Notes:

Other than the 3 immortals, there is Sarah, Anwen's personal slave and willing plaything, Owen and Henrik belonging to Nast'al. Then the War Dogs Romulus and Remus and the guard cat Mew Mew Kit, who acts more like a dog than a cat. 3 war horse in chain barding called Rose (Nast'al's mount) , Bold (Owens) and Charcoal (Henrik's) and 2 riding horses, Cavalier and Charley which Anwen and Shule ride, with Sarah riding behind Anwen.

The horses came about because people kept complaining about all the walking.

Prelude

Romania, a land of mystery and enchantment, passing through it is a group of wandering immortals looking for a good time. The unique Fire Cat, Anwen the Mysterious, the beautiful Lady Shule the Elegant and the Crafty Rogue Nast'al the Undying.

This is their adventures, their loves, and their luck.

On a hillside overlooking a small mining town that pulls copper from the earth, Nast'al is arguing with the seemingly near omniscient Anwen on a point of Mythological History, "No, I am telling you that you could not have talked with The Tiamat as she was killed when I was still a human boy. I heard all about it from the story tellers and history walkers."

Anwen shakes her head, "I know that story and I know you can't kill Tiamat but you don't know Why that is impossible."

Shule and the others are listening but wisely staying out of it. These two often pick a point of something and end up in long 'discussions' in which Anwen usually wins as she quotes a mix of logic and personal experience over Nast'al's old stories and 'history walkers' which were basically the bards of old or as Anwen calls them, ancient propaganda machines.

Nast'al feeling like he is close to losing another of his well thought out idea's, "Ok oh wise and flaming headed knower of mysteries, why can't you kill her ?"

"Because oh sneaker in deadly shadows, she is made of Primal Chaos and the Sea. If she had been destroyed as the stories claimed the sea with in the region of her pantheon would have dried up and the whole of that land would be a desert by now. Now her Avatar, that could have been defeated sure, but that is only a physical representation of the Goddess herself."

Nast'al rolls that around in his head and snorts, "Fine, I can see what you're saying. Still it was her Dragon From that was destroyed, and I don't believe that gods can just create such forms so easily or she would have just reformed it elsewhere."

Anwen nods, "Well she can, but it takes time to do. It was, from my perspective, a long time from now and a totally different form than that one, that I met after all."

Nast'al shakes his head, "That one you would have to prove to me, or find us a god to ask about it."

Shule finally speaks up, "Oh Nasty one, do you really want to challenge Her luck with Gods again. You remember last time right."

A new voice, closer to the ground speaks up, "I think last time worked out rather well."

A 'door' is opening in the hill side not far from the group and a small gnome man comes out, being followed by a large, heavily muscled dwarf, carrying a well-used smithing hammer on his shoulder and a belt of tools over his other shoulder. He is looking at the gnome, "You sure about this ?"

The gnome smiles, "Yes."

The smiling gnome looks up at Anwen, "Sorry to just pop up like this but I wanted to ask a favor."

Instantly suspicious, "Favor ? From you, one of the most powerful and nicest gods I know ?"

The dwarf starts to laugh, "She has you pegged I see."

The gnome huffs, "Well it's for my friend here really and it's not something that can be done with magic very well."

The dwarf grins. Anwen looks at him, "And just who are you sir ?"

Still grinning, "Oh just an old dwarf who has an odd collection of friends and acquaintances."

Anwen nods, "Well that is a different name. So Old Dwarf who Has an Odd Collection Of Friends and Acquaintances, what can I do for you ?"

He laughs, "Oh you are good, Just call me Smith for now, ok."

She nods, "Ok Mr. Smith, what can I do for you today."

His smile gets wider, "Oh I like that, Mister Smith, what is mister ?"

"It’s a polite term for Master without adding in the connotation that you are a 'Master Smith' but a Smith of the male gender. The feminine version is Miss or Missus if married."

He considers that and nods, "Ah, well that is something new learned today, very good."

He goes on, holding out his old belt, "The problem is my old belt broke, again. I have had it mended many times, but what I really need is a new one. This old goat here claims your one of the best Leather Workers in the mortal world at present. I think he thought you could make me a new one, as a favor."

