Dwarf celebrations, in spite of their slow to change personality, seem to burst into being. Where, last night, was empty space was, this morning, as crowded as a human market. With almost a faire-like feel, dwarfs played games, drank, put on shows, and displayed fine wares for all to see. Nana and the staff separated Callie from us to get her "prepared" for the mid-day announcement. Kirlan, likewise, was excused from duty to get ready. The rest of us wandered about this grandeur, marveling at the sights. We encountered Kirlan's former master, who turned tail at the sight of us and ran. Some noticed this and came up to us to see the "terrible beast" he was going on about. Even standing on his hind legs, these others could not see what had frightened the man and returned to their activities. Others at this event got our attention. Set tested many pots, kettles, swords, and other items. Those that did not melt or shatter were permitted, by a guild master nearby, to add "dragon tested" to their items' descriptions. Gretta was pulled aside a few times to verify the purity of many items. Joban, unlike many humans, take honor from an honest deal. She found no fakes nor forgeries. She only found errors in grading, 10K instead of 14K, or minor flaws that only strong magnification could verify. Her discoveries did not anger the dwarfs. Instead, it challenged them. Some left to take up the task to making better jeweler's glasses to correctly grade their work. One asked Gretta to sit with him a while to get all of his wares marked correctly. We joked about her "abandoning" us and let her do her thing.
When we got around to the food vendors, Sarah and Lisa were nearly pulled apart by joban wanting everything checked. Set, Dawn, and Bo were given scraps by almost everyone. All but one they slurped down. The exception was a man who's food was heavily spiced. The meat was not spoiled nor tainted, but he insisted on "flavor, flavor, and more flavor". When our companions refused his food, a mob of dwarfs began chiding him and offering to show him the "right way" to season his food. By the time we got through there, our companions were full and we had food for over a week in our hands.
Gretta and several guards found us to take us to where the announcements were to be given. Some took our burdens and headed to Callie's house. Near the palace, a large stage had appeared. Gorval, Lanara, and the entire council sat at the back of the stage. We were guided to empty chairs near them.
After a few moments, Gorval gave a signal and bells began to ring all over Stahendring. The population raced to surround the stage, eager for what they had to say. When a good crowd had assembled, Gorval stood and went to the front of the stage. He had a large cone-shaped thing in his hand. He raised this to his mouth and began speaking.
"Citizens of Stahendring!" boomed his voice out of the cone, "I interrupt your festivities for a few moments. On this day of celebration, we have a small bit of business. Several couples have let it be known they wish to wed. As their King, it is my honor to tell the city."
A cheer roared as finely dressed couples exited the palace to stand at the side of the stage. One pair at a time walked up next to Gorval as he announced them. The reactions ranged from gasps and groans to ear-splitting shrieks and cheers. Callie, Kirklan, and Echo went across the stage to Gorval, who proudly announced her as kin and him as the Speaker for the Master Miner.
From the crowd, a handful of dwarfs jumped upon the stage. They pulled the cone from Gorval's hand.
From the crowd, a handful of dwarfs jumped upon the stage. They pulled the cone from Gorval's hand.
"Protest! Protest! We cannot permit this union! We cannot allow this horror to take place!"
"Horror?" Gorval asked as he ripped the cone out of the other's hands, "What horror?"
"A freak and an outsider. He hears voices and she is human. Allowing this would be a catastrophe."
The rest of their group agreed. Gorval was speechless. The council mumbled. The rest of us stood up and went to Callie.
"More abominations! These girls are a plague that must be stopped. They have spread their disease too far for too long. The cure is here!"
The protesters, about a dozen, brandished various weapons. Gorval and the council were too shocked to order guards to stop them. They expected us to plead, beg for our lives, but all we did was move Kirklan behind us. A quick mental conference was all we needed to know how to stop them. At the boards below their feet, we called to the spirit of the tree they had been. The protesters barely noticed the shifting wood beneath them. A loud crack was the only warning before wooden arms wrapped around their lower legs and feet. The crowd gasped as they watched the group become trapped by the stage. The protesters yelled and struggled, but could not free themselves. This allowed Gorval to call for guards to arrest them. As the guards were gathering, Gorval turned to the protesters.
