The trek through the mountains and down into the valley containing the large lake was difficult but uneventful. All but the most powerful monsters went into hiding when Coralia’s fearsome aura entered their territories.

Coralia decided that the western bank was the best location for their new village as it had the most natural defenses and trees for materials.

A thin line of smoke in that same area indicated a campfire, a somewhat rare thing in this area on a warm afternoon where most meat was eaten raw.

They made their way down into the valley to the edge of the forest just a few hundred yards from their intended location.

“Kobolds stay.” Coralia told Peyo, who relayed the orders quietly.

Coralia slipped into the woods like a ghost, nearly erasing her presence completely. She approached the edge of the clearing where the smoke originated and watched in fascination.

Six humanoids wearing sophisticated chain and scalemail armor were gathered around a fire, where a huge lake fish with a long maw of sharp teeth was roasting on a spit. They spoke in a language Coralia didn’t recognize but the tone was civil enough.

She couldn’t make out many details under the armor but they appeared to be a bit shorter than her with stout bodies, black hair, and dark skin. Three of the six had thick black beards.

A type of dwarf? She reasoned to herself. Hell with it, no need to be bashful. She thought as she casually walked out into the clearing with her hands up in a non threatening pose.

The stout creatures hopped to their feet immediately brandishing fine weapons. Four formed a V formation with heavy shields out at the ready while the two behind brandished long halberds.

The one at the front of the formation barked a series of strange words, then said something in a different language, then in low common. “Weapon! Floor!” then shockingly in high common “Surrender yer’ weapons!”.

“Having my weapon doesn’t really make you safe but okay.” Coralia said, speaking her own language out loud felt awkward but wonderful. She unsheathed her sword and laid it on the ground before her.

The strange coal black skinned dwarves slowly advanced until the one in front could seize the sword, though try as he might his fingers could not close around the hilt. It was as though there was an invisible force preventing him from grasping it.

“Enchanted.” Coralia explained. “If it weren’t being held together by magic it would have fallen apart years ago.”

“Why have you come?” The leader asked, stepping away from the weapon in suspicion.

“It’s a long story. The end is that I plan to build a village here to keep my new little friends and I safe.”

The dwarves seemed to relax a tiny bit, but the bizarre encounter still had their collective guard high.

“We don’t need to fight.” Coralia said disarmingly.

“We’ll decide that, human wench.” One of the halberd wielding dwarves bravely growled.

“Truly?” Coralia whispered into the dwarf’s ear from behind him.

The dwarves blinked several times at the empty spot where the woman had stood. The halberd wielding taunter gasped and drew their attention. When they turned, the sight might have been comical were it not so unnerving.

The petite woman was casually holding an arm out in front of her, gripping the thrashing dwarf by the collar of his chainmail shirt with his kicking feet a full foot from the ground. He was spitting a stream of curses and swinging his short limbs in impotent fury.

“There are a few options here. We can have a seat, maybe you share some of that fish, and we sort this in peace. We can fight, and look at me when I say this: you really don’t want that. No matter what we do, I’m eating fish and my pals are settling on this lake.” Coralia spoke matter of factly as she dropped the kicking dwarf to the pine needle covered dirt.

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At a signal from the apparent leader, they lowered their weapons.

“Let’s talk then.” He said, gesturing for everyone to be seated.

“I’ve never seen dwarves like you.” Coralia said “With dark skin and that kind of gear I mean.”

“We’re of the ebon clan- the last of the ebon clan.” The leader clarified. “We barely made it to the surface after Maiphon’s hordes flooded the tunnels.”

“I see. More refugees from the caverns.” Coralia replied. “How is it you speak so many languages?” She asked genuinely impressed.

“We trade with all manner of beings and are longer lived than our surface cousins. Much of our upbringing revolves around foreign languages. It’s a precious tool we choose not to neglect.” He answered back.

“What are your names?” Coralia finally asked

“My name’s Hurstag. The one you picked up by the scruff is Brecker, next to him is his wife Gorta, they’re former stone masons. Our two smiths here are Straga and her husband Hobb. That leaves our youngling Kiri, daughter of Gorta and Brecker.”

“My name is Coralia. I’m a monster hunter. I’m currently leading a tribe of two hundred peaceful kobolds. My plan is to secure this area, train the kobolds to be self sufficient on the surface, and eventually find my way back to the human kingdom.” Coralia explained the situation and carefully studied the ebon dwarves’ reactions.

They seemed fully surprised by the story, and looked back and forth to each other.

“What are you planning to do?” Coralia asked Hurstag.

“We’ve been stuck in surviving the moment since we were driven above ground.” He admitted in reply. “We haven’t dared to hope for a future yet.”

“Do you have a problem with kobolds?” Coralia asked.

