Over the next hour or so very little was explained to Kayne and Naia. An ancient looking Alkin man, named Gren, showed them to a small hut with three plain cots in it. Two of the cots were stacked as bunks and one stood on its own. A small wash basin stood in the corner with continuously flowing water and a cabinet stood between the two cots. Kayne set his bag down on the top bunk and before he could turn to ask Gren anything the old Alkin had vanished, leaving Kayne and Naia alone in the hut.

In an instant Naia began inspecting the ever flowing wash basin that was in the hut, poking and prodding and trying to figure out where it came from. She poked a few things and finally she tapped a spot on the wall and a familiar water sigil appeared. The water instantly stopped. “Kayne! Look! I figured out how it works. If we stopper this hole we can fill the basin and treat our bags with the dwarven powder!” Naia said. She tapped the spot on the wall again and the water resumed with the same blue sigil which appeared and then vanished in the space of a moment. So, they occupied themselves with that task for a little while. While doing this Kayne continued to glance out the hanging curtain that made up the door to the shack.

After a while the sun started to set on the small island and no one had come to get Kayne or Naia so they decided to wander out to the beach. Kayne sat on the shore and began tossing rocks into the sea. Naia, however, made her way over to the skiff and collected something from it. Kayne looked away momentarily and before he looked back he heard a splash and Naia was gone underwater. He just shook his head and resumed tossing stones for a moment until it dawned on him. He probably should stop so he didn’t end up hitting her when she surfaced again. Which could be any amount of time as she really didn’t even need to come back up.

Naia, dove straight into the beautiful blue waters in the lagoon, She had a spear in hand and a line gathered behind her on a spool she’d made a few years ago. She figured a few fish might be a good idea, as no one had mentioned anything about feeding them since they left the ship. Under the gentle waves of the lagoon she could see just how deep it really was in here. The first fifty feet were crystal clear and bright but as she descended further it got darker but not colder. She noticed something odd in the currents. Not only did it get warmer the further to the North West she went but, the sea life became more dense and exuberant.

There was a sheer cliff wall under this section of the island with a massive crack in the middle of it. She stowed her spear and began to swim a bit faster along the wall towards the crack. It continued to get warmer and warmer down around eighty feet. In fact she could see what looked like a mirage now where the crack opened up and a slight glow.

Finally she approached it from the side and noticed a small platform off the cliff face where an anvil resided. On the wall nearby several smithing tools hung, as though she was standing in a smiths workshop. Behind the anvil was a stone wall several feet tall that blocked the heat where it stood in front of the crack. She reached her hand towards what she concluded must be a volcanic sea vent. It got so hot that she had to pull her hand back and let the sea water cool it for her. After looking down at her hand she noticed a small door in the stone wall like that of an oven. Finding nothing else of interest, she moved off from the anvil and resumed her hunting.

She stayed near the sea wall so there was no absence of prey and within minutes she had speared three large colorful fish. Pleased with her progress, she made her way back to the surface. She slowly eased her head above water and got her bearing. Kayne was now on the beach speaking with Kismet, who had taken a seat next to him. The bearded old bard looked somewhat grim but not upset. The two saw her and waved. She took her spear and three fish and waved it back at them. She slipped back under and made her way to shore Where she splashed her way back up. “Kismet. How’s Nilah? Are they going to be able to heal her?” she said.

In reply he groaned a bit as he stood from his seat in the sand and said, “Why don’t you two come with me?” And he began walking towards the edge of the village where a large hut was butted up against a stone face of the cliff near the waterfall. He led them inside where several tall Alkin stood talking in their native language. When Kayne heard them speaking he vaguely remembered an instructor telling him they spoke Alkanan. He described it as a powerful language that was not of this world.

The group of five noticed them approaching and turned to welcome them. The one closest gestured for them to come forward to the tall well built Alkin lady they had seen earlier wearing smiths aprons. She now wore loose fitting trousers of some unknown material and a robe of similar that was speckled with bright white stars. She kept her hands tucked together into the sleeves until Kayne and Naia approached. In a matriarchal fashion the woman removed her hands and reached forwards to greet them. “Kayne Atula. We’ve been waiting for you. Many years now. I’m so sorry that it took such circumstances to bring you to my doorstep.” The ancient Alkin woman said softly yet somehow also loudly. As she shook his hands he noticed how strong she was and how rough, yet gentle her hands were.

