Post by Luc Bradamante on Apr 20, 2009 11:20:10 GMT -5
It was an early morning, a quarter of the sun was already risen and visible above the horizon, glowing a beautiful vermillion, turning the sky and clouds around it a dreamy purple and orange hue. I had walked that morning, wearing black breeches and a black long vest over a white tunic, tucked in, trying my best at professional attire. I didn’t bother with the carriage, though I knew I risked becoming dirty, walking the streets of the City, but I needed the extra time going by foot allowed in order to clear my mind. Other than the fact that Josie had requested I come with her to the City, this was the only other reason that I was here.
”That is great news to hear, indeed, Luc. I am very excited to see you again upon your arrival to the City. Please, send word so we might have a formal meeting.” Those words were freshly imprinted on my mind. Launce had written me back, right before I had left for the City, basically approving my apprenticeship under him, but this was still rather nerve-wracking, although extremely exiting. He had seen my work, one day years ago at a fair that had been held in Namaare, where I sold some wares I had made, and he had shown interest from then. ”You have a deft hand, and great attention to detail, my man,” he had said, slapping me on the back as he looked at my items. ”You would do well in the City.” And mayhap I would. Mayhap I will. Only time would tell.
I stood outside the doors, the weather warm, a light breeze moving through the streets, and took one last shuddering breath before pushing open the door to his shop. A metal bell jingled musically as I entered. The foyer was small, with a doorway to either side of a wall. In front of that wall was a table and a seat. In the seat was the man I had seen what felt like an eon ago. The same, a wide smile spreading across his face as he stood. He was a big man, burly, my height but definitely brusque. His eyes twinkled a steely grey, lines crinkling at the corners of them, and his thin lips parted to show perfect white teeth. Age showed well, on this man. I couldn’t help but feel a little lighter, smiling back.
“Luc! You have come, and not a moment too soon either!” He said with a hearty chuckle, coming from behind the desk with a quickness that belied his size. Within moments he was by my side, both of us of a height, though his presence just seemed so large. I smiled back warmly, nodding my head.
“Lord Dorville, I am at your service,” I said in reply. He waved his hand, making a scrunched face as though tasting something that did not agree with him.
“None of his ‘Lord Dorville’ business. I know you as Luc, you know me as Launce.” I just nodded in understanding. He took a deep breath and I could see the shrewd business man hiding behind those eyes, glinting like Cassiline vambraces, as his smile turned to a serious face.
“We have much to discuss, Luc, much to discuss. Come, follow me,” he said, his voice carrying although ‘twas not loud. I followed him through the doorway on the right, entering what seemed to be a room, showing all his wares. I looked around, slack-jawed in amazement. His skill was … I had no words. It far surpassed mine, of a surety. He had tables, desks, folios, lamps, any manner of things you would find in a home, bookshelves, book ends, candle holders made of varnished wood and polished to so high a gleam that you could see your own reflection, mirrors set in carved wood, bowls, forks, trinkets… I could go on, thinking over everything that I saw, it was miraculous, indeed. He was definitely in the right calling. I was lost, he had been talking but I heard naught, my focus enraptured by all the items surrounding me.
“Luc?” he queried stopping ahead of me. My feet almost didn’t respond as I stopped just shy of walking into him. “I am sorry Lord… I am sorry Launce,” I murmured, still awestricken. I was admiring your work you… really are a master woodworker.” I shook my head. “I don’t understand. Why me to apprentice under you? I am not capable of this!” I said, my hand moving to encompass the vast room. I looked to him, his face was grave, indeed.
“Come with me, Luc,” he said as he strode through the room, heading to wide-set wooden doors in the back of the shoppe. He opened one and it led into his workspace, another rather large room, with wide doors that led out into a back alley. Here and there were unfinished pieces, throughout varying stages. He pulled up a stool to a table, pointing to another stool to the side. “Sit,” he said simply.
I took the stool, dragging it up to sit in front of him, and sat as I was told.
