Seraphina stood next to me, her hand warm in mine. We watched the peculiar dance unfolding before us. Elixander's dwarf friends broke away from Elixander's hug after they exchanged a few quiet words, and approached the ferrokin.

They circled Triolux, but there was no hostility in their movements, only fascination and a hint of something I couldn't quite place.

Elixander extended his arm and gestured toward the pair of dwarves. "Allow me to introduce Durrick and Dagor Thunderfall, brothers, and forgepriests of the goddess Vulkrith."

The dwarves bowed their heads in greeting. As they straightened, I noticed the massive hammers strapped to their backs on long hafts with well-worn leather wrapped around the grips.

Elixander continued, "During the war against the dark lord Morthisal, Durrick, Dagor, and I fought side by side. Their prowess on the battlefield was unmatched, and their faith in the goddess Vulkrith never wavered."

I studied the pair. "I take it you two also forge items?"

"Aye, to be sure," Dagor said. "Our weapons, for one. Each forgepriest makes their own."

"So your name really fits," I said, nodding.

Dagor grinned, his weathered face crinkling with pride. "Aye, that's right. The goddess Vulkrith grants us her divine strength, allowing us to smite the enemies of the light. Particularly those of the undead sort. Aye. We, with Elixander, brought our might against Morthisal."

The pair turned their heads to the side and spit.

Awkward… If only they knew the truth that the husk of Morthisal now stood before them. I glanced at Seraphina, wondering if she shared my discomfort, but her face remained impassive.

Triolux seemed fascinated by the forgepriests and their weapons. "The craftsmanship is exquisite," he mused, his eyes tracing the intricate engravings on the hammers' handles. "And you say these weapons are particularly effective against the undead?" He paused and looked thoughtful. "I know not this Vulkrith, but the gods of our age may have changed, or died out during the cataclysm to be replaced."

"Aye. We've much to learn from you if you'd allow it," Durrick said.

"I'd be happy to." Trilux smiled. "Just as I wish to learn of you and your kind."

The pair grinned at Triolux.

"Let's take a walk. We'll show you the outer city." Durrick suggested. "It's one thing to see it from outside, it's another up close. You can see the architecture."

"Aye," Dagor added. "We dwarves build to last."

"I should say so," Triolux replied. "I'd like to see more."

"We have a few things to do in town," I interjected.

"We heard you need to meet the king. Well, that's easy enough. Come with us."

"You're taking us to him?" I asked.

"Nah. One of his people will find us."

I looked around the massive city. "How?"

"You'll see," Dagor said mysteriously.

I shrugged and walked behind them with Seraphina at my side and Elixander bringing up the rear. My eyes scanned the horizon for Frostfire, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Triolux walked around the pair while they studied him. His strange gem-like eyes studied every inch of the brothers. He offered a deep chuckle and said. "It seems my ferrokin ancestors found new life in Mythralon after they walked into the light." His voice filled with wonder.

The forgepriests gasped, their eyes widening. I got the sense that the phrase "walk into the light" held some deep significance for them, though I couldn't begin to guess what it might be.

The three continued their strange dance, circling each other, studying every detail. Durrick reached out a tentative hand as if to touch Triolux's polished granite skin but pulled back at the last moment. Dagor muttered something under his breath, his words lost in the bustle of the city around us.

The three of them spoke quietly, but after a while, the two dwarves gestured for us to follow. Elixander nodded ahead once, indicating we were setting out on a main road.

I couldn't help but admire the incredible architecture around us as we walked through the streets of Crownforge. The buildings were carved directly into the stone in concentric circles that spread out along the base of the mountain. Huge pillars supported balconies and walkways that crisscrossed above our heads, creating the multi-layered city.

The streets bustled with activity. Dwarves of all ages hurried about their business, heavy boots clomping against the cobblestone paths. Many looked, but some actually stopped and stared at our friend Triolux. Some carried large sacks filled with goods, while others pushed carts laden with freshly forged weapons and armor, food, and other trade goods. We were surrounded by the sound of clanging hammers against anvils and the hum of conversation. A fair number of humans strode around the city, as well. Some nodded at us while others hurried to their business.

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I spotted a half dozen gnomes deep in conversation near a shop. They didn't even acknowledge us.

We passed by several stores, each one specializing in a different craft. There was a blacksmith's forge, where a burly dwarf with a soot-stained apron hammered away at a glowing piece of metal, reminding me of Ragna and Doan. I was sure they would have enjoyed meeting the blacksmith.

Next door, a jeweler's shop displayed an array of glittering gems and finely crafted jewelry in its windows. Seraphina stopped and looked over the goods, and gasped a few times. She took out a small notebook and jotted down notes, muttering to herself as she did so.

"These are lovely pieces." I pointed at a delicate gold chain with a light blue and green stone set in a pendant. "That would look great on you. It would bring out your eyes."

She laughed. "Varix. One thing I'll never need is more jewelry. I have enough for thirty women. It's my trade. I was more interested in some of the stones." She pointed.

"Fair point. I'll have to figure out different gifts to shower on you."

She turned and put her arm around my neck. "Just keep being you. It's all the gift I need."

I pulled her close for a quick kiss, but Elixander standing nearby made me falter. A protective father would always be a thorn in the side of displayed affection no matter which world it occurred in. She pecked me on the cheek and returned to looking over the gems. I caught her eyes lingering on one item in particular. I studied it and filed the information away for later.

