"You do know about her, uh, profession, right?" She married some Harani merchant, been a client of hers for years." He paused, looking doubtful. "Remember when my mother took me to the Rum Runner festival? She did that 'cause she was goin' away to sea for a long time. They were identical in design, engraved gold bands, each set with an emerald. To explain his visit, Moon laid the first pair of rings on the small table between the teacups.
"Come inside and tell me what brings you here, for it surely cannot be simple nostalgia." In fact, I am surprised to see you're alive and well." Moonstone had been sent here to study alchemy and magic after his troublemaking had transgressed even his mother's minimal limits. "And still surly as ever, I see." But his teacher smiled as he said this. He spun around and was face to face with Yanoris, the most powerful mage and alchemist he knew of. A voice behind him interrupted his thoughts. The shabby cluster of buildings was tucked into a clearing in a remote corner of the forest, and he had been contemplating it for even longer than he had stared at the gates of Andelph. He knew only one mage who could perform the enchantment he wanted, his old teacher. Moonstone had sworn he would never return to Gweonid, yet here he was, on his way to the very place where the worst years of his life had been spent. The food vendor had been right about the quality of her cousin's work. Nestled within each one was a pair of exquisite rings. Three days later, Moon rode out of Andelph carrying two tiny velvet pouches. "Now, lad, I meant nothin' by that!" It was comical how quickly he changed his tune at the mention of gold. "Guess somebody else might want this 5000 gold then." "I can vouch for that."įor that, the smith was met with a glare that would have made roses wilt. "He ain't no lass." One side of Moonstone's mouth curled into a smirk. "Who's the lucky lass?" the Dwarf inquired. I got gems to set in 'em too." Moon went on to describe the rings in detail, saving the most important one for last. "Need some rings made they gotta be perfect though.
When at last he looked up, he spied a small sign in the distance, and upon coming closer, found that it read "Fine Metalwork, Ornaments, Blades." He went into the shop and the proprietor looked up from his workbench. Turning back, he walked with his head down, paying little attention to where he was going. He was sure he'd been down this corridor at least twice already. He'd been lost in the labyrinth of the city's lower levels for an hour, even though he'd tried to follow the food seller's directions. "Lookin' for a metalsmith to make some rings. "What brings ye to Andelph?" she asked him? The food vendor seemed surprised that an Elf wanted to try the local specialties. Wandering under the vaulted ceiling, so high that he couldn't quite see the upper reaches, he came upon dining tables set out on the plaza beside a little cart where tantalizing aromas beckoned. Half an hour later he was warm and hungry. Casually stripping naked, he waded in, letting the hot water dispel the chill. From his left, plumes of steam drifted lazily, and he soon found their source, a cavernous room containing a heated swimming pool. It opened onto an immense hall carved into the heart of the mountain in the Dwarven style. Gonna stand out here till ya get frostbite first?" With that, he stepped into the passage. "Idiot." He cursed himself, shaking his head. He had ridden slowly from Sanddeep, ruminating on the finality of his plans. Swirling snow clouded the great gates of Andelph, and Moonstone shivered in a bitter wind, yet he stood as if rooted to the spot.
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