Free Souls- chapter 7

Chapter seven: New identity


When Lilith woke up the next morning, for some reason she finally felt she was back home. Her old house in Neverwinter was far from there and even her beloved ones were still miles away from her, but the sweet dreams of the previous night made her relax, and the awake had been refreshing, any tiredness now gone.
The half drowess stood out of the bed and slowly stepped downstairs where, to her surprise, Rownel was having his breakfast. It made her realize she'd slept for quite a long time, far more than how she was used to- but soon her surprise vanished, replaced by vivid curiosity. What was his big smile for?
<<I think I got most of the measures right. But afterall I always did, back then>> the gnome whispered, his smile getting even bigger. <<The ship will sail later in the afternoon, the mayor said. You'd better get ready>>.
Lilith smiled back and was about to answer, slightly confused by his first sentence, when Rownel said interrupting her: <<I don't have money I could give you, nor my grandson has any. Honestly I can see their plan here: the mayor saw something good in you and sent you here, to entertain me and give me some company, maybe giving me some will to get back to my work. My grandson tested you and confirmed the mayor's thought; still, don't think he just pretended to be rude, as stupid as he is>>.
The girl listened to his old voice speaking, feeling somewhat nostalgic already, even before hearing what he was going to hear next: <<Lovely tale, the one of yours. But you can't keep going only with a cloth, so I made something for you>> he jumped down from his chair and showed her the way to the basement.
There a beautiful, shining armor of Mithryl was waiting for her, lovely shaped, along with comfortable trousers and a pretty shirt. New low- heeled boots and new belts, some weapons attached, were also ready to be used for the first time.
The gnome preceded Lilith, who was now in awe, and explained: <<You know what Mithryl is, girl, I'm sure there's no need to talk about the protection it'll give you, despite its lightness. Now, I'll be showing you these, some tricks from my rogue friends>>. His hands examined the boots, and after pressing a little corner on their back, a little, short blade popped out of the tip. <<You can use these in case you need to climb a rough surface. And now, if we check the belt...>> again, his hands lightly clicked an invisible button on the buckle: pushing one side and pulling the other, a thin wire came out of the metallic hide. <<This will come in handy if you need to climb or com down from something…I’ve noticed you don’t seem very balanced>>.
Lilith giggled knowing he was right- she fell down so many times, and her steps were often uncertain! But although she found his thought quite amusing, her eyes instantly filled with tears.
<<These are the weapons I’ve forged, based on some warrior friends’ tastes>> he kept saying, showing her two beautiful daggers and a short sword. <<They’re very sharp, watch out. And, may you have to deal with invisible enemies, they are enchanted to cut even the ethereal beings>>.
<<Why did you make this for me? I didn’t do anything to deserve it>>.
<<You did>> Rownel shrugged embarrassed. <<I can’t see the world out of the city anymore, I’m too old! And my life has become so lonely… I wish I could live an adventure such as yours, but as I won’t manage to be there, my creation will, in my place. You’ll come back here and tell me what happened>>.
The half-drow knelt down and hugged the gnome, teardrops running down her cheeks. That gift was so beautiful and unexpected, arrived in a moment in which she could barely see her way…knowing she had a new support back in her world gave her comfort and a form of assurance.
Rownel stood still blushing for a few moments, looking around the room and spacing out, then grumbled and slipped away from Lilith’s embrace. <<Now, now, let me take a look at your measures before you leave. I must refine and fix eventual mistakes>> he said, his pointy nose still red, his eyes slightly humid. He immediately picked up a string and started measuring her, from the feet to the legs, to the shoulders, to the neck. When he’d finished he gently suggested her to take a walk in the small village and she hadn’t have the time to do so yet, and the girl accepted his advice.

Lilith wandered around for a few hours: she saw the children she already met and new one, she saw new explosions signs which weren’t there the day earlier, she saw the mines and the artisans. As she saw shops selling jewels, a thought struck her suddenly, and without even reconsidering the idea, she walked through its entrance.
A human, probably one of the rare non-gnome people in there, greeted her and asked how he could serve her. She knew what to ask: she could have never had another purple pearl, as her mother took them all with her underground except for the one she gave her as a gift, but she could have the symbol of her new identity.
<<I’d want a little, silvery “V” necklace. Something really simple and plain>> she explained shyly. She was still dressed up with a dirty cloth, and wasn’t really comfortable with her appearance.
The man didn’t pay much attention to her clothing anyway: he was used to gnomes and strange races enough to find her attractive despite her skin.
Afterall, Lilith was very beautiful although many people denied her company because of her origins: with the look of a young girl, around her 18th if she’d been human, with sweet lips and slightly pink cheeks, her eyes like liquid amber and flowing silver as hair.
He looked and winked at her trying to look attractive, not knowing she wouldn’t pay no mind to men except for her beloved one. <<I could easily make such a work, my lady. In an hour or so, most likely, if you don’t mind waiting some time. It’d be two silvers>>.
Lilith blushed suddenly. <<I don’t have money right now, nor the time to gather up some, actually>> she replied, thinking of how stupid she’d been forgetting such an important matter. <<I’ll pay when I come back here though. I promise>>.
The smith winked at her again with malicious eyes. <<You could also pay me in other ways, may you-->>
<<No, really>> she growled back scowling, almost getting mad at him. <<I promise I’ll come back here to visit Rownel. I’ll leave here an assurance to you, if you don’t trust me>> she was about to go to the mayor and pick up Fafnir’s knife when the man, hearing Rownel’s name, changed attitude immediately. Apparently he was one of the oldest gnomes of the city, one of the most sour and yet more respectable: he helped many people with his smith-work, and found good jobs for many young men.
Once again Lilith felt very honored and lucky of receiving such a wonderful gift, but although she felt sorry of leaving, the blue dragon wouldn’t have waited long.

After receiving her new necklace, the symbol of her mission and identity as Fifth General, and having changed clothing now wearing the shining armor, Lilith greeted everyone she had the chance to know. She hugged again Rownel, who was now hiding his tears, and the children who played with Vanda; thanked the mayor for his faith, and the guards, who were now studying her with curiosity and interest; she even saluted Rownel's grandson from distance, as he was again covered with ashes and dust.
She arranged her two gems with Valm and Vanda in a little bag attached to the belt, as well as Fafnir's knife, and finally left to reach the port, accompanied by a small crew of merchants and their goods.


It continues in chapter 8