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Clang!

The metal glowed white.

Clang!

Hotter than any other metal should be when forging.

Clang!

It fought against blending with the other metals.

Clang!

My body protested in fatigue and pain and yet I swung again, and again, and again. I swung with increased determination, forcing the metals to blend. The heat was overwhelming but I focused on my work, determined to get this sword completed.

The legendary blades that were made from this forge over the past generations, it'd surprise most that the forge itself was relatively modest. It was built into the earth on the side of the mountains, and over the generations it was improved and upgraded but it still did not compare to the ornate forges within the noble keeps.

With heat and blunt force, I finally started to force the metals to blend to create a new alloy. I knew this metal was difficult to tame; my father had spent more than two years teaching me how to work with the metal, and the best alloys to use before he had me craft a short sword with it. He had assisted a lot in the making of that blade, but sixteen hours of hammering had been testing my patience.

I folded the metal into a workable shape for another hour until I was satisfied and cooled it off in oil. Flames spouted up as I dipped it in the oil adding to the suffocating heat within the forge. The blade still glowed orange when I pulled it from the oil but it was cool enough now.

Setting the blade down in a safe spot, I finally set down the hammer. With a heavy sigh, and took a moment to relax before walking outside into the cool mountain air. Without the work keeping me occupied an involuntary growl started to rumble in my throat. The thoughts of the horror that is my reality started to invade my mind. The weight of these memories weighed down on me as if gravity had suddenly become heavier.

Forcing my mind to focus on my need to rehydrate and cool off, I charged through the darkness of the night to a nearby stream. The night sky was clear and the air was cool. High in the mountains, the stars shone brightly; it was a beautiful night.

However, I did not allow myself to focus on it or else I'd come to lament the loss of beautiful nights. Instead I turned back toward my home, a modest building adjacent to the earthen underground forge. The original hut that was here generations ago had been improved to a permanent dwelling that has housed generations of my family. The legacy of the Velox family came from when one of my ancestors found an ore of rrathavil. It took three generations to learn how to craft with it, but the weapon was made and had amazing properties: the blades could cut other metals without dulling, and had the flexibility to avoid chipping or breaking. The first real sword to be crafted using rrathavil was still the heirloom to the royal family. All those generations of crafting the metal, had come down to my father and then to me.

Pushing open the door to my home I noticed that my father was still awake in the main room. We exchanged a single glance, and I saw the expression that he has had since I had returned home weeks earlier; hopelessness, that a father could not help his own son.

My father had left a plate out of some meat and bread on the dining table for me. Without saying a word, I grabbed the plate and went into my room. It was a small and modest room, but it did have its own fireplace that was already lit. I was grateful for my father's attempts, because I would not have had the will to light the fireplace myself tonight. I sat on the edge of the bed, setting the plate of food in my lap while I slowly started to eat its contents.

Without the laborious process of forging the new sword, reality started to seep into my mind again. The crushing weight of the world's cruelty and the rage that I felt at it soon stole my appetite. Tears glazed over my eyes and blurred my vision. I had taken only a few bites of the meal my father had prepared for me before I decided to set it aside on my nightstand. I stood and disrobed before lying down in my bed. Even with the fireplace, I pulled a blanket up over me as the high mountain air was always cool in the nights.

Tears started to flow freely from my eyes, soaking the thin fur on my cheeks and muzzle. Lamenting what was taken from me, I sobbed and felt the void in my heart. I grabbed one of my pillows and hugged it tightly offering the smallest amounts of comfort. Remembering how it was all taken from me, my lips curled and growls rumbled from my chest and throat. My claws dug into the pillow as hatred and rage consumed my mind. It drove my motivation to forge the sword, a sword that I intend to use.

Trying to sleep has become the worst moments of my days; I could not keep myself occupied to avoid remembering the worst moment of my life. At the same time I was desperate for the loss of consciousness it would bring, since it was the only relief from reality that I had. Lying here, it was tormenting me. Oftentimes I wish I'd never wake up because I just experience the grief hitting me like a charging wild beast the moment I do.

The rage keeping me awake, and the sorrow demanding relief, I lied in the bed for hours despite my extreme exhaustion. I wanted to smother all the emotions, to claw my chest and let it out just for the pain to stop. I wanted to stop sobbing, I wanted the rage to calm down so I could sleep, I wanted the pain to stop, I wanted to change the past, I wanted to change reality. Why did this...

