- 107 -

They are all dead. I killed them.

Drew scrolled through his list of combat notifications. It seemed to go on forever.

William stumbled back to the safety of the walls Drew had created. Hemut threw his arm under the blacksmith’s armpit and across his armored back to steady him.

“That was hell.” Pegg whined.

“We survived.” Vaylari smiled.

She made a couple selections on her status screen and glowed.

“Finally got enough exp to raise your agility?” Peg asked.

Vaylari smiled wider. “And I increased my stamina regeneration.”

“They are all gone.” Drew said.

“Now what?” William asked.

-

Pigra cast another wide area flamethrower spell over the corpses on the battlefield. The goblin corpses were methodically burned to a crisp.

Less than a dozen of the goblins survived this last attack. The most cowardly ones had retreated near the end. With nothing left of the corpses to eat they ran back to their warrens.

Pigra cheered and hailed Drew’s party from the top of the wall.

“Well met! Well met!” Pigra shouted down.

“You shouldn’t open the gate so easily.” Kermit said.

“Oh Kermie, you are so high strung. With their help, we nearly wiped them out. It will be a week before they attack again in masse.”

“Those green scamps scampered off.” Yocca said with a chuckle.

Drew’s party gathered together before the open gate.

Drew landed on Vaylari’s shoulder and whispered to her.

“Do we trust them?” Drew asked.

Vaylari watched as Yocca waved an armored hand at them.

“They seem friendly enough.” She whispered back.

Up on the wall, Yandas stood on the edge and leaned casually against Khermet’s armored bicep.

“It will be a while until they regroup and attack again.” Khermet mused.

“They were the kindling we needed to light those green skins up.” Pigra said. “No offense to our civilized pet here.”

Yandas pretended to draw her knife in anger at the slur but her eyes were smiling.

“Those adventurers are no friends of the feral bastards.” Yandas said.

“Do we trust them?” Khermet asked.

“That short one is cute.” Yandas said.

Yocca wiggled his eyebrows at Khermet.

“Hello on the wall!” Vaylari called out. “We could use some shelter.”

“Alright let them in.” Khermet said.

-

Drew’s party passed through the gate to a warm welcome.

It’s been built up time and again. It’s not made from mushrooms. Where are they getting all the lumber?

“Thank you for your hospitality. We have been fighting goblins non stop.” Vaylari said.

“Great wall you got here.” Pegg said.

“We appreciate the help but where did you all come from? There’s no entrances over there.” Khermet asked.

“We came from the fields of gold. There’s an old dungeon passage there that was hidden away.” Vaylari.

“That’s a long walk from Ressalia.” Pigra said skeptically.

“Dungeon? What Dungeon? This is a dwarven mine, has been for generations. There is no dungeon here.” Khermet said.

“We have a quest that says otherwise.” Vaylari said. “But no matter, we appreciate the safety of your fortress and perhaps a meal.”

“A meal and a way out!” Pegg said.

“You are welcome of course.” Khermet said. “Our mine shaft is just to the west, but the godless goblins attack whenever we move a shipment out.”

“After this defeat we should be able to send something up.” Pigra mused.

“We have a bunk house, been using it for storage. Our camphands will clear it out for you.” Khermet said.

He waved to the only other Ressalians in the camp and they rushed off to start on the task.

Pigra sized is up William in his armor. “A little tall for my preferences, but I can appreciate yer fine armor, Lord.”

William nodded. “Thank you but I am no Lord, just a blacksmith with the skills to craft a fine set of armor.”

“You made that yourself lad?!” Sdaddler called out from his seat.

“An expensive cooking pot is what that is. No enchantments at all. With Dwarvish mechanics, from a master engineer like me. You could have had a true work of art.” Wolderrf grouched beside his brother.

William removed his helmet and smiled respectfully.

“Thank you for the advice old timer. This is my submittal for my journeyman test. I cannot have a master such as yourself work on it.”

The two brothers nodded in understanding. Everyone knew how strict the guild’s requirements were.

“I would be happy to look over a schematic if you have one.” William continued.

“Ha! A schematic of mine would cost you as much as the oracgalium you are wearing lad. If you were half my age you’d know that!” Wolderrf

“If he was half your age he’d be dead!” Sdaddler laughed.

The two dwarves had looked over William’s armor while they spoke. Sdaddler rapped a knuckle against it and smiled at the clear note it made.

“He might as well have made three dwarven armor sets with this much metal! And sold it for five times as much.” Wolderrf exclaimed.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“But that’s not where his passion took him. Is it now?” Sdaddler said. “When you’re a master blacksmith, I would commission you to make me a set.”

“Hah! We will never see this boy again. Look at him, all fire but no heat. Humans like him are gone in the blink of an eye.” Wolderrf scoffed.

Sdaddler winked both eyes at his brother. “Yer still here. And you are full of garnt shit.” He said. They both started laughing and downed their drinks.

