The dwarf’s facial expression didn’t change one bit, “Maralmizi, you say?”

“Yes,” Phisola responded, “So I know much more about your people than you think.”

“Do you even know what that word means?”

“It means I’m privy to knowledge foreigners can’t have.”

“Then you should also know that you can’t stop being maralmizi.”

“Yeah, I know. You’re supposed to stay one for life.”

The dwarf crossed his arms over his chest, giving her a scornful glare, “Do ya even understan’ what you’re trying to tell me, you devil?”

“I didn’t break any vows.”

“Then how are you here?”

“I got teleported by Dungeon Master. How else do you think I got here?”

“Did you ask for it?”

“No, I didn’t. I was brought here against my will, just like my companion,” she pointed at Eric over her shoulder with her thumb.

“If you didn’t break any vows, then why did you say you used to be maralmizi? You still are.”

“No, I’m not, and you know it. You stop being maralmizi as soon as you leave. It doesn’t matter if it was by my own choice or not. Besides, look at me,” her hands glided over her naked figure, “Is this what maralmizi looks like? I was teleported here with only one set of clothes that got torn up to tiny shreds in less than a moon. I’ve been walking naked ever since.”

“Hmm … I never understood why any dwarf would ever deal with a devil.”

“I wasn’t a devil when I became maralmizi. I’ve turned into one thanks to …”

“Even worse, a demon,” the dwarf cut her off, “A devil can at least be useful. But I can’t deny that you have some … inside knowledge.”

“Look, mister dwarf. The only thing I want is to get back home as soon as possible. And while I can’t be maralmizi anymore, at least I can give those people some closure. That’s the least I can do.”

“Things may not go the way you think.”

“I know. But I wouldn’t become maralmizi otherwise. I knew what I was getting myself into, and I’m ready to face the consequences. Even if everything was completely out of my control, I still have a responsibility to fulfill.”

“A devil talking about responsibilities,” the dwarf shook his head left to right, “Next, you’re going to tell me you were a faithful wife.”

She put her hands on her hips, tilting to one side, “Listen mister, I don’t care what you think. What I do care about is going back home as soon as possible. And your carving is getting in the way of that!”

“Listen here … you,” the dwarf walked up to her, looking even more annoyed now, “If you don’t like my carvings, you can find someone else to make this for you.”

“Ok, fine! I accept your proposal! I will find someone else!”

She turned around and started walking out of the tent.

“Are you out of your mind, you … whorish lass!” The dwarf protested loudly.

She stopped at the exit to look at him cockily behind her back, “Yes, I am. And now you’re out of your karma.”

-----

Erics observed the argument without interfering, mostly because he had no way of communicating with the dwarf. And as soon as Phisola had left the tent, he ran after her.

“What the hell was that about?” He asked in a worried tone.

“Those are just negotiations.”

“Negotiations? The guy was fuming out of his ears!”

“As he should.”

“Really? What if he decides to build some flaw into that thing out of spite? What if he makes crooked wheels that will break after a while, spilling all the blood?”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“That’s not going to happen. Dwarves can’t build flawed designs on purpose.”

“Are you sure? Do you really think all the dwarves are the paragons of virtue and would never trick someone out of spite?”

“The dwarves dealing with coin will do it, but not the artisans. The dwarven artisans are very superstitious and are afraid of being cursed.”

“Cursed?” The Eric frowned in confusion.

“There is a belief among the dwarves that if an artisan ever fucks up his work intentionally or goes back on his word, he will be cursed by their god. They see their artistic skills as a gift from god, and if their god is displeased with them, they believe he will take that gift away.”

“So … the dwarven artisans can’t fuck you over?”

“There are always exceptions, but it’s safe to assume they can’t. That’s why dwarven artisans have such a good reputation. Not only is their work top-notch, but you can be damn sure it will be delivered in agreed time. They are taking their sweet time making it though, and we can’t have that. The dwarf will throw a hissy fit or two, but that is expected.”

“Yeah, I remember having that conversation not so long ago. But something tells me you’re enjoying this very much.”

“Oh?” She turned her head to face him with a wide grin on her face, her eyes shining with joy, “And what makes you say that?”

“I haven’t seen that grin on your face in a while. You love messing with people and pissing them off.”

She smirked, “I love messing with self-righteous, preachy, holier-than-thou pricks who think they know everything the best. Do you know why that dwarf is so pissed off?”