"Explain yourselves. What is all this about?"
Coming to the conclusion that they were trapped, the leader decided to talk.
"I am a senior apprentice to his former master. I witnessed him stop in the middle of work and act like he was listening to something. We tried, but heard nothing. The things he said he heard was total nonsense. Even after severe beatings, he still insisted he 'heard' things. Our master had him purified and exorcised many times. He is a freak!"
The others echoed his shout. Gorval was at a loss. He looked at us.
"He is not a freak. He is unique, a specialty among dwarfs. The voices he heard were the bat-dragons, wild dragons, plus other beings who communicate mentally. He is one in twenty thousand who can understand mental voices. If we called, more could be found," I told them.
Doing quick mental calculations, many came up the with same, rather large, number of dwarfs with this ability. The protesters did not like that number and began demanding they all be found and expelled from not only Stahendring, but all dwarf lands. The crowd began to boo them, which surprised them into silence. They truly believed all the "normal" dwarfs would side with them.
From somewhere, Nana stormed onto the stage, followed by other dwarfs. She was angry, as were they. They confronted the protesters.
"You want to expel dwarfs who can hear mental speech? You believe such are freaks? Tell me, show me these 'freaks'."
The protesters, other than Kirklan, could not point out any. When they failed, Nana and her group faced off against them.
"You are looking at six such dwarfs. We have heard these things all of our lives. Do you call us freaks?"
Everyone gasped, including us.
The leader of the protesters started stammering, "Who...who are you...to challenge us? We...we are...from the...head clans...of this city."
Nana laughed, along with her group, Gorval, the council, and most of the crowd. The protesters looked confused and whispered to each other, trying to understand what was so funny. To enlighten them, Nana's group began introducing themselves. It shocked the protesters to hear that they were from what the dwarfs considered noble families, even though none held any titles like "count", "duchess", or even "lord". Nana went last.
"I am Gloria Stormhammer. Gorval's father was my uncle, my father's brother. Gorval and I are blood cousins."
"That explains why I kept seeing the two of them together as children," Alice mentally told us, "I didn't attempt to search family lines. No one asked and I did not want to be rude."
Kirklan and Nana, plus her group, looked at us and smiled.
Kirkaln whispered, "Thank you for such courtesy. Now I know who I have been hearing of late. Worry not, except when you were in the city, you were too far away for me to understand what you said to each other."
Callie whispered back, "That's alright. It's not like we were sharing dark secrets or anything. We've lived with elves who hear nearly everything, so we're not offended."
The protesters, thoroughly humbled, begged everyone for forgiveness. Gorval indicated for us to release them. We calmed the latent spirit in the wood and the arms became saw dust and fell apart. The protesters quietly left the stage. Gorval took up where he left off, announcing the rest of the engagements. Nana and her group quietly faded into the crowd. The guards remained in case there was any more trouble.
When the last couple had left the stage, Gorval faced the crowd, "Now, the reason for our celebration. In our stronghold, all the parts of the Master Miner are assembled and safe. The Foot, recovered from the Duergar, allows the one holding it to pass through stone and metal as if they were air and to walk on lava as if on a city street. The Wand, kept safe in the hoard of an ancient King dragon, summons beings and creatures of stone and underground. Finally, the Rod, held for three generations by our gnome allies, carved through even the hardest stone, finds gems and metals undetectable by any other means, and protects against weapons of stone or metal. Kirklan Thunderspike has been named Speaker for the spirit of the Master Miner and will be the main person who handles them if we have cause to use them. While we do not foresee the need, they are with us should the need arise. Now that the business is done, enjoy yourselves!"
