Life Review Ch. 05

"Wow me, Ruth!" Cassidy encouraged the armorsmith.

Ruth removed the second veil on a slightly larger pile than the first with an equally enthusiastic flourish. On the bench was the cloak Cassidy had been looking at, folded into a neat square. On top were new polished knee-high boots dyed a cool ebony, rolls of some shimmering silvery-gray fabric, a wide belt in the same ebony with a silver buckle, and what seemed to be a bodice that buckled together at the front and had a wide band of leather that appeared to go around the neck.

"Not only stylish and absolutely devastating on the male psyche, but also sports the highest magical absorption rate of all leather armor!" Ruth held up the bodice, and a thin curtain of chainmail fell from where it was tucked inside. "The chainmail skirt is an added layer of protection for your midsection."

"Didn't we just discuss how you didn't want to wear a plate bikini?" Shawn shook his head at Cassidy who was gleefully bouncing in place.

"The only place there isn't any real armor is over my cleavage," Cassidy started gathering up her gear.

"Isn't that a vital area?" Shawn pressed, concerned Cassidy was putting form over function.

"Yes, which is why she has those sleeves you see there," Ruth pointed at the shimmering silver-gray rolls. "They have the same function for her a gambeson and chainmail skirts. The fabric is tightly woven mesh that is resistant to piercing and slashing, while also being breathable and light!"

Cassidy disappeared for a few minutes before she strutted out in her new custom made armor. The glossy ebony boots had a higher heel than normal, setting her closer to Denza's natural height, but still allowing Cassidy to run and jump without hindrance. Her legs and arms were covered with the silvery-gray mesh that disappeared under the chainmail skirt, wide polished belt, and the buckled bodice that accentuated Cassidy's curves to a sinful level. Shawn could not complain as her skin was covered by the mesh, as Ruth had promised.

The final touch was the dark oiled cloak trimmed with wolf's fur. The clasp that held the cloak together connected with a cleverly concealed hook under the top most buckle on the bodice, which provided a second layer over Cassidy's ample chest. She stuck her tongue out at Shawn.

"You worry too much!" she chided.

Shawn held his hands up defensively, "Alright, alright! I just want to make sure we aren't confusing our goals."

"To kick ass and take names?" Cassidy punched the palm of her hand, grinning wolfishly.

"And look fabulous doing so!" Ruth pipped in.

Shawn and Denza both rolled their eyes. He gestured for Ruth to continue, seeing the last pile was the largest of the three. He didn't take it as a good sign that Ruth didn't tell him the price for Cassidy's order.

"Last but not least, Shawn, I know you are going to love this!" Ruth drummed his hands on his workbench before whipping off the last sheet with extra gusto.

Under the veil was actually three piles, with the middle most pile being the largest. The central pile was folded garments of forest green and cloudy gray, and when the lantern light overhead moved across the fabric in just the right way he saw a faint glimmer that reminded him of Cassidy's mesh sleeves. On top of the folded cloth were sculpted lengths of toughened leather embedded with strips of metal.

The second largest pile on the right were a pair of boots that seemed rougher than Cassidy's or Denza's, with the material seeming muted. Next to the rough footwear were similar leather pads to Denza's style, only thicker and with the same metal strips that he noticed on the other pieces.

The last pile, if it could be called a pile, was a simple looking set of gloves that secured about halfway up the forearm. The backs of the gloves were plated in burnished metal with similar protections added to the knuckles and fingers.

Ruth looked triumphantly at the three of them after his grand reveal. Denza tilted her head and bent forward to examine the boots closely while Shawn tried to make sense of what he was looking at, seeing more loops than he knew what to do with. Cassidy was distracting herself with running her fingers through the soft fur of her new cloak.

Ruth cleared his throat, recovering from his momentary falter, "I believe that these will serve you well. I will admit that they don't look flashy like Cassidy's new gear, but I was short on time so I couldn't custom make every piece."

"No, that's fine. Flashy isn't my style. I'm just not sure what I'm looking at actually," Shawn admitted.

Ruth's expression turned serious, "Leave it to me! It's quite simple. Taking into account of your movement and combat styles, I put together a suitable set of armor that should increase your defences substantially while not sacrificing your range of motion."