“You see Luc,” he murmured, his hand smoothing over the surface of the table, “it is like working with a piece of wood. Or a great many pieces of wood. To the untrained eye it just looks like a large slab of nothing, but to someone who can see it’s potential, it is a work of art just waiting to happen.” I nodded as he removed his hand from the surface of the table looking to me with twinkling eyes. “From I had seen the items you sold in that fair that time, I knew, you were like a piece of wood. Your work is exquisite for someone who has never apprenticed, someone who is self taught, and under the right tutelage, you could be great, far greater than even I myself. I can see your passion for your work, your art, and I know you must have suffered in the name of it time and time again.” When he said that, I was near stunned with just how true that statement was, and how he seemed to be peering into my very soul.
“You have the potential, you have more than the potential, you just don’t see your skill for what it truly is, not yet.” He sighed, leaning forward to slap my back. “You remind me of me when I was in my young, hale years.” He said with a chuckle, his grey eyes twinkling. “Besides, I won’t be able to run this place forever, you know.” I he said with a crooked smile. It was slow coming but it finally dawned on me what he meant.
“You can’t possibly mean… don’t you have sons? Daughters? A nephew?” I queried, knitting my brows together as my voice rose in surprise. Any business man would have kept his mouth shut instead of trying to pawn off a major business opportunity, but this was not about just business, and I was anything but a business man.
He waved off my comment like it was nothing at all. “No, no, no, I have no one like that. And even if I did, if they had not the skill, they would not get this place. But you,” he said standing, stretching out his burly shoulders. One cracked softly and he rubbed it with his other hand. “You have the stuff that will make this place prosperous when I’m gone.”
“Master Dorville,” I said my voice soft, “thank you. I don’t know what to say…”
He waved that comment off too, with a knowing smile. “Say nothing. Just report here tomorrow in the morn, bright and early so we can start.”
I rose to my feet, grasping his shoulders in thanks and camaraderie. “I will, by the Gods I will, anytime, any day, I will be here Launce, I promise you that.” He laughed, slapping me hard against he shoulder again.
“Good, now go home, prepare yourself. It’s no walk in the park, boy,” he said with a smile, taking in a deep breath. I couldn’t help but beam back at him, joyful at the challenge. He had faith in me, he had more than faith in me, and it made me feel terribly good about myself. I just hoped I would rise to the challenge.
”That is great news to hear, indeed, Luc. I am very excited to see you again upon your arrival to the City. Please, send word so we might have a formal meeting.” Those words were freshly imprinted on my mind. Launce had written me back, right before I had left for the City, basically approving my apprenticeship under him, but this was still rather nerve-wracking, although extremely exiting. He had seen my work, one day years ago at a fair that had been held in Namaare, where I sold some wares I had made, and he had shown interest from then. ”You have a deft hand, and great attention to detail, my man,” he had said, slapping me on the back as he looked at my items. ”You would do well in the City.” And mayhap I would. Mayhap I will. Only time would tell.
I stood outside the doors, the weather warm, a light breeze moving through the streets, and took one last shuddering breath before pushing open the door to his shop. A metal bell jingled musically as I entered. The foyer was small, with a doorway to either side of a wall. In front of that wall was a table and a seat. In the seat was the man I had seen what felt like an eon ago. The same, a wide smile spreading across his face as he stood. He was a big man, burly, my height but definitely brusque. His eyes twinkled a steely grey, lines crinkling at the corners of them, and his thin lips parted to show perfect white teeth. Age showed well, on this man. I couldn’t help but feel a little lighter, smiling back.
“Luc! You have come, and not a moment too soon either!” He said with a hearty chuckle, coming from behind the desk with a quickness that belied his size. Within moments he was by my side, both of us of a height, though his presence just seemed so large. I smiled back warmly, nodding my head.
“Lord Dorville, I am at your service,” I said in reply. He waved his hand, making a scrunched face as though tasting something that did not agree with him.
