During breakfast, I felt the presence of a dragon and rider. It was Erik and Scarlet. Nana and the staff followed us out to the landing site. With Erik was one of Gowgornok's Gengan councilors. Gorval, Lanara, and this councilor joined us. The Gengan had the Rod, encased in a bubble similar to the ones around the Wand and Foot.
"Greetings, Your Majesty and company. As requested, I and this pair bring the Master Miner's Rod to take its place of honor with the other parts," he announced as he dismounted.
The dwarfs looked at it in awe, having never laid eyes upon it, since it had been with the gnomes for three of their generations.
"Thank you, Gengan," Gorval said softly, "Not only for bringing it to us, but for your people keeping it safe for so long. Please pass along our apologies to your people for all the evil you have endured to keep it safe."
"I will carry your apology to my people. It will please them to know you feel for their hardships and sacrifices."
Nana and the staff went home as Gorval led the Gengan to the secured room. He explained the difficulty they had in attempting to remove the Rod from its secured pedestal. Once again, the Gourdnos, formerly the oddlings, provided the solution. As we had told the dwarfs to speak to the Foot to move it, the Gourdnos instructed the naghle (gnomes) to tell the Rod why they were attempting to lift it from its safe place. Once it understood, the shield condensed to form the bubble and the Rod was easily lifted and still contained. The Gengan laughed about how a week's worth of effort was not successful while a few seconds of truth moved "mountains".
In the secured room, the Gengan paused in wonder. He gazed at the other parts, unviewed by any of his people since they were fashioned. With great care, he set it on its place of honor. As he backed away to view the sight, the bubbles quivered. Invisible to most of those in the room, I watched the bubbles grow and merge into a single encasement. When I informed them of this event, they became puzzled and began pondering aloud as to why this occurred. Above the assembled parts, an image began to form. This silenced them. We all watched as it became a dwarf in ancient clothing.
"Well done, joban and kindred. All of my parts are in one place in dwarf keeping. Yes, I am Jordsonn , called the Master Miner. Now can I truly rest, knowing my items are with dwarfs and not being used for evil. I do not downplay the naghles' excellent protection nor Aper See's guardianship. However, dwarf land is home and it is where they belong. Joban, you may find wonders begin to occur. Even contained as they are, my powers, as they did during my life while I slept, will draw or reveal things of their own accord. Do not fear such events. Cherish them and celebrate them. Like now, enter young one."
At the door, a young male dwarf stood. With Jordsonn's encouragement, he walked cautiously to the area in front of the items and under Jordsonn's image. He looked terrified.
"This one was drawn to me. He is my Speaker. Through him, you will be told why an odd thing has occurred, if it is due to my powers. Also, if any item is to be used as it was designed, he will be the user. This is not his sole duty and he is expected to work else where, but this is his priority."
The male dwarf introduced himself as Kirklan, apprentice blacksmith. He had kept his head down from the moment he entered. Gorval, gently, encouraged him to look up. As soon as he did, his eyes locked on Callie. We three inhaled sharply. Kirklan was Callie's future husband. Kirklan and Callie stared at each other is stunned silence. Jordsonn's laugh broke the tension.
"My Speaker is a Sword Sister's soul mate. How glorious! A better match could not have been planned. I leave you now. Go, with my blessing."
Jordsonn faded away. Numbly, the dwarfs and gnome filed out. Callie and Kirklan continued to stare at each other, ignoring the rest of the world. Echo's impatient chirp brought them back, making them laugh in embarrassment. As if they had been together for years, they took each other's hand and led us back to Callie's house.
Nana gave one look at Callie's and Kirlan's clasped hands and began weeping with joy. Between bouts of sobbing, Nana shown Kirklan around the house. Kirklan revealed that he had only a cot and a few shelves to call his own, just as the other apprentices had. Nana began barking orders for one of the spare rooms to be prepared for him. Kirklan went white. Callie began rattling all of the reasons for them not to do that. Nana, however, would not hear of it and charged off to make it happen. We all stood silently in her wake. Callie turned to Kirklan and began a rapid-fire apology for Nana's behavior and, half-hearted, vowed to correct her. He only smiled, which made Callie's words trail off into silence.
"Your mind must work so fast to get all of those words to come out so quickly," he told her as he took her hands, "A wonderful mind in a pretty face. The hope every man has for his mate."
Callie melted, letting her unsaid apologies fade away. We all went to the parlor and talked. We spoke of family, home, childhood, and more until we were interrupted for lunch. Nana was beaming as if Callie were her own daughter. The staff was also cheery.
