Blacksmith: Renard and Reza

As I was going to be shipping out in just a few days it seemed reasonable that while I was in the City I'd see to my weapons before I went to the front where they'd be needed. I'd always been fastidious in looking after my blades but there was only so much that a whetstone could do and with time any blade needed to be sanded and evened out again. Even the sparring I'd been doing lately had put a few small dings in the edge and while they were far from bad it was best to take care of them before they became a problem.

With my uniform on, hair hanging free to my chin and my blades in their usual places- sword and long knife at my side, the other hidden- I went to the blacksmith shop with which I was familiar, then gave a nod to the attendants and started divesting myself of the weapons. My bow was fine and arrowheads would be easy enough to come by in Camlach so I'd left that at home, leaving me with my sturdy short sword, long knife and the dagger I always wore under my sleeve against my wrist. My gaze was calm but intent as I waited my turn, another man working his own swords as though he was much used to the process, and rather than standing impassively and seeming impatient I turned to look over some leather used for binding new grips. Those could always stand to be replaced as well.

The man who was at the sharpening stone turned around and seemed to notice me, and I watched him calmly for a moment as he did so. Sometimes people had unexpected reactions to seeing me so I tended to try and predict what I might have been in store for. He was a handsome man, perhaps a bit younger than me but certainly old enough that he could likely use the weapon he had, but I wasn't at all perturbed by that. His demeanor seemed calm enough and turned back to finish and test his blade skillfully enough to show he was well familiar with it and that was a good sign in my mind.

When he turned back around again, blade at his side and not a bit of tension and me and I nodded respectfully to him, then raised a brow at his question. "Please feel free to use whichever you'd like, my lord, I don't mind waiting," I replied, the corner of my mouth turning up in a slight smile. "I'm not in any rush and don't wish to interrupt your work." I wasn't quite sure why he'd made the offer, whether it was simple courtesy or something else, but if he'd wanted to use the spinning stone he likely would have chosen it to begin with.

It seemed that no matter what I'd said this man had his own ideas, so I watched him as he moved his blades over to the other wheel and stepped toward the sharpening stone. Refusing would have been rude and while I wasn't used to such behavior I wasn't going to be anything but completely polite in response to something motivated by either respect or common courtesy. "I appreciate your generosity, Marquis de Valliers. I'm Reza de Soigneux," I replied with a slight smile, giving him a soldier's bow before taking out my short sword and setting it to the stone. The chance of me needing assistance was very small but if I did I would keep his offer in mind. "It looks as though you keep your blades in very good repair. Are you a member of the military yourself?"

For all of the responses I'd seen in the City of late his was by far the most balanced and calm and that was a welcome relief. I knew that female soldiers were something of an unusual sight and that was part of the reason I was so willing to put myself forward but at the same time it was a change when someone wasn't sputtering over themselves about it. But then the Marquis could well have been from Camlach, where I'd heard it was a more common sight. "Thank you," I replied with a wry smile, gliding the sword smoothly across the oiled stone to hone down its edge and smooth away some of the dings in the edge. "I've been enlisted for eight years now and served in Khebbel-in-Akkad, then Siovale along the border. Soon I'll be going to Camlach."

His blessing was a kind one and I accepted it with a smile, then picked up my sword to check the edge for any signs of wear or that it was being sharpened unevenly. "And may Shemhazai bring you the knowledge that could turn events to your favor," I replied a moment later, my tone completely serene. Most didn't count that as a very valuable thing to have in battle but being aware of the possibilities kept a person prepared and I never discounted knowledge, no matter the for it came in.

"My family wasn't involved in the military," I continued a moment later. "It was a choice I made completely independent of their influence." How much was common knowledge about Camlach was still uncertain so a general answer seemed safest. Lord de Valliers being from that area did explain why seeing a female soldier didn't shock him so much as it did others though. "As to Camlach, I only know that they're having some problems with the Skaldi raiding, which I've heard is commonplace these days."

The story of a riot was an odd one, but then I'd been paying attention to a variety of other things I was paying attention to instead. News of happenings in Camlach was a bit more pressing at the moment, especially since City altercations were easily handled by the City guard. Everyone saw Shemhazai's influence in their own way though. "I'm afraid I didn't hear much about that chain of events," I replied sedately, turning my sword over to work on the other side of the edge and sharpening it with the same smooth motion.

"I'm not sure exactly what the plans are but as you are from Camlach I'd imagine they wouldn't try to stop you from defending your home, especially if you have some experience with it," I continued a moment later, letting the rest of his words filter to me. "Though I can't say to have any experience in how they manage things in Camlach, in Siovale it falls to everyone to take responsibility for their lands and homes when the need arises, and to accept the consequences of what may happen to it."

The topic we were currently conversing on seemed to have a strong effect on Renard's countenance and I listened closely as he grew more enthusiastic, making sure to at the same time smooth down my sword to a good edge. "I'd suggest asking at the Palace, that's where most plans of that sort are made," I replied simply, because it was a simple answer to me. Then again I'd spent eight years in the military and it was the first thing I thought of. "Anyone there should be able to give you information on what may be needed and where the groups are gathering."

When he spoke of his home I smiled a bit wryly; everyone seemed to think the same of their home province, though I had to admit the tales I heard of Camlach and their military preparedness spoke highly of them. Even Duc de Clairmont, the Sovereign Duc of Siovale, carried that viewpoint and I trusted it. "In Siovale things are a bit more remote but we manage to hold our own," I replied simply. It wasn't in my nature to go into any more colorful detail than that, but we had our own battles to fight from time to time with the slavers and raiders who came across the mountains.