THE OLD ALLIANCE

The festivities of the inauguration ceremony have passed. The royal officials had returned to where they were supposed to be (a safe and comfortable palace). Nevertheless, there were still plenty of people outside, chatting, laughing to one another, spending this lovely day with a roll of tobacco and a pint of beer.

For Yugo it was different. He gathered all members of Mavrick army in the town park. To the west of the park there is a forest of trembesi trees, which Yugo and his friends often use to gather and talk.

All of Mavrick dwarves were there, except for Theryl. It was unusual for them to see the orange dwarf arrive so slowly. So far only Eoryl has been excused, and that's because he's the youngest, and his father has opened a bakery in the southeast corner of town.

So Eoryl will need some time to go downtown. However, Theryl, as far as Yugo knows, his house is safe near the town hall. His parents were also rich—they were land brokers. If it's too late, it means there is a serious problem.

"I'll look for him," said Yugo.

"I'm coming with you!" Halmdir volunteered.

"I also!" Galmdir didn't want to lose.

"Do not forget me!" Fowy said. The chicken thigh in his hand was only half finished.

"Let's go there together." Clovy came up with an idea.

"I agree." Eoryl confirmed.

Yugo finally agreed to bring the complete personnel of Mavrick army to visit Theryl's house. They trooped out of the forest. When he arrived at the park, he saw the orange-haired dwarf coming from a distance. Apparently their guess was right. Theryl just arrived late.

"Looks like now we have to name you, Master late," Yugo said as he crossed his arms to look at him. "What's the matter, Theryl?"

Thery shook his head quickly, as if his neck was sore. "Nothing, everything's fine. My parents have their colleagues here this afternoon, and I've just been allowed out of the house."

"Allowed?" Yugo's eyebrows rose one. "This is the first time I've heard that word come out of your mouth. Theryl I know would do anything for Mavrick army, even daring to secretly run away from the house."

"Oh, come on!" He snorted in annoyance. "Besides, this is my first late case. Don't talk too much, please. We'd better talk about something else."

His friends could only surrender. Theryl looked different today. Among the seven dwarves, he is the most enthusiastic about adventures, defeating bad people, and exploring new places.

Clovy often even relied on him when they got into trouble. Theryl was always there for her, in good times and bad. They also shared many stories and laughs in Mavrick army. Until, according to Clovy, Theryl is the dwarf who most deserves to be considered as an older brother.

The dwarves of Mavrick army returned to the forest, near a cottage they had built together. The cottage should be comfortable. Yugo initiated his group to build a headquarters. Three small booths near the roots of the trembesi tree, then there are stairs hanging around the tree trunk, leading to the rooms above.

The problem is, the rain and storms last night made the roof of the room at the top have holes. Some of the poles are also bent in wood. The seven dwarves agreed to renovate everything today.

Galmdir and Halmdir hauled in mops and soap buckets to clean the old, musty-smelling walls. Eoryl was busy frying bacon-egg snacks for their lunch break. Yugo and Fowy fix the roof, although Fowy just watches from below (and sometimes points at the broken tile). Meanwhile, Clovy and Theryl are given the task of sawing wood to replace the old poles.

"Hold harder," Theryl said.

"Yes, be patient." Clovy held on to the wood harder. But Theryl's saw didn't seem strong enough to cut the wood.

"Your grip isn't strong enough, Clovy!" he criticized.

"No, I'm not!" Clovy protested.

"There's no way my saw would be in trouble, then! It must be because your grip isn't strong, that's why it's difficult."

Clovy then removed her hand from the wood, already too annoyed at being blamed. Instead of apologizing, Theryl threw down his saw and walked away.

"Theryl!" call the girl.

"What?" Theryl's steps stopped.

"There must be a problem, right? Your attitude today is very different."

Theryl turned to see Clovy's face. His smile was forced. "Maybe. But, what do you care about? I, Theryl son of Bombil, are free to do whatever I want. You'd better help Yugo. I'm sure he needs you. Or maybe you need him." The dwarf then continued on his way.

"Theryl! Theryl! Wait a minute! Theryl!" Clovy's screams seemed unable to reach him. Theryl disappeared among the large trunks of the trembesi tree, leaving Clovy to look at him sadly.

Yugo and the others rushed over after hearing the commotion. They asked about Theryl, but Clovy was crying. Yugo put his arm around the girl, trying to calm her down. Little Eoryl peeked from above, because he was afraid the omelet would burn. Several dwarves sat in a circle on the trunk of an old tree, surrounding Clovy. For a moment her tears of relief, she complained.

"Theryl was really weird today," he said. "He scolded me for small things. When I asked, he just walked away."

"Ah, that dwarf is so annoying," Yugo growled. "I'll meet him."

"Yugo, we're coming—"

"Don't!" cut Yugo. "You guys just finish the cabin. I'll talk to Theryl one-on-one."

