Don Perrin - Theros Ironfield

“Thank you,” said Theros. “It was good to work on a project that will truly benefit people. The Spiriniltan’thimis ”-he stumbled over the name-“is the best of the four ships. We were able to trim the sails differently on this one so that it is more efficient in the water. She’ll do several knots faster than the others. So, tell me about the war against this Verminaard.”

Gilthanas was grim. “I cannot say it is going well. Still, we fight on. Verminaard has pushed into the southern portion of the forest, and we cannot rout him. It has been nearly a month since we were able to mount a raid on Pax Tharkas. I don’t think we can afford the manpower to do that again. He is growing stronger and we are growing weaker. Still, the evacuation is ahead of schedule, thanks to you and Koromer. The Nation of Qualinesti and I owe you a great debt.”

Theros smiled. “I did what needed doing. I’m just glad it’s working out.”

Gilthanas nodded. “Your work here is finished, Theros Ironfeld. Now that the fourth ship is ready for sailing, I am here to fulfill my promises to you. In the morning, I will give you your well-earned steel, plus a little extra-a gift from my father, the Speaker of the Suns, to show our thanks for staying until all four ships were completed. You did not have to do that. Hirinthas and Vermala will escort you to Solace, assuming that is where you still want to go.”

Theros drank from his mug. “Truth be told, I haven’t really thought about where I’ll go next. I’ve been too busy getting these ships ready to sail. I don’t have any plans.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to offer to stay here, but he abandoned that. The elves were grateful for his services, they liked him well enough and probably trusted him by now. But they didn’t want him living among them. They didn’t want any humans living among them.

“Sure,” he said offhandedly, “I think I would like to set up shop in Solace. I hear it’s a good place to do business. People from all over go through there. I can make a fine business in weapons and armor. And if there’s an inn there that sells ale like this-well, I think I might spend the rest of my life there!”

He returned to Koromer and they held their own private party, which lasted well into the evening. He went back to his quarters late, long after Solinari had set.

Two hours after sunrise, however, he was in his smithy. Hirinthas and Vermala came searching for him.

“We didn’t expect to find you here,” Vermala said. “You’re all packed, I see. Are you ready to go?”

Theros nodded. It was hard leaving this place. He had truly enjoyed working here. “Is Koromer coming with us? Has he decided yet?”

“He has accepted our offer to stay on for a while, to conduct repairs, if any are necessary. And he has agreed to come with us to Qualimori when we go.” Hirinthas paused, then said, “We would like to issue you an invitation to visit us in Qualimori, Theros Ironfeld. Or perhaps live with us, if you do not find Solace to your liking.”

Theros stared in astonishment. He had never expected anything like this. He was pleased beyond his ability to express his feelings-in either Common or Qualinesti.

Hirinthas smiled. “Gilthanas wanted to meet with you before we left. He will be here shortly.”

Theros didn’t have to wait long, before Gilthanas entered the smithy. He carried a small velvet bag hand-embroidered in golden thread. Gilthanas handed the bag to Theros.

“Add this to the other treasures on your belt.”

Theros took the bag, spent a moment admiring the delicate workmanship.

“My sister did the embroidery,” Gilthanas said proudly.

“That makes it all the more valuable,” Theros said. “I would like a chance to meet your sister someday.”

Gilthanas said something meaningless and polite. Obviously, such a thing would never happen-a smith being introduced to an elf princess!

Theros looked inside the bag. Four diamonds caught the sunlight, sparkled with dazzling radiance. Each gem was the size of a walnut. Theros looked up in amazement. The gems were easily worth ten times what he was owed.

“I can’t take this. You could give me just one and still overpay me.” He started to return the gift.

Gilthanas stopped him. “You have ensured that the Qualinesti Nation will live. These four jewels are the least that we owe you. We can never repay our true debt.”

Theros added the pouch to the other three pouches in which he kept all of his treasures. He carried nearly five thousand steel worth of gems and coins, not counting the diamonds.

Gilthanas then did something remarkable. Reaching out, he grasped Theros by the hand. Not only did he shake hands warmly, but he also retained Theros’s large hand in his small one, pressed it tightly.

“Listen, my friend, you will be in great danger-even in Solace-if anyone finds out that you were aiding us here in the Qualinesti Nation. Be careful. Speak no word to any man. Trust no one. Hirinthas and Vermala will guide you safely to the northern corner of the forest. From there, you will be on your own, just as any other traveler. I wish you the best of luck.”

Gilthanas shook the big man’s hand again.

For a moment, Theros couldn’t speak. The elf had called him “friend.”

“On to Solace, then,” Theros said, when he found his voice.

Theros was taking a break from his labors, drinking a large mug of tepid water, when two men entered his shop. He paused in his swallowing to look at them, thinking he’d never seen a stranger pair in his life. One was a warrior, a mercenary by the looks of him, and he was one of the biggest men Theros-who was no small man himself-had ever seen. Big and jovial, he had a bluff, frank face on which every emotion registered like wind ruffling the surface of placid water.

Theros marked the big man as a customer and gave him a nod over the water mug. The smith’s gaze turned to the person accompanying the big man and Theros frowned. The big man’s comrade was a wizard, wearing red robes and carrying an odd-looking staff. Theros didn’t normally pay much attention to staves, unless they needed a new iron shoe for the bottom, but the Seeker guards had been around asking questions about a staff, and so Theros took note of this one.

The staff itself was plain enough-ordinary wood-but the top was adorned with a crystal clutched in what appeared to be a dragon’s claw. The staff was magic; of that, Theros had no doubt. He could have called the Seeker guards, earned himself a steel piece. But Theros’s credo was “live and let live.”

It wasn’t unusual to see a mage in Solace, though it was unusual to see one in the company of a warrior. Solace had become a haven for wanderers. The elves had evacuated the lands to the south, and Verminaard, who was now calling himself a Dragon Highlord, was ravaging the area. Most of Theros’s customers were either from Verminaard’s army, or were heading over to join up. Business was booming in the arms trade.

Solace was a town built entirely in the vallenwood trees. All of the shops and homes were nestled in the limbs and trunks of the trees. Walkways connected the trees to each other, making it easy to get from place to place. Staircases were built from the ground up in various places near the main road through the town.

Theros’s smithy was the only business located on the ground in Solace. There was no way to put a steel forge in a vallenwood tree without the wood igniting. Besides, the weight of the steel and finished products would be too much to move up and down the stairs. His shop looked out onto the main road that ran through the town, and onto the town square beyond.

The two customers stood in the doorway, blinking in the bright light of the forge fire. The big man began looking around. His gaze went immediately to the swords Theros had out on display.