Successful Mission

[Brian]

"To who?" Mirallia asks, frowning.  "I still can't see a message in that...."

[Bjorn]

"Ah," Bjorn says, "this isn't the message sent by Nathan, this is a message that I'd like sent back to him."  He grimaces.  "Probably a bit hasty in setting it up, actually.  Might need to edit it.  But it's tedious work, and there's at least that much of it done."  

"As to who to visit..."  He ponders for a second, and then nods.  "Master Ekim first, I think.  After that, either Lord Kevin or Radagast.  Shall we?"

[Brian]

"Lord Ekim," she corrects you.  "Lead the way."

[Bjorn]

"Lord Ekim?  But I thought..." Bjorn's voice trails off.  "Right."  He sighs.  "Thank you.  The last thing I need is to make a bigger fool of myself."  He opens the door, and sets off towards the forge.

[Brian]

"Lord Ekim Boneforge.  He's a master smith, but he's a lord among his kind," she says, as you walk down the hall.

In short order, you reach the smithy, still singing the same song it was last time you peeked in.

[Bjorn]

Once again, Bjorn steps inside the smithy, but this time he settles himself down to wait until Ekim deigns to recognize him, however, long it may take.

[Brian]

It takes about twenty minutes before Ekim seems to notice you're there -- one of those periods where the heated metal (and it's already shaping up pretty nicely) is allowed to 'rest' on the coals before the next forging.

"Ooooh," he rumbles, when he sees you.  "Did you come to watch your weapon get built?"

[Bjorn]

"I am actually here because my duties require that I ask a question of you," Bjorn admits, smiling, "but I will admit that the fact that my duties permit me to watch you work gives me no small pleasure."

[Brian]

Ekim snorts.  "What duty?" he asks.

[Bjorn]

The smile fades from Bjorn's face.  "The storm-riders have seen the Dwarf who assists the Dreadmarch," he says.  "Sir Shuker said that he was similar in appearance to you, to his eyes, but this Dwarf had bronze hair, and carried an axe.  Do you think you might know him?"

[Brian]

Ekim considers this for so long you begin to think he might have fallen asleep before he answers.  "I know of him, yes," he says slowly.  "No dwarven lord, and no cousin of mine ... but I know of him.  His name is Estin, and he is a Stonewright."  Ekim looks contemplative.  "He is skilled as a smith.  But I do not know what could have bought him into the service of the Dreadmarch."

[Bjorn]

"A 'Stonewright'?" Bjorn asks.  "My pardon, Lord Ekim, but I'm not sure that I know exactly what you mean by that term."

[Brian]

"His family," Ekim says, shaking his head ponderously.

[Bjorn]

"Ah.  Of course," Bjorn says, feeling a bit foolish.  Again.  Maybe I need sleep.

"That was all I had to ask of you, my Lord," he says, bowing.  "Is there any way I can be of service to you?"

[Brian]

He shakes his head and turns to the sword, still heating on the coals.  "I've been given enough to think of," he sighs.