“Not as such. But we rarely associate with them either. They have little value for commerce and are content with being nomadic foragers. We occasionally cross paths but rarely have confrontations.” Hurstag answered honestly as the other dwarves bobbed their heads in agreement.

“Do you speak their language as well?” Coralia hoped.

“Naturally.” Hurstag crossed his arms in confidence as he answered. He continued to impress Coralia. Finally she had a chance to communicate more clearly.

“You should join us.” Coralia offered him. “I can train you all to fight along with the kobolds and we can make this valley a safe haven for all peaceful refugees from below. You have crafting skills that are invaluable and we have the numbers to make a strong labor force. What say you?” Coralia laid out the spontaneous plan to the dwarves who were still trying to wrap their minds around the strange encounter.

Hurstag stood straight and squared his strong shoulders.

“Your offer of alliance is tempting, but don’t insult us. To suggest we would be trained by a human alongside kobolds is laughable. We were trained in the elite fighting style of the ebon dwarves. Your strength and speed are commendable, however in an honest contest you surely could not hope to defeat us, or even me alone.” The proud dwarven leader proclaimed.

“Okay. Let’s sort this out.” Coralia began removing her layers of pelts and leather. She then walked out to an open grassy area wearing only a crude vest and a leather skirt that ended above her knees.

Her torso was scarred, and muscled like a career gladiator. Her cinnamon colored hair was in a single thick braid that ended just above her muscular posterior.

“As many of you as you want, with or without weapons. If you can draw one drop of blood, you win and do as you please. If you can’t then you join us, help us build a nice little base, and accept my training.” She said holding out her hand and beckoning them on.

Hurstag picked up his fine axe and shield. “We’re in for the village but by the end of this you’ll be the one begging for training from me!” He growled and stomped toward her.

“Mind her speed. She’s like to bolt behind ye!” The dwarf called Brecker shouted after him.

“Oh I won’t. Don’t worry.” Coralia assured him.

In Hurstag charged with a battle cry. He led with his shield intending to bowl the small woman over. He was met with the sensation of smashing into a wall of iron. A wave of numbness radiated from his left shoulder across his entire body. He moved his shield to the side to see Coralia standing passively and digging dirt from her nails with a bit of wood.

Hurstag sent his axe in a mighty chop that hit Coralia in the shoulder and stopped fast, ringing in the dwarf’s hand. The fine weapon didn’t break but Hurstag hopped back a step anyways.

“Sorcery!” He spat.

“Nope.” Coralia denied nonchalantly. “Giving up already?”

The now furious dwarf launched a series of hard attacks which Coralia made no move to avoid.

“Impossible.” He panted after several minutes of slamming his weapon into what felt like a stone wall.

“You need at least the strength of a hill giant and a heavily enchanted weapon to break through my passively channeled mana barrier. I could safely take a nap here while the lot of you tried to kill me.” She said in consolation.

“Are you really human?” Hurstag asked her, sitting on the ground as he did.

“I’m almost positive that I am, yes.” She answered

“So do we have a deal?” Coralia held out her hand to the still bewildered Hurstag.

He took her hand firmly. “We’ll count on you then, the first ever human ruler of the ebon dwarves. What’s left of us anyways.” He said, dropping to a knee.

The other six dwarves followed suit, kneeling and offering their allegiance.

“Queen Coralia? Oh if Aggie could see me now!” Coralia chuckled. “All right that’s enough of that. I’ll be back with your new neighbors in a while. Save your queen some fish though.” She waved over her shoulder as she strolled back into the forest to fetch the kobolds.

As afternoon deepened to dusk, Coralia led the kobolds into the clearing and Hurstag greeted them in the kobold tongue which excited the kobolds greatly.

Coralia then had a long conversation with Peyo and Laz, with Hurstag acting as an interpreter. She was finally able to articulate her whole plan for a fortified village, and the new alliance with the skilled ebon dwarves. They all celebrated the new friendship, and the prospect of a future that none of them could have imagined.

The kobolds quickly erected their animal skin shelters and offered to share their foraged food with the dwarves who happily accepted.

Coralia ate her generous helping of the meaty tiger pike and sighed happily. The companionship and strange turn of events was so refreshing that looking back she wasn’t sure how she had managed being alone all those years. Memories of her family had certainly sustained her, but she was ashamed to say it was difficult to remember their faces sometimes.

Her children would be nearly grown now. What could she say to them if she made it home. It was something she longed for but dreaded at the same time. What could they say to her? Would they accept her back? Had Arlim found a new woman? Would she blame him if he did? So many questions swirled in her mind that hadn’t haunted her in so long. With hope came fear it seemed. Coralia shook the troubling thoughts away and focused on getting to know her new companions better.