章節 21: Masterwork
Luna was pretty sure that she was the only one who caught the surprised look on Aadhira's face, or truly understood it if anyone else did.
There are some advantages to acknowledging your feminine side, once you stop fighting it, she thought as she adjusted her legs and felt the whisper soft glide of the silk nobody knew she was wearing under her armor.
Selena quickly regained her composure and hurried to take the seat she surely would have realized had recently been vacated by Mona if she took a moment to reflect. It was obvious Selena was brimming with questions, not only about Aadhira's attire, but she had the necessary self-restraint to save them for a more appropriate time.
The priestesses Selena had entered with departed and were replaced by a small band of dwarves.
Luna couldn't help straightening with interest. The kingdom of Luna hadn't seen dwarves in probably decades at the very least. Which was a shame, because dwarves were some of the best armor and weapon smiths it was possible to get, not to mention the metals that only they had the skills to mine deep enough for.
If Father could possibly get a trade deal with them, get access to their wares….
"A trade deal with the dwarves would also be a tremendous financial boon to the kingdom."
Luna turned toward Lucine, who had just whispered in her ear. "Are you learning mind reading from the mages now?" she whispered back.
Lucine chuckled. "As if you could possibly think about anything other than a shiny new sword when confronted with dwarves," she replied.
"Guilty as charged," Luna said, unabashed. She frowned, returning the gaze of one of the dwarves who had been looking around the hall, and had now focused on her. No. Not her. A little to her–
Lucine must have noticed the same thing, because her head swiveled to Aadhira in sync with Luna's.
Aadhira.
Who was once again trying to shrink into the fabric wrapped around her.
"She does realize that she's going to need more fabric if she's going to try to hide in that thing, doesn't she?" Lucine whispered.
"Only on top," Luna pointed out. "If she can manage to retreat down into the skirts, she just might be able to pull it off."
"Please," Lucine replied, "say 'pull it off' a little louder. I can't wait to see what happens when she returns to her usual sensibilities."
Luna could only chuckle at that.
The ceremony continued as the dwarves' leader, seemingly oblivious to the minor drama unfolding behind him, told the King how they were just passing through, but wanted to maintain a positive relationship with such humans as they should meet on their way.
Then he beckoned behind him to where one of his crew was carrying a long rectangular box.
"We should like to offer a gift, to yourself or your general, as ye see fit," he said as the carrier stepped up beside him.
Luna's breath caught. There was only one thing that could be in a box of that shape and size, and if it was dwarven made – if Luna had never known desire, she knew it now.
But surely Father wouldn't even think–
Fathers eyes rose and locked on hers, and he held out his hand.
"Luna."
He didn't say it loud, but even across the distance the sound of her name filled her ears. To her feet she rose, and on clouds far above the mortal realm she was carried forward until she found herself at her father's side.
The leader of the dwarves cocked his head at her. "Is this lad your general?" he asked dubiously. He seemed to be considering whether he should be offended.
"Luna – my daughter," he said pointedly, "– is second in command of the garrison and has repeatedly shown that she has what it takes to take her rightful place in command of the army when the time is right."
The dwarf looked at Luna in surprise. "A girl?" he asked disbelievingly.
Father's eyes narrowed. "Do the dwarves have a problem with a woman leading the army?"
"Not at all!" a melodious voice rang out from the heart of the group of dwarves.
A dwarf stepped forward, clad in armor as imposing as any of his – her? – fellows, though missing, on closer inspection, a beard.
"We dwarves have always considered the protection of the Clan to be the duty of both the men and the women," she explained as she came to stand next to the leader.
"The reason my husband is surprised," she continued, taking his hand in hers, "is that it has long been our ken that many human nations discourage women from serving in places of might or authority."
The dwarven woman paused as if considering. "We have heard rumor that the kingdom of Luna is without a male heir. Tell me, if I dinnae overstep, when it be time, will your daughter be able to succeed ye?"
The king looked briefly up at the Five Seats before relying. "This is an untested matter of law," he said carefully.
By which he meant that while he had decreed that his choice of successor would not be limited by gender, matters of succession were subject to ratification by the Five Seats; and to date they had chosen neither to outright reject nor approve his decree.
As it had been nearly a decade since he had made the decree, it seemed likely that no decision on the matter would be reached until such time as the succession was actually in progress, so that the five families would be able to eke their maximum profits out of the settlement.
Whether or not the dwarves knew about this situation, Luna could not say; but the dwarven lady was clearly intelligent enough to gather the gist from what was said. She considered the King's words for a moment, then turned to the red haired dwarf at the front of her band.
"Yugo," she said, "Do I understand aright, that ye have made roads to forging a friendship with aught of the Royal family?"
"Aye, mistress," Yugo replied. "It do seem that not one but two of the princesses joined me at Tides last night."
"Then mayhap," the lady said, eyes on the King despite her words going behind her, "that ye might care to pursue this acquaintance until what time that we should pass this way again. And when we return, ye can advise us on our hopes of establishing trade with the King's line."
Luna's breath caught in her throat. Not only had the lady suggested a trade relationship herself, in wording it as being tied to her and her sisters, she lent implicit support to a favorable outcome for the King's decree concerning his succession.
The redheaded dwarf inclined his head. "It would be my honor," he said.
The dwarven lady nodded and spoke to her husband. "Forgive my interruption, my heart," she said. "Continue with your ceremony and your gift."
"Aye, my love," he replied, and turned to the King and Luna.
"General Luna, of the kingdom of Luna," he began, holding the polished wood box in front of him with both hands. Luna restrained herself from correcting him; the title might not yet be hers, but correcting his formality at this point would be bad form. "On behalf of the Redfist Clan of the Slumbering Peaks, I present to thee Meòrachadh, Reflection, masterwork moonsilver blade, crafted by Thulotir Steelbraid, Master Smith of Deepforge. May its presence by your side be a reflection of the friendship between our peoples."
Luna reached forward, opened the box, and carefully removed the sword. Balancing it on her fingertips she examined the length of the sword. "Flawless," she breathed.
Stepping back to give herself room, she held the sword in one hand and did a few simple strikes in the air, finishing with a single powerful blow that rustled the hair on the smiling dwarf's head.
Luna reverently laid the sword back in its case.
"Long have I dreamed that I might merely touch a dwarven blade," she said. "And now, to not only be given one, but one of moonsilver, is beyond what I could dream."
Luna bowed deeply from the waist to show her respect for the gift and all that it represented. "I thank you for your gift, and I will reflect on your kindness whenever I use it."
The dwarf bowed in return, and on straightening handed her the case.
"We will return again, Princess Luna of the kingdom of Luna. And when we do, I hope that I will be able to hear from your own mouth of the victories you have won with this blade."
He then bowed to the king. "If the skill of your general matches the beauty of your daughter, then you are a lucky father and king indeed. It is my wish that the success of your endeavors be a reflection of the bravery of your heart."
"And it is mine that the moon may shine favorably on your journey," the king replied.
And then the dwarf turned and led his retinue out of the hall.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票