The Meat of the Issue

Gretchen Stoutframe had never been to such a formal dwarven meal. She had read all the etiquette books, so she knew what to do, but Ball’s dinner was very proper.

She could not keep herself from glancing up at the beautiful glistening chandler. Its gems sparkled brilliant flashes of light from flickering flame of six colored oil lamps. The perfume in the oil was a settle floral scent. Above each flame was a vain that sat on a point. The heat of the lamps made six bejeweled carousels spin slowly with the gems rotating in front of the frolicking flame. Many glitters of light moved slowly on the dinning room walls. It was mesmerizing.

First they were brought a thin creamy sausage and greens soup.

As they ate Gretchen said, “So Ball why aren’t you married?”

“Oh I guess that no girl has ever held my attention for very long, Gretchen.”

Ball looked down sighed then looked up.

He said, “I may study too much. Who wants to marry a book worm when there is a world to be won.”

She said, “I don't know about that, when Banded and I were experimenting with the gems I was struck with the thought that no one had done what we were doing and we were the first to even think about it.”

Ball said, “So you understand my point of view about knowledge and learning.”

Next, the entree was a chop stuffed with greens and fruit in a sweet glaze. To the side was a light seasoned spicy vegetable medley and a macaroni and smoked cheese sauce.

“Yes I think so, “she said, “Oh this meat is very good.”

Ball said, “Do you like the honey mead? The spice mixture is an old family secret.

“Why yes Ball, I’m enjoying the meal very much, everything thing taste so good. And no brothers and sisters. That reminds me, Banded and I cut this set of gems for you.”

She set the bag of gems on the table.

Ball said, “After dinner I’ll look at them, right now all I can think of is dinner with you. The gold chain in your tunic is very fine.”

For dessert was a rich dark cake with a liquid center of dark syrup and smokey liqueur.

“Thank you Ball,” she said, “This piece of soft armor has been in the family for years. It is tucked in all the right places. I love it.”

“Yes Gretchen, the old wear is still very smart.”

After dinner Ball took Gretchen to a Veranda where they could have after dinner drinks and watch the sun set and the stars come out.

Ball said rambling a bit, “Most girls I have dated are not cut of the right cloth to carry on the Orecrusher name. Quite frankly they seem after one thing, my money. You on the other hand are quite understanding. You at least have tasted the quest for knowledge. You know where I’m coming from and know to where I’m headed.”

Gretchen said as the deep purple hues touched the sky, “Yes Ball, for now let’s just sip mead and enjoy the evening.”

After they finished the mead Ball said, “Let me see the gems I can’t stop thinking about what Vlad said about the gateway being alive.”

Gretchen looked back to Ball and said, “Okay, Come on Ball, I know you want to experiment with these gems. Let’s go to your lab.”

She showed Ball how to used a wooden staff and rods to hold the five gems in place. Then she showed him how it breathed.

When Ball started to use the voice box to talk to Vlad about the gateway, a voice came over the box and said, “Creator, we must talk in private about your obligations. Enter the gateway.”

As Ball said, “No wait!” Gretchen entered the gateway.

She floated in the dark and the voice said, “I am the living gateway through my capture of infinity I connect all things to all places at all times. To use me you must fed me. I like fresh meat. To use me make your payment then ask for your want. As a gift I give you these three items as examples of things you might ask for. My hunger is great feed me and I will reward you.”

When Gretchen came back she was not used to the gravity and she fell to the floor. The gifts were in boxes around her, but Ball pulled the cord of the bell pull for Darkheart and then rushed to Gretchen’s side.

“Yes Sir,” Darkheart said as he entered the room.

“Bring me water,” Ball said.

As she came back around, Darkheart appeared with the water. Ball helped her to a chair.

“Ooo, I’m alright,” She said.

She took a sip of water and said, “Did that really happen?”

“What happened?” said Ball, “one second you stepped into the gateway then the next you you stepped out.

“Ball I talked to it,” she said, “It’s hungry, it wants fresh meat.”

“What wants fresh meat?” he said.

“I don’t know what,” she said, “It is the infinite living gateway.”

“What are you talking about,” Ball said, “alive how, you were gone only an instant. What could it have said to you and what is in the boxes?”

“The gifts!” She said, “It gave us gifts for fresh meat.”

“Okay, what are the gifts it gave us,” Ball said.

“I have no idea, let’s open them and see,”

In the first box was a book of symbols while like the elf symbols these were much more complex.

“This is mine,” said Ball.

In the next box was a piece of soft armor. A fine gold chain mail over a blue soft suede leather armor. The body suit covered only central body the arms and legs were open.

Gretchen said, “That would be mine. Think we should open the next box or should we just give it to Banded unopened?”

Both said, “Unopened,” at the same time, and each giggled.

Ball said, “Let’s take this to Banded so we can see what’s in it.”

Ball summoned Darkheart with the pull bell.

When Darkheart appeared, Ball said, “Prepare the surrey.”

“Yes Sir,” Darkheart said.

As Ball took Gretchen back to her house he said, “Did it say what type of meat it wanted?”

“You know when it talked you would see things,” she said, “Cows and big deer, I think. Or lots of ample birds, and large fish. All unprocessed and very fresh. It is very hungry. It wants fed. Then in one flash it showed me what it had done for others, wild items, exotic trips, and odd objects. All for lots of fresh meat.”

“Gifts for fresh meat odd, very odd,” said Ball.

“Do you see a problem,” said Gretchen?

“No,” Ball said, “Just an odd feeling of caution.”

Gretchen said, “Uhmm, me too.”

Suddenly, they were at the Stoutframe residence. The clan was on the porch drinking evening ale.

“Come join us, Ball,” said Casted.

“Banded,” said Gretchen, “We need to talk.”

Banded walked over to the surrey and said, “What’s up Gretchen.”

“I,” she said, “Talked to the gateway this evening. It is more strange than you can think. It has a gift for you here.”

She handed him the box.

“Beware of those that bare gifts,” Banded said.

“Oh, just open it we are very interested to see what is in it,” said Ball.

In it was a flat box like Ball’s talking box only this was slightly bigger there was one button at the bottom and a smiling face drawing and in dwarfish it said, “Take a look around.”

Then there where pictures of places with strangle architecture and some even underwater. Then the writing said press button to select then pay and step into gateway.