Corin and the group reluctantly agreed to heed Daum's advice and avoid the main road for travel. They cut through the forest and continued traveling, hyper alert of their surroundings. They were told of one Zifor squad waiting to ambush them, but they could not know about other dangers that could be lurking, waiting.

They spent a full day traveling the dense forest, moving at a hurried pace and only stopping when their feet could move them no more. Close at night, when they were nearing exhaustion they saw lights at a distance.

“Could that be the town he told us of?” Zhi asked.

“Only one way to find out.” Simeon replied.

The group continued toward the far off light, given fresh energy by the prospect of finally reaching a place with some semblance of civilization. They were especially keen on finding one without any potential hostile elements.

After covering enough distance between themselves and the distant light they were able to confirm that they had found the town they had been told about.

“It seems the Zifor was good for his word.” Nanaua said calmly.

Corin felt a sense of relief wash over him as they eyed the town. Something deep inside of him had ached with worry after parting ways with the Zifor. It had been he who had been caught by the Zifors in the first place and the he who had intervened on behalf of the one who had caught him. If anything bad were to happen to them now, Corin knew that it would be on him.

Despite the town being right in front of them, they all hesitated. Even Corin who wanted to believe in Daum's honesty felt a deep well of doubt bubble within his stomach.

They eyed every single feature in the town they could think of. Every building, every window, every door, any potential place for a group of Zifors to come out and attack. But try as they might the group could find nothing out of the ordinary in the town.

“Well waiting out here won't do us any good.” Simeon finally broke the silence.

He began to walk into the town. It took a while for the others to follow. First it was Corin, who slowly slinked out of the woods as he followed in Simeon's footsteps. He kept his hands close to his waist in case he had to reach for any of his weapons.

Livia, Zhi and Nanaua all followed, packed together closely.

As the group entered the town they began to notice some finer details about its composition. One of the first things they noticed were the amount of buildings the town had, and the fine masonry that each of the buildings was carved with.

Everywhere they looked they would see rows and rows of buildings, all with intricately carved decorations that added a personal taste to each of them. It seemed that everywhere they looked rows and rows of buildings continued as far as the eye could see.

“I have never seen such a large town before.” Livia said.

“Aye, towns in the continent can get very large. Every now and then you'll even come across a city.” Simeon replied.

“How is it possible? Do the giants allow this to happen?” Corin asked.

“How is it possible? That can have many answers.” Simeon began. “The first thing to note is that the continent is very large, and the terrain can be very difficult. It's not as easy for giants to traverse the continent as it is for leviathans to move across the sea. But that is just one of the many ways I have heard that furtives are able to maintain such large settlements.”

“What other ways have you heard?” Livia asked.

“Well some of them are so ridiculous that I honestly don’t believe them.” Simeon replied, with no further explanation.

The group passed the threshold into the town but found it very quiet. The buildings all looked perfectly fine, but not a single soul was visible.

“Is this also normal?” Corin asked. The worry within him began to rumble once more. Did they walk into a trap?

Before anyone could reply the group heard a bell ringing from a distance. It seemed to come from the nearby mountain.

“Ziforst?” Zhi asked.

“Are we under attack?” Livia followed up.

“Or Giants?” Nanaua mentioned as she held her pike.

“Be prepared for what may come.” Simeon urged the group.

The group waited anxiously looking at all sides, wondering what was to come. The first inkling of what was headed in their direction came in the form of a constant dull thumping.

It sounded as if many drums were being banged at different intervals and it only grew in intensity as the group waited.

“What could this be?” Simeon muttered.

“I see something!” Nanaua said as she gazed towards the mountain “I see… lots of little men?”

The group focused on the commotion. In the distance what could be seen were many torch lights held at waist height and what seemed to be an army of little men running towards the group. Although hard to understand it was clear that the horde of little men were shouting something.

“Are they going to attack us?” Livia asked.

“If they are, I'll blast them all out!” Zhi replied.

“Wait!” Simeon shouted back.

As the approaching horde got closer their shouting became clearer.

“... Of the mines,

yes we're out of the mines

No more toiling, no more boiling,

we're out of the mines

Oh darling did you miss me,

We're out of the mines

Oh it's fine, all troubles aside, I'll have some wine

We're out of the mines”

“Are they singing?” Nanaua asked. This time she did not sound concerned, but more so confused.

