Chapter 193: Card trouble
Irwin watched the three figures clad in robes sitting beside Lord Bron. One was an older man with a brown and white beard and kind eyes. The other two, young men and women, almost looked like siblings with light brown hair and eyes. Something about their faces gave Irwin the idea that they might be related to the older man.
Their brown robes reminded him of the sorcerers he'd seen long ago, but he felt none of the fear he used to. Even without Daubutim here, if they had wanted to try and do something to him now, they'd find themselves outmatched.
Irwin glanced at their hands, a full left hand with only the older man having another card in his right. From the faintness of the tattoo-like images, he knew they were mostly amethyst with perhaps one topaz amongst them. That meant they were either not noble-born or from a small family.
The three sorcerers looked back at him with evident curiosity, and the two younger ones were visibly holding back their questions.
"Thank you for being willing to reforge my cards," Lord Bron said, drawing everyone's attention to him. "Do you require anything before we can start?"
Irwin ignored the sorcerers as he focused on Lord Bron. "If I reforge your cards, it will hurt," he said. "It will feel as if I'm shattering your hand with each strike, and I'll need dozens of strikes per card."
Lord Bron shook his head dismissively. "What is some pain compared to the ability to become so much stronger? Just do what you have to do. I'll bear it."
You say that now, Irwin thought.
However, he said nothing but got up and moved to the cleared-out area on the other side of the spacious room. The table that had been there was shoved to the side, and he took Ambraz from his pocket, placing him on the ground. As the anvil grew to his working size, there were surprised outcries from behind.
"What is that? Is it a carded skill?"
"Why isn't it appearing from your hand? I felt no-"
"Quiet," the older sorcerer said.