NOVEL FROG 37. Interlude: Cedoron
Cedoron grunted with exertion as he struck repeatedly against the red-hot metal with a rhythmic clang of his hammer, the bulging muscles in his arms flexing and rippling beneath his tanned skin. With a final, resounding blow, he brought his hammer down upon the glowing metal kept on the anvil, shaping the sword with practiced ease.
He reached over with a pair of tongs, gingerly gripping the glowing blade, examining it from all angles. A grunt of approval escaped his lips. It wasn't perfect, but it was close enough. Satisfied with its form, he plunged the metal into a waiting barrel of water, a hiss of steam erupting as the hot metal met the cool liquid.
He sank back onto his workbench with a sigh, wiping his brow with a sweat-soaked sleeve. Though the midday sun hung high in the sky, a persistent chill lingered in the air, a constant reminder of the approaching winter. But despite the chill, sweat beaded on his forehead, a result of the intense heat generated by his glowing forge. He reached for a wooden mug resting on the workbench and took a long, satisfying gulp of cool water, the refreshing liquid easing the dryness in his throat.
As he drank the water, he thought about his current circumstances. Work had been slow for a while now, but the past few months had been particularly bleak. Usually, a steady stream of miners came to his shop, bringing broken tools - shovels, pickaxes, and the like, for repair. But ever since the flooding of the coal mines, work had become scarce. With the mines closed, there were no miners, and without miners, there were no broken tools to repair. Now his days were often spent in quiet solitude, punctuated only by the sound of his hammer against metal. He wasn't one to sit idle, though. Each day, he forced himself to find some task, no matter how trivial, to keep his skills sharp.
News of the new Baron's arrival had reached Cedoron yesterday, but he hadn't been able to join the crowd that flocked to watch the caravan. He'd been too engrossed in his work, being unable to leave it in the middle or he would have had to start again from the beginning.
He didn't know what to expect from the new Baron. The future of Tiranat, and by extension, his own livelihood, rested on the decisions this new leader would make. He sighed, wiping the sweat on his face again. All he could hope was that the coal mines would reopen soon, and with that, there would be enough work for him along with a return to normalcy.
Cedoron glanced out towards the street, his gaze falling upon a familiar figure skipping towards his workshop. Leah, his childhood friend, hurried down the street towards his shop, a radiant smile illuminating her face. They had only spoken an hour ago, and Cedoron couldn't imagine what had brought her back so soon.
As Leah drew closer, he noticed a hint of moisture in her eyes which glistened in the afternoon sun. A frown creased his brow. Leah had always been strong, and seeing her so emotional sent a jolt of worry through him. Although they didn't get to meet very often, their friendship had endured through stolen moments between her duties in the manor.
Before he could voice his worry, Leah threw herself into his arms, her sobs muffled against his sturdy chest. Taken aback, Cedoron instinctively wrapped his arms around her trembling form.
"Leah? What happened?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. "You just left here a while ago. What's wrong?"
But instead of replying, Leah's sobs intensified, her body wracked with silent tears. Cedoron, at a loss, could only hold her close, patting her back in a comforting rhythm. Slowly, her sobs subsided, replaced by a shaky sniffle.
Pulling back slightly, Leah looked up at him, smiling with a teary face. "I'm free, Cedoron," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Cedoron furrowed his brow in confusion. "Free?" he echoed. "Well, of course, you must be free," he said with a chuckle, "since you found the time to visit me twice in the same day!" He tilted his head, a playful glint in his eyes. "Did the new Baron decide you weren't cut out for sewing and send you packing?"
Leah giggled and shook her head. "No, silly!" she exclaimed, wiping at her tears with the back of her hand. "I mean, I'm not a slave anymore! I'm free now!"
Leah, the shy girl he had known since they were children, who was easily his best friend now, and perhaps even more, had been a slave nearly all her life. As a slave, she couldn't choose where to live or who to live her life with. At times, they had even talked about running away together to another place, even though continuously hiding from the bounty hunters would have made their lives a living hell. And that would be if they were even successful in running away in the first place. But… could it be true? Could she really be free?
Cedoron's heart hammered against his ribs. He stared at her, his mind struggling to grasp her words, leaving him speechless for a moment. He held Leah at arm's length, his gaze searching her teary face for any hint of a joke. But the raw emotion in her eyes told the truth.
Over the next few minutes, Leah poured out the details of her extraordinary day. As she recounted the events - the proclamation of freedom from the new baron, the disbelief she felt, and the overwhelming sense of liberation - Cedoron felt a lump form in his throat. Tears welled up in his own eyes, tears of joy for his best friend who had finally been released from a life of servitude, and for the possibility of a future that could not have been possible without her freedom.
This time, it was Cedoron who pulled Leah into a crushing hug. The weight of her newfound freedom and the possibilities that lay before them, filled him with a happiness he hadn't felt for a long time.
"And guess what?" Leah exclaimed, pulling back slightly, a mischievous glint returning to her eyes. "I don't even have to live in the manor anymore!"
Cedoron, trying to contain his overflowing emotions, chuckled. "What? Did the baron really throw you out then?" he teased, feigning offense. "Where are you supposed to live now?"
Leah giggled, the sound like music to Cedoron's ears. "I don't know," she teased, her eyes sparkling with playful innocence. "If only I had a childhood friend who might be willing to let me stay with him…"
Cedoron burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the small workshop.
Relief washed over him, warm and comforting. His best friend was free, and a new chapter in their lives was about to begin. He pulled Leah into a tight embrace, his heart swelling with a happiness that rivaled the heat of his forge. It was the beginning of a new future for them, and no matter what it held, at last, they would face it together from now on. And the new baron was to thank for it.
