Since his horse was tired (wouldn’t you be after carrying all that?), we walked him over to the makeshift stables and I helped him clean and groom the massive beast. It wasn’t a chore for me as I loved horses almost as much as people. While we combed him down I had a thought, “Take your armor off too, if you’re going to help there are some things I can do to improve your chances.”
“I’m afraid to ask,” he replied, but he started shucking the armor. Once it was off he handed me a very heavy pile of mail. Luckily I was still in good shape from helping Dad now and then at the smithy. As big a man as Dorian Thornbear was the armor probably weighed around eighty pounds or more.
“Bring your sword and spear too,” I added.
“I wasn’t planning on leaving them behind.” He gave me a look that indicated I was crazy to think he would walk about unarmed. “What are you planning to do to my armor? It’s very expensive you know.” He eyed me suspiciously. I never understood why he didn’t trust me.
“I won’t hurt your precious mail, never fear. I’m just going to improve it.” I tried to give him my best ‘wise and mysterious wizard’ look, but he merely shook his head.
We had reached my house at this point, although according to Penny it barely deserves the name. I took him around to the back where a small shed served as my workshop. It didn’t have all the neat toys Dad kept around his smithy, but I didn’t need most of them for my work. My skill with magic allowed me to do a lot of things without recourse to tools. I stretched his hauberk out flat on the table.
“Just be careful, Dad gave me that,” Dorian said. His father had died the year before, a fact neither of us liked to remember. I had loved Gram Thornbear too.
“When I’m done I doubt you’ll ever have to worry about anyone damaging it again,” I assured him. “Would you mind fetching some water? This will take a while and I’m thirsty already.” He set off to find a pitcher and I got to work. My request was half to get him out of the way so I could get started. I wasn’t sure how he would react.
I took down the papers I had my notes written on, though I had done a lot of enchanting lately the designs were complicated and I didn’t want to make a mistake. This one I had tested once before so I was fairly confident that it would perform as intended. Leaning over the mail I extended a finger and began tracing it along the metal rings; as it went the metal changed color, from dull grey to gold.
Dorian returned with the water, but he didn’t interrupt me since he knew I was concentrating. A long while later I looked up from my work, “Still got that water?”
“Sure. For a thirsty man you took long enough to stop for a drink,” he handed me a cup.
“How long has it been?” I asked.
“You’ve been talking to yourself and stroking my armor for about three hours now. It’ll be getting dark soon,” he replied.
“Damn! I didn’t even realize. I’m sorry Dorian I’ve been poor company.”
“Don’t worry about it, whatever you’re doing must be important. I just hope my mail still works properly.” He was looking at it over my shoulder.
“Well I’m done with the hauberk now, take a look,” I gestured to the table. The mail coat was gleaming. I had removed the gold coloring, which had been a temporary measure to keep from losing track of where I was in the process. The entire coat glimmered now, as though each ring had just been polished while to my eyes patterns of symbols and words still covered it. Dorian wouldn’t be able to see those.
“Well it’s really pretty, but battle isn’t about beauty. Will it still stop a sword?”
“My friend, it will stop everything short of a ballista. It won’t rust and you’ll never need to oil it again,” mentally I hoped that it would improve the smell as well. If you’ve ever been around men wearing chain armor you know what I mean, rust and sweat are not a good combination. “More importantly, it should also prevent the thing I ran into last night from sucking the life out of you.”
A voice came from the doorway, “Aren’t you boys getting hungry?” Penny had returned and she carried a basket. I was pretty sure it held food of some sort.
“In a little while, I still have to finish here.” I motioned toward Dorian’s weapons, his steel cap, and the chain leggings.
“I’m certainly hungry… I haven’t eaten since lunch,” Dorian answered. It was rare for him to miss a meal.
“At least one of you has some sense then. How much longer are you going to be Mort?” She looked at me questioningly. Lately she had been a bit overbearing when it came to making sure I took breaks and ate food.
“Not long, an hour or two.”
“Alright... Dorian if you would be so kind?” She held her arm out and he took it, escorting her into the house like some noble lady. I supposed she soon would be.
I went back to work, starting on the steel cap first. I didn’t think it would take too long and soon I was wrapped up in my task as I lost track of time. I finished the cap and leggings and began working on the sword before Penny returned.
“Mort?”
“Huh?” I looked up; Penny was a bit fuzzy around the edges.
“You need to eat, you can finish this later,” she said this gently but I had a hunch she was just warming up.
“I can’t stop in the middle or I’ll have to start all over. Actually while I’m at it go get your chain shirt. I can do it next.”
