Chapter 2: Forge

In Brightwall village, Blade noticed a young man following her. As she was crossing the border into Mispeak territory, she saw him in the corner of her eye. Realizing he had been caught, the man hid among a mass of people.

"I can see you." Blade stated simply, "sir, if you're going to follow me, you may as well do it openly."

The man turned beet red, but exposed himself from his cover, "you don't mind?"

"I do," said Blade, "but I figured you might as well stop this nonsense."

"You must be wondering-"

"-why you're following me? Of course I'm wondering that."

"You remind me of someone," the man said.

"So you followed me?"

"To study you from afar," he said.

"Well? What's your conclusion?"

"Um..." the man looked at her, embarrassed. He quickly closed his mouth, stubbornly.

"Yes?" Blade was growing impatient, "if you're trying to distract me, sir, it's not worth it. I am needed in Mispeak Valley, so whatever you need to say, please say it."

The man frowned. For a while, he was quiet (which just aggravated Blade more) and then he asked if he could escort her.

"Why?" she asked him.

"I need to study you better before I can make a conclusion," the man answered.

Blade frowned, "fine, you may escort me. However, I shall need to know your name."

The color drained from the man's face, "...my name?"

"Yes, your name. I will need to call you by something."

There was a silence that lasted for a long moment.

"Can you not remember your name?" Blade assumed.

"Of course I know my own name!" the man seemed defensive.

"Then what is it?"

"It doesn't seem fair that you should know my name but I shouldn't know yours."

"I'm known as Blade," she told him.

"In that case, you can call me Forge," he said.

They looked at each other. Blade was debating on letting this man go with her for she was very wary of strangers, while Forge was trying to figure out who this "Blade" really was.

Finally, Blade sighed, "Shall we get going?"

"We might as well. If we don't head out soon, we'll be traveling at night."

"Is that supposed to scare me?" Blade wondered.

"Anyone in their right mind would be terrified."

"Call me crazy."

Blade and Forge wandered through Mispeak Valley, a wilderness of snowy forests. They endured attacks by three packs of wolves and were growing tired. Forge had suggested stopping to set up camp, but Blade insisted that she needed to continue on and that a break would only slow them down.

Blade heard a distant howl, no doubt a wolf communicating with its pack members. However, Blade also heard an aggressive growl, coming from slightly off the path. She turned her head, waiting for her eyes to adjust in the dim evening light. Blade could make out a figure circling her, waiting for the opportune moment to attack. Blade lifted the gauntlet strapped to her palm, glancing at a distracted Forge. Now was her chance-

-the figure stormed toward her, as Blade generated a diminutive spark; not at full capacity, yet powerful enough to cause the animal to yelp and retreat. Blade exhaled. Forge caught a glimpse of the singed wolf, storing the image in the back of his mind. Carefully assembling the puzzle in his head, Forge examined Blade, once more.

"Forge," Blade observed, "it's getting dark."

"Then light the way, Hero," Forge's lips curled into a smiIe. "I know who you are. You're the princess. Your brother is King Logan and your mother was a Hero before you. You're needed in Dweller Camp to start a rebellion, aren't you?"

Blade grimaced. Forge took her expression as a confirmation.

Forge sighed, "When I heard the princess ran away, I never expected to meet her. You have my alliance against King Logan. I don't need anything in return, just to see Albion with a new leader. I'll follow you into battle, princess."

Blade stared at him, "no, you don't know what you're getting yourself into."

"I'm ready for it," Forge argued.

Blade opened her mouth to debate, but Forge interrupted her.

"Come, princess. If you're going to create an army and rise up against King Logan, you're going to need more than just me. I'm only one man."

They continued traveling. Blade closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Forge looked at her, "For what?"

"Everything."

Forge smiled a crooked smile.

"So, you know my backstory," Blade looked into Forge's blue-grey eyes, "do I get to hear yours?"

Forge peered into her eyes, drinking in their curiosity.

Fatigued and sore, Forge convinced Blade to set up a campsite. Forge gathered firewood and Blade gently lit it with her willpower.

As they warmed themselves around the consuming fire, Blade sighed and said, "yes."

"What?" Forge cocked an eyebrow at her.

"Yes, I'm meeting someone in Dweller Camp to start a rebellion."

Forge forced a surprised laugh.

Blade blushed and said, "I thought you should know."

"Hey," Forge rubbed his hands together. "My name's not really 'Forge.'"

"No, really?"

"I don't appreciate the sarcasm," Forge frowned.

Blade shrugged, "what's your real name?"

"Andrew," Forge answered.

"Why are you known as 'Forge?'" Blade wondered.

"I'm a blacksmith, it's my job. Why are you 'Blade?'" Forge poked the fire with a stick, before throwing it into the pile of burning wood.

"I've been complimented on my dexterous skills." Blade answered.

"Bet you're not as good as me." Forge challenged.

Blade gave him a look of doubt, "you're on."

Dweller Camp wasn't what Blade had expected at all. It was poor and run down and extremely cold. Blade shivered and huddled close to Andrew.

"Cold, Blade?" he grinned at her.

Blade nodded.

Andrew wrapped his arm around her shoulder, "do you see this 'Walter' yet?"

"No."

"I'm sure we'll find him."

"Blade!" someone called from behind them.

Andrew, instinctively, moved away from her as Blade turned to see Walter wave his chubby arm. His belly jiggled.

"Forge, follow me," Blade held her hand toward him.

Andrew hesitated, then took her hand. They strolled over to Walter.

"Well," Walter studied Andrew, "who is this?"

"Forge," Andrew answered quickly.

"He escorted me," Blade explained.

Walter smiled before ranting about someone named Sabine. Blade pretended to be listening. She answered questions when necessary but was in the midst of zoning out.

"Blade, are you listening?" Walter asked.

"No," Blade said without thinking, "I mean, uh, no, not really. Why?"

Walter frowned. Andrew chuckled, but disguised it as a cough. Blade grinned. Apparently she had said something funny.

Ruler over the Dwellers, Sabine, would not be easily persuaded toward the rebel side. He refused to fight for Logan but wouldn't ally with Blade either. In order to win him over, she needed to retrieve an artifact. She would also need to convince Brightwall to share their resources with the people of Dweller Camp. Sabine mentioned a mercenary problem that would need to be taken care of, as well.

Blade stopped in Brightwall to ask Andrew to join her.