Ambrose gripped the side of the cart as it bounced. The unpaved road that led through the forest causing it to shift uncomfortably.

  "Sorry, I never needed a big cart. I will try to keep the pony slow." said Rea.

  She pulled back slightly on the reins and the small horse that was pulling them slowed.

  While Ambrose was glad to not have to walk all the way back to his land, he felt both a bit unsafe and ridiculous squeezed into the tiny seat next to Rea. Plus, the poor pony really looked like it was struggling.

  "I still can't believe a goblin with basic tools was able to carve something so intricate." Said the dwarf.

  "Remember when we arrive let me speak to him first." Ambrose suspected that Gro-Lag may be a bit cautious over a random person he had never met just showing up to camp.

  "Don't worry, I will let you give him a warning about me. I know what's it's like to have people not been too nice to you in the past." Rea responded

  Ambrose arched an eyebrow at here comment. "Are the people in the city that bad?"

  Rea shook her head "everyone in Bramptonburg has been quite nice to me" she responded flatly "but before that..."

  She trailed off without expanding on her statement, which left a pregnant pause in the air.

  "You were somewhere else?" Ambrose asked somewhat awkwardly.

  Rea staired forward, stone faced.

  "It's fine, we don't need to talk about it" Ambrose said after moment.

  Rea sighed "It's fine" she said. "Before I set up here, I had the grand idea that I would be the dwarf that convinced the elves that rune magic actually had some worth."

  "And it didn’t go well?" Ambrose asked

  "Even if I had been a half decent Runist, it was very clear I would have not been welcome." She said, her face like thunder. "So, considering I might be the worst one they have ever let in the guild, I hope you can assume how it went."

  Ambrose stayed silent when she had finished speaking. One because he wasn't sure how to respond to her, and secondly because her comment had raised a question in his mind that he had wanted to ask before, but was worried it might offend her.

  "So, how did you end up in-"

  "I got into the guild because my father's a famous rune crafter" Rea said quickly, cutting him off.

  Clearly Reabeck had been thinking he would be wondering.

  "They just assumed that I would be amazing at it as well, so when I could describe all of the runes and draw them out, they didn't even make me take the final exam." She took one of her hands off the reins and rubbed her forehead. "Which thank the deep ones they didn't."

  "Ah, right." Was all Ambrose could think to say in response.

  She looked at him, anxiety clear on her face. "I really hope this idea works."

  She brought the cart to a halt just by the small brake in the trees that led to Ambrose's land. After getting off and waiting for the feeling to come back to his legs, Ambrose made his way back to his camp.

  When he arrived, he found Gro-Lag sitting by the fire pit, making twine out of strips of tree bark fiber, A freshly killed deer hanging from a tree off to the side. As he noticed Ambrose, he jumped up to greet him.

  "Lord Ambrose, Welcome back, I see you had some success." He said, pointing to the sack he was carrying.

  Ambrose had been caught up in the plan he and Rea had come up with that he had almost forgotten about the bits Tyrus had given him. "Oh yeah, but probably not the way in you would think." Ambrose pointed to the deer. “You hunted?”

  Gro-Lag looked a bit sheepish but nodded. “It wandered close to the camp, and your bow was right next to me. I wasn’t sure if I would be allowed to since I know you was the one granted the right, but I just felt like I could?”

  Ambrose paused and thought for a moment. “Well, the fact the bow string didn’t snap and you haven’t been mauled by a wolf makes it seem like you were right.” He said. “I guess I can extend my freedoms to other?” He had wondered if this was the case since the odd feeling he had got when he told the goblin he was in charge until he returned. “Anyway, I have a lot to tell you.”

  Ambrose proceeded to explain all that had happened in the city and when he had finished his friend was looking at him apprehensively.

  "My lord, I appreciate how highly your think of my skills, but I have never even heard of these… runes before." He said.

  "I know, I know." Ambrose said. "But Reabeck really thinks considering what she had seen of your work, that she can teach you."

  "And in return we give her the ones I make to sell at her shop?"