She continued speaking and shook Naia’s hands in the same fashion without paying much attention. Half way through she looked like she noticed something and let go. She then squatted down ever so slightly to pick her up in a great big hug. “And little Naia!” She said, almost tearing up. “It’s been so long since I’ve laid eyes on you my dear. I barely realized it was you! It’s so wonderful you two found each other so early on.” The large woman set Naia back on the floor.

She bent down from her considerable height to Naia’s ear to whisper something. With a somewhat sad look in her eyes she said, “This will be an arduous journey for Kayne and before the end he will need ‘you’ more than anyone.” Straightening up as if nothing had transpired the tall Alkin woman clapped her hands as if she hadn’t been about to tear up. “Kayne. Naia. It truly is good you’ve both made it here in one piece. Both of your mothers would be so proud. I ‘am’ the smithy Taras Talmira and I can sense that you, Kayne, carry one of my fabled blades.” She took a step back to look them both over and went on expeditiously. “But all that can wait. Let me show you to your mother, Kayne.” Making an abrupt about-face, she took two steps towards the back of the room and drew back a dark curtain which revealed a cave-like room behind that glowed blue. She waved Kayne and Naia into the room.

Cautiously walking forward, they both entered the small cave-like chamber. The first thing they noticed was that a steady flow of water flowed from a far wall glowing blue and disappeared into a stone headboard. The headboard was attached to a small pool approximately six feet long and wide enough for a person to lay in. Which is exactly what was being done. His mother lay slightly below the surface of a glowing blue liquid and when Kayne saw this he reached his hands towards her only to be abruptly deflected.

When his hand collided with nothing, a silvery-blue barrier revealed itself over her entire body. Naia soon joined him and placed her hands on the shield gazing down at the woman who’d raised her all these years. Unprompted Taras said, “Kayne, we don’t know how to heal her wound without knowing exactly what was used to poison her. Several of us on this island are powerful healers and magi yet, this is beyond our world. Kismet explained to us who did this and we agree with his guess. Mourwyne is known to us and while she was once Alkin, she can no longer ascend as the rest of our kind do. Her association with Ark the forsaken and his dark magic has taken her down a path we of this world have never seen before. A cure may be found in your travels to defeat Ark and Aumatia but with the knowledge we possess now, we’re helpless.”

She stepped beside the two and placed her hand on the barrier, looked at the woman, and went on explaining. “This here is a bit of magical genius that a few Alkin and Gnomish scholars came up with some time after the time crash. They developed it by studying some of the time disturbances found on an island to the Northeast of my homeland of Tamalin. It’s an Alkin settlement that became cursed. We call it a stasis field and while she’s in there it will be as though time stands still for her.”

Hearing what she told him, Kayne made a stern face as he stared at his mother. He then turned and like Naia placed both of his hands on the field. Closing both eyes he focused inwards a moment thinking about something. His left grey eye opened and the barrier flashed suddenly. Seeing this, Naia and Taras both stepped back from the containment. He now could only see with his left eye but, the seals and sigils that composed the field erupted into sight all around the shimmering field. He didn’t realize it himself but the other two certainly did.

When the flash of magic occurred, cracks spread across his skin glowing blue in a pattern familiar to Taras but not Naia. The magic subsided and Kayne stumbled back gripping his eye and head. Naia, ran to catch him and see what was wrong. From the side of the room Taras stood there contemplating what she had just seen and said nothing for a moment.

Eventually she said, “Young ones. I think it’s been an exciting enough day. Why don’t we eat and rest up? In the morning I’ll talk with you both about what to do next. Gren! Take these two young pups to the hall and show them an island welcome. Myself and the others will be on our way shortly.”

