Valyndris was a willful, troublesome child, who was less often concerned with her parent’s wishes, especially those of her father, Alvis Morvayn, a blacksmith of lesser renown. Though he was convinced that her strengths were in acting and theater and saw to their development, she wished more than anything to learn her family’s craft of smithing. Yet, with three older sons and the two boys from other clans, who would one day match with his daughters, under his tutelage, Alvis had no time to teach Valyndris, despite her begging. His youngest could only watch from doorways and windows, enticed by the sharp rings of a hammer on heated metal as she passed by to her studies. Valyndris supplemented her lust for knowledge of sword-smithing with books and the periodic lesson from one of her brothers; it was many years before Alvis recognized her desire to learn and saw to her training. On her hundredth birthday, she was able to craft her first sword, alone but under her father’s careful gaze.
Her betrothed, Norir, did not appreciate the competition in skill as the day of their marriage came closer, having learned from Alvis with her brothers himself. He insisted that she stop her training when they were joined. Her father agreed, as he had been reluctant to teach her since the beginning, and stopped their lessons at the forge. When she confronted her future mate, Valyndris could not sway him from his choice and furiously ended their engagement. While her family went on to move to Vira’ker in Arcas, she instead left home for the first time in her life to travel to Aegrothond, where she hoped she could continue her passion.
Valyndris shades her eyes with a dusky hand, looking around the bustling city with a sigh as the man approached her. Quietly, she looked over the man before she settles her gaze on his face. “I seek my fortune, doesn’t everyone who comes to the city?” she quips to the man, moving her gaze to the crowded bazaar with another sigh. “Do you happen to know where the smithing guild is?” Valyndris asks the man.

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