“I have no idea. I don’t speak his language.”

“He basically said it’s his way or the highway, and if I want that thing made I have no choice but to let him do as he wants. If I don’t like it, I can go and look for someone else to make it.”

“That sounds very reasonable to me. He is the only guy who knows how to build what we need.”

“But here’s the catch. Dwarven artisans can’t go back on their word without rousing their god’s ire. So, when he told me to look for someone else, he unwittingly gave me a way to break the contract while pinning all the blame squarely on him.”

“But how? It’s not like he said he isn’t going to build it.”

“He promised he would build it but then proposed to dump his responsibility onto someone else. And it doesn’t matter that he was only being sarcastic if I choose to actually take him on his offer.”

Her face changed into a wicked grin, “After all, how can I know he didn’t really mean it?”

A loud roar suddenly interrupted their conversation.

-----

“Where do you think you’re going, you damn, horny, naked wench!” The dwarf roared as he raced towards the devil and her companion. The devil faced him briefly to look at him, grinning sadistically, before turning her back on him and moving along.

“Don’t you dare!” He started running.

“Whoa, whoa, hold on Rutmuik,” Ghilanna walked up to him, her long, elven legs making it easy for her to follow the running dwarf, “What is going on?”

“That devilish whore is trying to ruin me!”

“What?” Ghilanna looked towards the devil instinctively, “What did she do? I thought she was helping you make that thing?”

“She is trying to take my gifts away!”

“Did she steal something from you? Hold on, wait. You don’t want to do this hot-headed. Let me talk to her first. Hey! Miss Devil! Wait!” Ghilanna yelled as she hurried towards the devil.

The devil turned around, giving them a smug grin. She still walked backwards, though.

“Wait, I just want to talk!” Ghilanna said, “I don’t know what happened, but let’s solve this peacefully.”

The devil said something to her companion, pushing him away. Still, she walked backward, clearly trying to enrage Rutmuik with her smug facial expression even further.

Realizing that things could easily spiral out of control, Ghilanna ran towards the devil so she could talk to her before Rutmuik reached her.

“What happened? Why did you enrage my friend so?”

“Oh, I just took him on his offer. I really don’t understand why he is so mad about it, considering he was the one to propose it,” the devil responded, not stopping with her backward walking for a moment.

“What? What offer?”

“I told him we need that thing done as soon as possible, to which he responded, ‘Find someone else to do it then’. I agreed with him, and now I’m looking for someone else to help me make it.”

Ghilanna’s forehead scrunched up as her eyebrow rose in confusion, “And who else is going to make it for you?”

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that your friend went back on his word. Meaning that I should be the one to get mad, not him.”

“Oh, when I finally get my hands on you …”

“Not only that, but he is also threatening me,” the devil pointed her finger at Rutmuik, “He broke his contract with me, and then he thinks he has a right to threaten me too! That’s outrageous!”

“Please, be reasonable,” Ghilanna paused for a moment once she realized what she was asking of the devil and the irony sank in, “You know he didn’t really mean that! He is just short-tempered like all the other dwarves. He was just trying to say …”

“I don’t know what he was trying to say, nor do I care! I feel unsafe in this camp now! A rabid dwarf is chasing me! Not only did he go back on his word, but he is also trying to hurt me! All because I dared to say we need his work done sooner rather than later.”

“Rutmuik, is what she is saying true?”

“SHE IS TWISTIN’ MY WORDS!!! I WAS WORKIN’ MY CRAFT WHEN SHE STARTED PESTERIN’ ME ABOUT POINTLESS THINGS SO I GOT MAD AT HER!!! “

“Did you provoke him?” Ghilanna asked the devil.

“Why are you blaming the victim? He is the one threatening me, not the other way around!”

“But did you say something that you knew would enrage him?”

“Who cares? The only way not to upset a dwarf is not to say anything at all. As an elf, you should know that!”

As the dwarf was about to reach the devil, she started bouncing backward to put more distance between them, giggling all the while and making her large breasts bounce in the process.

“I WILL RIP YOUR DEMONIC TITS OFF!!!”

“See? Why would I want to work with him anymore? He is clearly dangerous.”

“What is going on?” Svinjko joined them.

“Just help me calm Rutmuik down, for the love of gods.”