[Inspect Weapon]
*****
Legendary Elemental Dagger
+ 100 STR/DEX/CON
Elemental Mastery Affinity - Each attack does elemental damage. The blade will sense any weakness an opponent may have to a particular element and maximize damage output by automatically using that affinity.
*****
“It… worked. Max, you did it!”
Fowl’s hand slapped his shoulder as he wiped the blade down one last time, having seen the notification upon completing the weapon.
In his hand was a simple blade that gave off an almost rainbow hue as the light struck it. A bone handle from one of the creatures from Igarra’s world had been used, ignoring the options that Ruznula had provided.
“Does… Can I see it?”
Looking up from the blade, Max nodded and handed it to his friend.
“Just promise to not drop it like last time.”
A chuckle came, and Fowl pretended to act like he was going to, causing Max to grin.
“I’m kidding.”
Steady hands were outstretched, and he watched, waiting to see how Fowl would react upon inspecting the weapon.
“Dear Ockrim… Max… this…”
“Is a gift for the king,” he replied. “Ruznula. Do you think you could make it so that we could present this to him?”
Blinking rapidly a few times, the dwarf looked up from the blade Fowl was turning over, and at Max.
“You… you managed to imbue four elemental cores… I… I can’t do that… I mean, I could try, but the chances are so low that…”
“Go big or go home, right?”
She snorted and scratched her neck for a moment.
After a few seconds, her head began to bob, and she glanced up at the windows.
“Damn, we burnt the sun away! You lot! Go to bed and get some rest! Tomorrow we’ll see what the king thinks about his new gift!”
A roar came from the crowd, all of them eyeing the dagger as they cheered.
“Oh, how they wish they knew the stats,” Fowl told Max as he handed the weapon back. “Are you going to let her see it?”
“What do you think?”
Grinning, his friend shook his head.
“Not until tomorrow when you actually get to give it to Dagon. Best to make her suffer a little bit.”
***
The room where they had met the king for the first time was packed with a large number of the dwarves that had been present the day before at the forge, each of them dressed in matching outfits, all black and red with a symbol of a gold hammer on the left chest of their shirt. Most had their beards in a tight braid, easier to keep it safe from the fires of the forge.
Max could see Fowl’s brother and father both smiling, each of the dwarves almost bouncing on their toes as they watched with the rest what was taking place.
The three women were all off to the side with some nobles and older dwarven families.
“Seems like we’re the star of the show,” Max whispered to Fowl as they walked along the carpet toward the king. “Try to behave.”
“Bah, don’t make me laugh. This is big, and you know it.”
He nodded slightly, feeling every eye upon him as they moved to where Ruznula waited at the end of the carpet. Her outfit was a finer cut than the rest and had gold flames that ran up her red sleeves.
Behind her Dagon waited, the tiniest smile visible even from across the room.
After reaching the place where the Master Weaponsmith for the kingdom waited, they stopped and bowed.
“My king. Fowl Hammerfall and Max Hoste have come to offer a gift of a weapon they worked together to forge. Both of them, along with Grondir Hammerfall, put in long hours to create something I myself can only imagine will be a treasure that you will always cherish.”
A white eyebrow rose slightly as Dagon’s eyes flitted between Ruznula and them.
“You haven’t inspected it yet?”
“No, my king. They wanted to wait for this moment, as neither felt it should be revealed unless you deem it worthy of sharing.”
“And yet you called for this without ever putting your hands on it?”
The slightest murmurs came from the side Tanila, Batrire, and Cordellia were standing on.
“I did, my king. While I am certain my skill is higher than the one that was used to craft this blade yesterday, what I witnessed has left me no doubt it will be worth the reveal.”
“Then let me see this weapon.”
Ruznula turned and held out her hand, and Fowl produced the blade and handed it to her.
Max watched as the woman’s blue eyes shook.
Somehow, she was able to still her hand as she inspected it for a moment before letting out a tiny snort.
“As I expected. This is beyond what I had imagined.”
Leaning forward, Dagon held out his hand as she approached, holding the handle toward him.
Upon taking it from her, he spent a few seconds, looking over it, running his thumb along the runes that had been carved.
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And then his black eyes almost seemed to glow, and he began to laugh.
“By Ockrim’s beard! There are few blades that I have seen with the power of this one!”
A roar of applause and cheer came from the weaponsmiths, and Max could feel Fowl puffing out his chest.
Dagon motioned with both hands for more applause as he stood and descended the steps, coming to stand before them.
“You are giving this to me? I was informed you used your own materials, and I know those are not cheap, even for a tower climber.”
“A gift for your assistance in our friend’s wedding. We both know we’re probably getting the better end of this deal.”
Roaring with laughter, Dagon clamped a hand on Fowl’s shoulder and motioned to Max with his head.
“You are right. He is your half-brother. Take good care of each other. Perhaps one day he will manage to grow some hair on that bald head of his.”
Both men chuckled, and as the king held the weapon upward, looking so small in his large hands, the leader of the dwarves cleared his throat.