"That sounds pretty good. It looks similar to Denza's armor, but I don't see any chest piece or anything major like that," Shawn pointed out.

"Because you don't need it," Ruth said simply.

"That is just asking for trouble!" Shawn protested.

"From what I've seen it would only slow you down," Ruth insisted. "Which is why I had a gambeson made from the same material I made Cassidy's from. I would never leave it up to chance that a stray arrow might kill one of my valued customers."

"He has a point, Shawn," Denza said over her shoulder. "Roark was a master ranger and his arrows didn't even come close to harming you, instead they became your weapon. It would be folly to ignore the possibility, but I feel like protecting yourself from close quarters weapons like daggers and swords is of more importance."

"Yes, Cassidy filled me in on your run in with this Roark character," Ruth's lip curled in distaste. "The mesh gambesons may be very thin, but they are very strong. I would have prefered to make something more encompassing, but I didn't have the time."

"So what about the rest?" Shawn asked, picking up the interconnected metal inlaid leather pieces.

"Since you primarily defend by avoidance, these pieces will aid you when you are forced to block a strike with your arms and legs," Ruth showed Shawn how to properly secure each piece, starting from the elbow and ending at his shoulder. Each strap tightened until it was snug and the sculpted leather was flush with his skin. "There are a series of steel plates in set intervals that will prevent blades from cutting you while the leather absorbs some of the force behind the strike."

"That is actually exceedingly useful for how I fight," Shawn ran his fingers over the armor appreciatively.

"The gloves are similar in fashion, except the studs on the knuckles will add to your striking power. The boots are a bit rough, but I think you'll find them servisable. I added a steel cap at the heel and toe, and also along the sole. The armor pads for your legs aren't special I'm afraid, but I don't think you need anything fancy considering you move around the battlefield like a dust devil," Ruth finished his presentation, but looked deeply unsatisfied with Shawn's armor.

"So what is the final bill?" Shawn braced himself for the answer.

Ruth looked up in surprise and considered the question, "With the addition of the fifty gold for the rest of Denza's set, Cassidy's ensemble will run you two hundred gold, and yours will cost only fifty."

"That sounds doable," Shawn said casually, trying to hide his shock at how low the number came out to be.

"I'll make you a deal though," Ruth's gave Shawn a steely look full of resolve. "I call it an even two fifty if you promise to let me make your next set completely custom. I know I could do better with more time and better materials."

Shawn reached out to shake Ruth's hand, "You got yourself a deal."

With their deal struck, Shawn counted out two hundred and fifty gold coins from his coin purse and they bid the armorsmith a good afternoon. The three had changed out of their armor and had each set inside their own respective boxes as they moved on to the next item on their list, weapon shopping.

After asking around they found their way to a blacksmith with an arms shop attached to the side. After Ruth's larger than life personality, the shop owner seemed lackluster. She was a portly woman who sat on a stool behind the counter idly knitting while the trio browsed the store.

Cassidy said she didn't need anything because her weapons would be sold at magical supply stores. However, Shawn insisted she have a backup weapon. Denza filled her quivers and bought two bundles for her reserve along with handful of plain looking throwing knives. Shawn's only purchase was a solid looking spear with a flame hardened shaft and a leafblade head. Together, their items cost them less than a single gold piece.

Cassidy led the way to the magical supply shop which turned out to be more of an apothecary than anything else. When Cassidy had told him about the shop, Shawn's first thoughts had gone to magical weapons and items, spell books, and potions of all kind. His mental picture was considerably more grandiose than the reality. While Cassidy bought her cheap decoy focuses so that the weapons she received from Tricha wouldn't draw attention to her, Shawn and Denza meandered around looking at various herbs and odd instruments.

"Do you have any idea what any of these things are?" Shawn asked the elf.

"Not a clue," Denza said in a bored tone. "I told you, I'll leave the magic to you and Cassidy."

"Do you think they sell potions here? We are out of the ones from Tricha's lab and I don't know if Nessa made enough of her version to be of any real help to us on our trip," Shawn wondered out loud.

"Nessa brewed a potent version of the potion. Commercial products will likely be considerably weaker," Denza shrugged.

"Are there any other kinds of potions, like specifically for healing wounds or restoring magical energy?" Shawn asked.

