< Skyla Prelude 3 | Campaign Logs | Skyla Prelude 5 >
SKYLA & BALTHASAR PRELUDE 4
ST ::Skyla had seen the ship's banner flapping lightly in the wind as she'd walked down the main road of Nulam (indeed; the /only/ road of Nulam). Nulam seldom got much traffic, and rarely were there more than two ships in the dock, so any sign of masts and sails and merchants-sigils was unusual -- but THOSE sigils indicated something even more unusual to Skyla's eyes...::
ST ::...the Evening Crest had come to port! It had been quite some time since Balthasar and his Wife had last made the trip up the Sarine, but they did come quite often, for Almetheia desired to spend time among her relations -- and in truth, so did Balthasar.::
ST ::Thus, his crew unloading a bit of light cargo, Balthasar was not surprised to see the young woman whom he'd saved all those years ago running up toward the ship.::
Balthasar strolls off, side by side with Almetheia. In fact, he can be percieved as bearing somewhat in her path, as if he were an aegis for her to use against anything which might ofend her.
Balthasar engages in a few conversations with his crewmen as they bustle about, but largely does not get involved. There is very little work to do this day.
Skyla looks up at the mast, and her pace quickens, until she breaks into a run. Her teal hair is tied back and braided tightly to keep it away from the flames she so often works with. It trails all the way down her back, to her knees. She is dressed in a thick leather apron, sweat sheening her skin, a touch of soot on one of her cheeks. "Is it you? Is it really you?"
Balthasar tilts his head, his dark brown eyes immediately linking the face to memory. His alquiline face splits in a grin, "Almetheia, this is the girl who I travelled with, the trip that brought me to you."
Balthasar ::Almetheia smiles, also recalling, "Oh really? Well, hello, Skyla." She gives her hellos, and then makes her way off-camera, where Joel doesn't have to play her anymore::
Skyla looks to the woman standing near him and smiles, "Hello.. um.. I hope you don't mind, but.." she throws herself at Balthasar, wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you... I've been needing to thank you for so long."
Balthasar watches Almetheia depart, and turns back to Skyla, just in time to get ambushed.
Balthasar smiles and returns the hug. "I did what I could. I even called in the last of my favors with the old tradesman. You don't want to know how long it took to buy him out of the slums."
Balthasar considers.
Balthasar Really, it's him you should be thanking.
Balthasar steps back, and looks her over. Casually, he brushes the ash from her cheek, then nods to himself.
Skyla steps back and regards him, with an almost worshipful gaze, "He was the second step on my new path, and I have gotten to thank him many times... he still passes through Nulam."
Balthasar nods and smiles.
Balthasar Actually, he has told me much of you. We meet on the roads still.
Balthasar Where is your father at? I'd like to shake the man's hand, finally.
Balthasar refers to your former master as your father, just as if he'd been watching you this entire time.
Balthasar 's smile vanishes, and he sobers up some.
Skyla "Dad's back at the forge...probably waiting for me to come back." she smiles and takes his hand, pulling him towards her new home.
Balthasar To be honest, I could have visited you before this, but I lead a very busy life sometimes, and sometimes even things I'm very interested in slip away like water through a sieve.
Balthasar is, then, dragged along.
Skyla "Nulam is nice. It's not anything like home, though. This is a big city! I guess people say it's not, but it looks big to me!"
Balthasar Oh, it's all just buildings, in any event.
Balthasar continues to be dragged along, not entirely unamused.
Skyla points out the various sights that she finds interesting along the way. These include the bakery, where the matron has been known to give her the older sweets, the fishermen's nets drying and being repaired, the granary, the doctorveterinarianmedicine man, keeping up a steady patter of talk
Balthasar mostly goes mute and lets the girl drag him around. He knows better than to try renegotiating with a young lady in full drive forward.
Skyla screeches to a halt at the forge, where she shouts excitedly, "Dad! Dad, look who's here!"
Balthasar smiles blankly, wondering if he'll even be recognized. Probably not.
Jhord does, indeed, look at Balthasar like he should remember the fellow -- he certainly knows the trader-friend that Balthasar used to ferry Skyla, but it's been a fair time since ole' Jhord last saw Balthasar... He'd probably recognize Almetheia, though, since they're very distant cousins.
Jhord "Hmmmmm; my memory hasn't been as good as it used to be, I will admit..."
Jhord "It's back there somewhere, though..."
Jhord smiles, none the less, and offers the fellow a strong hand to shake.
Skyla "It's the man who saved me. He was the one who found me... on the boat... he got Trader to b.. to take me here."
