Dinner was passable, though Arawn gripped about my cooking technique. I used the various ingredients that had been stored in the various compartments. The magic infusing from using infused well everything was a nice bonus. Even Badb was appreciative of the added boost. When I mentioned making armor from the harvested dragons the spirit did offer a piece of advice.
“You can of course, but if it were me I would wait and see if something else might be possible.” His grin told me that again there was more to this than he was saying and I opted to wait and see.
It was mostly a silent affair though since the spirit wouldn’t answer anymore questions until after the thing he called a quest was done. In the end we spent that one night at the cottage and after breakfast teleported to the next bolt hole. It was close to a city called Praxin, the last one outside of the capital.
The town was much like the last and we set about it in the same way once we made it into the city. The dragons name was Carak this time, a female green that had the same wish as the others. Again the population was lucky because of the distance the nobles kept between them and their districts. When she escaped the entire noble district transformed, every living thing in it used to empower the growth of a massive forest that grew in the span of an hour. At its center we harvested her corpse, all the while admiring the old growth forest that hadn’t been that an hour ago.
Arawn had taught me that the strange between the bolt holes for on particular room was connected to the cottage. I could leave thing inside it and they would be available at any location. We stored all of the dragon remains in that room, my storage ring had finally reached capacity after Carak. Emptying it all into the room was a task all its own. Again on Arawns advice I kept them all seperated, all except the meat. He said that wouldn’t matter later, which made me breathe easy since I had been eating it fairly often.
We spent three days in that bolt hole just organizing the room and relaxing, both me and Badb knew the next two would be far more challenging. Not just because of the capital but because they knew we were coming. At this point they had to know we were coming. The easy parts were done, it left the hardest for last.
After three days we teleported to the next colt hole, this one was only an hour away from on for the dragons. The one outside of the capital, from what I could tell it was being kept at the kings private keep. Badb did a flight over and reported that it was fully on guard with a full contingent of the kings guard, complete with a company of mages. It was called Kings Rest, basically it was castle surrounded by a wall that stood thirty feet high, warded more tightly than the previous three. There would be no easy routine this time.
The capital was worse, the entire city was constantly being patrolled by mages, all at least two shards. They weren’t there to fight their patrol was to constantly check the area for magic. There was also always mages at the city gates, scanning anyone coming in. Niether of those were difficult to overcome, I could easily craft a disguise that would fool them and blocking others from sending my magic was now child’s play. The real problem was the ward covering the keep. It dwarfed even the one protecting Kings Rest. I could break either of them but the act would send every mage in the city after me. That thought was followed by an amused Badb’s thoughts.
“So? You could easily shut them all down. Even the king and queen, well they might take a minute since both are five shard mages.”
“They’re both five shard?!? I thought there were no more true mages?”
“None known true, it’s a closely guarded secret. One I heard drifting on the wind today, okay I was was dropping on their communication crystals but that doesn’t matter. What’s important is that that are both true mages, if untested.”
“Untested? Wait listening in?”
“Neither of them has been battle tested, that’s the true test for any true mage.”
“But I haven’t been either.”
“Yes and no, you’ve been in fights and confronted three dragons. That counts to me.” He sent adding a mental shrug.
“So what do you suggest? Fight them?”
“You may have to but no, doing so outright would be foolish. It could also spark some sort of war with the other races, that is assuming they are also five shard mages.” He paused for a minute before continuing. “That’s just a guess but if they aren’t I can’t see why they humans haven’t taken over completely.”
“That does make sense, but if they all are then….” The thought hit me like a boulder. “That’s it! The reason everything is so controlled, the humans control the shards.”
“What does that mean?” Badb asked curiously.
“It means the other races are dependent on the humans for shards. They don’t need a war for control, they already have it.”
“You’re saying the humans already rule the continent?”
“That’s exactly it, it’s also why the king can’t surrender that power.” My mind was putting it all together now. “They will loose their power when the dragons are freed, it could cause the old wars to re-ignite.”
“That’s what Arawn meant by changing rulers.” Badb finally caught on to the bigger picture.
