"Explain," I demand.

"If his heartstone is indeed damaged then there is nothing in this world that can fix it," Andora says with a sigh, "It's not something that can be cured or remedied. Still, I do wonder what could have damaged it in the first place. It's highly unusual to find something even capable of damaging a heartstone. The only things that come to mind are extremely potent magic or oricite with an extremely high purity."

"My husband mentioned something happening on a dungeon expedition he went on, but didn't give me the specifics," Annora says, "Stein, you went with him. What happened there?"

And suddenly I know exactly what she's talking about. "He was cut by a machinus, but I was pretty sure Nika healed those wounds."

"A destroyer of the old world, huh? I've heard their blades could cut through steel like it was paper. I suppose it's no surprise that such a weapon could damage a heartstone," Andora seems to lose herself in thought.

Something in that explanation seems off to me. She was right about the blade being able to cut through steel, that much I remember clearly. What bothered me was the lack of surprise that such a weapon would only damage a heartstone, not destroy it completely.

"Just what are heartstones made of?" I ask.

Annora and Andora both fix me in their gaze. Andora responds, "It is no material able to be created by the likes of mortals. Further than that, I cannot say."

Can't or won't?

"Regardless," Annora says, "The damage is done, and it cannot be fixed. Even despite his crimes, I would not have wished that fate upon him."

Andora's ears perk up at this, "Crimes?"

"He was a sailor before a mercenary. A fisher, if I'm not mistaken," Annora explains.

"This again?" I scoff, "So what if he did what he wanted to do? Why should some taboo among your people limit a freespirited individual?"

Andora fixes me with a stony glare, "You may not know this as a foreigner, but what is simply a taboo elsewhere is concrete law in Wald. Though you may not understand or agree with it, that law has deep technical and cultural implications that you could not hope to understand."

"I-" I begin to retort, but find I'm unable to come up with anything remotely resembling a reasonable counter. She's right, going against a taboo is one thing, but it would be ill advised at best to bitch about a law I hardly understand based on a people I know barely anything about. All I can do is cross my arms and stay silent.

Andora gives something like a relieved smile at my response, "I'm glad to know you have at least some measure of restraint. Your age belies your intelligence. Still, he broke the law, and that must be addressed. When he wakes, summon me. Unless there is more, I believe that should be all for now."

Annora looks to Albatos, who shakes his head. Turning back to her sister, Annora says, "I think that's all. Thank you for sheltering us, sister."

Andora gives a smile, "Of course, always."

Albatos and I give a small bow before we exit the room, Annora not bothering with any formal farewell.

Once out in the hall, Albatos says, "Well that's one problem solved, now to deal with another."

***

Orelio and I played cards to pass the time. Annora and her husbands talked among themselves, about what I couldn't tell. Albatos looked out the window, stroking his wisps of hair deep in thought.

The afternoon light gave the sloped city outside an interesting ambience. From the center you could see under the different strata of ascending layers to the city edge, giving this fascinating contrast between the natural light above and the artificial light of lanterns and the like below.

When Morvin eventually wakes every eye turns to him. Surprised, he looks around the room in confusion. "What?" He asks, clearly perplexed.

Annora walks over the the door of the room and opens it before saying a few words to the attendant outside. Turning back into the room she closes the door behind her.

"Show us," It's Albatos who speaks, his voice cold and remorseless.

Morvin's face freezes over. Then he tries to don a nonchalant expression and say, "Dunno what you're talking about."

"I told them," Annora says, "You can't have imagined it would be a secret to us. They know. Now show us," Her voice is cold, but lacks the frigidity of Albatos' tone.

Wiping all expression off his face, Morvin looks around the room and sees us all staring back at him. Seeing he doesn't have a choice in the matter he growls, "Fine, dammit."

Standing up from the bed he pulls his road weathered tunic over his head to reveal the honed muscles of a sailor turned mercenary. Sitting in the center of his chest is the golden hued heartstone, with a wedge cut into it where it had prevented the machinus' blade from slicing through his chest.

I remember thinking to myself at the time that the stone had saved his life. It was like a cruel joke to learn it had simply put a timer on it.

"Now what?" He asks, looking around the room again when nobody says anything.

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"Now I judge you for the crime you have committed," a voice says from the door as Andora walks in.

Morvin's face turns stoic, "I have committed no crime within the borders of this nation."

"Your crime is one bound to race, not nationality. So long as you are within our borders your life is subject to our laws. You knew this, why bother protesting?"

He looks away, a mixture of disgust and irritation on his face.

Andora sighs, "If you have nothing to say against your crime then we shall settle this here. Morvin, you are guilty of the crime of choosing a profession requiring you to sail the open seas. Normally the sentence for this would be contracted servitude, in other words, the enslavement of the offending party."

Orelio's ears perk up at that and he focuses in on the conversation he had started zoning out of.

Andora sighs, "But considering the circumstances I feel that would be entirely pointless. You were out for, what? Close to seven hours? I'm not an expert on the condition but I'm relatively certain that interval signifies you haven't much time left. The most reasonable punishment would be to throw you in the brig for the remainder of your time."

Morvin stiffens at that.