Water splashed up all around me from the stream that I had roughly fallen into. Once the shock wore off, I felt irritated and frustrated; the suggestion to spar was just to get a feel of the otter's fighting style. Instead the otter had attacked with the intent to win the spar rather than show me his style. It put me off balance from the start.

"Went a little hard at him, didn't you Nin?"

The offending otter was Nin Mika, the youngest son of Lord Mika, one of the most powerful Lords of the country, so I chewed back on my frustration. It wasn't uncommon for my peers in a noble family to try to show off while dueling with training swords but Nin went even further. Which made my humiliation even greater because the otter was a year younger than I am, barely an adolescent, and his older brothers were there to observe. Maybe that's why he felt the need to show off.

With a quiet sigh, I wiped the water from my eyes and braced to push myself up. When I opened my eyes though, I hesitated. Nin was standing over me, with an expression that I had not expected; an expression of concern, surprise and guilt.

“I'm so sorry," he quickly said, dropping the sword and holding out a paw for me to take. “I didn't mean to." The concern and guilt that he expressed confused me, causing me to hesitate. Even with the more humble families that I sold blades to would have struggled to hold back their laughter and jeering. And yet, a son of the most prestigious aristocrat expressed regret and genuinely apologized.

An unknown emotion stirred within me as I stared up at the concerned otter. It wasn't just gratitude and appreciation since I also felt ashamed for thinking ill of this kind otter. All my irritation immediately evaporated and I graciously took the otter's paw as he used his body and strength to pull me back up to my hindpaws. I felt the extra weight of not only water, but mud has also clung to my cloak, clothes, and my tail.

“I really am sorry," Nin repeated bashfully breaking eye contact. A moment later his eyes flicked back to me, and I realized that I was staring at him. His paw had relaxed in mine, but I still hadn't let go either.

"Oh," I said and quickly released his paw. "It's okay, my lord." I hadn't realized it but my ears had been flat, and I was feeling flustered like I didn't deserve this kindness from him. I didn't know why I felt like this, and it felt awkward. I realized that the otter seemed uncomfortable as well, so to break the tension, I quipped, "But I am quite certain otters like the water more than I do." I pulled my cloak around and glanced down at the mud to emphasize my point.

My words elicited a smile from Nin, and he still seemed bashful. "I'm sorry. You are a better swordsman than I thought, and I thought you were going easy on me, and I wanted to show you that I can fight too," the young otter rambled off.

"Yeah, Nin, that's called showing off," called out one of the brothers nearby. Nin ears fell back in embarrassment as he shot his brother a dirty look.

I chuckled lightly and smile at the otter. "No need to explain, my lord." The awkward tension was broken now and I found a new respect for the younger otter.

"Call me Nin, please," the otter humbly asked. His deep blue eyes changed, expressing embarrassment to relief, as if he expected I'd be chastising him.

"As you wish, Nin," I respectfully obliged. If anything, this otter was truly considerate but I decided to end both of our embarrassment and moved past the subject, "Anyway, I think I have a sword that will suit you well."

Without turning my back to the otter, or his brothers, I gestured toward the pack and we wandered over to where I had all my wares. I had a couple dozen blades, from knives and daggers to swords and all marked with the Velox family's crest indicating their high quality. I sorted out the swords of different curve angles, lengths and materials and laid them on a cloth on the ground.

"These are beautiful," Nin said as he excitedly looked over the blades. "You're really talented Sage!"

The compliment caught me off guard, as much as Nin's initial expression of humility and concern. That and Nin's use of my name made my ears bashfully fold back. I glanced at the otter ogling the weapons to choose from and I found it endearing. Without thinking about it, I opened a secret compartment on my pack and pulled out the best blade that I have ever made. To be fair, my father had to assist with a lot of it and supervised the entire creation of it but that only ensured the blades' exceptional quality.

"Try this one," I said, offering the sword to the blue-eyed otter.

"Is that..." one of the brothers muttered as the both of them came up to us.

"A Rrathavil Velox sword," the eldest brother finished.

"You mean it's like father's, Odell?" Nin asked his brother.

"Yes, like River's Edge," Odell, the heir, answered. River's Edge was the heirloom of the Mika family, a sword with renown as it helped tame shipping lanes from carnivorous beasts, fought in battles against pirates, and has been in more than a few wars. The sword has been passed down through nearly a dozen generations of the Mika family since it was crafted by my ancestors.

Nin unsheathed the sword, showing a silver-white blade.

