52 Lobbing and Fobbing (2/2)
Smithguild was looking through an old trunk that seemed stacked with cloth wrapped bundles.”Hmmm.”
”There were two people who created the machine that brought me to Mirth.It is their opinion that the machine didn't just create a bridge.That it created this world.That none of it existed before, and it was created mainly in the service if a woman called Brenda…”
SmithGuild raised his hand tentatively. ”That seems bold. To say your world is real, and mine is… manufactured…”
”I… I don't know.I guess I use the evidence I have.I only know what I see. And maybe it's wrong.” Nelda shrugged.”Our worlds are connected by language and beliefs, so one of us came first. I guess. Oh, god. Well, it's just a theory.” [I'm babbling.]
”Hmmm. Oh, here it is.” SmithGuild pulled out a cloth wrapped package. ”I didn't actually make this weapon.It was traded to me by the harpies, from their own hoard.”He tossed it gently over to her,
Nelda caught the package and folded back the rough cloth wrapping.Inside was a sheath containing a dagger about the size of a large carving knife. The handle was made out of…. something hard covered by something kind of like crocodile skin.
Nelda's fingers fitted around it like it was designed for her grip.”So you have moved on from me saying your world might be newly created to offering me harpy treasure.”
”Trea-sure,” SmithGuild replied in a passable imitation of HineyBeard. He smiled.”We are all having to invent our way from day to day.I think the joining of our world has thrown off all the usual points of balance. We will all have to stumble around a bit before we find out footing again.”
Nelda strapped the dagger to her waist. It hung about halfway to her knee.”Still a very creditable length,” Nelda remarked.”Although if you believe HoneyBeard girth is more important. Oh, does it have a name?In stories, potential magical weapons owned by powerful creatures always have a name.”
”It's probably written on it somewhere if it does; I didn't really pay much attention.I accepted the gift out of courtesy because the harpies do not like to be in another being's debt.”
Nelda stroked the bumpy surface of the dagger's blade.”I couldn't even begin to calculate how much I am in your debt.”
”Debt is a notion that keeps the harpies isolated, even more than living on that island.Between friends, there are no debts.”
”Is that what we are, friends?” [I couldn't exactly call us 'lovers.'] [I shouldn't have even said that.] [I guess this is just my day for making awkward comments.]
SmithGuild didn't seem to mind. He looked at her with those warm gold-hazel eyes that seem to change with every shift of the light.”I imagine that is one of the things we get to discover along the way.”
Now it was Nelda's turn to blush.