Chapter 87: The Hand-and-a-Half Sword

Early the next morning, the three of them gathered for breakfast at the inn. Thanks to Raymond, both Henk and Mara had got into the habit of eating breakfast.

“Marcus came to see me yesterday,” Raymond told Henk as they ate.

“Who?” Mara looked blank.

“The Sheriff. The one you met yesterday,” Raymond said. “Though he might not be Sheriff anymore. If what he told me is true, he may already have been removed from office.”

“Removed?” Henk frowned in surprise. “What did he want?”

“Apparently, certain people in Blackstone want to resume trading with the gnolls. Marcus disagreed, so he may be losing his position over it.” Raymond peeled a boiled egg and took a bite. “He thinks the trade would seriously threaten the town's safety.”

“Him? Marcus?” Henk could hardly believe it. He had always thought Marcus rather greedy. Would a man like that really give up his position as Sheriff for the town's safety?

“Yes.” Raymond nodded. “He also wants us to take the job at the pass into the Blackstone Mountains. He says we're the ones he trusts most. I didn't want to do it, but they don't seem to have anyone better suited to it.” He sighed. “I also talked it over with Marcus. We plan to pose as bandits and keep trading with the gnolls. That would give us a chance to send someone after them again and find out what's really going on in the Blackstone Mountains.” He glanced at Henk and Mara. “So, what do you two think?”

Henk exchanged a glance with Mara. “If the pay's good enough, I'm willing.”

“I'll go along with you,” Mara said casually. “I don't know anyone else here anyway.”

Raymond looked at her seriously. “This job is extremely important. You must follow my lead and obey my orders.”

He and Henk had faced death together many times, but he had not known Mara for long. There were things they needed to agree on beforehand.

“Don't worry, boss.” Mara rolled her eyes.

Raymond was about to stand when Henk caught hold of him. “If we're really going to face gnolls this time, I think you need a different weapon.”

“Oh? Why?”

“You're quite skilled with a sword now. But against gnolls, your arming sword's too short.” Henk pointed at it. “They're tall, with long arms. A hand-and-a-half sword would suit you better.”

“A hand-and-a-half sword? Like the one you used to have?” Raymond raised his eyebrows.

“Yes. But mine was too heavy for you. You should get a lighter, well-balanced one.”

“Got it.” Raymond nodded.

Mara perked up. “If you don't know what to do with that arming sword, you could give it to me. I still need a weapon that suits me.”

Raymond smiled and held it out to her. “I paid six silver coins for it. If you want it, you can have it for four.”

“What? You want money for it?” Mara had already reached for the sword, but immediately pulled her hand back. “On second thought, my shortsword and bow suit me just fine.”

Raymond laughed cheerfully. “I'll see if I can find a suitable weapon first. If I do, we can talk about this sword afterward.”

He got up and left the inn. It would be awkward to take Mara along for what he needed to do next, but he could not leave her to wander around Blackstone alone. Leaving her with Henk was the best choice.

He had originally planned to visit Dario at the town guard's headquarters and find out whether Marcus had really been dismissed. But Henk's advice had made him consider replacing his weapon. The smithy was on the way, and stopping to have a look would not take long.

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Raymond was a familiar customer by now, having bought equipment there several times. As soon as the owner saw him, he came over to greet him.

“Raymond! It's been a while. Where's Henk? Didn't he come with you?”

“No.” Raymond skipped the small talk. “I'd like to buy a hand-and-a-half sword. Do you have one that would suit me?”

“A hand-and-a-half sword?” The owner nodded and immediately led him to the weapon rack.

Many weapons hung there. At the top were several considerably larger ones: a few hand-and-a-half swords and even a broad, thick-bladed two-handed greatsword.

“Those are all the hand-and-a-half swords I have. Feel free to try them,” the owner said politely.

“I'll try them all, then.”

Raymond took down a sword and gripped it with both hands, testing it with a few swings. Then he put it down and tried the second, followed by the third. After trying all three, he settled on the second.

