A King's Legacy
Chapter 12: Titles and Labels
"Talk?" Aster was taken aback by the sudden request, quickly growing worried he had angered his prince somehow. He did his best to remain calm, speaking to the royal lion cautiously.
"Did... Did I do something wrong?" The lion raised his hand, shaking his head before he answered.
"Not at all... There are simply some things that have come to light that we need to discuss. Things that could change everything fate has in store for us." The prince trailed off, pondering where he should start. Aster huddled a bit closer to Stahl in his uncertainty. The wolf gently nudged against him, reassuring the boy he was there for him. Prince Tyfin decided on a starting point, opting to let the boy choose for himself.
"Aster... Do you wish to know of your heritage? Do you wish to know of your past?" The prince spoke clearly, never taking his gaze from the human as he did so.
Aster let out a sharp gasp in surprise as he visibly flinched, never expecting that this was where the prince would take the conversation. His heritage? The human had spent many years and sleeps nights wondering silently about his roots, and had to admit, not truly knowing where he had come from was definitely something that deeply troubled him as a child... But that was something Aster had stopped allowing himself to dwell on. Falling into that despair and uncertainty only ever hindered him, making him feel even more isolated, and he had come too far to return to that, He was happy with that progress. He spoke to his prince quietly.
"I am well aware of my heritage, my prince. I am the son of General Jagรณn Venatus, the right hand of the king, and one of the greatest warriors this world has ever known. No other aspect of my origin is of any consequence to me... For none of it changes my duty to you. I know whatever human family I may have once had has long since perished... I know that allowing myself to dream otherwise is only torture... I know what I need to know, I know who I am. I am Aster Venatus, a member of the Elite King's Guard in service of my prince. That is all that matters."
Not a single beast made a sound as they processed the boy's point of view on the matter. They were all pretty well surprised at his answer. The prince spoke again.
"And if I told you your heritage very well may factor in to your service of me, would you still wish to not know?" The boy looked away, thinking carefully before he made a confession to the beast.
"...I know what my shield is... I've known since it first manifested within me... I know it's a legendary Peacekeeper's bloodskill... The tale of the heroes who saved this land from the legendary beasts was my favorite as a child, so when the shield first appeared before me, I knew it was surely the same one used by the hero I so idolized... I was just too afraid of what that could mean to ever say it..." Aster took a ragged breath, struggling to confess his doubt.
"I was afraid that was the only reason my father had kept me around... That he didn't actually care about me at all, and only wanted to someday use my power for personal gain. That he was aware I possessed it before even I had known... I was afraid that I was just a tool, not his son, and that if I had expressed that fear, he would only confirm it ...So I just pretended I didn't know... Even after The Selection, when he had confirmed his love for me as a son... When I knew all of you were still hiding the truth from me, I feigned ignorance because it was easier, because I wasn't supposed to know such things..." Aster was speaking in a low, unsteady voice.
"I've made peace with not knowing about things, even things about myself, and if I learn about my history now, I'm worried it will somehow change who I have become... If the Aster who was to be raised a human is given a story, will the Aster that was raised by beasts become less of who I am?" His voice trembled as the boy openly bared his deepest thoughts on the matter to his comrades.
"I am happy where I am for the first time in my life... I am happy to finally just be who I am in this moment with the allies I've found... To be of some use... To be with all of you... If I need to know something to protect you, then tell me... Yet, I do not wish to unnecessarily dwell on a past that I cannot change, my prince, nor on a history I never knew... However, I surrendered my life to your hands before my trial had ever ended, so you may tell, or keep from me whatever you wish to. I trust your judgement with my life, my prince... I trust all four of you with my life." As his voice faded off, the beasts only looked to the human with a new kind of view. It was Captain Rix that interrupted the silence, wading over to the boy still hiding partially behind the wolf.
"WELL SAID, PANTHER SON!" The heavy bovine gave a hefty slap on the human's shoulders, making him have to take a splashing step forward to avoid falling over. Prince Tyfin didn't expect an answer like that, but he respected it.
