Me, My Spirit, And I [Book 1 Complete]

Yolden's mind was troubled. He had been given a lot of information during the meeting with Lusha. Some of it was exciting, other parts were downright scary, and the rest he couldn't even share. The mysterious Mr. Shadow had grown into a near mythical figure among those who traded regularly with the Shadow Company. Discovering that they were essentially a kid with the soul of an old man from another world was jarring to say the least.

He made his way through the Shadow Company compound to the special docking cradle built specifically for Dwarven skyships. The Dwarves had held a monopoly on true skyships for centuries. There were others who created imitations and floating barges were quite common, but none could compare to the work of the Dwarven ship masters. Those same ship masters hadn't improved designs in centuries. They were known to be focused on tradition, not innovation, and they kept their secrets close. This was a common trait among the Dwarves especially when it came to outsiders.

Glancing at his personal skyship Yolden wondered if Lusha could really improve on the designs. The wooden hull was a sleeker version of those used by the southern holds that sailed the Great Central Sea. It was made of rare iron wood both light and strong. The entire hull was covered in subtle enchantments. The ink embedded in the grooves was sky blue. The enchantments made the hull lighter and stronger than even the base material among other things. What would happen when those enchantments were applied to the exotic metals that the Shadow Company could produce?

Upon approaching the skyship cradle he clapped his hands to get the attention of the Wind Mage on duty. The Mage started from their near dozing state and bowed their head to the ambassador.

"Need a lift sir?" the Mage asked politely while yawning.

"Yes, quickly, please," Yolden replied. He hated this next part; he had repeatedly asked to have a hoist or lift installed, but was told this was the more dignified and spectacular method.

The Wind Mage used a combination of Wind Manipulation and a spell to wrap air around the squat Dwarven ambassador who slowly rose into the air and was smoothly placed on the skyship's deck. Despite the numerous times he had been lifted by a Wind Mage he never got used to the weightless feeling and the lack of firm ground beneath his feet. Only the Skyborne Dwarven clans were comfortable in the air and Yolden was not one of those.

Captain Wittermere Skyborne greeted Yolden as he landed. "Welcome back aboard the Windbreaker, Ambassador Yolden. How did the meeting go? Did you finally meet the Shadow of Westlin?" The captain's voice was filled with curiosity and his tightly bound and braided hair swayed slightly as he tilted his head in greeting. The small beads that bound it together created a wind chime like effect that was a signature of the Skyborne.

"It went well, but I have a lot to think about and need to use the Astral Chamber. Sevis is still on board, is he not?" Yolden avoided questions about Lusha; the privacy Contract wouldn't let him discuss details about the mysterious Mr. Shadow.

"Astral Mage Sevis is indeed still onboard Ambassador, but I notice you didn't answer my other question." The captain's smile was charming and normally Yolden would stop to chat for a while, but he needed to talk to his superiors now while everything was still fresh in his mind.

"I did meet Mr. Shadow, but I am Contractually bound to secrecy. The mysterious Mr. Shadow will remain a mystery for a time yet it seems."

"Really? A secrecy Contract just to meet them? That is rather paranoid of them." The Captain was surprised, but not shocked. People had been trying to learn more about Mr. Shadow for years without success.

"All I can say is their reasons seem justified. Anyhow I will talk more later." Yolden waved away further conversation as he hurried down the steps into the tight corridors of the skyship. It was built by Dwarves for Dwarves and space was at a premium. To the taller races it would be downright claustrophobic below decks.

The Astral Chamber was a small compact ritual room deep in the bowels of the ship. Sevis' quarters were right next door and one of the few private berths on the entire ship. Yolden knocked loudly. He could hear Sevis banging around before opening the door.

"What is it now!?" Sevis shouted in the Ambassador's face before realizing who was at his door. "Master Ambassador, I apologize you caught me at a bad time."

"Not the first time I have disturbed someone's private time on this ship and it won't be the last. Now prepare the Astral Chamber. I will need to contact my superiors as soon as possible."

"Of course, Master Ambassador, right away." Sevis shuffled around Yolden to reach the door to the ritual chamber.