She nods, "in other words for free. Not likely, I am nice but not stupid, besides my technique can be a bit expensive as I have to get the leather, prep it, shape it, figure out what is needed and how to shape the extra parts, find a descent smith that can make the buckles and such for it out of materials to my specifications, which are allot higher than most. If I can find it, I prefer someone who knows how to work Steel, which means finding a good dwarven or elven smith. Though in truth I prefer working with Dwarves on such things, Elves, even to other elves, can get a bit high minded and snotty."

Mr. Smith cracks up at that, The Gnome just smiles.

"So in the words of the locals, what have you got to trade ?"

Mr. Smith sighs, "Well I can do the metal work on my own if that is needed, and to your specifications I wager. So that should help with the overall cost. I am good with metal and stone, not so much with leather and such."

Anwen sits and gestures, a girl dressed in very suggestive and high grade leather comes over and puts down a well-worn but wonderfully crafted leather bag. Anwen opens the bag and removes several leather items, some studded with silver or copper studs, most not. All that have buckles have bright steel ones with double hooks for the straps. There are a few belts in the mix, mostly though of the type used by soldiers and swordsmen. "These are some of my wares, you can look them over and see if they meet the quality of what you're asking about."

Mr. Smith kneels in front of the items and carefully looks them over, they are supplier than he is used to, but stronger to which surprises him some. "Do you use magic to craft these ?"

Anwen grins, "Fair question but no, well a little in the tanning phase but only to move them around at a distance. The stink you know." Having been around a tanners he nods, "Yes, that is one of the reasons I never got in to leather working. These are some nice buckles, where did you get them ?"

She nods to the tall fellow behind her, "He traded with a group of merchant dwarves for them. Well first he stole them, then I made him take them back and actually trade for them. He was not happy with me about that."

Mr. Smith looks at Nast'al, "Yes I can see he is not a trustworthy type, how did you convince him to see things your way ?"

Nast'al answers', "Fire, it's her go to when she is angry, Fire lots and lots of Fire. Mages."

Anwen smiles, "He is trustworthy, as long as he counts you as a friend or ally, it's everyone else though that he has problems with."

The Gnome nods, "That pretty much sums him up. Lady Shule is much nicer and more pleasant." She nods to him, smiling.

Mr. Smith just shakes his head then thinks, "What about this, a riddle contest ? I win you make me a fine work belt, you win you get something in return."

She looks at him, her eyes glowing slightly, "Careful with that request, we mages are do not take such things lightly. Also I collect magical items of almost any type, prefer things I can use but am not opposed to having things I can't use for a time."

The Gnome sits next to Mr. Smith, "She also collects knowledge like my people collect gems. You are going to need a good set of rules and limits."

The dwarf nods, "Ok rules. No asking about things known only in the Realm of the Gods."

Anwen nods, "Well that is not very limiting, but ok, hmm rule, How do you feel about children's riddles, you know the ones with silly answers ?"

He looks at her, "Having them in or not ?"

Her, "In, if not then It would be a rule of not."

He considers carefully then, "Not, I can see to many ways we could stump the other just by calling up a riddle the other can't answer based on differing childhoods and children."

Anwen nods, "Good answer. ok so no children's riddle. There goes my 'what is black and white and red all over one."

He looks perplexed, "Ok, now just out of curiosity, what is the trick to that one ?"

She smiles wickedly, "It has multiple answers, none of which are wrong but not right either."

He shakes his head, "Examples ?"

"An embarrassed skunk, zebra, a white tiger, a scroll, need I go on ?"

He rubs his beard, "Ok, skunks, zebra's and white tigers all are a mix of black and white, so I get that, but a scroll."

The Gnome answers, "Many scrolls are white or near white in color, the ink often looks black on it and the term Red is changed with the past tense term to Read, or having Read it."

Mr. Smith looks surprised and a little shocked, "Oh I see, yes that kind of riddle we don't need. That kind is tricky, crafty and a little underhanded."

Anwen nods, "And so are many children."

He has to agree with that. "Ok, no Gods Realm, no Children's riddles or riddles with multiple answers. Anything else ?"

She considers then, "No I think that covers it, but it does limit me some. Does the egg sucking riddle count as a children's riddle ?"

