Ways of Power 1: Power Rises (18 page)

Rancoth continued to smile and nodded his head slightly. "Yes, Grecrum. Dorbin was very thorough with history when I was a youth, and what he didn't drill into me I heard over and over again from you."

The three of them continued with their meal, the mood changed to a more jovial one and Sahrisa eventually joined them for dessert. The visit continued for several hours. They all got caught up on the latest Tower City gossip and rehashed Rancoth and Dorbin's adventure, with several rounds of laughter.

As Sahrisa and Grecrum began to get friendlier with one another, Dorbin and Rancoth shared a knowing glance and left. Once in the hallway outside the private dining room, Dorbin turned to Rancoth and inquired as to what was bothering him when he entered the room before dinner.

"It really was nothing, honest. Just a disgusting dream," Rancoth said. "I promise," he added when Dorbin continued to glare at him.

Dorbin sighed and changed the subject. "All rright, well, if you don't mind could I borrrow that wee doll o' yourrs?" he asked.

Rancoth's brow furrowed with curiosity. "Why?"

"I want a closerr look at it, that's all," Dorbin said.

"Sure--I guess. Come on up and I'll get it for you," Rancoth said. Dorbin followed closely behind him up the rather narrow marble stairs. Once in his room, Rancoth retrieved the little doll off his nightstand and tossed it at Dorbin. Dorbin didn't move quite fast enough, and the soft plush toy hit him in the face before falling to the floor.

Rancoth chuckled as Dorbin bent down and picked it up. He nodded his thanks. "Mind if I keep it forr a few days?"

"I guess not."

"I'll get it back to you when I'm done," Dorbin said, turning to leave. At the doorway, he turned and asked, "What about that knife? The one you brroke the tip off o' when you werre in that cellerr?"

Rancoth grabbed the knife from his pack and pulled it from its sheath. He held the blade up, examined the odd angle of the broken tip. "Thanks for remembering. I hope it won't take too much of your time. The sooner you get whatever
project
you’re working on done, the sooner we can head south, and get that necklace back where it belongs." Rancoth re-sheathed the blade, and handed it to the old Dwalish man.

"Nah, it won't take but an hourr to fix this," Dorbin said with a wink. The stocky little man bid him goodnight and headed down the stairs.

Not wanting his mind to wander into dangerous territory again, Rancoth went down and selected a book from Grecrum's study. Then he read Jororetol's
The Mysterious Ray'Deeant Elfkins
by candlelight until he retired for the night. 

32

BRINK--tink--tink BRINK--tink--tink BRINK--tink--tink
. Dorbin loved the musical ringing that could only be produced by meeting hammer to steel and anvil.
BRINK--tink--tink BRINK--tink--tink BRINK--tink--tink.

It had been five days since he and Rancoth had returned from their little jaunt to the boy's nightmarish childhood home, and Dorbin had yet to open his shop. But that hadn't kept him from working. Nothing gave him more satisfaction then working his craft.
BRINK--tink--tink BRINK--tink--tink BRINK--tink--tink
.

He had fixed Rancoth's dagger after getting home from supper the night the young man had seemed so disturbed. Dorbin was certain that he hadn't been completely honest with him and Grecrum, but the Arch Mage didn't want to go poking around.
BRINK--tink--tink BRINK--tink--tink BRINK--tink--tink
.

Dorbin was almost finished with the staff he was working on to give to Rancoth before they left in another day or two. He set the long shaft back in the fire of his forge until the metal was a blazing yellow-orange once more and soft enough to shape. Satisfied with the brilliant glow, he pulled it out and hammered away at it some more.
BRINK--tink--tink BRINK--tink--tink BRINK--tink--tink
.

Fiery little embers sparked into the air. It was almost time to add the pommel. One normally didn't put a pommel on the end of a staff, but this wouldn’t be any ordinary staff. Since Dorbin was making it to look like the one held by the doll depicting Rancoth's ancestor, he needed the pommel to act as a counterweight that would help keep the weapon balanced.
BRINK--tink--tink BRINK--tink--tink BRINK--tink--tink
.