Astral Chambers were a means of rapid, expensive, and somewhat risky communication over long distances. Time and space meant less in the Astral Plane and its natural conductivity for thought allowed for a meeting of minds over vast distances. It was not something Yolden used lightly, but was often necessary to do his job properly.

Yolden followed Sevis into the room and made himself as comfortable as possible in the center of the ritual circle. In the meantime Sevis prepared the reagents and began to power the ritual while reciting what was part spell, part prayer, and part plea.

"Astral Guardians open the gate, reveal the hidden path, let our minds wander free, for our protection I beseech thee…" the chant continued for some time before Yolden felt his mind slip free of his body and enter the Astral Plane.

Like a fish on a hook Yolden's mind was pulled towards the Astral Anchor linked to the ritual circle. In a city at the very tip of the Fang's Tooth where the Ice Fang Peaks met the Great Central Sea a ritual circle lit up. It was one of many circles in the Astral Tower and the Astral Mage on duty knew it was Ambassador Yolden's circle who was expected to reach out today. As Yolden's mind floated in the Astral several people were hurriedly summoned to the Tower.

Three others appeared in the space, that was not really a space at all, occupied by Yolden's mind. First was the current leader of the Dwarven Confederacy Doran Ashford. Next came Skymaster Avis Skyborne, the current head of the Confederacies' sky navy. Finally, there was Shipmaster Logan Skyborne, head of the sky navy yards.

The Dwarven Confederacy was a loose collection of allied Dwarven nations whose primary purpose was dealing with trade and foreign policy for the Dwarves as a whole. It lacked much internal power, but was the main face of the Dwarfhold when venturing beyond the Peaks. The three Dwarves meeting with Yolden were among the highest ranked members of the Confederate government.

"I, Yolden Hammerfell, Ambassador of the Confederacy, greet you from the citystate of Westlin far to the West." Yolden's mental voice had a muted quality to it, but odd ripples of half formed thoughts and emotions rippled through the Astral Plane as he spoke. Speaking here often felt like speaking from the bottom of a well or through dense fog. There were strange distortions that defied description.

"I, Doran Ashford, President of the Confederacy, greet you Yolden Hammerfell, from the city of Southgate where the mountains meet the sea. With me are Skymaster Avis Skyborne and Shipmaster Logan Skyborne. What news do you bring us from the far West?" Like Yolden's, Doran's voice had an oddly flat quality to it. There were fewer ripples, but even he created waves in the Astral as he spoke.

"I come before you directly from a personal meeting with Mr. Shadow, the founder and leader of the Shadow Company, the inventor of the ferrum argentum that sings." Yolden's statement caused the other minds to light up and create more ripples. The Astral Plane shook for a moment as everyone stilled their minds to maintain the link.

"What was the outcome of this meeting? What can you tell us about the maker of singing metal and Shadow of Westlin?" Curiosity slipped unbidden into President Doran's mind voice.

"I can reveal nothing of the person known as Mr. Shadow due to a Contract of secrecy." This sent ripples through the minds of those present, but once more they gathered themselves as Yolden continued to speak. "My personal Contract is of no concern; the proposed trade agreement I got directly from Mr. Shadow is."

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"He is after our skyships again isn't he?" Shipmaster Logan Skyborne's mind voice lacked the finesse of Yolden and Doran's mind voices. The ripples his words created were larger and more chaotic. His annoyance was clear.

"Shipmaster Logan you will refrain from speaking unless addressed directly. Your mind is too loud! The Guide only knows what you will draw from the Astral with your clumsiness!" Doran's warning was harsh, but clear.

"President Doran, Skymaster Logan is not wrong even if he spoke out of turn. Mr. Shadow wants not to purchase a skyship, but also wants the full design schematics, and a shipmaster to explain them." Yolden knew what he suggested would not go down easily, but he knew he had to convince them. What Lusha had offered was worth far more than what was being asked of them.

"Preposterous!" Shipmaster Logan was nearly ejected from the Astral by the force of his own statement.