“Let's get out of the way.” Simeon did not bother answering Nanaua, as he moved to the side of the wide avenue.

The group followed him and stared in awe at the horde that passed by them. Whether the mob of little men noticed the onlookers or not they did not even bother to acknowledge them. The horde kept singing as they hurried towards a large building on the other side of the town. Throughout their march to the building the horde continued their song and their chanting with no concerns for anything else they might encounter. They filed past the group for a solid minute, and Corin and the rest were too enthralled to look away. Finally the last of the horde had made its way to the building and the singing and marching had ceased. The raucous noise could be heard coming from inside the building now.

“I've never seen so many dwarves.” Corin said, still astonished by the spectacle they had just witnessed.

“Not surprising. Dwarves thrive near mountains. Trinixo does not have a lot to offer them.” Simeon said.

“What do you think Simeon? If there is one place that might have information it seems like that's a good place to start.” Livia said to Simeon as she pointed to the now lively building.

“Right you are Livia.” Simeon said as he began to walk over to the building.

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

“I'd never seen such a cheerful horde.” Corin remarked towards Zhi.

“Yes quite strange. But at the same time they were so full of joy that it was quite nice.” Zhi replied.

“Almost infectious.” She added with a smile. It had been a while since Corin had seen her or any of the others smile. Especially after their encounter with Daum and the rest of the Zifors. They all seemed to be in higher spirits.

The group walked towards the building. As they neared it they could hear singing and loud music coming from it. The various windows that peered into the building showed that no room in the building was spared from the festive mob.

All the way from the ground floor to three stories above the dwarves could be heard and seen singing loudly.

The group came up to the door of the building.

“Well I guess there's only one thing left to do.” Corin said as he opened the door.

The scene inside was one of chaos. Amidst the cacophony of singing dwarves the only furniture that could be seen were tables laid out all over the establishment. Not one of them seemed to be used for the same purpose.

Some had dwarves asleep on them. Some had whole groups standing on them singing. In one they seemed to be holding an impromptu fighting tournament. On another a dwarf with a horn that was larger than him would blow at irregular intervals which seemed to shake the whole building.

Upon entering Corin was approached by a lively dwarf.

“Hey mister what's wrong with your hands?” A dwarf with long black braided hair looked at Corin's hands with a smile.

Corin looked at his hands.

“Well I don't know, is there-” before Corin could finish talking he was handed a large glass full of a yellow liquid.

“See? Your hands! They were empty!” The lady dwarf cheerfully spoke to Corin as he seemed surprised.

For a second it seemed as if the entire building went silent.

All eyes were now on Corin.

“I think they expect you to drink that Corin.” Simeon told Corin

Corin's face let Simeon know that he did not know what exactly he had in his hands.

“It's beer, Corin.” Simeon said.

Corin continued eyeing Simeon with a confused look.

“It's alcohol, my boy. It's known as a social lubricant. Helps people feel more at ease when interacting with others.” Simeon explained.

“Is it poisonous?” Corin asked, feeling alarmed.

“Yes.” Simeon said, Corin's eyes widened in abject horror. “But you won't feel anything unless you have too much of it. Drink it my boy, you'll be fine.”

Corin took the glass and started drinking it. The bitter drink made Corin almost gag. He had never tasted something like it before. He could not even fathom why someone would drink this of their own volition. But Corin could tell that the establishment was now roaring in approval of him downing the drink and he felt compelled to continue.

He drank the entire glass in a single gulp. Despite its taste Corin had not had anything to drink in a long time and he was beyond parched, so the drink did help in that regard.

Once finished he held the glass up in triumph. The crowd of dwarves cheered and then continued singing.

“Oh I won't worry about no stinking giant

They can come, stomp and try to make us pliant

Oh I won't worry about no dumb flying snake

They can come, blow and try to make us shake

Oh I won't worry about no silly big fish

They can come, squirt and try to make us a dish

Oh they can all come, try and squash us

But we're furtives, we'll bite their feet if they try and trample us”

Corin found himself enjoying the song.

“You see my boy. Our cause is universal.” Simeon muttered to Corin.