The crowd cheered and began returning to the festivities. We told Callie and Kirklan to go and get better aquainted. Echo went with them. The rest of us ended up being pulled in all directions, each to our own specialty. Set and I were brought into many discussions of what it meant to be a dragon rider, comparing the partner bond between riders and Darrknots, and providing a group of scholars trips through kirlan. Everyone we spoke with insisted on feeding us, Set specifically. Many marveled at the variety of food he could, and would, eat. As bat-dragons' diet was entirely animal: bugs, spiders, rats, etc., the fact Set ate vegetables and fruits surprised them. They were also taken aback when he chomped rocks, until we explained what he did with them.
By dark, we were exhausted and stuffed. I sent Set to our room to go to sleep. At dinner, I explained our lack of appetite. Once they stopped laughing, they told of their days. Nana walked in and we all stood.
She sighed, "This is why I told you to call me Nana. Please, do not treat me special. I am still just Nana."
We looked at each other, then laughed, which caused Nana to look at us strangely. Callie went to her.
"It is not because of your name that we stand in respect. We give you respect for standing up against those people and telling the whole city your special abilities. We know how hard it is to be special among your own people. Just letting you know we understand."
Nana got teary-eyed. She pulled Callie into a tight embrace. They became the center as we joined in the hug. When we parted, Nana sat with us and told us about her life as a receptive dwarf. Even as a member of the royal family, she was still subjected to purifying attempts and exorcisms. She met the others in her group at a group purification. They became close friends through their trials. It was not until the arrival of dragons, riders, and others who spoke mentally did they understand what they were hearing was nothing evil, bad, or unnatural. She and her group have made it their mission to find other receptive dwarfs. Unfortunately, none of them can send, which makes the finding all the more difficult.
We parted well into the night. I had to magic Set over as he was spread out over the entire bed. He was having good dreams and puffed in his sleep.
The rest of their group agreed. Gorval was speechless. The council mumbled. The rest of us stood up and went to Callie.
"More abominations! These girls are a plague that must be stopped. They have spread their disease too far for too long. The cure is here!"
The protesters, about a dozen, brandished various weapons. Gorval and the council were too shocked to order guards to stop them. They expected us to plead, beg for our lives, but all we did was move Kirklan behind us. A quick mental conference was all we needed to know how to stop them. At the boards below their feet, we called to the spirit of the tree they had been. The protesters barely noticed the shifting wood beneath them. A loud crack was the only warning before wooden arms wrapped around their lower legs and feet. The crowd gasped as they watched the group become trapped by the stage. The protesters yelled and struggled, but could not free themselves. This allowed Gorval to call for guards to arrest them. As the guards were gathering, Gorval turned to the protesters.
"Explain yourselves. What is all this about?"
Coming to the conclusion that they were trapped, the leader decided to talk.
"I am a senior apprentice to his former master. I witnessed him stop in the middle of work and act like he was listening to something. We tried, but heard nothing. The things he said he heard was total nonsense. Even after severe beatings, he still insisted he 'heard' things. Our master had him purified and exorcised many times. He is a freak!"
The others echoed his shout. Gorval was at a loss. He looked at us.
"He is not a freak. He is unique, a specialty among dwarfs. The voices he heard were the bat-dragons, wild dragons, plus other beings who communicate mentally. He is one in twenty thousand who can understand mental voices. If we called, more could be found," I told them.
Doing quick mental calculations, many came up the with same, rather large, number of dwarfs with this ability. The protesters did not like that number and began demanding they all be found and expelled from not only Stahendring, but all dwarf lands. The crowd began to boo them, which surprised them into silence. They truly believed all the "normal" dwarfs would side with them.
From somewhere, Nana stormed onto the stage, followed by other dwarfs. She was angry, as were they. They confronted the protesters.
"You want to expel dwarfs who can hear mental speech? You believe such are freaks? Tell me, show me these 'freaks'."
The protesters, other than Kirklan, could not point out any. When they failed, Nana and her group faced off against them.
"You are looking at six such dwarfs. We have heard these things all of our lives. Do you call us freaks?"
Everyone gasped, including us.
