"Aye, Ah can hammer one out," Kierk says.
"Thank you Kierk. How much will that cost?"
"It'll be a hundred gold," the dwarf tells Drago.
Harakhty listens to the conversation about the swords. Implements of war - not exactly what I'd have expected to be focused on years ago. The simian glanced about Kierk's shop, the various weapons and armor about.
Direct confrontation is inevitable here. It is good they are prepared. But such was not Harakhty's path. He took a much quieter, swifter approach - the heavy implements would only weigh him down. At range, he could afford the cumbersome mechanism strapped to his back, but he still preferred the prototype under his robe's sleeve. [/i]Yet against these necromancies? Who knows.[/i] If anything, it was magic, not weapons, that would be more useful. Sadhana and Drago seemed quite talented in that regard.
"It is good to hear your steel is plenty. It would be doubly powerful if enhanced with magic though. I am sure there are some about who would aid you with this, though such magic is beyond my ability." A bit ignorant of the process, Harakhty knew simply blade's like Sadhanas would keep this place alive much easier.
Handing over the hundred gold, Drago said, "Here you go Kierk, I'll come pick it up after we get back. Once again, thank you."
"With this much metal, it'd be better to get some warning bells around town," Kierk says to Harakhty. "A lot o' time's lost runnin' about."
"Now that's a great idea, especially coupled with a watchtower, it would make a huge difference to the time it takse to respond in an emergency." Sādhanā agrees emphatically.
Sitting in the shade of a nearby tree, Arista just smiles as she listens to all of them talk about different things. She finds the idea of warning bells particularly interesting. Nodding at Sadhana she smiles, "Yes...with everything that's happened, a little advance warning could do a world of good for this town. It will be interesting to see what changes will be made, and how different everything will look once we get back."
"Hopefully, some things will remain th' same," Kierk says with a grin.
Looking at the Dwarf and others Arista smiles, "Oh...I'm sure some things will never change." She gets up and dusts herself off while chuckling softly to herself.
Addressing the rest of the group she looks at them and then at Kierk, "I think while you're having them work on my sword and shield I'm gonna head over to Michael's to see about selling this Lance thingy. We don't need to carry too much stuff with us. I pretty much got everything together that I need, or might need."
She shrugs as she smiles at them, "I'll be back, that is...unless anyone wants to go with me? I didn't know if any of you were needing to see him for anything? Better to talk to him as one unit instead bothering him constantly as individuals."
The seven Hospitallers greet Alethiro and Clara and show them around the little bungalow. The de facto leader, Magda, presents the blueprints to the paladin and cleric, showing them the simple structure they are aiming for. Given that their spouses are leaving today, the Hospitallers kindly urge the two to go see to them before they depart.
Clara nods. "Yes, it'd be best to see Sādhanā and Arista off. Who knows when we'll see them again."
She smiles, a bit of sadness and regret in the gesture. She walks with Alethiro, lost in thought.
"Sooner than we think. I hope." Alethiro replied.
" That makes a lot of sense, having us knocking onhis door every twenty minutes could be annoying."Sādhanā says with a chuckle. "I'll come along."
Arista smiles at her then looks around at the others, "Alright, we're headed out then. If anyone else wishes to come they may, otherwise we'll all meet up outside the fort in about an hour or two." She turns and walks with Sadhana to Michael's house.
Clara gestures at Arista and Sādhanā heading for Michael's. "Who is to say? We can hope for the best, but here...in Zahvroma...I expect the worst."
Kierk takes Drago's coins. "Ah'll have that ready fer when ye return."
Seeing Clara and Alethiro, Sādhanā lights up. "Looks like they're day ended early."
Clara rushes toward her wife. "The Hospitallers decided we should start tomorrow since you haven't left yet. So where are you headed to now, love?"
Smiling Arista nods at Sadhana as she watches Clara rush forward. She looks towards Alethiro, a slight blush upon her cheeks.
Taking Clara into her arms, Sādhanā breaks into a beaming smile looking into her wife's eyes. "Yay." she says quietly.
"We're heading to Micheal's to see if there's any last minute magical items we need and to unload this lance that nobody really needs considering that until yesterday Cyna's was the only horse in town."
"Is there anything we might need to grab before we leave?" Cyna asks Yhlrea and Sienna.
"Got food, got bedding, I think we're good," Sienna says. "Maybe a...never mind..."
She shakes her head. "Still fighting to say sober..."
"Don't worry about it too much. Quitting cold is difficult but I hear it gets easier with time. And I'm here to help as well." Cyna reassures her demon-blooded companion.
Sienna nods and smiles. "I couldn't do it without you."
