Chapter 181 TEIGEN V
"Now, speak up boy" Teigen nods, playing with his fingers and picking at the peeling skin. "Where are your parents? Why were you in that forest, all alone? Are ye a forest child?"
Teigen frowns, peeking up at Rae. "I-i was banished, t-to the forest" he struggles to get the words out, his throat parched and dry.
"Banished from where?"
"M-mortisia" Teigen answers timidly, not knowing what Rae intended to do with him. Would he cast me back into the forest when he finds out that I burnt someone? Is he going to hurt me?
"Why were you banished, boy?"
Teigen falls silent, thinking if it would be a good thing to tell this man he doesn't know. Mother always tells me never to talk to strangers, but he is the only one that is here. He can help me, but if I tell him, he might want to burn me or hurt me in some other way.
"P-promise you will not hurt m-me sir" Teigen's voice is weak as he waits, expecting the worst.
"I will not hurt a child, now speak"
Teigen narrates everything to Rae, and the man listens, paying close attention. Admittedly he knew nothing about this here boy.
How could those people be so cruel as to cast a child into a forest filled with wild animals? I gaze into his eyes, getting the feeling that this here boy was special. Has he been born with abilities? No matter what it is, he doesn't deserve to be abandoned in such a manner.
Teigen finishes, waiting for Rae to respond but he looks to be deep in thought. The gears in his head turn and twist, thoughts swarming his mind.
I refuse to cast this young lad aside, "Show me your hands" Teigen displays his palms bearing wounds and cuts from his earlier outburst. "You are not a thief are ye?"
Teigen shakes his head. Seemingly satisfied Rae motions into the wood tavern, "Come on, let's get those hands tended to. I cannot have you bleeding on me tools"
Teigen blinks, dazed for a while. He is not going to hurt me? He doesn't look afraid either. Rae walks inside but comes back out, seeing Teigen still seated "You deaf boy? Come now"
Teigen nods, running into the tavern. The door shuts and from that day Teigen's life had been transformed forever. The moment he had fallen out of the forest was the moment he had left his old life behind and like a blessing from the goddess Rae found him.
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Teigen soon found that Rae was a blacksmith. He was responsible for making weapons, farming implements, kitchen knives and other tools for the members of the city and beyond.
Mr. Rae owned a shack behind his house where his various instruments: his forge, anvil, his bellows and his work bench are stationed. Slowly but surely we fall into a routine, Mr. Rae wakes up early and goes to his work shack. In the meantime I clean his house, sweeping and dusting every surface till it was rid of dust. Mr. Rae spend all day, working, the noise of metal hitting against metal can be heard for miles, the sound of blazing fire and skill marking the days as they passed.
TEIGEN
I didn't know why Mr. Rae, as antisocial as he was would allow a strange kid live with him. Maybe it was because he was just crazy, or because he had a heart of gold, underneath all that metal and brute.
I began to take an interest in forging, peaking from the distance through the window as Mr. Rae worked with dedication, taking no breaks whatsoever. I wanted to do more, wanted to show Mr. Rae how grateful I was to him for allowing me to stay at his house. When I was finished cleaning, I made it a duty of mine to make bread for Mr. Rae to eat whenever he would come back.
The first day I made bread, Mr. Rae walked into the tavern, his nose sniffing continuously as if the aroma lead him up to the plate of bread waited on the table. Mother had made bread countless times, from my spot behind the water pot I would watch her, hiding from father whenever he wanted to punish me. I wasn't sure if mother knew I was there or not, but she would tell father she wasn't sure where I was whenever he would ask.
Mr. Rae looked at me, then at the bread in confusion, "Did ye make this bread boy?"
I nod but he scolds me, "Words boy. Use your words so I can understand you"
I gulp nervously, "Yes sir"
He shakes his head at me, "I told you to call me Rae. Who taught you to make bread?"
I smile, recalling the fond memories and times I would watch mother both at home and at the pub
"My mother, sir. I watched her cook a lot"
Mr. Rae grunts then drops down to the floor, picking at the good portion of bread on his plate. He tears out a piece, half expecting it to be strong and stale like the ones sold at the market place. To his shock the bread was soft and fresh. He frowns, bringing the morsel to his lips. Before he eats he smells it then shoots me a glare, "Hope ye don't wish to poison me boy"
I inhale a shaky breath as Mr. Rae finally drops the morsel into his mouth and starts chewing. I sit impossibly still, refusing to breathe as angst gnaws at me as I wait for Mr. Rae's reaction.
His brows raise, his eyes lighting up. He hums in approval, this time taking another bite. He does not complement the bread but by the slight upward tilt of the corner of his lips, I can tell he likes it. My heart floats with joy at his next words, "You could make an honest living selling these at the local market. The common folk would rush this like hot cakes"
He continues to eat much to my satisfaction as I respond truthfully, "I do not wish to sell sir. I only want to be able to make these for you everyday"
"How did you make it?"