When KB watched as blood was trickling down the images engraved and studded into his left hand blade he realised something. It was
special and everything
special had a
name. But what to call it? It has to sound right, it cannot be any
name! It cannot be lesser than the name that Flame bestowed upon his flimsy warhammer, can it now?
Of course it cannot! A blade that took over one hundred lives has to spread respect! After hours upon hours of careful deliberations he decided: Vutokrir Lelgasnol, Figureear, the Lush Tongues. It was suitable name for this sword. He looked at its twin... maybe he should give it a name as well? No, it was not that magnificent, it was important only because it was part of a set.
~~
Meanwhile one of the leatherworkers decided to make something useful out of himself.
~~
‘We have been recognised!’ Bellowed KB in the dining hall. ‘Our fair settlement has been promoted to barony! Hail the King! Hail Rigoth Govosmeng, our Baroness!’ KB pointed at RIN secretary as he said that. It was not his idea to make her a baroness, this decision came to him as a surprise but was unwise to question orders from above... unless you wanted the
Thing shoved into one of your body parts.
~~
To honour Flame, as his death is imminent, either by wounds, infection or age itself, KB ordered that the burial chamber for him be engraved by best engravers Murderwheel could provide.
When the Agent looked at what was actually engraved at the crypt he almost coughed up his lungs laughing. That was decisively the worst and best thing that could have been engraved there.
~~
Leatherworker has finished his artefact... One will leave it without comment...
~~
18th Galena was a very special day for Murderwheel. Not only human caravan arrived, despite the danger. Not only guild representative arrived to negotiate with their broker PERSONALLY. Human Law-giver, their equivalent of a king, arrived to conduct diplomacy with the Baroness. All talks happened behind closed doors.
~~
Flame has watched two colors clash and battle in the colorless void. The longer it went on the more he recognised the shapes. Red was a warrior, clad in crimson armor, brandishing a maul and a greataxe. Black figure was a lady, wispy and slim. All strikes of warrior were dodged by the lady. All attacks of lady were deflected by warriors armor.
Flame watched as the battle unfolded, neither side gaining upper hand. The fight went on for what seemed like days.
At one point the warrior lunged and finally struck the lady, causing her to fall to her knees. As he prepared to deliver the final blow Flame cried out.
‘Leave her alone, you son of an elf!’ Flame did not know what compelled him to do so but he felt it necessary, as if that lady was a long lost friend. He brandished his warhammer, suddenly remembering he has a body and rushed at crimson clad figure. He clashed with surprised warrior and forced him to retreat.
‘YOU WILL REGRET IT, DWARF!’ Warrior roared.
‘May you step on a children’s puzzle box barefoot, you soburb!’ was Flames response. ‘Are you ok?’ He turned to the lady.
’Yes, thank you, my dear.’As she rose to her feet Flame noted that she was taller than he initially thought, around one and a half times a height of an ordinary human.
‘Who are you anyway?’ Flame was not sure what just happened, he feared the unknown just as any other dwarf.
’Nothing, my dear.’ She answered with a faint smile. Flame looked into her eyes, as black as the space between the stars.
’I am grateful for your assistance but it is time you go back home. I will call you when I will require your assistance, it will not be long, I promise, my dear.’ As she said that she touched Flames chest, with a hand as cold as the heart of a glacier. Flame shrieked in pain when his flesh froze over instantly and....
... he woke up in the hospital, surrounded by nurses holding him down. Cold water was trickling down his face, beard and chest. Doctor lowered a bucket and proclaimed.
‘Welcome back in the world of the living, Commander. You had a nightmare so we decided to wake you up. Feel free to leave as soon as you want, we cannot do anything more for you.’
~~
When Flame walked out he noted there was a gathering in the Depot. It was 21st of Galena 24, kobolts has just sprung from ambush and life was back to normal....