Author's Notes:

What Comes Next - Part 3 continues its popular first offering of an Isekai style story.

A hero reborn on a new world where he must survive dangerous trials and find his way amongst different races and cultures to find the ultimate treasure: Love.

Lots of classic elements... with a twist!

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What Comes Next - Part 3

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Chapter 1

The Beast-Kin capital city of Shalazar was Alex's favorite place on this world, so far. The Beast-Kin who inhabited the beautiful, colorful city built within the inner walls of an ancient, extinct volcano were as varied and unique as the city itself.

Yes, he'd encountered a few jerks, and yes, one had even tried to kill him, but that was a rare exception and couldn't dispel his delight with the city and its inhabitants.

He was sorry to be leaving, but he was on a mission for Gods, and one of them wasn't the patient type.

Alex was in his Therrax form, a huge, black-furred bear-bodied, eagle-headed, cat-eared monster. His current appearance would have easily fit into any of those schlocky monster movies back home on Earth, but this was his new reality.

Calling upon Agron's magic to become all sorts of monstrous creatures was one of the Blessings he'd received when he was brought to this world.

He was also Blessed by Ullentra, the Goddess of Empathy and Compassion, whose magic restored his body to a pristine state after he suffered injuries. She also restored his mind from the damage the Gods inflicted when they tried to communicate with him directly. A Human mind couldn't cope with the bandwidth of a God pouring through it.

A third God Blessed him with the ability to quickly master any skill he put effort into learning. Ffornexa was the God of Order, and he balanced Agron, the God of Chaos.

In his Therrax form, Alex was tremendously strong and had no issues pulling the party's carriage and connected wagon as they retraced their route from the Beast-Kin's capital city, Shalazar, to the furthest northern outpost in their territory, Vastella Station.

On this outbound trip, they'd stopped overnight in the town of Tastan and spoken with many of the inhabitants after dinner at the pub/inn where they stayed. The following day, they stopped in the reborn village of Wallow Point, where Devya was treated as a hero for bringing water back to the valley. Lushella, the Goddess of Water, Blessed her with extremely powerful water magic, which she'd used to force an underground stream through a blockage to bring water back to the valley. Alex recalled the minor seismic event that it caused.

He'd enjoyed her embarrassment at being treated like a celebrity.

Tonight, they'd camp on the outskirts of Vastella Station as the outpost didn't have an inn.

He was looking forward to seeing the people.

He glanced back and captured an image of the carriage and its riders in his mind. Dale and Dystra were seated on the carriage driver's bench. They made a lovely couple, though it was a strange mix. Dale was such a positive person, ready to share a joke and adverse to conflict, while his lover was an assassin, extremely proficient in his work, and leaned towards darker humor.

Just behind them, relaxing against the tent bags stowed on the carriage roof was the party's remaining Beast-Kin member, Ti'Nah. The Tiger-like being had vowed to follow Alex until the end of his mission, and her skills with her sword were welcome in the party. She'd said goodbye to their other Beast-Kin member back in Shalazar. Shi'Jax had been given an unprecedented boost to her healing magic and decided to remain with her family to set up a clinic to help her neighborhood. She'd quickly discovered that adventuring wasn't for her.

Hitching a ride to return to their assigned base were the Wolf-like Beast-Kin Gor'Dem Vena and his two underlings, Hex'Ray and Tan'Shee. Gor'Dem, who was Vastella Station's Head Guardian, sat next to Ti'Nah, and the other two sat across the roof facing them.

Alex was going to miss Gor'Dem's bombastic enthusiasm, Hex'Ray's cool competence, and Tan'Shee's unique perspective. They'd been a real asset on their mission in Wave Crest.

On the carriage's rear-facing bench sat Jhaan and Joah, keeping an eye on their six, though none of the threats they now faced were behind them.

While his glance didn't see the others, Alex knew their party leader, Lyra, was seated inside the carriage with their eldest member, Alois, the ex-regent of the Human Kingdom of Thale. He'd fled the Human realm under the threat of execution by the new King's man, Gordier Jalviere.

While Alois wasn't an adventurer, he had years of experience as a diplomat and got along well with the leaders of the countries he visited, so he was welcome on their journey.

Lyra led the party and was a powerful Healer. She was also incredibly lovely and shared many similarities with Alex's deceased wife.

That still gave him pause.

Devya, their water magic titan, and the Dwarven sisters, Yellsbeth and Thorn, master warrior and fire and lightning mage, respectively, were also seated inside. The sisters weren't shy about joining him in his tent at night, and that... was okay with Alex.

Another concern of Alex's seemed to have settled down. The other Gods, the ones that hadn't Blessed him, no longer seemed to be poking their noses into the dreams of his friends. He didn't know what that meant, but he was grateful for one less thing to worry about. Maybe they got the hint.

Eyes focusing forward once more, Alex spotted a wisp of smoke on the horizon, which told him their destination was just ahead, so he picked up his pace a little.

"Vastella Station!" he called back.

He couldn't wait to hang out with the folks from the outpost.

-=-

Luc'San Hanso wore his grey and brown cloak as he watched from the shadows next to one of the old tents that made up the main group of habitats in the outpost. His brilliant white feathers were too distinct and eye-catching, and he needed to remain unseen.

His target had arrived with great fanfare and excitement. The Beast-Kin who lived in the outpost may have been far from the capital, but they were kept informed of the news with daily courier drops. He'd once held that role, for a short time at least.

The people were thrilled to see the Agron Blessed adventurer who received direct messages from the God.

Luc'San appreciated his Blessing from Hallestra as the strong air magic gave him a definite advantage over other avians. However, the other aspect of his Blessing, Healing, was minimal at best. He felt a little cheated, not that he'd admit that out loud.

Unlike most Beast-Kin, he wasn't a fan of Agron.

He also wasn't a fan of his target, who'd been given too many Blessings and was proving to be too difficult for even a master assassin to kill. He made Luc'San's feathers itch nervously. No one should have that much power.

So, he watched casually, from as far away as he could while still being able to keep track of the party. It wouldn't do to be outmaneuvered by the party's assassin.

-=-

Lyra smiled at Alex as he tugged on his kilt and shirt. She noticed that he didn't bother with shoes as his feet had built up sufficient toughness to remain bare, and she'd gotten used to seeing him without them.

She glanced over at Dale, who was being quieter than he usually was. His smile wasn't so quick to appear these days.

He saw her watching him and stuck out his tongue at her to make her stop worrying. She couldn't stop her responding smile, so she shook her head and walked over to listen to Gor'Dem, who was gesturing to the flattened grasses.

"You can set up here for the night," the Head Guardian said, nodding to Lyra as she joined them.

"Thank you for everything!" she said, hugging him.

He grinned at her when she pulled back, and a grin on a wolf's face can be an intimidating sight, but Lyra understood.

"We may not have an inn or a restaurant, but we do have a pub... of sorts. I have to check in with my team to see what mischief happened while I was away, but if you'd care to join us at the largest tent on the far side of the village after sundown, we'll raise a toast together."

Lyra smiled and looked at the excited faces of her party. "We'll be there!"

-=-

Luc'San was working up the nerve to enter the public gathering tent, as there seemed to be sufficient people inside to give him cover. He'd waited outside for hours and listened to the excited voices inside. He noted that some had become a little slurred, so they were imbibing in the local brew. After the Head Guardian and his team left the tent, he decided it was now or never.

Just inside, he could see that almost every open space had someone seated, standing, or crouching just to see the target and his party. He found a poorly lit spot by the entrance and watched.

He recognized some of the locals who'd been living in the outpost for years. The usual riffraff easing their cares with a brew at the end of the day. One in particular caught his eye as Luc'San knew he was a little bastard with clever, sticky fingers. Brewby, the fucking pickpocket, had pinched Luc'San's purse once.

Listening in, Luc'San heard one of the Humans from the target's party telling a story to the rapt audience, so he paid more attention. It was the large, older Human, bumpy with muscle as Humans get when they swing those ridiculously long swords around.

"We were on our way back from Wave Crest, and everyone was feeling charged up from the successful mission. We also knew this was the most dangerous time, when bandits strike exhausted parties as they leave the city. Except we weren't exhausted, and the Beast-Kin super party was sharp and ready.

As we approached a perfect ambush point, we were suddenly faced with not only a large group of Human mercenaries, but an Orc War Party!"

"NO!" a high-pitched voice cried out in dismay from the front of the audience.

The old Human grinned at the shocked child. "Yes!"

The gathering chuckled at the young one's outburst.

The Human continued his tale. "They thought they were going to sweep effortlessly through a band of weary Beast-Kin and a mixed group of adventurers. Instead, they slammed into a fierce and coordinated wall of destructive power. They didn't stand a chance. We hit them with Lightning, Fire, and a wall of arrows. Their archers tried to snipe us from dug-in positions along the high walls of the cavern, but our water mage hit them with a waterfall that flushed them from their roosts and sent them to the valley floor, where they met the waiting blades of our warriors' swords and axes.

The orcs were large and powerful, but our Beast-Kin sorcerers sapped their energy and leveled the playing field for the Beast-Kin fighters to cut them down to size.

Not one of the bandits survived their ill-fated attack. We had only minor injuries on our side, which our excellent healers quickly healed.

"Did you eat any of the bandits as a Therrax?" the young one called out to Alex.

More laughter erupted, and Luc'San saw the target shaking his head with a wide grin on his face.

"No, I didn't eat anyone. Bleh!" Alex said comically to make the young ones laugh. "My role in the battle was just to give a warning if I spotted anything. A Therrax has incredibly sharp vision and detects the slightest motion. I caught sight of the bandits early and sounded the alarm before they could launch their ambush. That's all I did. I bit no one."

More chuckles rippled through the group.

"When our Therrax screamed, every bandit froze, completely unnerved, but we were already moving into attack positions!" the older Human said with a wide grin, and everyone cheered.

Something suddenly caught Luc'San's attention. One of the other Humans to the side of the group pulled something from an inner pocked of his vest. He was absentmindedly playing with it, but Luc'San had seen this artifact only once before, in the hands of the Mercenary Leader. It was a pin, but the Human had been talking to it. It might be magic, or it might have come from one of the underground cities. As it came from the mercenary, Luc'San knew he needed to get it so he could bring it to the smelly one.

His eyes moved once more, back to Brewby, who was also watching the Human with interest.

Luc'San slowly moved closer to Brewby, and when the small one noticed, Luc'San stopped and flashed a Genthale gold coin. The small pickpocket's interest showed in his expression, so Luc'San stepped out of the tent and moved to the side.

Moments later, he was joined by the thief.

Luc'San's face was still hidden in his cloak's hood, so he knew Brewby didn't recognize him. "The silver object the Human was playing with. I want it. I'll give you three of these to get it for me, quietly."

"I'll need one in advance," Brewby said shrewdly.

Luc'San went very still. "Why?"

"To pay for a distraction. I'll have to recruit someone to cause a disturbance to draw the Human's attention so that I can separate him from the object without his notice."

Feeling uncomfortably vulnerable to the small being's criminal skills, Luc'San huffed and handed him the coin. It quickly disappeared into the thief's pocket.

"Where will you be waiting to collect the item?" Brewby asked.

"Between the tents," Luc'San said, gesturing behind himself.

"Give me some time to make the arrangements," Brewby said and quickly returned to the tent.

Now, Luc'San felt very nervous. He'd let a thief know he had more gold coins. A thief who was going to hire a thug to cause a disturbance to get the pin. He might go into the tent to fetch his accomplice to help the thief rob him!

Luc'San did his best to contain his panic. He didn't have to wait where he said he would. He'd find a better spot where he could watch and only approach if Brewby came alone.

Plans made, he slipped away.

-=-

Dale was trying his best to keep a smile on his face, but doubts kept sneaking into his thoughts to steal his peace of mind.

He'd been on this world for the better part of his life, and the early years had been terrifying. Scrambling to survive, learning about his abilities to the best he could, and realizing his best chance at survival was to surround himself with people with complementary abilities. These skills fit the gaps in his own defenses. As long as he was part of a party with people who had strong Blessings and similar values, he'd be okay.

Meeting Lyra had been an absolute gift. With her powerful healing magic and equally strong air magic, he immediately felt safer.

Meeting and falling in love with Dystra gave him tremendous comfort and support. For the longest time, he'd been riding on cloud nine. He had a handle on what the world expected of him. He had people around him he could rely on, and he believed he had finally figured out this crazy world with its numerous gods.

Then Alex Frost arrived.

Blessed by three Gods who'd gone missing for a tremendously long time.

With their return, they didn't behave like the other Gods.

The rules had changed, and Dale's world wasn't quite as predictable as he needed it to be.

He ran his hands over his face and decided he needed another drink. He stood up and felt a light touch on his arm. It was Dystra who gave him a questioning look. He smiled and shook his head.

"Just getting a drink. You want one?" he asked, but Dystra just shook his head.

The pub, as they called it, had a rudimentary bar with some stools before it. Each had an occupant perched atop it. Dale was used to Beast-Kin and knew they could be a little rough around the edges but were basically decent beings.

The tent was pretty crowded tonight as the Agron Celebrity was in attendance, and everyone in the outpost wanted to hear his words. He thought most would be disappointed as he wasn't performing tricks tonight.

He shook his head, disappointed in himself for the mean thoughts.

He liked Alex. He believed he was a genuinely nice person, and they shared an irreverent sense of humor. It was just the upheaval that followed the man that set Dale's teeth on edge.

He got closer to the bar, and he could smell the alcohol on the barstool jockeys. How long they'd been there was anybody's guess, but he guessed it was all night.

Dale tried to catch the bartender's attention, and one of the drunks suddenly spun on his chair and grinned widely.

"HEYA BUDDY!" the scruffy furred being with wide, protruding front teeth belched in his face. Dale squinted in the gust of boozy breath, then strong arms wrapped around him, and they were falling backward into the crowd. Voices were raised in annoyance as they brought down three other people before they settled to the floor. There was a rough cloth covering the ground to keep the dust down, and he landed on top of two others, so the impact was light.

Getting up was impossible at first as he was tangled in limbs, and the noise was chaotic. Eventually, he pushed the drunk from his chest, and other hands helped him up. He dusted himself off and looked down at his feet, where the drunk was sleeping it off.

All thoughts of getting another drink quickly faded. He just wanted to leave.

Dystra was immediately at his elbow. "Are you okay?"

He forced a smile onto his lips. "Yeah, but I'm done here tonight."

Dystra nodded, then made a gesture above his head as he looked back across the tent at Jhaan, who nodded.

His partner then looked into Dale's eyes. "Let's go."

They left the tent and took the main path through the village to return to their encampment, where they saw a group of Guardians standing sentry around it. Dale smiled as this was Gor'Dem's doing.

Protecting his friends.

"Nice of Gor'Dem to keep an eye on our stuff," Dystra said as if he'd been reading Dale's mind.

Dale smiled and nodded. He headed for their tent. He needed some cuddle time.

-=-

Brewby rushed around the large pub tent and slipped in the narrow space between it and the next tent. He looked for his client as he slowed to a halt.

"I got it!"

A foot shot out of the darkness and caught the thief on the side of his head. The sharp kick flipped the smaller being completely upside down, and his head crashed into the ground as his feet pointed toward the sky. Then he flopped to the ground and went still.

Slowly stepping from the shadows behind some refuse containers, Luc'San trembled as adrenaline surged through his panicked body. His head pivoted to catch sight of the thief's accomplice, but it appeared the small one was alone. He moved next to Brewby and poked him with a toe. He was out.

Rolling him over, Luc'San realized the thief wasn't just unconscious.

The way his head rolled loosely on his shoulders, Brewby was dead. He'd broken the being's neck.

A shot of cold rushed down his spine.

He'd killed someone. For the stinky man!

Voices close by made Luc'San jump back into the shadows, but they moved away.

He stepped next to the body and went through the small being's pockets. He collected his gold coin, so Brewby hadn't needed it to pay his accomplice after all.

The coin returned to his purse. He pocketed Brewby's coin purse next, as he had expenses, and the thief owed him for stealing from him so long ago.

Then he found the silver pin. It was lovely, but he didn't know how it worked, so it went into a pocket too.

Luc'San looked down at the small, dead body, and more chills ran through him.

He hoisted the light body and dumped it in a mostly full garbage bin.

It was time to go. He'd fly to the crossroad, as there was a grove of trees nearby. He could hide in one to wait for the party to show where they were traveling to next.

Then he would report to the stinky man.

The man he'd killed for.

Chapter 2

Gordier Jalviere was seething with humiliation. King Ungar was still dangling the promise of becoming Regent, but he wanted the bastard Blessed by Agron dead, as well as the remaining party members. He'd told Gordier to his face that he couldn't understand how the sharpest blade in his arsenal had become so dull.

To make matters worse, Gordier hadn't heard back from his spy, and this was causing him severe distress. He'd gotten his hopes up when the courier proved to be far more resourceful and intelligent than he'd expected.

He knew it would take time for the party to explore Wave Crest. Expecting a report so soon was unreasonable.

In the interim, there was someone he could contact to get an update.

Lady Nissar Escarion was the current holder of an artifact capable of remotely connecting with its counterpart component in the hands of her lover, the leader of a mercenary group. With these artifacts, they could communicate over great distances in real time.

Gordier set his course to Nissar's mansion to request an update from her boyfriend.

It took some time to convince the Lady's staff that he was someone she wanted to speak to. Gordier refrained from killing the rude staff member.

Finally, he sat in the audience chamber, the woman in her seat across the table. Her expression didn't bode well for a calm discussion.

"Greetings, Nissar. May I inquire as to the cause of your upset?" he asked.

She glowered at him, then took a deep breath to calm herself. "Greetings, Gordier. My apologies for letting my current circumstance foul my mood. My Mercenary Team leader has not contacted me in some time."

Gordier thought about that and wondered whether a device had malfunction preventing her from contacting him.

As if reading his mind, she frowned and explained. "When he's on a mission, I cannot contact him as his artifact makes a noise that could give away his location."

The lights came on in Gordier's mind, but another question arose.

"Wouldn't he take precautions to inhibit this sound from being heard during these dangerous periods?" he asked. "That seems like a natural thing to do to ensure accidental activation doesn't lead to disaster."

Nissar's frown returned.

"Why are you asking?" she said stiffly.

"My contact has not returned to bring me an update. As he was to remain in the mercenaries' vicinity, it would be useful to reach out and request a report. The king is becoming frustrated with the pace of this operation." Dropping the hint that this would potentially please the king was his secret weapon against her.

Nissar stared at Gordier for a moment, then stood. "Please wait here for a moment."

She left the chamber.

Gordier sat quietly, doing his best to remain calm. Dealing with this woman was trying his patience.

Finally, she returned, carrying a small silver box. On its top was an indentation that might hold an ornate pin.

She set it on the table between them.