He sighs, "well there went my first riddle. Ok you go first."

She smiles and nods, "Ok, one I always liked. What walks on 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs in the afternoon, and 3 legs in the evening ?"

Everyone there mouth drops open at That riddle. It's considered one of the 4 unanswerable riddles in the world.

Anwen watches him as he ponders, gets up and walks in a circle, goes over and looks at the mine, stares at the sun, sticks his head back in the door and takes a deep breath of earth filled air and finally comes back over. Looking utterly defeated, "You know why that's called an Unanswered Riddle right ?"

"I know the answer, or I would not have asked it."

The Gnome is chewing on a piece of grass and idly watching the clouds.

Smith walks over and looks down at him, "you know the answer don't you ?"

The Gnome nods, "Yes, but I never told it to her, she told it to me a while back. It's a remarkable answer and so simple when looked back on. If you want a tree to bang your head on, just ask her, I am sure she has one in a pocket somewhere."

Anwen's smile turns evil, "So, it's nearing sunset, I for one am getting hungry, so give up or ?"

He puts his hammer down in front of her, "Here, most powerful magic item I got. I give. Also I can grant you 1 wish in the dwarven sphere of influence as payment for a high quality smithing belt and the answer to that infernal riddle."

Her smile widens, "That is satisfactory" she holds out her hand to seal the deal. He glumly takes it and shakes, she speaks the binding, "I Anwen Cinaed Leather Worker, Mage and Immortal here by accept the contract with Moradin King of the Dwarven gods to craft one high quality smiths belt and the answer to one riddle in exchange for one wish from him from the Dwarven Realm of influence."

He tried, and failed, to pull his hand back when she called him by name. The Gnome is laughing.

"So Mote it Be" Says a voice from the Earth and Sky.

His eyes wide, "How did you know ?"

She grins, "I see truth, well aura's actually and you have a Divine one and two your with him, who is at least as old as you and treats you like an equal. Also the Hammer. That one is a dead giveaway to a collector like me."

He runs his hand across his face and down his beard, "Ok I can see that. Are you really Immortal ?"

She nods, "Egyptian gods tried to lock me in to their control for all time. Not realizing I knew the truth about his prison. I freed him from his prison, he freed me from their control, but left me their other 'gifts' which included immortality."

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He nods, "Never trust those human deities, always up to something. Even the good ones are underhanded." he mutters.

She shrugs, "I have found a few that I trust but they are few and far between."

He nods again, "So you want that wish now or after the belt is done."

The Gnome cautions, "Careful, both of you. Once one is done the other cannot be undone."

Anwen nods, "Oh I already know what I want, and it's well with in the dwarven preview. A skill, specifically smithing and smelting of metals of a level equal to the time and place I originated in. And the reasons are pretty simple. Combining that skill set with my leather working set would make both a better asset."

Moradin actually looks impressed. "That actually is a good wish, I much approve of it truthfully. I suspected you would have asked for something much different actually. We have a large supply of magic you know."

She nods, "Yes, but most of that can be traded for and well Actually sitting down and Learning the skill to the level I requested would take a long time. I am not sure I could actually do it that way. So just having the knowledge and Skill imprinted on me seems a more, well ok, lazy way, but expedient way to go about it."

The Gnome is grinning at a dumbfounded Dwarf King, "Told you to be careful, she is a smart one and you walked right in to it smiling the whole way. Oh and one more thing oh Dwarf king."

He looks at the Grinning Gnome, "I know I am going to hate it, but what ?"

"Her leather working skills as well as the skills she requested, well she is from approximately 3000 to 3200 years in the future. So her Birth Time, which she specified, would give her knowledge Only you possess at this point in time."

The King of all Dwarven kind, reaches for his Hammer with the intent of braining himself with it. Anwen is quicker and pulls it out of his reach.

Anwen nods, "To be fair though, I am from an alternate time line. Oh and I am not totally ignorant of smithing things. I know mixing Chromite or a specific form of it, with steel makes stainless steel. I just don't know how to make that. As a side note, Chromite salt is useful in Leather working, speeds up the tanning process to days instead of years. But without knowing how to Smelt the stuff I can't use that process. Ergo the reason I added Smelting in to the mix, well one reason."

