It has to be tomorrow! We can’t wait for Midrax or Max. No! We have to leave tomorrow. This is the capital we are going to attack. There is no chance we can take it without support. Yet… Maybe I’m wrong? Dad thinks we can win this with my help. I am his brilliant strategist, after all.

Who am I kidding? I will just disappoint him. I can’t live up to his standards. The best I can do is stand in his shadow while he gives me false praise.

Maybe I am being too harsh on myself. Maybe he was giving me genuine praise. I don’t know, maybe time will tell if we win.

The bell rings as I open the door to Dust’s workshop. A dirty woman, no taller than a Cinari with white fur walks out of the forge room with her apron on. The closer she gets to me, the harder my heart beats and the emptier my stomach aches.

Gosh, she is beautiful, her eyes shining like jade green. I can’t describe the beauty before my eyes. Even dirty, you can see the gem underneath the muck.

‘Hello sir, can I help you?’ She speaks with an angelic and soothing voice.

‘Oh, I’m uh-’ I stutter, losing my train of thought.

She looks at me in confusion, with one ear flopping down.‘Can I get you anything?’ She asks again.

I try to speak but no word comes out.

She sighs. ‘You must be looking for Dust?’

I nod, hiding my embarrassment.

She smiles as she walks off into the forge room.

That was stupid of me! Why couldn’t I say something? Anything? Gosh, that was embarrassing. Now I must look like a weirdo to her.

Dust enters the room with a wide smile as he moves towards me, picking me up from the ground as he hugs me, squeezing me tightly as to not let me go.

‘My boy! You finally came to see me!’

‘Yes, I did,’ I gasp for air. ‘Can you put me down, please!’

‘Oh okay, boy.’ He dusts me off as he puts me down. ‘What brings you here to see your old man? Is it to know the young miss’s name?’ He lightly punches my shoulder.

‘No!’ I yelp in embarrassment. ‘I need to tell you we are off tomorrow to take the Cinaris capital. I need some stores.’

Dust cheerful smile darkens to a sudden frown. ‘Off to war again with Marak? What do you need?’

‘Arrows. I’m running low.’

‘Syndy!’ Dust shouts as she rushes out of the forge. ‘Get this young man the arrows you were working on this morning. The type that he needs.’

‘Yes, sir,’ she says as rushes off to the storage room.

‘What type of arrows?’ I ask Dust.

‘The best you will ever see! This young woman is a genius. If you think I’m a good smith, you haven’t seen her work on the anvil. She makes me look like a junior.’

Syndy walks into the room with a quiver full of arrows. ‘All here, sir.’ She passes them to him.

‘So Syndy, this handsome young man is Alex, son of Marak, our chief.’ He wraps his arms around me while he shuffles me closer to her.

‘Ah, I didn’t picture you to be his son,’ she smiles at me.

As I get closer to her, I fluster. ‘I guess looks can be deceiving.’

‘I guess they can be. Might even convince me you‘re a rabbit, if that’s the case.’ She replies sarcastically.

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Dust chuckles as I bury my face in my armour. ‘Well, we’ve got you two introduced, but sadly I would like to talk to Alex in private.’

‘Sure thing, sir.’ She waves her goodbyes as she leaves the room, heading back to the forge.

Dust smirks at me. ‘You remind me so much of Marak when he was young.’

‘What is that supposed to mean?’ I growl.

Dust shrugs. ‘You’ll find out later, lover boy.’

‘Dust I… Just show me what’s special about these arrows.’

‘Simple.’ He pulls out an arrow; its tip is a pinkish crystal-like arrowhead, crudely made and rough around the edges.

‘This little baby can pierce through anything. Black metal is like wet paper if it hits it. The only thing it has a hard time going through is crystals just like it.’

So that’s why dad wanted some Dogs to stay at the mine up north. To get a supply of these strange crystals.

‘Could this also become armour?’

‘My boy, that’s what we are working on. In no time, you will see crystal armour. But those projects are small compared to what Syndy is cooking up.’

‘What is she making?’ I ask.

‘Oh boy, just wait till she finishes it. Let’s just say it will make the war a little bit easier.’

‘Will it cause unnecessary suffering?’

Dust pauses, looking around the room. ‘You’re still worried about what Marak will do if he wins?’

I nod. ‘I am afraid he will repeat what they did to us. Except, I fear he will make it worse.’

‘That’s a darn unpopular opinion, boy. People believe Marak’s actions towards the Cinari are an act of mercy. Any more than that would cause unnecessary complications.’

‘It doesn’t matter-’

‘I know!’ Dust interrupts me. ‘Remember what I told you at the house, you have to stop him from becoming what he hates. Become the chief he needs.’

‘Dust everything I do say is ignored by him. What hope do I have to change his mind to give the Cinari mercy?’

‘Don’t be stupid, boy. The reason this town isn’t slaughtered is because of you! None of the Cinari will know this, but you have saved them. You did what no other Dog would do and stood up to Marak and begged for mercy. You can make a change, Alex, but not when you put yourself down like that.’

‘I… Sometimes I feel I can’t do anything. I’m just one person speaking out against him.’

‘No boy, you won’t be.’ Dust hands me the quiver of arrows. ‘I’ll go with you, if it makes you feel better I’ll do my part and talk to him.’

‘Aren’t you better off here?’

‘Did you forget what I told you before? Syndy can operate the forge while I’m gone. Just let me get my things for tomorrow and I’ll make sure to talk to your old man.’

‘Wait!’ I call out before he walks off. ‘Thank you for helping me, it means a lot to me.’

Dust turns around with a smile. ‘No need to thank me, boy. Marak is as much of a son to me as you are to him. Family stick together.’

‘I know, it’s just… Nevermind. I’ll see you soon, Dust.’ I head out of the workshop waving the old man goodbye.

My shoulders become lighter as I leave his forge, my back not as tense as before.

Maybe there is a chance of a brighter future after this war. A world where we can all live in harmony together and not in shackles.