Denza nodded,"There are, but they are rare and exceedingly expensive. The rejuvenation potion actually wasn't designed to be used in combat, but the use caught on because it let people fight longer in a pinch,"

After Cassidy finished her shopping she was irritated. When she found her companions the irritation showed as she complained, "You won't believe how expensive even the cheapest focus was!"

"Oh jeez, how much did it cost?" Shawn dreaded the answer.

"It was fifty gold for a wand and seventy five for a staff!" Cassidy fumed.

Denza looked aghast, "That's insane! There is no way novice expeditionaries could afford that!"

"I know. It was pretty much highway robbery, so I didn't buy anything. I don't need them anyway, so I can make due without Tricha's focuses in public," Cassidy shot a nasty look behind her as she ushered them out of the shop.

The last things on their list, supplies and transportation, were literally right next to each other. The stable and the general goods store were located a stone's throw from the massive gates of the fort. Shawn had exactly zero experience with horses, so he let Denza take the overly excited Cassidy horse shopping while he ordered their provisions.

Shawn fell into a conversation with the store owner after he secured two weeks worth of travel rations which was amounted to: dried meats, lasting bread, parcelled nuts and dried fruits as well as, spare waterskins. During their chat Shawn explained that he and the girls were heading out on their first real expedition after joining the guild. The owner offered him a deal, explaining that his son was part of the guild, so he knew first hand that the job could have unforeseen snags.

By the time Cassidy and Denza picked out their steeds and tack, Shawn had procured three expertly organized packs that could be easily carried by man or horse. Each pack was what Shawn equated to a survival kit sold in hobby shops that carried essential tools like flint and steel, compass, and spyglass while also adding items his son and other expeditionaries had found useful. Shawn paid the ten gold and the owner assured him the rations would be delivered to the guild by the evening.

He met the girls outside when they were done picking out their horses. Denza complained about the meager selection, wishing she hadn't left her Oculsan brushwade at the border to be collected by a servant. On their walk back to the guild, Cassidy bubbled happily about how cute their horses were. Denza grudgingly admitted that the Imperial Shorthair were good horses in their own right, despite being human bred.

Nessa found the trio eating their dinner in the taproom. Shawn vacated his seat so she could sit while he searched around for a fourth chair. Once seated, Nessa addressed them, "I take it that you've gathered everything you think you'll need for the expedition?"

"I think we might have over prepared," Shawn said as he thought of the sheer amount of items that had come into their possession that day.

"You can never be too prepared," Nessa said sagely.

"We bought new armor, weapons, supplies, and horses," Cassidy counted off their list on her fingers.

Nessa nodded absently, biting her lip as she stared off into space. Denza took that opportunity to ask, "Our trip to the magical supply shop turned out to be way too expensive."

"What do you mean?" Nessa frowned, looking at Cassidy.

"The guy wanted to charge me one hundred and twenty five gold pieces for a pair low grade focuses. I'm not going to waste our money on garbage," Cassidy spat venomously.

Nessa rolled her eyes, "Welcome to the Imperium, where being a woman or demi-human makes even garbage out of your price range."

"Everything else went off without a hitch, but I feel like we payed through the nose for our armor," Shawn added.

"Who did you buy it from and how much did you spend?" Nessa asked curiously.

"We got our stuff made from a delightful man by the name of Ruth Helmslock," Cassidy said proudly.

"Our bill was nearly six hundred gold," Shawn sighed. "Most of that was Denza though."

"Hey!" Denza protested, blushing furiously.

Nessa chuckled, "Well, that explains a lot. Helmslock armory is more of a boutique than an armory. He only started his shop here this year and has already made a killing despite his parentage."

"Of course we bought designer armor," Shawn smacked his head with his hand.

"What about his parentage? He looked normal enough to me," Cassidy asked Nessa curiously.

"I'm sure you are aware that he is pretty short for a man," Nessa replied.

"He was shorter than I am," Cassidy mused. "I didn't think much of it."

"You are already small as it is," Shawn laughed.

"No, you're just freakishly tall!" Cassidy shot back.

"He is considered of normal height amongst my kind," Denza came to Shawn's defense.

"Calm down, children," Nessa said sternly. "We are getting off topic. Ruth is half dwarf, though I'm not sure on which side. His quality is the only reason he has been able to stay in business in a place like this, which should speak volumes."