They seem friendly enough, tho a little rough around the edges.

“Why are the goblins attacking you?” Pegg asked Khermet.

“They want to get to our ore mines.” Khermet said. “My father ran these mines for 200 years. When he had to return home it fell to me to take them over. By the time my group arrived those feral bastards had taken over the whole cave system.”

Khermet shuddered and Pigra put a hand on his shoulder.

“And we broke our backs hunting them down each mineshaft! Lost a few good men, and some fine women too.” Pigra said.

Pegg looked Pigra over and gave him a questioning look. The dwarf’s beard was tied with frilly ribbons, and he wore rouge on his cheeks and lips. Pegg subtly made the shape of two breasts on his chest with his hands.

“Bah, not on your best day lad!” Pigra said.He grasped his groin in a crass gesture. “You aren’t my type. Though you may try your whiles on our Yandas the Rat over there.”

He pointed to the petite goblin woman with her stiff hair tied in three braids tight along her pale green scalp. She grinned at Pegg, her sharp teeth drawing attention towards her large brown doe-like eyes and her long eyelashes.

“Hello little lady. I’m Pegg.” Pegg said with a smile.

“Why do they call you Pegg?” Yandas said, batting her eyes. Her voice was sweet and carried just the barest hint of the usual goblin lisp. She stepped closer to him and she was tall enough that her head nearly passed his belt.

“Well when I was a lad, there was this half ork adventurer in Crownsgate and she-“

Hemut pulled his friend back automatically.

“Don’t get too frisky lad. The feral goblins had a chief that fancied our pretty rat. He led wave after wave against our defenses until she felled him herself.” Khermet said.

Yandas’ grin grew even wider. She batted her eyes at Pegg and he blew her a kiss.

Drew checked the quest details again.

Hero’s Quest: Save Exylandria: Speak with Exylandria.

Nothing in here about the dwarves. And none of them are named Exylandria, so who issued the quest.

“Zee cheffy inveetes-a o grooop ooff adventureeers tuoo hefe-a steeke-a und mooshruum selud fur deener!” A dwarf in a Chef hat called out.

What? Is that an accent or a completely different language?

“Dinner? Yes! And a show! I have some new material.” Yocca exclaimed.

“More like new victims!” Wolderrf chortled.

“Yes fine. Alright it is time for a feast.” Khermet said.

“It’s time to start the show!” Yocca cheered.

-

“Next! A riddle.” Yocca said.

The dwarf tossed the empty ale mugs and daggers off to the side. He had juggled whatever was on hand for ten minutes.

He was standing on top of a makeshift stage. He had clearly made it himself out of a few wooden crates.

“I froth at the mouth without anger. I fly without wings. I cut without an edge. And without a tongue I sing.” He said melodramatically.

“You got bit by a garnt again didn’t ya!” Wolderrf jeered.

Is the answer a disease? No, to cut without an edge, the answer could be harsh words? Or the truth, the truth sets you free without wings!

“You are a boot.” William said.

“No not a boot.” Yocca said. “Any other guesses?”

“I’ll give you my boot!” Wolderrf howled.

“The truth.” Drew squawked.

“Wha! The Skurr talks?” Pigra exclaimed.

“He does a little.” Vaylari said quickly. “Is the answer ‘the truth’?”

“No the answer is not the truth. The answer is a bottle of ale!” Yocca laughed.

“Thats a terrible riddle.” Pegg cried.

“It’s better in our native Dwarvish.” Khermet said.

“Alright, alright, riddles aren’t for everyone.” Yocca said. “A joke then! I tried to date a fish girl from Calliopia once… but every time I turned around, she got away—along with my coin purse.”

He’s trying really hard. Poor guy.

Yocca stood with his hands spread wide apart while Khermet groaned.

“Get off the stage!” Cried Pigra.

“Burn the stage!” Sdaddler cheered.

“With him on it.” Wolderrf laughed.

“Tough crowd.” Drew said earning him a few more weird looks. He cawed a couple times and went back to eating his steak.

Tables had been pulled out for the group to sit and watch the show. The middle of the fortress was turned into a feast.

The two humans waited on them, bringing ales and plates of steak in steady supply.

It was pan seared bat steak with mushrooms and grilled roots. Drew had spotted their chef, a large dwarf in a butchers apron, mumbling to himself and tenderizing every ingredient with a spiked mace before it went into the pan.

Despite how halfhazard it was cooked this steak is delicious! My hunger quest completed 6 times over and I’m not halfway done.

Pegg was eating happily with Yandas. The two had moved up to the wall. They leaning against each other on lookout.

Vaylari and William had sat together with Drew close beside them. They were talking about what to do next in between bites of their delicious steaks.

“These dwarves are mining in a dungeon and they don’t even know it.” Vaylari said. “It’s a dangerous place, which ever type of dungeon this is, it will be sending monsters to kill us all.”

