Chapter 4

All my ladies came hustling out of the house to welcome their new sisters. As everyone essentially surrounded the newcomers I saw the dragon newt’s tails twitch. “Everyone please take it easy. Remember what it was like when you first joined us?” The ring of people opened up and they instead stood behind me.

“Now I am sure all your new sisters are going crazy wanting to welcome all of you to the family, but we first need to take care of something bothering me.” I looked at the reptilians. “The slave dealer said you have food needs. Do you know what it is that you need from the peppers?” They nodded and the one from the back came forwards. “The chemical that makes them hot keeps our internal temperature high. Without some of it in our daily food we slowly grow cold and slow.” I nodded. “And how often do you need to stay in water?” She looked at me and then looked away. “We are from swamps so we need it at least an hour a day.” I nodded. “Have you any kind of combat training?” The two older ones nodded.

I looked at the woman holding the young girl. “Don’t worry about fighting just yet. Take good care of your daughter for right now. She’s been through a lot and I’m hoping to help her recover from the treatment you have probably had.” The woman stroked her daughters head.

“Now why don’t we all go inside, I’m really curious to see if what I eat will help you three out.” I looked at the ram girl whose head hadn’t stopped moving. “Smell something?” The girl blushed and shook her head. “Well that is because we are in my plane and not the world outside. I haven’t had the time to plant anything here so that is probably what you are missing.” They all looked at me in wonder.

I started moving towards the house and the girls began walking with the newcomers and began chatting with them. I stepped out of my shoes and the girls explained we don’t were shoes from the outside in the house. As we headed to the kitchen the dragons started sniffing. “You’re smelling the pool. Don’t worry that is next on the list.” We got to the kitchen and I began pulling out my addiction out of the cupboards. I set out a couple of jars and a few bottles.

We started with a mild hot sauce and slowly went higher and higher. They loved the Korean garlic chili paste, but by the time we hit some of the triple X jalapeno sauce they were sweating. “Sir, these are so wonderful. Never have we had so many flavors that warmed our bodies so well.” I nodded and then we headed to the pool. The little girl ran over to the pool and did a great swan dive. The mother looked at me in fright. “Well don’t let me hold you back, have fun.” They stripped down to their undies and slowly eased into the water as the little girl swam around giggling.

“Hey if any of you want to hop in feel free, but I would prefer you wait till after a shower.” They all nodded but made no move to do anything. I went over to my Jewel and took hold of her collar. “Let’s get this damned thing off of you.” I touched the disk and it slid off. I walked to the BBQ and set fire to the device and watched it turn to ash under my power.

I looked at all the girls looking at me and I sighed. “Ok, I’m going to leave for a day or so in order for all of you to understand what is going on from your fellow ladies. I will leave you with this to think things over. Outside of this place you are slaves.” I looked at each of the new people. “But in here you are my family. You have a say in what happens in this world. You have a voice and I want to hear them.” The little dragon girl slid out of the water and walked up to me. She took my hand and smiled at me. “Thank you for buying me. I will try to be a good and strong girl for you.”

I knelt down and looked into her sweet eyes. “Well I am very glad I was able to buy you and make you a part of my family. So welcome home because this isn’t my home, it is all our home.” She looked in my eyes and suddenly she wrapped her arms around me and I gave her a gentle hug back. “Welcome home little one. If you keep being the sweet little girl you are now, I will fight the world for you.”

I lifted her up and carried her to her mother who had gotten out of the pool. “You will learn from the others that I mean that. Your daughter will grow up safe and free, I swear that to you.” She knew I wasn’t lying by the look in my eyes and from the mark she bore over her heart. I passed the girl to her mother and looked at them all. “Well I need to be going, see you in a day or two.” I left before I turned into a ball of tears in front of the new arrivals.

As I was walking out Talia came over and took my hand. “Can I travel with you master?” I looked over to Cali who nodded to me. “Sure you can little love.” I opened a gate and we stepped out in our room at the inn. Yes that was still my point of entry into Felton. I sat on the bed and the sweet girl sat down with me and took my hand in hers. “Master is master, but his heart is so gentle and loving.” She stroked my arm and then pulled me down on the bed. She then leaned over and her smiling face filled my eyes.