"Silence, Logan, or you will be expelled from this meeting. That is your final warning!" Doran's mental voice was far stronger than Logan's and Logan could feel the pressure of the President's mind weighing him down. "Ambassador Yolden, despite Shipmaster Logan's excess enthusiasm and poor Astral etiquette, what he says is not wrong. It is indeed, preposterous, to ask for what we have never given to anyone else."

"It is my belief that Mr. Shadow's request is not only reasonable, but that we can get more from the deal than what we are paying." Yolden did his best to convey his confidence.

"Elaborate," President Doran stated clearly and precisely.

Yolden did just that. He went into a detailed discussion of what was being proposed; what was being asked for, and what was being offered. Shipmaster Logan had to be expelled from the Astral Plane after repeated outbursts, but Skymaster Aevis and President Doran remained to hear Yolden's words.

"Improved skyhips? Without increased Essence costs? Do you truly think that is possible?" Skymaster Aevis asked when Yolden finished.

"I do, I think that the knowledge of how to improve skyships and the process for producing iron and steel in bulk are worth more than our entire fleet. I think the other offers have too many hidden dangers and risks or are not valuable enough."

"Ambassador Yolden Hammerfell, the Confederacy, thanks you for your service and for traveling so far from the holds. All you have told us will be relayed to the Council and you will be informed of the Confederacies' decision in due time." With President Doran's words the meeting ended as Yolden felt the Astral Anchor's hold on his mind slip. He fell back into his body where he flopped unceremoniously to the floor.

"Sevis, how do you deal with this on a regular basis? I feel like my entire brain has been stirred, salted, and mixed with homebrew." Yolden lay there on the floor of the ritual room as he tried to recover from traveling the Astral Plane. It never got easier.

—

Days later after much deliberation, arguments, at least one fist fight, and enough shouting to make a mountain shake the Council of the Dwarven Confederacy finally agreed to a deal with Mr. Shadow and the Shadow Company.

—

Lusha had carved an office for themself to work from at the Shadow Company. Shada had his own workshops, but they weren't designed for someone with a body so were being remodeled slowly as time permitted. The office was a suite of rooms including a room for tutors to meet with Lusha and Westlin. Mina had taken on the role of personal assistant until someone more qualified could be found.

"Master Lusha, Ambassador Yolden Hammerfell is here with a response to your trade proposal. Would you like me to send him back?" Minda asked from the door to Lusha's office.

"Of course, please have one of the gofers get refreshments," Lusha said in a voice that held a hint of excited anticipation, but was also distracted due to the paperwork they were reading over.

"Already done, Master Lusha." Mina insisted that if she was working directly for Lusha that she had to use a formal address even if it was somewhat silly coming from someone who had helped raise them.

Lusha ignored the formality as they quickly scanned the paperwork they were studying before the Ambassador arrived. They were missing the Split Mind Skill and Shada's ability to multi-task.

The complications of being Lusha were starting to pile up. Shada used to shadow Kariss or other staff who were in the know. Whenever Shada's input was needed he just used Spirit Speech to communicate his intentions through whoever was acting as the Shadow's Voice as some workers called those who spoke for Shada. Lusha obviously couldn't do the same yet.

Yolden walked through the door with excellent timing as Lusha finished reading the paperwork on their desk. Lusha straightened and began organizing the papers to be put away for the meeting. "Please give me a moment to finish this and I will be right with you Ambassador Yolden."

The Ambassador thought it was somewhat disconcerting to see a child behind a desk doing paperwork, but schooled his face so it didn't show. Despite knowing Lusha was far more than a child his eyes said he was looking at a child and his brain had to play catch up.

"The world runs on paper as the scribes say. It is of no concern," Yolden said dismissively.

"Please take a seat. You will find that the chairs in my office are adjustable so you can change the height to make things more comfortable. Just use the handle on the side." Adjustable office chairs were still technically in the prototyping stage, but they had the most successful designs implemented in their own office. They were still a bit too short for chairs sized for adult humans after all.

A bemused Yolden wiggled his way into the office chair and gave the handle a try. The abrupt change in chair height startled him and he let out a small yelp.