"There are things I may never be able to tell you in order to keep you alive, Aster, but there are some things I can... For now at least. You should know, this may be the only chance you get to hear your story. With that said, would you still prefer I only tell you what is needed? Would you choose to really pass on this chance?" The prince eyed the boy studiously. Aster took another step forward and spoke, confident in his decision.
"Tell me only what I need to know. If me knowing too much could bring risk to the ones I fight for, I would rather stay oblivious..." He looked his prince directly in the eye as he spoke. Prince Tyfin accepted his resolve, and decided to begin, looking around at his loyal crew.
"Unprecedented trouble hangs over us, my knights... That story that you liked so much Aster, The one your shield is from? Those legendary beasts are rumored to be returning... And that shield may just be our only chance to hold it back... I cannot be certain yet, but we have some evidence that may at least lead us to some answers as to how... Evidence left by the last human king to fall to my father's crusade, King Calium Aureus." The lion paused to make sure his knights had grasped the gravity of the situation, continuing after.
"While we know nothing for certain yet, I can't fathom why the orcs would lie to us about this, more so considering that we would all be long dead if they felt we were their enemies. We still have no real news on the current state of our home, so we can only act on what information we can gather here ourselves for now." Stahl spoke up then.
"Tomorrow is the full moon, if I have any opportunity to hear word of our home through my bloodskill, it will be sometime then. There's really not much I can do as of now however, as I still am too far from my family, so would you rather wait? The information we receive could be vital to our plan going forward." The prince nodded at the wolf.
"I am counting on exactly that, Stahl, as we have three days to reach our decision... However, most of our methods for gathering information here relies solely on cooperating with the orcs. They want Aster present when we review the human king's letter, and they were pretty firm on that requirement." The human gave his prince a puzzled look then, questioning why his presence was specifically requested. Prince Tyfin stared at the boy a moment longer before telling the boy and the beasts why.
"Aster is the son of the last human king, Calium Aureus, the previous bearer of the shield. Aster is not only the last surviving son of man, he was born to be their rightful king." Nobody could even process that information, as the beasts and boy alike looked on in total and complete shock. All except for Stahl that is, who only placed a reassuring hand on his human's shoulders, waiting for Aster to speak. A long moment passed before he found the words through his jumbled thoughts.
"That... THAT CAN'T BE! I'M NO KING! I-I am just a soldier... I am nothing so important! This... This could ruin EVERYTHING. There is a mistake! Your father... He would have killed me for certain..."
The boy was struggling to accept this news. To accept that he was more than just some human runt picked up by the panther's kindness. He only wished to lay low, and live his life of service peacefully. This would draw attention if it got out, the bad kind. Prince Tyfin waded closer to the human, looking down at the boy with a look of sadness.
"He very much wanted to... He knew what you were, and what the title and blood of a king can represent, as well as the power it can hold. My father pushed harder than anyone to convince me you weren't worth such a risk... That you would only divide our people... That is also why he forbid me, your father, or anyone else from interfering in your dishonorable match against Straga... He wanted that dragon to make you quit... There is no question, Aster... My father is the one who arranged your match with him." The prince hated the king for using such a tactic, and turned his head in disgust as he spoke. He shifted back to the human when he finished, forcing a small smile in his effort to make this easier for the human to accept, reaching his own hand to the boy's other shoulder as he softly reassured his troubled knight.
"You are more than your blood, Aster, and more than whatever titles and labels people may confer on you. This changes nothing for me, and I'm almost certain it changes nothing for any of the others presently here... So don't let it change you if you don't want it to. You're still the same kind, caring boy you've always been. You are still our ally. You are still my friend." The human looked down into the water, hiding his face beneath his damp hair as he visibly struggled with his conflicting inner turmoil.