Gordier marveled at the device's portability and beauty. He looked into her eyes expectantly.

He suddenly realized she was fearful of not reaching him. As long as she didn't attempt to contact him, she could live with the belief that all was well.

Living a lie.

"If you'd like, I could activate it if you tell me how," he said softly, faking a sympathetic tone.

She glared at him. "That won't be necessary."

Nissar reached out and touched the indentation on top, and the silver box glowed faintly.

They heard a sudden squawk of surprise and some fumbling noises. After a pause, a hesitant voice came from the glowing box. "Hello?"

Nissar, heart in her throat, managed to speak. "Misha, is that you?"

There was a delay, then a contrite voice returned. "I'm sorry to say, the Mercenary Leader has died."

Glancing briefly at the distraught expression on Nissar's face, Gordier leaned forward as he recognized Luc'San's voice. "How did you obtain the artifact?"

Luc'San's voice firmed up as he seemed to recognize Gordier's voice. "A member of the target's party was carrying it after the battle. I saw it and... had someone collect it for me."

Gordier was very pleased with his spy, who'd once more proven to be exceptionally resourceful.

"What happened to Misha?" Nissar demanded.

"The Orcs and the Mercenary Team set up an excellent ambush, but the Beast-Kin super party was prepared for them. One of the Humans, a dark-skinned male, acted as the group's commander and directed their defense and offense with great success. Augmented by the target party's own formidable powers, the collected adventurers responded instantly and decisively, and proved to be far more powerful. It took them less than two minutes to destroy the mercenaries and Orcs, leaving no survivors."

"Except you!" Nissar snarled.

"Combat is not my role," Luc'San said haughtily and calmly.

"Where are they headed next?" Gordier asked.

"Indications are that they'll be heading into the Dwarven Kingdom, but I will confirm that tomorrow. This communication device is ingenious!" Luc'San said, realizing he wouldn't have to fly back and forth to Genthale to give reports.

Nissar's eyes were red from fighting back her strong emotions.

"I guess that makes us partners since I have the main module of the artifact and your spy has the remote unit," Nissar insisted. She saw her chance to stay in the loop.

Gordier contemplated the trouble killing her would cause and the help she could still be, so he tipped his head in her direction. "But he takes orders from me."

Nissar nodded stiffly in agreement.

Luc'San's hesitant voice returned. "I should tell you, the exploring party managed the impossible. They must have somehow reached a level no other explorers have, faster than any have, and every member of the Beast-Kin super party collected significant artifacts. It looked to be the most successful mission ever."

"Did the target's party collect treasure of their own?" Gordier asked curiously.

Luc'San's voice returned after a moment. "I don't recall seeing them carrying anything significant, and they didn't seem as excitable as the Beast-Kin, but I can't be sure."

"How did you witness this?" Nissar demanded suspiciously.

Luc'San's haughty voice returned. "I have exceptional eyesight, and from my position in a treetop with a clear view into the mouth of Wave Crest's entryway, I saw the members of the super party returning with their spoils, showing them off to the other Beast-Kin. I only left after I was spotted and fired upon."

Gordier was very pleased with his spy. He wasn't pleased with the news of his target's continued survival, so that was a problem he still needed to solve. Obviously, they'd have to be taken out when they were isolated from other support. There were many troublesome elements in that party.

"How does he activate the communication device to contact us to confirm the target party's next destination?" Gordier asked.

"Press and hold the raised circle at the center of the pin. This will send a request to communicate with this artifact, and a tone will announce it," Nissar explained.

"Contact us tomorrow when you confirm their next destination," Gordier said.

"I will," the courier returned. Nissar did something on the device to break the connection.

Gordier nodded and smiled at Nissar and saw the woman lean back perceptibly.

He controlled his reaction once more as he rose, bowed, and left the room.

Enduring his constant exposure to expressions of revulsion, even the suppressed ones, was sapping his will to contain his rage.

Lately, his only respite from this was found in the cellar of his secret home, where he would vent his frustration and anger upon whatever street urchin was unfortunate enough to be caught in the traps he set. Disposing of the bodies once he was done was simply a matter of liquefying the corpse and pouring it down the drain--something his sorcery let him do with ease.

He'd see what he had in his trap tonight.

Chapter 3

Today, the party was leaving the last outpost of the Beast-Kin Territory and heading off to their next destination.

While that made Alex a little sad, he knew they had to continue the mission. They broke camp, and everything went back on the wagon and carriage.

The party members said their goodbyes to their hosts, Gor'Dem and his two underlings, who came by to see them off.

"I still wish I was coming with you," the Head Guardian said with a frown. "I'll miss adventuring with you, but I have a job here, protecting the people. No sooner do I return than I already have a case of murder to solve."

Dystra gave him a concerned look. "Murder? Does that happen often in a place this size?"

Gor'Dem shook his head. "Not at all. The victim, Brewby, was a known pickpocket. His body was discovered in a refuse bin behind the pub tent. His coin purse was gone, so that might mean it was another thief, but the way he was killed was brutal."

Dale's sudden uncomfortable expression drew his friend's eyes. Lyra and Dystra shared a glance. "What happened?" Dystra asked him.

"I had my pocket picked before we left the tent last night. I didn't know until I got dressed this morning." They gaped at him, and he sighed. "I stupidly took the mercenary's pin artifact out of my pocket while we were in the pub. Later, there was a little push and shove in the bar, and that's when it must have happened, but I only noticed today when I got dressed."

Gor'Dem nodded. "So, it was probably related to the artifact. We didn't find it on the body or in the bin."

Dystra frowned. "It must have something to do with Gordier and the spy he has watching us.

Gor'Dem frowned. "What does the spy look like again?"

Dystra nodded. "It's an Avian and acts as a courier. It's tall and has a long, pointed bill, white feathers, long legs, and a wide wingspan."

The Guardian frowned. "Most Avians aren't fighters due to their lighter skeleton, but they can stab with their bills or kick with their legs and feet. Their foot claws can be deadly, too. The bruise we found on Brewby's face could be a match for the footprint of an avian.

Dystra glanced at Dale. "Our spy has graduated from just tracking us to assassination. We'll need to be more vigilant."

Uneasy expressions crossed the party members' faces.

"Mount up! We're on our way!" Lyra called out loudly to break the spell on everyone. They quickly moved to take their places on or in the carriage as Alex switched into his Therrax form to move into the harness. Lyra tightened his belly strap before hugging Gor'Dem once more and boarding the carriage herself.

Alex got them moving through the village and nodded to the people who came out to see them leave.

He was going to miss them.

-=-

The trek to the Dwarven Kingdom of Kharnthiad had the party traveling through the western edges of the grasslands on a wide, smooth double-track path. Alex ran on the grass between the tracks, and the wagon glided on the smooth, packed earth. They hadn't experienced such a good surface in their travels, so they were delighted.

After a week of travel, they spotted a thin line of green on the far horizon, and after another, they could distinguish the individual trees of an enormous forest. It took four more days to reach the edge, where they discovered whoever built the road had cut a wide path, so they'd have a little warning if something came charging from the dark woods to attack them. There were periodic clearings on either side of the road with obvious signs of fire pits, so these must have been set up as rest areas for travelers.

Alex was fascinated by what he saw as a precursor to the interstate highway. All that was missing were billboards and gas stations with overpriced fuel and bad coffee.

As they were relaxing one evening in a clearing, Alex looked to Dale with a grin. "Do you think we should set up a roadside attraction, like the world's largest ball of twine?"

Dale immediately joined the game. "Yes! And we could put up billboards at intervals to entice travelers approaching from both directions. Only three more miles to the world's largest rocking chair!" Dale said as he laughed.

Alex joined in the laughter. "Wait, wait! It has to be something people on this world would recognize, a challenge like a sword so big that no one can lift it! We charge tourists three coppers for one attempt to try!"

Dale burst into delighted giggles, and Alex got caught up in it too until he was wiping the tears from his face. The two were almost incapacitated with laughter.

Meanwhile, the others sitting around the fire pit wore amused expressions or looked for answers.

"Why would anyone do this?" Dystra asked in confusion, and Yellsbeth shrugged.

Dale got control of himself and looked at his partner. "Travelers see too much sameness on a long trip, and they crave novelty. Coming upon a roadside attraction, they're compelled to stop and see for themselves if it's really as remarkable as the billboard signs claim it is. Charging them for the opportunity to witness this marvel of the world can generate some decent money!"

"Would people really spend money to see the biggest ball of twine?" Yellsbeth asked.

Alex picked up the explanation. "They certainly would. Sometimes, the sillier the claim, the more popular it is with travelers. You make trinkets that show a picture of the attraction, include text that says "I tried lifting the world's biggest sword," and include where to find the attraction. Travelers love that shit as they can show it off to their friends who'll want to visit it too."

Now, Alex had everyone looking at him incredulously. He looked at Dale, who was grinning at everyone's disbelief.

"Maybe you have to be born on Earth to understand the marketability of roadside attractions," the Earth Mage sighed.

"Earth sounds like a very silly place," Dystra said.

Alex raised his hands in surrender. "Not saying it wasn't. It certainly could be."

He rested back against a log set up before the fire, relaxing. There was a constant but subtle orchestra of sounds coming from the forest on either side of the road. As he listened to the drone and separated the sounds of predators from prey, his ears twitched and twisted to capture the information. He noted Devya staring at him with wide eyes, and this pulled him from his fugue, and the sounds diminished.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Were you even aware you switched your ears from Human to Therrax? You had these huge, furry dish ears twitching and swiveling on your head!" she insisted.

"Oh! No, I didn't even feel the change. I was listening to the forest... then I began categorizing the sounds coming from it," Alex said quietly.

"Anything dangerous?" Joah asked with a raised brow.

"Uh, no."

Joah nodded with a relieved smile. "Good to know."

They had a dual-person sentry schedule, and everyone took turns. No one said it out loud, but everyone slept deeper when Alex was on duty.

The party also asked him to mark the area around their campsites as a Therrax to keep larger threats away.

Ti'Nah's sensitive sense of smell had to deal with that, but she insisted she preferred that to being attacked in her sleep. She was also getting used to it.

She said it made her feel safe.

That didn't make Alex feel less awkward about doing it.

-=-

It took two more weeks of travel before they could see the mountains on the horizon through gaps in the dense trees, and another week before they got a clearer view of them. By that time, the thinning of the forest and the gradual rise of the land were clear signs of a change in the biome.

As they traveled, they'd augmented their food stores with hunting and gathering in the forest. With Devya's ability to produce ice, they'd preserved a substantial surplus as they approached the first Dwarven village on the route.

The initial, smaller settlements they passed by had nothing resembling an inn, but when they reached one late in the day, they were allowed to camp in an open spot next to homes. They treated their neighbors to fresh venison for dinner that evening and left in the morning with new friends.

They found most of the Dwarves were friendly, if a little reserved. Seeing a party using a Therrax to pull their carriage and wagon set an intimidating tone that they had to work to dispel.

This far from the mountains, the most common occupation for the Dwarves was farming. The forest surrounding the villages had been cleared for wide fields of grain crops for the Kharnthiad kingdom.

As the days passed, they knew they were definitely entering the foothills of the mountains, which were beginning to loom before them.

As they finally broke free of the dense forest, the horizon before them was obscured by mountains rising to peaks high in the clouds.

The road leading to the base of the first mountain was the last straight path they'd see in the kingdom. All roads from this point either wound their way up and around the slopes of the mountains in switchbacks or remained in the valleys, curving around their bases and over low passes to reach the next gorge between them. From there, they'd use the roads leading up to the switchbacks or continue around the next mountain to reach the next valley and range.

Yellsbeth explained that the capital city of Kharnthiad was two thirds the way up the third string of mountains in the range. It was the largest and most forbidding of them.

Naturally.

Alex wasn't having too much trouble pulling the load on these slopes, yet, but he could see the mountains were snow-capped. He hoped the entrance to the capital was below the snowline.

At the end of this last straight road was the first junction, where the road climbed up to the switchbacks or went around.

Next to this junction was an actual Dwarven town with inns, pubs, shops, a guard post, and guards who rushed forward to block their entry when they saw the nature of the beast of burden pulling the carriage.

Alex held very still as he eyed the row of sharp, pointy tips on the guard's pikes.

Yellsbeth and Lyra left the carriage to speak to them. Lyra moved to stand next to the Therrax as her teammate walked directly toward the leader of the guards.

"You cannot bring... such a beast into Dherndibm!" the captain of the guard insisted.

"Alex, would you mind?" Lyra said, holding a blanket ready.

He nodded and switched back to his Human shape, and the harness fell to the ground.

The guards jumped as the threat they'd been facing was now a naked Human wrapping a blanket around himself. They weren't sure what to do and looked to the captain.

Yellsbeth smiled at the captain. "Our carriage is pulled by a member of our party who was Blessed by Agron­--"

The captain was still upset, as his mouth worked silently. His eyes narrowed, and he latched onto the next excuse he could use to deny them access. "We don't allow Agron-Blessed Humans into our town either. We won't have them going berserk and killing our townsfolk."

Yellsbeth nodded and gestured for Alex to show his God's Marks. With a frown, Alex turned and dropped the blanket low enough to expose the three symbols as Yellsbeth turned back to the captain.

"Alex was Blessed by three Gods. Agron, Ffornexa, and Ullentra. The God of Order balances the God of Chaos. Alex doesn't... go berserk."

The captain walked over to see these markings for himself, as he didn't believe it could be true. He stared at the marks and could clearly see they were genuine. He glanced at Yellsbeth, who'd joined him.

"They haven't Blessed anyone in... so long."

Alex pulled up his blanket and turned to smile at the Dwarf. He was much shorter than Yellsbeth but was very wide, with muscles on his muscles.

"Yet they Blessed me. I'm a recent New Arrival, and I'm learning about the stigma Agron has. It's my understanding that no one has ever had Ffornexa Bless them as well to counteract Agron's aggression. I can honestly say I haven't experienced a complete loss of control, as I understand happened with Agron's previous Blessed. Instead, I'm able to use my Agron Blessing to be useful to the party by pulling the carriage."

The captain felt less hostile due to Alex's respectful tone. He saw the pretty Halfling smiling at the Human and realized he could warn them.

"What are your plans for your visit to Dherndibm?" he asked Alex, who smiled at him.

"I just follow Lyra's lead," he said as he turned his face to her.

The lovely blonde patted his arm and faced the captain. "Our destination is the capital city of Kharnthiad. Tonight, we're looking for a meal and overnight accommodations."

"Just passing through, then," the captain said, and got nods.

"Any roughnecks we should be careful of?" Lyra asked.

The captain shared an amused look with Yellsbeth.

"Avoid the pubs in the late hours, as any Dwarf you find there at the end of the night will fit that description," he chuckled. Then he gave Alex an evaluating look.

"I don't drink," he quickly said to reassure the captain.

That brought a smile to the male's face. "Smart Human."

He abruptly turned and gestured for his peacekeepers to follow him back to the city. Then he stopped and gestured for the party to follow. He must have had second thoughts about letting them enter the town without an escort. Yellsbeth hustled forward to walk next to him.

Alex quickly changed back to a Therrax. Lyra fixed his belly strap, and they hurried to catch up to their honor guard.

Ahead, Alex could see the captain and Yellsbeth talking, and his sharp hearing picked up that Yellsbeth was ensuring they were going to a good inn with bathing facilities and a restaurant nearby.

As they entered the town gate, people froze, seeing the huge Therrax walking amongst them. A few yelled and fled, but most saw the escort and stopped to gape at the strange sight.

This was completely different from the experience of leaving Shalazar. Alex put that out of his mind and just tried to look as unthreatening as a Therrax could.

When they reached an inn, Alex was guided into a courtyard where the carriage and wagon would be stored for the night. Yellsbeth arranged with the captain to have some night-duty officers stand guard. They'd be paid handsomely. He assigned three from his group to wait until the others arrived to take over.

Thorn was inside making arrangements for rooms. They were a little short on available rooms for the sudden arrivals. Alois would get his own room. For the rest, doubling up was required, so it was Lyra and Devya, Dale and Dystra, Yellsbeth and Thorn, Joah and Jhaan, and Alex and Ti'Nah, but they were warned beyond a shadow of doubt that there would be NO sex tonight in this inn!

Ti'Nah looked a little disappointed but promised to behave.

The restaurant was just down the street from the inn, and the meals were hearty and warm if lacking in imagination and spices. Alex held his tongue and kept Ti'Nah from verbally expressing her visible disappointment.

Yellsbeth locked eyes with Alex. "This was another reason that Thorn and I prefer to be adventurers," she said quietly after the waitress removed their plates and left.

Alois sat next to Lyra, and a shiver ran through him. She looked at him in concern, and he gave her a weak smile.

"I'm afraid the mountain air is colder than my old body finds comfortable," he said, embarrassed.

Yellsbeth smiled. "You're in luck, as Dwarven winter gear is very warm. I spotted a shop on the way in where we can outfit the party. We can get better stuff in Kharnthiad, but you'll need something to hold you over until we get there."

Plan made, they paid their bill and headed down the street to a shop specializing in outerwear.

Lyra worked with Yellsbeth and a store clerk to find the warmest fur-lined coat for the senior member of their party. Anyone feeling the bite of the cooler air picked up warmer outerwear. The coat lengths were short for the taller humans and even taller Elves, but they would make do.

Heading back to the inn, they learned about its best feature. It was adjacent to a public bath.

When they arrived, the proprietor looked them over with a critical eye. "Non-Dwarf access isn't for an hour."

"What the fuck? You don't seem that busy, and there aren't that many of us!" Yellsbeth snapped.

The old, grey-bearded Dwarf glanced at the mixed party, his eyes lingering on Ti'Nah and Alex, and his lip twitched with revulsion. He gestured to Yellsbeth and Thorn. "You two may enter," he said, "but the rest need to wait until the other customers have left. By Imperial policy."

Yellsbeth erupted. "That's complete bullshit! It's your own bigoted policy, and when I speak with King Cragborne, I'll bring it to his attention that you're sullying his name with your tiny-minded racism!"

"GET OUT!" the old Dwarf screamed. "The bathhouse is closed! Everyone out!"

Before Yellsbeth could continue escalating the hostilities, her party mates collected her and dragged her back to the inn.

"That fucking bastard! I hate how people like him diminish everything my people could be!" she grumbled, trembling with rage.

Alex and Lyra shared a look. Here was evidence of past pain.

Thorn spoke with the inn manager, and he promised to send two basins of hot water to each of their rooms. Alois lifted a hand to say he only needed one, but Thorn caught his hand in hers and smiled.

"The second one will add warmth to your room," she said quietly, and he smiled gratefully at her for her thoughtfulness.

"If you need warmth for sleeping, I don't mind sharing a bed with you. Beast-Kin run hot and are excellent cuddlers," Ti'Nah said to the ex-Regent who blinked at her in surprise. She turned her eyes to Alex. "If you don't mind, of course."

