Ultimate Level 1-Chapter 408: A Gift Forged for Two

Max moved to where Dagon and Velda stood, both of them smiling.

“It is rare for a moment like this to take place, but after some discussion, my husband and I decided that a moment like this shouldn’t be passed up.”

Her and the king moved around the forge and pulled out ornate metal chairs, each carved with runes and set with gems, blue ones in Fowl’s and red ones in Batrire’s.

“Sit, and watch what is about to take place for the two of you.”

Fowl’s eyes darted back and forth between the pair and then at Max, who winked at him.

A forge appeared coal in it and ready to be lit.

With a hand he summoned flames and ignited it, forcing his magic into the forge and causing it to grow hot and flames to appear.

Fowl froze as he prepared to take his seat, moving quickly to where his friend was, ignoring the looks he was getting from the king and queen.

“What are you going to do?” his friend whispered. “Tell me you’re not going to reveal so much to this many!”

A hand motioned from the warrior at the crowd around them.

Drawing close so that he could speak and not be heard by anyone but Fowl, Max squeezed his friend’s shoulder.

“I am, because this next part is more important than that. We both know that word has gotten out from the crafters and the gift I made the king. Besides, what I have planned is worth it.”

He leaned back and with a grin, ruffled his friend’s perfectly placed hair, not doing much to it.

“You’re family. Both of you. Which means I’m willing to share what I can do to give you something that will hopefully always be a reminder of how much you mean to me.”

Sniffing, Fowl nodded and punched Max.

“You’re the greatest gift Ockrim has given me, right after Batrire.”

Chuckling, he hugged his friend and then pointed at the chair next to his bride.

“Go, I’ve got stuff to do, and you need to be with her.”

As Fowl moved to his seat, Max returned to where he had set up the forge.

Dagon moved next to him and pulled a worktable out of storage and set it near him.

“Today we shall witness a crafter and a brother of the groom create something for the bride and groom,” Velda announced, holding her hand up to silence those who were starting to make noise. “This is often reserved only for royalty, but know that Max Hoste is one of the rare humans in this world that has earned the title of blood brother and has gifted both the king and me a gift far greater than either of us have seen in ages. As such we have opened this moment for him to show his love for the pair.”

Only the slightest murmurs took place as she lowered her hand and then motioned to him.

“The moment is yours. Do your brother well.”

Max grinned and nodded. He had been waiting for this moment when Dagon had mentioned it and approved his request.

In his hand appeared his hammer and a metal piece that he had been working on for the last few weeks in secret. Only Tanila had known about it besides the king and queen, and now the moment had come to see if it would work as he hoped.

You’re certain this will work?

Certain? No… but it should work. I have analyzed everything I can of what I know of magic and crafting. If this doesn’t work, you always have the backup.

Chuckling to himself, Max smiled.

I’d prefer to not have to do that.

Then let’s make sure it works the first time.

He moved around the anvil and held the metal piece out before them. Etched all over it were dwarven runes, but on one side at the base was something special.

“Read it.”

Both leaned forward and squinted.

“To the only dwarves I love. May this staff keep you together forever.”

“What does that mean?” Fowl asked.

“Let’s see if I can make it work, and you’ll find out.”

Returning to the forge, Max set the piece inside it and then infused it with mana. It began to glow, and when it reached the moment he knew it needed to be, pulled it out, holding it in his bare hands.

A slight sizzling noise came as it burned.

Gasps rose from the crowd, but Max didn’t flinch.

“Marriage and love isn’t easy. It hurts. Those we love are often the ones who can hurt us the deepest. We bare our hearts and soul and in return, entrust them with the deepest secrets we have. So even though pain may come from this, there is also a chance for us to be drawn closer.”

He set the metal piece upright on the anvil. It was only about nine inches long and had a hollow section in the middle, formed from a crystal he had to trade for, but what Bob had told him was this was the only way it would work.

“Fowl and Batrire, do you trust me?”

“Sometimes,” their healer replied with a wink. “But I’ve never doubted your care for us.”

“You know I trust you with what I hold dearest,” his friend stated.

“Then come here. I’ll need your help for this next part.”