  "And she gives us a quarter of her profits in return." Ambrose had considered trying to barter for a higher cut, but considering Rea was doing all the investment at this point, he didn't really think he had much of a leg to stand on.

  Despite his explanation, from his face he could tell Gro-Lag was still not convinced.

  "Look, if you really don't want to meet with her, I won't force you. But I feel like this could be a really good opportunity for you."

  "For me?" The goblin asked.

  Ambrose sighed and lent forward, placing his hand over the pile of wood he had placed in the fire pit while he had been explaining. "While I really like having you here, I know you probably won't stay forever." He focused and a small flame formed on his hand and lit the dry wood. "If you can learn this skill, you will be able to support yourself no matter where you go."

  Gro-Lag was quite for a moment, clearly thinking through what he had said. "I would like to stay here my lord, but I have responsibilities that I don't want impose onto you."

  Ambrose looked at him confused. "I don't understand what you mean?"

  Gro-Lag looked at the ground, and then off to the side, clearly not sure what to say. "My lord you have been so kind, you have taken me in and shared what you have with me… but I have not been truthful. You have not only been sharing with me."

  Ambrose simply stared at him, still with no idea what he was trying to say.

  "My Lord, I have a family. The food you have so kindly been giving me, I have been taking back to our camp not too far from here?"

  Gro-Lag's confession landed somewhat on Ambrose's mind with a soft flop. He had not known what to expect, but from all the buildup he had expected something much worse.

  "Gro-lag, why didn't you tell me before?"

  "It is my responsibility to look after my family lord Ambrose, and you have already been so kind." He said, almost looking like he might cry.

  Ambrose put his hand on Gro-Lag's shoulder. "I told you, you are my friend." He said with a smile. "Plus, your knowledge and experience has been invaluable since you arrived. Me letting you stay here isn't charity, you are an extremely valuable member of this... community?"

  Gro-Lag smiled "I supposed that’s what you would call it."

  "Your family are welcome here." Ambrose stood and looked around their camp. "Though I am not sure how child friendly the camp currently is. You don’t have twelve children, do you?"

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  "No, my lord, only two." The goblin laughed. "It's them, myself and my wife."

  Ambrose nodded and looked around. "Well, we definitely have space for you all." He looked back to Gro-lag. "So, will you meet with Rea?"

  Gro-Lag seemed to consider for a moment, before nodding.

  "I better go get her then"

  Ambrose led the dwarf off the path and on to his land. As they crossed the invisible boundary Rea stopped and quickly looked at him.

  "This place is yours." She said, almost surprised at her own realisation.

  Ambrose looked at her, not really sure how to respond. "Yeah, I guess, that’s what people keep telling me."

  Rea shook her head, seemingly trying to get her senses straight. "Sorry, it's just such a strange feeling. I mean I believed you when you told me you had been given the right to this land, but actually… feeling it." She trailed off and they continued to the camp.

  When they arrived Gro-Lag was waiting. As he saw them, he stood from where he had been sitting by the fire.

  "You must be Gro-Lag" Rea said with a smile. She moved forward and offered him her hand.

  He hesitated, seemingly surprised, before shaking it. "And you must be Reabeck, it's an honor to meet you master crafter."

  Rea snorted "You’re a formal one ain't ya?" She pulled one of the amulets that Ambrose had given her. "So, you made this?"

  Gro-Lag nodded. "It's probably not one of my best, to be honest."

  Rea gave a hearty laugh. "Well then, you should find rune crafting a breeze."

  Ambrose went and used the pot he had been given to collect some water, actually having a bigger storage vessel made the process significantly quicker and easier.

  As he was bringing it back to the camp, Rea waved him over. She had been showing Gro-Lag a book with a number of different runes patterns when he had left, but now she seemed to be showing him some actual runes.

  "Good timing, I was just about to demonstrate a force rune to Gro-lag."

  As he put the pot down on the fire, the dwarf stood and placed the rune down on to the ground at about five paces away from them.

  "So, as I was explaining" she said towards Gro-Lag. "Some runes, such as the fire rune I showed you are will activated, while some." She picked up a rock and threw it at the rune, as it hit it exploded, leaving about a knuckle deep hole in the earth where it had sat. "Are activated by striking them."

