Chapter 5: Preparing for Training

  Going back in, Kaz noticed there were four guards on the outside of the entrance. Two on each side. They were all wearing banded mail armor. It was less protective than plate mail, but more effective than chainmail armors. They all had round shields with large one-handed axes.

  “Sergeant, I have the tailor and armorer with me. They are here to get your measurements,” Zilphnod explained.

  Kaz got out of bed, and opened the door. Before her stood, Zilphnod, and two other female dwarves.

  The armorer said, “Sergeant, my name is Killia, master armorer of the chainmail and splint mail armors.”

  The tailor said, “Lady Kaz, I am Floddia, your tailor. I will need to see your clothing.”

  Kaz brought out you simple clothes and leather armor.

  “Leather armor will not do out there. It might do its jobs in the guarded mines, but a warrior would not last too long,” explained Killia to Killia.

  “It has been a while since I made clothes for an el…,” started Floddoa was interrupted by Zilphnod.

  “Elegant is what I was about to say, an elegant person from the mines,” concluded the tailor.

  Zilphnod gave the tailor a little smile and nod. Kaz was smart enough to know that her escort had prevented the tailor from saying a word that started with “el”, but she did not know which word.

  The tailor questioned, “What colors do you like?”

  Kaz thought for a moment, and then answered, “I like black, dark brown and dark green.”

  The armorer giggled a deep giggle, shaking her head from side to side, and said, “She;s a miner indeed.”

  “I can make you awesome clothes, no matter the colors,” offered Floddia.

  The tailor pulled out a thin rope from her dress and started pulling it around Kaz’s waist, hips, shoulders, and neck. She stood on a chair to reach the top parts of Kaz. While on the chair, she also took the rope and put one end the same height as the top of Kaz’s head and let the other end slowly go down to the floor.

  Killia had a brightness to her eye, and she asked, :Is that your poleaxe?”

  Kaz answered, “Yes mam, General Xia gave it to me.”

  The armorer quickly rebuked her, “I am not a mam! I am not an officer, I am a sergeant also. Your “yes” can be “yes”, and your “no” can be “no”.”

  Kaz replied, “Yes, it is mine.”

  “It looks like I am going to make you some splint mail armor. The strength you gained as a miner may help you wear the heavier armor,” the armorer told Kaz.

  Looking at Zilphnod, Killia remarked, “Imagine when goblins and kobolds see our giant dwarf.”

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  First the first time, Kaz did not take being referred to as a giant as an insult. It felt almost like a compliment. It was not meant to make her feel bad, it was meant to boost her up.

  “I also have an idea for what your helm will be like. It will motivate your soldier and it will put fear in the enemy;s forces,” said the master armorer.

  Killia did not need any measurements. She made armor by how the candidate looked. She would be able to modify any sets that she already had. The armorer would have to make a custom new set of armor. She also was skilled in making helmets. She would also be making an original customized helmet.

  The tailor and armorer were done with what they needed to know, so they left. It was just Zilphnod and Kaz.

  “You need to get some outside clothes on,” joked the escort.

  Kaz realized that she was still wearing the clothing that they called pajamas. She took them off and then put on her old clothes, and started to put her leather armor on, but Zilphnod told her to keep that off.

  She had on a dark green shirt and wore dark brown pants, which were some of the colors that she had told the tailor. She also had her boots on. Miners had to have very tough boots.

  Zilphnod started to walk to the door and motioned her to follow. The two went through the door that the escort opened. They followed the side of the grand cavern that went away from the busy markets.

  Ahead Kaz saw an exit with a single spear armed guard at it. The exit was only five feet high. As the two neared, the guard pulled out a wide circular brimmed hat and he handed it to Zilphnod.

  “Put this on your head Sergeant,” she told the never outsider.

  The light coming from outside was brighter than that created inside by dwarven fires. It made the guard have a long shadow.

  Walking towards the exit, Kaz felt it getting warmer. The light intensity was getting stronger to her eyes. That was the first time she felt sunlight.

  A great intense brightness hit her when she walked out. Kaz’s eyes instantly became blurry from tearing up. The heat felt more intense on her skin. It almost felt like being by a clan campfire, but there was no smoke nor flames.

  She heard some noises, and asked Zilphnod what it was.

  “Those are birds. The songs that you hear are coming from the Lancin Sparrow,” shared the escort.

  “Are those things with the green tops with brown bottoms called trees?” questioned Kaz.

  Zilphnod answered, “Yes they are.”

  The escort noticed that Kaz’s eyes were tearing up from the daylight, and said, “That is enough time outside for today. It is time to go back in.”

  The duo did this same routine for three days straight. With each new day, they spent a little longer outside. Kaz’s eyes were slowly getting used to the daylight.

  On the third day, in the afternoon, Floddia came to Kaz’s room, and said, “It is time for you to get into some new clothes.”

  The tailor had made clothes for wearing on different occasions. A beautiful green dress was for formal events. There was a dark green shirt with dark brown pants for travelling. Finally, there were two sets of black shirts and pants to wear under armor.

  While the ladies were looking at the clothes, a knocking occurred on the door. Floddia smiled, and said, “That must be Jilko.”

  Floddia opened the door, and an elderly white haired, with a short beard, female dwarf came in. She wore a traditional dress from the style of 400 years ago. She was a traditionalist, following the customs of the previous generations.

  The elder said, “My name is Gastmorm I am here to fix up your hair, my young lady.”

  “It has been a long time since I have worked with black. This is going to be fun,” she added.

  The hair stylist worked magic in her hair. When she was done, she asked, “Floddia and Zilphnod, how does it look?”

  Florida answered, “Oh my, she looks beautiful, like the war maidens of the grand wars.”

  “Wow! They are going to confuse others when she is helmed,” exclaimed Zilphnod.

  Gastmorm had given Kaz a braid that traditional female war leaders wore. There were two long thick braids, one on each side. Some of Laz’s hair had to be cut.

  From a bag, the elder pulled out a mirror, a rare find in this world in the mountains. She handed it to Kaz. She took a look at herself, and asked, “This is me?”

  Her escort answered, “Yes Sergeant.”

  Floddia, with admiration, said, “Oh my. You are even more beautiful.”

  Those are words that she had never heard. Only her mom, Aunt Miltz, and Maol had ever used those words to describe her. Kaz was used to being called ugly. She wondered if the braids were the solution.

  Zilphnod looked at her, and said, “You are ready for training.”