Page #18

When daylight finally broke through the storm the next morning Kota could no longer stay in his bed. Looking through the pack, Professor Faulk had sent through the warp gate with him, Kota found his Opal lenses packed away carefully. Scotty and Drugen were both working in the fields behind the property clearing away fallen limbs and trees. Kota decided to walk around the village and see what all had changed since the last time he was home. The village had grown considerably not only in size but also in number. When Kota’s ancestors had settled this area sixty years ago there was only a wooden wall separating their homes from the lush jungle surrounding them from three sides. Now the stone walls of the village had almost reached from the mountain at their backs to the valley many miles away. Before Kota had left many of this had been similar but now the walls were fortified and a sentry was posted every few feet. As Kota walked down the paths he heard the familiar clank of a hammer meeting hot metal. Kota quickened his pace to catch his friend Morten a blacksmith’s apprentice. “Morten you bandit what are you still doing here? I thought your last letter said if old Hoggart ever smarted off about you work ethic you were going to join me in Mirage city.”  Kota teased as Morten suddenly stopped hammering and threw the red hot rod into a barrel of water. “You dog I can’t believe you survived that bite everyone in the village was sure you were gonna meet the divine.” Morten said running up to his old friend covered in sweat he wrapped his arms around Kota and pulled him close. “It is good to see you well old friend.” Kota said as he hugged him back. “I need your help Morten I need the help of the best metal smith in the village.” Kota looked at Morten seriously. “Name it my friend if it is in my power I shall provide you with it.” Morten said stepping back from Kota and towards his forge. Kota removed his journal and gave Morten a page. “I need a bronze setting for lenses made to these specifications if you follow the instructions on this sheet to the word I will reward you with two silver pieces.” Morten’s eyes lit up as he began to look over the pages Kota handed him. “I can have them ready in four hours is that okay?” Morten asked as he headed over to his forge to begin. “Do it in three and the first round of drinks is on me tonight.” Kota said as he turned to leave. “You’re on Kota, see you in three hours.”  Kota left and knew with confidence Morten would have the settings ready when he returned. With only two errands left he hurried to the mages guild Earth Movers. The earth mover’s guild was a home for mages on the road it was a place for them to take jobs in town and to lodge during travels. The mage guilds also served as a shop where humans could buy potions and get their mage stone’s charged. As Kota was walking a pain shot through his arm that made him stagger and almost trip. Kota clutched his arm as he sat for a moment. He was more than half-way to the mage guild so he decided to continue. Before long they pain began to ebb away and the stiffness soon dissipated as well.