It had been four days since Trace had left, and Flora had yet to find anyone who would be able to help her. Trace had a plan, and she was trying to help him with it, but everyone she went to would tell her the same thing: too complicated for them. She was, however, determined that today she would find someone that would be willing to help. "Are you sure you're feeling alright? Your scales are rather… off."

Haelith shook her head, closing her eyes hard. "I'll be fine. I just… I need to find a doctor, get a second opinion. No good doctor should self diagnose if they can help it." Flora frowned, but didn't press any further. Haelith hadn't left her room in two days, not even for food or coffee. The summoning runes could bring her food, but she was always so active, it was strange not seeing the dragonkin. Regardless, they both had things to do, and Flora had a job.

They went their separate ways at the gate, with Haelith going to find a doctor, and Flora began asking around. The humans and Keidrans hadn't been helpful, so today she went to the Basitins. They were equally unhelpful, and she was afraid that her quest might be in vain, until she saw someone she recognized. "Maddie! Hi! Can you help me with something?"

Madelyn turned around with a smile from where she was standing at the edge of the main plaza. "Probably. Does it have to do with you finding a smith who can make special armor?"

Flora rolled her eyes. "Of course you would already know. I don't know why I would expect you to not know. But yes, that is what I need."

"I've already got someone who can help!" Maddie opened the door of the building she had been leaning against, and led Flora inside. It was hot and sticky, with stone walls and floors, the sound of clanging metal filled her ears, and the smell of smoke filled her nostrils. There were Keidrans and Basitins in here, about a dozen of each. Why today would be any different, Flora didn't know, since she had asked about them yesterday. "Ptolmek!" Madelyn shouted over the din. "Got a special one for ya!"

Wandering from the back, the white Fox rolled his arms and cracked his knuckles. "Ah, excellent. I heard you've got something you need me to make, that no one else will?"

Flora handed him the paper she had been carrying, before speaking in a small voice. "Yeah. I promised Trace I would find someone to make a suit of armor, but everyone I've gone to say that it's not possible. I have the measurements. At least, I hope that I have enough measurements."

The fox took the paper, and walked to the back of the smithy with them. "Well, it's more than most people usually get when they need armor, but I would expect nothing less for a suit of Ishtaer armor. Can't find anyone who makes that sort of thing these days. As for me, I love a good challenge. Chemistry, metallurgy, physics, all the same to me." He sifted through the pages, but suddenly stopped at one. "What's this?"

Flora glanced over his shoulder to see the paper, and blushed. "Trace wants it to be particularly special for him, so he wants something extra in the chestplate. I have them right here."

Ptolmek smirked as she held out several small items. "You're full of surprises, young one. I'll get to work right away. Should be done in two or three weeks."

"So fast?" Maddie asked, seemingly shocked at the speed. "That's a full suit of full plate with a custom helmet and chestplate, and tail armor! Even the best smiths would take at least a month or longer!"

"I have my ways." he said with a grin. "I have a habit of making new toys that make work easier for everyone, and smithing is no exception. The thing that takes the longest is the hammering and hardening of the plates, so if I can make that go faster, I can shave a ton of time off of my work. I just so happen to have made an item that does just that." He gestured to a Basitin who was working a strange machine. With one foot he pressed a pedal, with his hands he adjusted a plate of armor. The pedal was connected through some belts to a large hammer that went up and down with immense force, a steady and powerful rhythm coming from the machine. "Autohammer. We can make plates of armor in record time now."

"I must say, I'm impressed." Flora said, looking at the machine with wonder. "What other things do you make-"

"I think we should let him get to work." Madelyn said, cutting Flora off. "Armor won't make itself. Come on, let's go get some coffee! Maren and Karen have a place just up the road." Flora glanced between them as Maddie began to pull her out of the smithy. Shaking her head, she let herself get led out of the building, only to see someone unexpected. "Oh! Fennel! I didn't know you were still in town!"

"Sure am." the former Templar said with a grin. "I must admit, I wasn't sure if I would fit in here, but it seems like everyone feels that way. No one fits in, and that means everyone belongs. Keidrans, Basitins, Humans, Ishtaer, everyone here just wants to find a place in the world. It feels right. You must be Flora."

Flora blushed, unsure whether to be flattered that someone knew her, or scared because of who he used to be. "Yeah. I heard about you. I hope you've recovered well."

"Well enough." Fennel rubbed the back of his neck, but then his hand drifted to his arm, where several large scars were visible. "Physically I'm fine, mentally… I don't think I'll ever fully heal, but there's nothing more we can do about that. What have you been up to? You rarely leave the estate, especially with the young one."

