The Warlord

He looked to where she was talking and nodded, and went to do what she asked. He moved a chair closer to the pump and used his foot on the pump to make the fire hotter.

She started to pull down different sandstone blocks til she got the right size of the cloak clasp and made a mold of it in the clay. She checked it multiple times before putting down the original and going over to the fire. Checking the metal first before pouring a small amount into the mold, then she took it over to the water to do a rapid cooling.

Once the sizzle had ended, she took it out of the water and took out the thin replica and left it in the water and began the process over again til she had five made up. Then she went back over to the table to deepen the mold.

Aaron watched on curiously on what she was doing but decided to wait to see the finished product before asking questions.

After the mold was deepened, she carefully poured the hot metal into the mold and allowed it to cool slowly as she grabbed the thinner molds and dried them thoroughly and then carefully laid them in place into the cooling metal, then adding the sandstone block to it and tied it together once more, she poured the liquid metal into the mold until it seeped from the top. Once it was full, she dropped it into the bucket and pulled the mold away from the end piece then allowed it to cool properly.

Once she was done, Aaron finally asked, "Why did you do it that way?"

Picking up the new clasp and bending the extra away from it. "It's to make the item stronger," she answered.

He arched a brow. "How much stronger?"

Lightly biting her lower lip. "A whole lot stronger."

He stopped pumping the fire and went back to his original seat. "What do you think of doing something like that with weapons?"

She had been honest with all the questions so far she had been asked and continued to answer honestly. "Would you like a demonstration of that, Aaron?"

He arched a brow. "You already have weapons done in that way?"

Shrugging a little. "Not really but in a way to make weapons stronger which are in the same fashioned." She went over behind the bails of hay and pulled out a large strong box and opened it up. "Put this up against the hay please." Handing him a chest plate.

He chuckled as he took it. "Do I want to know how you got your hands on this?" He put it up on the bails like she asked.

She grabbed two throwing daggers from the chest and walked to the edge of the stall and showed him both. "Ok, this one", she held up one, "Is made normal." Then she threw it at the chest plate and it just banged off the metal and landed on the hay.

He nodded. "That's a normal for daggers against heavy armor."

She smirked then threw the second dagger at the armor. There was a funny noise as if metal was being scratched but the dagger went through the armor to the hilt. She walked over to the chest plate and took it over to Aaron. "That one is done in the same kinda way as the clasp."

He just stared at the dagger in the chest plate. He took the plate and looked at one side then the other and looked a bit dumb founded.

She couldn't help but softly laugh with the way he looked. "That's just from armor of the guards here. I'm not sure if it would work on any other regions armors." she admitted.

He handed her back the chest plate and quickly said, "Stay here, I'll be right back."

Then he took off and returned ten minutes later. During that time, she had cleaned up the new clasp so it nearly looked identical to the original with the smoothness around the edges. When Aaron returned, he put another chest plate up on the hay and looked at her. "Do that again with this armor."

She placed the clasp down, picking up the dagger as she stood up and walked back to where she was originally and threw it at the plate. Once again it went straight through the metal.

His eyes went wide and he slowly nodded. "Remind me not to piss you off when your holding a weapon."

She softly laughed. "Your the second person to tell me not to get pissed off with around them today." She went over to the armor, taking out the dagger and handing it to him to have a decent look at it. Then she took the plate over to the iron horse and started to bang the dints from the piercing and began to repair it.

He sat back on the hay and watched her between inspecting the dagger. He didn't say anything for a long time and she was nearly finished repairing the plate before he finally spoke. "You will be telling him about this little hobby of yours?"

She stopped smoothing the mend down for a moment then nodded. "I will once they return. Do you think he'd be annoyed I never told him all my secrets yet?"

He looked over to her. "Everyone has secrets Isabella. You can't expect to know everything about someone on the first day."

She finished up the repair and handed him back the chest plate.

* * * * *

Dominic and his men were just inside the forest watching the guards and how they were treating the enslaved people. He gave a few hand signals to his men and they started to spread out.

