They nodded to him with distant politeness as he passed, and he responded in kind. 'Why are you following me, boy?' die Wolf Priest asked. 'Because I want to ask you questions.' The old man shook his head but he smiled, revealing those frightening fangs.
'It's always questions, questions, at your age, isn't it? Ask away.' Why did you come here? Or really, why did you pay us to bring you here? Could you not have used your magic instead?'
'I have no magic, boy. Not in the sense you mean.' 'But your talisman - the way you killed the dragon - it...' 'It was not magic. The "talisman" as you call it was a weapon, like an axe or a spear, only more... complicated.'
'A weapon?'

'A weapon.'
You are not a magician then?'
'Russ forbid, no! I know some you would call magicians, boy, and I would not change places with them for all the iron on these islands.' Why?'
'They bear a terrible burden.'
Ragnar was silent. It seemed evident that the old man would say no more. Ragnar was absolutely certain that Ranek's iron talisman represented a powerful magic, whatever die Wolf Priest might say. They trudged on through the streets, past open shopfronts. Looking inside Ragnar could see that they were workshops filled with forges. The shadows of their interiors were brightened by the glow of red-hot metal. He could hear the clang of hammer on anvil and knew that it was in these places that the goods of the Iron Masters were made.
"You haven't answered my first question,' Ragnar said, astonished by his own temerity. 'I'm not sure I can in a way that you would understand - or that I ought to.' "Why not?'
The old man's booming laugh echoed down the alleyways. Ragnar saw everyone turn to look at them, then make the sign of the hammer and look away. 'You're not easily discouraged, are you, laddie?' 'No.'
'Fair enough. I was on a mission. There was an accident. My vessel was destroyed. I needed to get back here and make contact with my... brethren. To cross such an enormous distance quickly I needed your father's ship, and for his aid he will be rewarded.'
"What was your mission?'
'I cannot tell you that,' Ranek said in a tone which brooked no argument. Was it for the gods?'
'It was for my gods.'
'Are not all gods the same? Everyone on the islands worships Russ and the All Father.' 'So do I, but in a different way from you.' 'How can that be?'

'One day, laddie, you may find out.'
'But not today?'
'No. Not today.'
They walked into a huge square atop the hill. It was rimmed around with massive buildings. Each was so broad as to seem squat even though it towered ten times the height of a man. The walls were carved in an odd fashion. Each of the massive stone blocks was carved with interlocking cogwheels. Metal pipes flowed in and out through the stonework, like clusters of huge worms emerging from the earth and plunging back in again. Soot blackened the walls, and from the pipes effluent had leaked in the past, staining the walls beneath with great blotches the colour of rust. From within came the sound of monstrous engines at work, a clattering and a banging as if giants struck furiously at enormous anvils.