Seeing Alethiro just standing there Arista sighs and walks up to him, "So, how does it look? I'm sure the hospittalers have some major plans for their building." She looks in his eyes for a moment while caressing his cheek with one of her hands. "Is everything alright my Love? You seem...a little quiet."
"Sure you could. You can do anything." Cyna says earnestly.
Taking hold of her hand, "It's just...I want to go with you, but I'm needed here. I love you with all my soul. Please come back to me safe." Leaning in, he kissed her lovingly.
Returning his kiss with all the passion that she dared show in public, she puts her arms around him in a tight hug. "I know you do...but, you are needed here more, and that's okay. I love you with all my heart as well, and I promise I'll come back to you, I'll always come back to you."
Clara squeezes her wife's hand. "So where are you off to now?"
Sienna smiles. "Maybe, but I was lost for so long...I don't think I could have found my way back alone."
"Hmm...well we're all meeting ouside the fort in two hours so just thinking of anything last minute things I need to do or get. Since we have some time is there anything you'd like to do my love"Sādhanā asks.
"As long as I'm with you, I'm fine."
"I feel the same way love, I cherish every second." she says with a smile. "I promise we'll be back as soon as possible. Do you want to take a walk on the beach? a DAYLIT walk this time?"
"Well, I'll let you and Arista do whatever it was you were going to do and then we can go to the beach," Clara says with a chuckle.
"All right love."
Alethiro just held Arista, not wanting to let go. "I know you will, but that doesn't stop me from worrying." If she could see his face, she would also see the tears he was holding back.
Letting him hold her she lightly caresses his back as she holds him. She has already cried so much, she didn't want him to know how much her heart ached at the thought of being so far away from him. Summoning all of her courage and willing her voice to stay strong she whispers in his ear, "Shhh...my love, my light, my everything....I know you worry about my safety, as I worry about yours. Even in this town, with everything that's happened I am still nervous about leaving you. Our faith demands that we do our very best for the people though mo cheann chothaímid, and that is what we shall do." She loosens her grip on him slightly so she can step back to look into his eyes, after taking a steadying breath she continues as she lovingly strokes his face with her hand, "You will do that here with Clara and the other Hospitallers, and I will do that with Sadhana and the others as we reclaim the tower and the ability to further protect this land from evil and corruption. It is admirable to have faith in our deities, it is good to have faith in each other....but, we also have to have faith and trust in those around us to help us as we help them. Our deities and our friends will not abandon us, nor forsake us in our time of need. Everything will be okay, and our time apart will make our reunion that much sweeter. I love you so very much....so much." She stops and embraces him again tightly, holding him for a couple more minutes before composing herself again. Stepping back slightly she kisses him and then looks into his eyes once more. There is love, joy, faith, and a conviction in her eyes and words that can not be denied.
"I'll make you a deal. Come with us to Michaels and then we can do whatever you want....maybe even take a bath? No telling when I'll get to have another warm one again." She laughs lightly then as she takes him by the hand.
Looking back at Sadhana and Clara she asks, "So, shall we get over to Michaels then? Let's get things wrapped up so we can spend some time with the ones we cherish. I already have all my stuff ready to go, save for my sword and shield that Kierk's apprentices are working on for me."
"That sounds like the perfect plan to me." Sādhanā says with a smile
The group reaches Michael's home, the wizard sitting outside. A thick tome sits in his lap as he looks up and smiles at the couples. "Still haven't left yet?"
"Nah...we have Kierk working on some weapons and things. We want to make sure we as well as our equipment is at the top of it's game. We are all meeting over in front of the fort in about two hours to leave, but I wanted to bring this Lance to you to see if you would be interested in taking it? None of us have any use for it."
"Well, it's magical properties are always of interest, but I have little use for weapons. Still...I'll buy it from you. There's always a market for things like this," Michael says, standing up. "Come inside and I'll get you a fair payment."
He goes over to a chest and begins counting out coins. "If this keeps up, I may have to have Niel's become a trader on my behalf. Here we are."
Michael hands Arista a pouch filled with three thousand six hundred and fifty seven gold coins. Then he hands her five silver pieces. "That should cover it."
Arista's eyes go wide as the amount is counted out, she stammers for a bit before coming back to her senses, "I...I...just...wow. Okay, that's quite a bit more than I thought it would be....now, the question is how do we store all this money. I was planning on putting it aside as our groups funds....but we can't carry such a large amount with us." She looks at Michael and then around at the others, "Does anyone have any ideas?"
Sienna smiles. "Maybe, but I was lost for so long...I don't think I could have found my way back alone."
"I felt that way as a child, lost. I was lucky enough to find someone kind enough to care for me. Closest thing to a parent i'd ever know."
Sienna puts an arm around Cyna's waist. "I understand. Do you have enough arrows for this trip?"
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