The jail cell Zach got put in was the most disgusting place he had ever seen. The smell of human waste and unwashed bodies were overpowering his senses. The layer of mildew that covered the walls was hiding what was actually holding the cell together; Black mold. Zach pondered as to how the royal seal could have been forged. He was scared, confused, and most of all pissed off.

“Guards, there must have been a misunderstanding!” Zach yelled. He paced back and forth in the cell, trying to think of an explanation as to why he had a forged royal document in his possession.

“Pipe down, some of us are trying to sleep.” said the occupant in the cell adjacent to Zach’s own. Zach could hear ascent from the other people in the cells around him.

“Sorry, didn't mean to bother you all.” Zach said in a half whisper. He sat down on the raggedy old mattress and sat quietly throughout the night not sleeping, just thinking about what had transpired.

Early in the morning there was a sound of voices down the hall from his cell. They were muffled but he could make out the sound of his name. He got up and tried to peer around the side of his cell through the bars but it was hard pressed. A short stocky guy with red hair and a royal knight’s uniform turned the corner to Zach’s cell block. He walked down in the center of the block to avoid the hands that reached out from the bars, pleading to be let out. When he got to Zach’s cell the guy almost walked right past him, but he hesitated and looked right at Zach.

“Are you Zach Carter?” the guy asked. He looked around as if to make sure he stopped at the right cell.

“Yes… my lord,” Zach said hesitating on the formal reply.

“Don’t lie to me. The person known as Zach Carter is a master Blacksmith. I know apprentices who start learning the craft at an older age than you.” The royal knight said.

“Aye my lord. I’m not lying to you.” Zach said in a faint defensive tone. 

“No need to get defensive, I was just making sure. My name is Nick Halvin son of Robert Halvin and I was the one who sent that document to you.” Nick said.

“My lord?” Zach asked, a little confused.

“Please call me Nick, there's no need to use my formal title.” Nick said.

“My lor-, uh Nick; can you please explain to me what is going on?” Zach asked.

“Here let me get you out of this cell first, then I will explain.” Nick said. He called out to the guard and told him to open Zach’s cell door.

“Uh, my lord. He is to stand trial soon.” The guard said nervously.

“It’s Ok, There was a misunderstanding and my father would like to have him released.” Nick said.

“Yes my lord.” The guard said rummaging around in his uniform pockets to find the cell key. He found it and Nick moved aside to let the Guard unlock the door.

It unlocked with a satisfying click and the door swung open on rusty hinges.

The Guard led Nick and Zach out of the Main holding area and into the office.

“Let me grab your possessions for you.” The Guard said to Zach as he walked through a back door and into a storage closet. After a minute The Guard came back out with Zach’s belongings, minus his weapons.

“What about my weapons?” Zach asked the Guard expectantly.

“I’m sorry but a commerner cannot be armed when in the presence of royalty.” The Guard said.

“I’ll be fine, It is his craftsmanship of his weapons that I wanted. He is a profound Blacksmilth after all.” Nick said.

The Guard hesitated, “But my lord,”. 

“Now!” Nick said more forcibly.

The Guard jumped and swiftly entered the storage closet once more. He came out with Zach’s weapons and handed them to him, quickly glancing towards Nick in concern.

As Zach was attaching his sword scabbard onto his belt, Nick picked up his bo staff.

“Careful with that.” Zach said.

“What is this?” Nick said curiously.

“It is my Bo Staff, If you press the lever on the middle grip it will spring into a staff.” Zach said.

Nick held the apparatus out slightly and pressed the lever. There was a click and a sproing. A coil of metal shot out of both ends of the grip and locked into place.

“Fully extended, it is six feet long; perfectly balanced, and as strong as any rod of iron.” Zach said.

“It’s heavier than when it was retracted. Why is that?” Nick asked.

“Well, in the grip there is a small core of Tinrith. When that extends it creates a tiny suction on that core and because of that suction the core’s structure realigns back into a dense metal alloy.” Zach explained. He motioned Nick to hand him the Bo Staff. Nick gave it to him and was surprised to see Zach holding it with ease compared to when Nick held it and had to actually lift it with effort.

Zach spun it around his hand with incredible speed and precision. It was almost as if it had a mind of it’s own and that mind wanted to dance around Zach’s arm.

“How is it that you can make it spin around with ease but I had to heft it with effort?” Nick asked in bewilderment.

“Well I’m a Blacksmith so my arms have been finely tuned to lift heavy objects with complete control. Also it is because of the core, Tinrith luxin can change the environment around it. But that would break the laws of the world so the environment has to be able to change the luxin as well. So when I apply a force on the Bo Staff in a spinning motion the structure of the tinrith separates to both ends of the Staff, stabilizing it in motion. Think of it as a liquid metal that solidifies after it moves.” Zach said.

“I… Uh, I beg your pardon?” Nick and the Guard that was still there said at the same time.

“It is too complicated to fully explain right now. I need to get back to my forge.” Zach said.

“Right, Right. Why don’t you accompany me to breakfast before you leave.” Nick said.

“How can I refuse an offer like that?” Zach said. He pressed the lever on the grip of the Bo Staff and it sprang back into the grip. He and Nick exited the jail and mounted up on their steeds. Gilder gave a greeting with a whinny and Zach patted him on the neck.

“Where might this breakfast you offered me be?” Zach asked Nick as they trotted away from the jail.

“It is a tavern called The Rusty Nail. Their biscuits are to die for.” Nick said.