Jenmamuh led Ontrose to a small building with a simple-looking door, its appearance unassuming. "I ain't fixin' to be yer gardener," he said, his voice gruff, a hint of suspicion in his tone.
Jenmamuh looked at the dwarf, then back to the building, realizing that it did resemble a gardening shed with its deceptive exterior. "There's more than meets the eye," he said, amusement in his voice. He opened the door, revealing the hallway lined with doors, its appearance much grander than the building's exterior suggested.
Ontrose stared for a moment, recognizing this as the hallway that he had emerged into this morning when he woke, his earlier suspicion quickly returning. He followed along, keeping his comments silent as they passed doors down the hallway, his gaze fixed on Jenmamuh. He counted twenty three doors before they stopped in front of one, its wood a dark oak. Jenmamuh opened it and motioned Ontrose in, his expression unreadable.
Coralee led Katava through the back of the dining area, their fingers intertwined. Her good mood was infectious, the grin never leaving Katava's face as they walked. Katava listened intently as Coralee explained what she did in the kitchen, her words painting vivid pictures of culinary creations in Katava's mind. It was a world of flavors and aromas she had only dreamed of.
When they entered, Katava was amazed. This single kitchen was almost the size of all of the Ironhammer kitchens put together, a vast space filled with gleaming counters, polished copper pots, and an array of unfamiliar tools that were all at the ready. A massive, roaring hearth dominated one wall, its flames licking at the soot-blackened stone. "How is this possible?" She asked in awe, her voice barely a whisper.
"It's magic," Coralee explained, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "But instead of coming from the world, it comes from you," she added, her voice hinting at a deeper understanding. "Maybe he'll tell the story of how he got this place."
"Story?" Katava asked.
Coralee nodded. "He likes to hold bonfires in the courtyard by the dragon statue. He tells all kinds of stories. I don't know if they're all true, but they are certainly interesting."
Katava looked at the elf curiously for a moment, her brow furrowed in thought, before her mind strayed to a different subject. "Do ye stay in one of them tiny rooms too?"
Coralee looked at her, confused. "Tiny rooms? It wasn't exactly what you wanted?"
"It was ok I guess. Wasn't nothin' special," Katava replied, her tone nonchalant. "Guess it kind of reminded me of the rooms back home."
Coralee wore the confused expression a moment longer before her eyes widened in recognition. "The wine," she exclaimed softly. "Come on, follow me," she said, taking Katava's hand again. She led her once again through the dining area and back to the courtyard in silence, her own excitement visible on her face. She took her to the small building that contained the massive hallway, only a few feet wide, its exterior unassuming with a simple wooden door.
As they entered, they saw Ontrose and Jenmamuh disappear into a doorway further down the hall, the light from the room vanishing in the hallway as the door closed.
Coralee turned to Katava. "Do you remember what room you had?" She shook her head, staring at the now empty hallway, her expression thoughtful. "Just as well. Alright, let's find an empty one," she said, her voice decisive.
"How do ye know they're empty?" She asked, her curiosity piqued.
Coralee chuckled, a light, melodic sound. "It won't have a knob on it," she explained, pointing to the doors lining the hallway.
Katava examined the doors closer, realizing that some indeed did not have knobs on the outside, their surfaces smooth and featureless. She shook her head, a smile touching her lips. "This is quite the place," she murmured, her voice filled with wonder.
Now the elf laughed, the sound ringing in Katava's ears, a warm, inviting sound. "Sweety, you haven't seen anything yet," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Ontrose's eyes grew wide, his jaw dropping slightly. Inside was a weapons stash that would rival a dwarven king's. A dazzling array of weaponry lined the walls, their surfaces gleaming in the soft light. Swords with hilts of gold, hammers of dark, polished metal, and axes with blades of obsidian were all displayed on velvet-lined stands.
Jenmamuh didn't speak until Ontrose returned his attention to him, his gaze shifting from the weapons to the human. "I'd like you to pick out anything in here that you like," he said, his voice calm. "If anything feels like it calls to you, please let me know first," he added, his gaze meeting Ontrose's.
"Yer armin' me?" He asked suspiciously, his earlier thoughts returning. Jenmamuh nodded, his expression still unreadable. "Why?"
Jenmamuh paused for a moment before answering, his gaze shifting to the weapons lining the walls. "I noticed you left your mighty axe behind," he said bluntly. "I figured it was only gentlemanly to replace it," he added. Ontrose still eyed the human warily, his earlier awe replaced with mistrust. "Think of it as...assistance protecting Katava," he added.