Alex grinned at her. "Not at all. That's really nice of you!"

Ti'Nah preened. "Beast-Kin are all about sharing heat when we sleep."

All eyes turned to Alois. He was absolutely frozen with indecision.

Alex helped him accept the offer as he saw the senior wanted to, but propriety was stopping him. "Let's swap rooms."

"Oh! Uh, thank you," Alois said, eyes darting to see the smile on Ti'Nah's face.

Everyone moved upstairs to their rooms, and Alex ducked into his to collect his travel bag.

He then followed Alois to his room.

After they stepped inside, the older man turned to him. "I haven't shared a bed with anyone in my life."

That made Alex a little sad. The man had dedicated himself to assisting his friend, who became the king. His entire life, he'd put the nation's needs before his own.

He smiled at Alois. "Ti'Nah is an excellent cuddler, and you don't need to worry about getting cold tonight. She won't pounce on you if you're worried about that."

Alex watched his expression flash through a few emotions before settling on embarrassment. Alex was certain he saw disappointment in that mix.

That would be something the man could address with Ti'Nah himself. Alex was not a matchmaker.

Alois left with his baggage, and Alex turned back to look at his bedroom for the night. There was a light tap on the door, so he opened it and saw an unfamiliar Dwarf carrying a tray with two basins of hot water. He stepped aside, and the worker left after the delivery.

He didn't need two, but with Ti'Nah to keep him warm, neither did Alois.

As he stripped off his top, he heard another knock.

He went to the door and opened it to see Yellsbeth standing there with a conflicted expression.

Alex smiled and pulled her into the room. He lifted her against his chest, wrapping his arms around her, and felt her sigh.

"I wanted so much for you not to see the ugly side of my people," she mumbled against his shoulder.

"I know how much potential your people have. I see you," he said.

She pulled back to look into his eyes. "You're a sweet man."

"I think you need cuddles tonight," he said.

"How are you able to lift me like a little girl? I weigh almost the same as you do," she asked with a raised brow.

Alex set her on her feet. "Hey, I exercise all day! That's gotta earn me some reward."

She smiled at him. "Come on. Let's go to bed. I'll show you a reward."

Alex smiled, seeing her spirits had risen once more.

He hoped Alois had a good night, too.

-=-

Breakfast the next morning was in the same restaurant they'd visited the night before.

Alois was smiling a lot but not saying much, and Ti'Nah wasn't dishing on their evening, so the nosy party members would have to use their imagination.

Alex noticed Alois was being ever so much the gentleman with the Beast-Kin. He thought that was very sweet.

In the restaurant, several locals were enjoying their early meal, and Alex's sharp hearing picked up two of them arguing over the end of an era. The end of Dragons. One lamented that there was no longer a way to test one's mettle against the apex monster to gain merit. His companion was bitterly angry at Dragons as they'd wiped out his old village's livelihood by eating their livestock.

Alex watched the two push their way out of the front door. Then he turned to Yellsbeth and Thorn.

"What role do Dragons play in Dwarven culture?" he asked quietly. He didn't want to rile up any of the locals.

The sisters shared looks, then Thorn leaned closer to answer.

"There's a long-standing debate on their origin. One group says Dragons originally bred in the bowels of Pinnacle Reach and settled in the mountains once they escaped from the subterranean city. The second school of thought holds that they are native to the world. Most believe they're a danger to the Dwarven race and should be eradicated. A smaller number want their population to be maintained to protect the hunting rights."

Yellsbeth picked up from there. "The majority of the Dwarves believe they're mere beasts, while the rest claim they have cunning minds, but none believe they have true intelligence. That said, they fit into our culture as being the ultimate foe, and dispatching an adult Dragon gives a tremendous amount of merit points."

It was Thorn's turn again. "There are records of them in the earliest journals from when the first Dwarves arrived, so they've been here longer than us.

Even in those early journals, Dragons were identified as enemy number one for the Dwarven race, as they lived in caves in the mountains and fought for the same environments. Whenever Dwarven adventurers come upon a cache of Dragon eggs in hidden caves, they destroy them all. That hasn't happened in a long time, so the current thought is they've all been found, or they've gotten better at hiding them."

Alex nodded as he thought about what he'd heard. "What kind of reaction should I expect to see if I change into the Fire Dragon?"

Yellsbeth frowned. "I suggest you never try that, as I'm certain every Dwarf would attack you to gain merit points."

Alex nodded. Point taken.

"Those fellows who just left were talking like the Dragons are extinct," he said.

The sisters looked at each other and frowned. Yellsbeth shook her head. "Personally, I think that would be a damn shame. I've always thought they were beautiful. A species to protect, not just for hunting."

Thorn smiled wistfully. "I agree with Yellsbeth. Perhaps it's because we left the Dwarven Kingdom and immersed ourselves in other cultures, but... while it's not a popular sentiment, I think they deserve to live."

Alex nodded and gave them hugs.

After breakfast, it was time to move on, so they checked out, loaded their baggage back in the wagon, and paid the guards who'd watched over their carriage and wagon overnight.

Alex pulled them out of the city, past all the staring and shocked villagers.

They followed the road around the base of the first mountain, next to a strong river that flowed through the valley, its source being the mountaintops above.

They moved as quickly as they could so they'd reach the next valley and the crossroad where they could stay at the next Dwarven settlement.

This one wasn't as large as the first, but they had an inn and a restaurant, so they'd get a hot meal and a soft bed.

The following day, they encountered a problem: the main road was blocked by a landslide after heavy rainfall. On the left was a vast hillside in partial collapse. It had slid down and across the road before them and tumbled down the opposite slope into the river. The fast-moving water had washed away most of the soil that had blocked the river, but when it first happened, a lot of water had flowed up onto the roadway, leaving it a mucky mess.

In this case, there was no way to go around the other side of this mountain, as it was linked to two more in a chain with high passes. To reach those passes would add at least eight days to their journey. Going up the mountain to the first interchange and using a high road that ran parallel to this one would take a minimum of five days, and there was no guarantee that the upper route hadn't also been affected by the torrential rains.

Three other wagons before theirs were blocked, and the travelers were pissed. They'd begun some clearing efforts, but they weren't making much progress as they weren't equipped for the task.

Some of the Dwarven travelers had magic and used their skills to clear what they could, but more debris filled the areas they'd cleared as the hillside above was still unstable.

Lyra, Dale, Dystra, and Alex walked up to the front of the line to review the scene. There were some very frustrated Dwarves glaring at the blockage.

"What if Devya washed it away?" Alex asked, ballparking a suggestion.

His group's eyes turned to scowl at him. "And bury us all in the process?" Dystra scoffed.

Alex threw his hands up in surrender, but Lyra turned to look at the flow with a critical eye.

"What if... what if Devya pulled the water out of the slide as Dale stabilized the remaining soil?" she said.

Dale looked at Lyra like she was nuts. "I can't stabilize that much soil!"

"Alex, bring Devya up here so she can evaluate how saturated the hillside is," Lyra said, ignoring Dale's complaint. Alex rushed back to get the woman.

Dale gaped at Lyra, then gestured to the slide area. "It's too big!"

Lyra sighed. "I know it's big, but how are you going to get stronger if you don't stretch your wings!"

"Stretch--" Dale choked as he stared at her. He turned to face Dystra, who looked at him as if the question had been reasonable.

"I also believe you are holding back on your potential. I believe in you--"

"You're both nuts!" Dale shouted as Devya and Alex returned. Yellsbeth and Thorn accompanied them.

Lyra frowned, then turned to their Water Mage. "Can you determine how saturated with water the hillside is? We're wondering if you think it would be possible to direct all the water from the landslide into the river without causing the slope to collapse more."

Devya looked at her. "So... what? Pull the water to the surface and flow it down into the river? It would soak back in the moment I released it, letting it flow, and the soil would collapse into the gaps where the water had been. I think it would become more unstable."

"That's what I said!" Dale asserted.

"What if you drew it to the surface and I used wind magic to carry it as a mist to the river?" Lyra suggested.

Alex shared a look with Dale. "Why is magic always the answer, even for issues based on mundane engineering?"

Dale pointed at Alex. "Exactly! Listen to the man!"

Lyra turned and looked at Alex. "Okay, Mr. Engineer. Tell us how to resolve this situation quickly."

Alex blinked at her frustrated tone. "Uh, well, how they fixed landslides where I came from involved several steps. The first one is always safety. As the debris needs to be removed with heavy equipment, starting there would cause the unstable uphill slope to flow again and bury the workers. Landslides are caused by water flow, so that needs to be addressed first. Why did this slope get so saturated? Is water still flowing into it? Can that water source be redirected safely? Perhaps new channels upstream need to be created to prevent oversaturation of the slope. Only then can the road be cleared."

Lyra locked eyes with Alex. "As we don't have heavy equipment, we'll need to rely on magic. Devya, can you look into the source of the water flooding this area and propose a new route for it? Dale, assist Devya in building the earth channel she needs to redirect the source to a safer path. Once that is done, Devya can draw most of the water from this flow to the surface, and I will direct the water through the air to the river. Alex, once that has been accomplished, can you become our heavy equipment to push the debris from the road?"

Alex looked at her in surprise. "What exactly were you thinking I could become that would measure up to heavy--oh shit! You want me to become a Dragon?" he said in a strained whisper as he glanced to the nearby Dwarven travelers.

"Do you have another form that's big and powerful enough to force all this mess out of the way?" she asked with a grin.

Alex looked over at the blocked wagons and their Dwarven crews again.

He leaned closer to Lyra to whisper. "Yellsbeth told me not to change into one of those where her people could see it."

"For safety, we'll move everyone back around that bend in the road," Lyra said, pointing back down the road. "That should give you some privacy. If anyone spots your Dragon form, loses their minds, and thinks they can defeat a Dragon that large, I'll ask Yellsbeth to beat some sense into them."

Alex gave her a cautious look, then examined the landslide, the slope above the road, and the drop into the river on the other side. There wasn't a place to put the excess mud and debris.

"Where do I put all the earth? If I dump it in the river, it'll block the flow, and we'd flood the road again," he asked.

"Devya, can you keep the river flowing to carry away the mud?" Lyra asked.

"Yes, if Alex can remove the downed trees from the mud. Those would flow downstream and create a dam farther down."

Alex looked at Lyra with a raised brow. "So, I have to change into a Dragon, pick out all the trees from the mudslide, push the mud into the river for Devya to wash away, and find someplace to put the trees?"

Lyra smiled at him. "That sounds good. Maybe you could make a wall with the tree trunks to block the upslope mud from reaching the road. Dale could use his earth magic to brace them."

All eyes turned to look at Dale.

"Uh, I could probably do something like that," he agreed.

Lyra nodded. "I'll keep an eye on the slope to see if it looks like it might start flowing again and warn Alex. I'll have Devya pull the excess water from the sliding soil and ask you to harden the remaining soil."

Alex had an idea. "If Dale can make pits in the slope, I can drive the broken trees into them like soil nails. This will help stabilize the hillside."

Lyra smiled at him and nodded. "Good thinking!" She looked at Dale expectantly.

He huffed, unsure he could meet these expectations, but under everyone's gaze, he simply nodded.

"Good! Let's get started. First, we need to get everyone to move back around the bend. Yellsbeth, Thorn, please advise the other travelers what we need them to do."

The sisters nodded and rushed forward.

It wasn't the easiest thing to convince three wagonloads of Dwarven travelers to turn around and move out of the way. One had no faith in their offer to clear the road and headed back to inform the last outpost of the blockage. They'd be heading up the switchbacks to the higher road.

The other two couldn't afford the time and decided to stay, hoping for the best.

With the rest of their party guarding their carriage and wagon, Lyra faced the blockage with Dale, Devya, and Alex by her side. Yellsbeth and Thorn were further behind them to ensure any Dwarves who snuck a peek didn't do anything stupid.

Devya closed her eyes and reached out with her magic to follow the water up the slope. "I'm not detecting any further water spilling onto the slide. It must have come from a stream somewhere upslope that overflowed. I'd have to climb up there to find it before Dale and I could fix it."

Lyra nodded. "Okay, so the water we have in the flow is not being replenished up the hill."

"Right," Devya agreed.

"We should desaturate the flow. Can you draw most of it up to the surface?" Lyra asked as she prepared her wind magic. "Dale, be ready to harden any loose sections or bolster them with earth walls." Dale frowned but lifted his arms as he reached out with his magic as well.

The Water Mage nodded and closed her eyes again.

Alex watched in amazement as the hillside began to be hidden under what looked like a surface-level fog. It suddenly began to whirl upward into what became an upside-down tornado. The narrowed tip was high above, curling over to point at the river's surface. A stream of water formed at its tip, pouring the collected water into the fast-moving river.

Alex heard Dale grunt with effort as his hands moved in jerks, pointing to different areas on the hillside where he did his best to harden the loose soil.

"Okay, Alex. It's your turn," Lyra said as she lowered her hands. Devya was also relaxing, but Dale seemed to be trembling with some unseen effort.

Alex ensured the group was well back before he handed Thorn his clothes, moved closer to the flow, and switched into his Dragon form.

Lyra and the others were seeing this up close for the first time, and it was more than a little daunting. He was so tall, it was difficult to see his face unless he tipped it down toward them. His massive, clawed hands could easily hold their carriage and just as easily crush it.

For Alex, the change was easier this time, and he rolled his shoulders and long sinuous neck to work out the kinks.

Devya wanted him to pull out the tree debris, so he reached into the mud at the edge of the flow with one of his huge hands and hauled out a bunch of decent-sized tree trunks. Stripping the branches from the fallen trees was easy, so he did it, leaving him with three long logs. He broke them in two and turned his massive head to focus on Dale, who just stared back at him.

"Make some holes for Alex to jam the logs into," Lyra said.

Dale glanced at her, then nodded. He pointed at the hill and sank six ten-foot holes into the slide.

Alex immediately slammed the logs into the holes, one at a time, then pointed to them as he looked at Dale.

"Pack them tight, Dale," Lyra said, and he did, but he was sweating from the effort.

"Why isn't Alex speaking?" Devya asked her.

Lyra smiled. "His Dragon voice is incredibly loud, and he's probably trying not to draw the attention of--Oh, damn."

They heard surprised and alarmed shouts from behind and turned to see the Dwarven travelers running towards Alex, weapons drawn. Yellsbeth and Thorn prepared to defend.

"STOP!" the Dragon shouted, his voice shaking the ground.

That did the trick, as the Dwarves were all on their backs staring up at him in shock and terror.

The Dragon huffed a smoky breath, indicating his annoyance. "The hillside is still unstable. Please wait by your wagons until we give the all's clear," Alex said more quietly, but the sound still rumbled in their chests.

Yellsbeth and Thorn took up the task of shooing the travelers back to their wagons.

As they began to stumble away, Alex returned to tearing through the slide to clear it of the tree matter. He made a huge pile of broken trees, stripped them of their branches, and broke them in two.

When this was done, he pointed to the hill, further up the slope, and Dale struggled to make the holes. Alex drove tree trunks deep into the slope until the hillside resembled a porcupine.

Alex stepped back and nodded to himself, as it seemed to be working. It should last at least until the next heavy rain.

He raked his claws through the remaining mud, and aside from some boulders he tossed into the river, the rest would wash downstream. He turned his huge head and brought it down to the party's level to look at Devya. He spoke as quietly as he could.

"I'm going to push the rest over the shoulder into the river. Are you ready?" he asked, and everyone's hair was blown back by his breath.

"Yes! And do something about your halitosis!" Devya gasped, waving him back with a grimace.

"Sorry. Does my breath stink?"

"Ash, charcoal, and fire!" Lyra said as she grinned up at him.

He smiled and returned to the mess covering the route, using his tail like a bulldozer's blade to push the mud to the edge of the road. With a nod from Devya, he pushed it over the edge. It crashed down the slope, but instead of blocking the channel, the river surged wildly through the mud and loose earth, breaking it up and carrying it away.

Alex looked at Devya, who nodded when she was ready for the next load.

They repeated this until Alex shoved the last of the mess into the river.

As they did so, Lyra spoke with Dale while they faced the slope.

"You did an amazing job! It's a weird-looking hillside with all those spikes sticking out of it, but what do you think about its stability?" she asked.

Dale was panting, feeling drained. After glancing at her, he pushed himself again and held his hands out toward the hillside. He agreed it looked weird, but he wasn't feeling any more slippage.

"It's... good."

He sagged when he was done and found himself with Dystra's arms wrapped around him.

"I'm proud of you. I knew you had it in you," his lover whispered in his ear.

Dale gave him a surprised look, then looked away as his face heated up. "Jerk."

Dystra smiled at Lyra, who hid hers when Dale looked sharply at her. "You'd better hope there aren't any bandits or mudslides further on, as I have nothing left."

Lyra nodded. "You can take my spot in the carriage to get some sleep."

He paused and nodded, as that was actually a good idea.

Alex was flattening the mud with his tail to make the route ahead smoother. When he finished, he looked at the road critically, then turned back to his friends.

"Can everyone move back to the corner? I'm going to try to harden the mud," he said.

They hustled back as Alex followed, then turned to face the mess. He glanced back once more to ensure everyone was safe, then he faced forward and sent a blast of fire over the surface of the road. The mud immediately steamed, then baked in the heat. He stepped forward and did it again, then once more until the area once covered by the mudslide was gently steaming and dry as bone.

Alex switched back to his Human form and dropped to his knees as the transition was so dramatic, it gave him a touch of vertigo. He wasn't as drained as he had been the first time, thankfully.

Thorn walked toward him with his clothes but stopped when she realized he was covered in mud.

"You should wash up before you get dressed," she suggested.

Alex looked down at himself and nodded.

A deluge of frigid river water suddenly splashed over him, spun in rapid circles over his muddy body, then leapt back into the river, leaving him clean but soaked and chilled to the bone.

He lifted his dripping face and saw Devya desperately trying to hide her smile. She wasn't aware that everyone else was quickly stepping back with grins on their faces.

Alex locked eyes with her, changed into his Therrax form as he moved closer, and shook himself dry, catching Devya in the spray. She was shrieking and trying to use her magic to avoid the drops, but not too successfully.

She pouted when he stopped. "Hey! I got you clean at least!"

"I truly appreciate that, just not the surprise immersion in the frigid ice water," he said with a smirk as he walked past. She turned and saw her friend grinning at her from a distance.

"Let's go, people! We lost time today, and we still need to get to the next village before sunset," Yellsbeth called out, and they moved faster.

When they got back to the wagons, they saw the Dwarves standing before theirs, waiting for them. He was surprised to see the third wagon, which had left earlier, had returned. Alex could hear a low grumbling from the gathered travelers.

"Where's the Dragon?" one standing near the leading edge of their group called out.