"The alloy used was a careful blend of rrathavil, iron, carbon, titanium and silver," I explained while Nin and his brothers observed the blade with awe. "It should have the strength to never dull, and the flexibility to never chip. It took me two years of practice before father let me go near the ore." My family has used the mythical rrathavil ore for generations to craft heirlooms to many noble families, including the royal family's heirloom: Sabre.

"You made this?" Nin asked, his gaze going from the blade to me. I nodded at him.

"Didn't your father ever only make two Rrathavil Velox's swords?" the middle brother, Sunil, asked.

"That's right," I answered. "He keeps one at home and the other was sold to one of the King's personal guard."

Nin's ears fell, and he sheathed the sword again before holding it out to me. "I cannot accept this. This is too fine a sword." Even his brothers seemed shocked by his refusal.

Nin tried to hand the sheathed blade back to me but I refused by holding a paw up. "No, please try it out," I insisted. I felt compelled to offer my best to Nin. "It is my family's greatest pleasure to match a sword to its wielder, and I truly believe this one will fit you."

Reluctantly, the youngest otter obliged and unsheathed the sword again. I stepped back as did his brothers when Nin tried out a few stances and swings with it.

"It seems so natural in my paw," he stated, maneuvering the sword through his stances and poses. "It doesn't feel that heavy in my paw but still feels strong enough to cut through armor."

"Wear it," Odell suggested. "See if it'll be comfortable on your belt."

Nin sheathed the blade and placed wrapped it to the belt on his hip before he paced around the courtyard a bit. "It practically moves with my body."

"A worthy blade, Nin," Lord Mika, the father of the three brothers, stated as he approached. The otter was taller than all of us, since we were all still adolescents. Maybe not Odell though since he had probably stopped growing at his age.

"It's Sage's first Rrathavil Velox sword," Nin said, untying the sword off his belt.

"Is that true, Mr. Velox?" Lord Mika asked. Lord Mika turned toward me. I felt intimidated, knowing the influence that this otter had. The older otter had a soft expression though that looked suspicious at the mention of the rrathavil status of the sword.

"Yes, my lord," I answered. I did not dare break eye contact with him in case it seemed rude. "My lord Nin wields it well. I would be honored for him to own it."

Lord Mika stared at me, with his expression hardly changing but I could sense that he was searching for any wavering in my agreement to sell the blade. Lalit Mika, the Great Lord of Lontra City, its territories, and vital trade junctions in the rivers of the country was judging my word, and it felt like a storm front pushing on the horizon. I knew Lalit's reputation of being fierce with trade negotiations while also being very fair. He doesn't waver, even when mediating trade negotiations involving the royal family. When a bad faith negotiator seems to get involved, Lord Mika has been known to kick them out of negotiations without hesitation and set terms himself.

Lord Mika's gaze to me only lasted a few seconds, but it felt like minutes before he broke his gaze. I wondered what insight he got out of me in those short few seconds.

"Nin, you're no longer a pup so say truthfully, does the blade match your style?" the Lord's gaze fell on his youngest son now.

Nin hesitated as he looked at his father and to me briefly before back to his father. He seemed reluctant to speak but finally said, "It is the finest blade I've ever held in my paw. No other can match it."

My ears perked up at the compliment, and it seemed to draw Nin's gaze who smiled at me. Maybe he was worried that I was really regretting showing him the sword, that I wouldn't want to sell it. Truthfully, impressing Nin brought contentment to me and I was able to smile back at him.

"Very well," Lord Mika, and he briefly looked between Nin and I. His expression changed a bit, before he softened again as he turned toward me again. "Master Sage, please accept our hospitality for the evening. I will have your payment ready by the morning."

"Thank you, my Lord," I said graciously with a slight bow.

"Nin will take you to the keep to get you washed up and settled in," Lord Mika said as he turned toward his youngest son. Nin didn't seem bothered by being given the responsibility. "Let him know if you need anything." As he turned back toward the keep and started to walk off, he called out, "Odell." The eldest of the brothers and heir quickly followed behind his father. Certainly being an heir came with a lot of responsibilities.

"Thank you Sage!" Nin exclaimed, walking up to me excitedly. "I can't believe it. You're really okay parting with this sword?"

"I am," I answered, with a smile. Truthfully, the sword was my proudest creation and I cherished it. I could not deny that it brought me pride for a renowned aristocrat to wield it as well. Nin seemed so excited about it too that I would have found it difficult to deny him even if I did wish to keep the sword.

"You're the best," Nin exclaimed and gestured toward the keep. I felt my cheeks flush and my ears fall back at the compliment. "Did you really craft it? How'd long it take?"