Gren ushered them along without letting them make much of a fuss. Those in the cave resumed talk in Alkanan. Since they were unable to understand the language, they resigned themselves to being guided around like children for a little while longer. In his head Kayne resolved to himself to later ask more questions of anyone and everyone he possibly could. They only walked the distance of a few huts until they were led into a large hall. It was built in the same stone wall and leaf roofed style as the rest of the small village. Gren opened the door to reveal a tall inner structure with several long tables surrounding a central fire. It also had an open end allowing a spectacular view of the lagoon which faced westward towards the sunset. On the deus of the building, towards the lagoon there was a relatively small stone table with a few ceremonial torches and palm fronds laid out in a display. A few Piscalian and Alkin moved around the large room preparing food, setting the tables, and tending the animal that was roasting on the fire. The food was nothing Kayne could recognize aside from one of the fish that was also being cooked. Gren joined the folk around the room helping to prepare what was turning into quite the feast. Kayne led Naia towards the deus to look out onto the lagoon and leaned against the railing.

“Kayne. What happened back there? In fact what’s been going on with you? Is something wrong with your eye?” Naia said. Looking around apprehensively Kayne reached up towards it and instead of rubbing it he ran his hands through his dark black, almost blue, hair. “I really don’t know Naia. Ever since the faire when we played the dagger game something odd has been going on.” He peered around again and turned out towards the lagoon. “I’ve been… Seeing things. It’s like every time I go to throw a dagger and think I’m going to miss I just seem to know that it won’t. I’ve been losing vision in my right eye as well.” He reached up to rub it this time. “And when we were in the bubbles…”

At this moment the doors to the hall burst open and a dozen or more folk of varying races strode in and began taking spots at the tables. As they filled the tables Naia noticed five banners of fairly simple design hanging from the outer walls along the upper beams. They didn’t mean much to her until she noticed one of them was the same as the symbol Kismet had shown them earlier. Supposedly it was the very same wave symbol that resided on her own neck. Remembering what Kismet had told them about the five heroes and the five markings, she elbowed Kayne and brought them to his attention. “I think those five banners are the markings of the five people you need to find. Well, four now because ‘I found you!” She said smugly.

Before they could talk about it anymore Kismet, Taras, and Captain Pallaj came in followed closely by the menacing looking Kindel man from the dock. Taras waved the two of them over to the table nearest to the door, which seemed to be the head table of the room. She sat them to the left and right of the largest center chair. Kismet took a seat next to Kayne to the right of Taras. Pallaj took a seat next to Naia to the left of Taras. Taras’ began to speak in her booming voice and the cacophony of people vying for seats settled. “Welcome everyone! Friends from some of the most ancient of Sacalaian traditions gather tonight. And those that can’t be here tonight, such as our allies amongst the dwarves and human lords, would be equally pleased to see what small triumph has been brought to our door. Kayne Atula and Naia of Lumiara’s Fury not only found each other, as prophesied, but were fortunate enough to be brought to us by a friend of the Kotonami: Captain Pallaj of the Yukishan!”

At this declaration of triumph Taras waved her hands over the four seated to her left and right. There was no cheering or clapping just many around the room nodding and conferring with each other in irreverent whispers. “It is unfortunate that such a joyous occasion is marred by unfortunate circumstances. But with the coming of this prophecy, the people of Sacalia have hope once again. So, tonight, eat well friends with hope in your hearts and tomorrow we spread the word and hopefully put fear in the hearts of all that stand with the tainted one.” Everyone in the room raised a glass and silently toasted. Catching on, Kayne and Naia lifted their glasses as well, maybe a bit too late. From the back of the room the Kindel man whose name they didn’t know looked ashamed and foreboding.

When the somber toast had finished everyone in the room began eating and drinking cheerily making conversation with all around them. It would seem there was little formality to the dining occasion as everyone began getting up from their chairs. Each had a cup and or plate in hand mingling around the room. Kayne had been well fed all his life but nothing so extravagant. This applied to the drink that was going around the room as well. So many dishes that were foreign to him that he made a point of trying every single one of them. The same once again applied to the drink as well. There were several kinds of ale and an assortment of what appeared to be a white fermented substance that was sweet and fairly strong. Before he could get too deep into sampling, every single person in the room made their way over and attempted to engage him in conversation or simply shake his hand. It would seem the very same thing was happening to Naia. Several, in fact, had asked to see the mark on her neck. In a similar fashion, a few asked to gaze awkwardly into Kaynes different colored eyes or touch his forehead like some kind of blessing. This continued for close to an hour.

