As we all watch in shock, I cover Morrigan’s eyes as Ulged pces several chunks of dull silvery ore into another crucible, before craning his neck and leaning over. Lagertha’s ‘song’ shifts again, and her husband’s huge body begins to glow as he draws a knife across his neck in a fluid, unhurried motion. Blood flows like a river into the bowl, and the metal begins to… drink it in, the dull sheen brightening into a rich, spectral glow, like the light Dorothea emits.

  The wound closes up and the glow around Ulged fades, as he makes an ingot of shining metal with an eerie turquoise light emanating from it. Once the metal’s cooled into a solid bar, he pces it back in the forge, the song warping into something deeper. Once the metal’s glowing even brighter, he pulls it, setting it on the anvil and grasping his hammer. Raising it, a runic circle forms on the surface of the anvil, the metal resting in the centre. Ulged begins… to sing. It’s a nguage I don’t recognize, but, in time with his wife’s own sustained note, he begins to bring the hammer down, the cng of metal on metal a rhythmic accompaniment as the bar slowly lengthens, the colour changing as it extends into the shape of a long, sword-like bde. There’s a raised fuller running from the tang to about two-thirds down the length of the bde, and it glows faintly as the heat dissipates.

  Taking up the handle, Ulged fixes the bde to it, then starts etching markings into the metal with a powerful acid, firing the Soul-steel again and again as he works, the duet between bcksmith and wife never faltering or wavering for an instant. The crossguard, pommel, the reinforcing bands, every single piece is forged from different materials, from bones to metals to things I can’t even begin to name, let alone understand.

  Hours pass, but the energy in the rge room is impossible to ignore, no sense of hunger, thirst, or tiredness able to break the spell the song and the act of crafting before us exerts over us all. By the time Ulged finishes, handing the swordspear reverently to me, night has fallen, and the song finally comes to an end.

  “There… tis done. The finest weapon Ah’ve ever made, utterly unique, combining every technique and ability Ah’ve got, with the added power of a Wild Shaman’s special Earthsong… Ah gie ye… the first weapon tae surpass Legendary-Css gear. The only Ultimate-Css item tae currently exist. And, as th’ one who bears it, tis only right that ye be the one tae name it.”

  I stare, then open the status window, examining this swordspear. It’s… insane. My old swordspear was badass, but THIS… this is not even on the same pnet in terms of stat-boosts and power.

  “Attack power +12500?? Plus…. PLUS 1000% Attack damage when striking an enemy’s crit spots?! 75% Armour-Piercing?! Durability… 1,000,000?!?!?! Ultimate Skill: Charged Pile Bunker?!?!?!?!?!?!”

  I almost drop it, eyes almost bugging out of my head. I can feel targets lining up on my back. If this were to get out… EVERYONE would try to P.K me in order to get it. Or, worse, they’d target Ulged and Lagertha to try and force them to make more gear like this.

  Ulged grins. “It’s Bind-On-Equip, ssie. Yeh’ll never lose it, no matter what. Tis yours, now and for guid.”

  I sigh in relief. “Well, I guess she DOES need a name…” I think carefully, before touching the status window and typing something into it on a keyboard only I can see. The weapon fshes brilliantly for a moment as soon as I press the Enter key.

  “I think this will work. Stormbringer, the Fang of the Tempest!”

  Morrigan cps, and I hug her with one arm, as Asteria beams. “I love it. And you look complete, now. I can’t imagine you without a spear in hand, love. It feels right, y’know?”

  Lagertha and her husband are both watching, holding hands as they keep out of our private moment. I look over and smile. “Thank you, so much. Both of you. This is… beyond anything I ever hoped for. You’re amazing, guys!”

  I then turn to Dana, begging, “Can we go py with my new toy? Pleeeaaassse?”

  Laughing, Dana nods. “Let’s go find something for you to beat up, yeah? Maybe something in Darkheart will survive more than one blow from you! But first, let’s check in with Dorothea. Mor should meet the cutest little ghost ever!”

  Mor pipes up, “I’m not scared of ghosts. I wanna meet her!”

  I smile. “Alright, let’s go! I haven’t seen her in a while, it’ll be good to check in on her!”

  Leaving Ulged’s shop, we head out to the Trevalli manor. Ulged refuses all payment, no matter how hard I insist, and I give up, cradling my gleaming new spear as I skip through the streets, my armour making loud cnking noises as I try and fail to stifle my excitement.

  Pushing through the gates, we follow the gravel driveway up to the main doors of the house. Dorothea sticks her head through the wood of the doors, then squeals in delight, using her telekinesis to pull them open, allowing us ingress to her home.

  Dame Kettrin, Lady Asteria! It’s been so long, I have most dearly wished to see you again! And is this your… child?”

  I splutter, turning beetroot, as Asteria cackles with unbridled mirth. Morrigan blinks. “Nope, they rescued me from a terrible fate and I’ve been training under a friend of theirs to learn Eastern swordsmanship! I’m Morrigan!”

  Dorothea smiles, curtseying elegantly. “Ah, I see. My apologies, Miss Morrigan! The honour is mine! Now, please, come in, make yourselves at home!”

  Dorothea’s manse is fully refurbished, and I ask, “So, how have you been maintaining this pce all alone? Just the tours?”