It took Corin a second to understand what Simeon was referring to, but he quickly understood. This group of furtives, these dwarves that he had never met, that led a completely different life than his, they shared something in common with Corin. It was something that Corin could not explain, but he did not have to. These dwarves, like all other furtives, lived and shared a universal experience. Which was surviving under the oppression of the Titans, and how to not just survive under their yoke, but to live.

“I see.” Corin replied as he looked at his surroundings. He truly understood what Simeon was saying. He was right.

“My boy, I'm going to try and find information.” Simeon said to Corin.

“I trust all of you to not cause too much trouble.” Simeon spoke to the group as he walked off to join a group that was conversing quite loudly.

Along his way Simeon made sure to grab a large glass of beer. Whether it was to fit in with the rest of the dwarves or because he enjoyed it himself Corin did not know.

“So what now?” Corin asked out loud. Before he finished speaking, Nanaua, Zhi and Livia were already walking off making their way to grab a beer themselves.

The three women found a table with some space to sit at and sip their new drink. Corin joined them without anything in hand.

Livia was the first one taste it.

“Hmm, what a weird drink.” She said.

“I know I didn't care for it.” Corin added.

“Oh I didn't say that!” Livia quickly mentioned.

“Blegh!” Nanaua replied as she took a sip. She put the glass down.

Zhi was the last one to try it. She took a sip. Hesitated for a second, and followed it up with a large gulp.

“Wow, I didn't know how much I needed that!” She said with her cheeks getting a bit red after the long gulp.

“Hey you! Dragon lady!” A voice shouted at the table from across the room.

With no hesitation Nanaua got up. It was obvious that she was the one that was being talked to.

“I am no dragon lady, I am a dragoor. A furtive like you all.” Nanaua said proudly as she stood up, replying in the general direction that the shout came from.

The place quieted as Nanaua walked towards the group that had called out to her.

“Our sincerest apologies, but we've heard tell that your kind are some of the strongest furtives.” A blonde dwarf with a stylish mustache walked out and addressed Nanaua.

Corin started to get up to intervene on Nanaua's behalf.

“It's no use.” Zhi said to Corin without looking at him. She didn't seem to be as interested in whatever was occurring in front of her but figured Nanaua did not need any help.

“The information that has been relayed to you is correct. We dragoors know no equal in strength amongst the furtives that live among us.” Nanaua replied to the mustachioed blonde dwarf.

“Aye, no equals amongst the furtives among you. But let me ask, how many dwarves live in those fancy sky palaces of yours?” The blonde dwarf said as a grin spread across his entire face.

“Hah! You think you are able to match me in strength?” Nanaua questioned the blonde dwarf.

“I didn't say that I thought I could best you in a contest of strength.” The blonde dwarf replied slyly.

“Then who? Who here thinks they can best me in a contest of strength?” Nanaua asked the room loudly as she looked around at the large bar.

“I shall best ye, dragon lady!” A white haired dwarf emerged from the crowd. The old grizzled dwarf had his face decorated with a scar that ran down from his temple across his right eye and down to his bottom lip.

“Dragon lady?” Nanaua uttered through gritted teeth.

“Well what say you dragoor. Do you accept the challenge from Holdi?” The blonde dwarf eyed Nanaua with a wide smirk.

“What are the rules?” Nanaua barked back at him.

“Do you know mercy?” The blonde dwarf asked.

“Aye I do.” Nanaua smiled in reply.

“I assume the rules allow for the loser to get thrown?” Nanaua asked.

“Of course, it's not really mercy if the loser does not get thrown across the room.” The blonde dwarf smiled.

The center area was cleared and Nanaua and Holdi walked to the center, both cracking their knuckles in anticipation.

“Who here has the dragon lady winning?” The blonde dwarf started asking the crowd.

Some cheers erupted and the blonde dwarf went to collect details amongst those who were hedging their bets on Nanaua.

“Who has our undefeated champion Holdi winning?” The blonde dwarf asked.

This time the majority of the establishment broke into loud cheers and applause. It took longer this time for the blonde dwarf to write down those betting on Holdi.

Finally the blonde dwarf finished his bookkeeping. He grabbed a piece of chalk and drew a circle around Nanua and Holdi.

“Prepare to taste defeat!” Nanaua said to Holdi as she held her hands out.

“Ah, as if a dragon lady could best me!” Holdi replied boastfully as he grabbed them.