It was suited to both cutting and thrusting, with a moderate weight and a grip and balance that felt particularly right for him. The blade was longer than his old arming sword's, of medium width, and tapered gradually to a sharp point. It was not, however, a slender blade designed solely for thrusting. The blade was thicker near the guard and grew thinner toward the tip, retaining enough weight for cutting without feeling tip-heavy.

The grip had room for both hands and was wrapped in leather to prevent slipping. The guard and pommel were plain, firmly fitted, and free of unnecessary decoration. With both hands on the grip, Raymond could control the blade more steadily, recover after a cut, and change direction more smoothly. When necessary, he could still release his left hand and wield it with his right alone, though it was less nimble than his old arming sword.

Unlike Henk's sword, this one was not built for sheer weight and powerful cuts. Instead, it was light, maneuverable, and especially comfortable to use.

“Good. I'll take this one. How much?” Raymond was very pleased.

“Fifteen silver coins.”

“What? That much?” Raymond was surprised. “The brand-new arming sword I bought last time was only six silver. This costs more than twice as much?”

The owner smiled and shook his head. “An ordinary hand-and-a-half sword wouldn't cost that much. But this one's made from fine materials, and the workmanship is excellent. I had it specially made in Brightwater. I'd originally intended to... Never mind. At this price, I'm certainly not taking advantage of you.”

“Really?” Raymond was skeptical. He knew little about the materials used in weapons, but the blade did look finely made. It also handled very well, noticeably better than the other two.

“Really, Raymond,” the owner said seriously. “You're Blackstone's hero. You're the last person I'd cheat. Take the sword now and ask someone who knows weapons what it's worth. You can pay me once you're sure. Fifteen silver is an honest price.”

Raymond relaxed a little at that. After considering it, he took out five silver coins and handed them over.

“Here's five silver as a deposit. I'll pay the rest once I've had it checked.”

“No problem.” The owner readily agreed. He trusted Raymond's reputation.

He handed over the sword along with its matching scabbard, sword belt, suspension straps, and everything else that went with it. He also adjusted the belt's length and the angle at which the scabbard hung, making sure it would not get in the way as Raymond walked and that the sword would be easy to draw.

Once everything was in order, Raymond said goodbye and headed for the town guard's headquarters.

It looked no different from usual. Two soldiers were still on duty at the entrance.

“I'm here to see the Sheriff,” Raymond told them.

“Raymond.” The soldiers exchanged a glance. One looked at him, his expression difficult to read. “You want to see the Sheriff? Which Sheriff?”

Raymond did not know how to answer. Marcus had told him he might be dismissed, but Raymond did not yet know who held the office now. The news had not spread, and he could not readily explain himself.

“It's all right. Let him in.”

The familiar voice came just as Raymond was struggling for an answer. He looked up to see Dario standing a short distance away, hands behind his back, wearing a brand-new uniform.

The soldiers turned and saw him. They did not dare obstruct Raymond and immediately stepped aside. Without a word, Dario led him into his office.

The office was familiar, but Marcus was no longer the man behind the desk. Dario sat upright, watching Raymond calmly. Raymond could not tell what he was thinking.

“Good to see you, Deputy Sheriff Dario,” Raymond said promptly.

“Call me Sheriff.” Dario's face was expressionless.

Raymond looked up at him, studying his uniform. He hesitated. “With respect, it's only your first day in office.”

“Second,” Dario corrected him. “The town council voted last night. I've already taken over as Sheriff.”

“I see. Congratulations, then,” Raymond said stiffly.

Dario looked back at him. They held each other's gaze for a moment, then both burst out laughing. It took a while for Dario's smile to fade. When he spoke again, his voice was heavy.

“This isn't a good time to become Sheriff, Raymond.”

“Whatever the case, you're the Sheriff now. Sheriff.”

Dario shrugged. “What did you come to see me about today? Or rather, what did you want to see Marcus about?”

“The gnolls, of course.”