“How do you know so much about dungeons?” William asked.

“My mother was an adventurer. She would come back with enough coin to last a month or sometimes two.” Vaylari said. “While she was gone it was just my dad and me. He made rope and baskets and things like that.”

“Sounds amazing!” William said.

Vaylari smiled sadly and sipped her ale. “It was. Until she didn’t come back.”

Before he could put a hand on her shoulder she spoke up again.

“But that was almost twenty years ago. Look at me mooring over the past.” She forced a laugh and downed her ale.

“Alright you’ll love this one.” Yocca said.

Wolderrf threw his empty tankard. It hit Yocca square in the head but the stout dwarf shrugged it off.

“How about a knock knock joke?” Sdaddler cheered. He chucked his chair at Yocca. The dwarf had to jump off his makeshift stage to avoid it.

Pigra casually set the stage on fire with a wave of his hand.

“Not again!” Yocca cried.

“Drinks for everyone!” Pigra cheered.

Swëdgar quickly poured out a new round of ales. Gizmo and Bikrin rushed the fresh drinks out to the dwarves and bussed away the empty pitchers.

“Khermet! A song!” Sdaddler cheered.

“Make it a good one!” Wolderrf shouted.

“Our guests don’t want to hear me sing.” Khermet said sheepishly.

“Tell a joke! There’s nothing like a good joke!” Yocca said.

“Your jokes are nothing like good jokes Yocca!” Sdaddler said.

“You sing the call of the mountain pretty well Kermie.” Pigra cooed.

Khermet twisted the tips of his green beard in his fingers. Pigra offered him his next ale.

“Alright. One song.” He said reluctantly. “I am the leader after all, and we are hosting guests.”

Khermet began to sing then. He had a low voice but not quite baritone. He sang partially through his nose. It was catchy in its own way.

“Down lads, down down, deep we go,

Where the fires of the mountain glow!

Pick in hand and ale in tow,

Dig, lads, dig ‘til the silver bade show!” He sang.

Sdaddler cheered in the back of the crowd.

“The mountain calls, we heed its words,

Through rock and dark, like moles we burrowes.

A silver vein, a hoard untold,

A miner’s luck is worth more than gold!” He sang.

The rest of the dwarves chimed in on the chorus. None of them were better singers although they were far more enthusiastic.

Must be an old favorite if they all know the words.

“Down men, down down, deep we go,

Where the fires of the mountain glow!

Pick in hand and ale in tow,

Dig, men, dig ‘til the gold does show!” All the dwarves sang.

Pegg leaned in and kissed Yandas on the neck. She giggled.

“The tunnel groans, the timbers crack,

But Dwarves don’t fear a cave-in’s wrack!

We brace, we fight, we hold the line,

For ale and song will see us fine!” Khermet sang alone.

Khermet had loosened up some and began stomping his foot to keep time as he sang. The entourage joined in on the chorus again but the words were slightly different.

“Down brothers, down down, deep we go,

Where the fires of the mountain glow!

Pick in hand and ale in tow,

Dig, brothers, dig ‘low the riches do show!” All the dwarves sang.

Hemut sat beside Swëdgar, the chef. Both were competing to eat the most plates of bat steak while everyone else sang.

How can they eat that much? I’m stuffed. My stomach couldn’t hold another bite. I’ve been eating so much that I could level up.

Drew checked his status sheet but hesitated to select his next upgrade.

Skurr level 9? (42,687/14,000) Yes / No

It’s not the food I’ve been eating. I killed 167 goblins. I’ve gained over 35,000 exp today alone. I’ve been level 8 since Aldermere.

He had enough points to level up two or three times. But a part of him twinged. He couldn’t spend that exp on his own levels.

I’ve been spending all my exp on restoring my gathering ring because I’m afraid. What kind of hero would I become if I take the butchers path?

Pegg glowed and a smile spread across his face.

“Leveled up my weapon proficiency!” He said and the dwarves paused their song to cheer.

William glowed next.

“My Heavy Armor Proficiency is level 3 now.” He said in awe.

The Dwarves cheered again, even louder this time.

He is becoming an adventurer. What do I want to become?

Khermet hummed a moment then picked up the song at the last verse.

“The meal is hot, the bedroll sweetly sings,

Without rest we pull from earth the wealth of kings.

And when our work is said and done,

We drink ‘til the next day has begun!”

All the dwarves stood up to sing, even Swëdgar sang with a mouthful of meat. They raised their tankards and sang at the top of their lungs.

“Down lads, down down, deep we go,

Where the fires of the mountain glow!

Pick in hand and ale in tow,

Drink, lads, drink ‘til the barrels go low!”

The dwarves all cheered and drummed their tables with their hands. The rumble echoed around the cavern.

Vaylari whispered to Drew amongst the laughter of the dwarves.

“Time to turn in. We have to plan what we do next.” She said.