Andora sighs again, "But I'm not so heartless as to force a dying man to spend the remainder of his life trapped in a lonely dark place. I shall allow you to remain here, as my prisoner. You are free to wander, but I spread your description and informed the guards that you are not to leave the city."

He nods, "Aye, that's fair. Thank you for your generosity."

"You better be grateful, because you won't be getting any from me," Albatos says scathingly, "You're fired. Zeph's company has no need of someone who won't share information that is absolutely fucking necessary."

"Woah, woah," I say, "Who are you to dictate how a man spends his remaining time?"

Albatos turns his fury to me, "Somebody who paid good money with the expectation that it was in good faith, that I was hiring an ally who would put their interests at least as equal to those of the company. Instead, what do we have? Somebody who selfishly withholds vital information simply for, what exactly? Self gratification? Self pity? I mean, what even was this?" He turns back to Morvin halfway through and directs the last part of the tirade at him.

Morvin pulls his shirt back on, "Aye, I get the message. Fired, got it. Sorry for botherin' ya with my shitty company all this time." He grabs his small bag and leaves, bumping into the servant waiting outside the door as he goes.

"Not very tactful," I say to Albatos.

"Hmph. Why should I care what someone with a terminated contract thinks?"

"Maybe you should care about how your attitude looks to your current employees," I say, crossing my arms.

Albatos looks around, seeing for the first time that both Bodelee and Bodelin are avoiding his gaze completely, the sisters are looking at him with an air of disapproval, and Orelio is shuffling cards, pretending to be anywhere else.

"Hmm. Perhaps you're right, much as I loathe to admit it."

"Sorry, what? It sounded like you still had some spite to get out of your system," I respond mockingly.

A twisted smile scrunches up his face, "That's all you'll be getting out of me, brat, so don't press the issue."

I turn and shrug. I've dealt with this cranky elf long enough to know when he's close to his limit.

A hand clasps onto my head, "You know, with all the recent surprises I had almost forgotten that you're in desperate need of training."

Maybe I toed the line a little too close.

"You too, beastboy," I hear a gulp as Albatos fixes his gaze on Orelio.

Andora sighs, "Well if the matter of Morvin is concluded I believe I am quite done here. Do know, mercenary, that though he may no longer be under your employ, my sentence still applies. Though you seem to wish to wash your hands of him he shall nonetheless be welcome to stay here so long as he doesn't stir up trouble." She leaves through the still open doorway before Albatos has a chance to respond.

Shoving the hand off my head I follow her out into the hall. Seeing her already at the end turning a corner, I rush to catch up.

"Um, excuse me," I say, closing the distance.

She looks at me with an expression of surprise, "Yes?"

"I was wondering if I could ask a question about Morvin."

Her face hardens a bit, clearly anticipating something antagonistic to her ruling, "What?"

"I was simply curious why you would blockade him in the city like that. I would think it wouldn't matter what a dying criminal did, so long as they didn't threaten public safety."

She thinks for a moment before answering, "Do you know why it's forbidden for dwarves to become sailors?"

"I think I was told at one point, but it's a bit hazy," I admit.

"The heartstone is an object of integral importance for our people. All must be returned to the Mountain Home. Usually, dwarves hole themselves up in major Waldian cities when they sense their time is near, so it becomes easy to return the heartstone after they pass. Those who refuse to put the heartstone above their own desires are considered… deviants, I suppose you would say. I can't imagine what someone like that would dare to do given free rein when they've already shown blatant disregard for our most important custom."

"How does Wald sustain itself when the majority of its citizens aren't allowed to sail?"

"We pay a premium for other races to maintain our shipping industry and navy. In truth, there's been a push recently to redevelop the technology necessary to brave the ocean depths, lessening the severity of the breach in custom. Unfortunately, we simply aren't there yet."

"Redevelop?"

"We possessed such technology before nearly everything was lost during The Summoning. But there simply hasn't been a need to look into it when the world was trying to rebuild. Now that everything has stabilized it's much more feasible."

"Oh, I see. That makes sense I suppose."

She gives me a gentle smile, "Sorry, but if that's all then I do need to get back to work."

I had somewhat forgotten I was talking to a duchess, "Oh! Right, sorry for taking your time."

"It's perfectly alright. If you have further questions I usually have time in the early morning and later in the evening." She starts walking away before stopping, "Actually, I had a question of my own while I've got you here."

"Sure, ask away."

She turns back, and I see the gentle kindness that had been in her eyes a moment ago was gone, replaced by the cunning eyes of a politician. "You're blessed, yet you would rather choose to seek solace from me than the church. Kison, our cathedral-city would have been a relatively similar distance from the border region you traveled from. Why come here, and not there?"

I had anticipated this question propping up from somebody eventually, so I already had my answer ready, "Is it so hard to believe that someone blessed doesn't necessarily get along with the church? Not that I have anything against them, mind you. I know a priest I owe a good bit to. I guess you could say I simply don't enjoy being around people who shine too brightly." It was the truth, but not the entirety of it. And we both knew it.

"Hm. Very well, I'll leave it at that for the time being." And she walks off without another word.

Hm. Now what am I supposed to do with myself?