Finally Taras, it would appear she was the leader of the island, stood and spoke again. Her voice was ‘not’ to be challenged. And the room once again settled down. Some scraping of chairs occurred and everyone was seated once again. Kayne finally got a chance to have a sip of some of the sweet white drink. In an awkward moment as everyone quieted down he had taken a sip and coughed due to how strong it was. Taras was the first to break the silence with a hearty belly laugh and the rest of the room joined in on the fun. Everyone seemed to know exactly what had happened.

Once again, she raised her hands and they all quieted down. She then said, "Kayne, I know you must have many questions for us all and most will be answered. In fact you and Naia are going to stay here with us in this refuge for a few weeks while we attempt to finish your training before we send you out into time on your quest. Once you leave our shelter none but those you find on your own will be able to help you. So, we’ll do our best to give you what knowledge and strength we can. But first! It has been many years since a sea blade has returned to us. I speak of the dagger that was bound to you so many years ago. I and the great hero Dryus, who is frozen in time, were its creators. May I see the blade?” Unsure for a moment Kayne, reluctantly drew the long knife from behind his back and placed it in her outstretched hand.

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She handled the small blade between her large fingers a moment and then gently pushed back her chair. Walking around the room she stood before the small table on the deus. By this time the sun had almost completely hidden itself behind the hill surrounding the lagoon. Laying the blade flat across her hands she then examined it from top to bottom. She squinted at a spot near the hilt and then waved one hand over the spot causing a blue seal to show momentarily and then gently blew on it. The blade glowed blue the way it had only done when Kayne held it. Even the tiny hand print of his infant self shown on the blade near the guard. With this Taras nodded her head once in affirmation and said, “Good Kayne the blade has begun to truly bond with you.”

After stating this she held the hilt in one hand and laid her other along the blade looking down the edge. Blue sparks burst from it and it changed size and shape to something more likely to be wielded by someone of her stature. Kanye's eyes went wide. In fact everyone in the room was enraptured by what was happening. She began taking sword stances flowing from one to the next. Every few poses the blade would shift from one form to a new one. Slipping between forms the woman gained speed and flow showing grace and poise with the weapon. It switched between so many Kayne almost couldn’t keep up but every time it did he tried to memorize its shape. Finally she went into a motion that blurred the blade and came to a halting rest with a long three pointed halberd in her hands. The room filled with awe inspired applause. All Kayne could do was stare. She gave the polearm a spin around her head and it shifted back into its dagger form, then she bowed and walked back to her seat.

Handing the blade back to him, she watched the way it glowed with power when he touched it again. “Some day Kayne, you will be able to form that blade into any shape you need at will.” Taras told him with a nod of her head. And like that, with no prompting at all, the room returned to its feasting. Kayne sat there staring at the blade in amazement for a moment until Kismet gruffly patted him on the shoulder telling some sort of story about him as a child. This snapped him back to reality and he tentatively took another sip of the drink he’d choked on before. Ready for it this time he found the strong liquid to warm his insides pleasantly.

After gaining some liquid courage he addressed Taras saying, “M-maam? You… made my blade?” Glancing back at him she replied, “That’s right young man. But I didn’t do it alone. The hero Dryus helped me with that one along with his own.” “But why? How could I be so important? I’m nothing special. I’m not even any good at magic. What help can I be against monsters and assassins?” Kayne continued to ask. With a hearty chuckle, Taras looked down her nose at him. “Kayne my dear. There is great power inside you that has yet to awaken. And yet some you do not realize is already stirring within you.” She said with a gleam in her eye. “Are you sure? I don’t feel much different.” Kayne said. She sipped on her drink and nodded slightly then set it down and replied, “Since you’ve been here, I’ve already seen a spectacular display of what you’re capable of. And if what the good captain there said is to be understood, you’ve already got an intuitive skill with that blade.”

