Chapter 28: Armor Up
Riley peered around nervously from her perch on top of the table, centered upon what appeared to be a piece of butcher paper.
There was nothing to see but four grey stone walls and a simple wooden door that she had seen hundreds of times by now within Castle Cinder.
“You’re ok,” Tobias was standing on a large stool beside her, set center in the room, stripped down to his shorts.
“I’ve had nightmares about the vet’s office that start like this. Glass tubes inserted into uncomfortable places. No, thank you,” she shuddered involuntarily as Humbert stood, with his back turned to both of them, staring at a corner like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
“You were never a hare in that life, and in this one, no vets. I doubt they’ll need to get that personal to measure you for armor,” Tobias mused. The room was warm, owing to the forge works burning in the sub-basement bellows below, and even on the third floor, the distant sound of banging vibrated through the stone like distant thunder.
“Tell that to my subconscious. Everything is muddled about those times. Though tonight, I’m certain there will be new and shiny nightmares,” she sighed, stretching out, careful to keep her claws off the pristine white sheet.
“Page Westphalia?” Tobias asked as Humbert continued to rock and amuse himself, gazing at the solid stone.
“I’m angry and sad. Why was I able to bring him back if he was just going to die hours later? It seems cruel. He lived long enough to know that he failed, and that’s what killed him, just as surely as the spines did the first time,” Riley’s ears drooped involuntarily as her soul felt like it was being ground into broken glass.
Anger percolated up through the pain. The injustices of Calaria and the Kingdom of Ashes loomed as large in her mind as Venosicipher.
“He made a choice like we made a choice. You remember what Mavora said about currents. He decided he wanted to be done with the river, and the Weavers, or the Gods, or whatever makes that call, decided to oblige him. I wish his spirit well. He was braver than he realized,” Tobias’ words echoed over, tinged with sadness like music in a minor key.
“How does that even work? We met the Abottess of Linnan Ealdre, so you have a God of Death, but does he forward on some souls and recycle others? What does your faith teach about the souls that die?” Riley asked.
There had been no tunnel of light for her or visions of lost loved ones. There was only waking up with a vague memory of having had thumbs and a large black wolf telling her to ‘be not afraid.’
Any landing you can walk away from is a good one... she mused as Tobias’ mouth ticked up into a grin they could both feel.
“What is taking so long?” Tobias looked towards the door, his eyes narrowing with suspicion, before looking back towards Riley. “I don’t really know if what I was taught even matters anymore after Utred and Mavora, not to mention you.” As Tobias spoke, a massive wave of confusion and worry slammed into her from his side of their bond.
“Questioning the Gods again? Are you ok?” Riley asked, forgetting her own troubles for the moment.
As the wave crashed, a deeper peace was left behind. “Strangely, yes, I know the Gods are real, Riley, but it’s bigger. It’s like magic is now. There was more than I could have imagined, more than I was taught there ever could be which makes me feel better about Westphalia,” Tobias reached out his hand and set them behind her ears.
"That helps. I hadn’t thought about it that way. It’s like, it’s big enough now that there’s hope for everyone. I hope he’ll be happier wherever he’s gone,” Riley breathed a little easier while she still felt the wound.
“Humbert,” Tobias prompted, speaking aloud for the first time in minutes.
The old man spun around on his heels, tilting his head down and gazing at the floor.
“Yes, M’lord, how may I serve?” He said, with practiced, almost robotic obedience.
"Relax. Since I’m in my underclothes, I was wondering if you’d be willing to check what’s taking so long. They’ve had us standing here for almost an hour,” Tobias asked.
“Of course, could I fetch you a blanket, sir?” Humbert never looked up but seemed to be trying to make himself appear even smaller.
"It’s plenty warm in here. I’m fine, just wondering at the delay,” he smiled as Humbert began nodding and bowing.
“I'll be just a moment, sir,” the old man dashed out of the room, turning down the hall the way they had come.
“I wish we could get it through his head that he can chill the hell out,” Riley glowered.
There it was, the multiplying injustices of Calaria, ever on the attack. Humbert was a nice old man who acted like a beaten dog.
“That's probably because he has been beaten like a kraus,” Tobias observed.
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Riley’s back left hindpaw began to thump with her building rage. "Not helping."