Ontrose regarded the man for another moment before he nodded, his suspicion momentarily abated. "Fine. I'll accept yer offer and reasonin' for now," he said, his voice gruff. "So what have ye got here?" His voice betrayed his words, as Jenmamuh could hear a spark of interest in his tone. He started down a row of weapons, his eyes taking in more of the weaponry displayed along the wall, his gaze lingering on each piece.
"A few lifetimes of collecting," he said under his breath, his voice barely audible, as he followed the dwarf, his gaze fixed on Ontrose.
Jenmamuh watched intently as Ontrose would pick up a sword or hammer, testing their weight and balance, his movements deliberate as he tested each weapon. He would answer questions as they came, his voice patient, but otherwise, he remained silent as the dwarf inspected the weapons with a dwarven craftsman's eye. He passed by a hammer, its head crafted from a dark, gleaming metal. He stopped abruptly, pausing to inspect the hammer. Without even touching it, he knew the balance was perfect. His instincts were telling him it was a weapon of exceptional quality. He gently gripped the hilt, lifting it from the dais. Jenmamuh tensed slightly when he touched the hammer, his earlier calmness replaced by a hint of unease. "Anything you like about that one?" He asked, his voice casual, trying to hide his apprehension. Jenmamuh stood, his right hand resting over his left wrist, his fingers drumming lightly against his skin, as the dwarf slowly turned, the hammer held loosely in his hand.
"It's perfect," Ontrose said quietly, his voice filled with awe. "Weight. Balance. I'd bet she flies straight as an arrow," he said a little louder, his voice filled with excitement.
Jenmamuh nodded, his gaze fixed on the hammer. "Indeed he does," he said. "That hammer has...well, had a history," he added, his voice hesitant.
"Did ye just call it a he?" Ontrose asked, his earlier awe replaced by confusion. "Ye ain't superstitious, I'm guessin'?"
"Oh, very much so," Jenmamuh replied, his earlier tension returning. "But that one is a he. Trust me. I'll explain a lot more after you're done," he promised.
He looked at the hammer in his hand, slowly moving it as he inspected. The grip was a perfect fit in his hand, the balance exceptional. His gaze lingered on the polished metal, realizing the entire hammer was a single piece of mithril. The intricate carvings were something Ontrose didn't recognize, but he had a gut feeling that they were magical enchantments of some kind. He looked back to Jenmamuh, his earlier excitement replaced by suspicion. "What are ye about?"
"I said you could pick anything in here," Jenmamuh replied, his voice calm. "An axe perhaps? I know yours was mighty, but there are others that you may find interesting. Or how about armor? I see that you still need that as well," he pointed out.
"Be true with me," Ontrose demanded, his voice gruff. "Ye ain't said much till I picked up this hammer. And don't think I don't notice ye tapping yer wrist like that," he persisted.
Jenmamuh placed his hand on Ontrose's shoulder, his touch light but firm. He wore a startled expression on his face as he felt the hammer's presence blocked by Ontrose's mental shield. He quickly moved his hand to the hammer directly, feeling the same mental shield. Ontrose looked at him strangely, his brow furrowed. "You don't feel anything? No voice you can hear?" Jenmamuh asked, his voice filled with curiosity as he removed his hand.
"No..." Ontrose replied, his gaze shifting to the hammer in his hand. "I'm startin' to wonder about yerself, lad," he added, his voice laced with suspicion as his eyes met Jenmamuh's.
Jenmamuh nodded slowly, still eyeing the dwarf with caution, his earlier apprehension returning. "Very well," he said calmly. "You remember how I said I couldn't hear your thoughts?" Ontrose nodded, his gaze fixed on Jenmamuh. "To someone like me, that makes you...invisible," Jenmamuh explained. "But that also makes you a target once they know," he added, his voice hardening slightly. He pointed to the hammer, his gaze shifting to the weapon. "That hammer in particular is so heavily enchanted that it is sentient. And angry that it has been hidden here," he revealed. "If Katava were to grab that hammer, she would be bombarded by a constant presence in her mind, demanding to fight everyone," he explained. "A voice wanting to challenge the strongest adversary it can find," he continued. "The longer she held onto that hammer, the harder it would be to resist, until she was constantly fighting. She would eventually die and the weapon would put its hold on the next wielder, until they die. It's been wanting to get out for a long time," he finished, his voice laced with a hint of sadness, a reminiscent look crossing his face as he explained the hammer's dark history. After a brief moment, his eyes focused on Ontrose again, his gaze intense. "You, however, do not seem to be affected by that issue. You would have already started swinging," he pointed out. "Which is truly fascinating and terrifying," he added.
Ontrose looked at the hammer once again then back to Jenmamuh. "So yer really tellin' me is that yer afraid of me, huh?" Ontrose said, a smile creeping onto his face, his earlier suspicion now replaced by a hint of amusement.
