by Eric Vall
I raised my brows as the Baroness suddenly came to mind, and when we got to the stone gates of the Oculus, Haragh was waiting to join us.
“The Elders are here,” I explained. “They want a word.”
“Oh, nice,” Haragh said without concern. “Been a while.”
Temin glanced over his shoulder at the half-ogre like he was crazy to sound so nonchalant, but Haragh just chuckled before breaking rank long enough to snag a fist bump from Big Red on our way out.
The rattling of armor echoed around the tunnel as the frontmost guards held their torches high, and I did my best to get my mind refocused, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the look in the Baroness’ eyes as I held her locked around my dick. Her warnings about Aurora and Deya had my hackles raised, too, and I was caught somewhere between horny and willing to kill a fucker right now.
Plus, I was beginning to realize I wasn’t entirely sure I cared if I could trust the Baroness or not.
Just that one taste of the woman’s appetite had me burning for more, but I couldn’t ignore her words. If getting closer to her meant my women and I would be in even more danger, I knew I shouldn’t risk it. A part of me wondered if I’d actually misinterpreted her actions lately, though, because that ghostly white eye of hers betrayed a hell of a lot I wasn’t expecting to see.
We crossed the castle courtyard and headed up the entrance steps while I ground my teeth together in thought, but I tried to set this all aside so I’d be able to handle the Elders of Aurum with a clear mind. Then the king’s guard dispersed to take their posts lining the hall, and Temin led Haragh and I through the castle and up a lofty flight of marble steps to the second floor.
“You can wait in the upper throne room,” Temin told us as he turned down a hall with a pair of elaborately carved wooden doors at the end. “I’ll alert the Elders of your arrival and send them in directly.”
I nodded as the king parted the doors for us, but then he startled before crossing the threshold.
The five Elders of Aurum were already seated at the head of the room, and even though there were ten seats lining the farthest wall, Dorinick’s uncle had taken it upon himself to sit in Temin’s own throne. Their dark red robes draped across the floor at their feet while their long hair blended in with their beards, and even though they weren’t surrounded in rubies here, they still gave off a palpable air of superiority.
The king’s cheeks flushed a bit as he forced a gracious smile, and we crossed the extensive chamber to come to a stop in front of the surly dwarves. They didn’t rise at Temin’s arrival, but a few of them idly stroked the well-groomed beards that fell into their laps.
“Elders,” Temin preened. “I’m pleased to see you’ve already adjourned. Defender Flynt was more than happy to join us at your request.”
None of the dwarven Elders gave any acknowledgement to the king while their frowns remained stern, and Temin eventually cleared his throat uncomfortably.
“Yes, well,” he muttered, “I’ll just leave you all to discuss your affairs, shall I?”
The line of dwarves continued silently staring the king down, and Temin sent me an uneasy glance as he turned and headed for the doors. Just before he left the chamber, though, Dorinick’s uncle, Dogra, stood and bowed.
“Defender Flynt,” he said loudly. “It is an honor to see you this day.”
I caught Temin’s irritated sigh as he closed the doors behind him, and I fought the urge to chuckle as I bowed in return.
“The honor is mine, Elder Dogra,” I replied before I gestured to the half-ogre beside me. “You remember Defender Haragh, yes?”
“Of course,” Dogra said with another bow of acknowledgment, and he took his seat again as the white-haired Elder beside him cleared his throat.
“Defender Flynt, we’ve come with regards to the fortress you’ve located within our region,” Foreg informed me.
“I thought that might be the case.” I nodded.
“General Dorinick has issued an order to our soldiers to not take action with little explanation as to why. We know only that you intend to alert us if there is a real danger. Dorinick left rather quickly to return to his mine in the far north after delivering this information, and after much deliberation, we thought it prudent to familiarize ourselves with the circumstances as soon as possible.”
“I see … ” I muttered as I furrowed my brow. “So, did General Dorinick not mention the ogres, then?”
Foreg’s eyes flared as the others shifted in their seats and exchanged anxious glances.
