Kaen and Ava stood near the bridge. Looking over the side, they could see a cluster of bodies.

“So many,” she said in a hushed tone.

“Aye,” Dagan replied. His voice carried more joy in that statement than Kaen could ever remember hearing from the king’s dwarf. “They were foolish to think they could ever cross this bridge. You already saw the fortifications before they could even make it here.”

Nodding, Ava looked at Kaen, who was studying one of the joining pieces of the bridge.

“And this bridge actually can break apart?”

A smug smile now rested on Dagan’s lips as the dwarf gently stroked his brown beard. “That it does. We would have drawn them into the next pillar if they managed to get past the first section. Once there, the chains would have been freed, and this entire piece would pivot, depositing their foul bodies to the chasm below.”

Kaen coughed, tapping a few sections of the bridge Dagan had just discussed. “When was the last time you tested those and this hinge?”

The dwarf’s eyebrows danced as he raised them up and down while moving to where Kaen was. “It’s been… I think…” He turned and looked at one of the guards waiting for them. “Grombdul! When did we test these last?”

The plate-wearing dwarf he had just called out sputtered for a moment and then shrugged. “Sir! I’m not certain, but I believe it was at least within the last two decades!”

Kaen started making some noises as he sucked wind through his teeth. Pulling his dagger from its sheath, he slipped it between the joints and pried up some packed sediments.

“What are you doing?” Dagan asked, barely stopping himself before pushing Kaen away.

“Look,” Kaen replied, not looking up as he pounded and forced his dagger into the almost cement-like layer. It’s so hard it might not actually hinge like you want it to. The weight might make it happen, but if it didn’t…”

Dagan’s eyes widened as he snorted, his mustache moving from the amount of air he was blowing out. “Why… how can you think to know more than a dwarf? This is our bridge. Of course, it will work!”

Kaen nodded and stood up, cleaning off his dagger against his pants and slipping it into his sheath. Afterward, he grabbed the backpack he was carrying and nodded. “I hear you… but I’m just saying you might want to test the bridge or have a crew clean this entire thing out. Imagine how bad things might get if you needed it to work, and it didn’t. Especially if Bosgreth found out later you had been warned.”

The two of them stared each other down. Dagan was utterly beside himself to be told by a human that a dwarven marvel of technology might not work, while Kaen was frustrated at the constant way the dwarves never believed he knew anything.

Dagan gave in first, snapping his finger as he shouted. “Grombdul, get a pair of engineers to inspect this point immediately. Have them report to me directly what they find!”

The sound of plate boots running across the bridge rang out, and Kaen gave a slight nod to Dagan, who dismissed it as he moved further along the bridge.

“We need to go inside. The king is anxious to talk with you about certain things.”

Ava rolled her eyes as she fell in step with Kaen, who mimicked her reaction and shrugged.

“You warned me,” she whispered.

“And you didn’t believe me,” Kaen replied quietly.

The sounds of the castle echoed through the halls as an entire race was packed together, trying to manage the daily chores required to be done.

Ava stared in awe as they moved through the walkways, which displayed a huge open section that had been dug out. Within it was a park with trees and grass being cared for by workers.

“They are actually still alive,” Kaen stated.

“You didn’t believe we could keep them alive, did you?” Dagan asked when he saw Kaen’s expression.

“I had my doubts,” Kaen admitted as he pointed to a few places for Ava. “Part of me wants to know how much dirt you all moved into here to make that and the farms happen. I noticed the huge sections of ground off to the west last time that were gone. The manpower…”

“You mean dwarven power,” Dagan corrected him with a grunt. “You seem to forget the willpower we have. Perhaps I can find someone to show you and your wife the levels we have dedicated completely to supplying food.”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Moving closer to Dagan, Ava put on her best smile and pointed at one of the massive lightstones hanging on a pole near the park below them. “Forgive me if this is a foolish question, but those lightstones, how long can they last?”

Huffing, Dagan tried to reduce his unpleasant demeanor and smiled for Ava. “Those eight lightstones are only found here,” he replied with a grin. “Our workers are making extra because they only last a few weeks. The amount of magical energy required to charge and make those uses a fair amount of our available magic power.”

“And similar ones are at the farming grounds?”

Dagan nodded as he motioned to the stairs leading down. “I think I may have a little time to show you the park before we go and see Bosgreth.”

“Oh, I would love that!” exclaimed Ava as she gently touched the dwarf's shoulder before moving back to Kaen with a slight spring in her step.