Defeated he sighs and nods, "So be it. And as you say having that knowledge will speed up my getting my belt. I will leave my old one with you as a kind of model of what I need. A few more places for pouches or tools would be nice to." she nods and he ask, "And the answer to that riddle ?"

Nodding and smiling she moves over to him and whispers in his ear, "Man" giggles, "In the morning of his life he crawls on all 4's, in the afternoon of his life he walks on 2 legs, and in the evening of his life, with the use of a cane, he walks with 3 legs."

He stares straight ahead for the longest time. "Gods, no wonder it's so hard. Tricky answer. Where did you learn of it if I may ask ?"

"My childhood actually. It was known as the Riddle of the Sphinx in my world, if you could not answer the riddle, the sphinx got to eat you. Took about 100 years before she met someone as crafty as she to get that riddle. Don't know if she ever came up with another like it though, stories did not say."

Nodding he places his hot hand on her head and 'uploads' all the skills and knowledge she requested as payment. She passes out from the level of information.

He looks at her companions, "When she wakes up she should have all the skills she requested. I need an ale."

Sarah gets out the Cloak of the Vagabond, and searches till she finds the one ale the cloak carries and hands it to him, "Here you go. It's a very good ale."

He takes it, looks at the grinning dwarf face on the side, and how the 'helm' opens to reveal the mug and high quality ale. He takes a swig, nods and then chugs it. "Nice and cool to. Thank you lass."

She nods, "you can keep the Stein to. Its 'insulated with a combination of metal on the outside and ceramic on the inside'." she quotes. He looks it over once more and nods. Bonus, nice.

The Gnome looks up at Nast'al, "About your questions concerning Tiamat, I suggest you go to Babylon and find out for yourselves."

Anwen groans for a couple of days about the head ache and muscle ache of her wish. Having the knowledge is fine, but the Skill came with 'muscle memory' and that takes a while to settle in. Which of course hurts as it does so.

So it falls to the others to gather the needed materials for the Leather. While a very sick Anwen using magic cause everything else hurts to much, shows the shapes of things she needs built in order to complete her part of the agreement. Fortunately they don't have to leave the region to get everything she needs. The local craftsmen, mostly being dwarves and a few humans, are more than capable of making the requested items. It also does not take long for a proud Sarah to tell the tale of how her mistress beat the dwarven god king in a contest of riddles for the prize of his hammer. Which she has and the local dwarven priest of Moradin can and do recognize.

High Priest of Moradin comes to her tent, while she is recovering, "Greetings oh riddle master." he starts, she moans, "Sorry sir, I am in a fair amount of pain right now. Sneaky dwarven god."

He looks surprised, "Sneaky ? Moradin ?" She nods, "We made a deal you see, I would craft him the finest work belt I know how to make and in return he granted me the knowledge of smithing and smelting. Sneak did not warn me about Muscle Memory. You know how your body over time gets used to doing certain things till it gets to be a habit ?" He nods, "Ok now imagine that, only it’s a couple decades of experience crammed in to a week or so of pain."

He considers then nods, "Yes I can see why you're in pain and yes I see the Sneaky part to. Probably a little revenge for the riddle. Your leather clad lady friend has been crowing about that all week. Though to be sure catching a god with a riddle like that is crafty." she nods, winces and summons a glass of water to herself. "I am just glad I went with that one first, cause in truth I don't know many riddles unless you count some philosophical types and those can go on forever. " He grins and nods, "Yes being a priest I know many such riddles myself. They make good points to ponder when doing menial task."

She tries to smile in agreement but the pain is too much. "I take it you want to see the hammer ?"

"Yes please." he answers humbly. She levitates it over for him to examine. She even lets him hold it. "If I were not a mage and had such good friends, I would be in trouble by now." she moans to herself. His curiosity satisfied and his faith reinforced by this powerful but humbled woman, he thanks her and leaves her to her rest.

The whole building process for the crafting devices takes a little over 2 months to do. Mostly as Anwen wanted to make sure the items of manufacture could travel fairly easily by mule.

After that and finding the best hides for her work, she sets about testing things and working on not only the belt but other items she wants for herself or her friends. She spends allot of gold getting the tools for the smithing she needs and time and ore to make the items for Moradin's belt. She actually makes 12 belts each better than the last before she reaches a point where she can't really do better at her skill level than she has made. Her 13th belt is her best and has just a touch of magic sewn in to it to.

