Chapter 165: The World Of Myria [2] (1/2)
”What's going on here?”
A gruff voice rang out from the doorway. Ju Feng looked up to see a thick-chested dwarf enter the forge. He had pale blond hair and beard, almost white, which contrasted oddly with his darker skin and eyes. When he crossed the room, Ju Feng noticed he walked with a slight limp, barely noticeable had he not been moving so quickly.
The dwarf crouched in front of Ingara and uttered soothing words in the dwarven language. Ju Feng stood to make room as Ongara looked at the blond dwarf with wide, red-rimmed eyes and shook her head furiously from side to side. She reached up to claw at her hair again, but the man caged her hands between his own and whispered soothing sounds that rolled out like low, distant thunder.
Breaths went by, but Ju Feng stayed where he was. Every movement made Ongara flinch and whimper, as if she expected the host of spiders to descend on them again in an instant. Ju Feng glanced at Chang Chang whose knees were cramped and cold from being so long on the floor, but she was ignored the pains.
Meanwhile, the blond dwarf was slowly getting through to Ingara. He whispered softly to her in Dwarvish, and Ongara answered—intimate words not meant for outsiders to hear. Chang Chang a flush of shame, but still she dared not move for fear of breaking the calm, protective circle that she, Ju Feng and the blonde dwarf had formed around Ongara. At last, the dwarf kissed both Ongara's hands and leaned close to brush away the tears that lingered at the corners of her eyes. They rose to their feet together and the man pulled her close, stroking his fingers through her wild hair. When they broke apart, Ingara was smiling tremulously.
”You must be Arngam.”
”It's not their fault. Don't look at them that way, Arn.”
Ongara said as she stepped from Arngam's embrace and smoothed her hair.
”It was my own stupidity. Forsaken yaomo worship spiders. I should have been expecting something like that. Tell the patrols the next time they're overrun by spider attacks that they're probably illusions. That's what the rings we've been finding on all the drow corpses do. They're trying to break us with the fear of seeing so many of the bastards at once.”
”I see. I'll inform the patrols and the master armswoman at once. This is valuable information.”
Arngam replied. The chill had left his voice, and he nodded at Icelin.
”You have my congratulations.”
Chang Chang said tentatively.
”On your upcoming wedding. I'm certain you'll be very happy together.”
At the mention of the wedding, Ongara whirled on Arngam and jabbed an accusing finger at his chest.
”What are you doing here, anyway? You know you're not to set foot over this threshold before the wedding. You'd better be on a mission from Moradin himself, if you don't want a beating.”
Arngam smiled fondly at his betrothed.
”There's my lovely one in all her fury. I heard you cry out. How could I not come to your aid?”
”And get a peek at your wedding-day gift. Don't think I don't know what's really in your head.”
Arngam raised his hands in surrender and added, sobbering.
”Don't worry, taerin, I haven't seen a thing. I'll leave you now—as long as you're all right.”
”I'm fine.”
Ongara said. She leaned in and kissed her love on the cheek and continued.
”Go, and remember to tell the patrols.”
He nodded and left the forge. When they were alone, Ongara turned to the table and laid her hands over the cloth covering the axe.
”Were they truly illusions?”
She asked, not meeting Icelin's eyes.
”They did not taint this?”
”Illusions and common spiders.”
Ju Feng said assuredly.
”On a yaomo's hand, the ring might have called out to more monstrous creatures of the abysmal realm for it to mix with the illusions. On my hand, no touch of the dark goddess's magic reached those spiders. I'd have felt it.”
Chang Chang quipped I'm.
Ingara closed her eyes briefly and nodded.
”Thank you.”
”Do you want us to leave you alone?”