Finally satisfied with the rounded look of the five and a half foot staff, Dorbin submerged the butt in the fire once more. This time het let it sit until it got white hot, he also grabbed the hunk of steel he decided to use as the pommel and set it in the fire.

Once both pieces were brilliantly glowing white almost to the point of being molten he quickly forced them together and tapped the edges to forge weld them. He did this several times until he was certain that the weld would hold.

He spent the next two days refining and decorating the weapon. All he needed now was a way to make the long beautiful staff a brilliant green color to match the staff held by the doll. This of course would be the easy part.

The little Dwalish man knew a transformer named Hairamis who lived down the street. They had been well acquainted for years. Most assumed them to be competitors, they were often however collaborators, each using their talents to complement the others work.

While Dorbin used his fine eye for detail, nimble hands, and traditional tools to create his pieces, the transformer could turn something into almost anything else. Limited of course by the nature of the object and what someone wanted out of it.

The biggest obstacle to Hairamis's ability was that a transformer couldn't change the basic properties of something. He couldn't for instance change a frog into a cup, or a rock into a person. However, if he wished he could change a rock into a cup, or a person into a frog. In essence, if it was alive it could be turned into something else alive.

Additionally, Hairamis's creations usually turned out bland and basic. Powerful Light Magi that he was, he certainly wasn't an artist. As such, people would go to him to have a lump of metal or wood changed into a useful tool or weapon, and then the patron would bring it to Dorbin for finishing.

In this particular case, it was Dorbin who needed his help to add the finishing touch to a project. The transformer was only too happy to help Dorbin with the promise of a future returned favor. The weapon now practically complete he headed for the Tower where with any luck Rancoth could be found.

Rancoth was coming down the stairs to roam the city when he spotted Dorbin making his way towards the tower. Awed by what he saw the little man carrying, he fell back and sat on the steps to await his friend's approach.

"Dorbin--it's beautiful. Is that what you needed the doll for?" Rancoth asked once the short man was in earshot.

Dorbin tossed the doll to the young man with a knowing smile. "What do ye think?" he asked.

"It's amazing. Who is it for?" Rancoth asked, daring to hope.

Dorbin shook his head slightly. "Who do you think? You o' courrse! It's a farr betterr weapon then that stick o' yourrs and it can still be used to walk with. Besides we'll be trraveling on the Day o' Frreedom so I thought I'd get you yourr gift early," he said handing the brilliant green staff to his friend.

Rancoth laid the doll on the step, stood, and took the staff. It was surprisingly light, but sturdy. It was just under six feet in length and fit comfortably in his hands. The weapons butt was shaped to look like a large eagle's head, complete with ruffled feathers, and a razor sharp beak. The top of the predatory bird’s head was flattened so it could rest easily on the ground.

The top of the staff was a three toed talon; its claws appeared ready to shred anything that might come in their path. It was truly some of Dorbin's finest work.

"I don't know what to say," Rancoth said, studying the small interwove
n
D
S
in the center of the talon. "I didn't get you anything for the Day of Freedom…"

"Eh, don't worrry about it,” Dorbin said. "And just a thank you will suffice, but it's not done yet."

Rancoth stooped to pick up the doll. His eyes moved out to the horizon before focusing back on Dorbin. "The sphere!" he said. He turned and ran back up the stairs, bounding them two and three at a time.

Dorbin followed him upstairs and addressed Rancoth when he walked into his room. "Figurred it out did you?"

The swirling silver orb was now securely held by the eagle's claw. Rancoth nodded, grinning widely as he flipped the staff over and pointed at the small button at the base of one of the talons. By pushing the button he had released a small internal spring that snapped the claw shut, and secured the sphere in place.

"Genius Dorbin--simply genius!" Rancoth exclaimed. He flipped the staff upright again and gazed into its  mesmerizing crown.