The two interlocked their fingers and stood their ground. Nanaua was easily twice as tall the Holdi, but the old dwarf was wider than her.

The entire bar was absorbed in the spectacle. Shouts and jeers were being tossed, as the contestants prepared for their clash of strength. The only one who was not shouting or jeering was the blonde dwarf who was quietly observant.

“What do you think, Corin?” Livia asked him.

“Well I've heard that dwarves are some of the strongest furtives, but I've never met anyone as strong as Nanaua. Not even close to it.” Corin replied.

“Begin!” The blonde dwarf shouted.

Instantly Nanaua began to push back against Holdi, but he did not budge. Instead Holdi assumed a low stance. He focused all his strength on his hands and was doing everything he could to crush Nanaua's fingers in his hands.

“AARGH!” Nanaua yelled as she fell to a knee.

“Do you cry mercy dragon lady?” Holdi roared victoriously still applying pressure.

Nanaua stood up again.

“I see what game you play, old dwarf! I shall show you that this furtive dragoor can play at it as well!” Nanaua shouted as she stood her ground and began to clench her interlocked hands with every fiber of her being.

“Well he's done for.” Zhi said.

“AAARH!” Nanaua yelled as she pulled up Holdi’s hands high above him. The dwarf’s face betrayed his cool confidence as the fast maneuver caught him by surprise.

Nanaua stepped closer to the dwarf and began to bring his hands down on him. As the dwarf tried to hold his ground Nanaua continued yelling.

“What say you dwarf, mercy?” Nanaua yelled in his face.

The old dwarf stared at her with his eye. He did not reply.

“I thought you wouldn't!” Nanaua yelled as she smiled. Her grip intensified and the loud cracking of bones could be heard. The dwarf’s fingers looked bent out of shape and the entire crowd gasped audibly.

“Oh dear.” Corin muttered.

“Seems like you were right.” Livia told him.

“Great job love! Now throw him across the room!” Shouted Zhi encouraging Nanaua.

Nanaua did just that picking up the dwarf by their interlocked fingers and throwing him across the room to a mob of dwarves. They all fell over as their defeated comrade landed on top of them.

The crowd erupted in cheers and Zhi got up to go to Nanaua.

“Well there you have it. We have a new champion, the furtive dragoor!” The blonde dwarf announced.

It did not take long for the blonde dwarf to go around the room collecting money from those who had bet on Holdi and giving out payments to those who has bet on Nanaua.

Zhi gave a kiss to Nanaua on her cheek.

“I never doubted you.” Zhi told her.

The dwarves began to sing once again and Corin and Livia were urged to join in and sing and dance with them.

At first Corin was unsure of what he was supposed to be doing. His mastery over singing and dancing was nowhere near anything the dwarves displayed. But curiously the more beer Corin drank, the more sure he was that his singing and dancing was actually on par if not better than that of anyone else in the room. He let loose in a way that he did not even know was possible.

Livia herself seemed to experience the same effect as Corin. She had started very reserved and quiet, but as the night had gone on she had been louder and more creative with her dancing. It did not take long for the married couple to be singing along to the dwarves’ songs as if they had been doing so their whole lives.

Amidst the chaos of the scene Corin noticed that even Nanaua and Zhi had joined in on the event. Nanaua was now wearing a red sash, something that Corin later learned, signified her title as the mercy champion.

The rest of the night flew in a whirlwind for Corin. He and Livia continued dancing with each other even after the music had died. To them it made no difference. Sure it was nice to have others around them, but they had each other and that's what they would always need and want.

“It seems as if we're the only ones not asleep.” Livia mentioned to Corin.

Corin looked around. The establishment lay quiet and most of the patrons, including Nanaua and Zhi, slept on tables. Nanaua and Zhi snuggled each other closely, both wrapped in Nanaua’s red sash as they embraced each other in their sleep.

“I guess you're right.” Corin replied while looking at his wife's beautiful brown eyes.

They continued dancing to their own tune for a while, just enjoying each other's company amidst the snoring dwarves.

After several more minutes they finally gave in to their tiredness. They picked an empty spot in a corner. They lay next to each other embracing their partner. Despite whatever else may happen they had each other.

“Love you.” Livia said to Corin.

Corin held his wife's hand.

“I love you too.”