“Master when my sister and I say master we think of it differently because of you. Master used to be the mean man who came to us and touched our bodies. He was mean and scary. Today master means the man who loves us, makes us happy, and cares for us like a parent.” I pulled her to me and held her gently. “To me you are my daughters. We share what is most important and that is love.” She snuggled into my chest. “Master, does that mean one day you will love us like the others?” I think I knew just what she meant. “We shall see little love. One day we will look at one another and see that different love in each other’s eyes. Until then please stay my sweet and loving little girls.”

Once I had my head and heart working together again I had a new idea. I opened a gate and waved a flag in it. I felt a tug and we went through to Kratar. “So who do we have with us today?” said the usually gruff old man in a sweet voice I wondered if we were in the right place. She did a little curtsy and smiled at the old dwarf. “I’m Talia sir. It’s good to see you again.” We were both greatly impressed by her little show of manners.

“Such a sweet young lady you are. Thank you for remembering a nasty old dwarf like me.” She gave him a smile that could rot your teeth and the old man may have just blushed. “So, can you lock up or do you need time?” He rolled his eyes. “Such a demanding punk, after such a sweet girl, upsets a person’s stomach. Give me a few and we can go.” When he was ready I opened a door to my plane, but a new location.

We stepped out in a little place that was much like our old place was. “Did some redecorating?” he asked and I nodded. We went out a side door and when he saw his new workshop he stumbled. “What in the nine worlds have you built?” He walked over and ran his hands over the burning forge. Talia tugged at my hand and I nodded for her to head to the main house.

“This was the only forge I could build here. It’s called the forge of the elder dwarf.” He nodded and ran a hand over the runes. “This is a forge made for smelting metals still unknown. With this Adamant would flow like water, mithril as well. This is the kind of forge that the hammer was made to work in.” I could only agree with him now that he was standing there. Just then we heard a soft sound “excuse me master?” I looked out and saw the young Ram girl.

We looked out and she was standing there awkwardly as if hoping we didn’t hear her. “Young Ram folk please come in.” Grendel said back. The girl walked in and I could see her sniffing again. “Um ... I...” she stammered. “Grendel, this is a new member of the family.” He nodded without taking his eyes off her. “She also trained under a dwarf.” Now that was new.

I snapped my fingers and she jumped at the noise. “That’s what I felt wasn’t it? We were there in the slave market and the moment I laid eyes on her I knew I had to bring her here. There was something different about her.” Grendel grunted. “You’re part dwarf now son, you could feel the steel in her blood.” We both turned and she was blushing and nodded like a bobblehead.

I saw some chairs and took a seat, Grendel did the same and she knelt at our feet. I reached out and lifted her chin. “If you like it down there I won’t argue, but you aren’t a slave here. You have the right to sit with us.” She blushed and I shrugged. “I have a better idea then, please stand up.” She did and then I guided her to sit on my leg. She turned really red at this and Grendel was having a hard time trying not to laugh.

“So which do you like better, sitting in a chair or sitting on my lap.” She gave a little wiggle and whispered “Your lap please.” Well that caught me off guard and Grendel couldn’t keep it in. She almost jumped away, but I caught her hip and held her there. He was waving his hands over and over as he tried to stop. “I’m sorry to the both of you but it’s just so funny.” I didn’t get the joke.

“You’re young boy, and not knowing of the different races.” This caused the poor girl to start trembling. “Rams are good and gentle people of the land. The one odd bit is that the females have a natural tendency to pair bond by instinct rather than choice.” I nodded. “Well that means few if any ever pair bond. I’m sure this young lass has no idea why she is so desperately attracted to you either.”

She shook her head. “No, I do know. The dwarf that I learned the forge under taught me about it. He said that my life was a sad one as I would never know the real joys and pains of love.” Grendel nodded and smiled. “Then it looks like whatever that guy told you was bullshit then doesn’t it. The gods have blessed you with a master that you can’t help but love, and that he can’t help but love you.”

