“Enid can take you to the blacksmith to have the nicks forged out and then you can sharpen the blade to your liking.” He paused as though to consider his next words. “You are a wonderful fighter. I’m surprisingly impressed.”
He smiled again, more to himself. As he walked away from me, a flood of heat rushed my cheeks.
“I will take you to the blacksmith now,” Enid said, walking toward the door.
“Okay,” I replied as I slowly stepped behind him.
***
The weather had turned pleasant. The cold was only noticed in the slight, lazy breezes blowing by. We stepped along the road in front of the marble palace. The front seemed like a normal mansion made of marble with pillars holding up the roof to the half circle porch. The trees were as thick in the front as they were in the back, but the land remained even in the front whereas large hills rose and fell toward the mountains in the back.
It would be impossible to know the place stood in that spot, but also incredibly easy to forge a strike against it. The trees provided the perfect cover for anyone seeking to start trouble, despite the place being secluded and peaceful. Although, an attack seemed unlikely.
Enid walked silently next to me. His sword swayed in rhythm to his steps. The metal cap on the handle glinted in the sunlight. There was more to him than met the eye, and I wanted to learn about my new found friend.
“What does A’lainn mean?”
“It means a thing of beauty in my native language. A compliment.” He twisted at his waist toward me with a grin pulling at his lips.
“There’s nothing beautiful about me,” I muttered, flattered and embarrassed at the same time. If he only knew what happened, perhaps he wouldn’t feel so willing to dote compliments on me.
“No? You have the most wonderful shade of brown hair, the color of cinnamon, and when the sun shines on you, you glow. I think that is quite beautiful. Your fair skin and brown eyes are also very beautiful. A rare combination nowadays and said to be a symbol of beauty. So, tell me, what makes you think you are otherwise?”
I had to answer his question. It seemed only fair, but I didn’t want to share my nightmare, the thing that scarred me. However, I could give him a little of what he may already be aware of. “I guess because of the way people treat me. The names they call me. I’ve never had a reason to see the beauty in myself.”
He said, “It’s also what I used to call my daughter. You both look alike.”
“What happened to her?”
“She and my wife were killed, a long time ago.” Though the pain in his voice seemed as though they were killed just yesterday. Guilt forced a lump into my throat.
“Enid…I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” His words were free from pain. “It was a long time ago. Shortly after their deaths, Marren found me and gave me a new purpose in life. It’s an honor defending him.”
I became incredibly curious about that bit of information and quite interested as to what I had been brought into the middle of. “Defending him? From what?”
He glanced at me, then back to the road. “I’m sure you already understand a certain reputation follows Marren which tends to bring him more trouble than he cares to deal with. You should realize he’s quite the opposite.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Uh huh. Was that the point of the duels?”
“That was to gauge your ability to wield a sword.”
“Why is that important?”
He ignored me.
“If you’re impressed with my ability to wield a sword, just wait till you see what I can do with a bow.” It was meant to be bitter and sarcastic.
“Marren will be pleased to learn of more abilities.”
I had enough of the coy banter and needed some real information. I stopped in the middle of the road. “Okay, that’s enough.”
Enid paused in his walking to turn and face me. “Is there a problem?”
“Yes. I’m spinning my mind trying to figure out what is going on here, and for the life of me, I can’t! As soon as I get one theory down, another one completely replaces it. Why is my ability to fight such an important need?”
“Your questions are best kept for Marren.”
“Wonderful!” I threw my hands up into the air and stompped forward.
The top of a small stone house came into view just as we climbed the crest of a hill. Straw and twigs made up the roof. Behind it, just a short jaunt away, another small hut stood with black smoke billowing from the chimney. The sound of a rhythmic clank-tink floated on the air.
“Raden,” Enid called out, “we have need of your service.”
In response, a short man with a long beard and hair pulled back, strutted out from the smoking building. His skin and clothing were covered in a fine black dust. I nearly gasped when I realized he appeared exactly like the dwarf statue in the ballroom—only not made of stone, wearing armor, or wielding an axe.
“Ne’er seen a dwarf before, have ye?” His bright green eyes twinkled under the layers of soot covering his face.