“It’s also why they will do anything to prevent us from getting to the dragons.” This added an entirely different dynamic to the problem. “We are going to have to do something before freeing the last two.”
“Oh?” Badb responded to my annoyed tone curiously.
“If we simply free the last two and continue one it’ll likely lead back to the real wars. I can accept the clashes that happen now and the deaths caused by the dragons, but an all out war likely between the humans and elves. The dwarves won’t care so long as people stay out of their mountains.” Turns out all those books I had read did affect my long term thinking.
“What do you suggest?” This wasn’t Badb’s area of expertise. As a rule magical beasts just kill the weaker one and move one, diplomacy wasn’t there thing.
“I think ll I’ll have to impose on the various kings hospitality.” I smirked at the thought. Me talking to kings, this would be interesting.
“Do you actually have a plan for that?”
“The dwarves will be easy, so long as they know shards will be available again they probably won’t care. They’ll be first and maybe they can give me some hints about the rest.”
“There is a bolt hole near their capital, they also are more like beasts. Strength is respected but wisdom and logic are also requirements. You’ll have to make a solid argument for them to listen.”
“Let’s start there, they can probably help with the gnomes, I know they trade with them regularly. From there hopefully they’ll know something about the halfling court or if it even exists…than the elves. That one will be a pain in the ass.” I was reaching and knew it but it was all I had.
“A bit optimistic but I agree, it’s the best we can come up with.” After a thought he added, “it might also make the human king and queen relax their guard if we are gone for a bit.”
“That’s another advantage we can hope for. The immediate plan is to go to the dwarves, I don’t think I’ll try to work through proper channels.” Smiling with just a touch of humor at the plan. After all I didn’t need the public to know what was going on. “Let’s move to the dwarven bolt hole tonight, we can plan from there.”
“Did you ever notice that one of the bolt holes moves?” Badb asked studying the map.
“I figure it the gnomes, something tells me Arawn planned for this as much as the rest.”
Without much left to deal with I focused my will and the magic teleported us to the new bolt hole. It was much like the others with a few new books in the library. I studied the one on dwarven rule while we ate dinner learning that the current king was Jarklyn Redhand. He had been the king for the last century, known for his abilities in trade and crafting. After dinner I stayed up reading for a few hours before going to bed. Tomorrow I would go observe the court to get a feel for the man, before visiting him at night.
After breakfast the next morning I moved into the mountain of the dwarven capital. The rock wasn’t difficult to move through but it had a different feel. It felt somehow like I was traveling through someone’s home, I recognized it from my days back in Shylock as a thief. I didn’t think it gave me away, just felt uncomfortable.
Taking time to explore the city on my way I was taken back by how well it was all organized. I knew they were an orderly race were strength of battle and skill in crafting were the basis of your reputation it tended to not tolerate wastrels. None of their nobility up to king the king was hereditary, each position in the court was earned. I wouldn’t say it negated the power of wealth, training and skill in combat were defiantly benifits of wealth, but it curtailed it strongly. You might have the advantage of education but you still had to do the work.
By early afternoon between observation and reading I had a fair understanding of their society. Smithing was the most respected craft but it didn’t disparage the others. The council of elders was made up of representatives from each. Merchents, , jewelers, weapons smiths, armor smiths, beast tamers, hunters and delvers were all represented. The ones that proved the truth were waste management, personal services, chefs and brew masters all held as much power on the council as the smiths. One dwarf one vote, the king could overrule the council be he was required to defend that decision. Most of the time in words but occasionally through strength of arms.
All dwarves, make or female were trained in combat. There was a mandatory service for all, it was for twenty years and had to be completed before they chose their training in the arts. What that meant was that even the street sweeper could fight monsters or man. Their entire population was the army when it was needed, no wonder the rest of the races left them alone.
