Role

Chapter 3

Nearly another decade passed in StrongHammers forge and the weaponsmithing
craft started to come naturally to Kay. By now the humming and tunes
emanating from Kay drew in nearly as many customers as the fine whitesteel
wares laid out on the sales counters and racks. These songs and diddys had
not ever been heard before, generated in time with the natural sounds of the
forge.

One day a finely dressed man was strolling by and heard such lovely music
being made. As a tavernkeep, he was not a usual patron of the weaponsmith.
But being a connoisseur of fine music, he poked his head in, to lay witness
to the compositions coming from the back room. In hushed tones, Baladrad the
Boistrous and Gaberdine conversed and eventually the large man produce an
equally large purse was as evidence, for it swiftly went back into a belt
pouch from whence it came.

Gaberdine StrongHammer summoned Kay, named such as the eleventh orphan in
Jolinar's care, from his duties in the forge. Even through the grime and
soot of the forge, his hair and skin shone brightly.

"Boy, zis be Baladrad, owner of ze Knight's Crest where zem Jingle Foot
taken up residence and made ah Bard's Guild. We been ah talkin, and yer
talents be too valuable to be forgebound fer life. Baladrad here be wantin ta
patron yer, send yet ta school or somesuch... Or whatever them singer's do
for formal training. What say yer?"

Taken a back by this sudden opportunity to change his life, Kay was stunned,
and for the first time was left speechless. Unsure if it was even an option
to remain, he quietly consented to enter the Academy.