  She smiles. “Oh, I’m not. I’ve been receiving donations as well as giving guided tours, and the proceeds have gone towards recruitment of servants to oversee the estate’s daily affairs. I cannot thank you enough, the both of you, for ying my parents to rest and helping restore my ancestral home to its former glory. Sadly, that uppity nobleman has been sending the most outrageous letters. All very polite at first blush, but read between the lines, and you’ll find the most impudent drivel I have ever id eyes upon! I think he’s still holding a grudge for me having those two bodyguards of his who attempted to break-in arrested.”

  I sigh. “Yep, I should’ve guessed he was as stubborn as he was unpleasant…. Want me to handle it?”

  Dorothea smiles, shaking her head. “Oh, no need! I’ve been very fortunate that some of the lovely Argonauts who helped out have taken to patrolling the estate at night. They call themselves the ‘Dorothea Fan Club’ guild, or something outndish.”

  I stifle a giggle, and make a note of that. As we tour Dorothea’s home, Morrigan listens intently as the little ghost Duchess regales us with tales of life back in the day, when she had a body that wasn’t see-through, when her parents ruled this house and the estate, the adventures she’d dreamed of going on, I can’t help but smile. I’m so gd I helped her out!

  After our tour, Dorothea provides us with tea, poured and brewed by her personally. Her telekinesis really comes in handy! We sit, drinking from beautiful white china cups, as Dorothea floats above the seat of her own chair. She leans in, her chin in her hands.

  “Now, tell me of your adventures, please! I can only imagine the tales you must have to share!”

  I smile, and start filling the little spirit in, expining how Mor ended up in my guild, the fact that I HAVE a guild now, and everything else. I DO keep the secret of my new swordspear’s power and its unique creation method to myself, just for safety.

  Dorothea listens, enraptured, to the stories of my adventures, her hands csped in front of her chest. Mor tells her own stories about the training she’s been through with Genevieve, and Asteria offers up some stories of her own exploits, some of which are new to me as well.

  The hours pass, and it’s early morning before we even know it. Dorothea apologizes profusely about keeping us up all night. I smile, watching as Morrigan tries half a dozen times to hug the cute ghost. Asteria giggles. “Yeah, we’ve all been there. She’s just too adorable!”

  Mor beams. “I KNOW, right?!”

  While we’re here in Vassim, we decide to treat Morrigan to a dawn-flight, soaring over the city. Her wings beating in tandem with mine as Asteria’s magical Faeflight spell forms a glowing pair of butterfly wings, allowing her to keep up, her sorcery leaving a trail of pink and vender sparkles in her wake. A few pyers wave up at us, just people having fun, or preparing to leave on a quest or hunting expedition, and we wave back, Morrigan even showing off with a few aerial acrobatic stunts, her whooping ugh ringing out through the lightening sky.

  I pull up alongside, then overtake, giggling. “You’re a natural, Mor! And I can’t wait to show you EVERYTHING this world has to offer!”

  Morrigan’s wings beat faster, and she starts gaining on me. “I’ll hold you to that!” she cries, before diving, pulling up to skim over the tops of the buildings below. Then she furls her wings, nding in a sprinting dash on the ridge of a tiled roof, nimbly running along it, before vaulting back into the air, ughing delightedly the whole time.

  I blink. “Wow. She’s as good as I am, if not better! I wouldn’t even dream of trying that in THIS armour! I’d go straight into the basement from the roof on impact!”

  Asteria ughs, her hair streaming out behind her as she catches up. “Yeah, I’ve watched her sparring with Genevieve. She adds all these flips and wing-moves in that I bet a regur enemy or pyer would have no end of trouble trying to counter or deal with!”

  I grin. “Oh, I wonder what she’ll be capable of once she’s fully-trained!”

  A loud voice hails us from a noble’s mansion, a well-dressed lord waving up at us from an upper-floor balcony.

  “My dies! Might I trouble you for a moment or two of your time?!”

  I hover, beating my wings, as I peer down. He’s not armed, and there’s no sign of any guards with him. He’s also not Viscount Fitzwilliam. This one’s a bit older, with a pleasant face.

  I call down, “Of course! I’m going to nd on that balcony, my lord!”

  He steps back calmly as I slowly descend, my vice-captain and guildmate with me. He bows politely.

  “Many thanks. If I’m not mistaken, you’re the leader of the Wings of the Storm? The guild young Duchess Trevalli sponsors, yes? She’s mentioned you frequently!”

  I nod, smiling. “That’s right. I’m Kettrin, my lord. Is there something I can do for you?”

  The nobleman smiles. “Actually, yes! I’ve been interested in making contact with the people of Darkheart. I’ve been fascinated by the region for years, but it was always too dangerous to form an expedition. However, now that the Argonauts have been called from other realms, I believe now is the time! If you would be amenable, I’d like to hire your ship to transport a survey crew out to the capital of Mortis City, to investigate the wares and goods that the popuce trades in, as well as what would be profitable to sell them.”

  I raise an eyebrow. “Oh? That sounds reasonable, my lord. However, not to be indelicate, but…”

  “Ah, of course! You’ll be handsomely compensated, have no fear! Shall we say… 50,000 gold upfront, and a further 150,000 upon completion?”

  I splutter for a moment, and the middle-aged noble smiles benevolently. “With your approval, we’ll sign a business contract for this job. Then, at your earliest convenience, you may report here and we can get this trip started!”