I ate my lunch in the stone watching the council chamber begin to fill with various petitioners and aspirants. The front of the room was separated from the rest by a shirt wall that everyone waited behind. On the far side of the room was twelve chairs arced around the wall split by an ornate throne of gold that held the center. Twelve council members and the king, I didn’t really know were they were at the moment. Honestly I hadn’t bothered to look for them. So it came as a surprise when a chamberlain banged his staff twice when twelve people who had been mingling with the rest broke away and walked toward the chairs.
It was a mixed bag, I already knew the dwarves didn’t differentiate between the sex’s. If you were skilled that was it, male and female didn’t matter to them. Once the council had seated themselves the chamberlain banged his staff three more times before speaking. His voice rang across the chamber in a clear tone.
“His majesty King Jarklyn Redbeard, all recognize your liege.” There was no bowing or kneeling but the council did stand from their chairs as the king left the crowd at the front and made his way to the throne.
Again I was taking back by his appearance from the mix of people at the front, evidently they really didn’t rely much on formality. That was even more apparent when I noticed the king had soot stained hands with black smudges on his face. This was a working smith and the look on his face said this whole thing interrupted his preferred pass time. I found I liked these people, there was an integrity to their way of life.
The court was as informal as the rest, some petitioners were asking for specific rare metals or gems. Others wanted to delay a debt or borrow money for exploration. The only interesting part to me was a brief security update about three cities in the human lands. According to them they had fallen to a large monster of come unknown species. If I read the kings face he knew better but he didn’t dispute the report. A military advisor reported on a conflict with an orc tribe, the battle had been won but with more losses than they liked. Evidently they clashed regularly with orcs in the depths, there was an on going conflict over mining.
It took hours but no one lost patience and all were seen and heard. The chamberlain staff was efficient at their jobs, planning down to the last. Once the last man spoke, a mushroom farmer from what I could tell who was asking for some guards to clear out a nest of deep earth centipedes, left the chamberlain rapt his staff on the floor three times closing the session. He then left the room and closed the doors behind him. Once he left there was a collective sign from the council as they slouched in their chairs, the king rising to his feet and cracking his back.
“Aye at damnable throne becomes more uncomfortable every damn day!” He grumbled while stretching. “Why won’t one of you lot challenge for it so I can just stay in my smithy?”
There was general laughter among the council before a younger dwarf with a black beard spoke. The sarcasm dripped but not in a mean way this was a group of friends japping one another.
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“But my king how could any of us poor unbloodied louts hope to overcome your might!”
“Bah! Gregor you could beat me on any day you just don’t want the job.” The king rebutted.
“Well ya do get the fancy crown when others come ya court.” This one was a female, dressed in some of the finest cloth I had ever seen.
“Tally don’t start, ya been dodging my bed chamber for a hundred years, ya kin have the crown.” The council joined the king in his laughter while Tally grinned shamelessly.
“You’re welcome in my bed oh great king, but I’ll naught be coming to yourn.”
“Okay enough of this, I’ll always loose in this contest.” The king smiled before a more sever look came over his face. “The matter of the humans cities is more than just idle monsters. The truth of that tale is they lost three dragons, somehow they freed themselves and destroyed large parts of the cities. That is until they, according to all reports, disappeared. They were simple gone.”
This got everyone’s attention, it was more serious than a battle with the orcs. There was a general grumbling about the humans getting what they deserved before the king continued. “The bigger problem is this will affect the number of shards across the people, of course first they will demand a larger payment for the few they do release.”
This topic gave me an opportunity, a risky one but with the entire council here I could talk to them and get this settled. The idea was worth the risk, it meant that the king wouldn’t have to act without the council. They were all mages at least three shards and the king was a four shard mage. I stepped out of the wall at the far end of the chamber coughing to announce my presence.
“I maybe able to help with that my lords.” I expected shock, threats, almost anything but what I got.
“Was wondering if you’d step out instead of jus spying.” The king grinned. The councilors did give me the reactions that I escorted but the king had known.
“Seemed like a good time to chat.” I shrugged trying to ignore the gathering of magic around the various dwarves. “I freed the dragons from the humans. They are dead, the chains used to keep them had bound to their souls.”