He nudged the horse and they came out of hiding along with Ter at his side and moved closer to the guards.

As soon as the guards saw people they didn't know, they moved into defensive arrangement and the captain called out, "Who are you? Your on private property."

Dominic lent down into his saddle bag and took out the King's crown. "I think you meant your on private property. This land is mine now."

The captain looked at the crown then to his men, it was the King's crown but how did this man in front of them get it.

Ter made a hand signal and the men came out from the forest, surrounding the guards.

Dominic then spoke again. "Lower the weapons and we can all go home. Don't lower them and you'll be killed. Your choice."

The guards were outnumbered three to one. The younger guards tossed their weapons down and stepped back out of the line and soon each one but the captain did as told. While the captain was abusing his own men, two of Dominic's men came up behind him and hit him in the back of the head to knock him out then quickly tied him up.

Dominic then rode over before getting down. He looked at the guards then spoke. "I will give you two choices since you seem like smart men. Go back to the castle with my men and be dealt with there, or leave this region now and never return. If you come back with us, the people might give you a second chance since you were under orders."

Most of the war torn men left knowing the people would want them dead. The younger men though, stayed to accept the punishment of the people. A few even removed their armor in their silent word of accepting Dominic as their leader now.

It took an hour for the enslaved people to get into the wagons. Once everyone was loaded, they started back towards the village and castle. Ter started to go from one wagon to the next, asking if Isabella's parents were still alive. And the last wagon was where he finally found them. He rode with that wagon until they arrived in the village, asking them to stay with the wagon because he wanted to take them to Isabella.

Dominic turned his horse. "Those that want to get off here, you will be safe once again in your homes. If you have daughters that were taken by the King, you can either give over your names and hers and we will send her home. Or you can come with us to the castle. Whichever way you pick, you will have your family together again tonight."

A few people jumped out because of having no family taken but others stayed in the wagons to hopefully be reunited with their daughters. Once people went to their homes, the wagons continued towards the castle. He sent a few of his men ahead to bring food and water back to the ones in the village and to have bags ready for the returning families.

* * * * *

Once back in the castle. Dominic walked with Ter and Isabella's mother and father. They headed to the thrown room and decided to surprise her as Ter went to find her. They hid behind a curtain when there was a knock on the door and Ter came in with Aaron and Isabella.

Dominic couldn't help but arch a brow when Aaron walked in with his chest plate under his arm and chuckled. "Are you thinking we'll need protection, Aaron?"

Aaron grinned. "We might after spending a few hours with this hellcat." Giving Isabella a reassuring smile.

Dominic arched a brow at that statement and the looks that went between them. He clenched and unclenched his fists as he calmed down a little. "Well, we went to the mines and we bought back everyone."

That made Isabella look over at him with hope, but she couldn't read his expression. She decided she didn't want to know if it was bad news so decided to change the subject. "I have finished that project for you, my Lord." Taking both clasps over to him.

He looked at both of them and nodded. "Excellent work, my Lady". He looked up when Aaron started to move things around to steady the chest plate. "And what might I ask is this about?"

Isabella looked over at Aaron and he motioned for her to do the talking. She moved beside Dominic looking at the chest piece. "He convinced me into telling you one of my hobbies with metal work." Handing him both of the daggers to look at.

Dominic looked at the daggers, the weight and appearance looked identical, "Twin throwing daggers?"

She smiled a little. "Not exactly, my Lord."

Her parents were listening on and looking between each other before quickly coming out. "Isabella, you can't do it. You can't tell him." her father said.

Her mother ran over to Isabella and hugged her tightly before her father joined in the hug. Dominic moved to the side as they started to speak a strange language to each other. Isabella threw her arms up and said in their common tongue. "I am the youngest and in our laws the head of the family. I'm the one to decide our fate." then spoke a little softer, "As soon as I completed the fiftieth, it proved I lead this family. Now the King is dead, where we go is my choice."

