Dwarf Kingdom

Last night, Will slept in the cottage to make it more convenient for him and Elder Thaddeus to coordinate their departure from Gadreel.

Will had informed Michael last night to prepare his Yorkshire mansion. Will planned to arrive in Yorkshire by the Winter Solstice Holliday.

With those arrangements planned. Will moved into the cottage and slept in his old small single bed, it felt comfortable and warm.

In the morning, Will ate breakfast in the cottage's small kitchen with Elder Thaddeus.

After breakfast, Will and Elder Thaddeus mounted their spirit beast and rode out of Gadreel. Outside the Gates of Gadreel, they met up with Master Duncan and ten dwarven Stalwart Shield Bearers with thick, sharp axes waited in a wagon.

"Greetings Doric Stormforged," Master Thaddeus said shaking his hand.

"Good morning. How is our shared disciple," Master Duncan asked.

"He's close to becoming a Master Terramancer," Elder Thaddeus said.

"So soon? He's yet to reach 20! Will, how old are you?" Master Duncan asked.

"16, master," Will responded.

"I guess building a city from scratch is a good experience. How are your fighting rank," Master Will asked.

"About the mid-rank," Will said.

"I'm sure his Majesty Druker Flameworn would let you train with our shield-bearers if you asked, it would give you some good practice.

"Thank you, I shall consider your officer," Will said.

"Ask him about his kingdom, I want to learn more about dwarfs," Nisha asked.

For the past several months, when Nisha was hunting or training with Archimedes, she spent her time as an over-pampered house cat.

Helen, Charlotte, and Elizabeth fell in love with Nisha at first sight. If there was a princess in his residence it was her.

When Nisha wasn't being pampered, she slept on Will's bed in the mornings and hunted at night.

"Master Duncan, Nisha wants to know more about your kingdom," Will said.

"She'll love Dhan Kolduhr. Dhan Kolduhr is a mountain citadel deep in the Northern Mountains.

Just like the mountains, our kingdom is solid and enduring like the mountains we love. Our kingdom is as old as the mountain.

We have passages weathered by centuries.

My clan's traditions have existed longer than humanities been on this earth.

Dhan Kolduhr stood as the human kingdom rose and fell. I can trace my ancestry back to the founding of the most ancient human civilization.

If you weren't human, you'd make a good dwarf. Your magic and fighting skills are almost on par with a dwarf your age. Moreover, for us dwarves devotion to Gaia is a principle of our tradition.

Finally, Dan Kolduhr has grand ancient hallways carved into the roots of mountains. The further you travel down the mountain the more you hear the melodic echoing of pickaxes and hammers deep in the mines and smell the sulfur of blazing forges. Just speaking about drinks a tear to my eye!" Master Duncan said.

"It sounds lovely!" Nisha said and Will agreed.

"I can attest to the beauty and artistry of Dan Kolduhr, last time I was there it seemed like the Dwarven kingdoms stretch deep beneath the mountains thousands of kilometers.

I remember the first time I saw a cart full of precious gems and rare metals. They twinkled like stars," Elder Thaddeus said.

"Aye, they do!" Master Duncan said.

"Dwarven jewelry is both beautiful and a piece of art," Elder Thaddeus said.

"Yes, I'm looking forward to trading with your artisans, weaponsmiths, armorers, jewelers, and rune crafters.

"Let's go," Elder Thaddeus said opening up a spatial gate to Guidon.

Over two weeks, Will passed through Guidon and Yorkshire where he met with Vanessa and Mei and gathered their reports, and caught up on the social gossip.

In Guidon, Will stopped by to visit his Knight Academy classmates and shared a barbecue meal with them. Will was disappointed, no one has heard from Anne in over a year.

Evan, Chloe, Sarah, Grace, and Vincent left and joked about old times.

Will even had a chance to speak with Elizabeth, who complained about how people treated her as a celebrity. Elizabeth said she received less attention when she was just the duke's daughter.

Will enjoyed the little bit of time he spent in Guidon and Yorkshire.

However, the highlight of the trip was spending the night in Elder Thaddeus's earldom. The Ming earldom were vassals to the Whitby dukedom. Touring his master's and father's fiancé's territories was a highlight of the journey.

However, Will had an awkward moment when he met Elizabeth's oldest brother, Earl Francis vont Whitby the II, and his family. The oldest son managed the territories for his father, his title was a place holding the title until his father died, then he would be duke and his oldest made an earl.

When Will met Elizabeth's oldest brother, he threatened Will should he hurt his beloved sister. Will was surprised, because Elizabeth rarely mentioned her older brother, probably because the age gap was so large.

After leaving the northern fringe, Nisha and Will officially entered the northern wildernesses.

The weather in the north was cold year-round. Now at the start of the fall season, the temperature was already below 0 degrees Celsius.

In heavy wool coats, Will traveled further up the mountain. The dwarfs pitched tents, Will had to sleep cuddled next to Nisha for warmth.

In 8 months, Will had grown used to the mild temperate Valley weather.