Sometime later, a male dwarf charged into the dining room, glow and face red with anger. He looked around the room quickly then advanced upon Kirklan.
"There you are, lazy bum! Turn my back on you for one second and you abandon your duties. The others told me you walked out without a word. Quit your lallygagging and get to work," he ordered, pulling Kirklan out of his chair and towards the door.
"Unhand him!" Callie shouted and pulled Kirklan free of the other's grasp, "He is my guest and will stay as long as he wishes."
The blacksmith looked at them in shock. With a shake of his head, he confronted them, "Girl, this is no business of yours. He is my apprentice, therefore, my property. When he knows enough to make something of quality that pays me for his upkeep, then he can go sniffing skirts," then attempted to grab Kirklan again.
Callie placed herself between them. With a hard shove, the blacksmith pushed her to the floor and seized Kirklan. When he turned to leave, he was face-to-face with Set, who was standing on his hind legs.
With sparks and flames curling around his lips, Set told him, "Him stay. You go."
With an unmanly shriek, the blacksmith ran from the house. Set looked at us, expecting to be chastised. Instead, he was engulfed in a hug by not only us seven, but the staff, Nana, and Kirklan. Releasing him, we all returned to our meal. Nana informed Kirklan that, should his master kick him out, there was work and shelter for him here. He was speechless, but nodded in acknowledgement.
After lunch, we went with him to the blacksmith. As he sort-of suspected, his few belongings were packed and sitting outside the door. Two fellow apprentices were standing in the doorway, barring entrance. None of them spoke. Kirklan gathered his things without a word. A shout from behind got all of our attentions.
"There it is! There's the beast!" the blacksmith yelled, being followed by a few guards, "This is the creature that attacked me."
The guards looked at Set, us, Kirklan, the other apprentices, and the blacksmith. Scowling, they pulled the blacksmith from us. We could not hear them, but could tell the argument was heated. Finally, he stormed past us, pushed the other two apprentices in ahead of him, and slammed the door. The guards approached us.
"Sisters, that blacksmith will not bother you. The apprentices is out of a job, though."
"He has another job," Callie told them, "My household has skilled masters who can continue his training."
"As you say, Miss Callie, we leave him in your care."
They walked off.
We all went back to Callie's house. An older dwarf male met us at the door. He looked Kirklan over.
"Follow me, my forge is back here. Your stuff will be in your room."
Kirklan handed his few belongings to a staff woman and followed the blacksmith. Callie would have followed him if Echo had not, lightly, dug into her shoulder. Blushing slightly, she stayed with us. We all went with the staff woman to Kirklan's room. It was similar to the other rooms in the house. Kirklan's room was next to the blacksmith's, we were told, as well as other "laborers", meaning those, usually men, who's work was for the house but not in it.
Back in the central part of the house, we found Nana, speaking with Gorval, chatting easily. He smiled when he saw us.
"Heard Set tried to kill someone. Placed a curse on him by speaking strange words. Wants me to have a cleric watch him night and day to make sure he doesn't grow horns or something silly."
We just looked at him in shock. Set was making noises that told me he was trying not to cry. I bent to comfort him. Gorval saw Set's distress and also bent to look him in the eye.
"I did not believe a word of it. My guards, also, did not believe it. Your sad face tells me it is false. Fear not the likes of him. Such ideas are being chipped away to uncover a brighter future."
Set rubbed against Gorval, nearly knocking him down.
We all filed into the parlor. Gorval wanted to know what we planned on doing now that the Duergar were no longer a serious threat and all the parts are safe. We told him about Gretta's and Sarah's families we wished to meet. He warned us that going overland at this time of year was impossible. The ocean side of the mountains were piled high with snow, enough to bury a grown dragon. He also warned that flying was chancy as frequent snow showers erupted with little warning. He suggested waiting a month or more for the storm season to pass. Remembering our time travel, we told him we might visit Aloriana before going on, riding out the season in the Faerie Realm. This seemed to please him. He asked one favor of us, to stay the rest of the today and tomorrow so we could be part of the celebration they had planned to officially acknowledge the completion of the Miner's set. We agreed. We also added that he could announce the engagement of Callie and Kirklan. He beamed and said he would be honored. One of his household came to ask his plans for dinner. Stating that there was still much to plan, he left with his staff man. We, too, were called for dinner.
