As usual, I don't own anything. I'm just a fan writing some fiction. Please enjoy!

Dwarven Vow 98:
Cha mhisd' a' ghealach na coin a bhith comhartaich rithe.
The moon is none the worse for the dogs' barking at her.

3-

It was still raining when Genis returned to Palmacosta, only adding to his frustration and confusion. In their panic to get the infant medical help, they hadn't even thought to bring the box with them. And when he'd returned for it- gone. It had been moved somehow, but no matter where he looked around the tree, he couldn't find it. Someone had to have taken it, and it very well could have been the people who'd abandoned her there in the first place. If they knew that she was alive, or at least that her body had been moved from whatever ritual spot they'd selected, they were probably out to make things "right" again. And that thought was terrifying.

He tried to tell himself that there was nothing special about that baby, and therefore no danger to Colette. Really, when he and Raine had examined her, she seemed a perfectly healthy- y'know, outside of the life-threatening respiratory disorder- half-elf baby. Whatever religious cult might've done this, they'd just seek out another baby for their purposes. But… that wasn't a comforting thought either. It wasn't fair to trade another baby's life for this one. Especially if they were specifically targeting half-elves. Genis just couldn't stand it. He was going through ideas in his head, things he could propose to Professor Low that law enforcement could do instead, but…

As he passed by the marina, however, he noticed a child sitting out by the docks, under one of the canopies. It was strange, considering that the streets were mostly empty on a rainy day like today, but the figure wouldn't have drawn his attention quite so much if he hadn't recognized her. He'd know those long, strawberry-colored locks anywhere.

"Bianca? What are you doing here? Why aren't you in school?"

The girl let out a tiny squeal at the sound of his voice, her head whipping around in surprise. "G-Genis? I'm not skipping class, I swear! We, uh, were allowed to leave early today. It was a half-day."

Genis raised an eyebrow. He knew it was a bank holiday in Meltokio, but there was no such designation here in Palmacosta. "A half-day? On a Tuesday?"

"Um, well…" Bianca's eyes were flitting around, trying to avoid looking anywhere but at Genis. "...yeah."

Seeing that she wasn't relenting so easily, he sighed and knelt down beside her. "So if I go to the Palmacosta Academy and knock on your classroom door, no one will be there, right? Because school's out for the day?"

Her eyes widened a little at the sound of this. "Er, that's…"

"Or was that bit about school ending early a lie just now?"

A moment passed filled with nothing but the sound of the rain against the canopy overhead. Bianca clutched at her skirt. "...p-please don't make me go back to class today," she finally whispered. "And please don't tell Nika."

Genis glanced around uneasily, then sat down beside Bianca, leaning over so that he could speak to her on eye level. "Did something happen?"

"It's nothing bad. You don't have to-"

"Hey, hey." Genis reached out and nudged her cheek. "If you don't tell someone, nothing's going to get better. I know you hate to miss school. What's up?"

Bianca kept her face turned away. "Th-they…" she began in a timid voice. "...they called me a quarter."

Genis frowned. If that was an insult, it was one he hadn't heard before. "A what?"

"The other kids. At school. The half-elf kids I play with. We were talking about genetics and stuff, and they found out that my dad was a human. So that makes me… not a half-elf. It makes me a quarter."

"Oh." Genis froze for a minute. "And they said this to hurt your feelings? As if to say you're not a real half-elf?"

Bianca nodded. "I didn't choose who my parents were. It's not my fault. But now they won't stop… they're being so mean…"

"You need to tell Nika."

"No."

"She's your sister. She'll understand."

"No, she won't!" Bianca shook her head. "She can't understand! Her dad was a half-elf!"

"You…" Genis had to stop to compose himself. He didn't want to yell at her, now of all times. But the sentiment she was expressing showed how little she really knew about what it meant to be a half-elf. She was only a kid, after all, and had been just a toddler when the worlds were reunited. She couldn't remember anything else. "...you know, I was teased when I was a kid too."

"You were?" Bianca's head jerked around, her expression suddenly wide-eyed. "But you're cool!"

"Heheh, thanks. But when I was a kid, people didn't like half-elves. Raine and I had to pretend to be pure-blooded elves so that we'd be safe. 'Cause once our village found out that we were half-elves, we got kicked out. They hated us because of our blood."

Bianca froze. "They kicked you out?"