Both rose, moving to where Max stood.

“Fowl, this is going to hurt. I need you to put your hand on top of this. It’s going to burn, and worse is what I’ll do after.”

Turning his attention to Batrire, he smiled.

“You’re responsible for keeping him safe. Heal him when I tell you but only when I tell you. This next part requires you to know he’ll suffer for you. It will also help him to know that you’ll always be there to heal when it is time.”

Both of them nodded, and Fowl took a deep breath, his hand hovering just an inch from the still hot piece of metal.

“No skills?”

Smiling, Max shook his head.

“Figured I’d ask.”

With one last breath, the warrior pressed his palm down on the top of the metal piece that was a little over an inch wide.

Immediately the hissing sound of burning flesh came, yet Fowl didn’t make a sound or react.

“Forgive me,” Max said, holding up a tiny, thin, short metal rod.

With a nod, Fowl turned his eyes to where Batrire stood next to him.

Max plunged the tube into his friend’s hand. Still no reaction came, and slowly blood began to flow through the hollow tube, which had some holes along the side, draining into the crystal area.

It took over a minute for it to be filled, and when Max pulled the needle from his friend’s hand, he motioned to Batrire.

“Heal him.”

A green glow covered Fowl’s hand.

“Take it off.”

Lifting his hand, the dwarf studied it, seeing the lack of burnt flesh or a hole that had been there a moment ago.

“The rest comes down to Batrire and me,” Max said as he pointed at his friend’s chair.

“Bah, I was hoping for something more dangerous,” Batrire replied as she watched Fowl move toward his seat.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Laughter came from the crowd as the groom sat.

A piece of metal the thickness of the hole on top appeared between his fingers, and Max carefully set it inside the opening, tapping it in, and then began to pour mana into the area, watching as it sealed the hole.

“Now listen, this part… it’s going to be hard,” Max whispered. “I’ll tell you when to heal, but I need you to direct it at the blood inside this. Can you do that?”

“The blood?” Batrire whispered. “I mean… I can, but will it work?”

“We’ll find out,” he replied. “Just be ready.”

She nodded, and a metal glove appeared on his right hand.

A fire elemental core appeared, and he began to get to work.

“Heal, normal one.”

Batrire frowned, and after a moment, she nodded, the green glow appearing around where the blood was.

Well it looked like it worked. Time to see if we can do this.

Smiling to himself, Max began to pour more mana and fire magic into the spot he was holding the core.

I’ll owe Everett for these.

Of that, I’m certain he’ll let you know.

***

Hours had passed, and Batrire continued to heal as he called for it, the entire crowd not having left, only occasionally shifting as all tried to see what Max was doing.

The last core absorbed, and he felt a rush of energy.

Letting out the breath he had been holding, Max smiled.

“One last part, it’s your turn to bleed.”

Batrire frowned but nodded and held her hand out to where Max was.

With a quick move of his hand, her finger was laid open, and blood began to flow.

He had the wood staff he had already crafted pressed against the flow of blood, watching as she winced a little but said nothing.

When it was all done, Max connected the pieces, the metal shaft turning once and locking into the metal piece he had already set a few days ago.

“You can heal now.”

She snorted and pulled out a potion, drinking a little before corking it.

With that done, Max began to wipe down the staff, feeling the magic in it react to the cloth and the knowledge it was complete.

[ 30 Experience Gained ]

[Inspect Weapon]

*****

Legendary Elemental Staff of Healing

+ 100 CON/INT/WIS

+ 40% to all healing spells

Healing Meant for One: This staff has been imbued with the life force of Fowl Hammerfall. All heals given to him will receive an extra +20%.

[ Bound ]

*****

Smiling, Max held it out to Batrire, feeling the weapon almost pull itself to where she stood.

“Holy elf tits!” she exclaimed, her voice carrying across the room.

Tears began to flow from both eyes as she glanced at the weapon in her hand and up at Max, who simply smiled at her.

“Keep him safe, okay?”

Without waiting she rushed to where he stood, storing the staff and wrapping both arms around him.

“Thank you!” she whispered.

Hugging her back, Max gave her a gentle tap after a moment and pulled back.