Jenmamuh burst out laughing again, the sound echoing through the armory. "Not yet," he said, his laughter subsiding. "We'll need to get ye some more gear first," he added with a perfect dwarven accent.
If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
Ontrose smiled as well, a small sense of triumph as he realized that the weapon was too powerful for the human to handle. "Ye know..." He began. "Knowin' ye don't want to touch this hammer don't help with me thinkin' yer the Guardian."
"That's alright my friend. It's honestly very refreshing to be around someone who just sees a man," he said with a grin. Even Ontrose smiled at the word friend.
It didn't take long for Katava to spot a door without any type of handle, its surface smooth and featureless. "Here's one," she said, her voice filled with excitement.
Coralee grinned, her eyes sparkling. "That one is next to mine," she said, pointing to the door to the left of the one Katava stood next to. "Ok, put your hand on the door, like this," she instructed, holding her hand up flat, palm outward, demonstrating the proper placement.
Katava did as she was told, placing her hand flat against the door's surface. "Now what?" She asked, her curiosity piqued. As soon as the words left her mouth, she noticed runes on the door start to move, their patterns shifting and swirling, forming around her hand and glowing softly against her skin. She felt something rise under her palm, a small, smooth object, and was shocked to realize a doorknob now was in the center of her palm, seemingly materializing from the door itself.
"Open it up," Coralee said with a smile, her eyes filled with anticipation. Katava opened the door, her eyes going wide and her jaw dropping slightly. Like all the rooms she'd seen so far in the keep, this room was huge, its dimensions defying the building's exterior. A large bed sat in a corner to the right, its frame crafted from polished wood, heavy blankets and plush pillows piled invitingly on top. There was a table, chairs, nightstands, a wardrobe and a dresser, all crafted with elegant simplicity. She noticed the room was partially circular, its shape unique. The far wall in front of her was curved, a giant single window stretched completely across, offering a breathtaking view of clouds and blue sky all around. The world spread out before her, giving her the open view she had always desired. There were three simple-looking doors along the left wall, their surfaces smooth and unadorned. Katava stepped inside, admiring the high ceiling and the sheer amount of space in her room, a sense of wonder filling her. Coralee followed her in, her eyes also taking in the room's features. Her attention focused on the doors to the left, her brow furrowed slightly. "Three doors? My room only has two," Coralee said, her voice filled with surprise.
Katava turned her attention to the doors as well, her curiosity piqued. "What's in 'em?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"One should be a washroom," Coralee replied. "One, as far as I know, should be a private area of sorts. Meditation room is what Jenmamuh calls it. I've never seen a third door," she added, her voice filled with intrigue.
"Well, let's take a look at 'em," Katava said, her earlier awe replaced by a sense of adventure. She walked to the door on the left, feeling confident in her exploration. She opened it to see a claw-foot tub, steam rising from the surface of the water, its warmth inviting. The smells of exotic soaps wafted in the air, tickling Katava's nose, a pleasant aroma that she had never encountered before. "Washroom," she said, closing the door, her curiosity satisfied.
She opened the second door. Inside she saw a room that looked like a garden. A small fountain gurgled in the center, and lush, green plants grew in the rich soil around the edges of the room. She could even hear the sound of water trickling inside. "I'm guessin' this is the private area," she said, her voice filled with understanding. Coralee nodded in agreement, her gaze sweeping over the room. She closed the door, facing the third door, her earlier surprise returning. "Ye never seen a third one ye said?"
Coralee shook her head, her expression thoughtful. "Never even heard of one," she said quietly, her voice laced with intrigue.
Katava nodded her head, her gaze fixed on the mysterious door. Slowly she opened the door, not sure what to expect, her heart pounding slightly. Like everything in the keep, this room was exceptionally large, its size unexpected. A huge oak desk sat in the middle of the room, its surface polished to a high sheen, a plush chair behind it. Along the walls were tables filled with all manner of books and scrolls, their pages filled with intricate writing, quills and ink bottles resting beside them. A giant birdcage hung in one corner, its bars crafted from a dark metal, the majority of the cage draped in shadow, its occupant unseen. "What in the blazes is this for?" She asked quietly, her voice filled with wonder.
