Casting Shadows Chapter 79
------------------------ Originally written June 15th, 2025 ------------------------
“Here comes your Champion of freedom! Cassandra!” Fariba harangued the evening tavern-goers, as Cassandra descended from the second floor. Grinning, she lifted her hand to wave, but the ever-hovering Kebb slapped her wrist.
“Don’t encourage the drunks,” he muttered, pushing forward through the crowd toward the exit. Cass stuck her tongue out at him but followed along with Anatu.
Fariba moved through the people like water through stone; a comparison emphasized by their layered robes of vibrant blues and purples, and sapphire-studded headpiece, versus the drab greys and browns of the locals or the travel-stained whites of the Disciples of Flame.
“Friends! You seek to depart without acknowledging your good friend Fariba?”
“We’re not departing,” Cass said, “just going to the hawkery to send a message.”
“‘Champion of freedom’, really?” Anatu asked, annoyance plain in their tone.
“No, I like it.” Cass grinned, holding the door for Fariba and Anatu. The evening air was still warmer than inside so she fanned her long black hair out with her arms as they walked.
“The hawkery is this way, if you fancy a quick detour around the oasis,” Fariba said
“We don’t,” Anatu said.
“But the scenery is lovely! And the air-” Fariba kissed their fingers, “so fresh and cooling.”
“I am afraid we have to send a message off as soon as possible,” Kebb said. “Is there a quicker route?”
“But of course! We shall take the most direct path through the market.”
“One minute,” Cass said, walking around the tavern to where the cart was stowed. She pulled her swordspear out and hoisted it over her shoulder.
“What could you possibly need that for?” Anatu asked, arms crossed incredulously.
“There’s a blacksmith somewhere around here, right?” Cass asked, looking at Fariba.
“Of course! On the way to the hawkery we will pass the greatest smithy in all the vast desert,” they answered enthusiastically. “Why, once, Fariba’s cartwheel shattered on a stone and-”
“See?” Cass said. “I need to get this thing sharpened.”
“Shouldn’t you have done that before we left Dehenet?” Kebb asked.
“I would have, but it was in the river when I learned about the mission.”
“Why was it in the river?”
“I was drunk,” Cass said with a shrug, “and we were celebrating the fall of the Empire. I think I promised to promote any soldier who could throw it farther than me.”
“That’s hardly a fair contest,” Anatu muttered.
“We were all drunk out of our minds.” Cass chuckled.
Kebb groaned. “Cassandra, we don’t have time to-”
“I’m just going to drop it off. We don’t need to stand around and wait for them to work. Fariba said it’s on the way, right?”
Fariba nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! We will pass right by.”
“Alright, lead on,” Cass gestured casually with the long, heavy blade and followed.
The market was not so crowded yet as the tavern felt. Vendors were still setting up their stalls now that the heat of the day was breaking, setting up produce and cheeses to be sold. A few early hagglers were out, all locals from the look of their clothing. People who knew the merchants and were likely being given better deals than the traders passing through town.
The smithy would have been easily overlooked by Cass if not for Fariba stopping by an open door in a squat, adobe structure. There was no smoke or heat like she expected as she ducked through the entrance, nearly stumbling as she was immediately confronted with a short set of stairs.
The room was half-buried and several people were moving about in near-darkness; the sound of chains rattling and metal scraping made Cass feel uneasy.
“Can I help you?” a woman carrying a torch appeared behind a wood counter. She set the flame in a sconce as Cass approached, and looked at the swordspear with wide eyes. “If you need us to work on that it’ll be a few hours. We haven’t lit the forges yet.”
“No rush,” Cass said, setting the swordspear point-down in the dirt floor and leaning it against the counter. She leaned on the wood as well and gave the woman a smile; her short, brown hair and strong arms were quite pretty. “I just need it sharpened. Name’s Cass.”
“I know. Fariba of Shen's been talking about you for days. I'm Lena."
"That's a pretty name," Cass said, "for a pretty woman. Short for 'Helena'? You look Sammosan."
Lena rolled her eyes, reaching for the weapon. "Yes, my mother was from Sammos. And I'll be busy all night."
Cass took the hint. "Alright. Be careful with that, it's real heavy."
"Don't worry, I'll be-" Lena tried to lift the swordspear but the weight made her grip slip and it fell to the floor with a clang.
"It's very heavy." Cass said, picking it back up effortlessly and leaning it against the counter again.
"I'm very sorry about that." Lena frowned.
"No harm done. I've slammed it into worse than a dirt floor. I'll be back tomorrow for it."
"I'll be sure it's done before then."
Cass emerged from the smithy to the sight of Fariba playing with some kids in the market. One of them was wearing the ornate blue headpiece from the merchant -backwards, so it covered their eyes - as Fariba spun the child around before releasing them to chase after the other giggling kids.
"About time," Kebb said when Cass was outside.
"Shut up, or I'll shut you up," Cass said, getting tired of Kebb's impatience. "Fariba! Which way to the hawkery?"
"That is the building there," Fariba pointed to a hut with what looked like a large chimney. Cass would have assumed that to be the smithy, until she saw a bird fly out of the adobe spire instead of smoke. "Fariba will be here when you return." The merchant laughed with the children as the dizzy kid found one of their peers and put the headdress on them to continue the game.