Chapter 36: Towards the Neverpeaks

We arrived in a field just outside of Cloudmere. Most of us staggered or fell from the disorienting travel. I helped Fay and Dura up, and the others helped each other up.

“Should we grab some supplies in Cloudmere?” Lily asked. I checked my supplies. I had a bit of bread for food, but for weapons I only had the human forged sword from Oceanspell. The dwarven shield and chestplate I’d gotten from Norngrim had been stashed by Don the dwarf, and I had no idea where.

“I think so. I heard Cloudmere has a great dwarven blacksmith!” Ellie remarked.

“Ah, good. I could use a better sword.” I remarked.

“Could I have your current one?” Fay asked, patting the dagger on her hip.

“Yeah, if I can find a new one, it’s yours.” I promised. The elf girl extended a hand.

“Amra.” she introduced herself. I kissed her hand.

“Sebastian.” I replied. She gave me a pleasant smile. The party headed into Cloudmere. Brogan and Dura made a beeline to the tavern, and Amaya reluctantly joined her boyfriend. Ellie and Amra decided to accompany me to the blacksmith, while Fay and Lora went for food, and Sasha and Lily went to secure some horses.

We entered the blacksmith and found they were a dwarf with a thick bush of red hair and a thick red beard.

“Ah, hello! What can I do for ya?” he asked.

“I’m looking for a good sword. Long-lasting and sharp.” I said.

“What’s your price range?” he asked curiously.

“I’m pretty loaded.” I said, thinking back to when Tessa had handed me several bags full of gold coins she’d magicked up.

“How about an aegis blade, then?” the dwarf asked. Ellie gasped.

“A sword made of aegis?” she asked in awe.

“Aegis?” Amra and I asked in unison.

“It’s an extremely rare and powerful dwarven material.” Ellie breathed.

“Sounds good.” I agreed, “Could you also do up a chestplate?”.

“Course. Aegis as well?” he asked. I nodded.

———

The three of us left the forge, after Ellie ordered an aegis axe, and joined Brogan, Amaya, and Dura at the tavern. I kissed the orc woman and sat down. I ordered a drink. The human barkeep nodded and got to work.

“How’d it go?” Dura murmured, her green fingers dancing along my arm.

“Good. I got a sword and chestplate currently in the forge.” I explained. Dura nodded, and Brogan let out a whoop.

“Hail to the barkeep!” he shouted.

“Dude, what the fuck is your deal?” I blurted. Everyone but Brogan and Amaya burst out laughing, and even Amaya was trying to hide a smirk.

———

Hours passed, and the rest of the party wandered in. Fay and Lora came in with several satchels full of food, and I helped the two girls load them onto the horses that Sasha and Lily had prepared.

And then, the part I was most excited about, Ellie and I returned to the forge. The first thing I saw was a chestplate sitting on the counter.

“Damn! Is that mine?” I gaped.

“Yup. You like it?” the dwarf asked with a huge grin.

“Definitely.” I agreed. The dwarf pulled out a sheathed sword and drew it, and I stared in awe.

“Aegis is my new favorite thing.” I mumbled. Ellie was bouncing on her toes, eager to see her aegis axe.

The dwarf pulled out Ellie’s axe, and I thought the dwarf girl was going to faint.

“It’s beautiful.” Ellie said, a tear running down her face.

“So the aegis is the shiny blue stuff?” I checked. The dwarf nodded.

“Aye. Your sword blade’s aegis steel, which isn’t blue, but is a bit lighter.” the dwarf explained. I nodded, and paid for my chestplate and sword, while Ellie paid for her own axe. I lifted the sword.

“Does it have a name?” I asked.

“Kingmaker.” the dwarf grinned. I nodded and strapped the sword onto my back alongside the standard one I’d wielded in Oceanspell.

Now I felt ready for adventure.

———

The next morning, the party could be found astride horses trotting through a plains, while the Neverpeaks loomed. The mountains were still quite far off, but they were enormous mountains.

“How the hell do we get over them?” I asked in awe.

“We don’t. The mountains are impassable.” Amra assured me.

“So how do we stop the Great Evil?” I asked.

“Stop it? Nobody can stop it, not even someone with an aegis sword.” Amra laughed.

“So... what’s the plan?” I asked.

“We seal the wards.” Amra said firmly. Personally, I suspected things would go wrong. But Amra did seem confident. I hoped this would be an easy mission, and I could return to Jess and the twins. Hopefully.

—————

A/N This story has been really enjoyable to write, but I feel like it’s drawing to a close. Chapter 40 will probably be the last chapter, though it could extend a chapter or two more depending on how much story each of the next chapters contains.

But never fear! Ryan’s story will be continuing immediately after Sebastian’s closes. Well, immediately in this book, but 18-ish years will have passed for Ryan.