The not-immortal Blacksmith

Gurakzar, Dwarven Kingdom of Hasandri.

5th of Anael, First month of Snow.

2290 years since the New Gods came.

Morning.

War. Just the present that I didn't want, and don't need. So much for a honeymoon. I hate the Fae. Well, Brandy is mostly okay Wonderful! but the rest of them can just hang. Yup!

Why did the newest Demon Lord, fat guy, declare war on me too? He can't believe that I'm that much of a threat, can he? I'm just one guy...with three heroes...and a Fae who is the daughter of the youngest Fae queen... Shit. I'm the leader of a Heroes group. Shit, shit, shit. Now all I need is some cul...SHIT!

Our impromptu war council of last night brought about not much progress, outside of drunken promises of help and mutual support. This afternoon will be an actual war council. Have I ever mentioned here how much I hate politics?

5th of Anael, Evening.

Most everyone was hung over. Not a lot of shouting thanks to that. Willa's apprentice, a nice kid, was arrested for looting the corpse of the kings messenger. A lot of cheek on that boy. He'll be working for me until his 'debt to society' is paid off. I figure that will be around the end of the war. Kids need to learn that rule number one of crime is 'Don't get caught'.

A mutual defense treaty was written up by the kings and ambassadors in attendance. A copy has been sent via the Demonia Gate to the kingdoms that may be impacted. I made sure a copy went to the Gnolls, and what remains of the Goblin and Orc kingdom.

It has been decided that Demonia will be the jumping off point for our group of heroes. Bri has demanded to come along. More stubborn than her mother. I smile about that. Anna and the elvish king have departed for home. It is getting quiet around here, thank the...screw them.

We depart for Demonia in a week. With the gate network we can afford to wait that long. Open some presents. Have some time to our selves...

-

“What do you mean, arrested?” The boy said. “I haven't nicked nothing from nobody!”

“We have several witnesses saying that you were dallying around the courier's corpse at the wedding.” A very stern guard replied. “That being the case, you are under arrest for stealing, molesting a corpse, and sneaking into a formal affair.”

“What? I was invited by The Max himself!”

“Your name doesn't exist on the guest list.”

“...Did you look under...plus one?” The boy whispered the last part.

“There are several dozen listings of plus one.”

“I demand council!”

“There is no council for street trash like you.” The guard raised his voice, “You are under arrest in the name of the king! Resist, and things will go poorly for you.”

-

Willa Repute stood in the guard house's main room, waiting her turn at the desk. The silly boy had gotten nicked. After robbing a corpse at the wedding. Cheeky bastard. We need to teach him how to make it look like you were trying to check for signs of life.

Finally her turn came, and she stepped up to the sergeants desk, “I'm here to bail out my nephew, Grendel Repute.”

“Oh the cheeky bastard who was caught stealing from a corpse at a state function? Not going to happen.” The desk sergeant replied. “He's in for it. The magistrate is going to be throwing the scrolls at him for this.”

Willa swallowed. This is bad. I'm going to need some help breaking him out... She turned to leave, and almost ran into a dwarf wearing the robes of a magistrate. “Apologies, my lord!”

The dwarf in question looked her up and down, “Didn't I see you at the wedding?”

“Yes, my lord?” Willa felt hope rise in her chest, “I was six seats down from Lord Maxwell. He and I have worked together...on projects...in the past.”

“So the little brat wasn't lying about that...Hmm...Won't due to have his lordship's guest getting hung...” The dwarf walked past the desk, and into the chambers beyond. Both Willa and the sergeant followed him with their eyes.

“Politics. They get in the way of everything.” The desk sergeant finally stated, and Willa absently nodded in agreement.

-

“Yes magistrate, I will take the rat and put him to work. And make him return what was stolen.” Max sighed after shutting off the speaking stone. “Stupid kids.”

-

“I swear that was the truth, Lordships.” A very nervous Grendel sat down next to Willa at the large table the war council was using this afternoon. His nerves were making his hands and knees shake so badly that he had nearly peed himself during the questioning by the kings and generals present. That is until the thought rose in his head, How much could I get from these blokes if I picked their pockets right now? Then he smiled.

