Chapter 13

It was a most pleasant journey. The Elves were polite and the road well maintained. What villages he saw were neat and tidy as well as well laid out. What fields he saw were well tended and clearly planned out well for crop rotation. In short, had they been Humans, the whole situation would have been impossibly idyllic and pastoral. However now he was approaching the uphill climb to the border to Burral which was a bridge over a wide gorge. The bridge itself was wooden and appeared well-made and maintained, it was also clearly unguarded on the Elven side, suggesting the Elves had better things to do with their time. Other than Humans, Darras had seen no others on the approach to the bridge, the Elven owner of the way-station simply saying that Elves avoided it as trouble could occasionally ensue if Dwarves were encountered.

Darras had more than a suspicion however, that the local Elves had been forbidden by the Kingdom to approach as the bad blood between the two races seemed to go deep at the points of contact. Once across, Darras did find that the Dwarves were occupying a custom station and he was expected to declare his business.

“Well, Human?” a gruff extremely well-muscled if short humanoid with a luxuriant beard demanded. “State your business, I haven’t got all day to waste upon you.”

“I’m here to commission a set of cavalry armour for my friend,” Darras replied, slightly amused as he was the only one in the station. “I’m told there are craftsmen in Burralsteig who will do this.”

“Aye, there are. I hope your pockets are deep. Dwarven quality armour is expensive, if worth the price.”

“Deep enough I think.”

“Burralsteig can be reached by taking the right fork at the crossroads. Do not stray. Entry fee is two coppers.”

Darras handed over the coins and watched as the Dwarf stamped his paperwork before collecting them without another word, simply heading in the direction of the road away from the bridge.

“Was that typical or was he having a bad day?” Darras asked of Erren.

‘He was a she and was simply bored, ’ Erren replied with a giggle.

“Ah, so that’s why I’m not to assume gender?”

‘Yes, Dwarves can tell; others, not so easy.’

“I may need to ask for help, occasionally,” Darras chuckled. “Impressive beard she had though.”

‘No problem, my Darras, ’ Erren replied cheerfully.

The Dwarven road was also well-made, if not as nicely finished off as the Elven one. The crossroads were deserted but Darras followed the directions he’d been given as the road indicated headed steeply uphill towards a forbidding set of mountains.

“No wonder they are digging a tunnel,” Darras observed as the mule slogged easily up the steep gradient.

‘The road that went straight loops around the range to their cities in the interior, ’ Erren explained. ‘The tunnel will increase trade through Burralsteig when finished as well as shortening the time taken.’

“Is this why the shadow is delaying it?”

‘Possibly, though it seems more malicious than anything as it’s simply a minor delay.’

“Doing it because it’s bored,” Darras muttered, feeling Erren’s agreement in the background.

After a hard day’s climb he reached an entrance. Burralsteig itself looked incredibly forbidding to Darras’s eyes, or rather the city gates did, as otherwise he might as well have been looking at a mountain, he thought. There was also a queue to get in, mostly consisting of Dwarves with carts who appeared to have come from the road passing the city leading down to a valley.

“Your business?” a bored looking guard asked.

“Armour commissioning,” Darras replied.

“Obey the ordinances. Do not cause trouble.”

“I shall,” Darras nodded as he was waved through.

Once inside, the interior looked well-lit with what looked like veins of quartz running through the rocks clearly diverting light from elsewhere onto the streets. The stables were close to the entrance and Darras was able to have the mule stabled and fed there for two coppers per day, including taking it outside for grazing. Shouldering his pack, he then strode into the city to make his enquiries.

As it looked like he had several inns to choose from, he headed towards the one recommended by Erren earlier in their talks. Apparently it was more suited height-wise to Humans and Darras was less likely to bang his head inadvertently. The Dwarven couple running it seemed friendly if abrupt and Darras found his room to be comfortable if slightly cramped. His evening meal was also superb and the dark brown ale served was both rich in flavour as well as chilled.

“So, do you build the rooms to the crystal veins or have you found a way to grow them?” Darras enquired of the Dwarf serving him.

“We grow them, or rather our magic users do,” came the answer. “You are the first from outside to ever ask though.”

“Naturally curious, as I’ve seen veins like these on my travels, some even having a threading of gold within them.”

“Aye, Burralsteig was founded to take advantage of such a phenomenon,” the Dwarf nodded. “Now excuse me, I have work to be done.”