"...Nobody ever knows of this... Promise me... Please... Nobody else learns of this... I... I don't want to lose what I have here... I never want to be a king, so please... Will... Will you all really treat me the same? Will you please keep this between us? Stahl? Captain Rix? Moll-" The human's rambling was cut short by the hare jumping near him in a splash, the beasts now partially encircling the worried human.
"You sure?," spoke the rabbit teasingly, "I figured you expected us to start calling you King Aster." The boy looked up in horror, only to be met with the hare grinning at him with a particularly playful smile. Aster realized Mollis had only been messing with him as he looked around to the smiling beasts surrounding him. He realized he was taking this entire identity crisis much harder than they were. With a simple joke, the hare had knocked away the human's uncertainty, and confirmed that they all would happily abide by his request. The human could only weakly smile, and thank the beasts, humbly grateful for such allies. Prince Tyfin turned, returning to crouch in the river as he moved the conversation forward now that the human had gotten his emotions under control once more.
"Since Aster now knows the bare minimum of what he needed to, we may be able to learn more about how to stop the legendary beasts that threaten us. IF they actually do threaten us, that is. Aster and Mollis will join orc chief Crag and I to dissect that letter from every angle we can tomorrow. Stahl, Captain, would you two mind trying to collect a bit more intel on our next destination while we tend to that? Ensure our route is mostly clear before us, and take note of anything at all that may seem suspicious, or that could further hinder us... I think none of us would like this trip to last longer than needed with this revelation added to the mix." The prince paused for a bit, pondering on a few things as he did so.
"I plan on negotiating for some supplies tomorrow, but if possible, I'd like to have something to offer them before I barter on my word alone. Anyone happen to have any real ideas there? I admit, I could think of nothing they may want..."
Mollis chimed in once more, offering a solution to his prince.
"Well, I AM a plant magic specialist, and while I was saving these for if we needed them in a pinch, I'm sure this will at least give you something to offer for now."
The hare was stepping onto the bank then, his soaked fur clung tightly to his small frame as the rabbit stepped over to his discarded robes. He reached into one of the many pockets there, and pulled out what looked like a small, round seed. Mollis turned back towards the water, stopping a short ways from the bank before squatting down on his haunches and digging a small hole. He placed the seed in the pit, and covered it up thereafter, dusting his hands off before he leaned forward, placing a palm on either side of the upturned dirt. The hare began chanting in that familiar, inaudible tongue the human could never quite make out. A moment later, and the effects of the spell were beginning to take root. Quite literally.
Ever since his brother Cortist had began showing Aster about all the different types of spells and magic in this world, the human carried an odd affinity and fascination for the very mystery always just out of his reach. The boy found himself mesmerized as usual while the seed sprouted. The slender stalk that poked through the earth below rapidly grew in size, shifting from green to brown, reaching higher into the air as it stretched towards the desert sun, forking off and branching into the new shape of life the hare and his magic were coaxing it to take on. Greenery flourished on the new branches, and small fruit began to bloom, haphazardly strewn across the young tree. Within a few fast seconds, a fruiting cherry tree had fully matured before their very eyes.
The hare reached up, plucked a single fruit from the branches, and popped it into his mouth. The rabbit chewed for a moment, and spat the pit out to his side before speaking.
"Well, as usual, I couldn't get them as sweet as I'd wanted, but they still have a pretty decent flavor, and I'm sure the orcs would welcome a new variety of produce all the way out here. The only issue being, I'm not certain how long the trees can survive here in this heat." Prince Tyfin waved a hand.
"It is more than we had. Thank you, Mollis." The mage beamed on in response.
"Thank my affinity for cherries! I just happened to have those on me back at the ceremony before all this started is all. Glad they could help us in the end. I can use the seeds from the fruit that just grew to further cultivate this crop for them, so we aren't only offering them a single tree, but I'll wait to find where they want the crop first."
The lion was plenty thankful enough. Mollis reached back up to gather a few more of the small fruits, and turned back to his allies in the water before returning to the matter at hand. The hare splashed carelessly through the water, bouncing lightly as he made his way over to the naked human once more, stopping just in front of the boy as he leaned in close to him, bringing his hand up to Aster's mouth and softly pressing one of the small red fruits to his lips.