"Well, not forever. You know Iselia, where Colette's family lives? That's where I grew up." Genis shrugged his shoulders, turning to look back out at the boats docked at the marina. "They hated half-elves, but for a reason. A lot of half-elves did some bad things to the people of that area. It wasn't fair and it wasn't right, but they were scared, and that fear manifested into hatred."

Bianca leaned closer, resting her head against Genis' arm and closing her eyes. "I don't understand."

"It's hard to understand. I hope you never have to."

"Nika said that Tethe'allan half-elves used to be forced to work. That's why she never got to go to school."

"Exactly." Genis looped an arm around Bianca's shoulders. "And that's why she wants to make sure you get a good education. She'd be sad if she heard you were letting some mean people get in between you and your dreams. No one can make you worth any less by talking bad about you. You are you, no matter what your blood is. So don't let those jerks get you down, okay?"

There was a moment's pause, and Bianca wrapped her arms around Genis' waist, burying her head in his chest. "Thank you, Genis. I'll go back to class now."

"Here. Let me walk you there. I'm going to the university, so it's on my way. We can stop by the bakery and get something yummy- how about that?"

"But then Nika will know I skipped!"

"It's better if you tell her than if the school tells her, isn't it?"

"...that's true…"

The two stood up again, Genis reaching down to take Bianca's hand. Her school uniform was wet from the rain, so he removed his own jacket and placed it over her shoulders, helping her button it since the sleeves dwarfed her arms. On her it was practically a dress, but at least it would keep her dry. They started down the empty streets quietly, both only focused on avoiding puddles and keeping each other's hand clasped tightly in theirs.

They didn't see another person for 3 blocks, but when they finally did, she took them by surprise. It was a young woman in an apron, the edges of her dress soiled with sandy water and her watermelon-patterned umbrella doing little to keep her dry. Her face was flushed almost as red as her hair, and she skidded to a stop as soon as she saw the other two.

"B-Bianca!"

"Nika!" Bianca let go of Genis' hand and ran to her sister, throwing her arms around Nika's legs and bursting into tears. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I won't ever run away from school again, I promise-"

Nika had dropped her umbrella and knelt down so that she could scold Bianca properly. "Your teacher contacted me when they realized you hadn't come back from lunch. I've been worried sick about you? What do you think you're doing-"

"Nika-" Genis stepped in, picking up her umbrella and holding it over the two. "-don't scold her too harshly. After school today, you two should talk. I think she has some things she needs to tell you."

"Is that right?" Nika's expression softened, and she reached out to wipe away Bianca's tears. "Well, I suppose that's alright. But only if you go right back to school. Okay?"

"Yes! Okay!"

Nika stood up and Genis handed her the umbrella. Their hands brushed together as he did so, and he found his face turning red. "I-I, uh, can walk her back to school," he stammered. "That way you can go back to work."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, o-of course! I'm headed that direction anyway, so, uh…" He scratched the back of his head, trying to steady himself. "...I'll tell them there was a family emergency. Since she's only been gone for an hour and a half, they'll probably excuse the absence and it won't mess up her perfect attendance record. And I can pick her up tonight after clubs if you need to work extra to make up for this."

"Oh, Genis, you're too good to us." An affectionate smile spread over Nika's face and she leaned in to kiss his cheek, seemingly ignoring what a vibrant red his face turned as she did so. "At least let me make it up to you. Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?"

"Actually," Genis began, "I'd planned a nice dinner for Raine and me tonight, but she told me this morning that she'll be working late again. So, uh, I've got extra cream stew ingredients if anyone wants some. You'd be doing me a favor, honestly, since it's so lonely without Raine around…"

"Cream stew!" Bianca cheered. "Genis, you make the best cream stew! Can we go, Nika? Can we please?"

"Well, if Genis insists…"

"I insist!"

Nika laughed. "Alright, then. Sounds like we've got ourselves dinner plans. If you'll pick up Bianca from school, I'll come to your apartment once I finish work."

"I-I'm looking forward to it!" Genis responded with an enthusiastic nod.

The three turned back down the street, continuing a short distance while the route to the school coincided with Nika's route back to the bakery. They had almost reached the side street where she was to turn off, when a loud noise from somewhere in the distance caught their attention. It was a loud boom, a crashing noise, followed by a commotion of people yelling. Nika grabbed her sister by the shoulders, holding her close.

"Wh-what was that?"

"I don't know," Genis answered, "but it sounded like it came from the university-"

Another series of booms exploded through the air, this time sounding closer. Bianca screamed and Nika dropped the umbrella to scoop her up in her arms, ready to flee in any direction if needed. Genis started running through the rain toward the university.