Dorbin grunted. "You'rre welcome."

Rancoth blinked and shook his head, as if clearing it of visions of the adventures they were yet to have. "Sorry--thank you Dorbin, it's wonderful. It's the best gift I've ever had."

"Humph, well I'm glad you like it. But morre imporrt'antly that was the prroject I had to get done. So that--"

"That means we can go!" Rancoth exclaimed, cutting the little man off mid-sentence.

With a twinkle in his eye, Dorbin nodded his head, and said, "Yes."

33

              One of the Tower City guards phase shifted Rancoth, Dorbin, and all of their supplies to the Big Miss River docks, seventy-five miles to the east in the city of Riverton. Grecrum had already been in contact with Lylith, the Captain of the riverboat
Dancing Seahorse
. The Tower City guard bid them farewell as he went into the city to find a place to rest and eat. He was in need of recuperation after shifting so much such an incredible distance.

              Rancoth and Dorbin stood on the dock beside the
Dancing Seahorse
, as members of its crew; a kineticist effortlessly loaded their belongings, and another went to fetch the captain. The red ship was surprisingly large and made predominantly of wooden planks. The name was painted on the bow in flourishing green letters. Attached to the stern was an enormous fan easily thirty feet in diameter. Positioned in front of the fan and on a raised deck above the main deck was a large metal funnel, its spout pointing directly at the fan.

              "What's that for?" Rancoth asked, pointing at the funnel.

              Dorbin shrugged his shoulders, and was about to say something when a beautiful blonde woman peeked over the hull at them and shouted a greeting.

              "You boys coming up? Or do I have to have Titch come and float you aboard as well?"

              The two looked at each other and then back to the woman smiling down at them. "We were waiting--" but the woman interrupted Rancoth before he could finish.

              "For me? Yes, I know. Come aboard. Sorry boys, but there's no red carpet treatment on this ship. Grecrum's friends or not, I'm a busy lady, and we've got a schedule to keep."

With that the woman's face vanished back on the ship, and she could be heard shouting orders to her crew.

              Rancoth and Dorbin looked to one another again, shrugged their shoulders and made their way up the large wooden ramp leading from the dock to the ship. Most of the crew was made up of Huldens, including the rather attractive captain.

Men and women could be seen scampering about as they tended to their captain's orders. There were a few Magi, and even two purple skinned Elfkin in deep conversation standing by the opening of the strange funnel infront of the fan at the back of the ship. It looked like the maw of some great creature with hundreds of small rear pointing blades for teeth. Each row of blades appeared to be on on free rotating rings. Despite his curiousity at the contraptions purpose, it sent a small shiver up Rancoth's spine.

              The captain started to make her way towards Rancoth and Dorbin as she continued to shout orders to her crew. "We leave in ten minutes, so I want everything done in eight!" She was slightly taller than average, and had straight light blonde hair that she wore in a tight braid down the center of her back. She had a trim figure, with wiry muscles from years of working the river. She finally turned to greet her new passengers.

              "You must be Lylith." Rancoth extended his hand.

              The steely eyed woman looked at the hand without offering her own, and then glanced down at Dorbin. "Quick one--isn't he?" she said with a wry grin.

              Dorbin chuckled and nodded. "Why do you think I'm herre," he added.

              "I'm sorry," Rancoth said. "I just didn't expect--"

              "What, that I'd be a woman? With a name like Lylith Arris?"

              "No, no. Not that--Grecrum didn't tell us you're second name, so I just wasn't expecting you to be a--Hulden. In my experience your people aren't normally in positions of authority…" Rancoth trailed off uncomfortably.

              Lylith rolled her eyes. "Keep an eye on him shorty. I've got work to do," she said to Dorbin as she walked away.

              Dorbin laughed. "Smooth that was."