"A few years of study and practice first," I answered as I walked side by side with the otter. "Then it took months to actually create it." Nin glanced at me and failed to stifle a giggle. "What?" I asked confused. What could have been funny about my answer?

"Sorry, but you have mud smeared across your face," Nin said through his slight giggles.

"I do?"

"When you brushed your eyes earlier in the creek," Nin answered and he looked at me with a sense of endearment. I didn't know if he was mocking me or not, but I was a bit embarrassed that Lord Mika was talking to me with when I was covered in mud. Maybe that's why his stare was judging me...

"Don't worry, we have warm baths where you can clean up," Nin proudly stated.

“Otters and their love of water," I muttered. “It's not quite something we foxes share as much, you know?"

“You cannot deny that a warm bath after all your travels isn't welcome," Nin responded as if it was second nature to bathe after traveling. It may as well have been for him. “You travel a lot, don't you? You must hear all sorts of tales while on the road."

“The road is usually empty, but there are some junctions where you get to meet up with others," I answered, now having a casual conversation with the noble otter. “Naturally you'll be able to pass stories at the inns on the road, but I don't stay at them often. But even when setting up camp, some will visit and ask to share the fire. I hear tales from all over the land, some of which are glorious while others are not so pleasant to think about if they're true."

Naturally the curious otter wanted me to relay some of the more epic tales, so we chatted while he led me deeper in the keep. I told him stories that were told to me about bandits attacking travelers of the roads, which I find myself fortunate to have not had such troubles. Though when I spoke up of the stories hunters told about great mythical beasts, Nin seemed far more interested and asked questions for which I had no answers to. Instead I embellished the time a full-grown bull ungulate wandered into my camp one night; it was no mythical beasts, but the sheer size of the creature inspired awe in me that night.

I had gotten so wrapped up in telling the stories, that I was surprised when an elderly otter interrupted us.

“Master Nin," the otter had suddenly announced herself with confidence. She had emerged from a nearby room's doorway. “You have some new accessories I see." She gestured at the blade that was secured on his belt.

“I do," he said proudly. The castle smith no doubt crafted Nin blades previously, but they were most likely training swords whereas his new weapon would last for the rest of his life. “Sage here forged it."

“W-well," I stuttered, unsure if I should even correct the otter. “I mean, my father supervised and did a lot of the work. I'm still an apprentice after all."

“Still, no one else has been able to tame rrathavil ore," Nin said confidently to me. He turned his attention to the elderly confident otter. “Sianet, I'm taking Sage to the baths to clean up. Can you send some clean clothes, please?"

“Of course Master Nin," the elder otter responded diligently. Sianet then glanced toward my direction, and I wasn't sure if she was glaring at me. "Though the baths on this level are for the Mika family. Surely, the guests' baths will be sufficient."

"Yeah," Nin said, placing a paw on the back of his head as he laughed nervously. "See... it's kind of my fault he got all muddied up. Father also instructed me to clean him up so I figured the family baths will be fine."

"As you wish, Master Nin," Sianet said formally with a small bow before walking past us. Nin continued to lead me down the corridor. Now that I wasn't focused on the stories, and probably due to the elder otter's comment, I was able to notice that I was in the living quarters of the Mika family.

"Don't mind her," Nin said turning toward me after we were well out of ear shot. "She's like two hundred years old, and always has been a grumpy otter."

"Two hundred?" I scoffed. Clearly Nin wasn't being truthful and he saw my doubt when we exchanged a glance.

"Practically!" Nin laughed and I chuckled with him. "Not even my father knows how old she is. He says she was old when he was a young cub." Who knows, maybe there was some legitimacy to his story.

I curiously glanced around. This was the private quarters of the aristocrat Mika family and as far as I knew even esteemed guests were not allowed here. No one other than Sianet and a few guards were seen up here.

Nin must have caught my curious eyes wandering around.

"This time of the day, we aren't up here a lot," Nin explained. "Odell and father will often be in the library later on. Sunil will be training with Alvaro, the garrison commander. They've been quite busy lately..." He paused, and seemed disappointed by his brother's studies. "And you haven't met Fiya! She's the oldest of us four, and she's commanding a ship out on patrol right now. She's already fought with pirates."

"Pirates?" I asked. I've heard of pirates through other traders but my life has never required taking to the sea. Sailors usually stayed close to ports, so it wasn't often I'd hear their stories. "She actually fought them?"

"Well, more like chased them off," Nin explained, his blue eyes glancing toward me. "They ran pretty quick when they saw the Lontran flag, from how she tells it."