"I am sorry. I forgot to warn you. These are still early designs and the motion is not as smooth as I would prefer." Lusha said as they watched Yolden struggle with the chair for a moment before getting the hang of things. It didn't take long for Yolden to get it to a comfortable height and he moved around testing the chair, which had a swivel point in addition to adjustable height.

"What bit of magic was used to make this? It is a bit jarring, but once set it is quite comfortable. I must admit chairs are always a bit of a problem when visiting tall folk nations. This contraption solves it nicely though." Yolden marveled at the smooth motion of the adjustable swivel chair.

"No real magic to it. Just material science and a bit of engineering. I can get you the schematics if you are curious," Lusha offered graciously. "We are still refining them so haven't started production yet." Lusha gestured at his and Yolden's chairs.

"These are test models."

"That would be interesting. I have a personal fascination with clever contraptions. It is one of the reasons they sent me here."

"I will have them sent over, then." Lusha smiled while watching the stoic dwarf play with the chair, but knew they had to move on to business matters. "Has there been a response from your leadership to my proposals?"

"Ah, I got distracted didn't I?" Yolden looked ruefully at Lusha. "Yes, a decision has been made. The only way the Confederacy was able to convince the Shipmasters was if we included both the sharing of skyship knowledge and the steel furnaces." Yolden shook his head as he remembered the reports on the heated debates. "In exchange for both you will receive the full schematics of a quality skyship, an expert skyship master and their apprentice, and one of our existing skyships for you to study. They will set out for Westlin as soon as I let them know the Contracts have been signed." Yolden and Lusha were both smiling now.

"That is terrific news! I am so glad to have finally convinced them. Let me send for Kariss." Lusha touched an enchantment that made a crystal chime on Mina's desk. "She can write up the Contracts and we can go over details together." Despite their old eyes, Lusha's smile was one of childish delight and joy. Who doesn't dream of flying a ship through the sky or being an airplane pilot?

"Master Lusha, I was just about to bring in the refreshments when my desk chimed. How may I be of assistance?" Mina's tone and demeanor was that of a helpful secretary, but her eyes danced in delighted mischief at playing a new role.

"Send one of the gofers for Kariss and let her know that Yolden is here to finalize the Contracts for the skyship deal. I am really excited about this Mina, so do hurry!" Lusha smiled at the motherly woman who had taken care of them practically since Lusha or rather Luca was born.

"Of course, Master Lusha." Mina bowed respectfully.

After she left Yolden turned to Lusha. "That is one large woman. She reminds me of the giantkin that live in the western reaches of the Ice Fangs."

Lusha was caught off guard by Yolden's recognition. "Oh? There are giantkin in the Ice Fangs?"

"Oh yes, quite rare to be honest. Ice Giants have been driven to the point of near extinction and their former servants, the giantkin live independently now."

Lusha and Yolden discussed the various races that inhabited the Dwarven lands and the history of the Ice Giants. It turns out the Dwarves had been the ones to drive them to the brink of extinction while defending themselves from raiding Giant clans. The Giants didn't breed fast enough to replace their losses so overtime the Dwarves whittled their population down.

"Only those clans that could adapt to more civilized life remain. They live in isolated villages and avoid much of the rest of the civilization of the Peaks," Yolden said, finishing his brief history lesson.

Lusha didn't know what to think of the near genocide of the Ice Giants that Yolden had described. It sounded like the Dwarves were mainly defending themselves, but there had also been campaigns by aggressive Dwarfholds to slaughter the Ice Giants in mass.

A knock on the door interrupted the history discussion and Kariss entered with a stack of paperwork. Lusha sighed. Not one of themselves enjoyed paperwork. Not John, not Shada, not Luca, nor especially Lusha.

Martialing their smile, Lusha glanced between Kariss and Yolden. "Let's get things sorted then, ya?"

The other two nodded and the real negotiations and Contract began. By the end of the day Lusha would have made a historic deal and his Dwarven skyship would set sail for Westlin. The future was looking bright. Despite the mountain of paperwork.