Heart to Heart

Chapter 14

"So it only took getting your ass handed to you to finally accept Karlach as a friend?" Shadowheart asked me as I was setting up the campfire for the night.

"Shut it, Shadowheart," I said as I was struggling.

Gale came over and cast a fire spell to get the campfire going.

"Thanks, Gale."

"You can always ask me to get a fire going. Or even Karlach."

I nodded, "Yeah."

"Heard what happened," Gale said.

"I am not much of a fighter like Lae'zel and Wyll. And I was going against the best of the best from Avernus. Not to mention I can't touch her."

"Wonder if there is something we can do about that," Shadowheart said.

"I think I know someone, but I need to talk to them personally."

"Who may that be?" Gale asked.

"Another tiefling that was in the druid grove," I said. "I went down there myself before we met Karlach and got to know him. I did a few side errands for him and to show his thanks was sharpening my sword as well as making me a knife. It'll also be nice to visit him."

"You never said a name, Y/N," Shadowheart said.

"Dammon," I said.

"Right, I remember when you were gone for quiet some time and you had to wander everywhere to find where we were," Gale chuckled.

"Yeah. But he might be the only one to know how to help Karlach. Hopefully it'll do some good in forming a better friendship with her."

"Tomorrow, why don't you and Karlach head to where Dammon is and talk to him. Maybe there can be something he can do to cool her down and let her touch people," Shadowheart said.

I let out a sigh, nodding my head, "Might as well go tell her now."

I stood up and walked over to where she was. Sitting down beside her, she turned her head and flashed me a small smile.

"I didn't hurt you when I flipped you over my back, did I?"

"No. No. I'm fine. I've been through rougher one on one spars," I sighed, rubbing my lower back as that part started to hurt, a reminder of my time fighting with Lae'zel and she used all of her strength to punch me in the back.

"I just don't want to hurt you before I can even touch you."

"About that," I said. "There might be a way where we can cool you down."

"Really? You can cool down my infernal engine?"

"Yes. But I can't. Tomorrow, we're going to find a blacksmith. He's another tiefling that knows how to use his hammer well. Hopefully he can find a solution to your problem."

"That'll mean the world to me, Y/N," she let out an excited sigh. "What I would give to touch again."

"I imagine it wasn't easy being in Avernus."

"Ten years I couldn't do shit about touching anyone. Of course, I used that to my advantage when battling against imps and other devils. But if I got close to anything flammable, I'd run the risk of setting camp on fire. That's why I try to stay clear from everyone here. Well, at least from touching everyone and you saw how I get when I am pissed."

"Your flames do run pretty hot," I said.

She chuckled, "Saying something else behind those words?"

"No," I shook my head. "Why do you think I would indicate you are hot?"

"Because I am literally and figuratively."

Sighing, I stood up, "Sometimes you're insufferable to talk to."

"I've got to get on your nerves somehow," she smirked. "How else would we come together?"

"Not be insufferable," I said, going to playfully kick her elbow, but I thought otherwise.

"That's on you to decide that or not, Y/N."

"I'll see you in the morning, Karlach."

"See you in the morning."

I walked over to my tent and stepped inside, closing the flaps. I laid down on the bedroll and grabbed the pillow. Pulling over my small and light blanket, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep. In the morning, I heard footsteps walking around my tent.

"C'mon, Y/N!" Karlach's voice rang through the early morning. "Let's get going!"

I slowly rose and stretched, yawning as I stood up and walked out of my tent. Karlach was pacing around the front of my tent, her hands on the back of her head. Her axe was strapped to her back and her tail was swaying back and forth. I grabbed my bag, making sure I had everything I needed, and walked out of the tent.

"Rise and shine, sleepy head," she chuckled.

"Let's go," I mumbled and we started to walk away from the camp.

We walked towards the druid grove and headed towards it. Finding Dammon's little forge area, I walked over to him, greeting him.

"Morning, Dammon!" I smiled.

"Morning, Y/N," he smiled. "Your sword need sharpening again? I thought I showed you how to do that," he chuckled.

"Nope, I am all good with my sword. And thank you for showing me how to sharpen a blade. Maybe we can get a different upgrade on it later?"

"Yeah we can definitely do something. But it seems there is a different matter at hand."

"Yes. Dammon, meet Karlach."

"Nice to meet you," Karlach said.

"I as well," Dammon said. "What seems to be the problem, Karlach?"

"Infernal engine," she said, pounding on her chest to emmit a hollow sound coming from it. "Y/N said you might have an idea on how to get it fixed. Or at least fixed to where I don't scorch someone's hand off when I go to shake it."

"Of course. Mind if I listen in for a second?"

"Yeah. Just make sure you back off when it gets too hot. Don't want your eyes melting shut."

Dammon stepped towards Karlach's chest and leaned in towards the engine. A few seconds passed before a small fire started to erupt. He backed away, patting at his ear.

"Oh my, that is pretty hot. Your engine is not meant to run outside of Avernus."

"We figured that out," Karlach said.

"But there is something we can do to take down the heat for now. Do you happen to have some infernal iron on hand?"

I reached into my bag and handed him the metal. Taking it, he felt how heavy it was. Slowly nodding his head, he turned to his workbench and started hammering away at it. Turning, he handed Karlach the finished product.

"Here, you're going to have to install it yourself. It's not going to allow you to touch people, just yet. But it will bring down the heat a bit."

After installing it, Karlach let out a sigh, "It feels good to not be burning as hot as the sun."

"It looks like you're going to need a cooling element to ensure you can touch people. I can't think of the solution now, but if you find me at Baldur's Gate, I am sure I will have a solution then. And Y/N, keep any and all infernal iron you come across."

"I will. Thank you, Dammon," I said.

"Dammon, you're a life saver. Really," Karlach smiled as we headed back towards camp.