It took nearly ten hours before we could make out the walls of a decent-sized village, and another half hour till we reached the gate. The guard braced upright upon seeing me. “Milady, I wasn’t expecting an inspection!”
I waved him down. “Relax, though I am a Tiger, I am in fact, NOT a member of your Nobility. However, I imagine that won’t be true for very long. From what I understand, any Tiger in this Country is a Noble, so I’m going to be a Rare Commodity. A Tiger who isn’t a Blood Relative, thus fresh blood that will strengthen the line. Honestly, not looking forward to it, but I suppose I don’t have much of a choice. Still for right now, please act normally with me, let me enjoy my last few days of freedom before I get shackled into the Family.”
He was stunned. A Tiger who wasn’t a Noble, the thought had never crossed his mind. “Are you serious?!”
“Quite, one thing I do know about nobility is claiming to be one if you aren’t, is a sure-fire method for getting executed.”
He nodded at that. “Yes, I suppose, as odd as this situation is, you’re quite correct. Very wise, you will be a fine addition. I will honor your request to be treated normally at this time.” With that, he went through the normal procedures, and Jeanette paid for my entry; I was directed to the guilds to acquire an ID tag, though he did say anyone would let me in without even checking if I just walked in.
“Perhaps so, but that too would be claiming Nobility that I don’t have.” I waved at the Guard as I headed off with Jeanette.
We entered the Adventurer’s Guildhall and proceeded to a receptionist counter. This being a smaller town, it only had two counters. I didn’t particularly care which one I was served by, so I stood in the shortest line or tried to. Once the people in line in front of me heard the whispers, and they then noticed me, they quickly bowed out from in front of me. “No, please, I’m not in any rush here, I can wait the same as anyone; if it were an emergency, I would have said as much.” Everyone shook their heads as they refused to stand in front of me. “UGH!”
Jeanette and I approached the counter, where the now extremely nervous attendant waited. “How may I be of service?!”
She stuttered as she spoke, which was honestly quite cute, yet simultaneously annoying. “My Companion needs to register, and I have a quest to turn in. Since she is the one who killed it, I’d like her to have the reward.”
I turned on her, a little angry. “First, it was YOUR quest. Second, if you hadn’t been there at the start, I wouldn’t have survived long enough to be able to kill that thing. No way am I taking all the reward, the most I’ll allow is half!”
Jeanette was stunned at my outburst but grudgingly nodded. “If Milady would fill out this form, or else I can scribe it.”
I turned back to her. “I’m not related to the Nobility of this country, and in my old country, I wasn’t a Noble there. So the title doesn’t apply to me, at least not yet. I am going to the capital, and I suspect they will insist on it, but for now, I don’t want anyone saying I claimed to be a Noble beforehand.”
Everyone was stunned now. “A Tiger from another country, who isn’t a Noble!” This seemed to excite the receptionist.
“Yeah, I was misidentified at the gate as an inspector, so maybe I can get that kind of job myself. I’d much rather deal with ordinary people than Nobles; the more time I spend out of the Capitol, the happier I’m gonna be. I’ll try my best to look out for the Common people. A nudge here, or there, if I’m able. I can’t promise any sort of rolling changes for the better, but I do understand what it’s like struggling day to day for your room and board.”
A glimmer of a happy tear could be seen in the receptionist’s eyes, she was happy at the thought of a Commonborn Noble in the future. “Of course, anything would be appreciated; however, does that mean you can’t write?”
“No, I can write, let me see the form." I spent very little time filling it out. She then had me place my hand on a stone tablet with runes etched onto it. It flared up with a green light.
“Hmm, it says you’ve changed your name, for acceptable reasons, and this is your new legal identity that you won’t be changing.”
“Um,..yeah that’s right, and Jeanette was there when I changed it. Though my family name hasn’t changed. It was always Richards, so if anyone comes looking for a Richards, it will be me they’re looking for, not likely in any event.”
She prepared my guild tag, and for some reason, it was made out of silver. “Uh, why silver? It’s pretty and all, but Jeanette’s is Copper, or Tin maybe.”
“That’s based on your power assessment, not Nobility. Jeanette is very young and wasn’t allowed to train, I don’t think. So her current power is rather low, but yours is Silver, the Nobility will be ecstatic when they see your card, to be sure. They’ll know you’re of good stock as it were.” She chuckled a bit about that. “I’m sorry, I know the thought of marrying for politics is probably not amusing to you, but at least they won’t pawn you off on some foppish lesser Noble. They’ll want you fairly high up, possibly even in the Royal family.”
