The runesmith tightened the final retaining pin and told Helmar to close his new hand.
Metal fingers curled one at a time. Dark plates slid over one another without scraping. Pale runes brightened along the back of the prosthetic and faded when Helmar relaxed his grip.
He picked up an iron testing bar from the workbench.
The new hand felt pressure without feeling heat. The sensations reached him as a dull pattern against the healed end of his wrist. He could tell where the bar rested across his palm and how tightly he held it. He could not feel its rough surface.
Helmar squeezed.
The bar bent.
"Burst strength will drain the inner mana crystal quickly." The runesmith said. "Normal movement will last for weeks. Do not mistake reinforcement for indestructibility. A heavy enough impact can still tear the mount from your arm."
Helmar released the ruined bar. "Then I will avoid giving anyone a second opportunity."