“What ogres?” Foreg demanded.
I didn’t know whether to laugh or be irritated with Dorinick, but I probably should have known he’d use the opportunity to fuck with the Elders.
“Uh … well,” I began, “the Master who was responsible for possessing the ice giants has been using his rune to recruit more creatures and expand his army. We believe the fortress in the eastern foothills is his main headquarters, and it seems he’s housing most of his recruits there. We’ve been working to figure out what his numbers are so we can be as prepared as possible when the time comes to attack, and recently, a lot of things have come to light in this department.”
“Like ogres,” Haragh added.
“He’s possessed the ogres and brought them to Orebane?” Foreg’s wild white eyebrows inched higher as this sank in. “Th-They could be in Aurum at this very moment! They could--”
“They aren’t heading to Aurum,” I assured him. “Not yet, anyways. Dorinick and Thrungrig’s crew are actually scouting the fortress right now from the eastern mountains to ensure we’re aware of any developments.”
“They’re what?” Foreg bellowed as he rose to his feet, but Dogra just sighed heavily as the Elder on his right sent him a livid glance.
“This will be the eleventh time your nephew has deliberately misrepresented his intentions to us in only a matter of months,” the Elder grumbled, and he stroked his ruddy red beard with disapproval.
“I am well aware, Killick,” Dogra growled without looking over.
“This time, he’s put our entire nation at risk of being wholly unprepared for an attack, and if he should die out there in the eastern region--”
“I am sure the soldiers are aware of the circumstances,” Dogra interrupted. “Dorinick would not fail to keep his army informed.”
“While keeping his Elders entirely in the dark!” Killick scoffed, and Haragh and I exchanged a side-eyed glance while we waited for the dwarves to hash things out. “Dogra, your nephew’s insubordination has become a blatant attack on everything we stand for, and if he carries on like this--”
“Dorinick has never let our nation down,” Dogra reminded the angry dwarf.
“No, only his leaders,” Foreg said, and as a hostile silence overtook the room, I decided I should probably blaze ahead while I had the chance.
“My own army is preparing to handle the threat in the eastern foothills,” I assured the Elders, “and I’ve gained an alliance with two Elven Houses who are willing to join us in the fight. The ogres in the west have offered their army as well, and--”
“The elves?” Killick clarified in disbelief, but Foreg was already stammering over him.
“An alliance with the ogres? That’s impossible. They’d sooner slaughter your entire fleet, Defender Flynt. Surely you don’t believe--”
“Grot and I have reached an understanding,” I replied, and the Elders looked like I’d just slapped them across their faces. “Haragh and I travelled to Jagruel recently to put a stop to the abductions in their region, and we gained an alliance in arms to strengthen our collective chances against the Master’s army. I also addressed the issue of the ogres hunting within your western mountains while I was there, and they won’t be venturing beyond your borders any longer.”
The Elders stared in amazement without replying, but after a long moment, Agrokea’s age-addled voice broke the silence, and I turned my attention to the blind Elder in the last chair.
&
nbsp; His thinning and stately white hair fell in a scraggly mess around his shoulders to blend in with his beard, and his milky blue eyes remained fixed ahead of him as he furrowed his brows.
“The mountains … in the west … are safe?” Agrokea wheezed with much effort.
“Yes, sir,” I replied, and I bowed my respect to the man despite his inability to see it. “Grot has given me his word no dwarves will be hunted again.”
A faint smile trembled at Agrokea’s weathered lips. “Foreg … the mines.”
“I agree,” Foreg replied in a low voice, and I realized the Elders’ surprise had abruptly given way to a much more calculating air. “Killick, how soon can the men travel?”
“At once,” Killick responded, and he was stroking his ruddy red beard more determinedly now. “The platinum has been out of reach for a long while, Foreg. It will be three times its value.”
“How many operations were closed in the west?” Dogra asked.
“Three platinum, two gold, and our only two alexandrite.”
