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Tumunzahar makes Menegroth look like a contract project. Which, the Dwarves assure her, it was. The stonework is astonishingly careful and beautiful, silky to the touch up close while from a distance it gives the impression of stretching on forever above, a sky of stone with crystals for stars. Vast natural cave systems are connected by dozens of perfectly smooth, gently sloped broad stone pathways from which the fall, if she fell, would be several miles down. There are handrails. "We use those to move materials carts," someone explains to her, "we're not going to be reckless."
There's an amphitheater, a place where a hundred of the stone walkways twine around to create space for a hundred thousand people to sit in close proximity, and someone is giving a lecture or a demonstration at the base of it, the seats closest to him filled with eager, tiny, bearded Dwarf-children.
And they spiral down, and down, and down, past waterfalls and egg-sized gemstones left half in the rock and halls of crystal. Everything grows gradually more ornate and more perfectly maintained and the clang of hammers fades behind them. "People say," her guide says, "that we only have a council instead of a single King because there were nine winners of the competition to design the throne so we couldn't just select one person to sit it." And they push open the doors to reveal, indeed, nine thrones so elaborate it would be hard to choose between them, and nine squat bearded people sitting them.
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"Maitimo says this- " he indicates his own necklace - "means you could teach us your spells, but you won't because there's a chance I could derive from having your healing spell the broader principles of how it functions."
purposeful_glory
"...That is not an especially charitable summary but it's the approximate current state of my thinking, yes. It'd be much more unbalancing in the long run than nukes."
"I don't have time to make hundreds of these necklaces, but when I do have that time you could teach healing to the people who are going to be dying in defense of this city, with an oath from them they won't share it with anyone who could learn anything else from it."
purposeful_glory
"I consider it reasonably likely that in fifty years everybody's going to have free will," she points out.
He raises an eyebrow. "Fifty years?"
purposeful_glory
"If the orcs' oaths are still a problem when I have interdimensional teleportation I may go fetch an object that can solve it. The object is extremely dangerous, and it's possible I'll be able to do one conceptually simple thing with it but not hold onto it long enough to be selective about who actually wants free will and who doesn't."
"All right. Maybe kill Moringotho first, save extremely dangerous manipulations of our fundamental nature for after that."
He pulls some notes across his desk. "Is there anything else?"
purposeful_glory
"No, just wanted to stop in. Later."
She tucks the necklace under her armor and heads back to work.
She tucks the necklace under her armor and heads back to work.
The new population density is causing stress, but not any particular problems. There's a serious blizzard and everyone is delighted that there's running hot water.
purposeful_glory
Running hot water is pretty nice, even for Loki! She sticks with her apartment rather than moving into an underground igloo; she prefers to be accessible to the population and at the last settlement the igloo was closer to the center of population, not farther.
Doesn't this city have a name yet?
Doesn't this city have a name yet?
The city's name is Himring, in Thindarin. The Elves offered to work out what it'd be in the Mannish tongue as well.
purposeful_glory
The Men have all those sounds, they just stumble over the consonant cluster. Himing? Hiring? Whatever.
In the middle of the winter the couriers return from the Nolofinweans. Findekáno is with them. He contacts her as soon as he's in range - I'm not sure I'll be allowed into the city, but I want to talk if you have a moment. Thank you for writing.
purposeful_glory
I have a moment. How are you? I can come out if you like.
Well enough. We moved in. And I'm going to try coming in with the courier, unless you think that's a bad idea, in which case yes, meet me outside.
purposeful_glory
If they let you in I see no reason you shouldn't let them let you; I assume if you were supposed to be kept out they'd have instructions to that effect.
They could do kept in.
purposeful_glory
Well. They've given me no reason to cooperate with keeping you prisoner, does that help?
Yes, actually.
A minute later. There were no problems. I'm in a guest room in the palace but can come find you. This is a very nice city.
A minute later. There were no problems. I'm in a guest room in the palace but can come find you. This is a very nice city.
Laughter. Well done. Are the Men all right? I am among other things here to meet my people, commend them if you think their help merits commending...
purposeful_glory
They're all well, and feel entirely free to dispense commendations, they've been overwhelmingly helpful.
Thank you. Will Maitimo prefer it if I ask to see him, or if I don't?