Read Online The Dragons of Ash and Smoke (Tales from the New Earth Book 5) by J.J. Thompson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: J.J. Thompson
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stories, but I've never really
gotten the details.”
“ And
you won't today,” she told him with a teasing grin. “We
simply don't have the time right now for a history lesson. Another
day, perhaps. Now come along. We're going to be late.”
Opheilla
turned away from the wall and struck out across the middle of the
city center. This area was filled with shops. Many stands were set up
and a dazzling array of goods were being sold.
Simon
saw shops selling different types of mushrooms, root vegetables and
odd looking fruits that he couldn't identify. There were several
smiths hammering on anvils beside small forges. Their displays of
weapons and armor were amazing. All of the work was beautiful and
each seemed to have his or her own unique style.
“ There
are female blacksmiths?” he asked the cleric.
She
glanced at him with raised eyebrows.
“ Yes,
of course. Why wouldn't there be?”
“ Err,
no reason. Sorry.”
He
thought he might have sounded insulting and quickly tried to explain.
“ I'd
forgotten that female dwarves are so strong. Human women are, as a
rule, more agile than men but have less strength.”
Opheilla's
frown faded and she nodded her understanding.
“ Right,
right. That's true. Well, women here share in all duties. We can be
whatever we wish to be, if we have the talent for it. Some of our
greatest warriors were female and are greatly venerated.”
They
passed one female smith who was hammering on a glowing, red-hot blade
and Simon thought that she looked strong enough to snap him in half.
“ Not
surprised,” he commented and they moved on.
Other
vendors were selling ale and wine, but how they grew grapes
underground was beyond him.
Pots
and pans, furniture made of a dark wood that he couldn't identify,
clothing of all kinds; the market was amazing and Simon wished he had
the time to explore all of it.
Some
other day, he promised himself.
Opheilla
pulled him aside at one point to allow four armored figures to pass.
The four of them, two men and two women, were wearing black enameled
armor and armed with short swords. The quartet looked grim and
business-like.
At
Simon's curious look, the cleric nodded after them.
“ City
guard,” she said as they made their way through the crowd.
“They keep order, watch out for thievery, that sort of thing.”
“ There
are thieves among your people?” Simon asked in surprise.
“ I'm
afraid so. Dwarves are no more saintly than your kind, my friend. We
have both good and bad types, and many shades of gray in between.”
They
were almost across the open area now and Simon stopped and looked
back at the busy market. There were literally thousands of dwarves
doing business and the entire place was filled with life and energy
that reminded him of the high days of his own people. Days now lost,
perhaps forever.
“ You
look sad, young wizard,” the cleric said softly.
He
looked down at her and shrugged, trying to smile and almost
succeeding.
“ I
suppose I am, a bit. Your race is ancient, Opheilla, and yet, look at
them all. So alive and vibrant, so strong. We, the human race I mean,
thought we had it all. We were the masters of our world, a great and
wondrous race.” He laughed bitterly. “And now we're gone,
a footnote in history, soon forgotten. This,” he gestured at
the market, “this is the future now. I pray your people never
make the same mistake we did and assume you're invincible.”
The
cleric began to walk, heading into another broad tunnel, and Simon
followed her, his thoughts dark and his mood somber.
“ My
friend, I'm sure that your people made many mistakes, as have mine,”
she began to say as they walked. “But that wasn't what
destroyed them. Blame the real culprits; the dark gods of Chaos. What
the future would have held for humanity if the gods hadn't decided to
return, well, we'll never know. But it might have been glorious.”
She
punched him gently in the shoulder and smiled encouragingly.
“ And
don't
gotten the details.”
“ And
you won't today,” she told him with a teasing grin. “We
simply don't have the time right now for a history lesson. Another
day, perhaps. Now come along. We're going to be late.”
Opheilla
turned away from the wall and struck out across the middle of the
city center. This area was filled with shops. Many stands were set up
and a dazzling array of goods were being sold.
Simon
saw shops selling different types of mushrooms, root vegetables and
odd looking fruits that he couldn't identify. There were several
smiths hammering on anvils beside small forges. Their displays of
weapons and armor were amazing. All of the work was beautiful and
each seemed to have his or her own unique style.
“ There
are female blacksmiths?” he asked the cleric.
She
glanced at him with raised eyebrows.
“ Yes,
of course. Why wouldn't there be?”
“ Err,
no reason. Sorry.”
He
thought he might have sounded insulting and quickly tried to explain.
“ I'd
forgotten that female dwarves are so strong. Human women are, as a
rule, more agile than men but have less strength.”
Opheilla's
frown faded and she nodded her understanding.
“ Right,
right. That's true. Well, women here share in all duties. We can be
whatever we wish to be, if we have the talent for it. Some of our
greatest warriors were female and are greatly venerated.”
They
passed one female smith who was hammering on a glowing, red-hot blade
and Simon thought that she looked strong enough to snap him in half.
“ Not
surprised,” he commented and they moved on.
Other
vendors were selling ale and wine, but how they grew grapes
underground was beyond him.
Pots
and pans, furniture made of a dark wood that he couldn't identify,
clothing of all kinds; the market was amazing and Simon wished he had
the time to explore all of it.
Some
other day, he promised himself.
Opheilla
pulled him aside at one point to allow four armored figures to pass.
The four of them, two men and two women, were wearing black enameled
armor and armed with short swords. The quartet looked grim and
business-like.
At
Simon's curious look, the cleric nodded after them.
“ City
guard,” she said as they made their way through the crowd.
“They keep order, watch out for thievery, that sort of thing.”
“ There
are thieves among your people?” Simon asked in surprise.
“ I'm
afraid so. Dwarves are no more saintly than your kind, my friend. We
have both good and bad types, and many shades of gray in between.”
They
were almost across the open area now and Simon stopped and looked
back at the busy market. There were literally thousands of dwarves
doing business and the entire place was filled with life and energy
that reminded him of the high days of his own people. Days now lost,
perhaps forever.
“ You
look sad, young wizard,” the cleric said softly.
He
looked down at her and shrugged, trying to smile and almost
succeeding.
“ I
suppose I am, a bit. Your race is ancient, Opheilla, and yet, look at
them all. So alive and vibrant, so strong. We, the human race I mean,
thought we had it all. We were the masters of our world, a great and
wondrous race.” He laughed bitterly. “And now we're gone,
a footnote in history, soon forgotten. This,” he gestured at
the market, “this is the future now. I pray your people never
make the same mistake we did and assume you're invincible.”
The
cleric began to walk, heading into another broad tunnel, and Simon
followed her, his thoughts dark and his mood somber.
“ My
friend, I'm sure that your people made many mistakes, as have mine,”
she began to say as they walked. “But that wasn't what
destroyed them. Blame the real culprits; the dark gods of Chaos. What
the future would have held for humanity if the gods hadn't decided to
return, well, we'll never know. But it might have been glorious.”
She
punched him gently in the shoulder and smiled encouragingly.
“ And
don't
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