She gasped at this and then wiggled to get away. “Little one, did you ever have a name?” She shook her head. I took her by the chin and turned her so I was looking in her big blue eyes. “How do you like the name Evie?” If a real person could have her pupils turn into little hearts, hers would have. “Well she’s done for now. You both are.” Grendel said in the same voice he used when talking to Talia.

When Grendel said that, I noticed that Evie leaned into me just the tiniest bit as she looked over at him. “Are you one of Maters slaves?” She asked innocently. He shook his head. “No, but I am dang close to being one. No, he is my closest friend and brother.” She gasped again. “A human?” and the dwarf nodded. She leaned into me just a little more.

I figured I ought to bring him up to date. “There is something you might want to know. I helped Freming set up a new forge in Felton and he asked me to light the forge.” Well that got his attention off of Evie. “How did that go?” I shrugged. “It went fine, but the forge was all wrong. I had to have him rewrite half the runes so the power would flow right.” The old dwarf nodded. “What color were the runes?” I knew this was going to get him to go off just like it did Freming. “They were like molten gold.”

He nodded and smiled. “They you built a true forge. Not surprising since you bear the mark of the elder dwarf.” Evie almost jumped out of my lap again. “So you know the story of the elder dwarf Evie?” She looked at him and nodded wildly again. “Well your master found the hammer and it accepted him.” She looked at me with wide eyes. Grendel reached into his ring and pulled it out. “This little lamb is the true hammer of the Elder Dwarves.” Evie trembled at the sight of it. He smiled at the look she had on her face, and then looked at me. I nodded, knowing exactly what he was thinking of doing.

“What all did that dwarf teach you girl?” She went on and on about the kind dwarf Gimlet and all the things he taught her as his assistant. Grendel came over and looked in her eyes. “You love the forge don’t you?” She shyly nodded. Then he put his hand on her shoulder and she suddenly sat up stiffly. Her eyes seemed to glow gold for a minute or two and then she looked at me and we really saw each other in that moment.

“Well it looks like I have a new student in my forge.” Evie looked up and her butt wiggled in excitement. I took a quick peak and her little white tail was almost spinning. “Do you mean that Elder?” He nodded and smiled at her. “Yes I do girl. Well that is if your master is ready to have this old fart move into his plane.” I looked at him a bit in shock. “Move in?” He nodded. “I’ll turn my forge into a store instead and just buy and sell items.” I nodded figuring that is just how dwarves do business.

“I have one worry. We don’t know what will happen if you use that gold hammer here.” He looked at me like I was touched in the head. “Use this hammer? It’s an artifact not a work tool boy. Do you run around the dungeon swinging that gold sword?” I shook my head and he tapped me on the head. “Exactly, an item of legend is an item that carries spells that belong to history and the future. They were made of magical metals so that their physical bodies would endure.”

I rested my chin on Evie’s shoulder and her head leaned on mine. “Well if you’re moving in here, I will need to stock up on a lot of beer.” The old dwarf laughed and nodded. “If you can build things for the forge can you build me a “rolling mill”? I’ve tried to think how to make it and I can’t quite get the technique down.” I nodded. “That’s because it takes a kind of machining we don’t have.”

He looked at me. “What is Machining?” oops. Too Much Information. “Don’t give me that look. It’s not like you are the first person to have knowledge of something or somewhere else. The elders say many of the ancient nobles carried such knowledge.” I nodded at that. “Machining is when you build a machine that builds parts for other machines. Have you ever seen a lathe?” he nodded. “Well that is machining.” His eyes began to lose focus as thoughts ran through his head.

“Think of a rolling mill for example. Take one round steel piece and then spin it on its axis. Then use a file or chisel of a much harder metal to slowly grind material away to make it balanced and smooth. Those would be the rollers.” He looked at me as if the knowledge was building in his head. “Aye, then set gears to turn the rollers. Heat the metal and feed it between the rollers to make it thin, adjust the rollers while reheating and pass it through again to make it even thinner.” He said out of memory.