Aster was certainly taken aback by the gesture, but didn't want to seem rude, so he allowed his lips to part as the hare gently pressed the fruit forward into his open mouth, smiling in an emotion the boy couldn't quite read. Mollis let his fingertips linger on the pale, soft flesh for a bit longer than seemed necessary. For some reason Aster couldn't explain, the entire thing seemed extremely intimate to the human. Stahl glared at the hare, but Mollis expertly ignored the wolf, never taking his mischievous glare from the boy now blushing under his efforts, even as he spoke.
"I really do have a taste for cherries, Aster, but I like all kinds of fruit that nature's bounty provides for me." Aster was jumping in shock then, as the hare did the last thing he was expecting. Mollis reached his hand below the water's surface, and gave the human's tool a fast squeeze before he released it just as quickly. Stahl took a step forward, but the hare just casually turned to him too, still smirking.
"Don't worry Aschefell, there's plenty of fruit for all of us, no need to be stingy." The wolf only scowled. Aster thought his heart would explode from the unexpected grope. Prince Tyfin just let out a sigh before he spoke.
"Please, could we try NOT to provoke each other? I think we could all use a break, and that includes Aster, you two. Let the boy decide when he is ready..." The lion paused as a thought flashed in his mind. He wasn't usually one to make jokes on such serious topics, but they were among friends... "A king's decision should never be rushed after all..."
Even the prince had to laugh at the alarmed panic that was evident on the boy's face as he finished his jab, and the other beasts laughed with him. Aster may have struggled to accept who he was, but his friends certainly held no such reservations.
A short while later, the group departed the riverbank, feeling finally cleaned up a bit, and with higher spirits than before. As they made their way through the town, the group quickly came upon a particularly large structure that was buzzing with life, laughter, and the echoes of lighthearted cursing. Aster wanted to check it out, so the human and the four beasts found themselves entering the tavern.
The building itself was pretty well just a larger version of the other structures in town. Basic door, glassless windows that were never to be closed, assembled by what looked to be desert stones stacked and mortared with some kind of mud, and all topped off with a vented reed roof. They served their purpose, and made the harsh climate bearable enough. There were a number of tables and chairs strewn about, many of which were full of patrons, and a circular bar in the center.
Most of the orcs present grew silent when the group of five stepped through the door, turning to see both the last of man, and the beast prince himself for their own eyes. Aster immediately felt a shift in the atmosphere, and he wasn't so sure if it was a friendly one. It reminded him of the way he felt back at the selection, when the beastmen were all staring at him and rooting for his downfall. The boy shuddered at the though, regretting the pub after all.
Stahl noticed, and took Aster's hand into his own while he took the lead. The wolf looked around the room to get a feel for the situation, and noticed quite a few things all at once. The first was the tiger Oust, hunched over a nearby, smaller table for one. The big cat had a clay mug of something strong smelling in his large grasp. The wolf moved beyond the tiger, and noticed with a shock there was a larger, half full table of beastmen who weren't part of their group.
The husky that had tricked them, Dally O'Day, was counted among those beasts, as was the larger white canine Milky that had accompanied him. The peacock, Madame Mist, was nowhere to be seen, but the husky was excitedly talking to a very unamused looking Kodiak bear. This bear was bad news, the wolf could just feel it... They should avoid getting on his bad side, but the wolf did have a bone to pick with the husky, so he made his way over to the table anyways. Aster was happy to be pulled along behind him, happy to do anything to avoid standing there and catching such stares. The wolf cleared his throat as he stood near the table, eyeing the other canine cautiously before he spoke.
"You know... That was a pretty simple and dirty trick back there... I'm kind of pissed that I fell for it."
The tavern grew silent once more. Aster grabbed at Stahl's arm, not wanting to cause more of a scene. The wolf didn't back down. The husky slowly stood, his eyes hidden beneath his feathered hat, and turned to face the wolf. The pair stared at one another with growing tension, until the husky cracked, and let out a joyful laugh.