Coralee was just as perplexed, her brow furrowed in thought. "I think it's a study," she suggested, her gaze sweeping over the room. She turned her attention to Katava, her expression thoughtful. "We'll ask Jenmamuh about it later," she said, her voice filled with curiosity. She glanced around the room, her eyes settling on the wardrobe, its doors crafted from polished wood. "There we go," she said, a smile touching her lips. "Let's get you a change of clothes," she said, her voice warm and inviting. Katava was about to ask where there would be clothes, but stopped as Coralee opened the wardrobe, revealing tunics, trousers, dresses, boots, and belts, a variety of clothing suitable for any occasion. She looked Katava up and down, quickly studying her features, her gaze lingering on her form, before reaching into the wardrobe. She pulled out a tunic and pair of trousers, their fabric soft and supple, holding them out behind her. "Put these on the bed," she said as she continued looking through the wardrobe, her movements decisive. Katava did as she was told, placing the clothes on the bed, turning around to see Coralee approaching with some folded items, her arms laden with garments. She laid them on the bed, taking extra care with a thin dress and a skirt, before looking at Katava closely again, her gaze lingering on her rumpled clothing. "We need to get you cleaned up," she stated flatly, grabbing her hand and leading her to the washroom. Her touch was gentle and reassuring.
As they entered, Katava's eyes fixed on the tub again, its warm steam beckoning. She understood the concept of a bath, had even seen the midwives wash babies with a bowl of water. But being raised by dwarves, she'd never had a proper bath herself, their culture favoring practicality over luxury. The most bathing they did was in the underground river that flowed through the kingdom, when someone was about to get married or got drunk and fell into the reservoir they pulled the water from.
Her questioning eyes locked on Coralee's, her brow furrowed slightly. "What's wrong, sweety?" The elf asked, her voice gentle and concerned.
"I'm... I'm not real sure what to do with all this," she admitted, gesturing to the elaborate bathing setup. "And I don't think I'm gettin' hitched," she continued. She glanced at the table by the tub, its surface filled with jars, each with a different colored substance, their labels written in an unfamiliar script. "What are these?" She picked one jar up, holding it to her nose and sniffing softly, her senses overwhelmed by the unfamiliar scents. "Nothin' smells like this where I come from," she murmured, her voice filled with wonder.
Coralee smiled at her, her expression warm and reassuring. "Don't worry, love, I'll help you," she said, her voice gentle. She tested the steaming bathwater with her hand, her touch delicate, as she sat on the edge of the tub, a vision of beauty. "Don't be shy," she began, her melodic voice causing Katava to blush, her earlier apprehension fading. "You can't bathe in your clothes," she continued, her tone playful. "I picked out some new clothes for you anyway," she added, gesturing to the door where the garments were laid out on the bed.
Katava could feel the heat in her cheeks intensify as she realized what the elf had just asked her to do. With trembling hands, she tried to loosen her belt, but her fingers fumbled with the buckle, her nervousness making her clumsy.
Coralee smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement and a hint of something else as she stood and approached her, her movements unintentionally seductive. Her steady hands rested on Katava's, her touch light and reassuring as her nimble fingers made quick work of the buckle. She leaned in, almost whispering in her ear, her breath warm against Katava's skin. "I'll help you," she said softly as she pulled Katava's belt free, her touch lingering. She stood there, frozen except her knees wobbling slightly, as the elf continued to undress her slowly. The cool air on her exposed skin was a stark contrast to the heat she felt inside her. She could feel and hear her heart pounding in her chest as she stood in front of the elf, trying to hide her modesty.
The elf motioned for Katava to enter the tub, her eyes following her every movement. Katava stepped in slowly, Coralee holding one of her hands to steady her. Katava slowly sank into the middle of the tub, feeling its soothing warmth envelop her. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of the warm water against her skin as a sense of tranquility washing over her.
Her eyes opened quickly when she felt the elf's hands on her back, her touch light and gentle. She used a soft rag, coated in one of the soaps to gently rub her back, her movements soothing. She could feel her other hand, kneading the muscles around the base of her neck and moving into her hair, her touch firm but gentle, moving to the backs of her ears and back to the base of her neck as her fingers massaged her scalp. Katava felt like she was melting under her touch, her earlier tension dissolving.
Coralee used the rag and her free hand, roaming up and down Katava's back, her touch lingering on her skin. Across her shoulders, her fingers kneaded her muscles, sending tingles down Katava's spine.
Katava's eyes widened as she felt the elf enter the tub behind her. She sat still, her mind racing and her heart pounding harder, as the elf continued to gently wash her back and neck, her touch sending new waves of excitement through her body. She tensed slightly as the elf's hands ran over her sides, gently moving to her stomach.
The elf's nimble fingers met across her navel, the rag almost forgotten in Katava's mind as her senses were overwhelmed by the elf's touch. The feel of her hands on her body made her lean back instinctively. She rested her head on Coralee's shoulder as their eyes met. "This feels amazin'," she whispered to Coralee, her voice filled with serenity as her body relaxed further into the warm water against the elf.
