Chapter 305

Evileye followed the path the dwarf led her on, though it wasn't likely she'd get lost, nor any of them for that matter as for the most part, it was a straight shot. The walls were lit periodically with crystals, and though the caves were not exceedingly high ceilinged, forcing Gagaran and Momon to almost crouch for long stretches of their walk, at least it was always wide enough for them all to pass through.

"The first city isn't that far… kinda the only city though, doncha know, we had a right hard time with the quagoa for some good long years… but that's kinda past us now, an ye know we doin pretty good now. Specially thanks to them special tools the Allfather went'n gave us." Their guide said as he ambled along as casual as could be.

"So… a war?" Lakyus asked.

"Oh aye, it was, an what a war it was, killin each other for a right long time b'fore the Demon Emperor showed up and smacked them quagoa right down… course he came fer us too, an even them dragons… gave us all a right hard time." Their guide replied, "We still not on our feet yet, but we still a right hospitable folk to those what come in peace and all. Specially if'n you're gonna trade an spend money." He looked over his shoulder, and Evileye caught the glint of anticipation in his eyes.

"So… when we get to the city, where do we go? We need a place to stay." Lakyus explained, and the dwarf escort was quick to answer.

"My cousin started the first inn for travelers in the capital, so I'll be takin you right there, we got no formal 'customs' office yet fer folk on the move, so for right now things are right easy doncha know. Just sign up like you did at me boss's front desk, an I'll get you where you can stay. My cousin'll explain the rules, an… if'n you're interested in tours, well, my big sister just started a company fer that too, runs it outa my cousin's inn… an if'n you fancy a drink, well my da, his tavern is right across the street, an gives a discount to those what stay in his nephew's inn. First drink on the house, best mushroom beer in the Dwarf Kingdom." Their escort's job, in Momon's eyes, expanded by leaps and bounds.

'My father used to speak of things like this, intertwined family businesses… drawing everyone to work together so the whole house prospers… my little vampire… no wonder… Vater, I shall work your will!' Pandora's Actor thought as the epiphany struck home.

It didn't hurt that, much to his surprise over time, he'd come to like the insecure little vampire who'd been hiding her identity for so long. She was passionate, occasionally a little dramatic, and at once both shy with her feelings and unable to keep them bottled up, as if her diminutive height just could not hold them all. Brave and charming, and powerful enough to compare to a weaker Pleiades Battle Maid, it was easy to see why she was regarded as a hero of renown and living legend.

Even as they walked farther into the bowels of the mountain, she stuck closer to him by just a hair more than was truly needed. But they didn't speak to one another, instead their dwarven guide talked on and on about the war against the Quagoa, about the coming of Jaldabaoth, and the coming of the Allfather… the rescue, the discovery of truly ancient history.

"...So according to our findings, from what we've uncovered down in the trench, thousands of years ago the Allfather ruled over this region, and the dwarves and quagoa were one cosmopolitan civilization until a demon lord showed up and, fearing the union of quagoan muscle and dwarven artisans, forced us apart. The Allfather sealed the Demon Emperor, but the cost was that he too was cast out of the world, until… well, there's a lotta speculation still… but me, I think we broke the seal ourselves on accident, well, us and the Quagoa, prolly you know, had one o'them blood seals, when there were few enough of us… he got out again… lot of us on both sides think that… so we right nice to each other now… the Quagoa got promised their own mountain, a homeland of their own when one comes into the Allfather's control with no occupants…. But till then? Meh, we learnin to live together peaceful like."

The dwarf finished the recitation, and Pandora's Actor briefly had to catch himself, keeping the grin at bay. 'Demiurge mein guter Herr, your talent for tale telling might do more to bring submission than all the armies of the world.'

They then rounded a corner where a glow cast itself against the broad wall, and there was a collective gasp of awe from the traveling party.

They emerged above city height, the path seemingly carved to come out in such a place that they had the finest of all possible views before winding down into the city itself. The buildings were all carved into place, just more parts of the mountain itself that weren't removed, the streets cut smooth and lined with glowstones, the soft white light cast shadows in every direction, giving the gray stone city a patchwork look like a curious painting, and every person therein was adding their own part.

"Welcome to me home, the greatest stronghold of the Dwarves, the heart of the mountain, and the source of all the runecrafted weapons in the world… at least until we get them other cities goin strong again… she's quite a site, idn'she?" The dwarf wore a proud, massive grin amidst his beard as he extended his hand out over the stone rail left in place, encompassing the whole of the city in his hands.

"It's… I've never seen anything like it…" Lakyus gasped, "I can hardly believe what I'm seeing…" The spires were few, but the high towers were plentiful, the dwarves economized on space with exceptional skill, each building could be reached from above, walking along the rooftops as if it were an upper road with ladders conveniently laying about in places, and most pedestrians seemed to prefer that, while the carts and goods carriers held the roads.

"It is somethin, the Dragon Prince Under the Mountain, he might show up if you wait all that long, Olasird'arc is his name, he has quite a few interesting stories to tell… an his children an wives are still here…" The guide said as they began their slow descent down the wide path that would carry them into the city.

"You've got… dragons, living here, and in peace I assume?" Lakyus pressed, her eyes scanning the underground horizon for danger.

"Aye, but they not dangerous to us, no 'ny more doncha know, they're right friendly… kinda… well mebe not friendly… but right polite, an real smart. The big'un, he's gonna be, if'n you can believe me, a judge on quagoan and dwarven disputes, him bein impartial and all. An his wives, his sons… they handlin goods transports. Seems some Southern Queen heard about our dragon residents and drew up a thing on how to carry lots a goods with ease, showed it to one of our runesmiths who went down there on business, an now?" He laughed, "Dragons gonna be carryin mail an trade goods all over, spread'n runecraft at first, then growin to crops an all kindsa things. That just got announced a few weeks ago… slip me a few coins an I can probably sneak you in to get a look at the containers we makin fer this here project." He rubbed his fingers together, and every hand went into their pouches to draw out a silver before they'd taken five steps more.