"HAHAHA! I'm sorry! I can't do it! I was going to try and act mad, but it's no use. I'm just not that kind of dog." The tension disintegrated as the husky went back to laughing for a moment. Aster felt relieved. Dally made his signature bow before he spoke his apology.
"I do apologize for our sneaky move back there, but these orcs are good people. People we wouldn't want harmed, and to be fair, that IS the beast prince of Alora over there... We mean you no harm, but we weren't sure how much like his father he was at first... We were even more pleasantly surprised when he was one of the few that withstood Mist's song and dance. That can only be done by someone who truly bears no intent of attacking the performer after they have been provoked by them. In other words, a truly good person."
Aster finally realized something then. For once, he was not the one everyone was staring at with those looks of hatred... Prince Tyfin was. Captain Rixator's bellowing voice came to his king's defense.
"YOU DARE INSULT MY KING BEFORE HIS OWN GU-" The prince silenced the captain quickly.
"Hold your tongue, Captain Rixator. These people have every right to hate my father..." The prince took a step forward, his head held high and his expression blank as he spoke to those present.
"I am prince Tyfin Tonitrus of Alora. I may be the son of my father, but I have worked hard to be sure I never become him... Something even he agrees is for the best. I understand your bitter feelings, for they are justified, but please allow me to begin repairing that mistrust. I know there is much to do, and words alone will not suffice, but please, give me a chance to show you that we can be allies. Please allow me and my men to sit among you, so we may learn about each other." The room went quiet again, until Dally burst out in response.
"EXPERTLY SAID, YOUR HIGHNESS! Come! Have a seat with us! The mead here is truly something unique! Let us drink, eat, talk, and sing the evening away!" The husky grabbed his own mug, and thrust it into the air proudly as he toasted the lion. "TO NEW BEGINNINGS, TO NEW ALLIES! TO PEACE!"
With a cheer of approval, and a clinking of mugs, the matter was settled, and the beasts integrated into the crowd around them to enjoy their new company for a few minutes.. Aster was beyond relieved they had avoided causing too much of a stir, but may have been celebrating a bit too prematurely.
The bear sitting at the table with Dally was a burly thing. He was definitely strong and muscular, but the beast carried a good bit of extra weight on him that gave him a stocky, powerful appearance. Aster kept catching glimpses of the silent bear looking his way with intrigue. The boy felt like shrinking into his wolf, and ended up doing exactly that, as he slid just a bit closer to Stahl. A slender lady orc came by a moment later, asking if anyone needed anything, and the bear finally spoke in a heavy sounding tone that registered more like a grunt to the human.
"Two more for me... Two for our guests here as well. I will buy today, so keep them coming, Moss." Aster spoke up, dismissing the need.
"I don't drink. Father said it can grow to consume a person, leaving them at the mercy of the vice. I'd rather not chance becoming one such victim... Thank you though." The boy bowed in respect at the beast's offer. The bear chuckled a bit.
"Your father is correct on that. He must have been wise to raise a boy like you." Aster beamed at the praise.
"He really is! But that is the great general Venatus for you!"
The husky barely managed to let out a single word as realization struck, before the bear had already snatched the boy up by the front of his shirt.
"Shit!"
Aster was face to face with the bear, as the huge beast roared down at the boy, forcing a look of terror to form upon the human's face as he dangled helplessly by the grip of the burly beast.
Stahl went to stand and defend his boy, but with a strike faster than Aster could follow, the wolf was knocked back, clutching at his throat where the bear had expertly struck, rendering him helpless as the beast only coughed and hacked in attempt at recovering his breath. The bear never turned away, yelling down at the human with unconceivable rage.