Further down the street, we came across a bustling marketplace that put Everspring's to shame. Hundreds of stalls lined the edges of the square, offering everything from fresh produce to handcrafted goods. Baked goods filled the area with a warm aroma.

As we continued exploring, we stumbled upon a cozy-looking inn between two larger buildings. The sign above the door read "The Stony Hearth" and featured a carved image of a roaring fireplace. Laughter and the clinking of mugs could be heard from inside, making me miss my own tavern back in Everspring. I'd have to stop by later and check out a dwarven tavern.

The deeper we ventured into Crownforge, the more I realized just how vast and impressive the city was. Despite the city's grandeur, dwarves greeted each other with friendly nods and hearty handshakes.

We finally stopped next to a huge staircase that led to the top of one of the first concentric walls that towered several hundred feet. A shadow detached itself from the staircase. I was sure I hadn't seen anyone there and wondered if it was a ghost, since I was a magnet for them.

The figure was slight, but lithe and dressed in black leather. A form-fitting tunic hugged her frame, and supple leggings disappeared into soft-soled boots. A hood shadowed her face, and a belt hung low on her hips, adorned with various pouches and a pair of long, sheathed daggers.

She lowered her hood, and Seraphina gasped. "It's Kara!"

I remembered that Kara was a shadow walker and one of King Alister's personal guards. I had met her in my tavern when the king had visited Everspring and rewarded Seraphina, Lady Churl, and me for capturing Thalindra. Not only was she one of Alister's bodyguards, but he and Kara had a thing that was about to be disrupted by his upcoming nuptials.

Kara's steps were fluid and silent as she approached us. "Varix, Seraphina, please come with me. The king is waiting." Her eyes swept over Elixander and the forgepriests, but lingered on Triolux. Her head tilted ever so slightly to the side.

"Greetings." Triolux grinned at her.

She nodded at him before doing a double-take.

I glanced at Seraphina, who looked just as surprised as I felt. "How did you know we were coming this way?"

"We have our ways," Kara said, and winked. "He specified that he only wants to meet with the two of you for now. He will call for Elixander and the others later."

I held my tongue. Seraphina and I knew why he wanted to speak with us, but we hadn't told anyone else. How did he know we were already here? Oh... Could be the big ass dragon.

"Where should we meet later?" I asked the others.

"I will bring you back to them no matter their location." Kara's voice was confident.

Elixander wished us well and set off with Triolux, Durrick, and Dagor.

"Lead the way," I said to Kara.

Kara led us up the stairs, and it was a long climb. By the time we reached the top, I was winded. The view of Crownforge from this vantage point was breathtaking, with the city sprawling out below us in concentric circles.

Kara guided us along one of the passageways that cut into the wall. We were high up now, and the path seemed to stretch on endlessly. She reached a part that looked no different from the others—a blank wall. I watched curiously as her hand passed over the surface, and to my amazement, it became transparent. She gestured for us to follow and stepped through.

Seraphina and I exchanged a glance before following Kara through the wall. As we emerged on the other side, we found ourselves in a vast open tunnel. A set of rails on the ground led toward the mountain but disappeared into the darkness. My eyes widened as I spotted a vehicle sitting on the rails.

It was a train, but not like any I had seen before. The dwarven-built (I assumed dwarven-built) locomotive had a sleek, metallic exterior adorned with intricate engravings and glowing runes. Steam hissed from various pipes and valves. The front of the locomotive had a large, circular window, like a single giant eye. A series of gears and cogs whirred and clicked in perfect rhythm.

The single train carriage behind the locomotive was equally impressive. It was made of polished wood with bold metal accents along the frame.

"This train will take us to the palace deep in the mountain," Kara explained, her voice echoing in the cavernous space. "It's the quickest and most secure way to travel."

I couldn't help but marvel at the ingenuity of the dwarves. "I've never seen anything like this before," I said, my voice filled with awe.

Seraphina nodded in agreement. "I have heard of the dwarven locomotives but never dreamed I would get to see one up close. It's incredible. The craftsmanship is simply exquisite."

I couldn't have agreed more.

Kara led us to the train car and opened the door by pulling a lever set near the bottom. It swung upward, and we had to duck to get inside. The car had not been built with humans in mind, but once seated on the plush leather seats, we were comfortable enough.

Kara swung the door shut and sat down across from us. She turned her head and said loudly, "Brunhild. We're ready."

A shutter tilted open above Kara's head, and a face peeked in on us. She was a stout and older dwarf with sharp eyes and iron-gray hair. She looked us over.

"This the lot? Right. Well. Welcome to the innards of Crownforge. Glad ta meetcha and all that. Now do yourselves a favor and hold onto yer arses. This baby gets up to a right fast clip."

"Great to meet you too, Brunhi…" I couldn't finish my sentence as the car surged to life. A great hiss of steam sounded as the car lurched forward.

Kara reached down and extracted a padded safety bar from the middle of the corridor. It extended upward to her waist, and she nestled it against her torso. She gestured downward with her finger. Following her lead, we each grabbed our peculiar restraints and locked them into position as the massive engine accelerated.

There were small, thick windows set on either side of the seats. I looked out, but as we launched into motion, it suddenly became a blur as the train became an absolute rocket.

As we were slammed back into our seats, I noticed Kara's normally impassive face cracked, and a grin creased her lips.

Then, the train really picked up speed and took us deep into the mountain.