Chapter 76: Hammer and anvil
Irwin closed his eyes as he enjoyed the sensation of the soft bed against his back. Sleeping on the sand for weeks, then running and carrying Desrin, had worn him out greatly.
For a moment, he wondered if the guard was still alive. He'd wanted to ask after him, but Daubutim and Trimdir had been relentless. After that, Lamia and the others had wanted to know everything that had happened in the portal. Now he was trying to stave off his body's desire to fall asleep.
A soft snoring came from another bed, showing Daubutim had finally fallen asleep. Irwin sighed, turned his head to the side so he could look at the door, and raised his blanket slightly. Ambraz lay on his chest, lips drawn in a tight line.
"About time," he whispered.
Irwin grimaced at the annoyed tone, but he was glad the whisper was so faint he knew nobody would be able to hear it. Before he could even begin to ask the anvil anything, it continued talking.
"You need to go through that portal, and don't worry about any potential issues on the other side. The most likely scenario is that the portal is situated in a limited access room within some family's main facility, and this is why nobody ever returned through it. Likely, anyone entering is moved straight out, and that's that," Ambraz whispered.
"Then how would I even get back?" Irwin whispered.
"If you join the Smith's Guild, you will be allowed entrance. Besides, there should be more portals that lead back here."
Irwin closed his eyes, relaxing as he pondered the things he'd learned. His mind was fuzzy, making it hard to pinpoint the things he wanted to ask, but he finally managed another question and opened his eyes again. The door was still closed, and he heard nothing from the smithy beyond.
"If that is true, why didn't anyone find their way back through another portal?" he asked.
"Because even that beardy face would be nothing but a tiny figure in that hubworld. The chances of him being allowed through a portal here are small without a family or guild backing him," Ambraz retorted.
Irwin sighed as he wondered if that meant he might find Gelwin on the other side.