A look of absolute dread came across my face. “I’d rather not think about where I’ll end up. Foppish or not, a lesser Noble would most likely not care enough to keep me around, at least.”
The receptionist cleared her throat. “Ahem, anyway, you’re a silver rank, so you’ll be able to take higher tier quests, even if you take a lower tier with you. I’ll add you to the previous quest and split the reward as requested. I need the quest tile and the proof.” Jeanette took the tusks and the tile from her pack and handed them over.
A look of surprise went across her face as she saw the tusks. “Um, Jeanette, did you participate in the battle?”
Sheepishly, Jeanette replied. “I didn’t have the chance, it attacked her early in the morning when she went out on her own to answer nature’s call. It was dead two seconds before I got there.”
The receptionist nodded. “You might have still been close enough to have gotten some secondhand power you should check.” Jeanette then placed her hand on the Tablet. “Well, it was a decent boost, you can have an actual Bronze card now. Stick with her, and you’ll be Silver before you know it!”
In a daze, Jeanette handed in her current plate, and it was replaced with a Bronze plate. “There’s only Iron and Steel between me and Silver now!”
I chuckled, “What, you don’t count Stainless Steel?”
Everyone looked at me. “What’s stainless Steel?”
“Uh, you heat the Steel up even hotter, and use a certain chemical to take all the air out of the steel before you let it cool, then it can’t rust anymore. That’s why it’s called Stainless Steel. It’s a tiny bit stronger, but not noticeable. It also lets you make thinner, more flexible blades, like for filleting fish, and removing the skin.”
I looked around at everyone’s dumbfounded expressions. “A sword that can’t rust, but isn’t Mythril?! I want one!”
Chuckling a bit, I looked at the Adventurer in question.
“Well, let me ask you this. If I were to give that Knowledge to a Blacksmith, and they did indeed make one, would it end up troubling the Smiths when the Nobles found out? Think carefully about that, cause I don’t want to make anything harder. I suspect that the Blacksmith who made the sword would then have to come to the Capitol, and solely provide for the Nobles at that point. Not good, it’s better if I teach it to their current Smiths instead, and let the Nobles decide where to distribute the knowledge, and bring it at that time. I’m sure they’d send me out to teach the Method, rather than one of their Smiths, who they’d keep busy providing for the Guards, and Soldiers first and foremost.”
He nodded, “You’re most likely correct. Providing better arms for the Army and Guards would be the priority to be sure.” Dejected, he calmed down.
A Smith in the room spoke next. “What if I only made the Ingot? Without proving I had the skill at Blade making, they’d just take the Ingot as proof that the material could be produced, and I’d be left alone. From their point, it’s the weapon crafting, not the material that matters. So they have the best weapon, and armor fashioners already, or so they think, and they’d let me carry on making so-called inferior works for the masses, even using the new material.”
I thought for a moment. “If you’re sure about that, I don’t mind teaching you the Method, and taking a single Ingot will suffice to prove the material, and as payment for the lesson. Agreed?”
He beamed at me, “Agreed, future Noble of the Realm!” I groaned at the reminder that I wouldn’t get out of the whole Noble thing.
The receptionist brought out the pay, separated into two neat piles. “We also have the hide and meat of the Boar. Can we sell it somewhere?”
She was surprised at first, then noticed my rather unconventional pack, and realized it was the hide itself wrapped around what could only be the remaining meat. “Oh yes, through that door, and there’s a materials counter back there.”
I thanked her, and Jeanette and I went into the back, we handed over my parcel and received some additional coins, which I divided. “No, not this time, if I were alone, the meat would have been left behind, along with the hide, and back spines. I’m not taking any of that!”
I grumbled a little, but it did make sense. “Fine! I’m going to need to get kitted out. Proper gear and clothes. Maybe even my tent,…just in case we get separated at some point, or who knows, we might find a stray together, and need another tent then.”
“As long as you don’t sleep in it when you could be in mine, I guess I’ll allow it.” She giggled at that. I then pocketed the money, and the two of us went shopping. The first stop was a tailor’s shop. I asked if there were any canceled orders, which could work for me.
Upon seeing me and my Tiger nature, the clerk paled. “Um, I don’t know if anything that we have would suit you!”