Before I could inquire any further, Nin led me through a doorway that opened up to a humid room that looked to be a large bath house. The humid air wrapped around Sage like a second layer of fur, thick with mineral tang of a natural hot spring. There were six baths, each one flowing into the next. The highest bath steaming the most, shimmering with heat while the lowest bath flowed barely warmer than mountain runoff.

I have never seen baths such as this. "The baths are already hot?"

"They're built over a hot spring that provides a continuous supply of hot water," Nin explained and gestured toward one of the baths in the middle level. "The top bath is the hottest. I can't stand to be in it for very long but the lower pools are better. You can set your clothes over there." Nin gestured toward a bench and wardrobe near the entrance.

I set my pack down on the bench and began to undress. Bathing around others was a common sight. Practically any waterway through a city or town would have bathers in it, most often cubs that were playing in the water. So being without clothes around others was as common as being clothed around others. I quickly shed my clothes, setting them on the bench before heading to the baths. I noticed ears flatten and he averted his gaze.

I noticed ears flatten and he averted his gaze, and I could have sworn Nin smiled. A strange, subtle feeling washed over just as the bath waters enveloped my body: the way Nin looked at me made me feel a warmth, not coming from the bath waters.

Sinking into the waters until it reached my under my arms, I rested my arms on the smooth stone ledge with a quiet, relaxed sigh. Thankfully my summer coat was at its shortest; wet fur is uncomfortable enough let alone when I have my long winter fur.

"This is... relaxing," I admit, grateful for the chance to wash away the creek mud and road dust. Warm waters to bathe in was a luxury that not many get to experience oftne.

Nin sat on the ledge a short distance away, hindpaws and the tail tip dangling in the pool, knees tucked close and paws foleded in his lap. His tail tip stirred the water with gentle absent motions. His ears kept twitching, half lowered, then flicking back up, as if he couldn't quite settle.

I noticed the little movements without meaning to; how the otter's whiskers quivered with each breath, how the steam seemed made his fur gleam faintly. It was odd that I was noticing these details. I'd bathed near strangers plenty of times while travelling. This felt... different; that warmth that had nothing to do with the spring water.

"Is it really okay that I'm in here?" I asked, turning my gaze to the cascading water from the higher pools. "These are you family's private baths." The growing unease of me invading an aristocrat's private space was gnawing on me, especially after the interaction with Sianet.

"Of course," Nin answered quickly confidently but a small nervous chuckle escaped him. "It's fine, Sage. Father said to make sure you get cleaned up... so here we are."

The casual way Nin said my name shifted something small and unfamiliar within my chest. Most nobles stuck with "Master Velox" as a sign of respect, or simply "Apprentice" as a title. Nin said it like we were already friends. It felt nice, but I wasn't sure why it made my ears feel warm.

The doorway entrance and the elderly otter, Sianet, came in carrying a bundle of folded clothes in her arms.

"Thank you, gran," Nin said, turning to her. "Can you wash Sage's travel clothes too, please?"

That really was going a step too far. I turned to object, sending ripples across the water, "No, you really don't have to-"

"Quiet now, Master Velox," she said in a commanding voice. She definitely was the family's caretaker. "I am honored to care for Master Nin's friends."

My jaw sealed shut and froze half way around. I watched Sianet place the folded clothes on the bench. Without another word or even a glance, the elder otter gathered my clothes and left the room. I sheepishly looked back at Nin and we exchanged a glance before he shrugged knowingly.

"She's intimidating for such an old otter," I nervously muttered.

"You have no idea," Nin said with a nervous chuckle. His ears were no longer flattened on his head as he laughed. "You should've seen her with the Heir Prince. She humbled him pretty quickly."

"The Prince?" I questioned, a bit shocked and excited. "You've met the royal family? When did that happen?"

"I was still just a cub," Nin narrated. "The King and his family came to discuss concerns over increased piracy. The Wolves were worried about the shipping lanes; pirates getting bolder, some new faction called 'Talons' raiding trade ships out of Savasia. They wanted to talk alliances, military strength, which houses would patrol what stretches of the rivers and coastlines. Serious, boring stuff. Father had maps spread out in Holt Hall every evening.

I listened intently, the warm water and Nin's calm voice making the tale feel strangely intimate. Nin's tail idly swirled, stirring gentle ripples that lapped at my chest.

"Anyway," Nin continued, "one afternoon we were in the courtyard. I was watching Odell and the Prince Heir, Prince Emeyr having a playful spar. It started out well - complimenting each other's form, trading tips - all very proper. Prince Emeyr got disarmed and got frustrated. It happened again, and he snapped at Odell to 'shut up and just get me a blade with a proper grip.' In our own home."