She then said, “Speaking of your blade, have you considered a name for it? It was created specifically for you because of a prophecy brought to us by Silara, greatest seer of the Piscalians.” Kayne looked thoughtful and considered what she had just said. “I’m not sure. I’ve only sparred with it the once. And everyone keeps telling me about the prophecies made by Silara but no one seems to know what I’m supposed to do. Is there any more you can tell me? Or about myself, for that matter?” Again she chuckled. “I met Silara only the one time. Such a mysterious and powerful woman. So much of what minor successes we can claim are due to her foresight. She was often free with describing her visions, however it always seemed so calm and calculated. I asked her about it when I met her and what she told me I’d never forget.

She told me that everyone could know only what they would need to in order to allow you to save the world. If she told the wrong person too much you would never grow into the man you must become.” Upon hearing this Kayne felt frustrated and sat there looking contemplative. “Don’t you worry boy. Over the next couple weeks we’ll teach you whatever we can to help you along your way. But it will be just a start compared with the growth you’ll find on your own.” Speaking up a bit, she turned towards Naia. “The same goes for you young miss. You’ve got some big shoes to fill and I think we’ll need to make you a suitable weapon to get you on your way.”

Naia heard this and perked up to the conversation, eyes full of wonder, and said, “Really?! You mean it? But I heard you no longer make weapons.” Taras nodded once and replied, “Really, you should have the twin bladed swallow I made for Silara but we have no idea where that legendary weapon ended up. I think it was lost to the shattering of time like our great heroes.”

Kayne had drifted out of the conversation for a while partially due to the effect of the drink and part his contemplation on the revelations. But hearing the part about Silara’s lost weapon had triggered something in a memory for him. The dream he had when they’d all been rendered unconscious. Trying to think back to what he’d seen he asked, “Taras… what did the weapon look like exactly? I can’t say I’ve ever seen a weapon called a swallow.” She momentarily searched around for something to write with when out of nowhere Kismet produced from inside one of his many pockets a quill and parchment. Taking another moment or two of digging through his pockets he found a sealed jar of ink which he passed along as well. The three all looked at Kismet with quizzical surprise. He just shrugged his shoulders and gave a wry grin under his thick beard. The three of them all laughed at this. “Apparently we’re going to have to change your title to ‘the bard of many pockets!’” Taras said and chuckled to herself.

Taking the quill she began to sketch out a long symmetrical staff like weapon. On each end was a somewhat triangular blade looking section that opposed each other facing separate directions. Watching her draw the two were both very intrigued. “This is a rough idea of what her blade, Regnbogi, looked like. I made another somewhat similar for the Piscalian King though I believe his son has it now. Its twin blades glistened with the same iridescent color that Kaynes does. The material I used comes from a prehistoric mollusc. The shell was found deep at the bottom of this lagoon and we’ve not seen another like it since. Unfortunately I used the last of it to make that dagger.” At this admonishment Naias face fell a little. Naia then said, “So you’d not be able to make me another?”

Taras frowned and said, “Not unless you found me more of that shell. But for now I’ll be able to make you a sufficient weapon out of some mythril and a few wind and sea gems. It won’t be as infallible as Regnbogi but I think you’ll still find my runeforging skills more than adequate. I am the legendary smithy after all.” She gave a grin and a wink clearly sure of her own ability.

“Kayne. Why ask what it looked like.” Naia said looking past Taras at him. “Well, remember how I told you my eye had been acting strange?” said Kayne. She nodded and Taras looked terribly interested all of the sudden. “Well that’s not all that’s been going on. When we accidentally slipped into that fog that made us sleep I had two very real feeling dreams. Both were places I’ve never been before. In fact I don’t think I could have imagined something so strange yet realistic.” Rubbing his temples he went on explaining. “In one of the dreams I thought I saw a blade similar to my own. I wasn’t even sure it was a weapon at the time but I think it looked exactly like what you just drew except in two pieces. There was also a glowing blue orb that I felt a strong draw towards that I couldn’t explain.” Wide eyed Taras stared directly at Kayne making him feel uncomfortable then said, “Kayne. I need you to explain everything you can in detail about this dream.” He spent the rest of the evening detailing the strange vision to the Alkin woman.

