Fields of Ice

[Amaterasu]

"You know", Kushi said as she came into the bar the following day and found Mack already working with the chairs, "I've given this some thought."

"Abou' wha?" Mack asked. He was harder to understand than usually because he had a few nails between his lips that he was hammering into the chair to fixate a loose board.

"The name. Let's go with 'Barrels of Thunder'. It's Dwarfholm after all, not Nippon, the name will attract more patrons. Plus, we'll be selling beer from barrels, not just sake."

"Hmm. An' the name has "Thunder" in it... like from yer brew."

"True... well, I found a carpenter who'll make us a sign, so that is another matter that's taken care of." She rolled up her sleeves. "I'll check on the Koji." She went to the back room without noticing Mack's smile and came back startled. "You took care of it", she said.

"Ah did. Now we hav' more time fer the stuff I don' know yet."

"What an eager pupil", Kushi said in a mocking tone, but she had to smile. "You did good work by the way. But try to balance the water a little more. The fermentation process is essential to the taste." She picked up a broom to sweep the dust and dirt to the exit, as well as the occasional sawdust from when Mack had made adjustments to the wood.

"Ah. Show me in a handful o' hours." He took a nail from between his lips, placed it, then reconsidered, turned the chair around so it was facing up and sat on it. A little creaking was heard then everything slid into place, then nothing more. It was solid. "Somethin' else..."

"Hmm?"

"The merchan' we helped out. 'e came by this mornin'. Said 'e wanted ta talk to you."

"What about?"

"Probably sayin' thanks fer the help? 'e treated me to a pint yesterday ta mourn over 'is brother."

"During working hours?" Kushi asked with a little grin.

"Ye sure yer not possessed by me missus, Kushi?" Mack asked, returning the grin.

"Pretty sure. I think I'd know if I had a youkai in me." She swept the dust onto the street, then came back in. "The first vat is almost fully fermented by the way, so I'm hoping that we can open for business in two days - just need the sign to get cut and painted and we'll be good."

"Wha' about the beer?"

"I placed an order at a brewery... "McMoe's", I believe. They're bringing in four barrels this afternoon. Two beer, two mead."

"Mmm... McMoe ain't too bad. Ya got him off me list?"

"Of course. I trust you on that matter."

Mack grinned. "As ya should. Ah got some good experience under me belt... been runnin' the bar fer a while now. Gone through a number o' breweries while at it."

"Are there that many in Dwarfholm? I don't mean to sound depreciative but the city doesn't seem very large to me."

"Tha's cause ya ain't seen one bit. Dwarfholm's enormous. Bigger'n Minas Tirith, ah bet!" He pushed the chair he had worked on into its place beneath the table. "Renovations are complete, anycase. Ya need anythin' else done?"

"The storage area could use a little tidying. We won't have enough room for the order."

Mack grunted approvingly and went past Kushi into the back area. Moments later, the trader from yesterday came in and immediately headed towards Kushi, who recieved him with a smile.

"Ohayo gozaimasu, Sir..."

"Did ah never introduce meself? Urist McUlfarsson. Ah'm here t' thank ye fer yer kindness."

"It was nothing, McUlfarsson-san... if anyone is to thank it's McMicksson-san. He risked his life out there to bring you the head of that troll."

"Already thanked him, bu' ah didn' catch ye this mornin'... ah wanted t'say that ah'm lookin' fer a replacement fer me brother - on the caravan, ah mean. An' ah'm gettin' meself some proper armor. Bu' once ah get back out there, ah'll be supplyin' yer bar at a discount."

"That's not necessary. Put the extra funds towards the burial of your brother."

Urist gave her a weird look. "Yer not familiar with Dwarfholm's customs, are ye, Miss Kushi? We don' bury 'em. We bring 'em to the morgue an' our King takes their Omnilium every so often, so tha' he can summon more fer us... tha' way we contribute to Dwarfholm, even in death. We keep a trinket from tha deceased, somethin' small that gets passed down through the family." He held up a hand, showing Kushi a stone ring.

"I see..." Kushi replied. Which is not to say that she was okay with that thought. Not at all, actually. For a body to be desecrated like this... how would they be reincarnated if their soul had no time to leave its body as part of the regular rituals? What if it was torn apart as the Omnilium was extracted? She shuddered at the idea.

"Everythin' okay, Miss Kushi? Ya turned pale like a ghost."

"Did I? Sorry, I was lost in thought." She reached under the counter and pulled out a sake bottle, as well as two little cups that she filled. "Here... to your brother's memory."

"Wha's that cup? There's barely any..."

"Just take it." She raised her glass and downed it at the same time as the dwarf, who visibly enjoyed the taste. She refilled them both and emptied her glass, which helped a bit. As part of her job she was a sturdy drinker, but a pair of glasses of strong sake helped at clearing her mind, without her getting drunk. "I should continue working, but thank you for stopping by. I wish you all the best out there, and good luck on your search", she finally said.

"Aye, ah should get goin' meself too. Bu' I'll be back. Thanks again fer yesterday."

When Mack came back upstairs he found Kushi sitting behind the counter, lost in thought. "Is everythin' okay?" he asked, as that behavior was very unusual for the otherwise active woman.

"McMicksson-san? Is the storage ready?"

"Yes. Is everythin' okay with ya? You don' look too good."

"You've come to work really early today, why don't you leave a little sooner too?"

"Not til ye answer me question."

"McUlfarsson-san came to visit. He told me something that... shook me up. I need some time to myself... to speak with the kami in prayer."

"Wha' was that?" Mack asked without moving an inch towards the door. "Wha' did Urist tell ya?"

"Regarding what happens to your deceased. It's... can we talk about this another day? Please?"

The dwarf looked unconvinced. The sake bottle before Kushi, the two empty cups and her very uncharacteristic behavior all were grounds for worrying. On the other hand she was an adult, a grown woman who could take care of herself. Should he leave her be as she asked of him? Or should he stay and help?