The night had fallen upon them, they found shelter with Jalems’ old acquaintance, MacArthur.

  The two first met right after Jalems ended his service with the brute, Lord Fairmount. One storm-ridden night, where the sky was dark as onyx and lighting was the only illumination in the sky. MacArthur’s silver pocket watch, a family heirloom, passed down from his great grandfather was stolen. Skilled thieves had swiped it in the night, along with the life of his son trying to defend it. He found his son’s body the next morning, the guilt devastated him. How could he have slept peacefully while he son laid bleeding out. All to protect a family history he’ll never inherit. His future was gone.

  Jalems ran into him that same day, and when he learned of Macarthur’s story, he made it his personal goal to find the cowards who committed such a heinous crime. Through days of hiding behind walls and spying on meetings in dark alleys. Jalems managed to find the low lifes and retrieved the item. Though he was forced to use less than honorable methods. MacArthur was his first client.

  The group huddled around a cozy fire in the middle of the makeshift home. Macarthur’s residence reeked of animal dung and wet soil, Tek’mer couldn’t stand the stench, he kept dry heaving randomly. The others were grateful they had a place to lay their heads, though tonight sleep evaded them.

  Jalems sharpened Iris, he rested her on his lap. The charcoal steel stretched past both his knees. His movements were slow but thorough. He tended to Iris like she was wounded, a thousand lines stacked on top of one another, forged his beloved sword.

  Marie watched him as he stroked it. She could see the ripples folded within the steel, it looked like they were moving, the harder she stared at it. Though Marie didn’t fight with weapons, she found a certain beauty in the blade.

  “Why did you name it Iris?” Marie asked, Jalems stopped mid-stroke, he looked up at her. He placed the whetstone to the side, then he exhaled. Although he wasn’t sure how to talk about it, without his feelings leaking out of him. He knew starting was the most important.

  “While I served Lord Fairmount, as head of his army, I went through quite a few swords” he said, he chuckled at the thought. Marie leaned closer to him, she could tell when he was getting into a good story, Jalems rarely spoke about his past with her.

  “On my born day I walked into my chambers, and a large wooden box laid on my bed. I figured it was a mistake until I noticed a small note sitting on top of it.The handwriting I recognized right away, so I ripped the box open, and there she was. The most beautiful sword I ever laid eyes on. Well balanced, slim but sharp. I stared so long at it I didn’t hear her footsteps behind me. I turned around when I heard her soft voice say so what do you think?”

  “Aww,” Marie said, she covered her mouth. She wondered why he never talked about her, she sounded like she was a kind woman.

  “Yes, at first I named it Deathbringer, she thought it sounded too vain” he said.

  Marie chuckled,“Seriously dad, Deathbringer?” she repeated, emphasizing the pretentious name.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “Hey, I was young once, let me live” he said, a smile wrinkled his face.

  “So I changed it to Iris,” he continued.

  “Why Iris” she asked, his expression suddenly saddened, as if a weight pulled his face downward. Marie sensed the change.

  “It was a way to honor her, she liked it.” he said, his lips began quivering. Marie froze, she leaned closer to him. It hurt Marie to see her father like this. Before she could comfort him he sheathed his sword and stood to his feet.

  “Well, I’m going to fetch us some water, we’ll need it come sunrise” Jalems announced, a sniffle left his nose. Marie sat on her knees, she sucked her teeth as she watched him leave. A cool draft snuck in after his departure.

  “Tek’mer, where are you from?” White inquired, her eyes full of bounce and jubilance.

  He hesitated, “I’m from Westercrest,” he said unenthused. He tied his hair into a ponytail it fell past his shoulders.

  “What’s it like there?” she followed up, she fired questions back to back, barely giving him time to catch his breath.

  “It has... its own type of beauty,” he said, his bright blonde straight hair glittered in the fire. He sat upright, a smirk hopped on his face, “It has everything really, beautiful weather it’s much warmer there. Every house looks like a smaller version of the King’s palace. When I was a kid we would go down to the center city. A whimsical place, full of exotic foods and liveliness and towers as tall as the sky, I always loved going. My father would let us get this treat, I forgot the name, but it was delicious. It was like eating a candy-flavored cloud. I can taste it now, how melts in your mouth but the flavor floats on your tongue.” he said, reminscing brought joy to him, if only for a moment.

  His smile faded as thoughts of his family came to him. Tek’mer realized how much he missed them. Their elaborate family dinners and outings with the upper echelon of Westercrest. These distant memories, he was slowly forgetting.

  “Wow, It sounds like a great place, why did you leave?” she asked. Tek’mer sighed,“Because they didn’t appreciate me ” he said slyly. White chuckled, she could sense his abrasiveness was merely a shell of his true persona. He was angry with his decision to leave. He knew his mother and siblings would forgive him. However, his father’s opinion determined his fate, and he wasn’t changing his mind any time soon.

  “Have you remembered anything else?” Gale asked, she turned towards White.

  Marie rolled her eyes at Gale, she wondered how she traveled with them for seven years and still had her accent, she never spoke her native tongue around them.

  “No, not much I’m afraid” she responded, her head lowered. All she could think of was the moment before the others were almost killed. Where did she go, and how time had stood still. Did she travel back in time or forward. Maybe there was still hope for her family, or was it already too late. Her mind swirled with possibilities.

  “You must have remembered something, I saw the look in your eyes, you were different. What are you?” Marie stood, commanding the room.

  “I wanna know how did you do that?” Marie fumed, “how did you save us back there?” she stated, she balled her fist demanding answers. White looked at Marie, for a time neither of them spoke a word.

  White exhaled deeply, “I-I don’t know, I just felt a rush of energy come over me, I knew I had to do something” White fumbled for the right words. “Believe me if there’s anyone who wants to remember anything about me, it’s me” White stated. A hush fell over the room, her words spoke the truth.

  Marie walked over to White, with slow thoughtful steps. Their eyes locked, the only sound in the small space was the thud of Marie’s boots. Marie muscles tensed, her fist were clenched. White remained still, seated on her knees, unmoved by Marie’s sudden movements. Tension brewed between them, everyone could feel it.

  Marie sat right in front of White, “Teach me” she looked at White with intensity. White reciprocated her gaze, she nodded in agreement.