The next day Gren came and woke them from their small hut where they slept and brought them to the beach near the waterfall where he left them to wait for Taras. Kismet on the other hand was allowed to sleep in and he did so with a heavy snore. As they sat there they watched the waves wash up on shore for a while. As they did they noticed that the crew of the Yukishan were hard at work loading and unloading cargo. “Looks like they’re leaving, Kayne.” said Naia. “I guess you’re right. I suppose this was a bit out of their way and they are a cargo ship. I wonder where they’re headed.” Kayne said. “No idea,” Naia replied.

Before they could consider the matter any further Taras strode up wearing her usual heavy leather aprons and smithing tools hanging from pouches and loops all over. She stood in front of them hands outstretched handing them each a fluffy pastry. Without realizing how hungry they were already the two of them tore into the food happily.

Mouths obviously, full Taras looked them both over and said, “Alright you two now the hard work begins.” They looked at each other wondering what they had gotten themselves into. “Over on the dock there’s a few crates. Ones got the ore we need. The two of you need to bring that one over here. But before that we’re going to need to build a fire and heat the forge. There’s the wood. There’s the forge. Over the next several hours you two need to build it up. You’ll take turns adding wood and cranking the pump for the bellows.” They both looked at each other and must’ve had the same thought because a split second later she chimed in again. “And no magic!”

They both began moving and stacking wood. When it got to a sufficient sized pile Taras came by and lit it for them. She showed them the mechanism for pumping the bellows and they got to it. At one point during their progress they felt the fire could be left unattended for a few minutes so they gathered the required metal from the dock. While doing so folk around the village went about their usual activities and they spotted Kismet sitting on the deus of the main hall smoking a pipe while reading a thick tome of some sort. Naia made a note to ask him about it later. When they got back they found Taras standing there holding a few wooden staves and a strange looking curved bone sitting on a table near the forge. “You’ll need to stoke this a bit more but I think we’re almost there.” Kayne immediately went to the bellows and continued pumping it, sweat dripping down his forehead.

Taras then said, “While Kayne pumps that bellows you and I will train with the staves. You’re going to need to learn to use the new weapon proficiently. If you notice the ends of these are painted. That, will be the sharp ends of your new weapon.” She then proceeded through several stances as the two watched her smoothly move through what she called the first form. She finished and asked Naia to join her. They repeated through the forms until Naia could perform them smoothly on her own without guidance.

When she reached this point she switched with Kayne at Taras’ behest. “Your turn Kayne. Train the body, train the mind. Our session will be a little different. Your blade can change into anything you set your mind to. And that is exactly it. If your emotions are volatile or uncontrolled it may turn into something you don’t need or want. So draw your sword and simply follow me through these forms to begin with.” Taras said. They were short and simple.

Once he’d gotten the sequence down fairly quickly she picked up a long thin switch and said, “Ok, now focus on an image of a standard cavalry sword. Not too long. Not too heavy.” He did so and the blade formed into what she had requested after a short amount of willing it to do so. “Now, your goal is to hold that sword form while performing the sequence I just taught you.” He slowly did so while maintaining the sword’s shape.

“Great now I’m going to ‘distract’ you. Maintain focus and your emotions. Feel the form and remain tranquil as you do it.” He began going through the motions again when all of the sudden he felt a sharp crack on the back of one of his legs. He yelped and the blade slipped from its form. “Take the shape once again and focus. You cannot lose your tranquility during a fight. Your life may depend on it.” Taras barked at him.

He shook it off and resumed the form. She struck him again and the sword waivered. He refocused and continued until mid way through an overhead swing she cracked him in the face. Feeling the hot pain on his cheek he followed through with the stroke angrily with a shout. As he did so the angry red wicked form of the sword showed itself once again. Taras saw this and called for a halt. “Stop! Sheath your blade. Sit and meditate. Regain your composure! Sit like that until it’s your turn to pump again. She watched him for a moment and then went to the forge and loaded some of the mythril ore into a crucible. Taking some long tongs she lifted it and set it into the forge adjusted it slightly and then nodded.