“Today we celebrate a rare moment. I have been reminded about what makes us different from some of the other races. We are a family. Blood is important, but even more than that, it is the ties of friendship and kinship.”
He gazed out over the crowd and locked eyes with the only other two Hammerfalls in the crowd.
“There are rare things we do in our kingdom. Dwarves have made these kinds of commitments in times past, and they carry a promise that is stronger than birth.
Max felt Fowl shifting and heard some gasps as Dagon suddenly had a cord of rope in his other hand.
“We are slow to change because we live so long, but I remember stories from my great great grandfather telling me of a time when bonds between other races were so strong, they were like brothers. So in honor of the gift that has been given to me today, I will offer a gift that most will never imagine possible.”
Both black eyes fell upon Fowl.
“Fowl Hammerfall. Are you willing to bleed and die for the man beside you? To defend him and his family as if they are your own?”
“I have and do, my king.”
Nodding, Dagon turned to Max and smiled.
“Max Hoste. In our kingdom sometimes dwarves are so close that they are considered brothers, even though they are not. Sometimes that bond goes so deep they form a pact and unite their families, creating a new clan in the process many times. Your friend and half-brother has offered you the chance to become his full brother. Would you do the same? Would you be willing to bleed and die for the dwarf beside you? To defend him and his family as if they are his own?”
Blinking, he felt a few tears had formed and started to run down his face, having already figured out what was happening.
“I have and I will. My king.”
Nodding, Dagon motioned to Fowl, who held out his right hand.
Twirling the knife in his hand, the king grinned.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t test out its ability.”
All three of them chuckled as he stored it and replaced it with a different knife. With a quick slice, he cut Fowl’s palm.
Max held out his hand, and then Dagon did the same, frowning when the blade didn’t cut his skin.
“Ahh… yeah… sorry. You’ll need something a bit higher quality.”
“He’s always showing off,” Fowl grunted.
“Interesting. You are full of surprises.”
A different dagger replaced the one he held, and this time the skin on Max’s flesh was split, causing blood to flow freely.
“Clasp hands.”
After they did as instructed, Dagon began to wind the rope he had around their wrist and hand.
“Rope is so common, but people often forget its importance in life until they need it. This is like a family. We take them for granted and only remember how vital they are for in those moments we truly need them. May you two never forget or take for granted each other.”
Snapping his finger, Dagon motioned to Fowl’s father.
“Orstein Hammerfall. Now is the time to decide. Would you like to come and welcome your newest son or abandon both of them?”
Every eye turned, and there was barely a second before the older dwarf began moving to where the pair stood. Before he reached them, Orstein bowed low.
“I come to greet both of my sons. Thank you for helping me see what I was blind to see.”
A single nod was all the king gave as Fowl’s father moved and hugged both of them at the same time.
Cheers came, and soon Max sensed Fowl’s brother joining the hug. Only a few seconds later, Batrire, Tanila, and Cordellia all joined in on the mass collective, each of them grunting and squeezing the pair.
“I guess you really are a dwarf now,” Fowl called out from the middle.
“Just don’t ask me to wax my beard,” Max replied, earning a roar of laughter from all who heard.
***
A groan came from Tanila as she rolled over in the bed.
“How long are you going to be gone?”
“Just a few hours. It’s been weeks, and I can feel a tug suddenly on me from Rakonath,” Max replied. “It’s weird. The last few hours it’s grown, and I think we’ve been apart too long.”
“But it hasn’t been any longer than usual. What could be different?”
Frowning, Max shrugged. “That’s what bothers me.”
Moving to the bed, he gave her a quick kiss and set down a few muffins on the nightstand.
“I’ll be back before you know it. Besides, we both know today we’re not going to do anything. After all that drinking, I’m not sure Fowl or Batrire could do anything either. Regardless of whether she healed herself or him.”
Chuckling, she nodded.
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“Fine, but don’t be gone all day.”
With a smile, he waved and was gone, the portal taking him to Aerthen’s cave.
As soon as he appeared, he could feel pain in his chest.
Lying on the ground of the cave was both Rakonath and the giant red dragon.
“What’s wrong?”
His eyes searched for the silver dragon, which was coiled up against the one who had promised to watch over him.
She’s hurt. Another dragon came and tried to take her and me.
Max looked at the scars that covered the beast. Large chunks of flesh were slowly knitting themselves together, but over a hundred scales had to be missing from what he could see.
Slowly, she raised her wing, and he saw the torn membranes.
“Who… who did this?”
“A rival… one who rarely comes here but appears to have sensed Rakonath.”
Her voice sounded weak, and Max’s Sonar revealed just how bad things were.
Why isn’t she healing?
I do not know. She is a dragon, ask her.
Frustrated at Bob not knowing the answer and the fact he asked a question that was so apparent, Max put a hand on Aerthen’s snout.
“What can I do? Why aren’t you healing?”
“My core… it’s gone.”