The Forge Master

As we approach the fort in front of us, I wonder how that story ended. Donae didn't say how it all ended. "Donae, how did the legend of Viccatia end?"

"I don't know, Nilicas has yet to find someone whom equals his power," Donae says looking back at me.

"You mean the legend is still in the makings?"

"Yes, and you might be the one whom let's it end," he says motioning to the guard at the gate to let them in.

I look at little Navi lightly shaking his shoulder because he started to fall asleep, "Here we are."

He wakes up and looks at the fort with excitement, "I wonder if all the people here are as nice as you!"

I pat his head and we enter the fort on Shadow. All of a sudden I'm hit in the side and thrown off Shadow. Holding Navi so he doesn't get hurt I land on my back. Shadow rears and snaps in the direction the hit came from.

A loud yelp comes from the attacker and Shadow let's out a loud growl. I say, "Calm, Shadow." He looks at me then at our attacker unsure. Finally he walks over to me and Navi to see if we're okay.

"Who is this girl?" A loud booming voice echoes through the entire fort.

"This is the source of light that was sensed in the castle, sire," Donae says standing at attention as a man walks over to us.

"Nilicas?" I ask looking at the man.

"How do you know me?" He says putting his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"You're part of a legend in the makings," I look at Donae as I rise with Navi at my side. "My name is Tallia Burnham, and I look forward to the downfall of Dracome and his mother."

~~~♢~~~

"Here is where you two will be staying," Donae says leading us into a small room inside the main building of the fort. "I'll make sure to bring in extra furs for Navi to sleep with."

All of a sudden I feel weary, I shake my head and it's gone. I look back and see Nilicas focusing hard on me. I think of pushing him and a sudden wind blows through and knocks him down. He looks at me with disbelief and smiles, "You're the one." He then walks off and leaves me and Donae looking confused in his wake.

"Let's go see the forge," Donae says setting my bags down next to my pile of furs.

~~~♢~~~

The forge. It's a giant building with heat radiating off of it. I could start feeling the heat the moment I seen it. "It's huge," I say staring up at the building.

"Wait until you see the inside," Donae says opening the door. A wave of fresh heat blows past as it escapes into the chilly night air.

The inside is covered in weapons and weapons that are still being made. The forge master is pounding away as two younger versions of him go back and forth from the flames to the racks of unfinished weapons. I stand in awe as I watch the forge master manipulate the metal in front of him.

"Close your trap, the flies don't come in here," Donae says laughing at me.

"I've never seen anything like this," I say walking up to a rack of weapons, which are still red from the fires.

"Come with me," Donae says walking towards the forge master.

"Is this the girl?" The forge master asks, "or is this just a girl looking for a dagger against these men?"

"This is the girl whom is going to help us take down the tyrants in the castle,"Donae answers.

"Ah, my name is Eldrige, " he says looking up at me," and it is a pleasure to meet you."

"My name is Tallia, and it is an honor to meet you," I say looking him in the eye.

"I like her," Eldrige says. "She's not afraid to look me in the eye, and from what I've seen that's a hard thing to do." He walks over to a rack of weapons that look to have been there awhile, because they do not have the glow of the others. "Here," he tosses a staff at me and my reflexes make my arm go out and catch it. "Good reflexes," he nods in approval and grabs two spiral shaped daggers. "These are more deadly. No doctor can close the wound these create and the victim bleeds out almost instantly."

I walk up and look at them, "Why are you showing me these?"

"These are yours. I made them myself, nearly died too. But it's worth it to see them used to take down what took my home," Eldrige says putting them in a case that seemed to have been made for them and handing it to me. "That staff will serve as a good shield too and it twists open to become a long sword."

"Thank you, sir," I say looking at the case and staff in my hands.

"No need to thank me, just take down the bastard that calls himself Dracome."