              "Oh be quiet
shorty
!" Rancoth spat, as they made their way across the deck. They had to start and stop several times as the crew hustled and bustled to get everything ready for departure. Finally making it to the starboard side, Rancoth breathed in the fishy air. The Big Miss River was massive; stretching nearly twelve miles across in some places, and over two-thousand miles long, a veritable flowing sea that drained almost the entirety of the Light Magi territory.

              Despite its incredible mass, the river flowed relatively slowly; its smooth calm surface was almost glassy as it flowed around the
Dancing Seahorse
. With the stops to load and unload cargo it would take nearly three weeks for them to reach the Mother's Boot. With any luck Grecrum would already have procured them transport across the open water to the southern continent.

              "Alright everyone, let's get moving! Pull anchor, release the docking lines. Mae'Risaw, you're on propulsion first."

At the sound of the captain's voice, Rancoth and Dorbin turned from the water to watch the crew launch the ship.

              The older looking of the two Elfkins moved in front of the funnel and began to slowly dance. He stepped back and forth in front of its gaping maw; his bare feet slapped down hard on the wooden deck, sent rippling vibrations up his thin legs and bare backside. His arms were stretched toward the sky. His deep voice resonated through the air in a low chant as he twisted his arms down in a circle in front of himself and pushed his hands forward towards the mouth of the funnel.

              In the space of a few heartbeats, Rancoth could feel the air begin to flow across his cheek. The Elfkin's bright blue hair whipped around his face as the wind he called rushed past him and into the funnel.

              As the air moved through the funnel, the bladed rings began to spin, pushing the air along its course. The air was then compressed by the continually condensed spinning blades giving it added speed and power. By the time the air exited the funnel's end, it was capable of whipping the fan into unbelievable speed which in turn propelled the boat forward.

              "I guess we know what the funnel's for now," Rancoth said. 

Dorbin only grunted in response.

              The other Elfkin went below deck, presumably to rest before it was his turn to bend the wind to his will. The captain stood at the mast and gave the wheel a turn; the fan rotated to the port side, pushing the boat out from the dock and towards the center of the river. Once in the current and moving south, the captain said something over her shoulder, and the Elfkin slowed his dance and lowered his chant to a pace more sustainable for the eight or nine hours that he would be asked to maintain it.

              "Elija take the wheel," the captain called to a young teenage Hulden boy with red hair. "Keep us heading south and away from the shore line," she added with an affectionate ruffling of his hair. The young man took the wheel with practiced confidence and nodded to Lylith with a smile.

              "Alright you two, come with me," she said as she approached Rancoth and Dorbin. "I'll show you where you'll be sleeping. It's not luxurious to be sure, but better than most of the accommodations that the crew gets."

              "Ah, do you think that…what did you say his name was?" Dorbin asked.

              "Who?" the captain asked.

              "The wind dancer," Dorbin said, pointing at the Elfkin in front of the funnel.

              Lylith looked over her shoulder at her crewman, and then back to Dorbin again. "Mae'Risaw," she said.

              "Yeah, Mae'Rrisaw. Do you think that he would mind if I took a closerr look at that funnel o' yourrs?" Dorbin asked. His eyes fixed firmly on the construct.

              "I don't see why not; just don't pester him with distracting questions. If you like I can introduce you to my engineer later; she's the one who designed it."

              "That would be wonderrful!" Dorbin exclaimed as he started towards the funnel.

              Rancoth chuckled lightly. "He needs looking after too sometimes," he said with a smile.

              Lylith cocked her eyebrow and pursed her lips. "I don't doubt it. Well this way, green eyes," she said turning on her heels. She headed straight for some stairs that led below deck. Rancoth quickly followed, and did his best not to let his eyes linger on the way her tan leather pants hugged her backside.

              "It's Rancoth please, not green eyes. And, I'm sorry for earlier. I didn't mean to offend you."

              The woman stopped, turned towards him and put her hands on her hips. "It's not a big deal really; I'm used to it. But, I'm also used to Grecrum's associates being more …tolerant. Or perhaps a better way of putting it is that they're usually more open-minded."