“Now stop hugging me like that, or he’ll start to get jealous.”

Laughter came from many, and Batrire wiped her face and nodded, turning to where Fowl sat.

“I’ll tell you later,” she said.

“By Ockrim’s beard, you better!”

***

Dagon cleared his throat and stood to one side of the pair as his wife stood on the other, each of them passing the rope they were wrapping around the two.

“As it has been said many times, rope is a common item, but it is often overlooked how special it is until you don’t have it. Love is like this. Many think it is nothing until you don’t have it. Once you see how special it is, there will always be a need for it. May you two be bound as one, and never lose the love that binds you right now.”

As he finished speaking, Velda leaned forward and tied the knot.

“They are one,” she said.

“THEY ARE ONE!”

Max felt the weight of what had just taken place as Tanila squeezed his hand.

“Soon,” he whispered.

She nodded and smiled.

Cheers and whistles came from everyone gathered, and Max couldn’t help but smile as Cordellia let out one of the louder ear-piercing whistles in the hall.

“COME! Come congratulate the new couple!” Dagon shouted.

Both sets of parents moved first, and then Max, Tanila, and Cordellia moved to join the end of the line. After that it was a frenzy as everyone left in the hall began to move as one, all anxious to give their well wishes.

***

Max smiled as he held Tanila close, studying how a number of the Faction members were passed out on various benches and tables in the room they had celebrated.

Near him Cordellia, Dexic, and Tom snored softly, the trio all face first on a stone table.

“Seems like your group can’t hold their liquor,” Erwini teased Everett. “I had high hopes for some fighters with better constitutions.”

“It’s actually Max’s fault. He always pulls out the hard stuff, and they drop like babies after a night on their mom’s teat.”

Chuckles passed between them both as the one responsible for the snoring adventurers held up his cup of green alcohol.

“Don’t blame me if they’re all lightweights. Besides, both of you have barely drank half.”

“I didn’t get hair this gray without learning to take some things slow,” Everett stated. “Besides, I really want to keep my wits about me. I got a lot of things to get in place in a few days.”

Erwini shook her head and snorted.

“Going to another world… I mean… that sounds so… non-Faction leader-like.”

“Jealous?”

She nodded and shrugged.

“If I could get out of this place for a few weeks and explore a new world with this one watching my back, you can bet your ogre nuts I’d be there in a heartbeat.”

“You both are acting like children,” Tanila said. “I mean, you forget he’s going to be doing work while there.”

“ Work, ” Erwini said, making quotes as she did. “I’m certain that whatever he is going to do there will be a lot more fun than having to deal with half the stuff here. Besides, it’s a fricking different world!”

“I’ll try to remember to bring you back something,” Everett said as he raised his glass and took a small sip.

A groan came from the dwarven woman as she raised her cup.

“I wonder… no I don’t. I know exactly what those two are doing,” Erwini stated. “Good news is they’ll be back in two days, and then I can expect things to quiet down here a little bit.”

Everett shook his head and grinned.

“Please… you’re going to be overflowing with new applicants in the coming week. Trust me.”

“You mean it’s going to get worse!? I’ve already had like a 25% increase in the last few weeks.”

“Oh, those are the early numbers… just you wait.”

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Blowing a raspberry, Erwini shook her head before downing the last of her drink. After setting down her cup, she glared at Max.

“I still can’t believe the very thing you made me take an oath to not share, you publicly display at that wedding. I mean… I get it. What you did was… beyond words.” A small sniff came from the Faction leader of Nalgrun. “The entire city is wondering what those stats are, and last I heard there was a group of other Factions wanting to reach out and commission you for some work.”

“Same old Max,” Everett muttered.

A chuckle came from Tanila as she gave Max a slight poke of her finger, shifting his attention from the other two.

“Two more days,” she whispered. “ Whatever shall we do?”

“I’m all yours, my love. So you tell me.”

Rising from her spot, the elven woman smiled and pulled on his hand.

“If you two will excuse us, I think it’s time for us to retire.”

Both Faction leaders nodded and waved at the pair as they left, each shaking their heads as they disappeared from the room.