Jhord just nods; "Then I definately owe ye a debt," he notes. "She's been a fine apprentice; she'll be a better smith than I could ever be, mark my words," he notes, softly...
Balthasar I'm Balthasar tal Valt, sir, and I did all I could to help our young friend here. But really, it was the tradesman who did the bulk of the helping.
Balthasar raises a brow.
Jhord is still trying to pierce together who you are when you tell me... then nods!
Balthasar Oh really?
Jhord "Aaah; yes. Alme's husband. I recall now. A beautiful wedding,"
Jhord nods softly; he'd been there, of course.
Skyla "Oh, you're too nice...." she beams. "You're the best smith I've ever seen!"
Jhord "Oh yes-- she's got a natural talent for the craft!"
Balthasar 's face splits in a gloriously overjoyed grin.
Balthasar Yes! I remember seeing you there, now.
Jhord just smiles.
Balthasar extends his hand and greets Jhord much more warmly, now, with a coarse handshake.
Jhord shakes the hand a lot; his grip isn't as strong as it was once upon a time, but he's still quite strong.
Jhord "But, aye...
Jhord wanders over, taking a Machete off the wall.
Skyla takes this moment while the two are talking to dash off, into her little room.
Jhord "Isn't this the finest blade ye ever beheld?"
Jhord shows it to him.
Balthasar Well, I've heard good things about Jhord, Skyla. If you're getting such praise from him, rest assured, it is a keen eye that thinks such.
Balthasar looks, and finds her gone.
Balthasar shrugs.
Skyla reappears after a bit of scuffling and digging and tossing noises float out of her door, and she returns, shyly, holding something behind her back.
Balthasar takes the blade, cradling it in his hands, holding it more like a noble's sword than a machete.
Skyla "I made that!" she announces, seeing what he's holding.
Jhord ::It is a very very good blade... For a 10 year olds craft, especially.::
Balthasar This is ... very well balanced.
Skyla "Thanks! I'm going to make a better one next time."
Jhord just nods; quite proud.
Balthasar hands the machete back to Jhord, again, perhaps with a bit too much poise. Then he turns to Skyla, one hand scrubbing the riverman's stubble on his chin.
Skyla "Uhmm.." she scuffs her toe on the ground. "Here. I made this too." She thrusts a small wooden box at him. A pretty pattern has been burned into the smoothly-sanded wood.
Balthasar accepts the box, and lifts it up to about chest-height. He appreciates the details in the brand-marks, before lifting the lid and peering inside.
Jhord places the Machete back where he had it, carefully on the wall, and glances back at Skyla with a proud smile -- he's come to care for the girl a lot, you can tell. Ever since his Wife was taken by one of the Fae, in the tales of your wife, he's been something of a recluse -- that's one reason you thought of him, as a potential "buyer".
Balthasar Quite lovely, Skyla. What is it for?
Skyla stands on her toes to peer in the box, to make sure the object is still inside: It is. A little cast-iron statue of a girl standing at a fork in a road, one covered with jagged rocks (sharp little slate pebbles, you think), and the other smooth and gently curving.
Skyla "It's so you remember me."
Balthasar raises his brows.
Balthasar I don't think there's any risk of my forgetting you.
Balthasar crouches next to her, and looks her in the eye. "Yes, I'll be around quite often. Just look for the sails of the Crest."
Balthasar ruffles her hair, and rises again.
Skyla smiles, and hugs him again, before he rises
Skyla "I'm glad."
Skyla "I mean... you must meet SO many people! It must be exciting to be a trader."
Balthasar Dangerous, too. Odds are, one day, you'll be making a blade for me. Mine tend to find wear... somewhat hastily.
Jhord stands back, letting the two have their moment...
Skyla "I'll make a really good one for you, I promise!"
Balthasar laughs.
Skyla "I'm gonna learn how to fight, too, so I can help protect Nulam."
Balthasar We all have our day. If Master Jhord and I are right, yours will be worth remembering.
Balthasar raises the box in gesture.
Skyla blushes
Balthasar This, I will keep aboard the Crest. The gifts of a pretty lady are good luck on the waters.
Balthasar nods to Jhord, "Good afternoon, Master Jhord."
Balthasar turns to Skyla, "And it was great to see you again. Until next time."
Jhord nods back.
Jhord "Stop by any time,"
Skyla beams, "I'm glad you came." she says simply.
Balthasar I'll be by often enough, when my sails meet these docks.
Balthasar waves, and strides out, gingerly holding the box.
< Skyla Prelude 3 | Campaign Logs | Skyla Prelude 5 >
Stryck Wiki