“The black opal, as well,” another Elder muttered, and Foreg turned to exchange a silent and weighted look with Dogra.
I could almost see the coins piling up in their greedy eyes, and I smirked as I realized this conversation was about to work directly in my favor. Then I casually cleared my throat.
“I was unaware your mountains contained platinum,” I said. “I haven’t seen a metal as precious in any of my travels.”
“You would not,” Dogra replied. “It has been years since the mines were closed, and there are no deposits anywhere amongst the other regions. The dwarven nation alone possesses platinum.”
“I certainly look forward to seeing what comes of this, then,” I said with a grin. “All of Serin will empty their pockets when word reaches the citizens.”
Dogra’s green eyes shone at the words, but Foreg looked down at his hands in his lap.
“Word will not reach them,” he said in a low voice. “Defender Flynt, I am sorry to say the borders of Orebane have been closed. The trade agreement that stood between your nation and our own is no longer in place.”
I made sure to stare for a moment. “What? I thought the train--”
“We mean no disrespect to you or your remarkable inventions, Defender Flynt,” Foreg assured me. “You have done much to honor the dwarven nation, but we have no choice. In the last two weeks, the tariffs against Orebane have quadrupled, and our own goods are being pawned at less than their worth. There is little reason for us to continue honoring the agreement put in place following your arrival in Orebane.”
“I have heard of the tariffs against your people,” I replied. “King Temin has struggled to make his subjects see sense in the matter, but--”
“King Temin has disappointed our trust entirely,” Killick interrupted with a scowl. “The tariffs placed against us are an insult, Defender Flynt, and his subjects are incapable of respecting the quality of our craftsmanship.”
“That isn’t true,” I countered. “The swords your nation has provided are the best in the kingdom.”
“Aye,” Haragh agreed in earnest. “Won’t find a blade as well wrought as a dwarven sword.”
The flattery appeased most of the Elders as they grinned smugly behind their beards, but Foreg maintained his solemn frown.
“Precisely,” the white-haired dwarf replied, “which is why this insult will not be borne.”
“Elder Foreg, the tariffs were instilled in my absence, but I assure you they will not remain in place,” I said, and Dogra narrowed his eyes with intrigue as he toyed with his black beard. “King Temin alerted me to all of this the moment I returned from Nalnora, but I’ve had to delay addressing the issue while I dealt with the threats against the Order of the Elementa and Jagruel. Our mages are being enslaved by the Master, same as the ogres, and I’ve been working to restore our numbers and protect the regions. Temin has already arranged for me to speak with the nobility on behalf of Orebane, though, and I will not allow them to profit from my inventions while our alliance with your nation is abused.”
Foreg raised a wiry white brow as he eyed me carefully, but Agrokea was the one who spoke next.
“You will speak … on our behalf?” the aged dwarf wheezed.
“You have my word,” I promised. “I built that railway through the mountains because your nation can offer what no other can, and I intend to make sure your contributions are honored as they should be.”
The Elders considered this for a minute, and then Foreg finally let out a sigh.
“When do you intend to address the nobility, Defender Flynt?”
“Tomorrow evening,” I replied. “If you stay one more day, you’ll see the tariffs dropped yourselves.”
“Stay?” Killick snorted. “In the castle of a man without the good taste to keep dwarven wine?”
“My own village serves no other wine, Elder Killick. I’ll send every casket I have if it would please you.”
Agrokea chuckled lightly. “There’s … your man of taste … Killick.”
I grinned, and Killick snorted in agreement.
Then Dogra turned to Foreg. “If the tariffs are dropped, think of the profit to be made once the platinum is mined. We’ll more than restore the damage done, and no one in the south has ever laid eyes on black opals before.”
“You speak sense, Dogra,” the white-haired dwarf admitted.
“Defender Flynt, address your noblemen,” Dogra said as he looked back to me. “If you can lower the tariffs against Orebane, then the line of trade will remain in place.”
“And what of the threat in the east?” Killick reminded his companions, and I tried not to laugh as the Elders realized they’d completely forgotten once the prospect of the wealth to be made in the west came up.