"That would be me," the Therrax said, locking his huge, intense eyes on the brave one. "Did you think someone Blessed by Agron wouldn't be able to become a Dragon?" He glanced at the others. "You're welcome for clearing the road, by the way."

The Dwarves sullenly climbed aboard their wagons and moved them around the bend. The ones who'd returned were asking what the Therrax meant by being a Dragon.

Yellsbeth helped Alex get into the straps as everyone boarded the carriage.

"I told you they wouldn't be reasonable when faced with a Dragon, especially one your size," she said to him quietly.

Alex just nodded and waited for her to climb up onto the driver's bench next to Lyra before he moved.

As they pulled into view of the slide area, they saw the three wagons waiting for them to go first. They probably didn't trust the work done to clear the road.

That suited Alex fine.

He picked up his pace and rolled past them to cross the flame-hardened soil. It was a little hard and crunchy, but it supported the load crossing it.

Soon they were past, and the trail returned to its normal double-track state. He kept his speed up to drop their tail, and slowly, he left them behind.

Alex hoped they didn't encounter another landslide, as he didn't want to have to deal with the ungrateful jerks again.

Chapter 4

It was late afternoon when they climbed out of a shadowed canyon to see a large, walled city in the distance, catching the last rays of sunlight before it dipped behind a mountain peak.

This was Dungaruhm, gateway to the Dwarven capital.

Cool breezes slipped down the slopes ahead, and Alex felt this ruffling the feathers on his large head. Once more, his eyes looked up to gaze at the snowy peak hiding in the clouds.

He was grateful their day was almost done as he'd maintained a brutal pace to stay ahead of the other wagons, which had the benefit of having lighter loads. He'd also wanted to arrive before sunset.

His sensitive hearing had picked up the sound of the drivers of the wagons behind them pushing their beasts of burden hard in an effort to keep up. He wondered why and hoped there wouldn't be any trouble from them.

He pulled his attention back to the road before him and what rose beyond it. He was looking at the most dauntingly tall mountain they'd seen so far. He knew their destination was up there, somewhere near the top. Thorn had explained the previous night that the entrance to Kharnthiad was just at the edge of the snowline, but the city's levels went deep into the mountain.

Drawing his eyes down to the foothill city they were approaching, he was impressed by its size. As the gateway to the Dwarven Capital above, its fortifications were naturally more significant than any of the previous villages. Apparently, the only access to the road leading to the switchbacks climbing to the summit was behind the city's mighty wall. He saw a heavy portcullis in the arched entrance.

As they got closer, spear-carrying peacekeepers rushed through the wall to block the entrance. A line of deadly points blocked their way.

Alex stopped, and Yellsbeth set the brake. Then she and Lyra climbed down from the driver's bench to approach the guards.

Looking up at the walls, Alex saw bowmen training their weapons on him. In frustration, he switched back to Human, in all his naked glory.

Thorn was rushing forward with a blanket, but he turned his back on the wall and peacekeepers and pointed to his three God's Marks. He turned back to face forward. Thorn was watching him as his face burned with embarrassment and frustration. He saw sympathy in her expression, and his anger faded quickly as he once more felt stupid for reacting to their ignorance.

Yellsbeth and Lyra were speaking quietly with one who seemed to be the captain as Alex wrapped the blanket around his waist. Then he heard the sound of the wagons following them, finally catching up. Alex was surprised they'd managed to maintain the pace.

"We've got company," he said quietly to Thorn.

Soon, the travelers from the other wagons rushed by to approach the guards. The leaders of the three groups began shouting simultaneously and pointing back at him.

"MONSTER!" "HE'S A DRAGON!" "A BLOODY HUGE RED DRAGON!" they screamed over each other.

He heard the twang of a bow at the same time the arrow struck the meat of his left arm and punched through.

"FUCK!" he gasped as the pain dropped him to his knees.

"HOLD YOUR FIRE!" the captain of the guard bellowed, and everyone went still. There had to be more than a touch of Deshna's magic in the captain to have that much control over his people.

Thorn knelt next to Alex, who clenched his teeth as he looked at her.

"Break the arrow and pull it through," he growled quietly.

Thorn gestured for her sister to join them and told her what Alex wanted. Yellsbeth used her greater strength to easily snap the feathered end off and pulled the arrow through Alex's arm.

"SHIT!" he barked and wobbled slightly as they braced him. Then he gestured for the ladies to step back.

Red light pulsed over his arm, and he took a few deep breaths before getting back on his feet. He glared up at the archers on the wall, but he couldn't tell which one had shot him. "Asshole," he grumbled.

Lyra, the captain, and the three leaders of the Dwarven wagons approached, though the travelers stayed well back.

"You have a discipline issue with one of your bowmen," Alex said tersely before he got control over his tongue.

The captain frowned, then gestured to Alex's injured arm. Alex lifted it and showed that it no longer had a wound.

"It's true! He does have multiple Blessings!" the broad-shouldered man said in surprise. Alex turned and dipped the blanket to show the marks, then turned back.

Then the captain frowned at him. "And you can become a Dragon?"

Alex looked past him to glare at the two lurkers before focusing on the captain. "Yes, but I'm still me in any shape I take. Did they fail to mention that I became a Dragon to use my strength to clear a landslide blocking the road? With the help of our Earth, Air, and Water Mages, we cleared the slide."

The captain saw Lyra's, Thorn's, and Yellsbeth's nods before turning to face the Dwarven travelers.

They didn't look happy about it, but they agreed, too.

"He knocked us down!" one yelled.

"You were all rushing at me with your weapons drawn! Running into a slide zone that was still unstable!

And did I touch any of you? No! I yelled at you to stop, and you fell down.

Was I not polite when I asked you to go back to your wagons until we cleared the mudslide?" Alex snapped.

He turned back to the captain. "Can I become a monstrously large Dragon? Yes. Do I become a monster? No!"

Lyra put her hand on his right shoulder, and he calmed after glancing at her.

"I asked Alex to become a Dragon as we needed something large enough to clear a very large blockage on the road. There was a need, so he did it and switched back afterward. As he said, he's still Alex no matter what form he takes."

Yellsbeth added her two cents. "Alex can use Agron's Blessing without endangering others."

The captain held Yellsbeth's eyes for a moment, then nodded. He turned to Alex. "No Dragons within the city walls. Maintain your Human state when you are not pulling the carriage."

"Yes, sir," Alex said with a nod, and the Dwarf watched him for a moment, then turned to gesture to his men to go back inside. He faced the travelers. "He's not a danger, so I don't want to hear about you stirring up trouble. Do so, and I will ban your access to the city. Am I understood?"

They didn't look happy, but they nodded.

Just then, two of their beasts collapsed from exhaustion. Then a third just fell over dead. The Dwarves glared at Alex as if this were his fault, but he managed to hold his tongue.

Alex handed his blanket to Thorn, switched back to his Therrax form, and she tightened his belly strap.

Yellsbeth spoke with the captain, and he called out to six of his guards.

Lyra smiled up at Alex. "We're getting an escort to an inn Yellsbeth knows. Hopefully, we'll get rooms there.

"I need food and would love a hot bath," Alex sighed, and she smiled at him as she patted his massive leg.

The trek through the city was interesting as it reminded Alex of Genthale, just with far more Dwarves.

The city's people froze and stared at the sight of a Therrax pulling a large carriage and wagon. He was grateful for the guards escorting them through the crowd.

They arrived at a large two-story building with an archway leading into an inner courtyard for parking the carriage and wagon. They would be safe here.

Soon enough, Alex was Human and dressed. He joined the party inside the inn. This time, the hotel was large enough to have its own thermal spring bathhouse just off the main building, and there were no restrictions on non-dwarves using the baths.

After checking into his room, Alex enjoyed a good, long soak, then relaxed with a hot tea in the inn's lounge next to the bathhouse.

He saw Alois in deep discussion with a group of Dwarven merchants. At least that's what they looked like to him.

Alex became so relaxed that he slipped into an almost trancelike state.

The soft pad of steps approaching him from behind alerted him to someone's approach, and his dish-like furry ears twisted backward. He heard a tell-tale gasp, identifying the person as Lyra.

Her hands stroked the soft fur on his ears, and a gentle shiver danced along his nerves as she moved into his view. He smiled at her, then realized these senses and sensations could only mean he'd been borrowing Agron's magic subconsciously again. Another partial transformation without conscious control.

What did that mean?

"I like your fuzzy ears, but they're attracting attention," she whispered.

"Sorry, I was relaxing, and it happened automatically," he said quietly, as well.

She sat and looked at him in concern. He shook his head slightly. "Yeah, I'm aware... now, but I don't know if it means anything."

"You're in a strange place, amongst strangers, and you relax, but your body subconsciously protects you? I've never heard of anyone with such granular and precise control over their Blessing. Every story about Agron is the same. The adventurer fully changes into the beast form, then changes back," Lyra said.

Alex nodded. "None likely had this level of communication and cooperation with the God."

Lyra smiled and nodded.

Alex frowned as he glanced around. "Listen, I'm concerned about the almost psychotic reaction Dwarves have toward Dragons. I should inform you, Agron likes Dragons, like... a lot, but Dwarves seem intensely belligerent toward them."

"Is Agron going to rub it in their faces?" Lyra asked cautiously.

Alex closed his eyes and rubbed his face. "I hope not. We kind of have an understanding, but we are talking about a God. Fickle whims and all."

"So, we'll do our best to avoid circumstances that require you to change into one," Lyra suggested.

Alex nodded. "How long will it take for us to reach Kharnthiad?" he asked.

Lyra glanced to see the Dwarven sisters enter the room and head for the bar. "Yellsbeth said we'll have two more stops before we reach the city. The next two villages are much smaller than Dungaruhm, but they do have inns and restaurants. Just not as full service as this one."

Yellsbeth pulled up a chair and set her tankard of ale on a table next to her. Ti'Nah sat cross-legged on the floor before Alex and took a swallow of ale from her own tankard. She caught Yellsbeth's eye and nodded in approval as she licked her lips.

Thorn took the chair next to her sister. She had tea, sipping it with a relaxed smile. She'd obviously enjoyed the bath too.

The rest of the party left the bathhouse and took seats nearby with their beverages of choice.

Once everyone had gathered, Yellsbeth spoke. "It won't be long before we reach the capital. Once we get there, Thorn and I will request an audience with the King."

Alex looked at her with a smile. "Friends in high places."

Yellsbeth rolled her eyes as Thorn smirked at her.

Dale noted Alois wasn't with them, then spotted the older man across the room. He sent Lyra a questioning look, but she just nodded as she was aware.

He then addressed the group. "Unless anyone has a better suggestion, I'm proposing we follow the same method we used for Wave Crest for Pinnacle Reach. I don't know how easy it will be to recruit local adventurers to be part of a Dwarven Super Party." He looked at their resident experts.

Yellsbeth shared a look with her sister. "There are plenty of available adventurers, but getting them to work as a cohesive team will be trickier."

"We'll need to run more drills than we did with the Beast-Kin," Thorn suggested.

Yellsbeth suddenly grinned. "Oh, that's perfect! We'll tell them how much better the Beast-Kin were at working as a unified fighting force!"

Thorn grinned and nodded. "Nothing like injured pride to unify the stubborn."

Ti'Nah grinned toothily. "I will help with that by boasting about our prowess!"

That brought smiles to their faces.

"What's the Adventurer's Guildmaster like?" Dale asked.

"Locke Grimweather is a good man. He keeps even the rowdiest adventurers in line. If we get him on board with this mission, it will be much easier for us," Yellsbeth agreed.

"What about supplies for the group? Can we get a mission sponsor, as we had for Wave Crest?" Dale asked.

"Are we going to suggest Kharnthiad sets up their own University too?" Lyra asked.

Thorn answered. "We already have a university, but its role has been greatly reduced ever since the Genthale University took over the role of primary research center. They currently do a short assessment on all treasures collected from the underground city before they are sent to Genthale."

"Perhaps it should retake its role as the primary center for research for Pinnacle Reach's artifacts. There should be communication among all universities to share information for the betterment of all," Lyra suggested, and Thorn looked excited by that idea.

"Altromorra Duskheart is the head of the university, and she's also on the King's Council of Elders," Thorn offered.

"We need to make a formal presentation to the King and the Council," Lyra said.

"Shouldn't we include Alois in this discussion?" Dale asked, then glanced up as the man in question stepped up to stand beside him.

"Am I late for something important?" the ex-regent asked.

"No. Perfectly timed arrival, as always," Lyra said with a smile. "We were just talking about how to approach the King and his Council of Elders about the mission."

"Ah!" the older man said, but his expression showed he was distracted by something.

"Is everything all right?" Lyra asked him in concern.

Alois looked into her eyes, then glanced around to see how safe it would be to speak. No strangers were anywhere within earshot, so he settled himself on a chair amongst the party. He leaned forward to share his news.

"I was just speaking with the heads of the three largest Dwarven trading houses. They filled me in on the news from Genthale, and... it's not good."

He took a deep breath as he tried to release a knot of tension in his chest.

"Ungar is proving to have none of his father's finesse when it comes to supporting business and maintaining diplomatic ties with allies. That said, these areas were something I sometimes helped Harlen with as well. Unfortunately, since our departure, Ungar has become paranoid about invasion, so he's pushing a project to upgrade the city's fortifications. To pay for this, he's increased taxes on the citizens.

He also shows no respect for traders from other nations, treating them like spies. This means goods are not coming into the country. Higher taxes and reduced goods put greater hardship upon the people, but Ungar has no empathy for them.

These merchant houses are on the brink of ceasing trade with the Kingdom of Thale. That would be devastating!"

Grim expressions were on everyone's faces.

Alois took another deep breath and locked eyes with Lyra. "Might you consider intervening to save the people of Thale?"

Lyra's jaw dropped as she stared at the older man.

Then she glanced at Alex before looking back at Alois, lowering her voice. "Intervening? Are you asking us to overthrow the monarchy? Specifically, are you asking Alex to use his Blessings to eliminate the King and potentially all his loyal retainers?"

Most of the party members were stunned by what they were hearing.

The Killgrave sisters were watching the ex-regent with little smiles on their faces.

Dystra was watching Alex cautiously.

Alex was watching Alois very closely as he held himself still.

Alois' expression was miserable but desperate. "Under normal circumstances, I would never condone such an action, but I can't stand by and do nothing while this barbaric tyrant tears down the civil society his father and I built and maintained. He's punishing the people of Thale in the process. The people need protection!"

Alex couldn't hold his tongue any longer. "The people of Thale needed better protection while King Harlan was in power. By imperial mandate, new arrivals are forced to be adventurers and battle monsters. Their only other option? Fend for themselves in the wilds. Is that your idea of protection?"

Alois balked indignantly. "That system was put in place long before Harlen was King! It's a necessary evil, as without it, monsters would escape from the ancient cities and wreak havoc over the land! Each nation is faced with this calamity, and each follows the same policy!"

Alex looked to Ti'Nah. "Do the Beast-Kin send every new arrival to battle the monsters in Wave Crest?"

The Tigress shook her head as she flicked a glance toward the ex-regent before locking eyes with Alex.

"No. Not all are suitable to be warriors. Some of the smaller beings, who've received powerful gifts from the Gods, do try, but only on a volunteer basis."

Alex turned back to Alois. "Yet for Humans, we send people who were accountants, florists, shopkeepers, and homemakers into the underground cities to use skills they'd only recently had forced upon them. Like the Beast-Kin, some Humans aren't suitable to be warriors and shouldn't be forced to be. Those who choose this should be rewarded for their efforts, but no one should be forced into it! That's how Thale protects the people!"

He shook his head. "Our mission for the Gods should eventually eliminate the issue with monsters running amok on the world. We still need warriors to exterminate the remaining threats, but they'll be volunteers and well rewarded for it."

He locked eyes with the ex-regent. "I'm not blaming you or King Harlen for creating this system. I'm saying, as the leaders of the Human nation, you had it within your power to implement change and didn't. If you want my help, those changes will happen. How many of Thale's nobility are conscripted into the effort to cull the monsters?"

Alois gaped at him. "The vast majority of them have no Blessings!" he insisted.

"I assume that none become adventurers, but the original Nobles were new arrivals. I don't really care how they became Thale's noble class, as I'm assuming I won't like the story. They've been living large as the rest of Thale's citizens faced the work or exile rule."

He held up his hand to stop Alois' response. "I'm pointing out the inequity of Thale's current rule. You're asking me to remove a corrupt king. Understand it won't end there. Monarchies and, truthfully, most systems of government, prioritize maintaining their power over the needs of the nation's people.

I'm seriously not interested in toppling the monarchy just to maintain this repressive system with someone else in charge. If you want to improve the living conditions for the people of Thale, you need to think bigger.

The new governing system must be blind to social status and work toward the betterment of everyone in society. Everyone gets equal and fair treatment.

Slavery and indentured servitude will be banished, and those suffering these states must be freed. Those who benefited from the exploitation of others will be held accountable and pay restitution.

Those who earned their riches without exploitation get to keep their wealth, but being rich won't give them more say in governing the nation.

The people of the Beast-Kin nation follow a simplified legal system. Don't mistreat your neighbors, or you'll pay restitution to the injured parties and may face expulsion from society.

Understand what you're getting into if you ask for my help," he said with finality.

Alois gave a shaky nod. "I understand. I'll need to put thought into how I can help make it happen as justly as possible."

Alex nodded and looked at Lyra. "I'll leave it to the leaders of the party if this will happen, and if so, when it will fit into our busy schedule. I'm going to bed."

He stood and walked to the stairs without a backward look. He was in no hurry to go to war with the Human nation.

-=-

Brakt Cragborne, King of Kharnthiad and ruler over the Dwarven Kingdom, didn't like cloak-and-dagger methods of governing. He was far more comfortable with direct actions such as lopping off an enemy's head with a sword or ax. Identify the enemy, then kill them.

That said, he'd been king long enough to know that identifying enemies was a harder task than most believed, and taking their heads often led to more enemies whose caution made them more dangerous than the ones who'd lost theirs.

He was currently sitting in a small meeting chamber used for discreet conversations. Sitting across from him was... an envoy from Thale. His name was Luc'San Hanso, and he was an Avian who would normally have just carried messages. Someone a King would not have met.

This one had arrived days earlier and went through multiple interviews before being brought to this room to address the King directly. The only reason he got this far was that he was carrying an official seal from the Kingdom of Thale. He'd indicated he'd flown here directly from Genthale, where he'd received the seal from the King's man, Gordier Jalviere.

This was a name Brakt recognized. His security team had files on the people in power in Genthale and even more files on the people behind them. Gordier's file had many cautionary flags, but to work with King Ungar, he needed to hear what his man had to say.

"Where is the message?" Brakt asked bluntly with his hand out.