"YOUR FATHER... IS GENERAL JAGร"N VENATUS? THE BLACK PANTHER KNIGHT AND RIGHT HAND OF THE KING? YOU? A HUMAN? THIS... THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! THIS IS UNIMAGINABLE! THIS IS INTOLERABLE!" The great bear bellowed into the air again, bringing a deafening roar down on the struggling boy as those nearby desperately tried to talk the beast down with no luck. Stahl was struggling to make it to his feet. The bear continued his rant, unimpeded.
"THE VERY SAME GENERAL THAT PERSONALLY LED THE CHARGE ON ALL THE HUMAN KINGDOMS... THE VERY SAME ONE WHO CARRIED OUT THE ORDER TO KILL ALL HUMANS IN ALORA... MY OLD ALLY..." The bear was starting to lower his voice. As the edge of anger faded temporarily, the emotion was replaced by something far worse, unimaginable betrayal and heartbreak.
"He... He was my ally... My friend... We grew up together... We fought in countless battles together... Me, him, and king Alocer ... And yet... Even still... He... He killed her... When the king ordered him to do it, he killed her right in front of me..." The beast looked back to the human, his rage returning as tears welled up in the angered bear's eyes, and his mighty grip on the human began to tremble.
"HE KILLED HER BECAUSE SHE WAS A HUMAN! THOSE BASTARDS KILLED MY WIFE, MY KHALA... AND NOW... NOW YOU TELL ME THAT SAME BETRAYING SCUM SPARED A HUMAN BOY... AND RAISED HIM AS HIS OWN SON? THAT THE KING LET HIM? HOW BY THE GODS IS THAT FAIR?!? HOW... HOW COME YOU DESERVED TO LIVE, BUT NOT HER? AFTER ALL I GAVE TO MY COUNTRY, AFTER ALL THEY TOOK FROM ME... Why... Why would you be spared? Why did they take her from me, only to save you..." The bear's voice broke, as he finally released the human to fall onto the table. The beast leaned over him, his tears falling down to splash against Aster. This time, the beast barely spoke in a hoarse whisper.
"I will correct such an injustice. The panther will know how it feels." The bear raised a mighty claw up, Aster was terrified now, and his own tears welled into his eyes. He had nothing to do with any of this... but more than from his own fear, the boy was crying for the bear's sake, for such a terrible, and heartbreaking look of loss that the beast was bearing. Aster turned his head as he yielded to the bear's rage, waiting for the impending deadly strike. It never came. Instead, another, unfamiliar voice filled the air.
"Let him go, Corper. This boy had no more a hand in that than I... You once helped kill many of our kind, but we gave you the chance to prove you were better than you once were... Or is all that progress so easily discarded? Would Khala want this?" The orc that had intervened had a hand on the bear's forearm, stopping his deadly swing as he spoke to the beast. The bear hesitated for a moment, then finally dropped his large arm, jerking away in disgust. The bear turned, and began making his way towards the door. A moment before he had reached it, Aster heard his prince call out.
"You are Sir Corper the Collapser, are you not?"
The bear stopped in his tracks, turning to eye the young prince maliciously as he spat his words towards the lion over his shoulder.
"And what of it?" The prince lowered his eyes a bit before he answered in a voice laden with remorse.
"I know of your story... I know the role my father played in it... I may never be able to set this right, but I give you my word, as the future king of Alora, that I will do everything in my power to prevent something like that from ever happening again... I know it means little, but I truly am sorry for what you had to live through. I am sorry for your treatment by your own trusted king and allies. I hope to build a kingdom where such unnecessary cruelty does not exist... One where our people may love whoever they wish, and know it is no crime. I pray you may find peace in such a kingdom."
The bear turned slightly, a true look of sadness and longing in his eyes as he looked back at the human he had nearly slain. The boy could only stare back at the bear empathetically. Corper shifted his attention, and looked Stahl directly in the eye as spoke his parting message.
"Don't ever let them take him from you... Stay by his side, always. Even if you have to raise your blade against your own king to do so, hesitate not. Do not trust them... Do not make the same mistake that I had... One I must live with."