While Yugo goes after Theryl, in the royal palace of Ouros, a special warrior desperately breaks into the banquet hall, where Gavius ​​is celebrating his first day as king. The long table of food was almost uneaten. Fortunately the king still let his guest start first, while he went to the soldier.

"A letter, Your Majesty. Sent by a herd of orcs."

"Come here!" Gavius ​​snatched the letter. "Follow me!" They turned to a quiet room. The dwarf began to open the letter. Not long after, his smile bloomed.

"Y-Your Majesty, with all due respect, what are your orders against those orcs?" asked the soldier.

"This letter is from Tarnath, written in blood ink. It's an invitation for the alliance. The man intends to revive a long-dead alliance." Gavius ​​laughed.

"We can't work with them."

"Shut up!" he snapped. "Nepheel is no longer the center of civilization of this land. However, that city has a strong military. Every day the orcs are increasing there. They have a lot of weapons and troops. You know what I think as your new king?"

The soldier shook his head. "No, Your Majesty."

"My opinion is...." Gavius ​​glared at him. "We accept his offer to revive the alliance of the past. Ouros will have an alliance with Nepheel. Until we find a way to stab them in the back, then we betray Tarnath. We will trick them like they used to play against us!" The golden-crowned king laughed loudly.

"I-I'll pass this on to those orcs, Your Majesty." said the soldier.

"Wait." Gavius ​​stopped the soldier in his tracks. "There's still the last paragraph. As proof of sincerity, Tarnath is asking us to do something. What a cunning! More cunning than any king I've ever spoken to."

"W-what's that, Your Majesty?"

"He demands that the Garranor bloodline be annihilated. I know it sounds cruel, but this is the only way. For the sake of Ouros, in order to prevent Nepheel from getting bigger, Yugo... must be sacrificed." Suddenly these words made the soldier shake in surprise. Gavius ​​noticed it. "What is your name, Soldier of Ouros?"

"H-Hagrim, Your Majesty."

"Hagrim, swear to me!" Gavius ​​puffed out his chest.

"My oath only goes to the King of Ouros." Hargrim knelt down quickly.

"Good. I'll prepare a big gift for you if what we talked about doesn't leak out. But, if I hear even one sentence of our conversation from someone else's mouth, your head will be hunted first. Got it?!"

"Understand, Your Majesty!"

"Immediately inform Tarnath's envoy that we welcome his offer. Ouros will be sending some diplomats to settle in Nepheel soon. They are our foreign ambassadors, as well as our spies."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I am—"

"And! Tell them also, Ouros needs an army of orcs tonight, guarding along the valley of the two rivers. Yugo son of Erganor will end up there. Go!"

"With pleasure, Your Majesty!" Drenched in sweat, the soldier was finally free from the dark aura that pervaded the room.

Even his brain still couldn't accept the words that Gavius ​​said. Yugo, Arganor's nephew, is in terrible danger. As a soldier, he couldn't do anything. The king's orders are absolute, inviolable. And, most importantly, he didn't want his head to be hunted by everyone.

Gavius ​​walked out of the room. He was quite surprised to find Zulk already outside, waiting for him. Gavius doesn't know how long he was there, but he doesn't seem to know anything about the conversation just now.

"Your majesty, you are expected in the banquet hall," Zulk informed.

"I will be there." Gavius ​​walked past him. "Ah, Captain Zulk. How old are you?"

"75 years, Your Majesty."

"Three years older than me." Gavius ​​chuckled. "I understand what it's like to be an old dwarf, Captain Zulk. Your stamina must not be as good as it used to be. Can't think about heavy things. Would rather lie on a soft mattress than meet people."

"I-I didn't—" Zulk tried to refute, but Gavius ​​cut him off first.

"That's why! Therefore, I think now is the right time for you to retire. Your captaincy will go to a soldier named Hagrim. He deserves it."

"What? Y-you just fired me?" Zulk didn't accept it. "Your majesty, with all due respect, please reconsider your decision. I know Hagrim. He's just a lazy dwarf who likes to make face in front of King Arganor. Now he's trying to make face in front of you."

"You know Hagrim?" Gavius ​​glanced at the brown-bearded dwarf. "Then tell him that Ouros military is now his, not yours. See you soon, Zulk." The new king left Zulk with a thousand question marks.

This is the first time a military chief has been fired so easily. Usually there must be a long court, and even then if the reason is very serious. 75 years is not young, but neither is it too old to take care of Ouros' safety.

In fact, Zulk is one of the captains who has contributed the most to his kingdom. He proved successful in protecting the highlands of Ouros from the enemies who kept coming at him when Nepheel fell and Ouros soared up. This of course makes Zulk wonder. Was it just the wisdom of the king who too cared, or was there a devious plan being prepared?

(To be continued)