Second Skin Omnibus

by M Damon Baker

  Everything went well for us during those weeks, so a few nights before Stel and Khorim were due to depart, we threw a party for them. We had wanted to wait until the evening before they left, but Broda reminded us of Khorim’s penchant for overindulging, so we scheduled the going away party accordingly.

  It was an absolutely wonderful night, and the celebration went on far longer than any of us thought it would. But finally, when we thought it was safe, my companions and I snuck away and headed home for the night—while we would have loved to stay even longer, we still had our responsibilities to deal with in the morning, and hung over or not, none of it could wait.

  We laughed and joked the entire way back home until we walked in the front door and crossed into the common room, and our happy mood died instantly when we saw Nentai sitting there at the table.

  “You do seem to schedule your little celebrations on the most appropriate nights, Dreya,” the Goddess commented dryly as she rose from her chair.

  As my companions dropped to their knees, I cast about looking for Set, but it seemed that the Goddess of Vengeance had come alone this time.

  “No, she’s not here tonight,” Nentai smiled as she noticed me glancing around. “Her gift to you has been delayed, and I’m afraid my sister is having a little fit over it.”

  “But let’s not dwell on her absence when there are gifts to be given out,” Nentai continued before I could reply.

  The Goddess smiled and motioned to an ornate chest that sat on the table. The gilded box had not been there just a moment before, and Nentai’s gesture made it clear that I was the one who needed to open it.

  The chest itself was a masterwork, gilded with ornate gold designs. I was reluctant to even touch it, but when Nentai unceremoniously nudged me closer, I hesitantly lifted the lid.

  Inside the confines of the velvet-lined interior was the finest set of chain mail I had ever seen. It was not something that I could use, so the gift caused me some confusion until I picked it up and its properties became known to me.

  Thassa’s Armor of Light – God-Forged Artifact – This set of chain was crafted for Dreya Sintári by Thassa, Goddess of Light. While this Armor is irrevocably bound to the Sintári, it is intended to be worn by one of her companions. The mail will temporarily bind itself to whomever she bestows it upon for life, unless the Sintári revokes its use. Upon the death of the wearer, or if the Sintári chooses to reclaim the Armor, it will return to Dreya Sintári’s possession.

  The links of this Armor provide enhanced protection from nearly all forms of attack, and while not impervious to harm, the wearer will be shielded from most damage. This Artifact is self-repairing and has a reduced effect on Encumbrance.

  “Some of my brothers and sisters chose to interpret my father’s command to help you a bit… liberally,” Nentai explained as I reread the description. “So, in addition to the items that are intended for you, there are others that are meant for your companions.”

  I pulled the glittering set of links from the chest and carried the Artifact over to where Venna still knelt on the floor. She didn’t raise her head when I approached, so I spoke to her softly.

  “Get up, Venna,” I prodded her gently.

  “I cannot,” her voice trembled.

  “Stand up, Curate,” Nentai commanded. “Or were you intending to accept a gift from Thassa on your knees?”

  Although her words seemed harsh, Nentai was clearly entertained by Venna’s uncertainty, and her tone was one of amusement. But regardless of her motivation, Nentai’s words had their desired effect, and Venna rose shakily to her feet before finally glancing at me. When she did, I simply extended my arms towards her, and she saw what I was offering her for the first time.

  “Can you tell what it is?” I asked her as she stood there gaping at the Armor.

  “N-n-no,” Venna stuttered.

  “Take it from me; it’s meant for you,” I said as I pushed the mail into her reluctant arms.

  As soon as the links fell into her grasp, the nature of the Armor became known to her. Venna’s eyes widened in shock, and her whole body trembled as she struggled to accept the gift that she had been given.

  “Leave the Curate to come to terms with what Thassa has crafted for her,” Nentai counseled, deftly letting Venna know that the Goddess of Light had truly meant the gift for her. “There is one more item for you to see.”