"You two get somewhere safe! I'll go see what's going on-"

"No! I won't let you go alone!" Nika shifted Bianca's weight to one arm, freeing the other to grab the umbrella as she chased Genis. "We don't know what's going on!"

Nika wasn't the kind of person Genis wanted to argue with, so he simply nodded and ran on. By a few minutes later when they rounded the curve toward the school building, however, they were stopped by a pair of police officers who blocked their way.

"Where are you going?" one asked, holding a hand up.

"We're taking my sister to the Palmacosta Academy," Nika replied, gesturing with her umbrella. "There was a family issue and she's late for afternoon classes. Please, if we could just-"

"Both the Palmacosta Academy and the University have been placed on lockdown. No one is to be allowed in or out until the threat clears."

"Threat?" Genis asked.

"Several bombs were placed in the vicinity of the university's research facilities. We don't know who placed them or why, but the city has asked that citizens take shelter and stay inside their homes or businesses until an all clear has been issued.

Genis choked. "B-b-but… my sister was there! She works at the university! I need to know if she's okay-"

"I'm sorry, sir, but orders are orders. Please return to the nearest safe place and stay there until you hear otherwise. Updates will be broadcast via radio, so-"

"NO! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! MY SISTER IS-"

Nika reached out and stopped him with the umbrella. "Genis, please! There's nothing we can do now. Your apartment is just around the corner- let's go there for the time being and keep an eye on what's happening."

"I'll be happy to escort you," one of the police began, but Nika shook her head.

"Thanks, but we'll be okay. You focus on helping the people who need you."

"Here. It's th' porridge I trysted ye."

Rushing back to Dirk's house in the rain had been a less-than-fun experience, and Lloyd had been ready for a nice hot meal when he arrived. Unfortunately, he'd long since missed the time for a hot meal, and was met instead with something less than appetizing. Noishe was curled up around the legs of the chair, not even interested in begging. Lloyd looked down at the bowl in front of him and poked his spoon at it, frowning in disgust. "It's, uh, cold. And solid."

"That's th' way Dwarves used tae eat it oan joorneys ben unexplored cave systems. It's fillin' an' keeps for a lang time." Dirk sat down at the table across from him, keeping the stern frown that he held whenever he was making an effort not to scold Lloyd when he really deserved a scolding. "An' I expect ye to eat it aw. Dwarven Vow 107-"

"Yes, yes, willful waste makes woeful want." Lloyd sighed and used his spoon to scoop up a bite of the soft oat cake. "I meant to be back in time, I swear-"

"Aye, an' I believe ye. That story was way tae convoluted fur ye to hae gart up. But nae matter the circumstances, a promise is a promise. That's the Dwarven tradition, and that's nae somethin' ye can jist excuse away." Dirk sighed and slid the paper across the table in Lloyd's direction. "But that's nae whit we're haur tae talk about. This is whit we're talkin' about."

Lloyd swallowed another spoonful of porridge with a nod of his head. It wasn't quite so bad if you weren't expecting something warm. "Yeah, that's it! I just realized, I never got to tell Colette and Genis the good news. I wasn't sure if my offer would be accepted, so it was such a relief to hear back! It's going to be such a great place-"

"An' yoo're really certain ye hae th' funds fur this?" Dirk interrupted.

"Well, yeah. When I started saving, I had been aiming for a boat. But as it turns out, a building is actually not as expensive as-"

"I'm nae jist talkin' about the building. Glassblowin' an' blacksmithin' aren't e'en in the same ballpark. It woods take some major renovations tae convert this intae a proper Dwarven style forge- an' it's aw abovegroond, sae it woods ne'er fit aw the specifications nae matter what ye dae. It woods be a huge cost in time, labor, and money, and yoo'd only be gettin' close tae th' real 'hin raither than actually makin' it." Dirk closed his eyes and sighed. "This is too ambitious, e'en fur ye."

"Come on, Dad, you can't be serious." Lloyd shook his head, leaning forward in his chair. "I really mean business about this! Dwarves are no longer interacting with the surface world the way they once did. If this keeps up, everyone on the surface will lose Dwarven crafts and culture. The Dwarven legacy is part of my heritage! I can't let it die out."

Lloyd rose to his feet halfway through his speech, waiting to see what his father would say. He was waiting for a resigned sigh, a proud smile, and a slap on the back praising his determination to the cause. But Dirk's response was more of a dismissive snort than anything else.