“Right now, we’re strengthening our armies to prepare for an attack,” I told the Elders. “We have reason to believe the Master is housing all manner of dangerous creatures within his fortress, and given his knowledge of rune magic and the number of mages he’s recruited, risking an attack at this time would be unwise. That’s why Dorinick volunteered to keep an eye on the developments there. I received word just yesterday that his crew are already in position.”
“An honorable feat on my nephew’s part,” Dogra said with sage-like nod, but the others seemed reluctant to acknowledge the praise.
“Then we continue to await your instruction,” Foreg announced, and the five Elders rose to their feet.
“I appreciate your trust,” I assured him as Haragh and I bowed deeply.
“We await your wine as well, Defender Flynt,” Killick added before we could turn to leave, and I grinned.
“It’ll be here within the hour, Elder Killick. You have my word on that, too.”
As Haragh and I exited the throne room, I could hear the Elders already muttering to one another over the wealth to be gained from the western mines, and I chuckled when we found Temin pacing anxiously in the hall just outside.
“Well?” he hissed as the doors closed behind us.
“They’ll reopen the border as long as the nobility agree to lower the tariffs by tomorrow,” I told the king, “and it would be in your best interest to be prompt about enforcing it. The dwarves are about to start mining platinum again.”
“Platinum?” Temin gasped as his eyes went wide. “You’re certain about this?”
“Yep,” I said with a nod, and the king turned on in his heel without skipping a beat.
“I’ll prepare everything at once.”
Haragh snorted as Temin disappeared around the corner, but the king popped back into sight shortly after.
“I nearly forgot, Defender Flynt,” he called, “there’s another chest waiting for you in the lower throne room. A gift from King Balmier in the south.”
Then Temin was gone from sight, and his voice echoed all down the marble hall as he began frantically ordering his servants around.
“I’m gettin’ in early on that black opal,”
Haragh muttered as he waggled his brows. “Dorinick’ll set me up real nice, I bet.”
“Are you sure you’re not half dwarf?” I asked as we headed for the stairs, and there were already red-faced servants running around like mad. By the time we finished fetching a medium sized chest from the lower throne room, even the king’s guard had abandoned their posts at the entrance to prepare for the meeting with the nobility tomorrow, and we let ourselves out while we sidestepped a few young men who’d collided in the front hall.
I’d never seen a gathering of the richest in Illaria before, but the idea of addressing them all myself made my nerves waver a bit as I realized how much was riding on this. This notion was swiftly interrupted by another, though, because the Baroness would be in attendance, along with those who would gladly kill either of us.
And just like that, my mind had her on her knees again as my blood heated a few dozen degrees.
“ … except the whole hilt is made of the stuff, ye’ve never seen anything like it,” Haragh sighed as I unsealed Bobbie’s doors.
“Huh?” I asked as I blinked myself back to reality.
Haragh’s smile fell. “Have you not been listenin’ this whole time?”
“Sorry, I was thinking about something.”
I dropped into the driver’s seat as Haragh rolled his eyes, but then I stared at the steering wheel for a minute while I considered how much had happened since Shoshanne woke me up this morning. I suddenly felt like my life had throttled at full speed ahead, which seemed impossible considering it was already jam packed, and I couldn’t stop nodding lightly to myself while I processed this.
“Why we not drivin’?” Haragh grunted.
“Sooo,” I mumbled, “just before Temin showed up, the Baroness tried to swallow my dick for me. Well, not tried. She uh … she pretty much succeeded.”
We sat in silence for a few beats while Haragh fidgeted his fingers on his knee, and I continued nodding for no apparent reason.
“Well,” the half-ogre finally managed, “at least ye’ know that one’s not pregnant. Definitely would be your scariest kid yet.”
I turned a hard stare in his direction, but Haragh abruptly looked away as he fought to keep his smirk in check, and Bobbie let out a low growl that gave me the impression she was trying to change the subject.