Dominic lent back on the table that was still in the center of the room, listening to the little family conflict so said, "If it's to much trouble to tell me what is going on, just forget about it."

Isabella glared at her parents. "No, no trouble at all. If you don't like my decision then I will take on the task myself and leave you two out of it."

Dominic knew she had a wicked side and seeing it more now against her parents, it shocked him a little.

Not taking her eyes off her parents. "The agreement will be, between him and I. It will leave you two out of it."

Her parents closed their eyes and nodded. They both knew they couldn't stop her now she had come of age and who she wanted to give her life to.

Isabella then looked back to Dominic. "Sorry, my Lord. If you permit, I will show you something I've kept hidden until now. You have bought back my parents so you deserve my full loyalty." Then she went over to him and motioned to the daggers.

He gave them back to her then she explained when Ter and Aaron came up beside her. "This one," holding up the dagger, "Is made normally." Then she turned quickly and tossed the dagger up to catch it by the blade and tossed it hard towards the chest plate to which it banged off the metal to land on the ground. Then she held up the second one. "This one is made a special way, Aaron asked about the way I made your clasp if it can be done in weapons so I showed him this. He told me I should show you to which I'm doing now." She did the same move again, by tossing it and catching the blade before throwing it hard towards the plate to which it went through the metal and embedded itself to the hilt.

All three men looked at her shocked. The swift movements of the dagger showed she had experience throwing them, but she never even showed that skill with Aaron a few hours beforehand, so he was equally shocked.

Ter was the first one to speak. "Where did you learn to do that, Lady Isabella?"

Isabella bowed her head and said, "Vrah." Then continued on with. "My parents had a contract with the old King, from what we figured, he never told his son what we were so we never did any work for him."

Dominic started to look at her in a different way now. He was trying to sort things out in his head when Aaron asked, "What's Vrah?"

Ter was also equally nervous but answered. "Assassins. A family unit loyal to one bloodline until either they die or the bloodline dies to release them. Some say they use magic to beable to pull off half of the stuff they do because there is never a trace left of them. While we work in the open, the Vrah work in the shadows. And unless your told who they are, you never know until it's to late if you are on their blacklist."

Isabella nodded with her hands open at her sides. She kept her eyes down as she stood in front of Dominic.

Dominic finally spoke. "Why are you telling me now? You could of kept that side of your life a secret."

She nodded. "I could of but I didn't want to. I owe you my life and the life of my parents along with everyone else in this region. I know you don't have much use of my skills, but I offer my services to you, my Lord."

He never took his eyes off of her. "I guess this tells me why you handle yourself well." He moved off the table and looked at the armor. "Your weapons do the same damage as that dagger?" She nodded without speaking. "Show me."

She bowed her head, her hands moving over her dress and quickly spun around. Each time her hand moved, another long needle was removed from her dress and landed in the armor. She started to move around as if doing a dance as she withdrew more hidden needles. Even on the sharpest angles, her needles hit the armor. The end of the dangerous dance was by removing both hair pins and throwing them at the armor and she knelt on the ground before standing up and walking back over to him. Standing back in front of him with her hands open at her sides and her gaze lowered.

He motioned to Aaron to bring over the armor as he watched her. He didn't know how to take her in now. As Aaron collected the armor, he asked, "Your able to tell if others are Vrah without meeting them?"

She nodded. "Yes, my Lord. As they would beable to tell who I am."

Aaron bought the armor over to Dominic and said, "Every single organ would of been hit multiple times. You have a pretty good eye, my Lady."

Dominic started to pull the pins out of the armor and placing them down beside him on the desk. He didn't look up to her as he asked, "What happens if I don't accept your offer?"

She didn't look up to him. "I live free until someone wants the services of a Vrah. If that happens, I'd have no choice but to work for them until the task is complete. That is the law of the Vrah."