Nin's ears flattened and his whiskers twitched, the memory still carrying a flicker of second-hand irritation. "Odell froze for a moment but then his ears flattened. He's the heir of Lontra - even from the Prince, we don't get ordered around in our own home. But before Odell could answer, Sianet had brought over a tray of chilled water like nothing was happening. She set it down and looked straight at the Prince, calm as still water..."

Nin paused before attempting to do his best impression of the old otter:

"'My Prince, you are Odell's guest in the House of Mika. Commanding the heir in his own home is not how one maintains cordial alliances. Perhaps a break and refreshments would be best.'"

The visualization caused me to chuckle lightly: an old otter, a humble servant of the Keep, staring down the Heir Prince like he was a cub who'd tracked mud inside. "She really said that?"

"Word for word," Nin confirmed, ears perking with pride. "Prince Emeyr just... froze. He was so shocked by the audacity of gran. It took him a solid minute to find his voice, and when he did, he apologized. 'Forgive me for losing my temperament.' Father heard about what happened later and just chuckled."

The story settled between them. I felt that same odd flutter in my chest. The way Nin told the story, proud of his family's strength and his affection for the prickly caretaker that he shared with me.

I shifted in the water, sending small ripples toward Nin's hindpaws. "She really doesn't care who she's talking to, does she?"

"Not even a little," Nin said, whiskers twitching with amusement. He glanced sideways at me, ears half lowered in that bashful way that was becoming familiar. "She's not afraid to speak her mind despite her position. She can humble even father!" We shared a chuckle. I certainly could believe it from just the two interactions I had with that old otter.

Nin's whiskers twitched as he looked at me sincerely. "I think that's why I like talking to you. You're... not like the noble cubs. You're a talented craftsman and you talk with me like a normal person. It's refreshing."

The words hung there, a simple and honest expression from the otter. I felt heat creep up the back of my neck that had nothing to do with the hot spring. I sunk a little lower in teh bath, feeling my ears flattened and a smile try to spread across my muzzle. Nin's words and this feeling caught me off guard. I tried to pretend I was just watching a stream.

"I'm glad I'm not causing trouble, then," I mumbled.

"You're not," Nin answered softly. Nin's tail tip nervously slapped the water, brushing another faint current against me. "Not at all."

The silence between us was that same warm and confusing thickness from before.

"Sorry... again for knocking you in the creek," Nin said after the warm tension dissipated.

"You don't have to apologize again," I said honestly, voice low. "It was an accident."

Nin's ears flicked down briefly, his whiskers twitching again. "I still feel bad. I got carried away trying to impr... show off. You're actually really good with a blade. Where'd you learn to fight?"

My ears fell flat against my skull again, feeling that warmth rise on my neck again. Praise from a noble's cub wasn't something new to me... so why did this feel different coming from Nin?

"I've practiced some," I muttered. "Mostly against a post. Not real opponents besides a couple spars."

"Well, you're really good," Nin repeated. I glanced sideways at the otter - watching how Nin's paws flexed slightly on the ledge, how the otter focused on the cascading water of the pools, how his chest moved with each breath. Why was I noticing these things?

Nothing more was said for a while. Just the soft trickle of water, the occasional current brushing against fur, and the two of us sitting in shared silence.

The door opened again, drawing our attention as the old otter reappeared. With the same pace that I saw her move in before, she casually walked right up to the bath ledge near us to the point we both had to look up at her. "Master Velox. I've been informed that the guest suite has been prepared for you. Your belongings have been taken there. When you are finished bathing, you'll be escorted to your room."

"It's fine Sianet," Nin intervened. "I can take him."

"Are you familiar with the guest wing, Master Nin?" she asked in a condescending tone.

Nin glanced away from her domineering gaze. "N-no." He turned his gaze back to her. "But I'll still take Sage to his room if you don't mind."

She glowered over him for several long seconds. The air in the baths grew uncomfortably tense for a moment.

"As you wish," she finally said. "I'll inform Bran of your whereabouts."

The last sentence seemed to cause Nin to tense up and his eyes widened slightly. Without another word, the older otter turned on and left the room abruptly.

Once the door shut behind her, I stuttered, "I-I don't think she likes me."

Nin recomposed himself and turned toward me with an apologetic smile. "Trust me, if she didn't like you, you'd know."

"Who's Bran?" I asked. I was more curious on why Nin seemed surprised by the mention of the name more than anything.

