The Chronicles of The Rune Blade Chapter II
Jakob lay on the ground, thoughts whirling through his head. Who was this Steef? Why did he want Jakob dead? Was he a roadside robber? The thoughts pinged worthlessly off the side of his skull as he looked into the Steef's murderous stare.
"Okay, mister. Since you put up some resistance, I’m afraid I’m going to have to make this...painful." The macho words sounded and looked ridiculous from some such a small person and a high, squeaky voice. It contrasted greatly with the rough, raspy, and nasal voice of the slig Jakob had heard earlier. But still, there was a knife right up against his mouth. Slowly, Jakob looked carefully to his left, and saw his Rune blade lying on the ground. The Steef had incredibly ignored it.
Jakob licked his lips. He had only one chance. Carefully looking over the Steef's shoulder, he let a glint of recognition show in his face, and then just as carefully made it look like he hid it in his face. He then looked back at the Steef, and saw that it had seen his bluff, and believed it. Using the voice one would use when distracting someone, Jakob spoke, slowly and carefully.
"Ok, Ok. I'll give you everything I have. Just, please, don't hurt me. I'm sorry about what I did, and-" At this, he gave a slight nod, and the Steef whirled around, knife still at Jakob's throat. Quickly, he pushed it off-balance, and jumped for his blade. In the seconds when the Steef re-gained it's balance, Jakob had his blade against the Steef's throat instead of his. The Steef collapsed, and started to cry pathetically.
"Please, mister. I didun m-m-mean any-any harm. I-I-I j-j-just gotta fe-feed my family. We're d-d-damn near broke wit the Industrialist everywhere. You gotta b-b-believe me!" It said out. Jakob hesitated, and slowly put his sword down. The Steef opened its eyes, saw that the sword was down, and got up, it's crying stopped. "Now then," It said it a voice quite different from it's previous one, "I would like to thank you for the mercy." It held out its hand, while at the same time shedding its outside clothes. As Jakob had half-expected, underneath them were the kind of clothes a person with high standing in a village would where. It had a cleverly spun green tunic, and pants made from what looked like the finest-made cotton pants Jakob had ever seen. "I would like to extend my apologies for the rude interruption, but as I said before, my village has since been steadily losing resources, and have had to resort to common thievery. Quite degrading. Well, it seems I have not even told my name! It is Jonathan Thomas. A strange name, so feel free to call me JT." Jakob stood there, nonplussed, as the Steef, or, JT, as he had said, prattled on.
Shaking himself out of it, Jakob shook the hand, which was still out. "My name is Jakob Tomahawk. Pleased to meet you, um, JT. Now, how did you make the slig voice? I could have sworn it was the real thing!" He said. JT gave a smile, and took out a small device, made of what looked like salvaged machinery, and a small cone. He spoke into it, and, instantly, a slig's voice came out.
"It was quite easy! I just had to engineer a few spare parts, make them do what I wanted to, you see, and voila! A instant voice changer!" It was incredible Jakob thought, taking the device and running it over in his hands.
"So, you're a mechanics expert?" Jakob asked, still looking at the device. JT blushed, and took it back.
"I would hardly say so! I'm nothing but an amateur, I’m afraid to say! I just work on these parts when ever it tickles my fancy." He said, a little modest. He clapped his hands. "But never fear! You look hungry, and I must thank you again for the small mercy you gave me, especially after what I did! I will show you my village, if you would like to, that is!" Jakob nodded, and then eagerly took the Steef's hands.
"Yes, I would love to! I haven't sat with real friends in such a long while! Lead the way!" Jakob said, and gathered his things. JT looked happy, and lead him into the brush, taking Jakob hurtling unknowingly to his destiny.
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