Page 22 of Stitches
“Indeed,” Levi said, lowering his hood completely.
“You’re sure you’re not mad at me for mentioning you to Grillo?” Daedlys asked.
“Not at all. Grillo is very kind and easy to work with. I’ve even befriended his son, Kenner.”
“Marvelous! I’d hoped for such an outcome. It would have done you no good if you were still so shy come Festival Day. You’re going to love every minute of it.”
Levi had been so caught up in helping prepare for the festival, he sometimes forgot he’d get to enjoy it. “First, I need to survive the hunt. The king asked me to assist next week.”
“He did? Ash must have taken a liking to you.”
It was impossible to keep the fresh blush from Levi’s face then.
Daedlys examined him with a crook to his smile. “I see…. Well, how fortuitous. I’ve been fixing Ash’s sword belt. It’s practically brand-new now. I imagine you’re here for a belt and weapons yourself.”
“Yes, please. Braxton said you can make any request as payment, or simply have me help around the shop, if you’d like.”
“I have a better idea—you can be my delivery boy for the day.”
“Delivery boy?” Levi followed Daedlys toward a wall of basic weapons and equipment. There were other shops more dedicated to weaponry, but Levi wasn’t looking for anything fancy, and he’d always thought Daedlys’s shop had the lovelier belt and accessory designs, with very fine stitching and embroidery like the tunic made from Emerald silk.
“Once we find you something suitable, you can deliver Ash’s belt to him.”
“I….” Levi’s blush heated further. “I can do that.”
“Here, I was just about to package it.” Daedlys levitated a black belt that had been resting on a table in front of the weapons wall into his grasp. It was beautiful, meant for a longsword, and stitched in gold. It was always so strange to see Daedlys touch something, since he was see-through. When he held the belt out to Levi, it almost seemed to levitate still.
Levi reverently tucked the belt into his bag.
“What about you?” Daedlys asked. “Do you have any experience with weaponry? I’m guessing no.”
“I’m a fast learner,” Levi defended. “What do you recommend?”
“A dagger. Right-handed or left?”
“Um….” Levi honestly didn’t know. “I use both evenly, I think.”
“Then you can have two and grab whichever feels most natural in the thick of battle. I have this design for dual-daggers.” Daedlys gestured to a dark brown belt, simple in the front, with a gold buckle, and a goldring in back where it crossed and connected to twin sheaths that would rest on either side of Levi’s hips.
There was a black version as well, very like the king’s in some ways, but with silver accents.
“Could I… have that one instead?” Levi asked.
“Certainly. Then I’d say these daggers.” Daedlys waved his hand at a set on the wall with silver accents and black grips.
“You’re sure it’s not too much for simply making a delivery?”
“For you? Never. Besides, I already have a dozen preorders for Brax’s black crystals. Now—” Daedlys levitated the daggers into his hands as well, and then spun them to hold them hilt outward toward Levi. “—I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I let you take these without some instruction. Go on.”
Levi accepted them, one in each hand.
“You’ll not necessarily want to wield them at the same time unless you find you’re well-suited for it. It could be useful on the hunt, however, since you’re more likely to find yourself amidst multiple targets. Square your stance.”
Levi did so, automatically putting his right foot back, left foot forward, and therefore holding the left dagger out as if to parry, and the right back, ready to strike.
“Very natural,” Daedlys praised, floating to the side to give Levi room. “Give a thrust a try. Shift your hips as you strike and—”
There was a deer—aseconddeer charging from the left, as he stabbed forward with his dagger. He had but a moment to swipe outward with the second one, slicing the doe’s throat as she charged, and then he yanked the right dagger from the buck’s chest to drive both weapons forward, one in each deer, before their combined weight could topple forward and crush him.