“Don’t be like that, I just need one decent outfit, that won’t get me laughed at if I have to deal with Nobility, everything else that’s of higher-class can be made elsewhere. As for the rest, just basic utilitarian garb, for adventuring. Also, under things, I don’t have any right now.” A look of Utter shock ran across the Clerk’s face, after which she seemed to go into Emergency mode, completely overlooking my Tiger nature.
Less than an hour later, I was decked out in a perfectly acceptable set of adventuring clothes, with two spare sets, ten sets of under-things, and seeing I had no footwear either, several pairs of stockings, but she only had slippers for my feet. Cheap disposable slippers at that. Since they were a tattered set barely holding together. She also provided a backpack, which an adventurer had used as collateral a while back, only to fail to return for it.
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
“Thank you very much for your hard work. The alterations to those Merchant clothes are perfect! I can hold my head up high wearing those when I eventually have to deal with the Nobles.” I paid her two Gold coins and three Silvers. She had tried to refuse any payment, but I wouldn’t stand for it. “I’m not a Noble yet, and even if I were, I’d still pay a fair price. It irritates me when wealthy people get things for free, and I won’t do it myself.”
We left after that, with Jeanette having picked up another outfit herself, and upon my insistence, her own Court outfit, though she chose a Dress instead of a Suit like me. Made sense, I guess, having been born female, she’s used to Dresses, unlike myself. “Do you feel more comfortable in Dresses? To my mind, I’d feel way too exposed. I don’t mind that if it’s you, or someone else I consider a lover, but anyone else!” I shivered.
“Well, actually, I feel more exposed wearing pants. I do it because adventuring in a Dress isn’t practical, but yes, I’d prefer to wear a Dress whenever I can.”
Our next stop was a Cobbler’s shop. He took one look at my slippers and, like the clothier earlier, went into Emergency mode.
“Will these be alright? They’re a rush job, only an alteration to something another Customer failed to return for.”
I could tell he was in a panic mode now, thinking he had offended me.“These are perfect for everyday. Tell you what though, can you make me a more, fancy pair of shoes? No heels, something I can polish with a blacking of some kind, maybe even a wax. They can be small and dainty looking, but they must still have good tread. Also, a pair of house slippers. Something soft on bare feet, easy to slip on, perhaps in a blue color, it’s ok if it’s light blue, but I’d rather have darker blue.”
His eyes brightened at that. “Yes, I can manage those within the day, and have them ready tomorrow!”
I looked at Jeanette. “Any reason for that kind of rush, or do we have a couple of days?”
Jeanette answered, “Honestly, I think it’s better to rush it. As much as I’d love to lounge around with you for a while, the longer we delay getting to the Capitol, the worse things will get. Like you said, misunderstandings could lead to major trouble.”
I sighed, “Ok, I’ll let you rush it for tomorrow, but don’t stay up late! I won’t be getting up early, so even if you have to work on finishing them tomorrow morning after a decent sleep, I can wait.” I then forced another two Gold pieces onto him and left the shop.“Glad you insisted on my taking the money from the materials. Kitting up is expensive, especially when I have to get Fancy stuff too. Now for weapons and armor. Does the Guild have a sort of General Store for that stuff?”
Jeanette nodded. "You can get better custom stuff from the actual craftsman, but there is a Guild shop. What are you thinking of for armor?”
"I’d like a soft Leather outfit with some hard leather pieces attached. Mainly on the chest, and thighs, as well as the forearms.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s brilliant! Mostly lightweight and flexible, but hard leather in the weak spots! What about your weapon?”
“I was thinking some sort of Brass Knuckle type.” Looking at her, she was confused. “Um, basically it's a piece of metal with finger holes. When you grip it, it protects your fingers but lets you punch as hard as you want. I figure if it’s designed correctly, I can still use my Claws if I need to, but I can also have spikes on one side, or even both, honestly.”
"Let's go to that Smith’s shop, I know where he works. He’s going to LOVE your weapon. Probably make it out of that Stainless Steel for you.”
We did as Jeanette suggested.
First, I drew out the design of my Knuckle weapon, and he LOVED it, exactly as Jeanette had predicted. “Keep in mind, there’s a TON of variation to this weapon type, don’t just make this repeatedly. Think of all the unarmed fighting styles you know of, and design weapons that will seamlessly add to their existing style. Might be the difference between taking a quest, and not.”
He nodded deep in thought, then snapped out of it. “The Stainless Steel method you mentioned, will you teach me now? I want to use it on your weapon, it seems only fitting.”