Nin avoided eye contact as he replied. "He's... my bodyguard."

"Your.. So she doesn't trust me..." The realization came to me and I felt my ears fall. Sianet's veiled threat wasn't lost on me. Sianet wanted to ensure that I wouldn't harm Nin in any way.

"She's just looking out for me is all," Nin said, trying to reassure me. He gave me an apologetic smile.

"I understand," I said meekly. It still didn't feel great. I looked up at Nin and are gaze met. His blue eyes were striking, and his expression seemed sincere in his apology. Our gaze stayed locked for a moment longer than necessary before we broke our eye contact.

We stayed in silence, the flow of the water, the thick steam and its earthen scents keeping us company.

"I think I'm thoroughly soaked," I said after a few moments. I stepped out of the pool, water streaming down my body and Nin’s gaze followed me. This time the otter didn’t look away so quickly. I pretended not to notice while I felt the weight of the water soaked in my fur.

The weight of the water on my fur was uncomfortable and I had to suppress my instinct to shake my body. I stepped a few paces from Nin before I leaned over and shook, sending water showering all around.

“Easy there," Nin said, no doubt getting hit by a few droplets. He was standing on the ledge of the pool where he had sat, a couple meters from me.

"Sorry," I said, meekly apologizing. Nin had tried to block the water and took a few steps away.

"It's okay Sage," Nin said as he grabbed a large towel from near the entrance. He held out the towel for me to take. "I'll show you to the guest suite."

I accepted the towel, my fingers brushing against Nin’s. I stared into Nin’s eyes for a few moments. "Thank you, Nin." My appreciation wasn't just for the towel, it was for everything the otter has done for me since I met him just earlier this morning. Nin eyes flashed to meet my gaze before looking away again and his ears fell.

I dried myself the best I could with the towel before putting on the clean set of clothes that Sianet had brought earlier. "How do I look?" I jokingly asked, holding out my arms as I turned for Nin.

"G-good," he stuttered and seemed bashful. I chuckled at his reaction. I had to admit, I liked that I could make Nin, the son of Lord Mika, react that way. It was cute.

"All ready to go to the guest room," I stated and gave a slight bow.

We left into the hall and was immediately greeted by an armed pine marten. He was not dressed like the other guards, and it caused me to hesitate.

"Bran!" Nin exclaimed, also not expecting the armed pine marten.

"I've been told to escort the swift fox to the guest suite that was prepared for him," he said, giving a slight courteous bow with his head lowered to Nin. "Nin, your father would like to see you in Holt Hall."

"But..." Nin stopped himself. His ears had fallen and he seemed to shrink a little. Bran remained motionless in his bow. "Yes. Thank you Bran." The otter turned toward me before saying, "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Okay," I gave him a smile and nodded. The otter seemed disappointed but I was dealing with my own worry of who I was being left with. Nin didn't waste any more time and continued down the hallway that he and I both came up not long ago.

The pine marten straightened himself out of the bow and stood still while we watched Nin go down the hall. I didn't dare move as I knew Bran was going to lead me where to go and he clearly didn't want us to follow Nin.

Once the young otter was out of sight, Bran turned toward me, "Master Sage Velox, I presume. I'm Bran, guard to the Mika family."

"Nice... to meet you," I said shyly. The pine marten turned and began to lead me down the same hall, clearly expecting me to follow.

We walked in awkward silence as he led me out of the private quarters of the Mika family and back down to the main floor. We passed several more guards while I was led through the keep before we ascended another set of stairs. It took several minutes before I was led through some large doors.

"This way Master Velox," the pine marten said, holding the door open for me. When I entered, Bran walked in with me and shut the door behind us. "This is your room for the evening. You are welcome to roam the premises, but you are not permitted to enter the Mika's private quarters unless explicitly granted permission. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," I answered, and swallowed up a lump in my throat. He was clearly laying out the rules, and it seemed that I've already skirted close to breaking them.

"I am charged with the safety of the Mika family," Bran continued. He gestured us toward the fireplace, that had some sofa chairs around it. I took a seat, and he sat opposite of me. "Specifically Nin Mika. I've been instructed to keep an eye on you, but to be honest, I think that old otter is just paranoid."

Bran gave me a warm smile. I hadn't expected that and it allowed me to relax a bit as I cracked a small smile too.

"Listen Sage," Bran said, the formality dropping in his voice. "I'm glad Nin made a friend. He hasn't been able to make any, and doesn't get along with other noble cubs all that well. He has a tender heart and when other aristocrats are so competitive, it hasn't made it easy for him to make friends." Bran leaned back in his chair, and leaned on one arm as he looked over at me. "Do you know why we're concerned about him?"