  When I turned back to face Nentai, I saw that she was gesturing for me to return to the chest that was on the table. Her motion confused me, because I had seen nothing else in the chest once I’d removed the chain mail. But when I peered inside again, there was a bundle of folded cloth at the bottom, just waiting for me. Nentai smiled at my confusion and whispered to me as I picked up the bundle.

  “It’s just God magic, don’t let it bother you.”

  The familiar and offhand tone of her comment put me at ease, as she had obviously intended. I briefly wondered why the Goddess was so informal and relaxed with me, but before I could ponder the thought, the cloth I’d picked up sent me a notification.

  Robes of the Evoker – God-Forged Artifact – This finely made set of robes were crafted for Dreya Sintári by Kalla, Goddess of Fertility and Finnus, God of Commerce. While this item is irrevocably bound to the Sintári, it is intended to be worn by one of her companions. The Robes will temporarily bind themselves to whomever she bestows it upon for life, unless the Sintári revokes their use. Upon the death of the wearer, or if the Sintári chooses to reclaim the Robes, they will return to Dreya Sintári’s possession.

  In addition to having numerous pockets and hidden sheathes within their folds, the Robes provide increased protection against attack, and make the wearer’s image shift in combat, providing a difficult target for enemies. This Artifact is self-repairing and has no effect on Encumbrance.

  There was only one person for whom the Robes could have been intended, and as I walked over towards Tási to give them to her, I had to hold back my tears.

  She had been completely overlooked until then, as neither the dwarf spirit nor the elf King had foreseen her coming. So, while the rest of my companions had received priceless relics from the two ancient sprits, Tási had been left out entirely. Knowing that the Gods had chosen to bless her with such a valuable Artifact made my heart swell with gratitude, and I was nearly overcome with emotion as I presented the Robes to her.

  “There is no one more deserving of this gift than you, Tási,” I said as I came to a stop in front of her. “And I am honored to be the one to give you this gift–your gift from the Gods.”

  Tási had heard the exchange between Venna and Nentai just before, and so she did not hesitate to rise when I spoke to her. When she stood up, I pulled on the ribbon that bound the bundle of blue cloth together and handed her the Robes.

  “It should be a relatively simple matter for you to put them on, Tási,” Nentai commented wryly. “Why don’t you go upstairs and do that now. I’m not leaving until I see you in them.”

  Tási hesitated, unsure whether or not the Goddess was truly serious, but when Nentai glared back at her, Tási practically bolted up the stairs and into our room.

  “I absolutely hate those horrible things she wears,” Nentai commented to me as Tási disappeared. “I’m just dying to see her in something more appropriate.”

  “You have a keen interest in her attire,” I observed.

  “I have a keen interest in seeing people free to dress as they like,” Nentai pointedly replied. “She’s been hiding herself behind a wall of cloth for too long.”

  I understood what she meant and couldn’t disagree—Tási choice of outfits was strongly influenced by the fact that her people were often targets for acts of violence and depravity, so she nearly always wore clothing that hid her figure and didn’t make her stand out. But as Tási descended the stairs in her new robes, I could see that would no longer be the case.

  The Robes were a deep blue color that perfectly matched her eyes. The lower half of
the outfit draped gracefully around her legs and seemed to flow like smooth running water with every step she took. A wide belt cinched the Robes around the waist, and the long tab of the embroidered sash hung down almost to her knees. The belt was off-white in color, and heavily embroidered with rich, golden thread that matched the trim accenting the rest of the Artifact. A hooded vest of sorts covered most of Tási’s upper body and was exquisitely trimmed in the same style as the belt, but while the vest covered most of her upper half, its open panels revealed that the Robes underneath clung tightly to her very feminine figure.

  Tási was obviously both amazed with the Robes, and a bit uneasy with how different they were from her usual attire, and Nentai’s reaction only made her discomfort worse.

  “Oh, now come on,” Nentai said as she rolled her eyes, clearly irritated. “You’re wearing a damn God-forged Artifact, not an old maid’s outfit.”