The Avian nodded to him. "My employer would like to speak with you directly. To do this, I have been provided with half of an artifact that enables real-time communication. May I connect with him now?"

Brakt's bushy eyebrows rose in surprise and interest. "Yes."

The Avian pressed the middle of an ornate pin he'd been wearing that Brakt had admired but dismissed.

There was a tone, and shortly, a voice could be clearly heard coming from the pin.

"Hello?"

"Gordier Jalviere, I'm contacting you from a private meeting room in the palace of Kharnthiad, in the presence of his majesty, King Brakt Cragborne."

"Greeting, your majesty! I'm grateful for this opportunity to speak with you privately," Gordier said smoothly.

Brakt was impressed despite his misgivings. This artifact was exceptional... and familiar, but he put that aside for now. He glanced at the courier.

"We're not exactly alone. Your messenger is present after all," he said to the King's man.

"Not to worry. He has proven his loyalty and discretion. He has been assisting me with the matter I need to discuss with you today and can provide background if requested."

Brakt watched the Avian fluff his feathers pridefully at the compliment. Gordier might feel comfortable speaking freely before his underling, but Brakt would remain cautious about what he said before both of them.

"What is it you wished to speak to me about?" he asked plainly.

"There is a party of adventurers currently traveling to your city who represent a clear and present danger not only to the Kingdom of Thale but to your kingdom as well. We attempted to arrest them in Genthale, but their leader single-handedly murdered an elite squad of Royal Knights, and the party managed to escape the city to flee to Shalazar in the Beast-Kin nation.

They spent time with the--m, but they are on the move again.

Thale has posted a reward for their termination."

Brakt heard the man almost use a racist slur but wasn't surprised, as he was Human and of the ruling class. The Dwarven King had no issues with the Beast-Kin people, but he expected this behavior from someone like Ungar's Man. He pushed it aside.

"So, they're bandits?" Brakt asked.

"No. Far worse. Anti-monarchists. Abolitionists. Anarchists. They call themselves The Answer," Gordier said scornfully.

This was concerning, but he needed more information. It was unprecedented for any kingdom to issue an order calling for the death of an entire adventurer party.

"Who is their leader?" he asked.

"While he pretends to be just their porter, the man's name is Alex Frost. What makes him dangerous is the fact that he has the Blessings of three Gods. Ffornexa, Ullentra, and the most dangerous of all, Agron."

"What? That's impossible! Those Gods disappeared! They haven't Blessed anyone in longer than most can remember!" Brakt insisted.

"I witnessed it myself in the Main Square before Genthale's Guild Hall! One moment, he was just a man facing thirteen Royal Knights charging at him with deadly intent. The next, he was a monstrously huge slime monster, digesting the thirteen. They stood no chance against such a horrifying creature. Seconds later, he was Human again, and that's when I saw the three God's Marks on his lower back. The Commander of the Royal Knights, Willem Theroux, attempted to avenge his men, but his target became a Therrax and easily pinned him to the ground. The Commander managed to stab the Therrax, but Ullentra healed the wound immediately. The Commander of the Genthale Knights, Thestree Silvain, managed to convince him to spare Theroux."

Brakt frowned in confusion. "Convinced him? I thought he was a monster."

Gordier's voice conveyed his discomfort. "While he becomes terrifying beasts, Frost retains his Human mind while in that state. Silvain was able to reason with him so that Theroux could survive the battle. There is nothing natural about his Blessings."

The Dwarven King sat back in his chair to think about this. He caught the messenger's eye. "Have you witnessed this transformation?"

The courier looked at him in surprise but answered. "Yes. I have been tracking the party since they left Thale for the Beast-Kin capital. He seems to prefer the Therrax form as he uses it to pull the party's carriage and connected wagon."

Brakt's bushy eyebrows rose again. "He acts as their beast of burden?"

Luc'San nodded. "Yes. The Beast-Kin population was quite enamored with him."

The King fixed an eye on the Avian. "But you are not?"

Luc'San ruffled his feathers uneasily. "I am not. No one should possess so much power. He is a danger whose dimensions have yet to be defined."

"Well said," Gordier said with a pleased tone. "What we do know is that he's an agitator."

Brakt was getting frustrated as he hadn't heard what the King's man wanted.

"And now this agitator is wandering around out there free to do as he pleases?" Brakt snapped.

"As I mentioned, in Genthale, efforts were made by our strongest, gifted warriors in a direct assault. This tactic led to the Royal Knight's deaths and allowed the party to escape.

I had Luc'San track them to Shalazar, where a highly proficient contract assassin was engaged to terminate Frost. The assassin failed and died instead.

The next attempt involved a professional mercenary squad and an Orc war party against the adventurer party and a Beast-Kin super party who'd just completed their run against Wave Crest. The mercenaries and the Orcs were decimated, and Frost did not participate in the battle outside of warning the others of the ambush. The adventurer party has a skilled Human battle commander who led the battle with exceptional success."

"And this is what's coming our way?" Brakt snapped, feeling less and less pleased that his Kingdom would be subjected to this threat. Then he heard a word he hadn't heard before. "Wait! What's a super party?"

"Luc'San, please explain what you saw in Shalazar and Wave Crest," Gordier said.

The Avian nodded. "Frost and his party of Dwarves, Elves, Humans, Halflings, and Beast-Kins petitioned the Council of Elders to get permission to bring a large group of Beast-Kin adventurers with them when they explored Wave Crest. Roughly twenty-five Beast-Kin with a mix of God's Blessings were included in the super party. I witnessed them running battle simulation drills, and they seemed reasonably competent. How they devastated the mercenaries and Orcs was far more than that. Augmented with the skills of Frost's party and directed by their strategist, they were brilliant! Granted, they were pretty excited with the haul they returned from the city with."

Brakt pinned the Avian with his eyes. "Large party missions have never yielded sufficient results to make them worthwhile."

"They must have reached a level never before reached, as every member of the Beast-Kin super party returned to the surface with one or more artifacts. Shalazar now has more artifacts than it has ever collected," Luc'San explained. "What's more, the mission took far less time than expected, and I don't believe there were any casualties."

Brakt was stunned. "Wait, is that what they're coming to Kharnthiad for?"

Gordier took the conversation back. "It's highly likely that they will petition you to allow them to explore Pinnacle Reach. I expect they will also ask for a Dwarven super party to join them.

Obviously, it's your decision to allow this or not, but if you have the means or opportunity to terminate Alex Frost, it would be in the best interest of your kingdom, and ours, to make that happen. The Kingdom of Thale would be grateful for your assistance in this matter."

Brakt leaned back in his chair as he pondered those words. "Terminate a thrice-Blessed new arrival when a squad of Genthale's elite knights, a professional assassin, a mercenary group, and even an Orc War Pack failed? This seems like a doomed mission from the start," the King insisted.

"One more thing you should be aware of about their missions into the underground cities. Frost is somehow able to take control of the cities. The mechanical maintenance creatures inhabiting the cities follow his instructions after he completes the visits. We don't know how he does it or why he's doing it, but this is far too much power for one man to have. So far, he has control over GreenTree Dynasty and Wave Crest."

Brakt had no words to express his concerns about this, and Gordier continued.

"Your nation's records on the Blessed are far more extensive than ours. Perhaps you might have some information on how to neutralize Ullentra's Restoration Magic. This might level the playing field in an attempt to terminate him.

I can only inform you of the impending threat to your nation in the hopes you will survive and perhaps find a permanent solution to it."

Brakt scowled as it felt like Thale had just dropped its mess in Kharnthiad's lap.

"I will confer with the scholars. How may I contact you?" the King asked.

"If you would be so kind as to provide Luc'San with shelter within Kharnthiad, hidden and protected from Frost's party, he can use the artifact to contact me to arrange for additional conversations," Gordier said.

Brakt locked eyes with the Avian and nodded. "I'll make the arrangements."

"Once more, thank you for meeting with me," Gordier said humbly.

"Right," Brakt grumbled, and Luc'San disabled the artifact's connection.

They got to their feet, and the King addressed the messenger. "I will have one of the servants bring you to a guest suite. You can let them know of any requirements you might have."

"Thank you, your majesty," Luc'San said with a bow.

Once more, Brakt was reminded how he despised dealing with spies and their subterfuge. With a nod, he quickly left the room.

He had a disaster to avert.

-=-

Luc'San ruffled his feathers once more to calm himself.

On his last trip to Genthale, he met with the Stinky Man and finally learned exactly who he'd been working for. Discovering he was in the employ of the King's man was both exhilarating and frightening. He was flying in skies he'd never expected to find himself. Being offered the position of chief operative was another surprise, and the accompanying pay raise was welcome. When he received the official seal of the Kingdom of Thale, he admitted to himself that he felt a little faint.

He'd always believed he belonged amongst the movers and shakers of the world, and now it was coming true.

As long as he could ensure he remained isolated from any actual physical interaction with his target, this job would continue to be his dream come true.

-=-

Starrk Drummheller was old.

Yet, he was still the Commander of the Iron Guard, the Dwarven elite warriors who served the King in his palace in Kharnthiad. They handled all palace-related security and were a level above the city's peacekeepers.

Starrk wasn't feeble, just of advanced years.

At two hundred and ninety-three years old, he was one of the oldest members of the Council of Elders, the governing body appointed by the King.

He was well-muscled and heavily scarred from a long career as a Saphra Blessed warrior, and those muscles still held strength. His grey hair and beard were streaked with white, but his remaining eye shone with a savage joy when he sparred with his men.

He wore a Dragon scale patch over the eye he lost to a Dragon protecting a horde of eggs. Every day, it reminded him of his duty to vanquish the scaled evil.

He was also one of the King's personal confidantes, so he wasn't surprised when Brakt entered his office, closed the door behind him, and locked it.

Starrk fixed his good eye on the King, tilting his head to ask what might be concerning the leader.

He listened without interrupting, and when Brakt was done, he leaned back in his chair to consider what he'd heard.

But Brakt wasn't done. "It sounds crazy, and if it had come from anyone other than King Ungar's man, Gordier Jalviere, I might have dismissed it entirely. The messenger has a legitimate official seal from the Kingdom of Thale. He was also wearing the communication pin from the artifact we sent to the Genthale University decades ago. It was supposed to be actively studied by their scientists, not used for Thale spy missions. The gall of them to use it before me!"

"What would you have me do?" Starrk asked calmly.

Brakt sighed. "I think we need to be exceptionally careful. A direct confrontation with Frost sounds like a quick way to lose our warriors."

Starrk nodded as he considered the problem. "Unless the first blow kills him completely, Ullentra's Restoration Magic will bring him back, and he'll not be in a forgiving mood then," Starrk said with a scowl.

Then, he considered the other facts he'd heard. "He's a member of a party. Perhaps they could be exploited as a weakness. Do we have any information on who they are and their skills?"

"They did not offer this information, but I will ask the Avian. They have no reason to withhold it." He frowned.

"Are you going to grant them permission to explore Pinnacle Reach with a Dwarven super party?" Starrk asked.

Brakt leaned back in his chair as he thought about his options. Then, a slight smile came to his lips. "I think there might be a way to prevent them from petitioning the Council of Elders for access. Maybe. If I can't find a viable way to do this, I'll attend the Council meeting as well. I want to hear what they have to say. I also don't want them to know we've been forewarned by King Ungar's Man and his spy, so we act as if everything they say is new information."

Starrk frowned. "You know Altromorra will vote to give them permission. The Head of our University is desperate to get her hands on some artifacts--"

"Which will immediately be shipped to Genthale University as per our treaty with Thale," Brakt said in annoyance. Both he and Starrk believed the treaty no longer worked in Kharnthiad's favor, if it ever had, but breaking it was not so easily done, even for a King.

"I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to join this super party," Starrk said condescendingly.

Brakt rolled his eyes. They both knew the useless bitch had no Blessing, so she wouldn't be a contender.

Starrk moved to the next council member. "Kalgriginn... not sure how she'll vote. The Merchants Guild has no skin in this game, but she's too clever for her own good," he said with a frown.

"The Agriculture Guild gains nothing by this, so Jagg's vote is also in question.

Chaggrun might see this as a way to boost business for his people in the Armorers and Weaponsmiths Guild, so I expect him to vote yes."

Starrk aimed his eye at the King in a sly glance. "Uthug will be watching you to see how supportive you are. The Miners and Stonemasons Guildmaster is still looking for a way back into your favor after he caused that disaster in the Forge."

Brakt shook his head. While it was true that Uthug was on his shit-list for the accident that caused the Forge to lose half its capacity, he couldn't completely hate him as he was a fierce warrior. Besides, there were extenuating circumstances that led him to cut corners. Brakt knew he himself was responsible for some of those circumstances.

The King had put his son Steev in charge of the Forge in Uthug's place. While the lad was no warrior and never would be, he'd managed a miracle. He boosted productivity above expectations through clever use of alternating shifts, which kept most of the Forge's workforce gainfully employed. He believed Steev's Blessing from Deshna was being put to good use controlling the workers in the Forge during their busy schedule. They weren't back to one hundred percent, but it was far better than fifty.

Starrk seemed unaware of the King's silence as he continued. "Locke will vote yes, of course. The Adventurers Guildmaster will want to join too, and I don't think we'd be able to stop him. The rest are meaningless and will vote on whatever whim drives them at the moment."

"You have my vote, though I'm personally against letting the Human take control over another city," the Head of Kharnthiad's security offered.

Brakt looked at Starrk closely as he agreed with his statement and understood the man's reasoning. Giving the Humans too much power had led to the diminishing of Kharnthiad's influence.

Granting Humans access... something about that. What did the Avian say about Alex's party? It's members?

AH!

"We do have an option! Only on the rarest occasions has our nation allowed non-citizens access to Pinnacle Reach. However, each had to successfully complete a challenge before they were permitted to present their petition before the Council of Elders. Some challenges proved the party's bravery, some proved their peaceful intent, and at least one was just an excuse to collect a huge amount of money.

King Hoargh was a greedy, fucking bastard!

The precedent of a challenge will need to be followed this time as well. I will determine its nature, as previous kings were called upon to do so.

If they succeed, they get to make their petition before the elders.

Then, if they gain the required votes from the council, we'll grant them permission to explore Pinnacle Reach with a Dwarven super party... with one more condition."

Starrk watched his King closely, awaiting his orders.

"I want a specially selected group of Iron Guard Warriors to accompany the party. Their stated purpose will be to protect our people. Their real task will be to record every detail of the party's methods in exploring the city. They will also prevent Frost from taking control of the city, if possible. If not, they will find a means to terminate him."

"The party will have to be willing to bring this squad with them," Starrk returned. "Instead of the condition, it might be more beneficial to insert a covert team amongst the super party. They'll have more opportunity to act if the others are not aware of them."

"Ah. Yes. Do you have someone in mind?" Brakt asked.

Starrk nodded slowly. "I do, but I'll have to handpick the team members and brief them myself."

Brakt frowned. "I don't want you volunteering yourself for the mission."

Starrk chuckled. "No, my time for field missions is long past. The team I have in mind will be the best the Iron Guard has to offer."

The two looked at each other, united in their distrust of this party of foreigners coming to invade one of their kingdom's most valuable resources.

They'd ensure it remained in their control.

Chapter 5

Alex was feeling the last few switchbacks as they approached the expansive courtyard before the massive doors leading into the capital city of Kharnthiad. There was certainly no way to sneak up on these doors, as the vast expanse of smooth paving stones left nowhere to hide. The ornately patterned pavers were gently sloped away from the doors to ensure the winds swept the area clear.

They'd been climbing for days, and progress had been slow due to the increased grade on the road. This was to dissuade invaders, the original intent for building the road this way. Apparently, this was a holdover from conditions on the Dwarves' original home world. When the Dwarves arrived and settled on this mountain, they had no idea there was no one else on the planet aside from some monsters who'd escaped the cities.

The switchbacks on this mountain and the second range both used the higher grades, but by the time they began settling the third range, they were aware of the lack of enemies and resorted to lower grades for building switchback roads.

Once the roads were built with overly aggressive grades, it was too late to change them, so they stayed that way.

Alex was grateful they'd reached the top, as he had no plans to climb any more mountains.

They stopped at a designated waiting spot Yellsbeth pointed out and waited for the inspection team.

The wind was much colder up here on the upper slope, and the air was thinner. Alex remained in his Therrax form as he was warm enough in his thick fur, especially with the heat he'd generated with his efforts.

At the first village in the switchbacks on the way up the mountain, Alois found a very warm coat at a shop, put it on, and remained in it the rest of the way up. When he climbed out of the carriage before Kharnthiad, he was all smiles.

His concerns about how they planned to tear down Thale's monarchy were benched for the near future as the party hadn't worked out where they would go next. They determined that the question could wait until they'd dealt with Pinnacle Reach.

Once more, a group of armed guards rushed out the doors to circle the scary Therrax.

Yellsbeth and Thorn acted as their ambassadors and talked to the guards. Their Captain joined them, and Alex had to endure two minutes in his Human form to display his God's Marks before he switched back to a Therrax to warm up.

"He can't use his monster form inside the city, and by Royal Edict, Agron Blessed beings are not allowed to enter as well," the captain explained.

Yellsbeth struggled to contain her anger. "Can he pull the carriage and wagon into the parking shelter just inside and remain there under guard while we speak with the king to get a special exemption from him due to Alex's three Blessings?"

The captain huffed in surprise. "You expect to speak to King Brakt so easily?"

Thorn smiled. "She's practically family."

Yellsbeth shot her an annoyed look before turning back to the captain. "Yes, I should be able to get an immediate audience with him or at least one of his senior executive assistants. Getting permission for Alex's entry shouldn't be an issue."

The captain glanced at the massive, sharp beak on the Therrax.

"I promise to behave," the mighty beast squeaked.

The captain's eyes widened, and he forced down a surprised chuckle as he glanced back to Yellsbeth, who was smiling up at the Therrax.

"Fine," he said and gestured for the guards to stop pointing their weapons at the monster. They escorted him inside.

Alex looked upwards as he pulled their carriage between the reality-defying doors. He struggled to wrap his head around the physics of constructing, moving, and hanging such an enormously heavy portal, especially when the majority of the Dwarven people were less than five feet tall. He'd have to ask the sisters if they could explain to him why they preferred high ceilings in their structures. He knew Humans tended to build their temples with high arched ceilings, but the Dwarves carried this to extremes for all their official buildings. Maybe it was because they lived underground?

The mighty doors were just the most extreme example of this. The engineering that went into them, allowing them to be opened and closed with relatively minimal force, boggled his mind.

Once they had parked the carriage and wagon and unloaded the belongings needed for their visit, they were assured that the rest would be guarded day and night until they returned to depart.