"Oh I am!" Rancoth said. "It's just been a long couple of weeks, and I've only just recently began exploring the world outside Tower City. I really am sorry."

Lylith nodded her head slowly. "Forget about it. Here let's start over." She stuck her hand out.

Rancoth took it.

"Lylith Arris, Captain of the Dancing Seahorse."

"Rancoth," he said with a smile.

"So," she said, leading him deeper into the ship, “Grecrum said you were headed to the Elfkin continent. Why?"

Great wooden posts stood like sentinels around the hold of the ship, supporting the deck above. Streams of light slipped through the joints, providing a little illumination. The hull creaked and groaned as it cut through the water. It made the ship seam alive somehow, as if it were breathing.

"Like I said, I've started exploring the world outside Tower City," Rancoth said. He wasn't entirely sure what Grecrum had told to her, or how much he should reveal.

"Awfully long way to go for a little exploring, but that's okay. Keep your secrets, so long as they don't endanger my ship, my crew, or my schedule," she said stopping once more and turning to face him. "Is that clear?"

One of the beams of light filtering through from the deck above shone brightly upon her glistening yellow hair, and sent her eyes and cheeks into shadow. She looked eerily like a skull; this coupled with her easy confidence born from years in command added a hint of intimidation.

"As a bright summer day," Rancoth said with a hesitant smile.

"Good." She nodded and waved her arm with a flourish around the hold they had just entered. "This is where most of the crew sleeps."

Several net hammocks were hung around the room. Each had a small lock box for personal possessions, and a couple of desks were spaced in the corners out of the way for writing or reading.

Lylith pointed and said, "Through that door is a small balcony that's open to the air. You see the red cord around the knob?"

Rancoth looked and nodded. "Yes."

"If that's there then you stay off the balcony. It means one of the Elfkin is sleeping, and they need to be left alone. If they aren't rested, we don't move very fast, especially going back upriver. Got that?"

"Yes."

"Good, let's keep going," she said, moving through to the next hold. They stepped into a narrow hallway as she continued to explain the layout of the ship. "These are our passenger quarters. We're primarily a cargo ship, running goods up and down the Big Miss, so like I said earlier they aren't the greatest of accommodations. Three doors, three rooms." She pointed at each one in turn.

"The ones to the left and the right are doubled-bunked and have a window that looks off to either side of the boat. The one there in the back has a single bed, and also has a window, but the view is blocked by our fan. Now if I'm not mistaken, Titch put your stuff in here," she said, reaching for the door on the right.

The door stuck briefly and Lylith had to jam her shoulder into it to get to swing in. "Sorry, it sticks when it's hot out," she added with a genuine look of embarrassment.

Rancoth smiled, happy to learn that the stiff captain was mortal after all. "It's all right, I understand."

Lylith smiled briefly back, and looked in the room. "Your stuff's here--hey that's a nice staff," she said stepping into the room.

Rancoth quickly stepped in behind her, grabbing his gift from Dorbin just as she was about to wrap her hand around it. "Thank you," he said. "Dorbin made it for me."

"What's on its crown? I've never seen anything like it before in my life."

"It was my mother's. She used to hold it when she had deep thoughts to think. It helped her concentrate, I guess."

"Well, it was nice of her to give it to you then," Lylith said. "I can see why it would help her think; it's easy to get lost in." Her eyes were now focused solely on the swirling silver-blue mist beneath the orb's surface. "But, wouldn't it upset your mother if it broke while it was fixed to your staff?" she asked.

Rancoth cleared his throat. "Well, she didn't exactly give it to me, though I'm sure she would have wanted me to have it…eventually." He looked at his feet. "And I suppose that it would upset her if it broke, if she were still around to be upset that is."

Lylith removed her gaze from the sphere. "Oh, I'm sorry…"

Rancoth shook his head. "It happened a long time ago. In another life time. Now this is all I really have left of her."