In the center of their new home, a group of dwarves sat around a fire. They rotated what looked like some kind of bird on a spit. The dwarves all glanced up as they approached.
Unlike many realms, a council ruled the dwarves, and they elected it every year to represent their best interests. Four rocks surrounded the fire, and the dwarf who escorted them here settled onto the only vacant one.
One other man and two women occupied the remaining stones. None of them smiled when Cole and Lexi stopped outside the circle.
“It’s about time,” one of the women said.
“In case you haven’t heard, we’ve been pretty busy,” Cole replied blandly.
“As have we,” another man said.
“I’m not going to stand here and bicker with you,” Cole said. “You’re either with us, or you’re not. We have other realms to get to, and I’m sure many of them have also been destroyed. Drumbledon is not the only realm he has attacked; Verdan is also in ruins.”
The dwarves all exchanged a look before one of the women sighed and rose from her rock. “Please, come join us.”
Like the first dwarf they met, they all spoke with something similar to an English accent. Two dwarves, standing nearby, produced two more stones and set them down next to the dwarf who escorted them and one of the councilwomen.
Cole led Lexi over to one of the stones. After she settled onto the rock, he remained standing behind her.
“I’m Skognoth Orcsword,” the dwarf who brought them here stated. “Most call me Skog.”
“I am Ubolin Mithrilmaul or Ubo,” the other male dwarf said.
“I am Garfoure Blazingsword,” one of the women said. “They call me Four.”
“And I am Brudworika Flatgranite,” the last woman said. “I’m known as Rika.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Lexi said.
Cole nodded a greeting to them while he studied their weapons. The shadows moved closer to the dwarves whose attention remained riveted on Lexi. When Rika leaned forward, her dark brown hair shone in the light, and her brown eyes were intense on Lexi.
“Are you truly arach?” Rika inquired.
“Yes.”
“I’ll be,” the woman murmured. “I’ve never met an arach. I always assumed they’d be… bigger.”
Lexi’s brow furrowed. “Sorry to ah… disappoint you.”
Rika sat back. “You better not disappoint us.”
“Careful,” Cole cautioned.
Rika settled her ax, with its black handle, across her knees. She was pretending to be indifferent but smart enough to keep the head of the ax pointed away from Lexi.
“So, you’ve come for our help,” Skog stated.
“We’ve come to workwithyou,” Cole said.
He’d be damned if any of the immortals who agreed to work with them believed they owed them something afterward. That was a treacherous, slippery slope. Besides, every one of them had as much reason to be involved in this war as they did.
“If you’re unwilling to aid us against the Lord, we’ll leave,” Cole told them. “We don’t have much time here either. Not only has the Lord destroyed Drumbledon and Verdan, but he’ll be heading for other realms too. The giants have made it clear they won’t help, and I’m sure Aerie has also been destroyed. We seek only a simple yes or no from you. You know why we’re here, and you know the consequences of your decision; make it.”
They all exchanged a look, and the dwarves gathered around them shifted as murmurs ran through the crowd. Cole rested his hand on Lexi’s shoulder as the shadows gathered closer. It didn’t go unnoticed by the dwarves.
“They say he is the Shadow Reaver,” Rika said.
“He is,” Skog said. “I saw him control the shadows, and they talk to him too.”