Yet, now his whole body shivered from the cold. The only thing motivating him forward was securing the trade route and his General Store.

Finally, after a month of travel, Will stared at large 10-meter thick mithril doors, with storied images carved on the door, that depicted the creation story of dwarfs.

Immediately, Will realized his Gates of Gadreel, compared to these Gates, made his look like crude childish attempts. Will was immediately embarrassed he was very proud of those Gates.

The mountain Gates opened and he saw a regal dwarf riding a mountain goat and an army of Stalwart Shield-Bearers behind him.

"We greet his majesty, Druker Flameworn," Master Duncan said dropping to one knee and bowing.

"May I present Grandmaster Thaddeus vont Ming, and Baron William vont Ballard, your majesty!" Master Duncan said.

Greeting Grandmaster Thaddeus and William. Doric has set many missives about the human kingdom's developments.

"I am sure you will have multiple questions regarding trade, however, let's get to know one another first.

I must admit, I've played your game they are quite entertaining," King Druker Flameworn said.

"I am grateful to have earned your praise!" Will said humbly.

"While you're here I've assigned Okdrotir Goldbringer and Ralgar Gemmolder to be your guards. These two are our finest warriors and also happened to be married," he said.

"Thank you, your majesty," Will bowed, not sure which one was male or female because both had impressively long beards.

As they walked into the kingdom, the King looked Will in the eyes, from atop his mount, and offered Will advice.

"Lad, wealth can change a man if he isn't careful. I've seen many a dwarf commit evil and demonic deeds, in the pursuit of coin.

The path to wealth has led many men to lose their souls as they walk down dark paths, sacrificing their morality. Let this be a warning," the king warned.

"I agree your majesty, but there are also men who pursue coin, not to obtain ill-gotten gains, but to help people.

Your majesty, I pursue profit not to hoard my wealth but to share it. Only by working together, can we all be winners in the game of life," Will said in retort.

"Young people, always speak on hope and friendship. I'm over 300 years old, I've seen families torn asunder for a few gold coins or precious metals," the king said disappointed.

"Your majesty, do you know why I invented games? I did it to bring people together. It's the same reason, I renamed Death Valley, Friendship Valley. You look at me and see the folly, but I see an opportunity!" Will said diplomatically.

"Ha-ha, you think me a fool! I know your greed all too well. Your sole purpose in inventing those games was to make money.

You named your valley, Friendship Valley because to planned to facilitate trade deals with several kingdoms. You hide your true intentions under the auspices of friendship.

Your faux persona does not work on me. I know your truth. You cover your lies in honey and call it friendship and opportunity. You may fool humans, but you'll never fool dwarfs," the king chuckled.

After walking deep in the passageways, they arrived in the audience courtroom.

King Druker Flameworn, walked to his throne and sat down. The other dwarfs stood still waiting for the king to speak.

"I'm sure you're wondering why the lack of pomp and circumstance, why the lack of formality? I'll tell you, we dwarf-elect our kings from the best crafters and fighters. Unlike you humans who think your kings are superior, I am merely the best fighter among my peers. One day, I'll be replaced. There are no divine kings, only one divine race!" King Druker Flameworn said.

"Thank you for your explanation," Will said humbly.

"Since we share a pious devotion to Gaia and elemental magic, I shall invite you to partake in the Dwarven Rite of Passage.

Should you pass, you may build your general store.

Will asked. "Did not our emissary, Trorduthag, say I already had permission to build a general store? Your majesty, what does the Dwarven Rite of Passage require?"

"Aye, you have your permission. But I can tell you want more than to buy our crafting failures. Should you desire to trade, you need to pass the rites of Drinking, Crafting, and sparing," the king laughed.

"I look forward to the tests," Will said unhurriedly.

"Your majesty, if I may ask where is the heat coming from?" Will asked curiously.

"A dormant volcano was warming our homes and providing us a source of energy," said Master Duncan.

"Yes, a long-dormant volcano. Ancestor, we are led here by the Goddess Gaia to find refuge. Our ancestors believed Gaia keeps the volcano from erupting," the king added.

The dwarf king confirmed Will's suspicion, all Will could think was gunpowder!

With the sulfur from the volcano, charcoal, and potassium nitrate from bat guano, he could make gunpowder.

With gunpowder, he could build cannons to protect his airships. Or, he could also sell fireworks.

Either way, he'd make a killing. On second thought, that was a poor pun.

Then Will remembered, volcanic gases were filled with deadly sulfur.

How were the dwarfs able to ventilate a volcano? He couldn't wait to witness that marvel.

"Your majesty, may I see it?" Will asked curiously.

"Now, is the time for rest," the king said ordering Okdrotir Goldbringer and Ralgar Gemmolder to lead them to The Royal Ingot Inn to eat and rest.

As Will was being led away he asked Okdrotir and Ralfgar if there was a cave of bats nearby.

By the time Will and Nisha got to the inn, they were famished, they quickly settled into their rooms and then began a rhythm of eating and drinking.