She missed the dwarf's cheeks and forehead turning red, but Kaen had not.

Without another word, Dagan almost skipped down the stairs.

“As you can see, only a few dwarves are allowed in the park simultaneously. There is a drawing from all the people, which allows them a turn. Every name is in the pot, and trading your spot is prohibited.”

“That seems like a great idea,” Ava said as she and Dagan walked around the edge of the grass. She had taken the dwarf’s arm in hers and led him like a puppy with a treat.

Kaen strolled behind them, chuckling to himself at hearing Dagan speaking more today than he could remember in all their other visits combined.

Bending down at the edge, Kaen felt the grass with his fingertips.

When he had done that, a few grunts came from the guards behind him.

Dagan turned and looked at Kaen with a frown.

“We aren’t supposed to touch the grass if it’s not our turn. The caretakers have mentioned how easily we could damage the grass if everyone did that.”

Kaen nodded as he stood. “I understand. Forgive me.”

A gentle squeeze on Dagan’s arm drew his attention to Ava and that smile she had mastered, earning Kaen nothing more than a nod as the two began their walk again.

Hours after they should have arrived at the golden doors that led to Bosgreth’s throne room, Kaen smiled as his wife moved back to him, letting Dagan prepare himself before they entered.

“You should be an emissary with how well you handled all of that,” Kaen whispered, earning a playful tongue extended in his direction.

“You’re just jealous that he likes me and not you.”

Shrugging, Kaen bobbed his head and pointed at the massive golden door opening.

The noise of shouting and yelling from inside reached their ears, now explaining why the doors had been shut in the first place.

Once those engaged in the shouting match finally noticed the small procession approaching them and King Bosgreth, they quieted down and moved to opposite sides of the long carpet leading to the throne.

“Dragon Warrior Kaen!” Bosgreth exclaimed, his look of relief washing away the frustrated one he had a few seconds ago. Welcome, and thank you for your timely appearance.”

Dagan winced at those last words, even though his king had never looked at him.

“King Bosgreth, I am honored as always to be allowed to see you,” Kaen replied, giving a slight bow as he continued moving toward the king and through the pack of dwarves focused on him and Ava.

“Allow me if you would to introduce my wife. Ava Marshell.”

Bosgreth moved off of his throne and down the few steps. Even with all the white hair and wrinkles that marked him as older than dirt, his movement did not affect his age.

Ignoring protocols and the whispers that could be heard, Bosgreth approached Ava and gave her a slight nod. Holding out his hand, he waited, and once she put hers in his, the old dwarf leaned forward and kissed it gently.

“Lady Marshell, meeting the one person who could bind this man is an honor.”

Kaen and Bosgreth started to laugh, and Ava looked at the two of them for a moment before realizing the joke.

“I’m not sure who has bonded who, but I am grateful every day I get to wake up next to him.”

A brief moment of pain flashed across Bosgreth’s face as he grimaced momentarily, replacing it with a smile that had been mastered over a lifetime. “To have someone you love like that and be able to wake up next to them is a gift greater than anything else. Cherish it always.”

Ava nodded, and Kaen squeezed her hand as she stood beside him.

“Now then, since you two are finally here, let us move to a room off to the side where we can discuss things privately.” After he finished talking, Bosgreth gave both groups about to protest a glare, cutting off any words they might say.

“Dagan, please ensure that our advisors are led back to the duties they are expected to fulfill. Afterward, if you can make it in time, come join us.”

Dagan gave a very stiff bow and turned, his facial expression hidden from Kaen and Ava but not from the dwarves, who immediately began to hurry toward the golden doors across the throne room.

After the gaggle of dwarves was halfway across the room, Bosgreth sighed.

“I will probably pay for calling him out like that, but he knew how quickly I wanted to see you both.”

“That is my fault,” Ava blurted out. “I may have used my feminine charms and gotten a tour of the park and a few other areas.”

Sighing, Bosgreth nodded and motioned to the door at the side of the hall they were going to go through. “I had no doubts… that one can be swayed by a woman’s voice and hand. Much has changed since you last were here, and I am interested in all the news you bring. So let’s move to the room I have prepared and talk there.”

Without waiting for a response, Bosgreth moved toward the room, a slight limp showing up after the first few steps.

Kaen and Ava moved quickly to catch up and smiled, Ava looking and pointing at different decorations within the throne room. The entire time, Kaen kept one eye on the dwarven king. He could see what Bosgreth was trying to hide.

The king was dying.