Flora smiled kindly, hoping that she was masking her anxiety. "I had to get something special custom made for a friend. It also does me good to get out of the house and see what's going on down here. What about you, what have you been up to now that the clean up work is practically done?"

"Oh, I help out here and there, take work where I can, and generally stay busy. I spent years lifting and hauling, so I do what I know best." Fennel walked with them as he talked, and Flora very quickly noticed that he still walked with a limp, favoring his left leg when he walked. She wasn't sure if this was from his most recent injuries or from an older battle. "Most folks here seem to be good enough, and while I don't think I'll stick around forever, it's been nice. Reminds me of the part of home I liked."

"Where would you go if not here? There's not many safe places in the world right now." Madelyn asked with a frown.

"I'm not sure. The coast sounds too dangerous for me, I've always been scared of lightning. Pretty much all of Keidran territory is out too, can't expect them to be particularly pleased with a former Templar wandering around there. I can't get to the Basidian Isles either, and going back into human lands is a death sentence for now. Maybe I'll find some place in a secluded mountain town where I can be away from everything." They stopped in front of the Taverndatter's place, which had a newly painted sign hanging over the door, calling it 'Dawnhearth'. "I won't keep you two. Enjoy your lunch." With that, he walked away, whistling.

"He's certainly not the same man who we found on the field of battle." Maddie said, shaking her head.

"No. He's better now. Come on, let's get some coffee."

…

Flora had wandered off to who knew where. She would have preferred to be alone for this anyways. Haelith had to do this, she couldn't avoid it. She had to know, one way or the other. There were plenty of doctors around the town, but there was one that she actually had in mind, one that was trusted by people she knew. Doctor Iolim had been the one to work with Zen when he was wounded, surely she could trust him. After asking a few other Basitins, she found herself in front of a small tent just outside town. Why the Basitins didn't build more permanent structures, she could only guess, but if this was the place, then it would have to do. She knocked on the pole outside. "Doctor Iolim? Are you in there?"

The response was very quick. "No. Not yet at least." She turned around to see an older Basitin, hunched over, but a smile on his face. He was carrying a small bag of tools and a pouch that smelled heavily of paprika and pork. "What can I do for you, young Ishtaer?"

She blushed extremely heavily as she stammered "W-well… I… can we do this inside?"

He said nothing, raising an eyebrow, but showed her into the tent. It was a lot larger than she had anticipated, with a small table and two chairs, a bed at the back, and a second cot for any patient to lay in. It was well lit, well organized, and smelled of various medicines and alcohols, which she was used to. "Please, sit, and tell me what brings you to me." He set his belongings down on a small shelf by his bed, before turning to her. Even before she had sat down or started to speak, he was already looking her up and down, analyzing and assessing.

"Well, I have not felt well for the past few days, and have been more sick that ever before. I have my suspicion, but know that I should get a second opinion before jumping to any conclusions." Haelith could feel herself getting more and more flustered as she spoke, rubbing her hands and shifting uncomfortably.

Iolim listened as she stammered, taking a seat across from her. "You simply feel sick? I am going to need more details than that. I am not very familiar with your anatomy. No one is. There has not been an Ishtaer on the Basidian Isles in more than three centuries. I will have to make my assessments based on what I know of other races, and we can work from there. Please, tell me what your symptoms truly are, and what you suspect the issue to be."

She wasn't sure why she was so nervous, why this paralyzed her with fear like it did, but she was terrified. "I… I have had a voracious appetite, no energy, am constantly tired, and feel bloated. I… think I might be pregnant."

She wasn't sure what she expected his reaction to be, but pensive silence was not it. For several minutes, she waited for him to respond. He sat there, looking her up and down, his mind clearly pulling from a vast library of medical knowledge to try and see if she was right. Finally, a smile grew on his face. "Fascinating. There are ways for us Basitins to figure out, but I will need a day or so to observe you. Would you consider staying down here until tomorrow morning? I can have someone go fetch your belongings."

"A day? What will take so long?"

"I need to find someone else. The way we can figure out if there is life inside you is by listening. Our ears are far more sensitive than even the best of foxes or wolves. By listening to what is inside you, we are able to determine if there is another life, or if there is a different issue. I would be happy to help you, but I need to find a different Ishtaer first, since I do not have a base line to compare with. By listening to your heartbeats and seeing if there is an irregular pattern, we are quite accurately able to make an early assessment." Iolim explained with a wide smile on his face. She didn't even think about what she was doing, but her hand slowly drifted from where it was resting to her belly, causing the doctor to grin all the wider.

Haelith didn't have to think long about her options. "If you think this is the best course of action, I will deffer to you."