Hierarchy (Book Four of the Torrent Skies Saga)

Chapter Nineteen: Acquaintance Not Forgotten

Katerin blinked and inadvertently took a step back. She had expected a loud proclamation against her ears, or the way she dressed, or a mocking comment of how out of place she looked, from the dwarf staring at her. "Katerin Moonshadow," she said, her tone much gentler.

The dwarfs stoicism faded in a flash, and a wide smile broke across his lips. "I'll be damned! I knew it was you." His fist slammed the bar. "Katerin." He said her name in such a way that almost made it seem like a memory.

"What?"

"I'm Heirum, girl." The dwarf grinned, as if she should know him.

"Who?"

His face fell a bit. "Heirum," he said again. "I... Well I only trained your father for ten years. He forgets me, so soon?"

"How did you recognize me?" Katerin gaped. This dwarf knew her father? Why had it not occurred to her that some in this city would know him? Dwarves lived longer than humans, after all, and though the city was big, a span of years was plenty of time to make friends.

"It'd be impossible not to! You look exactly like Sulea, don't you? The attitude says it all, too. The wonderment on the bridge. That's your father if I've ever seen it. One and the same." Heirum stretched out a hand, and she took it. "And that short hair." He laughed joyfully.

Katerin touched her hair. It had grown just long enough to be below her ears. She had decided she despised it and wished at least once a day for it to grow faster, though it did not seem to listen or care. "Why don't you come and sit with us, then?" Katerin asked.

It only took them a moment to settle, and Heirum introduced himself to Fykes and Brazen.

"So," he said. "You come to train?"

"Oh," Katerin smiled. "No. I was never very good with a hammer."

"Nonsense!" Heirum grumbled. "You just haven't given it a good enough try."

"We came to find some information, actually. About dwarven enchanting. I'm sure you've heard about Hearth-Homes army?"

"Of course. Everyone has. Shame, I think, that we aren't helping."

It is, Katerin thought to herself, though she did not mention it. "Kryrial has an archway. We think it was dwarven made. If I can find out how it works, I think I can stop it from functioning."

"You, stop Kryrial's army? Alone?" Heirum's eyes grew wide.

Katerin shrugged, and Fykes smiled. "Crazy as it sounds," he said, "We have experience in... similar situations."

"You're even bolder than your parents, aren't you?" Heirum laughed a deep laugh. "How are they, anyway? Why didn't your old dad come with, to visit? He knows plenty of the smiths around here. Might even have been able to pull a favor or two."

Katerin's heart twisted at the way he spoke of her father. "He's... Heirum, he died. Six years ago, now."

Heirum's face fell. All the happiness drained from it, as if such emotion had never been there. "Six years?"

Katerin nodded. "He was very ill. We had a nice funeral, and Imeiza kept all his tools. Still uses them."

"Imeiza. The woman he met in the Hearth-Home?" Heirum asked.

"My stepmother." Katerin smiled.

Heirum grew contemplative. "Sulea never came back?"

Fykes and Brazen had grown rather silent, and Katerin shook her head. "I only met her a few years ago. Had to seek her out."