“Soul binding, I had guessed but never knew.” The king spat, his opinion on it was obvious. “Only they would dare that on dragons.”
“Would you mind having your guards stop targeting me, it’s ….uncomfortable.” I could feel the two stealthed guards behind me, both had weapons pointed at my back. “I mean you no harm, in truth I’m here to discuss the future and of course shards.”
“Stand down, for now.” The king snapped, but I could see his discomfort with the order. He wasn’t sure about me yet and he didn’t like the feeling. “Who are you half elf?”
“That is up to you and your council, friend or foe is your choice. I will free the remaining two dragons breaking the humans power, but I don’t want the old wars to break out. That’s why I’m here. What will it take to keep the dwarves in their mountain?”
The council had been in shock up until now but my casual comment regarding the last two dragons broke that. They all stared yelling at once, threats from some about shards while others supported getting away from the humans power. The king silently studied me for a few minutes letting the council voice their concerns before he called for silence.
“Enough!” He yelled immediately silencing the council. “This shouldn’t be discussed standing around like a bunch of adventurers. Master?”
“Syn.”
“Master Syn let’s adjourn to a more comfortable setting and discuss this further. You bring complications that can’t be simply decided.” He waved toward a door to the side of the room. “Torin tell Master Grailin that we are not to be disturbed and have him notify our various families that we may be a while before we return to our places.”
I felt one of his guards move through the stone and could hear him outside talking to the chamberlain. Passing in the orders before returning to the room. I followed the council into the antechamber. It held a large round table, it could seat everyone with a few empty chairs. I waited for them to find seats before taking one myself opposite them. The king tapped twice on the wall behind him before sitting down.
“Drinks and food will be here shortly, no need to be uncivilized about this all.”
“My thanks.” I nodded my agreement. It took another few minutes for the refreshments to arrive and the servants to leave. Once everyone had a drink and some food the king drew our attention back to the matter at hand.
“The issue is simple master Syn, shards. This is all about shards, the human kings managed to exterminate or capture the dragons and that controlled the shards which gave them power over the rest of us. If you free those last two where will the shards come from?”
“From the new dragons that will be released.” My response was simple but none of the looks around the table liked that answer.
“You’re talking about a return to the days when shards were found in the world? For us that meant the ones we found while mining.” The king looked interested but unsure.
“Yes if that’s the way it was.” I smiled having been curious about this. “It will take time for the natural balance to return but yes that’s the goal.”
“And in the mean time?” Tally asked from her seat.
“How many shards did the humans give you?” I didn’t have this information and it was a key problem flaw in the plan.
“One hundred and twenty per year, the elves got the same, halflings a hundred and the gnomes one hundred and thirty because of their needs. Their cities depend on shards to fly.” The king answered giving me far more information than I had hoped for. I knew my current stock of shards was well over a thousand so I could support that for a while the natural balance returned. “But give is the wrong word. I’m not sure about the other races but we provide them with various goods in trade for the shards. They call it a tax”
“If I provided those for a few years without the tax would you avoid war with them? Knowing that their power to enslave dragons is broken and likely their nobility crippled?” I asked watching every face turn immediately toward me.
“It would but we don’t need random shards, our needs are specific.” The king had silenced everyone else in the room and was focused on me. “We have no interest in a war so long as we are left alone, there will be a need for trade to continue though.”
“I think that can all be arranged, what shards do you need?”
“It is more in the combinations, we only need a few single shards, the majority had to be atleast two shard compatible with a few threes, enough to keep our forges going. “. The explanation made sense, I didn’t know much but the necessity of two and three shard combos was required for crafting at the level the dwarves did. “Of course I can also offer what the others get annually in trade.”
“That would make my life easier when it comes to the elves.” I grinned at the king, he had me and he knew it. Thankfully he didn’t need to really screw with me I had made a good choice with the dwarves.
“Not the elves, though they will be difficult it’s the halflings you’ll struggle with. True they don’t really pose a true threat but dealing with them is always a challenge.” He laughed and I realized he was right. There was nothing a halfling liked more than haggling for wealth or position. It was just one of the reasons people hated dealing with them.
