The blade had taken shape.

Suvau had been right to warn Judd not to interfere and out of respect, Judd had kept his mouth shut, even when he was sure Suvau had been going to beat the metal into pieces. It had glowed red and white and red again, screaming with a vaporous holler as it was dunked in the barrel of water then put through the process again and again until Suvau had drawn it out and eyed it critically.

“It’s a fine piece of metal,” he announced and looked at Judd, “now I’m going to turn it into a blade.”

With the basic shape already formed by the mould, Suvau only needed to define it, sharpening the curved edge, leaving the straight edge dull. But for that, it needed to be joined to the hilt. He lined the base of the blade with the hilt, gauging the gap it needed to fit into.

“I’m not going to alter the hilt,” he promised Judd, “but I am going to slightly widen that gap.”

He heated a metal rod and picked up the hilt, running the rod along the edge of the gap, inserting it and making the insides more malleable.

Verne sat on the shore of the lake, shoeless, sockless and bandana-less. She leaned back on her elbows, comfortable and serene…until Emeri landed a crown of flowers on her head.

“Really?” Verne blew upwards, knocking some of the petals off.

“Haven’t you ever made a daisy chain before?”

“What, and risk the mockery of my brothers at how pretty I was?” Verne retorted and caught the bread roll Emeri pulled from her pack. “Thanks.”

Aalis watched their interactions, still picking plants from the lake. She was sure she had far too many but Emeri had been right when she said the trip would help Aalis resupply her healing kit.

She stood and wiped at her forehead, still amazed at how warm it was when surrounded by snow. She was really feeling the heat. Her handkerchief was dunked in the water and she dabbed her neck and forehead, wondering why she was feeling hotter and not cooler.

“Emeri,” Aalis called, “these geothermal pockets…can they suddenly become very hot?”

“I suppose so…but I have never noticed any great change here.” Emeri admitted.

Aalis wiped at the sweat again, feeling clammy and a little sick.

“That’s widened the gap enough for the blade’s base,” Suvau declared and slid the blade into the hilt, “now, for a little tender, loving pressure…”

Judd sat up, enthralled at the sight of the blade coming together. Suvau reheated the rod and, as he applied a seal of metal around the blade’s base, he struck the hilt firmly with the hammer, avoiding the crest.

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Aalis winced, a sudden pain in her head, a flash of bright light and it was gone again. She closed her eyes and paused, puzzled and concerned. There were several more pangs and she began moving towards Verne, dizzy and becoming frightened.

“Maybe…I just need to rest…”

Suvau lifted the hammer again and struck the hilt, working his way across its length until he was sure the blade was secure.

“Now for the refining process.” He grinned, his teeth bright white against his sweaty, dark skinned face, his eyes shining with the pleasure of forging a new weapon. “With a handle, this is a much easier process.”

He grasped the hilt and thrust the blade into the heat.

Verne and Emeri were shocked out of their reverie by Aalis’ screams. Verne spun around as she stood up, seeing the dreadlocked healer holding her head and screaming without reserve, her voice echoing loudly off the sides of the mountain.

“Aalis!” She cried, sprinting towards her. “Aalis!”

“It burns!” Aalis screeched. “By Terra it burns! I am on fire! I am on fire!”

She screamed, throwing herself onto the ground, rolling into the lake, her body thrashing with violence. Verne grabbed her, struck by her flailing arms but refusing to let go.

“Aalis! Can you hear me? Aalis!”

Aalis only screamed over and over and over, convulsing like she was possessed, every pore of her body tearing itself apart in pain that Verne could not begin to comprehend.

“Aalis!”

“It burns! Make it stop! By Terra, make it stop!”

“One last thrust into the fires,” Suvau announced, dancing the sword lightly into the heat of the forge, “to allow my mark to be embossed on its blade,” he used a metal stamp with a wooden handle to press into the base of the blade, “and now to seal it in place.”

Judd watched, holding his breath in anticipation as Suvau dunked the sword in its entirety, hilt and all, into the icy flow that came from the snowy peaks of the mountains. After a moment he drew it out and held it aloft. He turned to Judd and winked.

“All we need do now is sharpen it.”

Aalis’ body gave a final, spine breaking convulse, her fingers clawing at the ground, her screams joined by echoes from the peaks before she slumped, crumpled even, into the edge of the lake…lifeless and still. Verne and Emeri stared in horror, unable to comprehend what had just happened, let alone what to do next.

“Is she…” Emeri couldn’t even voice her fears.

Verne forced herself forward and leaned over, drawing back dreadlocks and pressing her fingers against Aalis’ neck. She held there for a long time, shivering as her own shock set in.

And then, the lightest of pulses ricocheted off her fingertips.

“She’s alive…” Verne croaked, nearly fainting in relief. “She still has a heartbeat. Aalis?” Verne turned her face, barely a shade up from death with faint blue lines beneath her skin receding. “Aalis?” Verne shook her head. “She’s not waking up.”

“What do we do?” Emeri asked, frightened and out of her depth.

Verne licked her lips, looking to the chasm that they’d come out of.

“We need to get her to Fort Omra but I don’t think the both of us can carry her all that way.” Emeri whimpered, unable to tear her eyes off Aalis’ deathly form. Verne stood up, standing between Emeri and Aalis. “Emeri, listen to me,” she grasped the young girl’s shoulders and gave her a shake, forcing her to meet her gaze, “you have to run to Fort Omra. Tell Judd what happened and lead them back here. Understand?” Emeri nodded, trembling. “Go…as fast as you can!” Emeri hesitated, still half in shock. Verne gave her a push. “Go!”

Emeri turned and fled, sprinting to the chasm and disappearing from sight.

Verne closed her eyes and pressed her fingers to her face, all strength evaporating now that she was alone. She sank to her knees and gently drew Aalis out of the edge of the lake, lying her on the grass.

“Aalis…don’t die on me, alright?” Verne ordered weakly. “You have to live…you just have to.”