“This was used to make swords and shields quickly and cheaply in a war thousands of years ago.” I nodded. “It can also be used to make metal for pipes, mugs, cooking pans and pots. You can use it to make inexpensive steel armor for beginner divers who would otherwise use hardened leather.” He nodded as he came back and smiled at me. “A common enough tool, like the lathe, being used to forge tools for the forge. I like that idea.”

Evie leaned into me and relaxed. It was unconscious and showed her true feelings. I kissed the top of her head and she let out a small sigh of comfort. When I put my arm around her she looked up, remembered what was going on, and almost slid off my lap. “Forgive me master I...” I put my finger over her lips. “You were finally accepting me the way I hoped you would.” I cupped her cheek and she trembled with hope and fear. “We now share two bonds, in the forge and in our hearts. Please accept that and accept me.” She leaned in and gave me a sweet little kiss. “Master is master.” She said in her breath.

“Alright you two, if you are going to be hammering away like that find a different forge to do it in.” Grendel grumbled. “You know that’s a damn good question. Do dwarves ever settle down and make baby dwarves or are you all spit out of the forge?” He sputtered and actually blushed. “What nonsense are you spouting you know nothing little twit! Of course dwarves find a mate to bond with and have families.” I nodded. “Then why are you still single at your age?”

He collapsed in a chair looking gruff. “Well dwarven women don’t care much for roaming like many of the men do. They like a stable home, not a forge that you pull up stakes on every hundred years or so.” I nodded. “Well one day we are planning to settle in the dwarven nation. Maybe we can find you a nice lady that can stand you.” He turned red and began bellowing at me about how he was a paragon of kindness and gentility while Evie and I laughed.

I asked Evie to run inside and ask Jewel to order a few cases of the ale we have in our list. A few minutes later she came out sliding a large box on the ground. We ran over and as I helped her stand up, the dwarf slid a hand under it and lifted it with ease. We walked into his future home and I showed him how to put the three cases of beer in his refrigerator. “Amazing, a cooling box that keeps a fixed temperature.” He said as he sipped his first can. “Well there’s the beer, but once we learn what you like to eat, we can fill this kitchen up right.” He nodded as he savored his drink.

After a few drinks I had an idea. I brought up the menu and found a building that would do. It was a lot cheaper than other building so I had a good cushion for points. “What are you doing?” he asked as I seemed to be staring at air. “Just making an addition to this house.” He began looking around in waiting until I took him outside and he saw a huge shed that matched our overall look.

“What is this supposed to be?” I walked over and tried the door, but it wouldn’t open. I had him try it and still no give. “And the use of such a building you can’t get in is what?” I asked him for his storage ring. He slipped it off warily and handed it to me. I pressed it to the door and then handed it back. He tried the large door and it opened for him. “Well would you look at that.” he said as he walked in.

The building was mostly empty with a few shelves filled with odds and ends. “This is your storage. Anything you put in your ring appears here.” He smiled. “And after I move the shop, anything I buy for supplies will be here too?” I nodded and he smiled more. “If something happens to the ring what happens?” I shrugged. “We have to make a new ring and bond it to the storage here. Everything will still be here though.” He laughed again and he sighed. “Now I feel safer emptying my treasures into here. They aren’t just valuable, but strong memories.”

The next day I took the old man back to his forge with a case of beer and then headed to the inn. I sat on the bed and saw a note that had been slid under the door. It was a summoning from Janice from two days ago. I quickly ran down to the guild and as soon as I walked in the counter lady ran off to get the guild mistress.

Janice came out just as I walked up and she looked relived. “Samael, thank goodness you’re here. A patrol found a wandering monster that had destroyed a farm. There weren’t any deaths, but our people aren’t strong enough to take out a high level salamander.” I nodded at her description. “Show me where it is and I will take care of it.” She nodded and took out a map. “If you can rid us of that threat there will be a substantial reward.” I nodded and headed out to see what this this was about.

I walked along the road trying to think of what to do. I figured I wouldn’t really know until I found just what this thing looked like. I found a burned out farm but nothing right off the bat that looked like what Janice had described, a giant lizard with red flaming skin. Then I heard movement and turned to see the ruins of the barn move. I felt my blood freeze as a head the size of a tractor trailer rose out of the cinders.