"He's a noble and important," I guessed, still nervous about being grilled by the armed marten.

"Well, yes," Bran admitted. "I do not think you have any harmful intentions for Nin or the Mikas. Your family has had good relations with them for generations. You and Nin are both young however, and probably don't understand the dangers of the world." I scowled a bit. "Let me explain. You may not harbor any ill intent, but you becoming friends with Nin still poses a risk. If someone wanted to get to Nin they could use you, someone that he cares about, to do so."

Bran paused and just stared at me. Certainly trying to read my expressions.

The possibility that Bran brought up was disheartening. He seemed to be implying that I shouldn't be friends with Nin.

"So," the marten continued after several long seconds of silence. "When you leave the keep tomorrow, I expect that your friendship with Nin is knowledge that remains within these walls. Understood?"

I had just met Nin earlier today. Yes, we did get along and I enjoyed his company and he seemed to enjoy mine. It still was surprising that how serious everyone was reacting to just meeting someone.

"Yes sir," I answered.

"Good," Bran said and seemed even less formal. "I had to get that out of the way and to make it clear to you. How're you liking Lontra so far?"

"It's a fine city, sir," I answered, feeling more relaxed too. The guard wearing a sword and dagger was a lot more comforting than the old otter caretaker. "I've been here before as a pup, but never been inside the keep. I'm not quite used to it."

Bran laughed. "I understand that all too well! I'm not in the garrison or the military, so it took some getting used to when Lord Mika hired me. The family has been pretty good to me though."

"They've been very nice," I agreed with a smile. "Not quite what I expected."

"Fortunately you got in on their good side," Bran stated. "Even Lord Mika took a liking to you. He mentioned something along the lines of 'a nice and respectful young pup with good manners'."

I bashfully lowered my ears. To receive praise from someone so renowned... it caused my heart to flutter a bit.

"The Mika's seem to have a great sense of a person's nature," Bran continued. "Lalit said something similar about me, but I think he was trying to keep me modest. I know he hired me for my skills with the blade." Bran gave a cocky smile to me and chuckled. The way he used Lord Mika's first name so casually also supported his bravado. "Why else would he hire a guard outside of his garrison? Sava is pretty good too though... Anyway, I heard you're not too bad with a blade yourself."

"Not really," I admitted. "I mostly practiced against a dummy, just to learn how to handle a sword. In a fight I'd be useless."

Bran stared at me for a moment seriously. He seemed a bit surprised. "I'll have to test you before you leave. I train with Nin all the time so maybe I can help you out as well."

"Really?" I asked excitedly. To be trained by a castle swordsman was a rare honor.

"Yes, Sage," Bran said with a chuckle. "Afterall, if a friend of Nin is capable of fighting then he's capable of helping protect Nin. Not to mention you travel the roads, and while rare, muggings and attacks still do happen."

"My father says that bandits are usually pretty bad at fighting," I responded.

The marten laughed and fell back in his chair before he recomposed himself. "I cannot say I've fought any bandits so I'm not sure. The reports I do hear is that they target unarmed travelers so your father is probably right."

"Have you been in a fight before?"

I enjoyed talking with the pine marten but he never seemed in any hurry to leave. I got the impression that he was there to keep an eye on me.

I had come to the city to sell a blade to the youngest son of the Mika family. I had never expected that I'd befriend that otter and be so welcomed by his family. It was just the first day meeting them and their kindness would always stick with me. I felt nothing but acceptance in my heart.

I felt my consciousness stir from slumber and I resisted it. I did not want to wake, even in the nothingness of deep sleep, I did not want it to end.

My heart felt heavy, a hollow darkness filled my chest causing me to feel a never-ending pain. Nothingness was nowhere near how to describe this void. This was a darkness with a will to spread agony and pain. The more pain this void caused, the more the nothingness that I coveted left. I had awakened.

Opening my eyes, I saw the room of my hut. My consciousness became more aware and I knew that the love of my life was gone. The only thing that masked my despair was my rage - it felt no better but it gave me an achievable goal. Nothing could satisfy my despair, but my rage can be satisfied by slaughtering every Talon that dared come across me until I drove this sword I'm forging through the heart of their leader, Vaikos.

My lips curled in a silent growl as I pushed myself up from my bed. I headed straight for the forge, passing my father who was again awake already without a word.

I needed to finish this sword.