Chloe looked into the crackling flames and felt the heat lick her face. They had passed into a wooded area two days previously, where James had lost no time using a hatchet he had been given from the orcs to collect firewood. For Chloe, it was almost enough to hide her shame.

She hadn't meant to deceive James. But she had never felt as safe or protected before, and now she was afraid of what his reaction would be if she revealed her secret.

"Chloe, the time for our race has come. You must infiltrate the humans and then reveal yourself as a demon. Only then will the Prophecy be fulfilled, and the Saviour of our race appear."

She closed her eyes at the memory, still seeing the face of the demon elder who had sent her off to the human village. Unwillingly, she was confronted by memories of the verbal and sometimes physical abuse she had suffered, though thankfully it was never more than that as they had considered her a filthy animal worth only their scorn and derision. But then James had appeared, and while she had at first played along in her role as a young child, she had quickly seen that the human meant her no harm. He had even gotten angry when she addressed him as a slave addressing their master and protected her. It made her feel safe, but also fearful what he would think of her when he learned the truth...

James gathered a rabbit from the snare he had set the previous evening before he set about skinning it and harvesting the meat. Unfortunately, they had mostly been eating meat as he didn't know which herbs, mushrooms and other foliage were safe to eat. He knew that back on earth there were many mushrooms that were poisonous, and who didn't know about killer herbs like hemlock? Luckily they had also passed by a tree that had what James identified as acorns or a near equivalent. While they were hard, there was no problem after they were boiled and he had spent a few hours collecting them with Chloe.

He looked over at the young girl, wondering what she had suffered as she still seemed guarded. The rare moments when she would smile were fleeting, but he hoped she would be more joyful and unguarded in time.

The days passed. James found it quite enjoyable when the keptha, or Jack as he called it now, would rub his hand for a scratch on his jaw or behind his ears. Eventually they came to a mountain range the map identified as the Juggernaut Mountain Range, making him wonder who had named them that and if it was someone from earth. It would certainly explain the language, why the orcs used a different one and why humans spoke English. Seeing the mountains, James began to feel an idea take shape. It was from that point on that they began to pass many other people, including those of different races from dwarves to humans to centaurs and trolls. But while many travelled through the mountain valley, there was also usually a glare of distrust or outright hatred sent their way.

At last, after another week of travel, they came to a stone wall patrolled by dwarven guards. James had expected some security, but it appeared that the guards were relaxed with little caution or reason to be vigilant. This concerned him, but he could say nothing as they approached the towering gate that led into the city. Being a city of craftsmen and warriors, there was naturally a long line of people waiting to get into the city that lay beyond the gate. Taking their place at the end of the queue, James and Chloe got comfortable as they began to wait for their turn to be admitted. Without the need to travel and watch the road, James handed Chloe a simple wooden cup of water while he nibbled on some acorns.

"We're almost there, Chloe. just a little bit longer."

She smiled at him, but it didn't meet her eyes.

About twenty minutes later they met the dwarf guards. Their smaller stature was almost a little comical as James stepped down from the cart and greeted the dwarf who was wearing an impressive hauberk under an exquisitely made leather overcoat over which trailed his impressive beard. With an open metal helm on his head and carrying a halberd, the dwarf reflected either the power or wealth of Felicia, perhaps both.

Hrauss looked at the human as he got down from his cart.

"What's your purpose in coming to Gothcraks?"

"I would like to hire your craftsmen sir."

"For what?"

"To build a fortification."

"For how long?"

"I think at least three years."

Hrauss laughed, not bothering to hide his merriment as his rolly belly shook from amusement.

"You think we dwarves are so cheap to hire?"

"No, I have no intention of short-changing you. All I need is to please have a chance to talk to your best craftsmen."

"Yeah? And how do I know this fortification of yours won't be used to attack us dwarves?" Hrauss asked, his mirth not quite overcoming his instincts as a guard.

"I could hire you as well to come with us, sort of keep an eye on things. If you wanted."

"You think I am so cheap to leave my home and tramp about Morganthal?"

"No, but a cautious mind like yours is a valuable one. You are right to be concerned."

Hrauss waited, but the human made no excuses, only waited for him. Impressed with his manner and politeness despite himself, as Hrauss in his time as a guard had known many beings, not just humans, to look down their noses at him as if he were beneath them. Acting on a hunch or instinct, he turned and pointed beyond the gate to the city inside.

"Go down the street to the main square. Then go left, until you see the Golden Boar. Ask for Damian."

"Thank you sir."

The man handed him a silver, which caused Hrauss' eyes to widen. A day's pay for a little information?

"And by the way, my offer still stands. If you want to learn more, please come find me or ask Damian later."

"I will" he answered, despite his initial misgivings.

As the man walked away Hrauss found himself impressed by the man. He could almost say that there was something in him that very few men, human or otherwise, had ever given him. Mutual respect.

James followed Hrauss' directions along the cobblestone roads. While there was some refuse and garbage, it was cleaner than might have been expected. There was also an attitude of industry, as everyone seemed to be busy. While the citizens were mostly dwarves, there were also other races like gnomes and centaurs and even a cyclops or two. Continuing on past the structures and residences that were a mostly stonework but with a minor mixture of wooden buildings scattered about, James and Chloe soon found themselves outside a tavern with a signboard showing surprise surprise, a golden boar.

Helping Chloe down from the cart, James knocked twice on the door before heading inside. He found himself in a dining area that was a bit cozy but appeared warm and welcoming. That was until he saw more dwarves glance suspiciously at him.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

James glanced across the room at the innkeeper, a short dwarf woman with a white apron who was busy bustling around cleaning and serving guests from behind a countertop that also served as the bar.

"Excuse me ma'am, may I please book two rooms?"

