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dulled, and his armor was always sturdy yet surprisingly light-weight, providing the wearer more freedom of movement.
    "Oh, it’s you is it? Hmm finally decided to git yourr lazzy butt out o' bed did yeh?" Rancoth turned from the beautiful silver shield he had been admiring to look at his long-time friend and tutor.
    Dorbin was a small, thickset man, standing around four feet tall, an average height for his race. He had a large bulbous nose and high round cheeks. The top of his head was bald, but there was a perimeter of snowy white hair that wrapped around the base of his skull, came up over his ears, and wrapped itself down his sideburns and up over his lip.
    The sideburns were long and hung down to his chest; he kept his chin shaved, and braided the two long sections of sideburns a few inches under his bare chin. His race's eyes didn't glow, and the only color they had was in a small circle around the pupils; the rest of their eyes were white. Dorbin's were dark brown, and they showed the confidence of his many years of experience.
    Rancoth smiled and said, "Good morning, Dorbin my friend. I thought I was doing pretty well, considering that the sun is just now coming over the horizon and most of the city is still wandering through their dreams."
    A hint of a smile touched Dorbin's face before he replied, "That's no excuse! Wherre have ya been forr the last thrree days anyway?"
    Rancoth couldn't help but grin at the small older man. "First of all, the last I checked, I'm no longer taking lessons, and as such am not required to be here every day."
    Dorbin pulled a face and said, "Well. If you don't want to be herre then git out!"
    Rancoth grinned again. "I didn't say that. And second, if you really want to know where I've been, then don't jump to conclusions and let me tell you."
    Dorbin crossed his arms and glared at him but didn't say anything else.
    "That's better. Now if you must know, I met a girl at the pub a few days ago, and she and I have been spending some time together."
    At that the little Dwalish man's eyes lit up, and a smile cracked his face. "Ohh now that's differrent! Why didn't you say so? What she look like? Does she have a nice butt? You know how I likes me a nice rrround bottom!"
    Rancoth immediately started to laugh. "You only like their bottoms because it's the only thing at eye level!"
    Dorbin grunted. "Don't starrt with the shorrt jokes, and answerr the damn question!"
    Rancoth chuckled again and then shook his head. "It's none of your business. Besides, I'm not seeing her again anyway. Now what can I do to help you out today?"
    Dorbin threw his hands in the air, and shook his head. "Was prrobably flat anyway. Why don't you sweep the floorrs, and then you can help me in the back."
    Rancoth nodded and headed for the broom closet, while Dorbin turned and went back to his workroom. After retrieving a broom Rancoth opened all of the shop doors and windows to let the cool morning breeze in, and to help release some of the ensuing dust cloud. As he swept, Rancoth listened to the morning singsong of the birds as they flew by, and allowed his mind to wander.
    He had just started thinking about the girl he mentioned to Dorbin when his reverie was rudely interrupted by a crash and a yell from Dorbin's workroom. Rancoth ran to see what the commotion was about, and barely ducked as a shaping hammer flew through the air where his face had been just a moment before.
    "Ga'Damn Firre!" The little man was red faced and fuming.
    "Something wrong?" Rancoth asked, standing up and straightening his robe.
    "Eh, I'm trrying a new smelting prrocess, but I can't get the damn firre hot enough." Dorbin turned and walked back towards the bellows, grunting as he began pumping them again. 
    "Hold on a minute. For once I think I might be useful." Rancoth very rarely got to use his powers outside of training with Karakas so when the opportunities presented themselves he took advantage of them.
    Dorbin turned and saw the glint in