8th of Anael,

Plans are being formulated. The documents have been returned, the only ones who didn't sign were the children of Gobb. I am truly impressed with the Gnolls council, as apparently only three of the thirteen held out on the signing, and only came around after a long discussion with someone. If I ever meet that person, I will have to thank them quite a lot.

The Order of the Kitten and Puppy; they were apparently unified after the war; as well as their worg mounts, are undergoing specialized 'anti-demon' training. I expect that the ancient demons from the founding of the kingdom are behind that. A scary lot they will turn out to be.

9th of Anael,

The gate doesn't work. The system got shutdown sometime in the night. No word from Demonia. We leave in the morning. Something is pulling me to go there...I don't know what it is.

*-*-*

“Get the archers to the walls!” General Wainright yelled. “Don't let the blighters have another inch!” He shook hos head. Last night, around midnight an explosion had consumed the gate and stoneboard room. No travel, no communications in or out. The capital of Demonia was under siege. The former demon lord's army had surrounded the city, and had managed to burn the outer town to the ground. No more refugees could make it inside the outer defensive walls, and with the gates out of commission, resupply would be nigh unto impossible. The flying corps was outnumbered more than forty to one, and the sheer number of troops on the ground were nearly uncountable. It would take a miracle to save the city, and so general Wainright did the only thing he could, he prayed that HE would come back.

*-*-*

10th of Anael,

The sky stretches out before us, and the road rises to meet it. Our entourage has foregone the usual wagons and opted for fast mounts. Worgs. We made more than twenty miles today. The pack is happy to be of help. I doubt we will see any bandits on the road. I will almost feel sorry for them if we do.

-

Far past the end of the city, Maxwell let out a low warbling whistle, and waited. Ten minutes later he repeated the call, and waited. Just before a third call was made he heard the response, a howl. He whistled again, and got several responses. He smiled. War called for war mounts, and they now had the best coming to greet them.

-

13th of Anael,

The stupid cat is with us. Nomvula is carrying him on her mount. Stupid lazy thing.

-

Tom Cat, El Gato god king of all he surveyes, watched the countryside stream by. If they had a truck, or even a bicycle, they could go so much faster. Stupid humans and their lack of technology. I should have words with that woman about throttling the technological level she allows. He stretched out on the warm fur of the worg, and slept.

-

Brianna's Journal

13th of Anael,

My...husband. I still can not believe I am married! A dream come true! Maxie said he found writing a journal relaxing, and a good way to order one's mind. Then he gave me this one. Beautiful cream colored leather, with fine paper inside, and a lock with only one key. “To keep it safe from prying eyes” he said, while staring at Brandywine.

Brandy has been a boon companion to me almost since I arrived. Sure, there were some tense moments in the beginning, but one day she seemed to just get over them. I believe she has some sort of designes on my husband, but...He is mine now. And the Fae live until they are killed or decide to fade away, so even after I am gone, she may find a way to fulfill her wishes. We played a prank on Maxie yesterday. Used dirt in place of his coffee grounds. It was terrific fun. He yelled obscenities that would make father's guards blush, at Brandy until I started laughing. Then he said something along the lines of “Great. Two of them now.” It will bring a smile to my face for many years to come, I am sure.

On to real world things. My dowry contains everything I need to set up a household, whenever we decide to settle down for a hundred years or so. I don't believe Maxie will do so until the current crisis is over, and that may take several years to overcome. Accounts wise we are stable on my end. Then I spoke to Brandy, in confidence, about Maxie's finances. She laughed. A full on unladylike belly laugh that lasted for almost two full minutes, before she got the hiccups. Poor girl. Apparently I am supposed to ask Maxie about what is in his old trunk. Come to think about it, while drinking one night, Brandy did mention something about a buried treasure 'hoard' of Maxie's that would make any four dragons jealous. I will ask tomorrow about family finances.

Traveling by worg is so much more comfortable than by horse. I could get used to this. The miles and time just seem to flow by. Maxie has been very sweet since the wedding, but I fear he has mixed feelings about the whole affair. We are not in love, but I feel like we are getting there...