Sorry it took so long guys, but I think I'm starting to get bored doing this story. No, I don't plan on abandoning or putting it on hiatus. I do; however, think that maybe working on another story might help jump start my muse and bring back my enthusiasm, so I created a new for you guys to help me decide on what my new story should be. Hope you enjoy this chapter and please review!
"So this here is Tristania?" Grimlock asked Louise as he observed the people and places of the city.
"Yes Grimlock this is the capital Tristania." Louise said with a sigh, having told him previously where they were going. "Keep your head down!" Louise quietly snapped at Grimlock as she reached up and pulled his hood down.
Grimlock simply grumbled towards Louise's action, but couldn't really fault her. The large cloak and leather gloves Louise made Grimlock wear were meant hide him from the people in the city. This was because neither one of them really wanted to deal with people gawking at him, stopping to ask questions about him or cause some sort of panic. That didn't mean that it wasn't still annoying, trying to keep as much of his body hidden by the cloak as possible. At least he didn't have to wear boots, though he did find the memory of Louise trying to squeeze his feet into some amusing.
"Lots of shops here." Grimlock said to himself as he looked around.
"Of course, Bourdonnais Avenue is the largest street in the city." Louise answered, without looking back. "So it makes sense that there would be a lot of shops here."
"Not that surprising." Grimlock thought to himself, the same thing after all is done on both Earth and Cybertron. "Lot of neat stuff sold here Louise." Grimlock said browsing at a shop filled with knick-knacks.
"Yes they do, but don't wander off." Louise said looking back at her familiar. "A lot of pickpockets are here, so watch my wallet okay."
In response Grimlock simply stuck his hand within his cloak and Louise heard the sound of metal moving. When finished Grimlock brought his hand back out with a bag filled with gold coins. Giving the bag a small shake so Louise could hear the coins jingle against each other before bring it back with in his cloak. The sound of metal moving could then briefly be heard again as Grimlock placed Louise's gold back into one of his compartments. Louise simply rolling her eyes and turned around.
"Weird looking signs." Grimlock said noting the signs as the two walked around the city.
"Most of the peasants are illiterate." Louise responded. "So most store owners use shapes and symbols to help people understand what's being sold."
"Really?" Grimlock asked. "Me Grimlock have no idea what they mean."
"Just don't get lost." Louise said not interested in explaining to him what every sign means.
"Wait where you Louise going?" Shouted Grimlock when he saw Louise begin to enter a shop.
"To the armory Grimlock, remember we talked about this yesterday." Louise said as she stood outside the store's door pointing up at the store's sign.
"There a armory in this ally!" Grimlock said shocked. "But it's smelly and dirty back there!"
Grimlock couldn't understand this. Why would anyone want to keep weapons in such a place, let along try to sell them in it? A good weapon should be kept in a better place. Hopefully there's a good reason for this disgrace.
"It's not like I wanted to come here either." Louise told Grimlock. "But I promised you a new sword, so please just follow me." Louise finished as she entered the armory.
"Hello there, welcome!" The short and portly store owner said as the two entered. "Oh, a noble? I run a legitimate business. Nothing illegal, I swear. I swear!"
"Okay." Grimlock responded not really caring about what the owner said and went to browse.
Louise simply rolled her eyes. "Good to know, I'm here as a customer." Louise calmly said, ignoring what owner previously said. "I wish to furnish my servant here with a new sword."
"You honor us with your business ma'am!" Said the now calmed arms dealer. "Any particular kind of sword you're looking for?"
"As a noble I want something that matches my status." Louise answered grinning at the thought. "However, I know nothing about swords, so you will have to choose one for me."
At the end of Louise's confession the shopkeeper's own grin went from ear to ear. "Understood ma'am."
"Good, now go find one for my servant." Louise said pleased with the answer.
The store owner quickly disappeared at Louise's command and went to the back of his shop. The sound of crates and barrels being moved and weapons being dropped quickly permeated the air. Louise was waiting patiently as she looked at some of the more standard weapons in the armory. Grimlock on the other head ended up playing with some of the weapons, thrusting as slashing at nothing. All while grinning happily, not that anyone could see with his cloaks hood up.
"Grimlock stop playing with that." Louise nearly shouted at her familiar as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
Surprised from Louise's shout Grimlock dropped the small knives he was trying to juggle. "Aw!" Grimlock groaned in disappointment.
"Put those back quickly!" Louise whispered to Grimlock worried that she may have to buy the knives as well due to the possible damage Grimlock caused.