"Huh. An' ye say that like ye 'hink yoo'd be daein' a favor tae Dwarvenkind. As if keepin' Dwarven culture alive on th' surface somehaw saves it? Dwarven culture is alive an' weel whaur it belongs- undergroond wi' th' Dwarven civilization."

Lloyd had to stop and contemplate this answer for a moment. "But, Dad… you've been teaching me the Dwarven language, and training me in Dwarven blacksmithing… why would you do that if you don't think it belongs with humans?"

"Because you're my son!" The answer came out more forcefully than Dirk had intended, prompting Noishe to sit up abruptly. Dirk cleared his throat, glancing away. "Where I come frae, a Dwarven smith has an obligation in passin' doon his knowledge. Dwarven parents teach th' the craft tae their children, who 'en have the responsibility ay passin' it doon tae the next generation, and sae oan. I learned th' craft frae my father, who learned frae his mither, who learned frae her mither, and sae on."

Lloyd was silent for a moment. "...and now you're… teaching me…"

"Ye are my son, Lloyd. My eldest- an' only- child. Th' knowledge handed tae me frae my faither is somethin' I gie only tae ye, especially tae ye. It is the gift I gie ye as a faither, an' a gift that I ask ye tae pass oan tae your ain children."

"But I don't have any children-" Lloyd began awkwardly, but stopped himself as he realized that Dirk was just talking about the future. Yeah, the future. Kids would be nice, wouldn't they? "-I mean… but wouldn't you be excited to think that the skills from your father could be shared with even more people?"

"Lloyd, yoo're nae gettin' it." Dirk reached his arms across the table, setting them on Lloyd's shoulders. "I pass that knowledge oan tae ye as a gift because I love ye. It is my expression ay trust in ye. Dwarven smithin' isnae jist a craft, it is somethin' that Dwarves pit their souls intae. The thought ay openin' apprenticeships tae anyone curious enough tae walk intae your forge isn't whit it's about."

"D-Dad…" Lloyd's face fell. "But I… I thought… by sharing this with people, I could…" He stopped and his voice trailed off, waiting for Dirk to interrupt him. But Dirk didn't say anything, and Lloyd had to look up again to confirm the expectant expression on his face.

"Aye? Ye could what?"

"W-well, I…" It was no use. He knew what he wanted deep in his mind, but the words wouldn't come to his head, and now his intentions were all jumbled. "...I don't know. I mean, I know, but… I just can't put it into words for some reason. I guess I sound pretty stupid now, huh?"

"Nae. I'm curious tae know what's goin' oan in yer mind."

"Huh? Really?" Lloyd perked up. There was a hint of a smile on Dirk's face now- or was he just imagining it? "But if you won't agree to help with training, there's no way I can pull this off."

Dirk sat back in his chair, shaking his head. "Nae necessarily. I won't stop trainin' ye jist because ay this. Ye could tak' yer ain knowledge an' gie it out recklessly tae others. I won't approve, but I won't stop ye."

"That's not good enough! I want you to be a part of this, Dad." Lloyd stood up pushing his now empty porridge bowl across the table. "I want us to do this together. If not, then…" He let the sentence drop off there. It felt wrong, suggesting that he'd withdraw his offer on the property after all the worrying he'd spent trying to get it. But without Dirk, it was meaningless.

Dirk, however, seemed to be contemplating it. Or maybe he was falling asleep. Lloyd could never tell. But he opened his eyes again, a glint in them that hadn't been there before.

"Well, then. I still hae my doubts, but yoo've piqued my curiosity. I want tae know just whit it is about people 'at makes ye want tae take any and aw apprentices, nae matter their relation tae ye. Whit dae ye hope to give and whit dae ye hope to gain? Think about it, an' then tell me."

Lloyd stiffened. "R-really?"

With a smile, Dirk handed the letter back to Lloyd, waiting for him to take it to speak up again.

"The deadline fur ye tae confirm yer offer is tomorrow night. Dae it an' get back tae me. If ye feel that strongly abit this, then ye must be seein' it in a lecht that I haven't. Think about it like a Dwarf. Convince me."

Lloyd clutched the letter to his chest, suddenly burning with a new determination. "I-I will! I'll convince you so well that you'll be begging to come and teach! I won't back down, I promise."

"Aye. See that ye dorn't." Dirk winked at him. "Cause if there's anythin' a Dwarf ne'er daes, it's back down."