Chapter 5

Valter rolled his shoulders in his shirt, it was so light . None of the scratchiness of other clothes he’d worn.

It had taken him several minutes to get used to his current outfit over his armor. He’d become used to the strength increase that came with the armor.

He walked behind Limos, who led them as if without a care. His footsteps ringing out on the stone of the hall. Next to him was Jaxus, wearing a fine suit. Certainly better than anything he’d been wearing on their way to Aetheria.

He held himself with new confidence. Though the way he looked at Limos, one might think he was meeting a god—or his childhood hero.

The two had been talking together ever since they met up, going over their own plans. Mya was folded into their machinations once she returned, gaining a deeper respect of Jaxus, while Limos looked on with casual interest.

Petor flanked his left, wearing a similar suit to Valter’s own. He had his belt on at least. Mya was wearing a tasteful jacket and only four pistols on her belt as well as falchion.

All of Valter’s gear was stored away. It would take him but a second to pull it all on. Appearances are more than realities sometimes .

His eyes fell on the pieces adorning the walls. Alcoves held smithing masterpieces. Wonderfully made and then layered with well-made runes, polished, greased and lit to show off their every tool mark.

A show of strength and ability for the Netherforge’s forge masters.

They entered a grand room, magma flowed down paths carved in the walls, lighting the room while runes regulated the heat steadily so it wasn’t overwhelming. Between the paths were sets of armor and weapons.

Forges master Peck turned from where she was chatting with several others, holding glasses of different drinks.

“Mister Limos,” Peck smiled in greeted.

“Forge master Peck,” Limos took her hand, raising it to his mouth and kissing it. He turned away and held out a hand to Jaxus. “May I introduce My associate, Jaxus.”

“Good to meet you mister Jaxus.” she smiled as he took her hand and shook it. Examining him up and down.

She’d heard the reports then. The people at the inn had probably reported the man who appeared with them from their walk to the stables.

“And you Nether Forge master Peck. Administrator Strek, it is good to meet you as well,” Jaxus held out his hand to a wiry looking older fellow.

“And you,” The man said with a soft smile and calculating eyes.

Jaxus greeted each of the people in the room by name.

They pulled Mya into it, having drinks as they talked various mundane things.

Petor and Valter stayed back from it, checking around the room—leave the merchant talk to the merchants. There were four guards at the corners of the room but no other signs of security.

Valter studied them as he checked the room. Each were confident in their skills, though two of them were quietly observing him and Petor.

Valter glanced at Petor and then to the two. Petor tilted his head, he’d seen it two. They didn’t seem like guards. Their bearing of people beyond such tasks.

They moved to their seats, food and drink passed around. Valter used his brusque manner to push others away. Petor did the same. Mya brought the four she was talking to—to laughter, breaking apart to head for the table.

Valter sensed no poisons in the food and ate first, damn it was good, each bite was a mastery of texture and flavors.

The meal continued, with talks on the small things additional laughter. It didn’t seem like a trade meeting at all until dessert was cleared away and drinks came out again. Valter left his alone, as did Petor.

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Peck leaned forward, the table growing quiet.

“Mister Limos we’ve received all of the goods a promised,” She tilted her head in thanks. “We are interested in the options that you presented earlier and agree to them.”

“Very well, Jaxus will be our representative here to begin. His role is to expand our network here in the Abyssal Plane and in the Water Plane.” Limos held out a hand to him.

“For our first order of business. I was wondering what goods you have to sell under the rare grade?” Jaxus smiled easily.

It devolved into ledgers, numbers, timelines and terms. Valter let it wash over him, his mind working angels of attack on his own plans. He diverted his mind, the best plans could be ruined by thinking on them too much and overcomplicating them.

Agreements were formed and signed.

“There is one other matter,” Peck said, leaning back in her chair and raising her hand.

The two not-guards stepped forward and removed their helms. One woman, one man, both older in age, well trained, officers .

“We have a problem of our own that we,” Peck selected her words. “Need solving?”

Valter shifted, readying himself for action. The snarkiness from Isma was a test .

“We open up sections of mines all the time. When opening up a recent mine we found something that will require a powerful team to nullify,” The female officer said.

“You want the help of my problem solvers as you need more muscle and you’re not able to bring others into your Chasm without inviting them to take advantage of you. We have no claim over the area and we are interested in trading with you.” Limos cut to the heart of it.

Peck tilted her head, admitting without giving life to it with words.

Limos patted his lips with a napkin and turned to Mya, catching Valter and Petor’s eyes.

“We have a need for transport, the faster the better. In trade,” Mya turned her glass by its stem, raising her eyebrow to Limos.

That could help out a lot . Valter sat up. They were nearly three weeks ride from Dragon Falls. There was no knowing what might get in their way.

Limos closed his eyes for several seconds before opening them.

“Terms?”

“Information first,” Mya looked to Peck.

She turned to the female officer. “Yalida?”

Yalida saluted Peck and looked at the four horsemen. “We were cutting new tunnels in the chasm, through the root where the flow comes from. A vein of high level materials was found and followed.

It opened up into a chasm of compressed materials. Magma fell through the cracks. From within one of the waterfalls a voice came. All it said was—smash. Magma flowed into hammers and they shot forward to attack the miners and their guardians. They fought off the hammers and backed up through the tunnels. We have sent in groups. Each time the same voice speaks and hammers form to attack those that go in.”

She looked right at Valter. “You are strong.” She looked to Petor and Mya. “We believe it is an elemental with how it is able to utilize its surroundings to such a high degree, though it uses stone and magma together. It does not leave its chamber. Once people exit it no longer chases with hammers. Four teams have gone in, none have been able to defeat it. The first two were killed outright.”

“We know more magic beyond the fire element,” Mya said diplomatically.

“Yes,” The woman said.

Mya twirled her glass more. “Eight teleportation’s in the same realm to locations of our picking. Two for each of us.” Her gaze raised to Limos.

Valter watched the byplay with rapt attention Could get in, then meet up together, more time in place for each of us. It turned things from incredibly hard to pretty possible.

Limos fingers tapped out on the table, all waiting for him. He looked to Peck and her people, then back to Mya.

“Very well,” He tilted his head.

Mya raised her glass in salute. He did as well, a smile spreading across their faces.

Well that deals with how we’re going to get to Dragon Falls.

The tension eased and chatter continued, wrapping up quickly, releasing them from their chairs and the room.

“Just one more stop,” Petor said.

“The teleportation will be worth it. Save us greatly,” Valter said.

“An elemental throwing hammers around. Sounds fitting for a chasm that forges so much gear.”

Valter grunted. Things certainly hadn’t been calm or boring since he joined up with the others.