Grimlock quickly placed the knives and all of the other weapons he brought out away. Just as he finished the armory's owner returned. Within the owner's hands was a rather stylish looking rapier. Eyeballing Grimlock suspiciously the portly man went to Louise.
"Thank you for your patience ma'am." The short man said suspiciously. "Would this rapier perhaps be what you're looking for? It has been rather popular among the nobility lately."
"It pretty." Grimlock said as he took and examined the sword. "Me Grimlock think it sword is to small for me Grimlock though."
The store owner quickly turned away from Louise to stare at Grimlock. "What do you mean it's to small?"
"It sword to thin, me Grimlock think me Grimlock might break it." Grimlock said as he preformed a few practice swings and thrusts.
"I highly doubt that you'll break it." The man said arrogantly. "It's been enchanted due to its popularity with the nobles."
"Why the sudden popularity?" Louise asked the owner.
"The nobility has taken to arming their servants lately due to some thief pulling off some raids on the local castle towns." The short man answered turning back to Louise. "Most of the lords and ladies choose to arm them with this item."
"A thief?" Louise questioned.
"Oh yes! To date he has stolen several priceless treasures from the nobles." The man answered. "Many of the nobles of course are concerned about this new development, especially considering the fact that this thief is a earth mage using alchemy to turn stone walls into dirt. The thief's being called Fouquet The Crumbling Dirt, he's even been known to mock those he burgles with a I.O.U. left behind."
"Who cares?" Louise said dismissing the conversation, after all it's not like she'll have to deal with Fouquet. "Well need a bigger sword though." She said remembering Grimlock's comment.
"Are you sure ma'am?" The short and portly man said. "One should always make sure that the swordsman and sword are compatible before a purchase."
"I said get me a bigger sword!" Louise angrily scolded the man.
The man simply frowned in irritation and responded. "Yes ma'am, this will only take a second."
Turning around the man left the duo, taking the rapier with him. It didn't take the store owner long before he returned with another sword. Though a little out of breath from carrying the heavy weapon the man placed it on the store counter for his customers to see.
"There you go ma'am the best sword in my shop." The man said to Louise. "This sword was forged by Lord Obara, a famous alchemist and mage in Germania. It'll slice through any other metal with ease."
"Grimlock come over here and see this sword." Louise commanded.
Grimlock wordlessly came over, careful to make sure that the man doesn't see his face through his hood. Reaching out for the sword with his gloved hands Grimlock pulled the sword out of its sheath. He ignored the shopkeeper's look of disbelief at Grimlock holding the sword with one arm. He quickly noted that the sword was heavier then the last sword and found himself appreciating the more familiar weight that the weapon had. He also liked the form of the blade, seeing small similarities with his claymore. Almost as quickly though Grimlock saw that the sword was largely made out of gold and had a few gems encrusted upon it.
"Gold not good for making weapons." Grimlock said to the small man.
"Normally yes, but this blade has been enchanted, making it much stronger." The man said nervously.
Grimlock turned to Louise questionably, who simply shrugged. "It also unbalanced."
"Impossible, you're wrong." The man said with a frown.
"No, me Grimlock not wrong." Grimlock responded.
"You're just trying to get a cheaper price for it, you liar!" Accused the man angrily.
"Me Grimlock no liar!" Roared the transformer.
Sensing that things could come to blows pretty soon Louise said. "Grimlock calm down." Seeing the man smirk in victory Louise glared at him. "How much is it anyway?"
The man's smirk quickly disappeared at seeing the nobles glare. "2000 eques or 3000 new gold coins." The man answered quickly.
"What?" Louise shouted in shock. "By Brimir I could buy a very large house with that!"
"That too much?" Grimlock asked now confused.
"Way too much for a sword!" Louise answered.
"Well if it's too expensive for you give it back." The arms dealer said.
"It pretty, but it sucks anyway." Grimlock said angrily as he nearly threw the sheathed sword back to its owner.
"Well said warrior." Said a voice behind the familiar and mage.
"Who said that?" Grimlock asked.
"Shut up Derfly!" The owner of armory shouted. "You're always disrupting my business!"
"Your business is sleazy, your weapons are poor, and you smell like trash now go away you gillie wet foot, I'm talking here!" The voice responded.
"I ought to melt you down for that!" The dealer growled.
"There you are!" Grimlock said as pulled a sword out of a barrel.
"Wait is that a talking sword?" Louise said shocked. "I've only ever read about them!"
"Why that I am lady I am theā¦" The talking sword began, until Grimlock brought his face closer to it. "You're one of them!" The sword roared angrily.
Hope you all enjoyed it, did any see the "Transformers" reference? Remember to check out my new poll and review!
