The Hammer
On the way out of the mines, Lina and Gourry stopped by Watts's shop. The dwarf man was sitting at a table looking mad. He wasn't even working on a new project, and the blacksmith never rested - - as some of their friends had informed them.
"Hey Watts, what's going on?" asked Lina, "Do you have any good items for sale at the moment? I'm in the market for something I can bespell with my magic."
"I lost my hammer when I was working in the mines the other day. If I don't have it, I can't do any work and have nothing for sale," he answered.
Lina knew an opportunity when she saw one. "How about we go look for the hammer for you Watts? In return, you could make something for me to use."
Watts told her, "Missy, you've got yerself a deal."
"Ok, where did you lose it?" she inquired, "If you tell me the area in the mines you were when last you saw it then we may be able to figure out where it is."
"I was down fixing some things for the Diggers. They're genius miners, but awful blacksmiths. We often help each other out," replied Watts.
Lina said, "Thank you Watts. We'll look there first. If it's not in the lair of the Diggers, it may be somewhere nearby. We'll see you later." With that, she began to push Gourry out of the door. They headed to the Dudbear express. Then, they called the Dudbears, who carried the warriors down to their hideaway deep in the mines.
* * *
Once there, Lina began to search around the lair. On the table, she saw a poetry book. Curious, Lina went over and began to read it.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Lina turned around quickly to see Roger run into the room. He took the book from her and blushed. Apparently, he didn't want any person to see the soft side of the Digger's leader.
"Hey Lina," called Gourry, "What do you suppose this thing is?" He was standing by the fireplace and holding a hammer in his hands.
"Gourry, you found the hammer! Great work, now we can get back and get our award," stated Lina. She walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek.
Roger said, "Great Paladins, you must return Master Watts's hammer to him. He is the only one who can keep us supplied for our sacred mission. Again, you have come to save us from a disaster. Thank you, and good tidings from me and all the Dudbears."
Lina sweatdropped. "Well, thank you for your good words. We must be going now. Maybe we'll see you again someday." Then they returned to Watts's shop.
* * *
Back at the shop, Lina handed Watts his hammer. The blacksmith noticed what was in her hands and began to steam. His eyes filled with fury.
"You fiend, stealing me hammer like that," he yelled, "Kids these days'll steal anything if they see it." He took the hammer from her hands.
"Fireball!" screamed Lina. "You asked Gourry and me to bring it back for you. You left it in the Diggers' lair after fixing some things for them."
Watts stated, "Sorry 'bout that. I forget easily. Thank you for finding it for me. I'll never forget you for this good deed."
"Scuse me Watts," Lina reminded, "Remember the item you promised to give me? I would like to have it now, unless you have to make it first."
Watts walked over to his shelf. There, he picked up a pendant from the shelf. Imbedded in the center of the gold pendant was a large, round ruby. The gem shone with an inner light that was amplified by the shop's lighting.
"I got this pendant off a Jumi Knight I met once a long time ago. He told me that it was filled with great power that is able to dispel most any curse. I'm sure you can find some use for it. Curses are common in the world these days," he remarked.
Lina thought, 'If anything I can give it to Zel. I'm sure he'll appreciate something to return him to human form. Then maybe he'll stop being so gloomy.'
* * *
After visiting with Watts, Lina and Gourry went to the bar in Domina. They saw Rooks and Teefa chatting about something or other in the corner. On the top floor, Lina could see Leon and Rutee having a meeting of their own. Nina was sitting at a table and drinking some tea, while Gobi was at the bar selling spices to the manager.
When each person saw Gourry and Lina, they went over to them. The eight people then got acquainted with one another. Soon they were all old friends.
"Did you hear about the problem at the temple?" asked Rooks, "They say that some weird power has been hovering over there recently. Salah and Diana tried to analyze the energy, but they couldn't seem to calculate it."
"Atwight is having a similar problem. Not since Kronos was there something that gave off energy like that," Rutee echoed.
Lina knew at once what it was. It had to be something to do with either Evans or Matilda. She decided that they must go to the temple right away. It was the only way to find what was going on, and Lina didn't like being in the dark.
- - - -
Well, I managed to write a great intro to the next chapter. Want to bring in some good suspicion.
