A Sword to Remember

Part II

The crunch of snow, collapsing far below the surface beneath our feet. It hadn't exactly been warm inside the caves, but the cool, fresh, open air felt wonderful. Especially in contrast to dodging fireballs. Our sled glided smoothly over the ice. Under a blanket and lashing laid a small mountain of scales, claws, fangs, and hide that we pulled behind us by a rope.

"We're going to be thick as thieves!" Taro was fascinated with the pile of loot we were able to carve from the giant Rathalos.

"We'll eat well tonight. Of that I'm certain."

"And we get paid!" He was always so content with the small things. Loot, money, drink. Taro loved it all. He was made for monster hunting. Not only was he short, stocky, strong, and speedy, but he loved the hunt, and he loved the life. It was his calling.

"Well, we have to get back to town first. Come on now, settle down and help me with this sled."

"Right, right."

We trudged on, pulling our take in silence for a few leagues until I noticed Taro staring intently at me, wearing a blank expression.

"What?"

"You know what I want. Let's have it!"

With a sigh, I dropped the rope and removed a cloth wrapped parcel from a strap over my back. As I unraveled the dirty canvas, Taro practically jittered with excitement. Slowly, I lifted the sword from its makeshift sheathe. The claw had been turned a deep maroon, with charred black veins streaking down the sides.

"Do you think it still works?"

"Yeah. It's tougher than it was before. I thought it would be destroyed, but I think the fire made it harder. Tempered it."

"I'll have to remember that next time. Maybe I'll get a chance to throw my sword in some dragonbreath too."

With a slight smile, I shook my head. "Come on Taro. Let's keep going."

It wasn't much further to the village. People stared at us, and their children pointed in awe as we headed down the stone path.

"Check the loot in with the blacksmith. I'm going to see the elder."

Taro nodded and hauled away our take as I made my way to the longhouse. It was dim inside. Light came only from a small fire in the hearth and a single small square window. An aged man in a thick grey robe sat in a wooden rocking chair, stroking a soft white cat.

"I knew you'd be back today." He acknowledged me before I had even made it into his sight. "You've been gone three days now."

"And we would have returned three days ago, but a Rathalos never wants to make the job easy."

The elder laughed softly from weak lungs under frail bones. He sighed in a tone of reminiscence. "The hunt was quite a bit different in my time. We never could have done what you do."

A rush of frosty air seeped in as the door opened and closed again. Taro waltzed in and stood next to me.

"I don't mean to waste any more of your time. Here, I've got what you boys worked for."

From the floor at his feet, the elder produced two heavy cloth sacks and set them on a small table beside his chair. They dropped with a heavy thump and a pleasant jingle. Before my hand grasped the neck of one of the sacks he muttered a single quiet sentence.

"You two are going to be one of the best things that ever happened to this town."

I handed a bag to Taro and decided that it was best not to say anything. We left the warmth of the log structure and emerged in the biting cold.

"Cryptic." Taro stated simply.

"Have some respect. He's the only reason that we're not gutting fish anymore."

Even though I knew it was better not to think about it, I was just as curious.