“It’s been a while. Since I held a blade.” Archie gingerly took the dagger from his new master, holding it in his spindly fingers.
“You’ll get used to it soon enough. I heard you were a dab hand with a sword, back in your prime.” Porter handed Archie a small scabbard and a leather pouch.
Archie accepted, holstering the dagger in the scabbard, and attaching it to his belt. "Swords. A bit bigger than daggers." He opened the pouch and took a look inside; black powder. “Not really aware of the new technology. What’s this?”
“Blinding dust. Magical stuff. Temporarily blinds anyone who gets it in their eyes,” replied Porter.
“So, sand?” Archie shook his head, closing the pouch back up.
“Yeah, but more reliable. Guaranteed to work every time as soon as it –”
“I got it, I got it. Super sand.” Archie attached the pouch to the other side of his belt. “I’m not a spring chicken anymore you know, I’m not sure why you’d even bother to recruit me.”
“The Dark Hand needs an army. Skilled, battle-hardened folk like yourself are an added bonus. And Byron had only good things to say about you.” Porter lit a cigarette.
“This Dark Hand, Byron mentioned their goal, in basic terms, when he broke me out of prison. Is that all it really is? Stopping the King’s bratty son, sorry, the new King, Merryn?” Archie walked back to his seat, turning it around and sitting on it back to front.
“That’s the long and short of it. Then installing our leader, the rightful Queen, Lady Freya.” Porter took a drag, before offering the cigarette to Archie.
“Right, right.” Archie accepted, taking a long deep inhale. He blew the smoke to his right and handed it back to Porter.
Porter took the cigarette. “We ready to discuss your first mission?”
Today's prompt: spring chicken
If you'd like to participate too, the contest can be found here: @mariannewest/day-1559-5-minute-freewrite-thursday-prompt-spring-chicken