Nana barely spoke, tearing up every time she looked at Callie. We were told Kirklan and the others ate elsewhere. The staff buzzed about the celebration and getting Callie "properly dressed" for an engagement announcement. They speculated that she would not be the only one using this event to make such an announcement, which calmed Callie a bit. Kirklan met us in the hall to thank us, wish us good night, and give Callie a finely worked steel ring he had forged himself in "her" forge. Callie accepted it like a priceless golden and diamond ring. She told Alice that, while Alice's was lovely and well-made, hers was more valuable to her because it was made by him. Alice understood and was happy for her sister. We all went to bed in good spirits.
Nana and the staff went home as Gorval led the Gengan to the secured room. He explained the difficulty they had in attempting to remove the Rod from its secured pedestal. Once again, the Gourdnos, formerly the oddlings, provided the solution. As we had told the dwarfs to speak to the Foot to move it, the Gourdnos instructed the naghle (gnomes) to tell the Rod why they were attempting to lift it from its safe place. Once it understood, the shield condensed to form the bubble and the Rod was easily lifted and still contained. The Gengan laughed about how a week's worth of effort was not successful while a few seconds of truth moved "mountains".
In the secured room, the Gengan paused in wonder. He gazed at the other parts, unviewed by any of his people since they were fashioned. With great care, he set it on its place of honor. As he backed away to view the sight, the bubbles quivered. Invisible to most of those in the room, I watched the bubbles grow and merge into a single encasement. When I informed them of this event, they became puzzled and began pondering aloud as to why this occurred. Above the assembled parts, an image began to form. This silenced them. We all watched as it became a dwarf in ancient clothing.
"Well done, joban and kindred. All of my parts are in one place in dwarf keeping. Yes, I am Jordsonn , called the Master Miner. Now can I truly rest, knowing my items are with dwarfs and not being used for evil. I do not downplay the naghles' excellent protection nor Aper See's guardianship. However, dwarf land is home and it is where they belong. Joban, you may find wonders begin to occur. Even contained as they are, my powers, as they did during my life while I slept, will draw or reveal things of their own accord. Do not fear such events. Cherish them and celebrate them. Like now, enter young one."
At the door, a young male dwarf stood. With Jordsonn's encouragement, he walked cautiously to the area in front of the items and under Jordsonn's image. He looked terrified.
"This one was drawn to me. He is my Speaker. Through him, you will be told why an odd thing has occurred, if it is due to my powers. Also, if any item is to be used as it was designed, he will be the user. This is not his sole duty and he is expected to work else where, but this is his priority."
The male dwarf introduced himself as Kirklan, apprentice blacksmith. He had kept his head down from the moment he entered. Gorval, gently, encouraged him to look up. As soon as he did, his eyes locked on Callie. We three inhaled sharply. Kirklan was Callie's future husband. Kirklan and Callie stared at each other is stunned silence. Jordsonn's laugh broke the tension.
"My Speaker is a Sword Sister's soul mate. How glorious! A better match could not have been planned. I leave you now. Go, with my blessing."
Jordsonn faded away. Numbly, the dwarfs and gnome filed out. Callie and Kirklan continued to stare at each other, ignoring the rest of the world. Echo's impatient chirp brought them back, making them laugh in embarrassment. As if they had been together for years, they took each other's hand and led us back to Callie's house.
Nana gave one look at Callie's and Kirlan's clasped hands and began weeping with joy. Between bouts of sobbing, Nana shown Kirklan around the house. Kirklan revealed that he had only a cot and a few shelves to call his own, just as the other apprentices had. Nana began barking orders for one of the spare rooms to be prepared for him. Kirklan went white. Callie began rattling all of the reasons for them not to do that. Nana, however, would not hear of it and charged off to make it happen. We all stood silently in her wake. Callie turned to Kirklan and began a rapid-fire apology for Nana's behavior and, half-hearted, vowed to correct her. He only smiled, which made Callie's words trail off into silence.
"Your mind must work so fast to get all of those words to come out so quickly," he told her as he took her hands, "A wonderful mind in a pretty face. The hope every man has for his mate."
Callie melted, letting her unsaid apologies fade away. We all went to the parlor and talked. We spoke of family, home, childhood, and more until we were interrupted for lunch. Nana was beaming as if Callie were her own daughter. The staff was also cheery.
Sometime later, a male dwarf charged into the dining room, glow and face red with anger. He looked around the room quickly then advanced upon Kirklan.
"There you are, lazy bum! Turn my back on you for one second and you abandon your duties. The others told me you walked out without a word. Quit your lallygagging and get to work," he ordered, pulling Kirklan out of his chair and towards the door.
"Unhand him!" Callie shouted and pulled Kirklan free of the other's grasp, "He is my guest and will stay as long as he wishes."