  As she spoke, Nentai strode over to Tási and adjusted the opening around Tási’s neck. Tási seemed ready to jump out of her skin as the Goddess worked but held steady as Nentai made her alterations. When Tási had come downstairs, the top of the Robes had been tightly closed around her neck, leaving only the tiniest patch of skin exposed. Once Nentai was finished, the Robes had a more open neckline; while it didn’t plunge deeply, it did expose quite a bit more of Tási’s skin than before. When she stepped back to review her work, Nentai seemed satisfied, but Tási was clearly uneasy with the change.

  “Listen to me, all of you,” Nentai said as she took note of Tási’s discomfort. “Dreya Sintári is on a great quest, and you have chosen to follow her on that quest. You will need to be true heroes, with great courage and determination if you are to succeed. Whether you like it or not, if you choose to follow the Sintári, that is the role that each of you will have to accept. And the first step to being a hero is to act like one; to not cower like a scared mouse behind a curtain or shiver in fear at every unexpected event.”

  Nentai said the last as she first glanced pointedly at Tási before turning towards Venna who was still trembling and clutching onto the Armor of Light in a near state of panic.

  “Do you think Thassa meant this Armor for a weak, blubbering fool?” Nentai said as she stepped over to stand almost in Venna’s face. “Do you think the Sintári needs a quivering idiot by her side?”

  Goddess or not, I almost slapped Nentai when she taunted Venna that way, but before I could, her comments apparently hit their intended mark, and Venna lifted her head and returned Nentai’s gaze.

  “No,” Venna replied, and although her voice shook, I could hear the steel in her words.

  “That’s better,” Nentai said with approval. “We may want your respect, Venna, but in turn, we also honor your strength. My sister made this Armor for you because you earned her admiration with your courage and loyalty. You should feel honored by that, not intimidated. You may have chosen to worship Thassa, but Thassa has also chosen you.”

  “I have tarried here too long, and it is time for me to go,” Nentai said abruptly. “Until then, do not hide these gifts—wear them openly, as the Sintári does. They are meant to aid you, and they cannot do that if you hide them from sight.”

  “Wait, please,” I asked her. “Before you go, can I ask you some questions?”

  “Another time perhaps, Sintári,” Nentai smiled at me as she faded from view.

  I was disappointed that the Goddess couldn’t stay longer. Despite her sometimes gruff and authoritarian manner with my companions, I felt a certain bond with Nentai—a bond that her oddly familiar manner made me feel certain she felt as well. It was one of the things I had intended to ask her about, in addition to asking if she had any insight into Bane’s changes, but since she had left so abruptly, I had to wait for another time if I wanted any answers to my questions.

  With my opportunity to question the Goddess lost, I decided it might be best for me to try and help Venna put on her armor for the first time. If it was anything like the Armor of Melía, she would likely need some assistance.

  “Come with me, Venna,” I said as I pulled her away. “Since you don’t have a Goddess to help you into your armor for the first time, you’ll have to settle for me.”

  I guided Venna upstairs to my room and shut the door behind us.

  “Let’s see what we’ve got here,” I said as I took the bundle of chain from her and opened it up over the bed.

  I thought that I would see a pair of pants and chain shirt when I shook out the links, but from somewhere inside the mass of chain, a pair of boots and gauntlets fell out, followed by a bright blue tabard and ornately tooled belt. The bundle I held in my hands a moment before had not been anywhere near large enough to conceal all those items, and I resigned myself to the fact that I had just witness more of the ‘God magic’ Nentai had mentioned before.

  Venna was clearly amazed yet again, but to her credit, she maintained her composure and didn’t react to the incredible sight of all the armor spilling out on to the bed.

  I picked up the chain shirt to examine it closely, and as I suspected, it had a layer of padding already incorporated on the inside of the links. There would be no need for any inferior quality items to be worn beneath the Armor of Light.

  “Take off your clothes,” I told Venna as I continued to look over the various pieces. “You won’t need to wear much of anything underneath this.”