Suddenly I felt a build up of magic from across the table, someone was preparing to cast an attack. I had just moments to decide what to do and I acted on instinct, shutting down the casters shards with a simple flex of my will. An older man across the table gasped as his magic suddenly cut off, to my surprise he was another four shard mage, I hadn’t really looked past the king. How was he as powerful? The councilors started to move, each gathering their own magic to them. I was about to speak but the king beat me to it. His command roared out making everyone freeze in place.
“STOP! No one move or cast anything.” He slowly turned to face the gasping older man. “Luptin, you? I would have never suspected it was you.”
“My king what do you mean?” Lipton gasped out, finally starting to collect his breath.
“I have known for a long time the humans had someone on the council, but you? I would have never suspected.” The kings voice was a growl as he glared at the man.
“Fool that you are of course you’d never suspect me.” Luptin seemed to have given up on any pretense. “They paid me a fortune years ago, all for ensuring you never strayed from their orders.”
I waited for the king to continue talking but he didn’t, with my mind focused on holding the man’s magic I missed the kings magic as it swept out, decapitating the man before I could react. No one spoke for a few minutes as the life blood of the dwarf pooled on the table. People had a natural reaction of pulling their drinks or food away from the blood but other than the scrape of plates being moved a heavy silence hung in the air.
“Damn traitor.” The kings voice was a mix of anger and sadness. He met my gaze before continuing. “He was a merchant and dealt more heavily with the outside world. The difficult will be with his son, he’s hot headed and likely to challenge me over this.”
“He won’t” Talky said quietly. “ I think he knew, he came to me half year back with odd questions about his families wealth. The lads smart, when he started looking at the books something bothered him enough to ask for advice.”
As the rest of the council began talking again the king gave orders to his guards. Telling them to take the body away, once that was done the servants came back in and cleaned up the blood. In less than an hour the chamber was returned to order when the king spoke again.
“Now that we’ve solved that, we can move on. Master mage we would like nothing more than to escape the thieving grasp of the human king, so long as it doesn’t cripple our growth.” It was the response I expected, not a promise of any kind to be sure but they wouldn’t go to war and that’s what I was after.
“When do you need your shards, once this is taken care of?” I asked knowing this was a key point. I also made a mental note to ask Arawn how long it would take for the balance to return.
“Can ya be sure they won’t just repeat the tick they did back then?” Another councilor, one whose name I didn’t know asked.
“Yes, I know how it happened and can prevent it from happening again. Though it will also require everyone to avoid killing dragons when possible. They must be allowed to exist whenever possible, they are key to the balance of the domain.” I kept it simple but they did need that information.
“The history books tell us of the peace we once had with the dragons, you’ll have no trouble with any on that count.” The same older councilor said but then admitted “humans will be the problem there again, they seek the dragons horde like a drunk seeks a drink.”
“True but if the other races stick to the ban you can enforce it on them, they need your armor and weapons after all.” I grinned back at the man. “Only dwarven steel will take a dragons life, only an elven bow can pierce their scales and only a gnomish ballista can bring them to ground. Of course only a halflings luck can find their horde.”
It was all true, without the combined power of all the races hunting dragons was suicide. I had never considered how this worked but as I spoke it hit me, this was all by design. It wasn’t meant to make them hunt dragons but to prevent them from hunting you. It was a revelation that made my head spin.
“True enough!” The king laughed, it’s was a strained laugh but he did find it amusing. “Let me show you where to find the halflings than master mage it appears I have something’s to deal with, if you would excuse us?”
“Of course your majesty, I’ll return when I’ve settled things and we can iron out the details.” After he showed me the location on a map hung behind his chair, I stood and nodded my head in respect to the council before stepping into the stone. I don’t hang around and ease drop. I had what I came for and now understood that I would have the power to back it up when the dragons were gone. Badb had been watching in the stone behind his guards, prepared to deal with any attack. He rejoined me as I left the area and we returned to the bolt hole to plan the next stop, probably the halflings.