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“This,” said Sophie, opening the case to reveal the Devil’s Eye As Olaf reached out a hand, she jerked it back “No! No, you can’t touch it”

“I’ I can’t even touch?”

“It’s our understanding that you could pick it up with tongs, but you can’t touch it directly,” said Mick

“I don’t knohether to be flattered or offended”

“Let’s go with flattered Lives are at stake with this one, Olaf”

The dwarf scowled Sophie laid a hand on his arm

“Please,” she said softly

Olaf sighed and walked over to the tool bench He pressed at a sehaht “Coht take a while”

The passage led down into a large, subterranean rooination, be termed a basement The walls and floor were made of stone, probably hewn by Olaf hie that took upup to the surface The forge itself was shaped like a giant, gaping dragon’sone of Olaf’s creations, it looked a little too real for co table with an assortment of equipment fros of a forger dedicated to creating the best counterfeits in the business

Olaf fitted hiestured for Sophie to bring the case over She set it on the table, stepping back as Olaf picked the eye up with a pair of tongs He moved it under so in a language Mick didn’t know

“Might as well find a seat,” Mick told Sophie “He’ll be at this a while”

They watched as Olaf ran test after test Checking the weight, the mass, the buoyancy, the density, and dozens of other measurements on the Eye He checked its reactivity to cheic

Mick reached over to rub at Sophie’s shoulder as she began fidgeting with impatience

“How long does this usually take?” she asked “Not to be rude, but we’re kind of on a deadline”

“It takes as long as it takes,” said the dwarf “You want quality, you gotta have patience”