Chapter 2 Part 1

Part Two: A Journey

The next day the three friends met in a small tavern on the edge of the city. The weather was very muggy.
“As I was saying,” Avery said around a bite of roast beef sandwich. “You may have contained the heat to a small area of ground, but that column of flame had to have been two miles tall. The effect on the weather patterns could take months to settle back to normal. It’s hot and humid now, but soon it’s going to rain for weeks, followed by some truly record snowfalls. ”
Ultrecht shook his head. “Damn, I never even considered changes to the weather.”
“Well who would have thought any mortal would ever try to generate that much heat? It’s still hard to believe we survived it.”
Armegon grinned. “Well, do we still really count as mortals?”
Ultrecht smiled, but Avery seemed to find the comment mildly blasphemous.
“So now, tell me what you need for this chime,” Armegon asked.
“Well, the metal is going to have to be an alloy of silver and steel; similar to Elven alloy, but harder and more brittle.” Ultrecht took a bite of his pie. “I’m also going to need some ice blue sapphires and several pounds of fine clay. As for the enchantment itself, I’m not totally sure yet, but I will need to somehow instill the concepts of both the wonders of the night sky, and the vastness of the heavens.”
“I’m not sure about the night sky, but to convey vastness, we could use water from the center of the ocean,” Armegon mused absently. “Oh, and I guess we could gather it while it was reflecting the stars.”
“So does that mean you’re planning to assist?” Ultrecht asked.
Armegon bristled. “Well somebody has to keep you from breaking the planet.”
Ultrecht looked at Avery. “How about you? Any plans in the near future?”
“Nothing I can’t postpone,” said the woodsman.
“Ok, then,” Ultrecht said as he ate the last bite of his pie, “how do we collect the water? It will have to be done while the water’s calm enough to reflect, and be collected non-magically. ”
Armegon frowned. “Why non-magically?”
“Because our magic is a reflection of our emotions, prejudices, likes and dislikes, as well as our personal views on right and wrong. This chime has to be pure, or perhaps better said, free of mortal influence.”
“That makes sense," Armegon agreed. Is there any problem with using magic to get there?”
“None that I can see,” Ultrecht pulled a parchment and quill out of thin air. “Let me note that one. The ocean reflecting the stars…” He finished notating and looked at Armegon. “You always were good at symbology.”
Armegon looked pleased. “Why thank you, I don’t think you’ve ever said so before.”
“Then it was past due.”
A couple of days later they decided on plan of action. They would go to Keron, hire a ship and head for the open ocean. Once there they would wait for appropriate weather conditions, collect their water and return. In high spirits, they were off.