Alex switched back to his Human form and dressed warmer than he usually did, as the city was cooler than the others they'd visited. Considering the elevation, that wasn't a surprise. Waving to the rest of the party, he was led to a room off the guardhouse where the peacekeepers worked from. He sat, leaned back against the wall, and stretched his legs out before him to rest his muscles. He felt a little odd wearing his boots as he'd grown so accustomed to going barefoot.

"What's it like to be a huge, furry monster?" a voice interrupted his thoughts with a stiff belligerence hiding the tension beneath.

Alex fixed his eyes on the speaker, who had to be one of the tallest members of his race, and hairiest as well.

Alex grinned at him. "I think you might be able to answer that question yourself."

His buddies burst into laughter as his face showed his surprise and upset.

Alex held his hand up in apology. "Sorry, I've just never seen anyone so well adapted to this chilly climate."

The laughter increased, and even the hairy one cracked a smile.

Alex saw that the man was still curious, so he nodded. "To answer your question, it was weird at first, but now it just feels like a comfortable set of clothes. I still feel like me, but I look different." That got nods from the guards. "That said, some of the creatures I can become are a better fit than others."

He decided not to mention that he could become a Dragon. That seemed to be a sore point with the Dwarves.

"Since I woke up in that crypt with three marks on my back, I've discovered this world has its own challenges," he said, and saw their immediate interest when he mentioned the three. He stood, turned, and lifted his tunic to show them, grateful he now had a kilt to cover his ass.

He heard their shock at seeing the evidence and saw the wonder when he covered himself and turned to face them.

"Ffornexa and Ullentra as well!" the hairy one exclaimed.

"Yeah. Agron and Ffornexa really balance each other out to maintain the peace, and Ullentra is there to restore me after battles in the underground cities with real monsters. We've done GreenTree Dynasty and Wave Crest so far. We'll be petitioning to do Pinnacle Reach next," he said, and watched their eyes light up. "The Beast-Kin super party we took with us in Wave Crest was amazing, and we were very successful!"

"What's a super party?" one of the other guards asked.

Alex nodded. "Along with Lyra's party, we brought twenty-six Beast-Kin with a balanced assortment of Blessings. They drilled on battle techniques, and we destroyed every enemy we met."

Doubt appeared on faces. "You can't make any money with that many people!"

Alex sat and leaned back against the wall to relax. He gave everyone a slow smile. "Everyone left the city with at least one artifact. The Beast-Kin had enough to set up their own University."

Now, all their expressions showed disbelief. The hairy one chose to speak for the group. "Where would you find that many artifacts? We've all done missions in the city, and the danger from the monsters increases with each level you descend! We've never reached a depth where we found much!"

"The artifacts are found in the habitation level, which is different in each city but is typically deeper than small parties can reach. Even if they could, the units are locked."

Alex looked at their frustrated faces. "I can open them."

Doubt reappeared. "How?" their spokesperson said.

"If we get permission to do a mission in the city, go to the Adventurer's Guild and apply to join the Dwarven super party, then you'll find out. It all depends on the King and the Council of Elders. The Beast-Kin have the same kind of council, and once they heard our petition, they even sponsored our trip. They reaped the reward for that as we brought artifacts back for them as well."

Now the guards were looking far more intrigued.

He hoped Yellsbeth, Lyra, and Alois were able to smooth things over with the King.

-=-

It took some time, but it was Alois who cleared the way to getting an audience with the King. He was far more familiar with the process of navigating through the levels of officials to reach the people with actual authority.

Brakt entered the chamber with a puzzled expression, which changed to a relieved smile when he stood face to face with the ex-regent.

"I'm so pleased to see you alive and well! Some disturbing rumors of your untimely demise reached me!" the King said to him.

Alois nodded humbly. "Yes, those rumors were almost based on truth, but I received a last-second rescue." He gestured to the group standing behind him.

Brakt's eyes passed over the faces of the people standing behind the man. In his second interview with the Avian, the spy indicated the ex-regent had joined the troublesome party.

The dark-skinned Human was their chief strategist. He didn't look comfortable, and as the dark Elf at his side was watching Brakt, he allowed his eyes to move to the Beast-Kin Tigress. She looked like a formidable warrior! He'd love to test his sword against hers.

The others barely registered as he looked for the white-haired monster.

Then his gaze froze as he locked eyes with someone he'd thought he'd never see again.

"Yellsbeth Killgrave!" he exclaimed with a wide smile. He took three strides forward to clasp her arm with his in a test of might.

His eyes widened, and a smile grew on her face as she gave as good as she got. The last time they'd tested each other, she hadn't been able to match him. Today, she did.

He was very pleased. "It's good to see you again! Have you returned to finally make an honest man of my poor son?" he asked with a wicked grin.

Yellsbeth snorted in amusement and shook her head. "I haven't changed my mind about becoming a successor to the throne. The outside world still has much to teach me, and recently it's become far more interesting!"

He gave her a questioning look, and she gestured toward the Elf-Human Halfling.

Yellsbeth made the introduction. "Brakt Cragborne, King of Kharnthiad, may I introduce Lyra Foxlove-Baumer, the leader of our party, The Answer."

Brakt did his best not to show his tension. "That's quite a bold party name."

The halfling showed him a lovely smile, and he felt himself relaxing despite his concerns. He made a show of looking around again, nodding with a smile to Thorn, and turned back to Lyra. "You have quite a collection of members."

As he'd hoped, she picked up that cue.

"We actually have one more member. He was refused access as his Blessing is restricted in Kharnthiad," she said.

There was only one restriction based on Blessing, so he was able to respond without suspicion.

"An Agron Blessed member?" he asked with a little frown.

"He has Blessings from Ffornexa and Ullentra as well. He doesn't run amok," Lyra stated.

"No one has more than one Blessing," he said.

"Alex does, and he's no danger to the city," Yellsbeth insisted.

Brakt locked eyes with her, looking to see if she'd been mentally compromised.

Once more, Yellsbeth gave as good as she got, and he was impressed. He smiled. "Do you vouch for him within Kharnthiad?"

"I do," Yellsbeth said.

"Ah, the words I wish to hear at an altar as you stand next to Steev," he said with a quirk of his lips.

Yellsbeth threw up her hands and let out a frustrated sound.

"Last time I'll mention it!" Brakt said with a grin as Yellsbeth glared at him.

Thorn giggled, and the tension broke.

Brakt turned to one of the guards in the room. "Bring this thrice-Blessed visitor to us."

The King turned back to face the group. "I assume this isn't a social visit, though I would be delighted if it was," he said.

Alois smiled. "It's a social visit for me. My role in The Answer isn't to be an Adventurer. I get to relax and share tales with my contemporaries at our destinations. We had a delightful visit with the Beast-Kin nation in Shalazar."

Lyra nodded, then addressed the King. "Your majesty, we'd like to make a petition to access Pinnacle Reach with a super party of Dwarven Adventurers."

"A super party?" he asked.

Lyra explained. "A selection of Dwarven Adventurers with different Blessings to build a functional team of roughly twenty to thirty on top of our existing party. Yellsbeth has given us some indication of the types of monsters we're likely to encounter in the city, so we'd build a super party to compensate for this threat."

Brakt nodded as if he were carefully contemplating this request. "I'll convene the Council of Elders to hear you petition and review the precedents for allowing outsiders access to Pinnacle Reach--"

"Outsiders? We're all outsiders. It's not like Dwarves were born in the ancient underground city! It's not a sacred place for us! We don't own it," Yellsbeth growled.

Brakt scowled at her. "While it's true that we were brought here from our original home world, each Race was given a city to protect--"

"Like GreenTree Dynasty?" Yellsbeth blurted, knowing the city was between the Dwarf and Human nations and was therefore left to fend for itself. This stopped Brakt, who frowned more deeply.

Lyra placed her hand on Yellsbeth's arm and calmed her friend. Then she looked at the King.

"We'll rent rooms at an inn in the city until the Council is ready to meet. Thank you," Lyra said.

The King nodded, only now recalling how hot-headed and stubborn Yellsbeth could be.

-=-

Alex was rubber-necking as the guards led him through the Dwarven city toward the palace.

He didn't mind people thinking he looked like a tourist, because that's exactly what he was at the moment.

For a city built into the mountain itself, he was surprised by the variety of architectural accents on the facades of the buildings carved into the cave walls.

The halls were pretty busy with people going about their business. People watching was fun too!

Unfortunately, he failed to watch where he was going and stepped into the path of a woman as tall as himself. She also seemed distracted.

They managed not to fall by clinging to each other after they collided. The encounter was quick, but the moment froze in Alex's mind with crystal clarity.

He knew she was a dwarf from specific visual cues, such as the shape of her face and musculature, but he was amazed by how tall she was as they were eye to eye.

She was also an armful, densely muscled as Dwarves were, but with a very soft bosom, which was currently pressing against him.

He noted she was staring at him, equally surprised. She glanced up to look at his hair, which was as snow white as hers. Then she glanced down at his broad chest against hers. She eased back.

He smiled. "My apologies for not watching where I was going."

She nodded shyly.

"I'm Alex Frost," he said.

"Barrassa Kindhelm--"

"Back off, Human! The bitch is mine!"

Moving out from behind the tall blonde, a much smaller male moved between them and shoved Alex back rudely.

Alex looked down at the male with raised eyebrows.

"Karlang, I rejected your claim before, and I still reject you!" Barrassa shouted.

"Shut your mouth!" Karlang snapped at her, and she spun in place to march away.

Karlang glared at Alex again, who noted that he was carrying a truly nasty-looking Warhammer. All Barrassa had been carrying on her back was a beat-up longsword.

Before Alex could escalate the event, his guards pulled him away.

"What the fuck was that?" Alex asked his escort quietly.

"Don't get involved in a domestic situation," the hairy Dwarf explained.

Alex raised a doubtful eyebrow. "I don't believe she wants to have anything to do with him."

Their expressions showed they agreed, but they gave him no answer, so he did his best to let it go.

-=-

The far door of the audience hall opened, and the guards escorted Alex into the room.

Brakt was watching him approach, and Alex could tell he was doing his best to hide his nervousness. Where did that come from? He thought he'd better do some damage control.

Alex bowed deeply when he stood before the king. "Your majesty. I'm Alex Frost, a new arrival with three Blessings. Would you like to see the Markings?"

Brakt nodded stiffly, so Alex turned and lifted his tunic. The kilt he wore spared the King from having to look at his ass, but the ruler gasped nonetheless once he saw the proof.

Unsettled, Brakt cleared his throat. "Before you arrived, I was explaining that I would convene a meeting with the Council of Elders and review the precedents for allowing outsiders into Pinnacle Reach."

Alex glanced over at Lyra and saw that she was giving him pleading eyes. A 'don't rock the boat' message, so Alex just nodded to the King.

Then he saw Thorn whispering to Yellsbeth, who looked grumpy.

The redhead turned to the King. "Where might I find Steev?" she asked.

The King's eyes widened with interest, and a smile began to appear.

Yellsbeth sighed. "When I left, there were... unresolved issues and hurt feelings. I'd like to speak with him."

Brakt nodded, but the twinkle didn't leave his eye. "My son will likely be at the Forge. He manages it these days."

When Alex heard about the Forge, he looked hopefully at Yellsbeth, and she caught this. She nodded before turning back to the King.

"Would it be possible for some of our members to get a tour of the Forge?" she asked.

Brakt's laugh was loud and sharp with contempt. "The heat would cause them to expire. Only Dwarves are resilient enough to withstand the heat!"

Alex's hackles immediately went up as he felt a pressure in the back of his mind. Suddenly, his body underwent a partial change, leaving him with Red Dragon skin as he'd done to protect himself from Commander Silvain's fire attack in Genthale. As his shape and size hadn't changed, he hadn't ruined his clothes.

"I think I can take the heat," he said.

The King glanced back, howled in fright and surprise as he jumped away, and his guards leapt to get between him and the Dragon-Human.

Alex immediately switched back to his Human state.

"It was just a partial change," he said as he raised his hands to calm them.

Brakt was deeply embarrassed by his outburst, so he shoved his way between his guards to get in Alex's face. Being almost a foot shorter, he glared up at Alex.

"You can become a Dragon? A puny one?"

Alex looked him in the eye. Truth time. "Dragons are just one of the creatures Agron helps me become. I can be a full-sized, Red Fire Dragon, large enough to carry a fully loaded ocean-faring cargo ship in one arm. I did this in Shalazar. Being near the heat of the Forge wouldn't be an issue for me."

Brakt glared at him, then turned and stiffly walked from the room.

When they were alone, Yellsbeth was suddenly in Alex's face. "What did I tell you about becoming a Dragon? What were you thinking?"

Alex felt stupid and frustrated, but he was also shaken by his spontaneous transformation. "He was being rude to the party, I got angry. I felt... something at the back of my mind. Then I was wearing Dragon skin."

Everyone went quiet, then Lyra moved closer. "Agron pushed the change on you?"

Alex rubbed his face in his hands. "Yes... but honestly, he didn't have to push me too hard."

He sighed deeply. "I'm really sorry if I fucked up our chance to do this mission," he said.

Images suddenly flashed through his mind from Agron. Scenes of him as a Dragon, eating the King, his soldiers, and anyone preventing them from getting access to Pinnacle Reach. Alex staggered and swayed on his feet. Immediately, the friends nearest to him reached out to brace him to keep him from falling.

Red light flashed over his body, catching the people holding him upright as well.

Alex looked over to the doorway and saw the hairy Guard Dwarf watching him with wide eyes. The guard ducked out the door to share what he'd just seen.

Shit. He'd just arrived in Kharnthiad, and already the rumors would start flying.

Lyra, Yellsbeth, Jhaan, and Joah were blinking as they glanced at each other, tingling from the Restoration magic. What it had done for them, Alex didn't know.

He also didn't want to share Agron's suggestion for getting past the King's interference. There was no way he would be a party to that.

Yellsbeth recovered first. "Come on. I know a good inn that's close to the Adventurer's Guild Headquarters.

They collected their gear and followed Yellsbeth.

One of the palace clerks accompanied them to ensure they received proper service as guests of the King. In truth, he was noting where they'd be if the King wanted them.

All Alex was concerned about was whether the inn had Human-scale beds.

He really needed some downtime.

-=-

Brakt paced back and forth in his private chamber, trying to calm his nerves.

He'd witnessed Blessed warriors swinging weapons that should have been too heavy to lift, let alone use one-handed. He'd seen Wizards conjuring lightning, fire, earth, and water from nothing and strike their targets with deadly accuracy.

These miracles he could accept as his own Blessing gave him tremendous strength and the ability to fight long past the point where most would collapse from exhaustion.

But this....

The spontaneous transformation of a Human into a Dragon happened before his very eyes. That sent a spike of fear through him like nothing else ever had. It was as if reality didn't apply to the tall white-haired Human.

The last Agron-Blessed new arrival in Kharnthiad had died before he was born, so he had no direct experience with them. That said, his reaction couldn't be called typical, as no one else in the room had panicked as he had. Some froze in surprise. Others leapt into action to defend him. He was the only one who'd screamed in fright.

When Frost confessed that he'd only partially changed but could become a full-sized Dragon, capable of carrying a cargo ship under one arm, Brakt felt that inner terror trying to break free again. He didn't understand his fear, and that just made it more unsettling.

His skepticism of Jalviere's statement that Frost represented a great danger had been replaced with conviction. He was fully on board with the plan to terminate the Human. How they'd achieve that goal was another issue.

A knock on his door sent a brief shock through his muscles. He frowned and tightened his control.

"Who is it?" he called out.

"Starrk," was the reply.

Brakt saw that he'd locked his door, so he went to it and let Starrk inside. The man looked at him curiously upon his entry.

"I met Alex Frost. He transformed before my eyes. He was trying to prove a point about being able to endure the heat in the Forge. He became a Dragon. Albeit a small one, but he said he's capable of becoming a full-sized one." Brakt stopped when he realized he was rambling.

"Did he attack you?" Starrk asked.

Brakt took a deep breath. "No. He switched back immediately. The transition is immediate. There is no lag. One second, he's a Human and the next, a monster. Then back."

Starrk nodded. "I spoke with the guards at the door to the city. They confirmed he used the form of a Therrax to pull their carriage and wagon. Once he parked them inside, he became Human and got dressed.

He looked at his King. "Have you considered what challenge you will issue for gaining permission to petition the Council of Elders?"

Confused by what seemed like an abrupt change in topic, Brakt scowled at him. "No, I've been... occupied."

Starrk placed three sheets of paper on the King's desk, side by side.

"What's this?" Brakt asked curiously.

"Reports of sightings of Dragons. These are from the past week. I believe we're almost at the point where we can ensure their extinction," Starrk said with a satisfied smile. Then he locked his good eye on Brakt.

"Use the Agron Blessed Human to complete the task. Have him hunt down the remaining Dragons."

Brakt went still at the brilliance of the idea. The only thing that could make it better would be if Frost was killed in the effort, but with Ullentra healing him, the odds of that were slim. Still, he nodded.

"I'll have the challenge written up immediately and presented to him tomorrow," Brakt said.

The two Dwarves smiled at each other, but there was no warmth in their expressions.

-=-

Yellsbeth stood next to Thorn as they stared at the front door to their old family home. They weren't in the best part of Kharnthiad, as their family had never been very high on the social ladder. The only reason the King was familiar with Yellsbeth was due to her success in the champion tournaments. Her skills as a warrior made her famous amongst the adventurers in Kharnthiad, and King Brakt had presented the awards to her himself more than a few times.

This was what led to his scheming to get her to marry into the royal family.

Her family was of modest means. What money they once had, back when Yellsbeth and Thorn were young girls, had disappeared into the pockets of the thieves who ran the illegal gambling dens.

Their father had a falling out with his Guildmaster and lost his position. He felt cheated and became resentful. He drank heavily and decided he could use his skills at gambling to earn his way into a higher quality of life.

Each time he went too far into debt, the collectors took one of his fingers.

Yellsbeth remembered the nights when he returned with a hand wrapped in bandages, drunk and in agony, throwing up on the floor, and the screams. She knew Thorn recalled them as well. Each time they prayed that this punishment would make him see his poor judgment. Each time came with a one-year ban from the den.

But the following year, he'd arrived with the bloody rags wrapped around his hand once more.

Four times he'd been punished in this way. Both pinkies and both ring fingers were gone. Not that he'd had any rings after he hocked them for cash, only to be pissed away.

During the recovery periods, he was a miserable bastard to live with. When Yellsbeth caught him beating their mother, Yellsbeth came close to killing him. Even then, her skills as a warrior made her far more dangerous than he'd ever be.

This was about the time Yellsbeth was trying to get some old laws revised to protect women like her mother from men like her father. King Brakt hadn't been the least bit sympathetic to her cause and called her a troublemaker. While he was thrilled with her as a warrior, his support ended there. It was just unfortunate that she was a female. The only thing he could offer was his son's hand in marriage, though he called Steev useless even then. One day Brakt would retire, then she could look into those laws she despised so much.

