Chapter 44: Vashtar Blank
-Go back and read the last chapter-if you didn't read about crow yet.-
Crow worked for a noble for 4 years. He hid his talent for smithing very well, stating that he had only been given the knowledge to make nails and horseshoes.
He was 12 now twelve years old, He pretended that he was still only capable of making nails. He messed up everything else. He knew the truth of what Jameson had taught him. It was better to hide his talents until he was old enough to use them for himself.
One day his owner decided to take crow with him to his manor in the countryside a little bit north of where they were currently staying. The mansion was under renovations, and they needed nails. Why buy them from somewhere else when they had the perfect little nail maker. Crow also knew the second reason he was being sent to the manor in the countryside. He was now old enough for the master of the house to indulge in. Once the master had indulged in him, crow would then be handed over to the master's daughter. She was a sadistic little girl who loved to do painful things to the slaves under her command.
He had to use this chance to escape. There was no way he was going to be a plaything for some pig and his daughter.
Crow had gotten to the new manor and saw its state. He did not know how or when. But it looked like the mansion had caught fire and was now being fixed. They did not allow crow to settle in or rest for a moment before they made him get to work right away. He created nails the rest of the day. And missed dinner because he hadn't filled his quota for the day.
Hungry and desperate crow decided to test the boundaries of his contract. He set off to the forest nearby. It was the border forest between the southern country of Szigoru and the country of Cernealia. How far could he get before the contract made him writhe in pain?
He had seen it once before when he was still living in the slums. It had made a lasting impression on him back then. It wasn't long before the man was found on the streets by the church and brought back to his owners.
Crow was nervous as he took each step, waiting for the pain to start. But this was a test that had to be carried out. As soon as crow was in the forest he could smell meat cooking. He followed his nose to the scent.
A sword suddenly pointed at his throat.
"!!" Crow didn't even see where this man was standing before he walked almost into the man's blade.
"... " The man looked at crow sceptically. He could see the boy's clothing was likely the same clothing he had for a few years. It was all way too small on him, lifting up just enough to see the bottom of the brand mark. Having such small clothing in the middle of the night, the boy must be cold. Then the man lowered his sword and gestured for crow to sit by the fire. Crow saw the meat that was once a bird of some sort, cooking on the fire. His stomach complained immediately. He hadn't eaten since the early morning and had worked hard all day.
The silent man grabbed some of the meat off the bird and handed it to crow.
Crow ate, not caring anymore if it was drugged or poisoned. He was already in this precarious position. Though it could be worse, he knew death was not far from him. He would either escape, or die trying. He just needed to know the boundaries.
Crow fell asleep right after eating. Something made him trust the silent man. Though he didn't even realize it himself. If he had time to think about it, he would have thought that it was finally having a full belly after traveling and then working hard all day.
The silent man snuck into the manor. He quickly found the contract belonging to crow and took it to the forest with him
The man waited for crow to wake up in the morning. Once crow was awake, he started the campfire. Crow could have swore he saw the man breath fire to make the campfire start. But he knew this was impossible. Then the man did something completely unexpected. He took out the contract that belonged to Crow.
Crows eyes grew wide. He didn't know where this man had gotten his contract from, but now he was scared. The man held the contract above the fire. If the contract was destroyed by any means other than the forging fire of Davier, the slave would die. Crow knew this truth. All slaves knew this truth.
The silent man suddenly thrust crows contract into the flames.
"No!" Crow cried out. He wasn't ready to die yet.
He felt a burning sensation on his brand. A pain so white hot burned through his very being. He collapsed in pain gasping and crying. Suddenly the pain stopped. It was like the pain had never existed. Crow lay on the dirt and grass exhausted. Still panting he felt for the brand on his side, but all he felt was his smooth skin.
It was like the brand had never been there. Crow looked at the silent man in shock. What had just happened?
The silent man held out his hand to crow introducing himself in one word, "Davier."
…
…
Crow was still in shock when Davier the god of truth took him across the border into Cernealia. Wasn't this a violation of his contract? Wasn't Davier the one responsible for creating slavery to begin with? If Davier was the reason he was being enslaved, then why was he the one who freed him?
He had so many questions to ask, and he also wanted to blame Davier just as much as he wanted to thank him. How could he have all these opposing feelings for one person?
Crow took care of crow for a few days while they were on the road. Finally a town was in sight. Crow held Davier back. He needed to get these questions out. Why him? Why had Davier saved only him? There were so many more slaves that could have been rescued. But also why him? Why had he been made a slave to begin with? Why had Davier mad slaver possible in the first place?
Davier sensed all of crows questions. He finally opened his mouth to speak. Davier spoke very rarely and when he did, he only spoke the truth.
"A long time ago there was a problem with livestock being stolen. I created seven brands to use for the cattle. The brands were never meant for people. I destroyed five of them since their creation. The last two brands belong to the Southern Church of Ultor. I am unable to steal them. Slavery was never supposed to happen. You were never meant to be a slave. During our first meal together I saw your truth. You are tired of lies. I will give you a new life. You must choose a new name to go by. We will get you a new identity for your new life. You are skilled. This country is my country. If I had truely created slavery, don't you think slavery would not be outlawed here in my country?"
Crow filled out the papers for his new name. He didn't know if the foreigner so long ago was the one responsible for getting Jameson in trouble with the church or not. But he remembered the longing in the man's voice when he spoke about the God of smithing from his country. He never forgot that god's name. He placed the name on the paper, grateful that Jameson made him learn to read and write.
The Officiator who was creating the new identity for this mysterious boy that their god had brought in looked at the paper questioningly. The boy had not put down a surname. He had never been very good at picking names. So he decided it would be best to use the name the child had inadvertently used.
[Vashtar Blank ]
Vashtar Blank was soon able to apprentice under a smith in his new country. His name soon became known, and now that he was 36 his name was famous. He was the blacksmith that all the nobles wanted swords from.
He had built a good life in this country. Had a wife and was raising his children well. He could afford not to work often making his swords and other items seem rare, and therefore more expensive. But he was getting tired of it all. He just wanted to quit soon.
Yet now… He looked at the crude drawing in front of him and was inspired. The client wanted this made out of glass?
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