The Hour of The Wolves

Chapter XIV (Liam)

The sudden light made Liam squint as they climbed out the sewers near the artisan’s district.

“Dammit this smell. Why couldn’t we just come through the hole near the Widows’ street eh ? “

“Because they covered that hole with barbed wire last month. Thing are changing fast in a big city like this friend.”

“Okay just lets just get over this I want to take a bath.” Complained Liam.

“Friend you weren’t this whinny last time we hung out. You lost your balls in the meantime and became a missy or what? “ Teased him Valance.

“Come on man, don’t give me a hard time. If you would have a super heightened wolf smell you would hate smelling like this too.” He shrugged with visible disgust. “ Let’s just move on please. He grabbed Valance who was looking at something pinned on the announcement board.

“Wait, wait. Take a look at this.” He pointed the announcement pamphlet of the wolf god’s festival. “They are not planning to give the people those freaking monster mask do they. Just imagine , a blood thirsty mob with superhuman ferocity and strength. “

“Join the festive with us. Fenrisúlfr will choose the strongest of her people and give them the new world. “ Read Liam.

“Okay this sounds like they do plan that actually.” Said Valance with a worried face. “ I think we really should hurry back to the hole and make some plane against this.”

“Alright , you should go back and warn them. I will make the errands and be back also in one or two hours.” Decided Liam

“Roger, take care then in the city boss.” Warned him Valance before he disappeared in the crowd.

Liam pulled his hat in his eyes and tried to mix with the people while he was listening for gossips and news.

“Have you heard, the Lord of the Guards never returned from the castle and his men are hanging from the tower.” He heard an old beaker telling his costumer.

“Did you know that some woman was killed in an alleyway? What a world we live in? “ Complained one old woman to another.

Liam turned into a street full of workshops. The constant tinkling of the hammers was just background noise in the street that never sleep. The men worked here were the toughest in the whole kingdom. They were born with tools in their hand and has been working at the forges from their childhood. The heat of the fire made their skin charcoal, their voice was hoarse like the coarse stone they used to make the blades sharp. He stayed away from the shops in the front of the alley. Thought they were the biggest and with the fanciest products it was just for show. The actual artisans lived deeper in these catacombs of iron shaping. Durthan the best of them thought only a few knew that he even existed. At the back of the road there stood the smallest open workshop on the street with a gigantic man working at the anvil. His arms were thicker than Liam’s chest and muscles tightened on them like iron wires as he flattened a piece of metal wit the hammer.

“Good day to you Mat. How is business? “ Yelled Liam and smiled at the giant.

“Oh, by my hammer it’s the stupid noble I used to trash when we were kids. “ Laughed the smith and put down he hammer to give a bear hug to Liam. Fortunately, he realized in time that he had a hot iron piece in the other hand, so he put hat down in time to. He lifted the young noble like he was a pillow and made his bones crack whit the hug.

“It’s good to see you man. But hurry and come inside, the mater sure wants to see you.” He ushered his friend inside. Behind a door there was as the most usual house one can find, the real entrance was in the cellar behind a meter-thick iron door. A long staircase led down to an enormous workshop. It was a carved out from the stone was lighted by lava. The molten earth was also used instead of fire in the forges where almost a hundred smith were working all day and night. They were the best artisans in the Forged realms, which was little surprise as they were learnt the profession under the guidance of Durthan Blackiron the last dwarf in the Forged realms. His people were slaughtered when the emperor fall as they served him loyally. Since then this was the only dwarven forge where the fire of the earth still lived. They walked the to other side of the room evading the workers and greet them on the road. There they found the master. He was small as child but had a built that showed he could make a spiral from to rod of iron with his bare hands. His beard had every shape of charcoal, from the deep dark shade of the fresh coal to the used ash grey of the burnt down fuel. His skin was dark grey like the stone of his workshop. He usually had one less eyebrow than on should, as the result of blown up experiments or working t the forge.

“Hold his one lad with a clamp next to you. “ He called back without looking up and Liam obeyed silently. The master took out a glowing crystal from a holder and placed it inside the hollow core of the object he was working on. Some cables were attached to the core then he closed it down.

“Now slowly put it down onto the table.” Came the order.

Liam carefully with a soft motion put the object down which looked like a metal scarab as it was ensembled now. As it reached to table with its legs it the scarab stared to walk on his own. The mechanical bug rushed towards the edge of the table.

“Hurry catch that before it falls.” Yelled the old dwarf, but it was too late. Liam dived after it as the scarab jumped of the desk, but it was out of his reach. The mechanical toy fell on the ground and exploded throwing the desk and the people around it into the air. Fortunately, they all survived with small injuries.

“What the heck was that think Dur?” Yelled Liam as his ears still rang from the explosion.

“That my friend was the cherub core’s reaction to the impact. This mineral was left behind from the age of the angles, hence the name and it contains a lot of energy but blows up on impact. It is a pity thought, that was my prototype. On the other hand, I know that it works. That some valuable experiment data.” He said scratching his beard and started to write down his observations. Liam just sat on the ground and thought.

“It really does shows who raised Percy, they are so crazy about their experiments.” He turned to Durthan and said out loud.

“Percy sent me for some stuff.” He handed the list over to the dwarf. “Also, there are some serious stuff happening up in the city. We should talk I think.”

The dwarf face became worried with the mentioning of the upper world. He ran through the list and handed over to one of his aids then turned back to Liam.

“Yes, I think so too. I was caught up in my research too long and forgot about my true goal and why I still live in these realms. Come lad we will talk but as civilized men , seated and with tea.”

They went to the closed office of the master artisan and sat down. The dwarf made Liam to tell him everything he knew. They were talking there for a good hour.

“So, to sum it up. Your father has gone crazy and want to equip the citizens with these masks. Meanwhile there is a powerful magician from the king who helps him out if not controls him and the bishop announced the killing of the people for free. Did I leave out something?” Summarized Durthan.

“Yes, the disappearance of Theodore and his men.”

“Oh, that too. Okay here is what I can do for you. First you need to get me one of those masks, preferably from both kinds, so we can figure out how they work. Meanwhile me and the lads gonna make weapons for your men. We might be able to fight with you also if it comes down to that. This is what I can offer to you young Fenris. Of course, not for free. “

“What is your price old man? I am not in the mood for debating over it.” Said Liam with a sigh.

“I want you to legalize for the dwarven to have a business in Grimwalden. Also, a place where m kin who was banished from the realms can built a city.”

“Dur you know that I can’t promise that. I mean the business part yes. But giving you land? I would need to go against the king and that might bring war to my people.”

“Look lad, the king is already in this game, so you will stand against him for so, this doesn’t change much. Also, as they would be part of your realm, they would help you out in war and that’s something even the forger of realms should account with. This is my firs and final offer kid, sorry.”

Liam was thinking for a long time.

“Okay, I agree, but you need to give me some of those cherub ores too. I have a plan with them.”

“You got a deal kid.” Laughed Dur.

They packed the good for Liam and escorted him to the door.

“Take care lad and get me the mask. We need it if we want to fight against it. “

“I will try.” Promised the young noble. “Take care too.”

He turned away and started his climb to return to the city above.