The other Humans in the inn were showing no inclination to chat so Darras remained with his thoughts to himself until a Dwarf entered, spoke to one of the owners then came over to speak to Darras.

“I’m told you wish to commission armour?” he/she enquired.

“I do, though forgive me if I simply do not just choose the first who speaks to me.”

“That would be wise, though you’d find no better than my craft-shop.”

“Really? An astonishing statement, if true,” Darras replied.

“Tis true. Call and see tomorrow at Frenklon’s craft-shop.”

“I will, though I’m not looking for anything gilded, just quality armour to protect someone blessed by the goddess.”

“Hmm, you appear to know your mind.”

“I do. My friend is a soldier, not a peacock. I doubt he’d appreciate a peacock’s garb.”

“Then you’ll definitely appreciate my wares.”

“I’ll call. You have my word.”

“Good. Till tomorrow then,” the Dwarf nodded then left.

‘Interesting, ’ Erren spoke softly.

“How so?” Darras asked.

‘Frenklon is just starting out in the world, but his armour will become famous, even amongst the Dwarves.’

“An opportunity for his name to become known by Humans,” Darras nodded.

‘Indeed, my Darras.’

As there was little else happening and nothing in the way of gossip, Darras retired and slept well for the night.

The following morning after breakfast as supplied by the inn, Darras gained directions to Frenklon’s craft-shop. He found it to be a combination of smithy and workshop with several mysterious artefacts that were clearly used for metalworking arrayed neatly around the walls.

“So, you came,” Frenklon greeted him brusquely.

“I did. I was intrigued,” Darras replied, handing over the measurements written in the script of the book of Wenderos, otherwise known as the Elvish script.

“Cavalry armour,” Frenklon shrugged. “Any decent armourer could make you a set, so why Dwarven?”

“Lightness and strength, exhausting a mount by carrying heavy armour is not ideal,” Darras explained, making Frenklon look interested.

“Over here,” Frenklon requested, taking Darras over to a room containing various sets mounted on dummies.

Darras examined them carefully with Erren’s aid, checking the joints as well as the thickness of the plate.

“It strikes me that the weight could be further reduced,” Darras considered.

“How so?” Frenklon asked, looking annoyed at what he presumed to be a Human amateur.

“Use light mail, mithril perhaps, on the joints; you could reduce the plate thickness by increasing the heat of the furnace to produce better steel and adjust the angles to cause a deflection, rather than receiving a direct strike,” Darras replied.

“Mithril is expensive, it is not used frivolously.”

“Nevertheless, you can do it?”

“I can. I can also adapt the plate. I will forge to your specifications, though it will cost a lot of coin.”

“How much for the materials?”

“Fifty gold, a further one hundred for the work,” Frenklon replied, watching Darras closely.

‘He’s testing you to see if you’re a profligate fool, ’ Erren advised.

“I did not require it to be gilded, Frenklon. I was intrigued by your request, I am, however, not a spendthrift.”

“Oh, what would you pay then?”

‘One hundred in total, offer fifty now and fifty on completion, ’ Erren advised.

Darras made the offer, watching Frenklon frown then relax. ‘Deal,” he stated and held out his hand to shake.

“There is one piece of decorative work I would see upon it that I’d pay extra for,” Darras added after they shook.

“And that would be?”

“The Crest of the Lady, positioned upon the lance arm where a priest could bless it.”

“That will be easy. What of weapons?”

“Show me, please.”

Darras again allowed Erren to choose a sword and shield as Darras was no expert on these things and a price was agreed with him handing over seventy gold coins to Frenklon who promised to have an initial set ready within a week.

“He’s quick,” Darras murmured. “I’d expect up to a year.”

‘He is and it will take up to six months, ’ Erren replied. ‘He just wants you to look at the initial outlay as any customer would.’

“I see,” Darras nodded. ‘Now, let’s find this Bangalt.”

‘Very well, though you need to swing by the jewellers’ quarter as we have Rienne to think of.’

“Of course, my Lady,” Darras murmured with a slight smile.

The jewellers’ quarter was a mixed bag of stalls that anyone could look at and exclusive shops, most of whom had a magical symbol upon them that Erren informed him would block undesirables from entry. Fortunately, whatever criteria they were using, did not register Darras as being an undesirable, though he got several intent stares as he looked in various shops at the displays, rejecting all as simply inelegant as they were both gaudy as well as heavy.

“Tell me what it is you are looking for Human and I’ll at least guide you to a seller,” an owner finally offered as Darras turned to leave.