Tobias held up his hands, “I'm just saying he learned to be that way around rangers for a reason. One exception does not make up for a lifetime of lived experience.”
“I hate it when you get that cool logical tone, and it’s even worse when I know you’re right,” Riley flopped down on the sheet and huffed, “this suuuucccks...”
Tobias finally sat down on the stool. "I admit, I miss Calaria. I miss something other than sterile rooms. There are no windows, one door, nothing on the walls. Everything in this place feels like some kind of cell. Avalon feels like some kind of strange cell.”
“There's no humanity to the place at all, no consideration for anything but function. You’d think that’d mean efficiency, but apparently not,” Riley grumbled as the lousy mood traveled like a viral infection between them.
“No humanity...The does kind of say it all; it balances the books, doesn’t it?” Tobias grew thoughtful, gazing off towards the middle distance.
“I suppose it does, huh...” Riley echoed as the distant sounds of the forge filled the lingering silence in the room.
A gentle knock echoed in strange syncope to the distant thundering as Humbert re-entered with two others behind him. One was a ranger who was built like she was carved out of steel, standing six foot three inches in height.
Close-cropped black hair clung to her head like a helmet; broad shoulders held up bulky but perfectly defined muscles and legs. A grey crystal torc was around her neck, but she wore no cloak and carried no sword. Instead, a hammer hung from a broad leather belt that braced her back and acted like a border between a short skirt that billowed down to her knees.
Thick black boots covered her calves with heavy steel clasps instead of laces.
“I am Ranger Edith. Apologies for keeping you waiting. Aesc, take his measurements while I see to Lady Riley,” she ordered, coming straight to business.
“Please, sir, hold out your arms parallel to your shoulders,” Aesc asked deferentially.
"I've already gotten my chest piece," Tobias mentioned.
"Does it fit well?" Edith's tone was crisp and efficient, as if they had no room for anything but their task.
"I've no complaints," Tobias replied.
“Then that will make this process quicker. Still, I should fit you for the rest of it,” he was small, at five foot five inches, and his head was shaved bald. Brown robes identical to Humbert’s hung loosely from his almost skeletal frame. Beady black eyes peered out with a lurking intelligence hiding behind the bushes of pure terror.
Riley pulled herself up on all fours, “Busy day at the forge?”
“It always is for me. I am one of the few artisans that specializes in companion armor. You are of a rare number within our ranks. Now, starting with your left front leg, set down your paw and splay your toes,” Edith said. She drew out some charcoal whittled and shaped to that of a small spear, then a caliper and measuring tape from a pocket on her skirt.
“I can try; they aren’t as flexible as your fingers,” Riley replied, doing her best.
“No thumb or grasping digit,” Edith remarked, making a careful trace, then raising her paw to take measurements, writing the numbers beside her on the sheet.
“Yep, no thumbs,” she sighed, watching Edith work, " So you say we’re rare? Why’s that?” Riley wondered as the artificer repeated the process with her right front paw before moving to the back.
“Opportunity and necessity mainly, I’d say. We all grew up here at Castle Cinder. There isn’t much chance to meet magical creatures like yourself. Only humans are actively recruited, so the first-tier animals that join our ranks are rare. The ones that do, normally are assigned to support casters, like healers,” Edith continued her work, moving around Riley before stepping back, eyeing her with one hand tucked under her chin, before measuring around her neck and across her muzzle.
“She thinks I’m magical,” she whispered to Tobias with a giggle as her nose twitched, filling with the smells of oil and smoke from the forge.
Edith and Aesc were soaked in it, hiding almost all traces of scent.
“Riley, you are magical. You always have been,” he replied.
Her ears went up in surprise, causing Edith to cock an eyebrow, “I've got some ideas, though it will take me a few days.”
“M'Lady Edith?" Humbert stammered.
"Yes?" She replied in a brusque, efficient manner.
“They've just cleared their trials,” Humbert reported with a bow.
No humanity... Riley thought, watching the exchange.
“There should be time then. Aesc, do you have his measurements?" She asked.
"I do. His are pretty standard, Ma’am. I’ll be able to pull from stock,” Aesc replied, never looking up from the floor.
"Very well. Aesc, see to your duties. I’ll leave you two to get dressed. I’ll send a runner when all is complete,” Not waiting for a reply, Lady Edith turned and left, with Aesc moving after her.
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