30. Riggs
RIGGS
Three days passed. He thought he’d feel better by now.
Esemeray’s betrothed.
He couldn’t get it out of his head, couldn’t fill the hole in his heart.
Why didn’t she tell me?
Where did she go? Back to him?
Riggs moved slowly. He hardly had enough strength to forge swords, but he had to. Riggs and Killian were to deliver half the sword order to Kohen in Starfall Canyon. Killian almost objected, but ultimately agreed when he realized they had to pass through to get to Theradonia.
Riggs knew it was his father’s way of punishing them.
Tomorrow they’d leave. Tomorrow they’d start their hunt. And tomorrow he hoped he didn’t feel as empty.
The scent of molten iron stung his nostrils as he hammered on the anvil.
Killian worked the chisel, crafting the hilt with meticulous detail, while Zander heated up more iron for Riggs to hammer.
His father, on the other hand, couldn’t stop pacing from the crate of loaded weaponry, to oversee Killian’s progress on the final sword.
Their father always acted this way before a shipment, making sure everything was prepared correctly.
Kohen would have their heads if any swords were missing.
Riggs supposed that was why his father appeared so uneasy.
Kohen could be…harsh at times, but the Rhabari practiced peace and love, so Riggs doubted any harm would be done to them.
But Kohen was not just some powerful merchant, he was a magical being.
And his heirs…his heirs had magic beyond measure.
An heir Riggs had been romantically involved with for a few months.
Izara.
Raising his arm, Riggs pounded the hammer down in a steady rhythm, making sure to form the correct shape. The same shape as the last forty-nine already packed in the crate.
The claymore.
It was the only sword Kohen ever purchased.
Riggs didn’t blame him. The claymore was known as the great sword, its long, iron double-edged blade could tear through enemy armor with ease.
Add in a decorative handle that Killian had become a master at crafting, and you’ll have yourself a lethal, yet… beautiful sword.
One day, when there were no wars left to fight and peace spread throughout the lands, Riggs was certain the swords they spent days forging would be used for decoration and hung along walls as art. But that was a long time coming.
Riggs glanced down at his boots, reminding himself he needed to speak with Eddie before they left town. One: for new boots; and two: to ring Eddie’s neck for giving Killian Goolies.
Bastard.
Eddie’s shop was a small establishment a block down from his father’s forge, and it had always been the most wonderful place in their village.
Everyone knew Eddie possessed powers, but it wasn’t the odd floating train sets running around the ceiling or the toys dancing that first gave it away.
It was simply the otherworldly atmosphere as soon as one crossed the threshold.
Riggs reached for the forest-green door. Eddie’s shop may be the most impressive in town, but there was one item Eddie carried that amazed Riggs the most—the whole shelf of tomato soup. It was the only food Eddie sold, and no one ever purchased it.
But today, Riggs would.
He pushed open the door and inhaled the musty, damp earth scent lingering by the stone fountains. His brows bunched. There was another smell as he walked further into the brightly lit shop. Something sweet. Peppers? Pineapple?
A jolly, friendly voice sounded from the back. “Welcome to Eddie’s and Things.”
Riggs headed toward the aisle of boots. “Hey, Eddie. It’s me, Riggs.
By the boots.” The footwear was carefully crafted, in every neutral color imaginable.
Almost all had similar styles, but each and every shoe was unique.
It was why Riggs refused to shop anywhere else.
With his line of work, he needed the best of the best. The boots worked well with bounties and forging. That was if they were made properly.
“Riggs? Riggs Whitlock?” Eddie’s voice pitched higher. “I just saw your brother a few days ago!”
“The one and only.” Riggs crouched down, his eyes lingering on a new style of boots on the bottom shelf.
Eddie’s voice drew closer. “I knew I recognized that handsome voice!” He cleared his throat. “You like those? I just made them last week. Something told me you would be showing up soon.”
Riggs assessed the old man standing at the end of the aisle smiling. His colorful peach robes pooled on the floor and the hat he wore was interesting, to say the least. Riggs didn’t know what to make of it, or what to call it.
“New hat?” Riggs lifted his brow.
Eddie chuckled, ruffling the white fluff surrounding his head. “Oh, this? Do you like it? I was digging through some old boxes and found it. What a shame I forgot I had it.”