"We don't serve humans here."

"That's fine then, just please let me know where I can find Damian. A guard at the gate told me I could find him here."

"Hrauss sent you? Odd of him..."

She looked at him suspiciously. Then she bent back and turned towards a staircase, though her eyes never left him.

"Damian! Someone's looking for you!"

"Ah, if it's that damn tax collector again, tell him I'll-"

The voice stopped as a dwarf stepped out from behind the room behind the bar.

Damian moved into the dining area as he saw a human looking at him with a child demon girl standing beside him.

"This human was asking for you. Hrauss sent him."

Damian nodded slowly. Hrauss was a childhood friend of his, so he knew that he wouldn't send him someone to take advantage of him.

"Hello sir, may I please speak with you? If you like, I am willing to pay for your time."

A human that offered money and not threats? Unusual.

"Alright" he answered, the lure of money to cover his tax problems too much of an offer to refuse.

"May I please ask for a mug of your finest for Damian ma'am?"

He held out a closed fist and as if accepting a touch from the plague itself the woman only gingerly took it with great reluctance. But not before Damian saw that it was a silver coin.

"So? What do you need me for?" he asked, sitting down at a table.

James looked at the burly dwarf with rolled up sleeves and thick suspenders, the bald head and thick beard adding to the image of a hardworking husband and tavernkeeper.

"Chloe, can you please go and watch the cart for me? Yell if you need anything."

The girl nodded and got up to leave.

"Thank you."

Damian watched the girl leave and go outside through the propped up wooden windows to what he saw was a simple peasant's cart. As she left his wife brought him a mug of pluffa ale, the very best they had. He eagerly brought it to his mouth as the human began to speak.

"Mr. Damian, my name is James, and I was hoping I could hire you for a job. To get right to the point, Hrauss recommended you as a craftsman, and I am wondering if I can pay you to help craft me a fortress."

Damian sputtered with laughter, spitting out the ale back into his mug as he choked. He knocked his chest several times as he laughed, filling the room with curious eyes that all looked over at him.

"I'm serious, Damian."

"Ha ha! Yeah, I'll bet you are! Do you know how long that would take? How much that would cost? You think we dwarves have nothing better to do than work for you for free?"

"I never said for free. Here is an advancement."

He passed over a pouch and Damian dismissively took it, expecting there to be nothing inside but a few copper. His disgust with the arrogance of the human quickly died when he saw that it was filled not with bronze, but with solid gold coins.

Quickly he put the pouch away, his mind reeling. There must have been at least thirty gold in that pouch! Enough to buy his entire inn!

He paused, staring at the human, then grabbed his mug again and finished it in one swig. Then he put the mug down and looked squarely at the human.

"What kind of fortress are you talking about?"

The minutes passed as James waxed on about his idea, even providing dimensions. Damian's first thought was madness, but the more the human talked the more he realized that if he could pull something on such a scale off it might very well eclipse the Mine of the Gothcraks or anything in the Kingdom of Felicia. As the human grew more animated and spread his arms to add to the mental picture he painted, Damian could only admit to the man's ambition.

"One thing, human. Why do this? What's the point behind it?"

James stopped and looked at Damian as if measuring him and sizing him up.

"I don't know if you will believe me. But I am not originally from this world. When I came here, I found and was adopted by the Othrek orc clan. But then I found Chloe, the demon girl, and they didn't want to accept her. I want her to be safe, and I want a place where people can be safe from other humans if war does break out. Think of all that we can do if we were to create a safe trading post that could also double as a fortress."

"We?"

James paused.

"Yes. If you are willing, I will pay you until we get up and running, and then cut you in on a percentage of the profits depending on how much you can bring in."

"And what would you be selling?"

"Ore from the mountain. Finished goods. But more than that, I can teach you and the other workers techniques you won't find anywhere else."

"Ha! We're dwarves! Crafting is in our blood. And you claim you can teach us?"

"Yes."

James met Damian's amused stare with an even one, and soon Damian's grin slipped off his face, replaced by a pensive look.

"You're serious?"

"Of course. And this offer is open to anyone else you think could be helpful, from guards to cooks to anyone else, regardless of race. Everyone can be useful in building the fortress."

His wife brought another mug of ale, eyeing James suspiciously. She hadn't heard what was said, being busy serving the other patrons, but she still kept an eye on him.

"Ha ha, I think your wife doesn't like me, judging by how she keeps looking at me under a raised brow. If looks could kill..."

Damian hurriedly looked up and glanced over at his wife, ready to snap at her for jeopardizing such a lucrative offer. But James upon seeing his reaction only waved his hand.

"I'm not offended. In fact, her actions are praiseworthy. I think she just worries about you. You are lucky to have her."

Damian blushed, surprised that a human would compliment her stink eye.

"Yeah, she really is a treasure."

"She is welcome too, and any family or dependants you may have."

A silence fell, with both of them thinking and evaluating both each other and the situation.

"This is my home. I don't want to leave it."

"Okay, well, thank you for your time anyway-" James told him as he got up to leave.

"But this offer..."

He eyed the bag of gold.

"It would help me pay my debts."

"Damian, don't do this just for money. If you need financial help, then keep the gold. Whether as a craftsman or an innkeeper, I know you have talents that can be put to use. Tell you what, I will be back in three days. Think about it, talk about it with your wife and anyone else you think might be interested. I will be waiting outside the gates in three days for anyone who wants to work with me."

He stood up, nodded at him, looked over and said 'Thank you ma'am' to his wife, and then walked out to the cart.

"Heh! What'd that lousy human want?"

Damian recoiled, realizing the gold was still on the table. Hurriedly sweeping up the pouch, he turned and looked angrily at his wife.

"Bertha! That man is our benefactor!"