I agreed and explained the chemical he’d need, which surprised him. Alchemists kept getting it in tons but never had much use for it. He sent a runner to buy a Barrel of the stuff, which was super cheap. Once his runner had returned, being able to carry the barrel due to being one of his apprentices, and having the muscles, I walked him through the Process, explaining that I knew what to look for, but had no practical experience with the tools, so he’d do the work, and I’d explain as we went.
It took some time to smelt down fresh iron. I surprised him again by telling him to throw any scrap iron or steel into the smelter. I explained that the process we’d be using can recycle the old metal, and if he mixed it into the fresh ore, it would make an even stronger ingot in the end. He did as instructed, and after hours of work, we were pouring High Carbon Stainless Steel ingots. He was able to make fifty Ingots out of his smelter, not bad for such a small Smithy. We took a Meal together while waiting for the Ingots to cool to a point where they could be worked. “Working the Stainless is only slightly more difficult than normal Steel. Same process, but you’ll be heating it more often.”
He nodded. “Now I’ve seen the smelting, I can see what you mean just with my skill. So simple when you understand it, yet undiscovered by us. Thank you very much for teaching me this. I’ll get to reuse all the junk metal too. Hmm, I should dig up all of the old metal we discarded before. It shouldn’t be too hard to find it again, we always use the same spot."
”That’s a good idea, remember the more you recycle, the cheaper the cost of material, thus the lower you can price it, and the more items you can sell. By the way, the Stainless makes great kitchen wares too.” He looked at me. “I don’t just mean knives, which are something you make already, but pots, pans, a de-scenting bar for the hands, if you can make smooth thin sheets, it’s great as a counter top, or even roofing. There are LOTS of applications for Stainless. Think about different ways to apply it to everyday life, that’s honestly where the money is. Adventurers may bring in some hefty coin, but they don’t buy weapons or armor often, so you end up charging more as a result, and that, in turn, lowers how many weapons you sell. Everybody needs food, keeping people fed is always profitable.”
I then sketched out several different kitchen knives for him. “Oh, I just thought of something, is there Silk available? Cheap Silk is fine.”
After thinking a moment, he answered. “The Tanner down the street was traded a bolt of Silk a week past, he might still have it.”
I smiled, “That’s perfect, I want it for my Armor, along with two steel plates that will cover my chest.”
“I thought you were doing Hard Leather plates!”
I looked at Jeanette, who had been mostly bored waiting for the Steel process to be explained. “Yeah, but if I line the soft leather with silk, it can catch arrows, and if I also tuck a steel plate between the Silk and Leather, then the odds of an arrow, or stinger, or whatever being able to pierce my heart are almost zero.” Both looked confused. “Silk can’t be torn. An arrow won’t go through silk, it gets caught instead. Then pulling on the silk will extract the arrow, without causing any more damage.”
Amazement was evident. “How do you know so much?”
I chuckled nervously. “My country of Origin had mandated education, the Steel I only know because of personal interest, spent a day or three learning the process by reading, and observing it in person on a Foundry tour.”
Thinking for a moment, I asked another question. “Have you heard of a Crossbow?” Both of them shook their heads. I then sketched out a miniature version, explaining the purpose of this design in particular, being a desperation weapon that I could use at range, to give me a little advantage against something chasing me. I also mentioned that a true crossbow is a good weapon for town guards because it takes little training, and a larger version still is called a Ballista, and is an anti-siege weapon, something for a Lord’s Walls, or City Wall defense. I showed the bolts and asked if he could make me everything, and have a Fletcher put the flights onto the bolt shafts. He happily agreed, and almost all my Gold went out of my Pocket. We went to the Tannery Shop, with the Steel Plates already in hand.
The Tanner was dumbfounded at what I asked him to make. The silk, having the ability to catch arrows, was unknown to him. He insisted on a reduced cost for having given him that information so freely, and bringing the plates for the chest as well. Telling me it would be finished the following day, and accepting the payment.
Jeanette and I then went to find an Inn. “I want a Bath, I feel sticky!”
Jeanette looked at me. “I thought you weren’t a Noble, how would you have had a Bath?”
I looked at her. “Running hot water is common back there. Everyone had a Bath, or at least a Shower, in their own homes. Some businesses even had company showers for Employees to use before or after work. To my mind, it’s just a common thing. I understand that isn’t the way it is here, but wherever we end up living, I WILL have a bath. I’d love a Hot Spring, so we could bathe together outside, with a screen around the bath.” My wistful sound and expression made Jeanette smile.