Large golden eyes looked at me and the vertical slits widened and then narrowed. “Human, but you smell of an elder dwarf.” I was more than a little shocked at having a conversation with a monster. “Yes, I have a friend who is an elder dwarf.” I moved a little more and it got closer to me. He sniffed at me a few times and then pulled back. “You smell of many races, but little of human.” I nodded. “Yes I have many friends of many races.” It chuckled. “You mean many slaves.” I nodded. “Yes, this nation has slaves, but my ladies are all my family.” He seemed to think about this.

“There is powerful magic in you. I see Dwarven, Ancient, and something else within you.” It sighed. “And you were sent here to kill me.” I nodded. “I was sent to kill a monster, I haven’t seen one yet.” The giant head tilted a bit. “What a very interesting thing to say. You don’t see me as a monster, but if I act as one you will then do what you were told to do.” I nodded. “Would you hear my story before that?” I nodded and sat on a rock.

“When the dungeon was born I was born within it. For millennia I slept within the center of the labyrinth waiting to perform my task, to kill the foolish or die at their hands. Early on a few came, then nothing. As I slept the dungeon grew, meaning fewer and fewer fools to challenge me. I could feel the labyrinth fight itself uncounted times. I pulled in the knowledge of the world as I dreamed. Then suddenly I felt one floor after another fall.”

The salamander took a deep breath. “I prepared to meet these fools, and found myself weak and old. I had dreamed away my life. It was then I felt a tear in the labyrinth. It was old actually, but the creatures of the labyrinth had reopened it. I suddenly felt a hunger I had never felt. I hungered to see the star that I was created from, the star all my kind are born from.” It looked up and its eyes closed to a slit.

“I had to fight for days to get to the tear, then I had to fight against the labyrinth to get out, but then I came out to see our parent. At that moment my mind felt like it evolved. I was free of the dungeon and its control. I knew that my essence would never be its food again.” It then made a sound that I could only think of as a laugh. “You are thinking I am just an old fool aren’t you.” I shook my head. “Not at all, you were a slave for your entire life. You found a path to freedom and took it no matter the cost.”

The giant head swung to me and looked. “You knew the cost of staying, and the cost of leaving. Despite knowing it might end your life you chose freedom. To me that is most admirable.” It rested its head on the ground. “You can smell my family on me, and yes they are slaves, but we are all fighting for them and others to be free. We take the materials from the dungeons, buy slaves, and are working to build a base in the dwarven lands to live in. Then we can act as a way to buy slaves in one nation and free them in another.

He tilted his head at me. “How will you be able to do that?” I thought about that. “I can open gates. Buy slaves in one nation, take them home, and then teach them how to be free.” The Salamander listened as I told him that simply turning a slave free is forcing them into the slavery of ignorance. They will be victims of abusers, and they will probably end up in the worst existence possible. “Those who will fight with us will be turned into an army of divers. We will go from dungeon to dungeon, over and over, in order to raise the money needed to buy peoples freedom.

“Well I am dying. Without the magic of the labyrinth my flames are dying. In another day or two my flame will die out, and when that happens by body will turn into a fireball that will encompass this plot of land leaving a flaming crater to make my passage. That is the way of the salamander.” Then he looked me in the eye. “But if you slay me, you can gain many rewards from my flesh.” I looked around and nodded. “Well the land will heal given time. Then some other farmer can see what he can do here.”

It chuckled and then sighed. “Can you bring your dwarven friend here before I expire?” I opened a gate and waved a flag. It was pulled and I stuck my head through. “Grendel, I have a friend who wants to meet you but he’s too big to walk through. Care to talk with a great salamander?” Well his eyes bugged out and I had to dodge him coming through. When he saw it he took a knee and bowed his head. “Great spirit of the flame thank you for calling out to me.”

Well this was new. The salamander gave out a heavy sigh. “Welcome elder dwarf. I feel that you have the hammer.” Grendel pulled it out of his ring and held it before him. “This being has refused to kill me and take the rewards. What do you think of him?” Grendel nodded. “He is a constant question to those who think they have all the answers. His heart is pure and those around him are filled with love. He was the one who uncovered the hammer, and when he did, he passed it to me to bear.” The giant let out a sound of surprise. “Well then I have made up my mind. Human take the hammer from him and bring it here.”