She was frozen as she stood before the door. She'd left home with some angry words for her father and her mother.

Thorn glanced over at her, then stepped forward to knock on the door firmly.

Yellsbeth twitched at the loud sound and looked like she wanted to bolt.

Thorn held her hand.

Moments later, the door opened, and their mother stood in the doorway. A woman they hadn't seen in decades.

Standing two inches shorter than Thorn's four-foot-eight, Arika Killsgrave's exaggerated curves showed where her youngest daughter got hers.

Her thick, braided red hair fell to her ass, its color still vibrant and an exact match for her oldest child's hair.

"Hi Momma," Thorn said.

"My babies...." she whispered as her eyes drank in the wonder standing before her.

She rushed out and wrapped an arm around both of them and squeezed them to her overly bountiful bosom.

This freed Yellsbeth from her shock, and she wrapped her free arm around her mother. Her other hand was still clinging to Thorn's hand between them.

"Hi Mom," Yellsbeth managed to say.

Arika finally pulled back to smile at her girls. Tears were running down her cheeks. Most were born of pure joy, but a few were sad about the lost years they'd been apart.

"I'm so glad you're here!" she gushed. Then she looked into their eyes with concern. "Has something happened? Why are you here?"

Yellsbeth and Thorn shared a quick look, and the older sister saw she'd be the one to speak.

"The party we're both with is exploring all the underground cities. Pinnacle Reach is the third one we'll be doing," she explained.

"Ah!" Arika said, deflating just a little. So, this was about being in the neighborhood, not a family-driven decision to be here. The sisters saw their mother rally, and her smile returned tenfold. "I'm glad you're here! How long will you be in Kharnthiad?" she asked hopefully.

"We've just arrived, and I suspect a couple of weeks, maybe?" Yellsbeth guessed as she looked at Thorn, who just shrugged. The older sister flashed a frown at Thorn for her lack of support.

"We don't know how much time it will take to get permission for our party to visit the city. It's a mixed group of Dwarves, Elves, Humans, and a Beast-Kin. Our party leader is an Elf-Human Halfling."

"Can you come in for a visit?" Arika asked timidly.

Yellsbeth froze again.

"Is Dad home?" Thorn asked into the silence.

Arika shook her head. "He's out with his pals tonight. Please come in!" She turned and quickly stepped inside.

They followed her into the home of their childhood, and little had changed. Yellsbeth found it a bit unnerving how familiar everything seemed.

She pulled her mind from that and focused on her mother. "He has friends?" she scoffed.

Arika shot her a sad expression. "He's at the bar."

"Oh," Yellsbeth said. "He's still a drunk?"

A pained expression crossed the mother's face, and Yellsbeth regretted her sharp tongue. Silently, she cursed her father's weakness. "I'm sorry."

Arika shook her head and forced a smile as she looked fondly at her daughters. "I was about to make dinner. Will you share a meal with me?"

"Of course!" the two daughters immediately responded, causing their mother to chuckle. She led them into the kitchen and began to pull ingredients from the cupboards.

As she worked, she asked questions about their lives since they left home. Yellsbeth had left five years earlier than her sister, so she had more to tell. Arika was delighted to hear Thorn's story about how she'd joined a merchant caravan bound for the Kingdom of Thale, worked for them for a year before joining a new party in Genthale to do missions in the underground cities, and discovered Yellsbeth working with another party. As they'd made agreements with their own parties, they were unable to work together until Thorn's party disbanded after a disastrous mission cost them their leaders, and Lyra created her new party. Working together felt right.

Yellsbeth described the members of Lyra's party and mentioned Alex. Arika was fascinated and begged for more details.

Not to be outdone by her older sister, Thorn added her thoughts about the man with three Blessings.

Their mother made an intuitive leap.

"You're both having sex with him!" she gasped.

Yellsbeth and Thorn glanced at each other incredulously.

"How did she get that idea?" Yellsbeth said, gaping at her sister as she went over what they'd said.

"Oh please! It wasn't that much of a leap if you listen to how you're both describing him!" Arika scoffed with wide eyes. "Admit it!"

"Okay! It's true!" Thorn confessed as her sister shot her a frown.

Finally, Yellsbeth gave in. "Fine! Yes, we've had sex with him! He's very handsome, for a Human, and he's a great guy."

"It's also kind of exciting how powerful he is when he uses his Agron Blessing to become these beasts!" Thorn added, but Yellsbeth immediately changed the subject.

"He was a recent widower when the Gods brought him here. He was a bit of a mess emotionally at first, but we helped draw him from his shell," Yellsbeth admitted.

"I think Ti'Nah is more than a little enamored with him," Thorn added with a grin.

Arika caught the warning look Yellsbeth shot her sister. "What was that? Who's Ti'Nah?"

Yellsbeth sighed in frustration at her little sister before looking at their mom. "Ti'Nah is a Tigress Beast-Kin who joined our party at GreenTree Dynasty. Yes, she is a big fan of Alex, partly because of his link to Agron.

Thorn raised her hands in surrender with a grin as Yellsbeth scowled.

"Are you in love with him?" Arika asked her daughters.

Both shared a glance, then turned to their mom. "As a good friend," Yellsbeth admitted.

"With incredible benefits!" Thorn grinned.

Yellsbeth grabbed a small kitchen towel and began whipping her sister with it.

"Stop! Mom!" Thorn squealed, and Arika yanked the towel from Yellsbeth's hand and gave her a raised eyebrow.

She returned to her preparations as a warm feeling spread through her chest. She was so happy that her daughters were together even if they weren't at home.

"Yellsbeth will be speaking with Steev Cragborne soon," Thorn said innocently, and Yellsbeth's eyes widened in warning once more.

"Oh?" Arika asked.

After a sigh, Yellsbeth nodded. "Yeah, our parting wasn't so smooth--I guess none of my partings were very good back then," she added as she recalled the harsh words she'd had with her mother. "I'm sorry for the things I said."

Arika held her eyes. "You had your reasons, and I'm not arguing that some of them weren't valid. But we must live with the decisions we made and had to make."

Yellsbeth walked over to her mom and wrapped her arms around the woman. Thorn quickly joined them for a group hug.

"Okay! I have to finish dinner!" Arika said a little desperately as she pushed back her tears.

The daughters released their hug and stepped back to watch their mom return to her work. She surreptitiously dabbed her eyes as she worked, and the daughters shared a look.

They gabbed as dinner was made, sharing bits of their lives as the evening went on. As they ate, they laughed, talked, and caught up.

The hour was getting late when there was a thump on the front door.

Yellsbeth saw her mom twitch, so she rose to answer the door.

"Yellsbeth!" Arika called out.

"I won't start anything. I'm just answering the door," she insisted.

When she pulled it open, she saw her father leaning up against the wall next to the door. She immediately caught the sour odor of cheap ale on his breath and stepped back.

That was all the invitation Obrock needed as he lurched forward to enter his home.

Yellsbeth continued to step back into the home as her father shuffled after her, paying her no attention. He pushed the door closed behind himself and threw the deadbolt before turning. That's when he realized the woman before him wasn't his wife. Recognition finally came to his bleary eyes.

"What... what are you doing here?" he rumbled, then spotted Thorn over her shoulder. "Both."

"Visiting Mom," Yellsbeth simply said.

"Right," Obrock said after a bleary pause, then nodded. His watery eyes were bloodshot, and his skin had a sickly tint. He was well beyond a drunken state. "Goin' to bed."

Her Dad turned and walked down the hall to the master bedroom. He pushed through the door and dropped himself on the bed closest to the door. Rolling onto his back, he was snoring loudly within seconds, his breathing labored.

Yellsbeth had followed him down the hall until she was standing next to the bed.

The man had let himself go. Where he once had muscle was now fat. Not that he was bigger. If anything, he seemed to have shrunk. And he smelled... bad. Was he sick? How long did he have?

That's when she noticed he was missing yet another finger. His middle finger on his left hand was gone, and the wound looked recent. It didn't seem to be healing properly this time.

She felt her mother standing behind her. "He's gambling again, too," Yellsbeth said through her clenched teeth. She heard a slight gasp from Thorn, who'd followed them.

Yellsbeth looked down at the snoring man and realized just how easy it would be to end her mother's troubles.

Arika's hand landed on her shoulder gently and tugged. Yellsbeth resisted at first, then allowed herself to be drawn away. Thorn took her arm in the hall so Arika could close the bedroom door.

"How long?" Yellsbeth asked her mother.

"Two months ago. He's been banned from the gambling den for another year. So, he drinks."

Yellsbeth looked her mother in the eye. "You understand my reason for leaving? Why I had to?"

Arika looked down, then nodded. Lifting her face to hold her daughter's eyes, she smiled slightly. "Yes. And I thank you for respecting my decision to stay."

"It's not the decision I respected. It was you. You deserve better," Yellsbeth said.

"He hasn't raised a hand to me in years. Recently, he barely registers my presence," Arika explained.

Thorn hugged her mother. "Do you regret marrying him?"

The mother was quiet for a moment, then shook her head as she couldn't speak the words. Taking a breath, she changed the direction of the conversation. "Having my children justified it. I was at my happiest with the three of you filling the home with your laughter. Losing Norwess was a terrible time for me, and I fully accept why you needed to leave. What keeps me going is knowing I have two beautiful and strong daughters who are survivors."

She smiled at them and saw their fatigue.

"Come. Let me show you something," she said and led them further down the hall to another familiar door. She opened it and led them into their old room. It had two beds, two large bureaus for their clothes, now empty.

Yellsbeth looked around, feeling that odd sensation of displaced time. Her old art was hanging on the walls, award ribbons from the tournaments she'd entered, and won. Thorns side was even more chaotic as magic tomes jammed her bookshelves. Everything was unchanged from back then.

Thorn pushed the two beds together and climbed on top. She grinned at her Mom, who quickly joined her and looked back at Yellsbeth with hope in her eyes.

Giving a brief snort of amusement, Yellsbeth climbed onto the bed, and the three cuddled as they used to long ago.

They looked up at their mother's face and saw her tears of joy. She kissed their heads.

Arika was so happy.

Chapter 6

Alex pushed back from the breakfast table in the inn and rubbed his full tummy. The meal had been delicious, and he'd stopped himself before he overindulged. Ti'Nah, sitting next to him, was licking her lips as she'd obviously enjoyed her breakfast. With a toothy grin, she snatched an uneaten sausage from Alex's plate and popped it into her mouth. He gave her a grin.

He'd had a blissful night's rest on a surprisingly comfortable bed that fit his body. Yellsbeth's choice of inn had a reputation for accommodating visitors from foreign lands. Business was slow at the moment, so everyone got their own rooms. The innkeeper was delighted to have the business.

Yellsbeth and Thorn hadn't stayed with them at the inn as they had family to visit. They promised to return after the reunion. Alex pictured Yellsbeth and Thorn surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Lucky ladies!

"What's the plan for today?" he asked Lyra.

The beauty smiled at him and caught Dale's eye as she waved a hand to draw everyone else's attention.

"I was thinking we should visit the Adventurer's Guild to speak with the Guildmaster. We can discuss the logistics of organizing a Dwarven super party. We'll need Yellsbeth, Thorn, and the King's son, Steev, if that's possible. We can get the Guildmaster's opinion on the plan, at least."

Alex thought that was a good idea, but something the King said the night before was still weighing on his mind.

"What do you think the King meant about reviewing the precedents for allowing outsiders into Pinnacle Reach? What will that mean for us?"

Alois had an idea about that as he'd read quite a lot of Dwarven History. "I believe I might have an answer to your question. Access to Pinnacle Reach is typically restricted to Dwarven Adventurers. There have been a few notable exceptions, and these events were well documented. I believe the party will be presented with a challenge that must be completed before permission to present the petition is granted. This challenge may be either a task to be completed by the party, or it could even be a financial payment, which happened once, as the history books indicated."

Alex felt a little better as neither sounded bad. They were currently cash-flush, and there was little their party couldn't deal with as a team. He smiled at the older man.

They returned to their rooms to finish their daily prep, then met in the inn's lobby.

Alois smiled as he faced the group. "I'm off to see a man about a horse."

As this world had no such animal, Dale and Alex burst into laughter as they grinned at the man's pleased smile.

"Where did you hear that phrase?" Dale asked him with a grin.

"I met a new arrival in Genthale who came to my attention as he claimed to be descended from royalty. He had quite a fascinating love of language and taught me a number of useful phrases during the brief time I knew him."

Alex's smile faded. "Brief time?"

Alois' smile dimmed as well. "He fell from a window in the palace. We never determined how that happened. It was a tragic loss, as he was such an intelligent and clever man."

He gave himself a little shake, and his smile returned. "I do have a meeting at the palace with some old contacts of mine."

Lyra gave him a hug and then held him out at arm's length to look into his eyes. "You be careful and don't stand too close to any palace windows."

Alois blinked in surprise, then smiled charmingly and went on his way.

The group watched him go, then shared a look before leaving the inn.

Yellsbeth had pointed out the location of the guild, so they walked as a group to it and entered the vast chamber behind its tall front doors. Inside, it looked like all the Guilds they'd visited before, proving the others had followed Dwarven blueprints and guidelines.

Heads turned to see the newcomers, and the noise level immediately dropped. Nothing uncomfortable about that!

Alex felt every eye focused on him.

A broad-shouldered and powerful-looking older Dwarf with a big mane of flaming red hair and a braided beard walked toward them with a smile on his face. His brown eyes also held a slight red tint.

"Greetings to Kharnthiad's Adventurer Guild Hall! I'm Guildmaster Locke Grimweather. Word of your arrival reached us before you did." The man's voice boomed with energy.

Lyra stepped forward. "I'm Lyra Foxlove-Baumer, Leader of The Answer."

The Guildmaster barked a short laugh at the name of her party, but it wasn't scornful.

"Good name," he offered, and Lyra tilted her head in thanks. He continued. "We have an emissary of King Cragborne upstairs claiming he must meet with your party prior to any business you have with the Guild."

Lyra's expression showed her confusion. "I'm surprised he didn't meet us at the inn. We only decided to visit the Guild moments ago."

Locke nodded with an annoyed expression. "The King has eyes and ears everywhere," he said grumpily. He gestured to the stairs. "Why don't I bring you upstairs to deal with that official business?"

Lyra shared a concerned expression with her party members. She turned back to the Guildmaster. "Two of our members are currently visiting family."

The man nodded, then his expression showed his confusion. "I was told that if the party arrived incomplete, the only member required for the meeting was Alex Frost. I wasn't told the reason for this."

The expressions of concern just strengthened as they all looked at Alex, whose eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Who's the emissary?" Alex asked.

Locke shook his head. "He's just a functionary who works in the palace. A scribe, I think."

"I guess I should go meet with him since the King sent him," Alex said.

Locke led the way with Alex right behind him. The others quickly followed with Ti'Nah at Alex's back to protect his six.

They climbed the stairs, walked down a hall, and stopped before a door. Locke knocked, then entered the room. Everyone followed him in to see a young dwarf getting to his feet with a scroll in his hands.

Locke cleared his throat. "May I introduce Alex Frost of The Answer and Lyra Foxlove-Baumer, the party's leader."

The functionary bowed to the group. "I am Josswyn Slatevest, Officer of Kharnthiad's Archive and Chief Scribe. I was appointed by His Majesty, King Cragborne, to present this official document to Alex Frost. It outlines a challenge Mr. Frost must successfully complete to grant permission for his party to present a petition to the Council of Elders to explore Pinnacle Reach."

He handed the scroll to Alex, who looked at it briefly, then slid the ribbon off before unrolling it. His eyes scanned the page.

"Read it out loud!" Dale complained.

"Right, sorry!" Alex said, then turned to face his party as he read it to them.

"I, King Brakt Cragborne, do hereby declare that a challenge must be completed by Alex Frost, member of the party The Answer, before permission to present a petition for non-citizen access for the exploration of Pinnacle Reach will be granted.

Alex Frost, using only the Blessings of the Gods he received, must successfully complete the following challenge:

Find a permanent resolution to the Dragon plague affecting the Kingdom of Kharnthiad.

The Defined Issue: Dragons terrorizing Kharnthiad citizens, Dragons consuming livestock, and Dragons invading territory inhabited by the people of Kharnthiad.

The Required Solution: No more Dragons terrorizing the citizenry, no more Dragons consuming livestock, and no more Dragons invading territories inhabited by citizenry.

Failure to fully and successfully complete this challenge will preclude the non-citizen party, The Answer, from petitioning the Council of Elders. Access to Pinnacle Reach will not be granted."

If a permanent solution is presented, this condition will be deemed complete, allowing the party, The Answer, to present their petition to explore Pinnacle Reach to the Council of Elders."

Alex lowered the scroll and looked at Josswyn. "The challenge must be completed by me... alone? How is the King expecting me to achieve that?"

The man looked nervous. "Uh, it's my understanding that you were given the ability to become a Dragon. I believe the King expects you to deal with the other Dragons as one."

Lyra's expression showed her outrage, and Dale looked pissed as well.

"It's a damn good thing that Yellsbeth is spending time with her family as if she were here... well, it wouldn't be peaceful," Joah grumbled.

Dystra was watching the scribe very intently.

"I don't see a deadline on this challenge," Alex said, passing his eyes over the scroll once more.

The scribe nodded. "There is no deadline. From the moment it was presented to you, it became active. You can take the time you need, but your party will not be allowed to present a petition until you've succeeded."

Alex rubbed his face with his free hand, then faced his friends. "This is the price of embarrassing a King."

Josswyn's eyes widened in shock as he stared at Alex. The Guildmaster winced in sympathy.

The scribe turned to the Guildmaster. "Thank you for your assistance in presenting the challenge. I'll be heading back to the palace now." He turned to Alex and smiled awkwardly. "Good luck!"

The man beat a hasty retreat to the exit.

Locke faced the party as well. "I'll head downstairs. You have the room as long as you need it today."

Lyra smiled and shook his hand. "Thank you! We shouldn't be too long."

Then the party, minus its two Dwarf members, faced the elephant in the room.

"What the Hell are we going to do about this challenge?" Dale said.

"It isn't something you need to do anything about," Alex said gently.

"You know what I mean! They're basically asking you to do pest control!" the man argued.

Alex shook his head. "I need more information about Dragons, but I doubt I'm going to find any unbiased reports here. That said, Dragons don't live anywhere else, do they."

Everyone exchanged looks, then Lyra answered. "I believe Dragons are restricted to living in this mountainous region of the world. I've never heard of them being anywhere else."

The others concurred.

Alex scanned his eyes over the lines again. "While the challenge avoids using actual words like kill and exterminate, there's no doubt in my mind that their intent is for me to execute all remaining Dragons. Causing a species to go extinct is no small thing, and as I've mentioned to Lyra, Agron likes Dragons very much. He won't allow it."

