THE NORTHERN KING

“I don't understand” Ivo replied as he leaned into his chair and ran his hand through his hair.

“Oh please, I know you're dumb, but you are smart enough to know when to act right?” Edric asked as he stood up.

“Everybody is choosing sides, they will have to eventually, and guess who they will crush first?”

“Huh?” Ivo asked, genuinely confused.

Edric sighed and then stood behind Ivo and patted his shoulder.

“The bystanders' brother, the two sides will crush the bystanders first.”

“Oh, I see, so what do you want from me?”

“Swear your allegiance to me, kiss my ring, and I will make you lord of the east and member of the royal council when I become king.”

“If you become king” Ivo corrected.

“Besides you can't make me a member of the royal council as I am not of true noble blood, the court will reject me”.

“To hell with the court!, when I become king brother, I will be above all court, council and all. I will repay my debts, both good and bad, so brother be with me and rise to power.”

“Can I think about it?” ivo asked as he scratched his chin.

“What is there to think about?”

“Well, it is a nice offer really council and all, but don't you think I'm a little too incompetent to oversee the east?”

“Oh but you have grown wiser, you now admit being a fool that shows you're ready to learn”.

“Well, it is still something I have to think about, besides a good businessman I must hear from both sides to choose the better offer” ivo replied with a smile.

“Oh you sly fox, you will side with my brother? The giant Brat that has treated you harshly and abused you? You would betray me?”

“Oh no I never said I was going to side with him…not yet by the way, but if he offers me more than I might just be tempted.”

“Edric's laugh rose through the garden as he grabbed Ivo's shoulder.”

“Very well brother, you have my offer I will let you be but let me warn you, you might not know when next you might have a little fall” with that he was gone still giggling down the hall.

Has he gone mad? Ivo thought to himself as he rolled his chair and whistled.

Melisa was already running towards him, she stood in front of him, inspecting him for a few minutes.

“Well?”

“You are in one piece master” she replied and moved behind his chair to roll him out.

“By the way, lady Ida sent for you a couple of hours ago.”

“Oh really? Where is she?”

“I asked her to wait at the black box”;she replied.

“You know Melisa, I'm starting to like you more and more” ivo replied as he giggled.

When Ida got Melissa's message to go to the black box to wait for Ivo, she didn't expect to come into such an ordinary apartment.

She had to go without guards and just a flimsy set of directions, she found herself lost a couple of times—her excuse being it has been long since she visited the city, and it was an ever-changing dynamic city— it took her long before she could even locate the place.

Ordinary in the sense that she expected something more but the weird furniture and arrangement of the house made her question how ordinary the house really was.

She sat in one of the sofas as the soft cushion pulled her in, she jumped immediately and attempted to kick it when the door swung open.

“I would advise you against that as it is expensive oak wood” ivo called out.

“What do you call it?” She asked as she patted the foreign soft object.

“Well, that depends on where you are from but let's just call it a sofa shall we”ivo replied as Melisa rolled him in

“So do you have it?” He asked.

She sighed.“It's nice to see you too, brother” she replied and pulled out a large box, slamming it on the table.

Ivo groaned as he hoped the table was fine—it took three weeks before the carpenters could get it right.

He signaled Melisa to push him forward as Ida opened the box.

It was shining and pure, it almost looked like glass but from how it felt it was pure solid steel.

“There are only three people who can bend emperor reinforced steel in the capital and all work in the royal forge.”

“Three?”Ivo asked grinning.

“Yes? I know I am not mistaken” she replied.

“Hmm? Are you so sure?” ivo asked as he rubbed his chin.

“Spit it out already” she replied as she rested on the table.

“Well, there are actually four of them and I happened to have found the last one” he replied.

A lanky boy walked into the room, he was thin like he was suffering from malnutrition, his nails as black and stained as his face and hair.

He had a piece of rag over his head and his sweat from the heat filled the room.

“Ida meet George Stonecraver” ivo said with a smile.

“What? Stonecraver? That can't be possible all the Stonecravers are dead, father beheaded the last one after he made his blade.”

“Well, surprise” Ivo replied with grin.

“I refuse to believe she replied. Stonecravers are known for their size and large hands” she called out, “but this” she said, sizing George up “is just a little boy.”

“Are they only known for their size and hands?” Ivo asked

“No” she gasped “don't tell me”

“George show her please”ivo called out. The boy clicked his tongue and hissed as he raised his shirt,Ida was dumbstruck

It was there a birthmark shaped in form of a hammer, proof of the blood of a stonecraver the only true descendants from a god himself.

“I need to sit” she declared, but George was already in front of the table as he knocked on the steel a few times before picking up the heavy steel over his shoulder and walking to the back.

“Where is he going to?” ida asked.

“How about you come find out” ivo replied as Melisa pushed his chair after George who was humming happily like a child who has been given his favorite candy.