Grendel handed it over with a sad smile. “Now hold the handle tight and place the side of the hammer against my head.” I walked over and did as he asked. Suddenly I couldn’t move and the head of the hammer began to glow. “Take his hand dwarf.” The salamander said with great strain. I felt Grendel’s hand in mine and there was a burst of light. “Take all that is left behind and build your dream Samael. Save this world.”

I was laying on my back trying to figure out what the hell was going on. “MASTER!” was called out and then Jewel was holding my head in her lap. Tears were dripping from her face and I smiled at her. “Sorry for worrying you like that. Grendel and I met someone and things happen, words were said, and now you’re here.” I heard a groan from beside me and saw Evie holding Grendel’s head in her lap. I looked around and saw everyone was standing there looking scared.

I turned my head the other way and saw the old salamander was gone. Well his giant carcass was there, but the heat from him was gone and the body was deathly cold. “Don’t worry son, it was his choice. He wanted to add to the legacy of the hammer and to you. Everything he was is now a part of the hammer, and all the rest is to sell or use to build the future.”

He groaned as he got up and the twins were by his side to steady him. “When you’re ready for it, his knowledge will come to you. Until then it will add to the power and legacy of the hammer.” He arched his back and you could hear it crack. “Damn.” He muttered and then took a deep breath. “Oh and be careful when using fire spells till you get used to them.” I looked into the sky and summoned a fireball. It was about the same size as usual but when it flew it went at least twice as fast and then the explosion was tremendous. “I told you to be careful!” Grendel yelled.

“I was, I shot it into the sky.” Well my fire spells were off limits from now on. They would be great for large scale combat but not much else. I sat up and looked at the giant body. “So what am I supposed to do with that?” All the girls started waving their hands. “We can do it for you master!” Grendel started laughing and looked at me. “I’ll help them while you go into town and let them know what we got here.” I stood up, felt my head spin for a second, and then Jewel was right beside me.

I took a few breaths while all the girls, and that included the new ones, surrounded him and listened to him talk. I opened a gate and we stepped into the new forge. We left there and entered the guild hall. The counter girl called out and Janice saw me leaning on Jewel as we walked to her. “Well it wasn’t just a salamander, it was an ancient salamander.” Janice turned white. “Don’t worry, it’s gone now and my team is working on taking it apart. Thankfully it was almost dead when we found it so we all survived. If we had been a few days later it would have ignited and who knows how big that explosion would have been.”

So sue me, I didn’t lie so much as made it seem a bigger deal than needed. Janice took a few breaths and asked to be taken to the site for confirmation. We were about to walk when I thought “screw it” and opened a gate. Jewel ran through while Janice just looked at me. “Yes I can open one but its short distances. Can we leave?” She nodded and we walked through. “Great gods, it really is an ancient salamander.”

I didn’t see Grendel anywhere so that was a good thing. She was too busy looking to do a headcount but I didn’t care about that too much. Somehow they already had the skin removed from the head and were cutting it off the body. That really upset me, it felt like I was desecrating the body of a friend. Janice came over and looked a bit ashamed. “We of course will buy any materials, but would you mind if the guild bought the skull?” I looked at her and she looked even more pained by my expression. “We will pay well, but if that was in the guild hall people would know what awaited them below.”

I agreed. Who knows, maybe it would attract more fools for his spirit to consume. For some reason that made me a little happier. The world could do with a few less fools. Janice asked if I could take her back and I sighed before nodding. “Yes, but I don’t have enough energy for the both of us. I will be back in town soon.” Then I thought for a minute. “Maybe you can send people with wagons so we can haul all of this to the forge?” She nodded and walked through the gate when it was open.

Grendel came out of hiding shaking his head. “I almost choked at the way you acted like a wounded soul.” I stood up and stretched. “Well it wouldn’t look good with me skipping into the guild after facing a great beast like this one would it?” He shook his head. “No, it wouldn’t. We wouldn’t like for the world to think this great one was weak either.”