  She had been examining pieces of the Armor as well, and understood what I meant, so she stripped down without needing any further explanation from me. When I slipped the mail shirt over her head, it seemed almost comically large on her, but I cautioned Venna to wait until we had all of the Armor’s component’s in place before she evaluated its fit.

  As I suspected, once we slipped the last boot on her foot, the links began to pull together, and the oversized mail shrunk to fit Venna’s slender frame perfectly, hugging her body close and joining together seamlessly, just like the Armor of Melía had for me. When it finished adjusting to her, I helped Venna drape the tabard with Thassa’s emblem on it over her head and cinched the belt around her waist before I stepped back to finally take a look at the complete set of Armor on her.

  The chain and its matching boots and gauntlets were made of pure Khelduin, but the metal itself had been worked beyond the level of any mortal smith. The links shone brightly, and the articulated metal of the boots and gauntlets flexed smoothly when Venna tested them out. Even the bright blue tabard was exquisitely crafted, and the fabric almost radiated with its vibrant colors.

  There was no helmet, as Thassa, like Melía, had incorporated that additional element of protection into the Armor itself. The added freedom and increased vision would be an obvious advantage, as helmets were often quite restrictive.

  “How does it feel?”

  “Almost like I’m only wearing regular clothes,” Venna replied in awe. “It’s so light compared to what I’m used to, and I can move so much more easily.”

  “Come, Stel must be dying to see what you look like,” I said as I picked up the pile of clothing she had left on the floor and guided Venna out the door.

  When we descended the stairs, Stel could only stare at his wife in awe. While the Armor of Light was truly magnificent, it was seeing her in it that had obviously overcome him. Venna smiled at his reaction and took his hands in hers as she stood in front of him.

  “How do I look, husband?” She whispered to him softly.

  “I have no words,” Stel replied as he stared into her eyes.

  “We’re supposed to be looking at the armor, right?” Khorim interrupted.

  “You better be looking at the armor,” Broda said as she forcefully smacked his arm.

  Venna flushed red for a second as the two of them quickly stepped apart and let everyone have a good look at the Armor of Light. Stel, Tási, and Broda examined the links closely, feeling the metal and commenting to each other on its incredible craftsmanship. But it was only after a stern warning from Broda about where he was all
owed to place his hands that Khorim was permitted to join in on the examination.

  Once everyone had a good look at both of the new God-forged Artifacts, we sat around the table and began to speculate about what might come next. Venna calculated that there were still nearly ten of the Gods who’s gifts we had yet to receive, but there was simply no way to know what they might have in store for us. So, after a bit of idle conjecturing, we gave up and finally called it a night. It had been yet another momentous day for us, and in the morning, we would be revealing that my companions had been gifted with their own gifts from the Gods. That disclosure meant that the next day would be quite busy for us, so despite our excitement, we finally headed off to bed.

  “Come here,” I beckoned softly to Tási once we made it back to our room.

  She approached me cautiously, obviously uncertain of my motives.

  “I just want to have a closer look at your new robes,” I half-lied to her.

  While I did indeed want a better look at the Artifact, I also had an ulterior motive as well.

  When Tási drew close enough, I reached out and felt the fabric of her vest. The material was soft, yet felt substantial between my fingers, as if there was far more to it than I could see with my eyes alone. Once I finished with my evaluation, I took hold of both sides of the vest and slid it off of her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. With the vest gone, Tási was left wearing only the Robes themselves, and I took a step back from her to see if they truly fit her the way I thought they did beneath the cover of the vest.

  I had not been mistaken, and as Tási stood still for me, I took in the full measure of how the Robes accentuated her beauty. Although the lower half of the Robes still flowed gracefully over her legs, with the vest gone, I was able to see just how closely the portion above the cinched belt clung to her body. Starting at her hips, the material hugged Tási’s every curve, sliding over her like a thin sheen of water.

  “You look… incredible,” was all I could manage to say as I stared at her.