At some point Taras had them switch and taught another form to Naia. Once Naia was working through the form effectively Taras wandered off. Naia practiced the form several times only taking a short break to drink some water and provide Kayne some as well. Taras wandered back over, checked the fire, and then called them both to her. She handed them a plate of some fish and rice dish that they both hungrily ate. It had become evening before they noticed. They both only realized how hungry they were once the plates were in their hands. “Taras?” Naia asked. “What was it we ate this morning. It seemed like we would never feel hunger again. And while the work was hard I felt no lack of strength.”

She looked at them knowingly and said, “It’s a famous magical food we Alkins favor. While it takes magic to make which in turn depletes our mana and bodily energy it goes a long way when you need to get work done so long as you make it beforehand and allow your mana to regenerate. We call it hamiao.” They both nodded listening intently. After finishing their dinner she handed them both another piece of hamiao and said, “Don’t eat those both right now you’ll be taking shifts overnight keeping the fire going. It won’t keep you awake when you eat it but when you wake for a shift you won’t feel nearly as groggy. Guards watching the five great bastions surrounding the Solumn desert have relied on it for many years when the attacks increase.”

Turning to the table she had two more things for them. One she handed Kayne and the other, the odd shaped bone, she handed Naia. “After hearing your story last night it reminded me of something.” Taras told them. He looked at the book and it was written in his own language. The title read ‘A brief history of ancient Piscalians.’ “Piscalians? Wouldn’t this be of more interest to Naia?” Kayne said after reading the title. “While I’m sure Naia would find a history of her own people interesting she may already know of it. If not you’re, of course, welcome to read through it as well Naia. But, I believe you’ll find it a helpful guide for when you two depart here.” He turned it over in his hands and flipped to a random page where a picture of an ancient much more dragon-like Piscalian figure was drawn in intricate details.

Naia looked down at the odd, she guessed it was fish, bone in her hand and asked, “And what about me? What is this bone for?” Taras pulled out a roll of grey woven string, a small sharp knife, and some sort of thin rope with markings on it. “You and I are going to measure you and begin preparing that bone as the shaft of your swallow. This…” She raised the grey-green string. “...Is string braided from the hairs of the Grandaitu. Kindel spend many moons crafting it. You won’t find a better rope or string in all of Sacalia. The sky people are masters of their craft.” She set down the other items took the bone and began using the measuring rope and knife to measure segments of her arms and legs and shoulders. As she went Taras made marks on the bone. “Kayne, please tend to the fire. We can’t let that metal cool even for a moment until morning when we pour out the forms.”

He got right to it. Pumping away at the bellows sweat almost immediately began pouring down his forehead again. After a while Taras finished what she and Naia were doing and let her take over for a while. She instructed him to either read, rest, or meditate. Throughout the night they continued to alternate and rest on a cot one of them had dragged out to the beach forge so they could be nearby when it was their turn to tend the fire.

It was a long night and Kayne got a little reading done on the Piscalian book by the light of the forge. And to their delight they had the added benefit that the forge also kept them plenty warm through the night. Midway through the night somewhere near midnight as the brilliant full moon and a half loomed over they both ate their hamaio to help them through the night. While loading some firewood into the forge Kayne just stood there mesmerized by the two moons. He remembered reading something about how at different places in Sacalia the second moon could be seen more clearly in relation to the first. He counted himself lucky that night as he was getting a spectacular view of each.

He quietly sat and whispered a prayer to the goddess Lumiara which triggered a memory of the night before. Naia's mother's ship was named for that goddess. He made a mental note to ask her about that later and moved on with adding to the fire. The rest of the night went on and in the morning Taras returned during one of Naias shifts so Kayne woke near the fire to the sound of the two of them chatting and laughing about something as Taras did something in the forge with a set of tools. Pulling the crucible out for a moment Taras looked at it and thoroughly examined the molten metal contents and whispered to herself, “Well that’s a new one…” She replaced the crucible and told them to continue. She pulled out a small leather bound notebook from her apron and sat there looking over her own notes tapping her chin. Finally she pulled out a quill and made a few entries then said, “I’ll get us all some breakfast. Kayne, continue with the flames. Naia practice your forms.”