The blacksmith looked at them in shock. With a shake of his head, he confronted them, "Girl, this is no business of yours. He is my apprentice, therefore, my property. When he knows enough to make something of quality that pays me for his upkeep, then he can go sniffing skirts," then attempted to grab Kirklan again.
Callie placed herself between them. With a hard shove, the blacksmith pushed her to the floor and seized Kirklan. When he turned to leave, he was face-to-face with Set, who was standing on his hind legs.
With sparks and flames curling around his lips, Set told him, "Him stay. You go."
With an unmanly shriek, the blacksmith ran from the house. Set looked at us, expecting to be chastised. Instead, he was engulfed in a hug by not only us seven, but the staff, Nana, and Kirklan. Releasing him, we all returned to our meal. Nana informed Kirklan that, should his master kick him out, there was work and shelter for him here. He was speechless, but nodded in acknowledgement.
After lunch, we went with him to the blacksmith. As he sort-of suspected, his few belongings were packed and sitting outside the door. Two fellow apprentices were standing in the doorway, barring entrance. None of them spoke. Kirklan gathered his things without a word. A shout from behind got all of our attentions.
"There it is! There's the beast!" the blacksmith yelled, being followed by a few guards, "This is the creature that attacked me."
The guards looked at Set, us, Kirklan, the other apprentices, and the blacksmith. Scowling, they pulled the blacksmith from us. We could not hear them, but could tell the argument was heated. Finally, he stormed past us, pushed the other two apprentices in ahead of him, and slammed the door. The guards approached us.
"Sisters, that blacksmith will not bother you. The apprentices is out of a job, though."
"He has another job," Callie told them, "My household has skilled masters who can continue his training."
"As you say, Miss Callie, we leave him in your care."
They walked off.
We all went back to Callie's house. An older dwarf male met us at the door. He looked Kirklan over.
"Follow me, my forge is back here. Your stuff will be in your room."
Kirklan handed his few belongings to a staff woman and followed the blacksmith. Callie would have followed him if Echo had not, lightly, dug into her shoulder. Blushing slightly, she stayed with us. We all went with the staff woman to Kirklan's room. It was similar to the other rooms in the house. Kirklan's room was next to the blacksmith's, we were told, as well as other "laborers", meaning those, usually men, who's work was for the house but not in it.
Back in the central part of the house, we found Nana, speaking with Gorval, chatting easily. He smiled when he saw us.
"Heard Set tried to kill someone. Placed a curse on him by speaking strange words. Wants me to have a cleric watch him night and day to make sure he doesn't grow horns or something silly."
We just looked at him in shock. Set was making noises that told me he was trying not to cry. I bent to comfort him. Gorval saw Set's distress and also bent to look him in the eye.
"I did not believe a word of it. My guards, also, did not believe it. Your sad face tells me it is false. Fear not the likes of him. Such ideas are being chipped away to uncover a brighter future."
Set rubbed against Gorval, nearly knocking him down.
We all filed into the parlor. Gorval wanted to know what we planned on doing now that the Duergar were no longer a serious threat and all the parts are safe. We told him about Gretta's and Sarah's families we wished to meet. He warned us that going overland at this time of year was impossible. The ocean side of the mountains were piled high with snow, enough to bury a grown dragon. He also warned that flying was chancy as frequent snow showers erupted with little warning. He suggested waiting a month or more for the storm season to pass. Remembering our time travel, we told him we might visit Aloriana before going on, riding out the season in the Faerie Realm. This seemed to please him. He asked one favor of us, to stay the rest of the today and tomorrow so we could be part of the celebration they had planned to officially acknowledge the completion of the Miner's set. We agreed. We also added that he could announce the engagement of Callie and Kirklan. He beamed and said he would be honored. One of his household came to ask his plans for dinner. Stating that there was still much to plan, he left with his staff man. We, too, were called for dinner.
Nana barely spoke, tearing up every time she looked at Callie. We were told Kirklan and the others ate elsewhere. The staff buzzed about the celebration and getting Callie "properly dressed" for an engagement announcement. They speculated that she would not be the only one using this event to make such an announcement, which calmed Callie a bit. Kirklan met us in the hall to thank us, wish us good night, and give Callie a finely worked steel ring he had forged himself in "her" forge. Callie accepted it like a priceless golden and diamond ring. She told Alice that, while Alice's was lovely and well-made, hers was more valuable to her because it was made by him. Alice understood and was happy for her sister. We all went to bed in good spirits.
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