swords?"

"Swords? I made a few back at Garnet Valley, for my uncle's friends.
That was a while back, though. The sailors at Rocky Bay preferred
knives." Brennault's words, and the prospect of a project to work on,
had brought back a spark of interest to Lorican's expression, though.
"Why?" He smiled. "Are you planning to give up the runner's life and
join the guards?"

"Ha! Not just yet," Brennault chuckled. He had no stomach for living a
life that would put such a joyless, dour expression on the man who had
"supervised" him while the steward was off finding Lorican.

"I saw a man giving swordfighting lessons at the Weyr and thought it
looked fun. I didn't have anywhere near the kind of money it would take
to pay what he was charging for outsiders to learn, so we made a deal.
I'm going to bring him the kind of sword only my good friend the smith
could make, and he'll consider my bill paid for six months."

"So I'll be using my own masterful skills as a runner to track down
everything you need to make it and something special for you besides.
I've got a lead on the steel. What else do I need?"

"The steel is most of what you need," Lorican said, his interest in the
project growing. "I have my tools, and the coal for the forge fire. The
only part where I might need other materials is the grip. Usually I'd
use a piece of wood, not too soft but not brittle either. Ash would do.
Then I'd wrap it in leather. If you want a finer piece, dyed perhaps,
you could ask the tanners. That would be it, unless you want anything
decorative in the hilt. I saw a sword made at the Hall once with gems
and silver wire; that was for a Lord Holder's son." He thought for a
moment, recalling the self-defense class he'd briefly attended at
Dolphin Cove. "Was the sword teacher J'ackt, or G'ran?"

"Oh! You know him then," said Brennault with some surprise. He supposed
he should not have been – after all, Lorican lived at the weyr for some
time while he convalesced, but Brennault had been there even longer and
had had no cause to know J'ackt before he stumbled onto his sword lesson.

"J'ackt, that is," he specified even as he made a note about leather and
wood. "It should be easier to find a bit of leather and wood than the
steel, I think... J'ackt wants something more practical than pretty,
anyway. Do you have a supplier that you think I should try first?"

"Barrier Lake would be a good place to start, if you happen to go back
there. The building of the Weyrhold attracted crafters from all across
the continent. There's bound to be wood left over from the building, and
there'll be tanners to supply the riders with straps. Master Bilpen is a
woodcrafter, and he's in charge of the building work so he'd be able to
find the right person to talk to about leather."

"I'll be going back to pick up the steel once I can find three bolts of
dress cloth," said Brennault. "Master Bilpen. I'll remember the name. I
don't suppose you know anyone who makes dresses, do you?"

The smith smiled and shook his head. "Can't say that I do. I expect your
best bet is to try the weavers at Dolphin Cove. Maybe they'll have some
errands you can run in exchange."

"Running errands is what I do best." Brennault grinned. Perhaps he could
trade a few other sorts of favors, too. The kind some folks might find
it harder to come by in the Holds. "I'll keep looking."

"So, will you be here for a while, then?" he asked. "It's a huge relief
to know things are settled with your family."

"Yes, at least until I get my Master's knots." He'd no idea what he
would do then. Thinking back, he realized how long it had been since
he'd seen Brennault, and how much had happened since then. Shells, he
ought to explain about his marriage, and Silgan, but he couldn't quite
bear to be congratulated, knowing that he'd never see his wife again.
Another time, perhaps. "There's plenty of work here, between the traders
and the seacrafters. Keeps me busy."

"I heard that you might be able to submit a piece like the one I'm
asking you for as a masterwork," Brennault suggested. "Considering what
a big favor I know I'm asking for, I would be more than happy to wait
until the Hall can give their review on the sword before you give it to
me to deliver."

The smith brightened. "That would be helpful. I do have to craft a blade
for my Master's knots. Though I don't know when I plan to submit my
work, so if the bronzerider wouldn't mind flying it over to the Smith
Hall for a day or so you could have it as soon as I'm done. It's up to you."

"I'll ask him," said Brennault, "but if I were him, I think I'd rather
wait a little longer than have to give it up again for a spell. It might
take me a little while to get the materials put together, anyhow. How
long do you think it will be before you're ready to submit?"

"Before Turn's End, I hope, but I can send them my pieces as soon as
they're done." Lorican considered. "A good sword would take about a
sevenday to make, usually, but I've got to keep up with my regular work
as well, so perhaps two or three from when I get the materials." He
smiled. "Sounds like you've got quite the quest ahead of you."

"Exciting, isn't it?" Brennault grinned. "And if I do it all right, I
get to play with swords for six months." The others back at the
waystation were going to be so jealous!

"I don't know whether to be excited or scared," Lorican said,
half-teasing. From what he remembered, the self-defense class was safe
enough if you paid attention. For a short while in Brennault's company,
his mood had lifted, and he was grateful for that. "Maybe you could come
back some time, and show me the moves you've learned."

"It's not as easy to make it out this far from Dolphin Cove, but if
you're settled here, I will most definitely be coming back," said
Brennault. He smiled with relief at the idea that Lorican would
definitely be in the same place next time he came.

"And if I can get back to the Weyr for a visit, I'll look you up,"
Lorican promised. He knew he needed a way to get there and see his son,
and he had an idea how he might.

"Well, I hope you visit when I'm not on the road, then!" said Brennault.
"But leave word that you were there if I'm out, and I'll find one of my
buddies who can bring me out this way to make up for it when I get back."

"All right." The thought cheered him, since he'd not had the heart to
try and make friends at Sunstone. "Anyway, now you're here, why don't I
show you around the Hold? We can go by the forge and down to the tavern,
and you can tell me all the news from the Weyr." He'd learned which of
the taverns were respectable enough for a craftsman, at least in the
daytime, although he'd not spent much time there yet.

"That sounds awesome!" Brennault smiled cheerfully. "Do you think that
guard is going to follow us around everywhere, or are they convinced I'm
not here to do anything nefarious yet?"

"Oh..." Lorican had thought the guard had gone, but now Brennault had
mentioned it, he noticed the man waiting unobtrusively as they left the
room and headed towards the Hold's main entrance. He raised a hand in
greeting. "It's all right - Brennault's an old friend. We're going down
to the tavern for a drink, before I go back to work."

The guard nodded at them as they passed, and didn't follow, though
Lorican couldn't be sure he wouldn't. He smiled. "I'm sure the guards
don't suspect you. They might just as well be making sure I'm not up to
anything, since I've only recently arrived here." It might have
something to do with Silgan being in his care, he thought, though he
didn't say anything to Brennault about that. "Anyway, if he wants to
come to the tavern for a drink too, I don't object."

Brennault grinned instinctively.

"Do you think he does? I mean, I'd buy him a drink if he wants one," he
said. Holder men were significantly more guarded than weyr men, but...
it never hurt to drop a few innuendo and see where things went.

"He might be on duty. I guess we'll find out," Lorican said, surprising
himself by laughing as he led the way out of the Hold into the cool
afternoon air. There was something about his friend that always lifted
his spirits, and though his grief still remained, he knew that he'd find
some happiness for a while in Brennault's company.

Last updated on the July 21st 2021

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