Granite the 2nd, 207:
“You asked to see me, Frea?”
“Ah, yes, Solon. Have a seat.”
Solon looked around to see if an extra seat had been added to her- no, Frea's office while she wasn't looking. Nope. Still the same worn slate desk, same chair, a few new engravings of sasquatches on the wall. That left the floor. “Um, I think I'll stand for now.”
“Suit yourself,” Frea shrugged. “This has been a hard time for all of us, hasn't it, Solon?”
Solon considered the many ways she could possibly answer that question. Unfortunately, most of them involved violence, so... “Er, yes. Yes it has”
“But I'm convinced that Greatbridge can pull through. It's obvious that the gods are still displeased with us, not that I blame you entirely for that-”
“Um...”
“So, we've got to finish the temples, and now! This is all the work of the gods. It has to be! And, don't interrupt now, but I think I've figured out why they're still so unhappy. The temple for Idrath is all right, so far, but it needs wealth! And what have we put in there? A few iron statues here, a gem or two there, and no gold at all!”
Because we haven't got any gold, Solon thought. Or silver, or copper, or bronze, or...
“No, what it needs, for a start at least, is some good black bronze! I think one black bronze item will suffice for now. Let's get the metalworkers on that, shall we? And I do hope that they can manage this one. I'd hate to have to send Keilden to - Solon, why on earth are you looking at me like that?"
(Next: Goblins, death, obligatory elf bashing, and Mook and Titoo in a starring role)