He took out thirty pins from the armor and picked up the last one and studied it a little. He had run ins with Vrah before so knew how dangerous they were. But if she was right with knowing who they were before they could make an attack on him like in the past. It would be a very tempting offer for him to take. He looked over to her parents. "What she says is true with knowing if any other Vrah are around?"

Her parents nodded but didn't speak. So he just nodded. "Leave and I'll tell you at dinner."

She bowed her head and lead her parents out of the thrown room. As soon as the door closed, her parents started to complain again of her decision.

As soon as the three Vrah were out of the room, he motioned Aaron to go with them and once he left, Dominic looked over to Ter as he looked at the armor. "What do you think?"

Ter lent on the table and handed over the plate and looked at one of the pins. "I know she wouldn't have much work with killing with us, but if she can make weapons which does this sort of damage. I would prefer her on our side than the enemies."

Dominic nodded. "Her metal work would be put to good use with us." His voice distant as he looked at the damage to the plate. He shook his head a little. "She could take us all out, I don't understand why she didn't, should I say, doesn't kill us."

Ter grinned. "You don't see it do you?"

Dominic looked at him. "See what?" Putting the pin down and picked up one of the hair pins.

Ter chuckled. "She feels the same way you do. Or do you think your feelings have changed for her because she's Vrah?"

Shaking his head. "I have no feelings for her." Dominic answered.

Ter shook his head and stood up, putting the pin down. "So you find a woman you like and because she's equal to you in the dangerous category. Your not interested." He rolled his eyes. "She is still the woman you met last night. But least you know now, she would never judge you for what you do because she would do it as well." He headed towards the door before opening it, he said, "Stop and think. From here, you'd be a deadly combination. People would fear you more if you claimed her." Then he left the room for the Warlord to think.

Dominic left a few minutes after Ter and went back to his room to think.

* * * * *

Isabella had gotten annoyed with how her parents were acting. She ended up leading them out to the gardens and took off the skirt of her dress. She sat down for a moment to take off her shoes. "You really want to go there father. Then fine. Challenge accepted."

Her father looked at her. "That's not what I was saying, Isa."

Aaron came out behind them, arching a brow. "What's going on?"

Her mother shook her head and motioned him to come join her on one of the stone benches. "After a child completes so many jobs, they take over where we go if the bloodline we're linked to is removed. We don't know anything about this Warlord so we wanted to wait. But Isabella wants to give him her services and willing to separate from us to do it. Now she fights to make sure she can do it on her own."

Aaron sat down next to the older woman and nodded slowly. "So that means she has to fight you as well?"

The older woman nodded and watched her husband and daughter warm up.

Isabella tossed her shoes over with the skirt and started to pace. She couldn't believe how her parents were acting. Why couldn't they just allow for her judgment. Why did they have to challenge her like this.

Her father called over to her. "You ready for this?"

She looked over to him. "Are you ready to give up what we are?"

Aaron quickly turned his head to the older woman. "If she wins, what happens?"

Father and daughter bowed to each other and then the fight began.

Her mother sighed. "She takes our abilities. We become 'normal' if you will, and we go back to what we've been doing all along, except for being assigned any jobs or taking on a employer."

There was a heavy grunt straight away from Isabella kicking her father in the stomach. He stumbled back a few feet, rubbing his stomach as he looked up to watch his daughter move back and forth on her toes. Their fighting was a style between kickboxing and gymnastics. They used every piece of the gardens, even up in the trees they would fight.

Soon men would hear about the fight and came out to watch. From the balcony, Dominic and Ter watched the fight below. The men below cheered, but not knowing who to cheer for.

Both Isabella and her father fought hard. Neither were giving the other any leeway. Unless you knew they were father and daughter, they fought like enemies. As soon as one looked like they were getting the upper hand, something would happen and the other would change their tactics and the fight would begin all over again.

Even after an hour, the fighters never took a break. The fight was proof of stamina. Soon her father started to falter his steps and soon his concentration started to waver and started to get hit harder by his daughter. With two more kicks, her father was down on the ground and not getting up.