A Falcon's Light

Chapter 12

The light was blinding and I staggered through, unable to see in front of me. All at once, the air changed, thicker, heavier, and the light was gone. I opened my eyes to see a steampunk-like city. Buildings made with tarnished metal and zeplin balloons soared over the greying sky. It was insane, how was I going to find a weapon here? Look behind you, Alice. So I turned to see a large gilded solid gate. As I approached, it opened to a large hall. I entered, feeling a siren-like call from within.

The hall wasn't decorated besides the hanging chandeliers giving off a golden glow. I followed the feeling in my chest down the hallway to a large set of double doors. Djehuty had said to follow my heart, this felt like it, so I pulled on the huge metallic ring. The room beyond was filled with all sorts of treasure, but mostly weapons and armor.

"I had a feelin I had eh guest." A low gravelly voice made me jump. I whipped around to see a large squat man. His golden beard was decorated with beads and braids which reached his belly. He looked like a huge dwarf. "Frgive me lass, didn't meen to scare ye. My name is Throvoul Oakenheart, welcome to the world of the dwarves, lass. Might I have your name lass." So he was a dwarf.

"Alice Conrad, Djehuty of Egypt sent me to find a weapon." This guy made me nervous simply due to his size. He was probably 7 foot tall but his dwarven body was just as wide as he was tall. He took up the entire hallway, and his hands were big enough to crush me if he wanted. However, the look in his big green eyes screamed that he was gentle and kind.

"Aye, I know em. I am the dwarf of yur Egyptian gods. We hav a whole groop of dwarves dedicated to another groop of gods. My friends Brokkr and Eitri are in charge of yur Norse gods. Well, I'm happy tuh help ya lass, but finding yur weapon is up tuh ye." His green eyes sparkled as he smiled, his beard beads clinking off of each other. I nodded turning back to that feeling in my chest.

The room itself was filled with all sorts of weapons from different countries. Katanas from Japan, Norse battle axes, Egyptian Khopeshes, chakram, even a katar. It was a paradise for a weapon geek like myself. I almost drooled as I examined the beautiful arms. I could hear Throvoul chuckle behind me. I eventually closed my eyes to feel that call better, and let it lead me.

Soon I stopped in a spot where that feeling was screaming at me. I didn't know what to expect but I wasn't expecting what was screaming at me. Sitting on a stand in front of me was a folding fan. It was beautiful. The spines were made of silver embedded with aquamarines and pearls, and stuck out well beyond the fabric like knives. The fabric itself was a pale blue satin and had a pattern of white swirls outlined in a darker blue. At the bottom of the fan dangled a white cord that held a droplet of aquamarine before fraying into a tassel. It was truly stunning.

I gently grabbed the fan and picked it up from its stand. It was feather-light and was the perfect size for my little hand. I marveled at its craftsmanship and turned to Throvoul with a smile. He grinned but held up a finger in wait. As he did this the fan began to tremble. I almost dropped the poor thing. The trembling stopped and instead began to glow. The fan changed shape, growing and shifting, soon my fan was gone and in its place was an elven woman.

The woman was beautiful with long silver-blue hair and ashen grey eyes. Her eyelashes were snow white and her skin was ivory white. Pale white pointed ears peeked out from her hair. She had freckles but instead of normal brown in color, hers were metallic silver. An ash silver gown hugged her small frame. The sweetheart neckline was covered with an ash blue pleated tulle and lined with little pearls. A similar colored tulle cape hung off her shoulders and hung below her waist.

She smiled gently, showing off perfect white teeth. "My name is Mist. I shall be your weapon from now on." She bowed low to me, her voice was like mist rolling off a lake.