We found the Inn shortly, and aside from getting a bucket of hot water, there was no other method of bathing. I had gotten some Borax while we were out, and so I decided we needed two buckets; we split the cost of the room and the buckets of water. Good thing too, otherwise I wouldn’t have had anything left. Jeanette was amazed at the effect of the Borax, she had no notion it could be used as a soap, and even for our hair.
Once cleaned, which I took great pleasure in helping Jeanette, and I think she took equally great pleasure helping me, we went downstairs for dinner in the common room. We were surrounded by whispering patrons, but the food was adequate.
Then we returned to our room, and I noticed that there was no lock, or even a latch on the window shutters. I took some rope and tied everything shut, and hung some metal bits onto the ropes for both places. Jeanette looked at me, curious as to why I was doing this. “I figure someone might try to rob us tonight, thinking I’m a Noble, and have plenty, or else even try to make us into Slaves or whatever. Even if they cut the rope, it will make noise. Hopefully, it will be enough warning to act. Even more, I hope I’m just being paranoid.”
Understanding and slight panic hit her face. “No, you’re probably right, I wouldn’t have worried over much for myself, but with you I should have been on higher alert!”
With that, we got into the bed, though harder than I’d prefer, it was blessedly clean. So much in just two days, but having a snuggle buddy made it all worth it. About an hour after sunset, the window shutter jingled as someone attempted to cut the rope. Jeanette was instantly alert, and I wasn’t far behind. My Claws were already out, and Jeanette had a blade in her hand.
We took up station on either side of the window, and soon the rope fell into the room, and the shutter opened, and in climbed a hooded figure. He had poor night vision, apparently, and must not have been too keen on smell either, because he didn’t even realize we weren’t in the bed, as he climbed in, and drew a knife. He approached the bed stealthily, and just when he realized something wasn’t right, we struck.
A single cry was all he was able to make before he lay dead on the floor. We then threw him back out the window, used a rag to wipe up the little blood off the floor, and retied the window, returning to sleep. Naturally, we were awoken by screaming outside in the Morning.
I groaned as I got up. We dressed and put on our packs before heading downstairs, where the common room was in a panic. “Calm down, everyone!” I shouted in my best impression of a Parade voice. Everyone turned to me, eyes impossibly wide. “I assume this is about the Dead man outside. He attempted to kill my companion and probably take me as a Slave last night. We didn’t want to interrupt anyone’s sleep, so we just threw his corpse out the window. Self-defense, no Murder here.”
Instantly, the room calmed. A Tiger defending themselves was only natural. “How did you stop them, if you don’t mind? Whatever it was, I’d like to copy it myself for the rest of my patrons.”
I turned to the Host. “My method was simple. I tied the window and door shut, with metal bits hanging from the rope, so when it was cut, it jingled, which woke us, with plenty of time to get ready. It’s not foolproof, but better than nothing. I’ll talk to the Smithy, though, about some basic room locks and window latches. Those will help even more.” Bafflement about room locks was evident, but the Host thanked me nevertheless for the consideration.
With that, we ate our Breakfast, then left the Inn. The Guards came just then, and only asked us to verify that it was indeed I who had killed the Man, which I did, reminding them that I wasn’t a Noble, but that never stops people from assuming things. Thanking me for being as discreet as I could be, they went on with their day.
We visited the Tanner first, and my Armor was ready and perfect. It had a sort of deadly grace. I put it on straight away, and felt a million times better. Thanking him, we then returned to the Smithy, and everything there was ready as well.
I collected my knuckles, my crossbow with twenty bolts, and the single Ingot of Stainless Steel for proof of concept. Then I designed the basic room locks, window latches, and keys. It took him no time to understand the concept of individual room keys, but also having a Master Key for the Host. How the Master works differently from a Basic key that only works in a single lock. He said he could have enough of the Basic Locks and Latches for the whole in by the next day, and since again I had given him the idea, he’d do the initial work at cost. Everyone was likely to want a Basic lock for their front doors and latches on their windows after this, so he’d make plenty of profit in the future.
Another trip to the Cobbler to pick up my new footwear, and we were ready to depart. Then I realized I hadn’t gotten my tent or a water skin. I groaned and explained to Jeanette. “Oh, well, I can get those things, and you can pay me back when we reach the next town. I figure we take an escort quest going in the right direction. Keeps things simple.” I agreed to that, and we gathered the remaining supplies, filled my pack, and hers with provisions.
