Chapter 55

Fin and Brando stepped outside, looking like generals at war. Their pockets were not as heavy as they could be, given the great expense of the armor. Still, they were wealthier than they ever thought possible. They were making their way to the mercenaries' guild when they noticed the whole square had stopped to stare at them.

"Just keep moving," Brando muttered under his breath. "If we ignore them, they will go away."

Fin took Brando's instruction and kept walking when a familiar-looking dwarf approached them and bowed. "Master Gold Scry, when you did not return to the mines, I offered to see if you were well. Then, some others agreed to accompany me, and then, well," the dwarf gestured around, "We all came to check up on you."

They turned toward the people in the square. It dawned on Fin that the people weren't strangers staring at the well-armored humans; they were their fellow miners. The problem was that it was causing more people to stop and stare. The square was now full of miners and pedestrians standing and staring. They were at the center of attention in a busy square in the center of a foreign city.

"I don't know if I like this Fin," Brando said, crumbling under everyone's attention.

Fin reluctantly stepped forward, cleared his voice, and addressed the crowd. "Thank you for your concern. As you can see, we are well, but we will not be returning to the mines. Instead, we are going to fight for a different mine."

One of the dwarves called out, "You're going to take back the Lokardale mine from Clive Rae?"

"Uh, not exactly, but what Clive Rae did was pretty dumb from what I understand," Fin regained his train of thought. "No, we are going to a mine that is five days west of here. It's inhabited by a group of goblins. What's worse is they have captured humans and dwarves as slaves in that mine. We are going to fight the goblins. If any of you want to fight alongside us, you are welcome to join us. We are leaving in the morning, regardless."

"What kind of mine is it?" someone asked from the crowd.

"Topaz," Fin announced. He looked down to the dwarf who had greeted them and used True Name before continuing, "We have to make preparations to leave, but Grimwald here will answer any further questions."

The dwarf blushed and stammered for a refusal, but Fin had already turned to leave. The questions all came at once. Fin had to hand it to the little guy; he was good at pretending to know what he was talking about.

Fin and Brando nearly ran into the group of Marriam's guards, who were also waiting.

"Frome's legs," Brando cussed. "How does everyone know where we are?"

"Because you're the only humans within fifty leagues, and you do the same thing every day," Marriam smiled from the center of her well-armed and armored guards. "May I entice you to join me for a meal?"

"Marriam, I feel like you and I are even." Fin was glad to have the chance to tell her in person. "We both held our ends of the deal, and now I have other pressing matters to see to."

"I see," Marriam said, tracing her eyes over his and Brando's armor. How about this, then? Let me buy you a meal as a 'thank you,' and we can talk about what I can do to help with your pressing matters."

"I could go for a hot meal," Brando said, clinking his gauntlet on the metal over his stomach.

Fin was hungry, too, and making allies with such a powerful person could be beneficial, so he agreed. Soon, the three of them sat at an alehouse with more food than they could eat without him using a basic stat point, which he had. He waited until everyone was finished eating to use it. His Dexterity went from -5 to -4. Brando gave him a knowing look as the rest of the food vanished from the table.

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As the meal progressed, they told Marriam about where they were going and why. The more they said, the more she started getting that look in her eye. When the tale was told, they all sat in comfortable silence under the watchful eye of guards from adjacent tables.

"I will send ten of my best guards with you and purchase all available mercenaries," she said before draining the last of her ale. "Six of my guards alone could handle fifty goblins. But with ten, you, the mercenaries, and any of the miners you've convinced with your speech, I don't doubt you will win."

"Why are you helping us?" Brando asked bluntly.

"Did you know that I make more money from the shops in my mine than I do from the mine itself?" Marriam asked rhetorically. "Those shops were not there before I inherited the place. I put them there because I see the value in people, and right now, I am making an investment in you two. No strings attached other than the promise of good relations… And exclusive rights to incorporate shops, money exchanges, and places to meet general necessities here and there. Mostly for good relations."

Fin agreed to the terms immediately. If Marriam had said, "I want the mine all to myself," he still would have agreed. He had more gold than he knew what to do with and could easily make more. He didn't want to stay in the desert and mine anyway; he might pluck a few gems out for his mother, but he was ready to go home. He just had a friend to rescue first.

"Marriam, I am excited to work with you," Fin said, moving to shake hands. His fingerless gauntlet was in the way, so he put his hand on it, and it disappeared.

"Fin, can you do that to my armor?" Brando asked as he stood and walked around the table. "I really have to, uh," he glanced at Marriam, "relieve myself."

Fin placed his hands on Brando's armor, which disappeared into his inventory a moment later. Brando thanked him and walked out of the room with a casual quickness. Marriam's eyes sparkled with possibilities as she watched Fin sit back down.

She held out her own hand, "I am excited to work with you too."

With dawn came the acrid feeling of change. Trees gave up their dying leaves, husbands kissed their wives goodbye, and Fin discovered that Void had eaten a midnight snack. Thankfully, the hammer and armor were safe; what wasn't safe was the dark elf coin he had found. He made it absolutely clear to the creature that the weapons and armor were completely off-limits. For the price of several years' wages, Void agreed.

Brando paid the bill in the lobby while Fin collected the horses. When he got to the front of the Traveler's House, he saw a sight he had not expected to see. Twenty dwarves mulled around horses and carts in the middle of the street, waiting for him. Some miners were ready to battle for the promise of wealth. More came by the moment. He was pleased when Rasengold showed up with his entire family. He wished them all a good morning, and they offered him breakfast. Brando was also offered a warm bowl of porridge and egg when he arrived.

Before leaving, Fin made one last stop at the armor smith. Outside, he saw the ten guards Marriam promised and ten more others, all carrying weapons. He directed them all toward the larger group and walked inside. The dull thunk of the doorbell drew Olhoff into the main room.

"You're early," he greeted, then whispered his next words, "He's been up all night putting the final touches on your helmet. This is a big moment for him, getting his journeyman's and all. So, try to be patient. He's almost done."

After a moment, he continued, "Well? Did you bring your armor?"

Fin nodded his head.

"I'll go check on him," Olhoff said and then went into the back.

Fin closed his eyes and concentrated. He had never stowed or unstowed anything at a thought, but he felt he could do it. After nothing happened, he opened his eyes, pulled up his inventory, and focused on his armor. It appeared on his body in the blink of an eye.

Olhoff returned with a startled expression. "Well, you are full of surprises, aren't you?"

Then Tory came out with the helmet. It looked similar to Brando's but very different. Instead of a monochrome color, it was trimmed with gold around the eyes and noseguard. Two golden dragon wings flared out from either side, pointing straight up and fanning around to the back with webbed spikes. It didn't look like something a general would wear; it looked like something a king would wear.

Fin reached out and took it gently from Tory's fingers. He placed it on his head. It fit snugly and didn't limit his vision. The leather inlay made it comfortable. He felt absurd wearing such a fine suit of armor but stood proud.

"This is incredible!" Fin said, taking off the helmet to look at it.

"There's just one more thing," Tory said, taking a hammer and the smallest chisel out of his apron pocket. He hammered a small dent on the bottom left of Fin's plate. "It's customary to give you your first dent so you won't die in battle."

Fin smiled and hugged the tired dwarf.

"How come I got shot with a crossbow for my first dent?" Brando asked the uncomfortable-looking dwarves.

Olhoff shrugged. "Builds confidence."

The two said their farewells and rejoined the waiting dwarves. The group had grown to forty dwarves, restless to start their journey, so they began.