Faradon closed the door to his smithy behind himself and stepped out into the ally. Night had fallen and a pale moon cast an eerie half-light, playing tricks with his eyes as he walked down the alley between Mount&Blade threads. Nearing his destination, with the pioneers Guild door in view, a subtle tune, played delicately on a violin, stopped him in his tracks. He turned to see a shadowy figure, huddled low, leaning against a bronze guilded door, one which all but the foolish had learned to dread.
'Street of eyes' said the plaque above the doorway, and as Faradons eyes drifted back to the stranger, the glint in the strangers eyes sent a shiver down Faradons back.
"That's a nice tune." Said Faradon, trying to ease the tension.
"Do you know it?" asked the stranger
"No." replied Faradon
"You will." came the reply and Faradon was suddenly aware of others behind him.
Faradon turned to see a half a dozen dark figures at his back, he turned in desperation for the pioneers Guild door, only to find it barred suddenly, by another half a dozen figures. he was trapped.
"Faradon,' one of the strangers stepping forward, nursing a rather nasty looking whip that seemed to writhe on its own. "Your skills have come to the attention of our little gathering."
"You wish something of me?" Asked Faradon now trembling.
"We
'wish' only to inform you that your skills can be acquired in one of two ways." Another figure stepped forward holding a leash. on its end was a third man, a lunatic, bound and gagged, rambling incoherently through the gag. "ass...ass" could be discerned. He was covered from head to toe in sketches. "He," continued the stranger, "is the second choice"
"I understand." Said Faradon with a sigh, before being led through the bronze encrusted door.
2 WEEKS LATER
A line of disgruntled customers knock impatiently at the smithy door. "Can you do this?" - "Fix this" - "Make this", but there is no answer from within, none but an eerie melody played on a violin. "Do you know this?" Asked a deep voice from within.
"No." Mumble the crowd looking from one confused face to the next.
"You will." came the cold reply