The not-immortal Blacksmith

Isle of Nash

31st of Kielat, first month of summer,

2138 years since the new gods came.

Master,

I hope that this letter finds you and yours safe and well. I cannot believe that you will be retiring from your position as head of the Trasportational Magic department! I do understand that it has been over 40 years, but I had thought you would keep on forever. I do hope retirement treats you well. Please say hello to Melinda and the children for me.

It has been three years since I found this island. I am still rebuilding the tower. The first floor has been restored, and the magical diagram has consumed all my free time. I believe that I have finally, with the help of the old books I have recovered from around the island, found it's meaning. It is the foundation of a cross dimensional gate! With more study and time, I believe this will provide a basis for my trip home.

In other news, the chickens and sheep like it here, and don't seem to bother the garden much. I occasionally entertain visitors from home, but there isn't that much direct contact with people. I'm glad for that, as seclusion makes for the best study time for me.

Robert

*-*-*

The Island Nation of Nortontia.

Northwest of the eastern continent.

4th of Amsiel, the second month of Summer.

2138 years since the new gods came.

Dearest Robert,

Melinda and the children say hello to you! We are buying a large cottage in the countryside, and getting out of this drafty tower later this week. As you know, my knees don't like the stairs any more. The pains from walking have crept into my lower back now, and the cold stones don't seem to give me the same support that they used to. I believe the change of scenery will be of some help. If nothing else, the fresh country air will be good for my lungs.

I am glad to hear that your tower is coming along nicely. You know how bad the weather can get, so don't forget the insulation, as you don't get the same support from stone that I do. Keep working through those books, and while you are at it, I would bet my left testicle that they contain more hidden depth that you have seen.

What have you done with that hidden door, by the way? There could be anything down there. Anything from treasure, to monsters, to rotted food. I am excited to find out!

Take care of yourself,

Gabe

*-*-*

The Celestial Realm.

50th ish of Kielat, first month of summer,

2138.

Ghondish looked down on the world, and remembered. His friends. His family. Maybe I should look in on that “Maxwell” guy everyone keeps talking about? … Naw. I did him a good turn, not interested any more. The scrying mirror he had been using switched pictures as his 'little sister' walked in and sat on the couch.

“Yo G! I'm gonna see what Max is up to today. The broadcast has a summary episode every few hours of his last week.” Sarah said, lighting a Llama. “Now where is my ashtray?”

“I threw it out after you forgot to dump it last night.”

“Well, thanks. I guess?” Sarah summoned another one. “Sorry about that. I'm still getting my strength back, so I forget sometimes.”

“I know. That's why I'm not mad.” Ghondish sighed. “How much longer do you think it will take?”

“Well, if healing took 10k years...probably another five thousand?” She cocked her head to one side, thinking. “Less if I can muster up a few more followers.”

The summary portion of the program started, and they watched in boredom, until the Russian soldier appeared. “What the ever living?!?!?” Sarah screamed at the screen. “How did that happen?!?”

“I...I don't know?” Ghondish said, startled. “Mil used a gray area of the law for those three spooks, but this is WAY across the line. No one should be able to do this. Unless...”

“Unless what?”

“I...I'll get back to you.” Ghondish fled from the barn.

*-*-*

Max's Dell the Real Western Wilds.

54th of Kielat, first month of summer,

2138 years since the new gods came.

Brandywine, Queen Pixie of all she surveyed, was relaxing on the roof of the cabin, catching some sunlight. She watched as Max showed the still weak 'Ivan of Earth' around the local area. She grabbed a nearby butterfly, and munched down the tasty treat. Hmm, looks like they're going to be at it for a while. I think I'm going to go get me some second, and maybe third, breakfast. She jumped up and let the wind take her to the big woods.

A mouse, three chipmunks, and a large rat later, she stood on top of the tallest redwood, and gazed into the distance. Humans are silly. They can't even 'flatten' out the ground so that they can see over the horizon. Is it lack of magic? Or just not even thinking that it is possible? Maybe I should go back to that stupid school and teach a basic magic class...Naw. Most of them were idiots. Not a new thought in their pint sized minds. She stared for a while longer, then flitted back towards the cabin and Max.

The pair of humans were talking. Again. Blah blah blah. War war. Blah blah blah. She made up the words, not even trying to actually listed. Oh, a Jay! I hate those loud things! She took off after it, divebombing from above, and cutting in and out of it's flight path until it fled from the dell. She shook her little fist at it, yelling “If you come back again, I will eat you and the rest of your nest!” She smiled.