"So why did he set up shop here?" Denza frowned. "Surely he would face much less discrimination in Velain?"

Nessa made a face, "Half-breeds are looked down on everywhere. In the Imperium it's because he's half dwarf, in Velain it's because he's half human, and so on and so forth."

Denza's ears drooped, "I guess you're right. That's horrible."

"That would explain why he set up shop in a fort which is mainly military and guild members," Shawn mused. "The need for high quality armor is probably higher farther away from the cities."

Nessa nodded, "If anyone else of his skill were to set up shop in a city, they would be rolling in gold. They would be able to afford high quality materials and skilled labor."

"I don't really feel bad about spending the money now," Shawn admitted. "If his work is as good as you say it is, then it's worth every copper."

"It looks damn good too!" Cassidy agreed emphatically.

Nessa gave them a small smile, "Besides your adventure in protective fashion, was there anything you couldn't find?"

"Potions," Denza answered.

"I've taken care of that. I have a sizeable batch brewing now and it should be ready by morning. I'll just bill you for my services," Nessa joked. Shawn could hear the strain in her voice. He could tell she was nervous about their expedition.

"We probably won't even need it," Shawn reassured her..

Nessa sighed, "My intuition says otherwise, but that is enough for tonight. I am going to get what rest I can. Meet me outside the gates at sunrise."

The group parted ways with Shawn and the girls heading up to their room and Nessa heading to her own lodgings elsewhere. Cassidy took her perch by the window and opened her grimoire to study while Denza and Shawn quickly fell asleep.

Cassidy woke Shawn just before sunrise and he found the girls already geared and ready to go. Shawn stripped, not even having a second thought about being naked in front of both women, and pulled on the mesh underclothes Ruth had made for him.

Shawn was thrilled to find that the mesh was smooth and elastic much like underarmor back on Earth, and again the parallels weren't lost on him. He donned the protective leather of his armor and secured each strap. He twisted and turned in place to make sure nothing was ill fitting or out of place before he was happy with the result.

"I feel like I'm getting ready for the Ren Fair," Shawn joked to Cassidy.

She patted her bodice happily, "I always wanted one of these but I was never able to find one that fit, and they weren't practical."

"What is a 'Ren Fair'?" Denza asked, ears perked up at the unfamiliar term.

Shawn smirked at the elf's growing interest in their world, "It is an event held every year that reminds us of how things were done back before we had fancy technology."

"Oh, be real. It was nerd central who all wanted to play at being knights, rogues, pirates, and slutty tavern wenches," Cassidy quipped.

"That too," Shawn admitted. "You were one of those."

"Oh, hell yeah!" Cassidy struck a confident pose. "What girl didn't want to be Xena the warrior princess?"

"Not you," Shawn reminded her. "You had a crush on that one LARPer, what was her name? The one who always carried that book on witchcraft around school?"

"Oh, Rania? Yeah, she was pretty cool," Cassidy reminisced fondly.

"She was pretty weird. You dated for what? Two months? Before you had a relapse and your parents had to file a restraining order because she was convinced someone cursed you?" Shawn turned to Denza. "The girl kept trying to sneak into her room at the hospital and cast spells using crystals and incantations she looked up online."

"Were you cursed? It sounds like this witchling was doing everything she could to help," Denza looked confused.

Shawn chastised himself, considering that sort of behavior was completely normal in Niverra. "We don't have magic in our world like you do here. She was not all there, mentally. She was sweet enough in the beginning but she started becoming obsessed. She claimed I was a bad omen and only brought misfortune to Cassidy."

"That's when I broke up with her," Cassidy said sadly. "She was really kind and sweet, but she didn't like that Shawn was my number one."

"That sounds...complicated," Denza said, unsure how to respond.

"Don't worry about it," Cassidy said cheerfully. "Enough chit chat, we've got an adventure to start!"

Denza gave Shawn a confused look and he could only shrug his shoulders helplessly. Cassidy tossed her cloak behind her and left the room without checking to see if her companions were following her.

Nessa was waiting for them just outside the gates sitting astride a tall and sleek looking mare. The horse waited patiently as the trio of fresh expeditionaries and their mounts neared. Cassidy gasped when she got a closer look at Nessa's midnight steed, pointing at the feathering of white that flowed down its legs and chest.