On the way out of the mines, Lina and Gourry stopped by Watts's shop. The dwarf man was sitting at a table looking mad. He wasn't even working on a new project, and the blacksmith never rested - - as some of their friends had informed them.
"Hey Watts, what's going on?" asked Lina, "Do you have any good items for sale at the moment? I'm in the market for something I can bespell with my magic."
"I lost my hammer when I was working in the mines the other day. If I don't have it, I can't do any work and have nothing for sale," he answered.
Lina knew an opportunity when she saw one. "How about we go look for the hammer for you Watts? In return, you could make something for me to use."
Watts told her, "Missy, you've got yerself a deal."
"Ok, where did you lose it?" she inquired, "If you tell me the area in the mines you were when last you saw it then we may be able to figure out where it is."
"I was down fixing some things for the Diggers. They're genius miners, but awful blacksmiths. We often help each other out," replied Watts.
Lina said, "Thank you Watts. We'll look there first. If it's not in the lair of the Diggers, it may be somewhere nearby. We'll see you later." With that, she began to push Gourry out of the door. They headed to the Dudbear express. Then, they called the Dudbears, who carried the warriors down to their hideaway deep in the mines.
* * *
Once there, Lina began to search around the lair. On the table, she saw a poetry book. Curious, Lina went over and began to read it.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Lina turned around quickly to see Roger run into the room. He took the book from her and blushed. Apparently, he didn't want any person to see the soft side of the Digger's leader.
"Hey Lina," called Gourry, "What do you suppose this thing is?" He was standing by the fireplace and holding a hammer in his hands.
"Gourry, you found the hammer! Great work, now we can get back and get our award," stated Lina. She walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek.
Roger said, "Great Paladins, you must return Master Watts's hammer to him. He is the only one who can keep us supplied for our sacred mission. Again, you have come to save us from a disaster. Thank you, and good tidings from me and all the Dudbears."
Lina sweatdropped. "Well, thank you for your good words. We must be going now. Maybe we'll see you again someday." Then they returned to Watts's shop.
* * *
Back at the shop, Lina handed Watts his hammer. The blacksmith noticed what was in her hands and began to steam. His eyes filled with fury.
"You fiend, stealing me hammer like that," he yelled, "Kids these days'll steal anything if they see it." He took the hammer from her hands.
"Fireball!" screamed Lina. "You asked Gourry and me to bring it back for you. You left it in the Diggers' lair after fixing some things for them."
Watts stated, "Sorry 'bout that. I forget easily. Thank you for finding it for me. I'll never forget you for this good deed."
"Scuse me Watts," Lina reminded, "Remember the item you promised to give me? I would like to have it now, unless you have to make it first."
Watts walked over to his shelf. There, he picked up a pendant from the shelf. Imbedded in the center of the gold pendant was a large, round ruby. The gem shone with an inner light that was amplified by the shop's lighting.
"I got this pendant off a Jumi Knight I met once a long time ago. He told me that it was filled with great power that is able to dispel most any curse. I'm sure you can find some use for it. Curses are common in the world these days," he remarked.
Lina thought, 'If anything I can give it to Zel. I'm sure he'll appreciate something to return him to human form. Then maybe he'll stop being so gloomy.'
* * *
After visiting with Watts, Lina and Gourry went to the bar in Domina. They saw Rooks and Teefa chatting about something or other in the corner. On the top floor, Lina could see Leon and Rutee having a meeting of their own. Nina was sitting at a table and drinking some tea, while Gobi was at the bar selling spices to the manager.
When each person saw Gourry and Lina, they went over to them. The eight people then got acquainted with one another. Soon they were all old friends.
"Did you hear about the problem at the temple?" asked Rooks, "They say that some weird power has been hovering over there recently. Salah and Diana tried to analyze the energy, but they couldn't seem to calculate it."
"Atwight is having a similar problem. Not since Kronos was there something that gave off energy like that," Rutee echoed.
Lina knew at once what it was. It had to be something to do with either Evans or Matilda. She decided that they must go to the temple right away. It was the only way to find what was going on, and Lina didn't like being in the dark.
- - - -
Well, I managed to write a great intro to the next chapter. Want to bring in some good suspicion.