The leader of the protesters started stammering, "Who...who are you...to challenge us? We...we are...from the...head clans...of this city."
Nana laughed, along with her group, Gorval, the council, and most of the crowd. The protesters looked confused and whispered to each other, trying to understand what was so funny. To enlighten them, Nana's group began introducing themselves. It shocked the protesters to hear that they were from what the dwarfs considered noble families, even though none held any titles like "count", "duchess", or even "lord". Nana went last.
"I am Gloria Stormhammer. Gorval's father was my uncle, my father's brother. Gorval and I are blood cousins."
"That explains why I kept seeing the two of them together as children," Alice mentally told us, "I didn't attempt to search family lines. No one asked and I did not want to be rude."
Kirklan and Nana, plus her group, looked at us and smiled.
Kirkaln whispered, "Thank you for such courtesy. Now I know who I have been hearing of late. Worry not, except when you were in the city, you were too far away for me to understand what you said to each other."
Callie whispered back, "That's alright. It's not like we were sharing dark secrets or anything. We've lived with elves who hear nearly everything, so we're not offended."
The protesters, thoroughly humbled, begged everyone for forgiveness. Gorval indicated for us to release them. We calmed the latent spirit in the wood and the arms became saw dust and fell apart. The protesters quietly left the stage. Gorval took up where he left off, announcing the rest of the engagements. Nana and her group quietly faded into the crowd. The guards remained in case there was any more trouble.
When the last couple had left the stage, Gorval faced the crowd, "Now, the reason for our celebration. In our stronghold, all the parts of the Master Miner are assembled and safe. The Foot, recovered from the Duergar, allows the one holding it to pass through stone and metal as if they were air and to walk on lava as if on a city street. The Wand, kept safe in the hoard of an ancient King dragon, summons beings and creatures of stone and underground. Finally, the Rod, held for three generations by our gnome allies, carved through even the hardest stone, finds gems and metals undetectable by any other means, and protects against weapons of stone or metal. Kirklan Thunderspike has been named Speaker for the spirit of the Master Miner and will be the main person who handles them if we have cause to use them. While we do not foresee the need, they are with us should the need arise. Now that the business is done, enjoy yourselves!"
The crowd cheered and began returning to the festivities. We told Callie and Kirklan to go and get better aquainted. Echo went with them. The rest of us ended up being pulled in all directions, each to our own specialty. Set and I were brought into many discussions of what it meant to be a dragon rider, comparing the partner bond between riders and Darrknots, and providing a group of scholars trips through kirlan. Everyone we spoke with insisted on feeding us, Set specifically. Many marveled at the variety of food he could, and would, eat. As bat-dragons' diet was entirely animal: bugs, spiders, rats, etc., the fact Set ate vegetables and fruits surprised them. They were also taken aback when he chomped rocks, until we explained what he did with them.
By dark, we were exhausted and stuffed. I sent Set to our room to go to sleep. At dinner, I explained our lack of appetite. Once they stopped laughing, they told of their days. Nana walked in and we all stood.
She sighed, "This is why I told you to call me Nana. Please, do not treat me special. I am still just Nana."
We looked at each other, then laughed, which caused Nana to look at us strangely. Callie went to her.
"It is not because of your name that we stand in respect. We give you respect for standing up against those people and telling the whole city your special abilities. We know how hard it is to be special among your own people. Just letting you know we understand."
Nana got teary-eyed. She pulled Callie into a tight embrace. They became the center as we joined in the hug. When we parted, Nana sat with us and told us about her life as a receptive dwarf. Even as a member of the royal family, she was still subjected to purifying attempts and exorcisms. She met the others in her group at a group purification. They became close friends through their trials. It was not until the arrival of dragons, riders, and others who spoke mentally did they understand what they were hearing was nothing evil, bad, or unnatural. She and her group have made it their mission to find other receptive dwarfs. Unfortunately, none of them can send, which makes the finding all the more difficult.
We parted well into the night. I had to magic Set over as he was spread out over the entire bed. He was having good dreams and puffed in his sleep.
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