Corper said nothing more, only closed his eyes, turned forward, and disappeared through the door without another sound, leaving the pub in a state of disarray. Captain Rix was getting Stahl to his feet, while Dally tended to Aster, helping the boy off the table as he offered his condolences.
"I am sorry... I didn't realize who your father was, or I would have warned you... Please don't hold it against Corper, it's something that haunts him still to this day... He isn't a bad person..." Aster nodded at the husky in understanding.
"It's alright. I get it... I do not fault him... I can't even imagine what was taken from him..." As the boy spoke, rising to his feet, Stahl was imagining what the bear must have endured. Just knowing someone had threatened his human was enough to make his blood boil... To have Aster stolen away before his very eyes? By his own king? The wolf wasn't sure he could've managed the same restraint the bear had.
Despite the commotion, the pub soon settled down back to business as usual, as the beasts enjoyed the company of the orcs and the musicians alike for quite a while longer, until the sun was just starting to set over the desert skyline.
"STEADY NOW FOX! HOLD IT STEADY!" The gruff, older orc Tan was bellowing down at Rust, making the fox even more nervous as he tried to steady his grip on the tongs while the orc hammered another piece of steel through a pilot hole, securing the pommel to the handle of the longer, curved knife the heavy orc had been forging with the fox's assistance. Tan had to admit, the cub was surprisingly well versed in the ways of shaping steel. It would seem his claim to be a smith's son held some truth, but the cub was far too insecure of the quality of his own work. He had real potential and talent in a forge, and the orc was pleasantly surprised by the young fox's request.
He had been grinding on the edge of a simple hatchet when the cub first appeared before him. Tan had heard they had some beasts in their company, but didn't much care to see for himself either way. He was well set in his ways at his age, and gossip was something a smithy had no need for. The orc could only assume the fox was here as a customer, and gave him a gruff "Afternoon," as acknowledgement, continuing his grinding on the steel while the cub began looking around.
By the time Tan had finished his task, the fox was waiting patiently at his counter, seemingly to inquire about his wares. The orc was happy, he didn't receive many request in this age of peace, less so considering how their tribe had mostly stayed to themselves in recent years, so he always welcomed a potential commission that wasn't repairing a broken tool. The orc leaned on his counter, curious as to what brought a young cub to a forge of all things. Je was not prepared for the answer to that question.
"My name is Rosten Aschefell, and I am the son of one of Alora's greatest blacksmiths. Your work quality is really incredible! I've never seen such precise etching on steel! The designs you've made far exceed what I have ever even imagined!"
The fox was beaming up at the orc with a happiness that seemed out of place in a forge. The orc welcomed a bit of cheer in his space though, and graciously thanked the cub.
"Such praise from one so young. You honor me, Rosten Aschefell. What can I help you with?" Rust had apparently thought hard on how he would word it.
"Well... We are travelling pretty unexpectedly, and I've never really been to a forge outside of our home and capital... Would you need some help? I know I don't look like much, but I will do my best! I won't get in your way, and I'll obey what you tell me... I don't need pay, I just want to bring some experience back to my dad. I may only have a few days here, but I want to show him I learned new things while I was away... Please! I swear, I'll be helpful!" The fox seemed to be desperate in his confession. The heavy orc only furrowed his brow as he stood back up, crossing his arms as he considered the unexpected request for a moment before he finally gave an answer.
"The days are long, and the physical demands relentless. I start before the sun rises, and stop only minutes before it falls from the sky. You'll only receive a single break, one only long enough to get some food in your belly when the sun is at the highest point in the sky. Do you accept these conditions, young Rosten?" The fox excitedly yipped his answer.
"YES SIR!" And with that, the fox cub began to assist the orc for the rest of the day, never stopping, despite how tired he was feeling. Some things were worth putting in the work.
As the final strike of the hammer hilted the last glowing pin into place, the orc took a step back, wiping at his brow and admiring the handiwork as the cub finally released the heavy tongs to join Tan in his endeavor. The result of their labor was a well made dagger.