She hovered for a while, surveying the land, then let the wind gently float he to where Dog was tending the sheep and goats. “Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy? You are!” She greeted him. Dog danced around, understanding nothing but the 'good boy' part. When a wayward lamb started wandering off from the flock, he jumped after it, and chased it back to mama.

Flock and Dog inspected, she took off to look in on the old grizly bear. Old bear was happily munching on a carcass of some type. Brandy checked in with him for a minute; cant get too friendly, or he will keep her talking for hours; made sure the lice and fleas were still gone, and departed for the empty cave. A cave, that behind a false wall, had some gold, and a tunnel in it. She hadn't gone exploring yet. Maybe another day. She just wanted to make sure it hadn't been disturbed. It hadn't.

*-*-*

The Celestial Realm.

55th ish of Kielat, first month of summer,

2138.

Ghondish had run to the forest. Deep into the forest. Unlocked an ancient gate in a hedge, and stepped into an ancient temple. The temple took him to a much deeper, brighter place. A place he hadn't set foot in since the fateful day they had all left. Even the eldest of the young gods didn't remember this place; he had made sure of that.

He stepped out from the temple, knelt, and asked, “What in the mother's name have you done?”

There was no reply.

A shadow fell over Genha, and he felt a change in the atmosphere, a change in the depths of his being. He didn't turn around. He Knew this presence. This shadow. In his mind he heard the words, the ancient, antediluvian words.

“I DID THIS. IT IS IN MY DOMAIN. FIX IT.”

And it was gone.

Genha ran. He didn't even stop to lock the gate, he just slammed it. He hid in the barn's sub basement, and trembled in fear.

- - -

Narissa was in a panic. A soldier? Who had broken the rule? That rule? The Cat? No, he lacked the power, and the knowledge. Maximilian? No, he knew better, even with that stunt a while back, he also lacked the power. Who had done it? Who?

And the letter. Only the old Gods had know her full name and title. They were all gone, except Ghondish, and his power was chained. Kocha had seen to that. So not Ghondish, well the letter maybe, but he wouldn't stoop that low for a prank. No one resorted to that level of command. Net even her. Not even when the council was fighting each other. No, the order came from elsewhere...

- - -

Ghondish, slightly drunk from his sisters stash, answered the knock on the barn door. Narissa stood there, disheveled, red eyed, and tears streaking her usually perfect guise. “We need to talk.”

Moments later they were ensconced in the library, freshly cleaned from the other nights gaming session. Narissa started, “I got a letter, addressed with my full name and title, in the old script. Telling me to 'fix it'. That was it. Just the two words.”

Ghondish blanched. “I just saw the broadcast, a short while ago. I know for a fact that No One from here can break that law. At least not with the power they currently control.”

“You know that for certain?”

“Just because you lot caused me to loose most of my power doesn't mean that I lost my knowledge. I have millennia on you. Even if you added all of your real ages together, I am far OLDER.” Ghondish replied, a slight amount of annoyance may have slipped through his internal filters. “I have the knowledge to enact the ritual, all of 'us' do, but I lack the power. Even back then I lacked the power.”

“Then what happened?”

“Well...Either a mortal got his hands on a copy of the book that Knowledge has in her keeping, and ritually killed thousands of people; or... Or something else happened. There have been incidents.”

“What kind of incidents?”

“The kind that I can't tell you about. The kind that...the less said, the better.”

“As the head of the council of gods, I Compel you to tell me.”

Ghondish twitched for a moment, then started to laugh. “You? You?” He chortled for a moment, then recovered, “You think you can compel me?” He fell out of his chair, laughing, and pounded his front hooves on the floor. Finally he looked up at the very serious, very angry, face of Narissa. “Oh. Oh, you were serious.”

He climbed back into his chair, poured them both a triple shot of Bjorn's special stock, the stuff even Maxwell can't have more than a couple drops of*. He began to speak.

- - -

Three hours had passed. Narissa threw up again, not from the booze, it had been Quite good. No, she threw up from what Ghondish had seen, back when the troubles had begun, what had caused the protocols that he must fulfill, to be put in place. And now she knew. She Knew what he was. And that he had Always been pretending.

*Brandywine could actually survive a quarter shot of the stuff. Any more than that, and she needed to be resuscitated.