She uses the Mirror of Mental Prowess in its smaller form to contact the God to let him know it is done.

Moradin, with his wife in tow, appears from a door in a hill side. He makes introductions to Anwen and Mrs. Smith. There is some small talk and pleasantries then Anwen pulls out the finished belt.

The belt is wider than normal, a bit thicker to. It has studs along its top and bottom to increase its durability and more hoops, loops and pouches, open and covered in buttoned flaps, than will probably ever be needed.

Moradin is mighty pleased with the outcome of the belt and to add to it, Anwen informs him she included a mending charm so it will resist scaring or outright cutting and improve its life span. The studs also carry a charm against fire to keep it from accidently getting burnt. She even went so far as to stich his symbol in to the back of the belt. His wife approves of that as well. As an added bonus she returns his hammer to him. "I know you gave it to me, but then I also know the reputation of the hammer and how it tends to disappear when you need it. So I thought to skip waiting for you to want it back. I did make use of it though in the forging of the studs and buckles, which are all stainless steel, so they will resist corrosion and rust." He nods, "Anything else you used to forge it with" his wife ask.

Anwen nods, "Of course. I needed far better tools than any in present mortal hands. The Hammer was very useful in making of those items as well. Fortunately I already have an anvil. Medium sized but worked well for my needs.

Mrs. Smith ask, "I do want to know how much ale he had on his first visit."

Anwen nods, "1 stein full. We only had that much and gave it to him. I suppose you saw the Stein ?"

She nods, "Yes wonderful craftsmanship, where did you find it ?"

She pulls out the Cloak, "Ask him, he is the one who procures such things."

She stares at it for a moment, "Dear, that is just a cloak."

Mr. Smith explains, in a side whisper "Actually a powerful spirit resides in it. It summons items to the wearer, but in limited amounts and only a few things per day."

Anwen nods, "It also makes the wearer look very poor. Which is fine with me cause my beauty causes me no end of trouble from over amorous people whom I have little to no interest in. And yes I know, to Dwarves I am not as pretty, but to Humans I am exotic and otherworldly and being a red head does not help." Mrs. Smith nods, "I can see your point, but your right, Dwarven men like a woman with a good beard."

Anwen pulls her long hair around her head, "With a few ties I can fake one." Both dwarves chuckle at that. "Though seriously I don't think my height would make it convincing." That gets a grin and nod to.

Moradin try's on his new belt and noticed it can be let out or in as needed, nods in approval, "So you are going to be doing some traveling. Anywhere in particular ?"

Anwen nods, "For now toward Babylon area. Some things we want to look in to and well trading stuff you know. But after that we have not decided. Truthfully I get antsy staying in one place to long. I have a strong bit of wanderlust in me."

Before they can make their escape however the local Dwarves show up to meet their gods in person. Moradin takes it in stride and is soon weaving tales and telling jokes and praising their skills in making the specialty items Anwen needed to make his new belt. Which he shows off to all present. The Head Priest show him his new belt (they are very similar) and tells him that I made it for him for all his help in getting the ore and such she needed in good time. Moradin is quite pleased with this and his people. Wishes them well as his wife lets him know he has other business to attend to.

She nods to Anwen and soon after the two leave. He well satisfied with the belt and the trade and her that her husband did not go on a drinking spree while out of her sight.

After they are gone Anwen smiles at the Dwarves present, "Well now you have a good story for your children yes." The high priest and the head of the dwarven miners both bow to her, "It is thanks to you that we had this blessed event. And thank you for the belts. You did not have to give them to us."

She waves that down, "Truthfully many of those where my learning curve to make his belt. He wanted the best I could make after all. And I had allot of help from all of you in doing so. So the belts are a thank you for working with this strange group of travelers in what has had to be a very odd set of circumstances." Many laugh at that and nod. The priest looks around, "His hammer, he took it back ?" She shrugs, "I gave it back actually. What is a smith without his hammer after all. Besides I used it to craft one especially for me, also its power is limited to non-dwarves anyway." she adds with a shrug. They all grin and agree with that.