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At that, Hector wanted to ask another question, but it sounded rather rude in his head.

Thankfully, Garovel posed a similar enough inquiry first. 'Have you had any GOOD experiences with a Fusion Forge, Lord Abbas? Like where you actually made something cool and didn't almost die in the process?'

"Tell me," said Abbas. "Have you ever heard of a man named Dolf Rachman?"

Garovel was quiet for a lingering moment. 'I most certainly have. The Rachman Duels were the stuff of legend.'

A short laugh escaped Abbas' lips. "He would have been pleased to hear someone say that. Many historians, reapers included, seem to treat him as little better than an ant whose most noteworthy accomplishment was getting stepped on."

'Historians can be cruel,' said Garovel. 'And cowardly, too--especially when their work involves a living emperor. It may be another century or two before Rachman is given a fair shake by the historical community.'

'Even that may be too optimistic,' said Worwal.

'Why do you bring Rachman up?' said Garovel. 'You knew him, I take it?'

"He was my mentor," said Abbas. "One of several, in truth, but the one I loved most, to be sure. He would have been ecstatic to discover a new Forge."

Hmm. Hector couldn't help noticing that Abbas was not giving a straight answer to Garovel's earlier question.

"Dolf's own mentor was Kalim Lotorevo--an even more remarkable man, though I never had the privilege of meeting him. Kalim was the one who made the Forge that I used in my idiotic youth. The Earth Cruncher, is what they called it in Mohssian. An incredible, hulking thing. Full of grinding metal and fire--and honestly quite terrifying to be near when in use. Not like this one at all, I'd say." Abbas paused, and Hector sensed a silent sigh between breaths. "But Dolf treasured it more than any other object in his workshop. And he was heartbroken when it was finally attacked and destroyed."