“None of his ‘Lord Dorville’ business. I know you as Luc, you know me as Launce.” I just nodded in understanding. He took a deep breath and I could see the shrewd business man hiding behind those eyes, glinting like Cassiline vambraces, as his smile turned to a serious face.
“We have much to discuss, Luc, much to discuss. Come, follow me,” he said, his voice carrying although ‘twas not loud. I followed him through the doorway on the right, entering what seemed to be a room, showing all his wares. I looked around, slack-jawed in amazement. His skill was … I had no words. It far surpassed mine, of a surety. He had tables, desks, folios, lamps, any manner of things you would find in a home, bookshelves, book ends, candle holders made of varnished wood and polished to so high a gleam that you could see your own reflection, mirrors set in carved wood, bowls, forks, trinkets… I could go on, thinking over everything that I saw, it was miraculous, indeed. He was definitely in the right calling. I was lost, he had been talking but I heard naught, my focus enraptured by all the items surrounding me.
“Luc?” he queried stopping ahead of me. My feet almost didn’t respond as I stopped just shy of walking into him. “I am sorry Lord… I am sorry Launce,” I murmured, still awestricken. I was admiring your work you… really are a master woodworker.” I shook my head. “I don’t understand. Why me to apprentice under you? I am not capable of this!” I said, my hand moving to encompass the vast room. I looked to him, his face was grave, indeed.
“Come with me, Luc,” he said as he strode through the room, heading to wide-set wooden doors in the back of the shoppe. He opened one and it led into his workspace, another rather large room, with wide doors that led out into a back alley. Here and there were unfinished pieces, throughout varying stages. He pulled up a stool to a table, pointing to another stool to the side. “Sit,” he said simply.
I took the stool, dragging it up to sit in front of him, and sat as I was told.
“You see Luc,” he murmured, his hand smoothing over the surface of the table, “it is like working with a piece of wood. Or a great many pieces of wood. To the untrained eye it just looks like a large slab of nothing, but to someone who can see it’s potential, it is a work of art just waiting to happen.” I nodded as he removed his hand from the surface of the table looking to me with twinkling eyes. “From I had seen the items you sold in that fair that time, I knew, you were like a piece of wood. Your work is exquisite for someone who has never apprenticed, someone who is self taught, and under the right tutelage, you could be great, far greater than even I myself. I can see your passion for your work, your art, and I know you must have suffered in the name of it time and time again.” When he said that, I was near stunned with just how true that statement was, and how he seemed to be peering into my very soul.
“You have the potential, you have more than the potential, you just don’t see your skill for what it truly is, not yet.” He sighed, leaning forward to slap my back. “You remind me of me when I was in my young, hale years.” He said with a chuckle, his grey eyes twinkling. “Besides, I won’t be able to run this place forever, you know.” I he said with a crooked smile. It was slow coming but it finally dawned on me what he meant.
“You can’t possibly mean… don’t you have sons? Daughters? A nephew?” I queried, knitting my brows together as my voice rose in surprise. Any business man would have kept his mouth shut instead of trying to pawn off a major business opportunity, but this was not about just business, and I was anything but a business man.
He waved off my comment like it was nothing at all. “No, no, no, I have no one like that. And even if I did, if they had not the skill, they would not get this place. But you,” he said standing, stretching out his burly shoulders. One cracked softly and he rubbed it with his other hand. “You have the stuff that will make this place prosperous when I’m gone.”
“Master Dorville,” I said my voice soft, “thank you. I don’t know what to say…”
He waved that comment off too, with a knowing smile. “Say nothing. Just report here tomorrow in the morn, bright and early so we can start.”
I rose to my feet, grasping his shoulders in thanks and camaraderie. “I will, by the Gods I will, anytime, any day, I will be here Launce, I promise you that.” He laughed, slapping me hard against he shoulder again.
“Good, now go home, prepare yourself. It’s no walk in the park, boy,” he said with a smile, taking in a deep breath. I couldn’t help but beam back at him, joyful at the challenge. He had faith in me, he had more than faith in me, and it made me feel terribly good about myself. I just hoped I would rise to the challenge.