Aeglazan, Duchy of Oldwell.

Aniel the 19th of Kielat, First month of Summer.

2126 years since the new gods came.

Barrel heat treatment went perfect! I'm so happy it worked out. Anna and I won't be seeing each other again. I will miss the conversation.

There is some annoying thumping in the basement. I hope the baths are working properly.

*-*-*

19th of Kielat, Evening, The Golden Goose,

Anna and her parents, the Lord and Lady Silverloch, were sitting in a well appointed private room at The Golden Goose, the most exclusive of inns in Aeglazan. Off white walls, with exquisite murals of ocean scenes set off the linen clothed table that was set with fine silver and cut crystal goblets of wine. Conversation was quiet between the family until Maxwell was shown in by the head waiter. Maxwell was dressed in the same outfit he had worn at the student mixer, with the addition if his master smith pin on his left lapel, and a socially acceptable knife tucked into his belt on his right.

“Ah, Master Smithson!” The well dressed Lord Silverloch stood up from the table and waved Max over. When he was within reach, the elf extended a hand.

“Please, call me Max. You are Lord Silverloch, I presume?” Max asked, shaking the extended hand.

“You are correct, but please call me Seth.” Seth said, smiling. He then waived Max to a seat next to Anna. “I have already taken the initiative, and placed all of our orders.”

Max almost frowned, “You shouldn't have, Seth.”

“No, no” Seth smiled, “Don't worry about it, it was the least I could do.”

That was the moment the wait staff chose to enter with the meal. A meal that started with a bitter soup (to cleanse the palate); then a simple peasant salad (with more meat than a peasant could afford); a second light and salty soup; then the main dish, a deep-fried swan, fresh grease dripping down it's back, with thin wires holding it in a striking pose, accompanied by tubers, squash, and a thick gravy; last was a platter of mixed sweats, and a sweet cordial. The meal took well over an hour to consume.

At last, full to the point of bursting, Max sighed. Maybe I judged too quickly. Seth does know how to pick food. He thought. “Thank you for the food and conversation, Lord, Lady, Anna.”

“Think nothing of it, my good man!” Seth replied. “While the ladies go off and powder their noses, I do have a couple of questions for you, man to man.”

Anna and her mother took their cue, and departed.

“As you are well aware, my daughter has become quite smitten by you, and has asked us to look into things to see if you would be a suitable husband.” Seth said. “We have done so over the last while, and even the church has given it's blessing. So we have come to meet with you, and to ask when you will be asking for her hand in marriage.”

Max sighed and slumped in his chair for a moment, before sitting up, “I was concerned that this may happen. I regret to inform you that I have no intention, or interest, in marrying your daughter. I would much prefer to have her as a friend than as a wife or a lover.”

Seth shot to his feet, knocking over his chair, “HOW DARE YOU!” He shouted. “We invite you out to an expensive dinner, and offer you the hand of our lovely daughter in marriage, and you Dare snub us like this?!? Draw steel you cad!”

“Lord Silverloch, you have no sword to draw, and so I will not fight you.” Max said, rolling his eyes and standing. “Even if you did have one, I still would not fight you. I like Anna, As a Friend, and it would hurt her to see her father dead.”

Seth's eyes bulged, his breath grew ragged. He grunted and threw the table into the wall. “You cowardly whelp! I will kill you for this insult!” He charged at Max.

Max ducked out of the way of the charging elf, stepped to the right, and fled from the establishment. I will NOT kill Anna's father over something so stupid as this. Idiots.

*-*-*

21st of Kielat,

Anna hasn't been around. Not surprised. Willa was laughing at my story of what transpired upon meeting Anna's parents. I have realized that Willa is probably also nursing feelings for me, I will need to nip this off. Sigh.

22nd of Kielat,

I took Willa out for a drink this evening, and told her about my wife, attempted suicides, my actual (as far as I remember) age, and my vow against relationships and marriage. I think she gets it now. She did give me a hug.

47th of Kielat,

I have been quite remiss in my journaling of late... A quick review. Anna is no longer around, I miss our talks, I wish her well. Willa is talking to me less. Finals start next week. My single shot rifle is almost done. I have decided to close the barrel with an Interrupted Thread screw, with a floating firing pin in the center. Removing the spent shell will involve using a dowel, but it is still a prototype.

3rd of Amsiel,

Finals were harder. I enjoyed them. My grades aren't worth mentioning, except that I passed. Upon talking to my classmates, I probably should have been graded higher. Meh.

The archdean has requested another lecture. I have politely declined, using my grades as proof that I need more practice if I am going to graduate.

5th of Amsiel,

Last month there was some annoying thumping in the basement. Now it is in the walls on the ground floor. The gnoll claims it is a ghost haunting us. Meh.

6th of Amsiel,

The sound is becoming more persistent. My final project from last quarter has gone missing from my room, a red and black glass herb pipe. I am annoyed, as my lock wasn't touched. Perhaps I will need to ward my room.

10th of Amsiel,

A localized earthquake woke me this morning. By localized, I mean that it was just Murphy's Hall, nothing else. I hope it isn't because of anything I have done.

11th of Amsiel,

The thumping is louder than ever. It seems to be in my ceiling. I will investigate tomorrow afternoon. For tonight I will stay in an inn.

12th of Amsiel,

It wasn't a ghost. It was a damn pixie. It lives in a cage on my desk now. I have returned it's treasure trove of goods to their rightful owners. Well the newest items, anyway. It has been collecting things for 200 years. The rest of the haul is in my trunk.

*-*-*

Maxwell waited for the noise to come again. When it did, he jumped and put his fists through the ceiling of his room. His left hand brushed something soft, and he grabbed for it, once, twice, on the third grab he caught it. It wriggled in his hand, then bit him. He let go of the ceiling joist with his right hand, and dropped to the floor. He gasped when he saw the contents of his left hand. A half strangled pixie.

*-*-*

The pixie was beautiful, if a bit feral, stomping it's purple skinned foot on the bottom of the cage. An Iron and Steel cage Max had bought at an estate sale several years back for a project, although he couldn't remember what project at the moment. He had covered the floor of the cage with a sheet of wood, so the pixie wouldn't get hurt from the iron.

It was currently keening at him in a high pitched voice.

“Look, little lady, you aren't a dragon, so you don't get to sleep on a bed of gold.” Max said, looking at the small, now red glowing, figure in the cage. “Maybe copper?”

He waited for another burst of noise. “Fine, silver is acceptable. Now you mentioned you have more stuff squirreled away?”

“Yes, I will keep to our agreement. I give you food so you don't have to ransack the dorm, and lodging, and you give me your treasure, such as it is.” He said, after another burst of noise. “And no, I can't believe they thought you were a ghost either! Bunch of idiots.”