  She looked back and saw both Ambrose and Gro-Lag where both wide eyes where they had clearly been startled by the noise. "Oh sorry, should have given some warning."

  She walked back over and pulled another rune for her satchel. "As you can see." She pointed to a section on the rune and then to a drawing of the same pattern in the book. "This section of the rune indicates that it is impact activated."

  Gro-Lag nodded and looked closely at the page. "I don't recognise this language."

  "It’s high dwarven, but to be honest you really only need to be able to see the diagrams at this stage." Rea said. "She pulled out a blank rune from her bag, and some small tools. "Do you want to give making one a go?"

  Gro-Lag looked at the pattern in the book and then back to the blank rune. "What if it activities when I am striking it?" He asked.

  Rea considered and turned the page. "This is a flame rune, its activated by intention, might be safer choice."

  Gro-Lag looked at the designs and nodded. "Ok, I can try."

  Ambrose took one of the cups that had come with the cooking tools, and dunked it into the tea that he had boiled. He handed it to Rea "Thanks for letting us use your leaves. While Gro-Lags working, would you like the tour?" He asked.

  Ambrose walked Rea around, showing her some of the areas that made up his land. After walking for a while, they stopped at the river.

  "You really are the luckiest bastard I think I have ever met." said Rea.

  Ambrose shrugged "I guess, when I first got the land, I thought It might be a burden, but with Gro-Lag's help. I really feel like I am starting to get a handle on it.

  Ambrose looked out at the river "It's really starting to feel like with a bit of hard work, I might have everything I need here."

  Rea followed his look out at the river, but then looked down, seemingly at her feet. "You might be right on that one."

  A sudden yelp and plum of light, made both of them jump and turn towards it.

  "That's from the camp!" Ambrose said, panicked.

  He darted back towards it, quickly followed by Rea.

  They quickly made their way back. As they emerged from the trees to find Gro-Lag trying to pour tea on a plume of fire that had erupted from the rune he had been working on.

  Rea quickly ran up and reaching under the flame, touched the rune, which caused the tower of flame to stop.

  "I'm sorry my lord, I don't know what happened!" Gro-Lag apologized.

  Ambrose quickly moved to his friend. "Are you ok, you're not hurt are you?" He asked.

  Rea gave am joyous laugh as she looked at the now inactive rune. "Gro-Lag, this is perfect. I have never been able to make anything this good."

  "But, the fire?" Gro-Lag asked confused.

  "That’s what it's meant to do." She said with a big smile. "I'm guessing you was touching it and thought about giving it a test?"

  Gro-Lag paused for a moment, thinking. "I was looking at what I had done, and at what the image showed, and thought I could use it to relight the fire."

  "You willed it on." She said bluntly. "Don't worry everyone takes off some eyebrows when they first try using a will rune, they can be a bit sensitive."

  Rea looked at the small round stone again, a wide grin on her face. "If you can keep making runes of this quality, we will have a very happy partnership."

  As it was getting late Ambrose started to walk Rea back to her cart. She had left a bag of blank runes with Gro-Lag and said she would be back in a few days to collect the finished ones.

  "I'm telling you, that goblin has got a born gift." She said as they walked.

  "Well, I'm sure he will have all the runes done by the time you come back." Ambrose replied. "I have to thank you again for this opportunity Reabeck, having some more coin coming in will really help."

  The dwarf waved away his thanks. "Trust me, you’re saving my arse here." She rubbed her chin in thought. "That reminds me, when we were at the river, it looks like you have a quite a good clay deposit there, you could probably make some decent bricks."

  Ambrose wouldn't even know where to start turning clay into proper bricks. "Maybe, if I had a clue how to."

  Rea laughed. "I will walk you through it when I come back, can't have my new business partner freezing to death come winter."

  As they got to the cart Rea leaned into it and took out a bag. "Here, there is some more of the force and fire runes I made, maybe you can find some use for them."

  She climbed back into the cart and had the pony turn it around. "See you soon Partner." She gave him one last smile, and started back towards the city.