“Sure…” Riggs lied. It looked like he murdered a handful of bunnies to craft it. He stood, pointing to the sole of his boot. “Eddie, we need to talk.” He sucked in a sharp breath. “I slipped last week.”
Eddie clasped his hands together, pursing his lips. “That’s because those are not non-slip.”
Riggs angled his head. “I specifically mentioned I needed all-terrain shoes, Eddie.
Eddie’s face beamed with happiness as he approached.
“Did you grow another inch?” He shook his head then tsked.
“Oh, don’t mind me; let’s have a look here.
” He narrowed his eyes on the leather wrapped around Riggs feet.
“Ah, I do remember you asking. Please forgive me for the inconvenience; I will give you half off your next pair and make them extra non-slip.”
Extra? How is that possible?
Eddie looked up, his lilac eyes wide like a puppy. “Do you have a pair in mind?”
Riggs reached down for the tan boots. “I like these ones.”
Eddie bobbed his head. “I had a feeling you were going to choose these. Lucky for you, I made them in your size.”
“Oh yeah? Thirteen?”
“Big size for a big boy,” Eddie chimed, looking Riggs up and down.
“Well, tall. Your brother is much…” He puffed out his chest and curled in his arms. “Heftier.” He set his hands on Riggs' biceps and gasped. “I guess you are getting bigger too.” Eddie gripped his chin. “I’m going to have to special order tunics for you next like I do your brother.”
Riggs laughed. “Don’t worry about it, I have plenty.”
Eddie’s eyes landed on Riggs' belt of daggers. “How’s the belt holding up? You know, I make dagger belts also; you can unsheathe them a lot faster.”
Riggs cocked his head and smirked. “I’m pretty fast, Eddie.”
Eddie hummed knowingly. “But you could be faster.”
Riggs walked to the counter. “Just the boots today.” He pointed toward the back shelf with a thumb. “Oh, and a jar of tomato soup.”
He’d never seen Eddie’s smile turn so wild as he said,“You won’t regret it! I make the best soup in the village.” He winked. “If the population increases, just know it’s because of me.”
Riggs doubted that, eyeing the layer of dust along the silver tops, but he indulged him anyway. “So I’ve heard.” Chuckling, he added, “I can’t wait to try it.”
Riggs stretched his arms, scanning the vials on the shelves, and wondered if Eddie stocked anything to help with withdrawals from the Goolies. “Question?”
“Lay it on me.”
“You gave my brother a bag of Goolies yesterday.” Riggs drummed his fingers nervously on the wooden counter.
“He is a recovering alcoholic, and…” Riggs let out a winded laugh.
“I’d rather not watch him lose himself again.
” He internally winced. Riggs couldn’t fathom the thought of his brother fighting addiction again, not after he had come so far.
Eddie leaned over the counter, pinching Riggs cheeks.
“You are such a good brother, I have just the thing.” He rolled a ladder, climbed, and reached for a white liquid substance resting on the top shelf.
“This is called Tyger, and it is extremely effective. Once Killian no longer needs the pills for pain, have him drink this. It will subdue any withdrawal symptoms.” Eddie showed Riggs the vial, tapping his long yellow nail on the glass. “This potion does not come cheap.”
Riggs swallowed. “Whatever it costs, I’ll take it.”
“Very good brother indeed.” Eddie slipped the vial in a velvet pouch. “I must warn you. The side effects of Tyger can be…how do I say this…” Eddie’s eyes turned to slits. “Killian will see a lot of things that are not truly there.”
“Hallucinations?”
Eddie hummed. “He will have a great time though, nothing too scary.”
Riggs reached for his coin pouch. “How much?
“For the boots, sauce, and the vial…” Eddie grabbed a notebook and started writing numbers. Riggs almost tilted sideways with the number he had written down.
Fuck.
“Fifty gold marks.”
That was all he had left, down to the last coin. Riggs set his pouch on the counter, coins rattling on impact. “It’s all in there.”
Eddie lifted his hat. “Safe travels to you both. Be careful with those sandstorms, they can get nasty.”
“I never told you where we were headed.” Riggs squinted, searching Eddie’s face.
Eddie pointed to his head. “Call it a sixth sense.”
Riggs nodded, grabbing his boots, soup, and vial, and walked out of the shop, frowning.
I need a pay raise.