It was about two feet long, and the blade curved lightly, flaring just a bit in thickness towards the tip. The orc had taken the opportunity to show the cub how a light ore dusting could drastically alter the coloring of the steel, as such, the blade before them had an orange tint that was similar to the fox's own coat. The handle was made of a blackened wood, polished heavily by the fox's own efforts, and awaiting the finishing touches after the rest of the steel had cooled. Overall, it was both a successful forge, and learning experience for the cub. Tan grunted his approval before he spoke.
"Better than even I predicted. Well done, fox." Rust wiped at his own sweating brow as he gave the orc a huge smile.
"I only helped a little. You did all the hard work... But thank you for teaching me." Rust gave a tiny bow in respect to his teacher. Tan only placed a large hand on the cub's head, ruffling the damp fur lightly as he smiled back, his own larger bottom tusks making the motion seem a bit awkward.
"You sell yourself short, this blade is easily worth twenty gold! Had I not had your help, I wouldn't have been near as accurate in my strikes... The shakes have hindered my skill in my years. Having a pair of younger hands around was a welcomed change. I think we've reached a good stopping point, so, I will see you early in the morning then? We need to repair a great deal of tools tomorrow, so you need to be prepared for a grueling day." The fox didn't back down for a second happily giving his mentor another "Yes Sir!"
As if right on cue, a certain gray wolf appeared in the doorway with the human in tow. Stahl took a step forward, clearing his throat as he spoke.
"So, this is where you've been Rust, I should've guessed as much... You've not been bothering this orc too much, have you?" It was Tan that answered the wolf.
"Not at all! He's actually been quite the help to this old orc. You have a well mannered cub." The wolf donned his fanged smile as he answered the smith.
"Haha! I am only his uncle, but I am happy to hear it, as would his father be. Thank you for keeping an eye on him." Stahl gave a small nod towards the fox's teacher, the orc returned the gesture.
Aster, seemingly thinking deeply on something, had been distracted by something covered in a thick layer of dust on a nearby shelf. The boy was curiously looking at the peculiar item in question from a distance, reluctant to express any real interest without having a way to pay for it. The human pulled his gaze away, and turned to see the smith had caught him looking. The orc didn't say anything about it, much to Aster's relief. He knew Stahl would try to barter for it if the wolf knew he had liked it, and his wolf had already given him more than enough.
After a few moments of hearing about the fox's temporary apprenticeship, Stahl announced they should be getting back to their quarters for the evening. As Rust turned to leave for the day, he turned and gave a final wave to his mentor. Tan only smiled on as his eager student departed with the wolf and human. The orc had to admit, it really was nice to have a bit of company for a change, however, his mind couldn't help but to recall memory from a darker time.
Many, many years ago, when the orc was still a warrior, and before the reform of their tribe, he had slain a similar looking fox for little more than ten silvers worth of steel. Tan regretted many things from those more savage days, but to see how far they had come in such a short time truly did give him hope his people may survive long after the old ways were forgotten. Long after the ones such as himself were forgotten, as they should be. That is what the world needed to heal, so having a chance to teach the next generation felt like he was making up for his sins, albeit, only a small part of them. An idea came to Tan, and the orc turned back to the newly forged dagger with a sly grin.
I know a LOT of people expressed their disdain over friendly orcs, but I'm sticking to the story as I have it planned. I wanted them to represent breaking generational trauma, as well as a testament that change is gradual and takes time, but it is possible through united efforts. This isn't the only role they play. Also keep in mind, this is a single tribe, not the species as a whole, so don't write anything off yet.
As always, I do appreciate feedback and a simple rating, comment, or message can really help motivate me. I assure you, I am more harsh on my writing than any of my fans lol, but I don't mind honest criticism. It gives me stuff to think on. Support your sites! Actual sex scene for the next chapter, and I'm taking my time to make sure it comes out correctly, because honestly, Aster deserves it. So thank you for the patience. -Bayou.