He glanced around the room, looking for possible hiding spots for people listening, but saw nothing. He was sorely tempted to fill them in on Agron's suggestion to eat all those who stood in their way, but he kept that to himself as it would cause his friends to worry and give them more trouble than they deserved.

Lyra shook her head. "Nothing is going to happen about it today. We need to regroup when Yellsbeth and Thorn are back. As the scribe said, there's no deadline on the challenge. In the interim, let's speak with the Guildmaster and see what information we can get."

Alex nodded and followed the others back downstairs to the main floor. As they descended, Alex noted that the Dwarven penchant for very high ceilings in every room meant they'd be climbing a lot more stairs.

Lyra, Dale, Dystra, and Jhaan immediately went to speak with Locke. He was easy to spot in a crowd.

Ti'Nah recognized a fellow Beast-Kin, and after receiving a quick nod from Alex, went to speak with her.

With nothing else to do, Alex, Devya, and Joah walked over to the mission boards to see what kind of jobs the locals were doing.

"These are for Dwarves," a swarthy-looking fellow standing by the board snarled at Alex.

Alex put a friendly smile on his face. "That's fine. We're not looking for work. It's my first time in Kharnthiad. Just curious to see what kind of tasks are being requested."

Joah got right up in the man's space as he gestured behind himself for Alex to move back with Devya.

"It's not my first time visiting Kharnthiad. The last time, the locals had better manners than this rock moss sucker."

Apparently, that term was highly inflammatory to a Kharnthiad citizen, and the target seemed primed to take offense.

He yanked dual daggers from sheaths on his belt and leapt at Joah with intent to kill.

Alex was amazed by how fluidly Joah moved as he ducked and leaned to avoid the slashing blades. The older Human made no attempt to draw his sword, but he also didn't seem to be having any trouble.

Faced with the sudden danger, Alex's senses went on high alert, and he heard very controlled breathing coming from his left. He wrapped his arms around Devya as he lifted her up against his chest. His knees suddenly bent backward as his legs stretched, and his muscles swelled dramatically before he launched himself up and backward in a graceful arc through the air over the heads of the people sitting at tables in the main room. At the apex, he was feet up and head down, but at the end of the arc, he landed by the front door and absorbed the impact with his odd-looking legs. Devya was struggling with dizziness.

His ears swiveled and triangulated on the assailant who'd been trying to sneak up on him.

He looked like a blonde version of the Dwarf who was still struggling to land a blow on Joah.

When they locked eyes, the blonde Dwarf realized he'd been made, so he turned and rushed down a back hallway, perhaps to a rear exit.

Locke was suddenly standing a short distance from Joah.

"Permission?" Joah called out as his assailant suddenly realized his partner had bailed on him.

"Granted," Locke said, and Joah's sword flashed from his scabbard, taking the Dwarf's hands off at the wrist faster than eyes could follow.

The attacker stumbled back in shock, and the pommel of Joah's sword caught him on the temple. He crashed to the floor as Joah stepped back. A healer rushed forward and immediately stopped the bleeding. He wouldn't bleed out, but he'd have to find a new occupation as he had no hands.

Locke knelt next to the man and rifled through his pockets. He wasn't carrying anything that identified him.

Alex walked over on his Human legs with Devya clinging to his arm. "I think his blonde twin got away."

Ti'Nah was immediately at his side, but he calmed her with a nod and a smile.

Locke looked at Alex in surprise. "He was working with someone else?"

Alex nodded. "He tried to sneak up on me as his partner provided a distraction."

Lyra moved to his side and looked into Devya's eyes as she held her face gently. "Are you okay?"

The woman smiled. "Just dizzy. One minute I'm watching Joah outclass an assassin, and the next I'm flying through the air, upside down!"

She turned her face to frown at Alex. "I don't like rollercoasters!"

He smiled at her. "Noted."

"What did you... partially become this time?" Dystra asked with a frown.

Alex shook his head, as he didn't know. It happened so fast. "The imminent danger put my nerves on edge, so my hearing was boosted, and I heard the second man. I knew I had to get away with Devya, so my body changed so I could jump. What the full creature was, I have no idea, but its legs did the job. Agron is being quiet at the moment."

Locke was staring at Alex in confusion. "What do you mean, Agron is being quiet? How else would a God be?"

Alex looked at Lyra, unsure whether it was safe to speak here, in front of someone who was a stranger to him.

Lyra nodded and turned to the Guildmaster to speak quietly to him. "The Gods who Blessed Alex aren't silent partners like ours are. They get involved, and this causes harm that Ullentra heals."

The Guildmaster was stunned. "How are you maintaining your sanity?" he asked Alex, equally quiet.

Alex smiled. "I accept this is my new reality. I accept them as a force for good, and so far, I haven't been proven wrong. I've opened myself to them, and Ullentra keeps healing me when their presence becomes too much."

"I have so many questions!" the Guildmaster said with wide, excited eyes.

Alex held up his hands to put the brakes on question period. "Much of what we can say will be said when Lyra presents our petition to explore Pinnacle Reach. Until then, we must keep a tight lid on the information."

Locke looked disappointed, but he seemed to understand and didn't push.

Alex let out a breath and glanced at the stunned expressions on the faces of the adventurers around them who'd just witnessed something completely out of their experience. Their eyes focused on him with fear, confusion, and, in a few cases, awe.

He suddenly needed some air. While the ceilings in the city were very high, it wasn't enough. He needed to see the sky.

"If you don't mind, I think I'll go outside for a bit and enjoy the view from the mountaintop," Alex said.

When his friends indicated they would join him, he held up a hand. "No. I'll be fine. I just need some alone time--" He froze as a hysterical laugh strained to burst free. He knew he'd never truly be alone again with the three Gods riding shotgun.

His expression must have given away this realization as Lyra stepped forward to give him a hug, which actually made him feel a little better.

"Thank you," he said softly as he pulled back.

"What if the assassin comes after you again?" Joah asked.

Alex suddenly snarled, showing fangs as his eyes reflected gold in the candlelight. "I hope he does."

He shook off the changes, turned, and left the Guild Hall without looking back.

He really needed to get his shit together.

Chapter 7

Sweat dripped off Steev's nose as flames roared their fury while his crew carefully but steadily moved the ladle to pour the liquid steel into the prepared forms. Barely heard above the flames was the near-constant ring of hammers on steel as skilled artisans worked the raw metal into the products the Forge was famous for producing.

He was right there on the floor supervising the effort, watching for dangers, stepping in when an extra hand was required, but for the most part, letting the team handle the dangerous tasks.

Another team moved the forms toward their next step in the production line process once the steel was poured.

Task completed, the team moved the ladle back to its resting position, and the next team of Dwarves stepped up to begin their shift. The weary off-duty men waved at Steev and headed for the showers.

The Forge was on track to meet their monthly quota, and he was damn proud of his team.

He realized his day was over as well. His relief stepped forward to take over, and Steev shook his hand and gave him a thumbs-up to indicate all was well. There'd been no technical issues to report to him, so he just left the floor to wash the sweat from his body too.

The off-duty team was quickly rinsing themselves as Steev undressed and dipped his head under the deluge of the lukewarm shower, which felt like ice water on his overheated body.

A voice called out for him from the outside doorway.

He pulled back from the water and rubbed his face to clear his eyes. He saw his nephew standing in the doorway, looking for him.

"I'll be right there!" he called out with his deep voice and waved, and the young man's face lit up with a smile.

Steev quickly washed and dried himself before grabbing his dry clothes from his locker. Worn yet sturdy, soft and comfortable, he dressed casually, as his crew did. He had no stomach for putting on airs, even though he was the son of the King. That meant nothing to his father, so why should it mean something to him?

He would never take the throne, as his father had decreed that only a warrior could handle the job, and Steev's Blessing was from Deshna, the God of Charm. Sure, he had enhanced leadership skills as he'd proven with his management of the Forge, but his affinity for music wasn't the same as being able to lop heads off with sharp, pointy weapons. The hammers he swung weren't meant to crush skulls, so he gave up trying to impress the old man.

The years he'd spent as the Head of the Forge had honed his leadership skills greatly, and the teams respected his authority. They knew he'd never used his Charm to manipulate them, and the only time he flexed his Blessing was when tempers flared and there was danger of an escalation into physical violence. That was far too dangerous for the floor of the Forge, and Steev could be counted on to defuse that immediately and mediate to resolve the issue. He showed his team respect, and they returned it.

Another benefit of working in the Forge was his improved fitness and increased strength. His Blessing gave him no boosts for his physical state, so everything he currently had was earned the old-fashioned way, with hard work and determined perseverance. He was now five-foot-ten and one-ninety pounds of solid muscle. Gone were his pudgy, soft body and the scraggly beard he'd had back in the day.

While this had improved his appeal for the female population, and he'd dated a good number of ladies, his gentle nature had proven to be his downfall. They were not so taken with his keen intellect, his ability to play any musical instrument very well, or his sonorous singing. Rough brutes were more appealing amongst the female population in the Dwarven capital, but he remained hopeful.

Some of the ladies he'd dated had been attracted to his being the King's son, but he quickly set them straight and saved himself a lot of grief. He didn't live in the palace and rather liked the less stuffy abode that came with the title of Forge Master. It was a family-sized home that he hoped to fill with children's laughter one day.

The joking and camaraderie of his crew as they finished their preparations brought him back to the present, and many nodded and smiled at him as he passed by.

"Larrk, what are you doing here?" Steev asked, suspiciously eyeing the lad's excited expression. Larrk was known as a prankster in his sister's family.

"Someone came back to Kharnthiad. Someone you know," Larrk said mysteriously.

"Are you going to tell me, or must I squeeze the answer from your head?" Steev asked as he quickly wrapped one of his mighty arms around his nephew's cranium playfully.

"I GIVE!" Larrk was quick to shout as he pulled away with a grin.

Steev just waited, hands on his hips, with an expectant expression.

"Yellsbeth Killgrave," Larrk said as he watched his uncle's face. He wasn't disappointed as he caught the brief flash of joy the man quickly tried to hide.

Once he reined in his initial burst of excitement, curiosity flared. "I wonder what she came back for. If I recall properly, she couldn't leave quick enough when last we spoke."

As he thought about this, he combed his thick fingers through his light brown but thick beard to shake off the last of the water, then ran his fingers back through his long hair that matched his beard, brushing it back into control.

When he saw his nephew's delighted expression, he realized it might have looked like he was primping himself to meet Yellsbeth. He shot the younger man an annoyed look, causing Larrk to laugh.

"You are too transparent, uncle!" Larrk laughed.

Steev huffed but ended up grinning at the young male. "Thanks for letting me know. I hope I get a chance to talk to her after so many years."

"I heard she's going to come by your place tonight," Larrk offered with a coy smile.

Steev's face dropped as his place was a mess! He'd been doing some renovations--he saw Larrk's grin widening. He frowned. "Go on, you! You've had your fun. Tell your mother I said hello!"

The young man waved and rushed away, chuckling to himself.

Steev's younger sister had quickly and effectively eliminated the possibility of being roped into royal succession in two ways. First, she had no Blessing of her own. Then she ignored her father's scheming and married for love, a kind and good Dwarf who was a baker, also with no Blessing. With these two strikes against her, their father ignored her completely, much to Steev's outrage.

Huffing to himself, Steev picked up his pace and left the Forge.

It was a long trek from his work to his home, but he forced himself not to run. Arriving sweaty from the climb would give a bad impression. Besides, he was using the time to review what had been said and left unsaid the last time they'd spoken.

He remembered how desperate Yellsbeth had been to flee from Kharnthiad. She'd been so angry with everyone, and everything about the Dwarven Kingdom reminded her of the brother she lost to an uncaring merit system. He knew her anger had been justified, but he didn't believe she should run away from the problem. He wanted her to stay and fight to fix the flaws inherent in their society. He'd finally worked up the nerve to tell her he wanted her to stay with him. They would make the difference. Together.

She'd laughed.

An echo of the pain that had caused still lived within his heart.

Stunned by the callous response, Steev had stiffly walked away. He learned that Yellsbeth had left just days after his aborted confession.

For the longest time, he'd resented her until he'd finally come to realize she wasn't responsible for hurting feelings she hadn't been aware existed.

So, he let the pain go and wished her well, in his mind.

He really was curious what had brought her back.

Nothing had changed here. All the flaws still existed. His father and the majority of the Council of Elders ensured the status quo remained in place, stagnant and poisoned by outdated policies. He hadn't been able to persuade his father to spearhead an effort to overturn these terrible legal precedents that kept their society from progressing. Perhaps it was a flaw that all long-lived beings faced. A fear of change that made them cling to what was rather than embrace what could be.

Those arguments led to a rift in their relationship, and now he rarely spoke with him.

As he stepped from the final corridor to approach his front door, he saw flaming red hair flowing down the back of a powerful warrior, her battle ax resting in its harness.

He was immediately struck by the impression of strength and power.

Then she turned as she heard his approach, and her beauty pulled at his heart as strongly as it had so long ago. She'd matured in ways that tugged at his soul.

He watched her lovely brown eyes widen as she looked at him. Her mouth dropped open, then curved into a smile.

"Time has been good to you, Squirt," she said softly, using her teasing nickname for him. She was two years older than him, and she'd teased that he was born from a squirt from his father's loins.

His frustration with the name must have been apparent on his face, as she immediately looked contrite.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have called you that. Not now and not back then. Sorry about old habits," she offered in apology.

His smile returned as he pushed the irrational emotion aside. "Thanks. That wasn't the first thing I'd hoped to hear from you, but I can honestly say, hearing you say anything face-to-face like this is an unexpected gift."

She grinned in appreciation. "You certainly haven't lost your silver tongue!" She gave him a playful side-eye. "You wouldn't be flexing your Blessing on me now?"

He laughed, deep and joyful, and her smile showed her delight. They stepped closer and hugged tight. Yellsbeth had a strength advantage with her Saphra Blessing, but she wasn't trying to overpower him, just match him.

As she leaned back, she looked into his eyes with concern on her face. "I wasn't sure if you'd want to see me after we parted on such uneasy terms."

He smiled and shook his head. "I've had time to realize my youthful mistakes, and I know why you had to go. Wishing I'd done things differently is meaningless. It's all in the past." He tilted his head as he looked into her eyes. "I'm so pleased you're here, but my curiosity is begging to know why you've come back. The culture you fled from here hasn't changed at all, much to my dismay."

She nodded as she released him and stepped back. "Yeah, I'm ashamed to say that returning wasn't my idea, and I was initially against it. The party I'm in is on a mission to visit all the underground cities, and Pinnacle Reach was next on our list." She smiled. "Now that I'm here, I'm glad I was outvoted. I should have come back to apologize for scorning your offer to help."

Steev stared at her in surprise.

She still didn't know.

Yellsbeth looked into his eyes as he stood there, frozen with indecision.

Should he tell her? Was there any point?

Wouldn't it just hurt her if she knew his true feelings?

Did they need that awkwardness between them again?

"What's wrong?" she asked when his silence stretched on.

A sudden laugh escaped from his tight chest. "I just can't get over how wonderful it is to see you again!" he finally said. "You look amazing! Life has treated you very well!" he gushed to set her at ease.

A blush appeared on her face, and he enjoyed the moment.

Her eyes took a more than casual glance at his new physique and widened as she finally truly saw him. "Shit! I think life has given you far better treatment than me! What happened to your soft belly?" she asked as she poked his tummy with a finger and found hard muscle instead. Her eyebrows rose. "Seriously!"

Steev laughed again, his deep voice rumbling as it did when he was truly happy.

"My new job as the Forge Master keeps me fit," he said. "And incredibly busy."

She nodded absentmindedly, then glanced up at him. "Yes! Your Dad mentioned you were working there."

"Ah, you've spoken with him," Steev said, his enthusiasm dimming perceptibly.

Yellsbeth noted his reaction. "So, you and he aren't best buds yet?"

Steev gave her a look that suggested he was questioning her sanity.

She winced. "Oh, it's that bad."

Steev let out a slow breath. "We don't talk. The last time we did was during the crisis at the Forge. He replaced the existing Forge Master, Uthug Smashanvil, with me without warning either of us. While it was partially Uthug's fault that the disaster happened, having his title and position yanked away and given to someone clearly his junior was a terrible insult. I somehow managed to keep the man from killing me and ruining the rest of his reputation. We're good friends now, but it was touch-and-go at first. Once the dust settled, and I'd proven to my father that I could make it work, he actually looked disappointed that Uthug hadn't killed me and given him an excuse to have Uthug executed."

Yellsbeth gave Steev a disbelieving look, but Steev remembered the expression on his father's face. His useless son had somehow avoided the trap he'd laid to give him a worthy death to finally be useful to his father.

"Hey, I don't like Brakt either... for a host of reasons that caused me to leave Kharnthiad years ago, but his trying to kill you seems...."

Steev returned from his memories and waved a dismissive hand. He forced a smile onto his lips. "I certainly don't want to waste this opportunity to speak to you about topics we disagree on. Tell me about this mission you're on."

She blinked at him, then nodded as he was clearly done with the topic of his father. "Could we go inside before we continue?" she asked.

"Ah! Yes... we can," he said as he glanced back at his front door. Then his shoulders drooped in defeat, and he gave her an embarrassed look. "I have to warn you, it's not very tidy inside. I'm doing some renovations."

Yellsbeth snorted in amusement and grinned at him. "I promise not to make fun of you."

He nodded and led her inside.

Steev watched her as she took note of the wide living space and the back wall he was in the process of opening to expose the kitchen.

"This is a lot of space for one person," Yellsbeth said. "Is there a Mrs. Cragborne?"

He relaxed when she didn't comment on the mess. "The home was built for the Forge Master and his family. The job consumes every waking moment, so I haven't had many opportunities to focus on the family side.

Yellsbeth gave him a distressed expression. "You need to make time for yourself! Add more life into the work/life balance!"

Steev held up his hands in defense. "I'm not a recluse. I... date... occasionally." He couldn't hold her eyes, and her frown deepened.

She gestured to his body. "This has to attract some interest!"

A surprised chuckle broke free, and he saw her smile. Damn, she looked so good. He shook his head to get his thoughts back on track.

He took a breath and faced her again. "Yes, they like how I look, but that's as far as it goes. I get the impression that Kharnthiad's female population is looking for a male just like their dear old dad, and I'm not old-school Dwarf material." He smiled sadly at Yellsbeth. "In my youth, I was poisoned with thoughts of rebellion and fresh ideals. It left a stain."

Yellsbeth's smile faded as her expression turned to dismay.

He shook his head and gave her a smile. "Don't worry about me! I'm fine! Since you've grilled me, it's my turn to ask. Is there someone significant in your life?"

She grinned at him. "Grilled? Hardly, and to answer your question, the life of an Adventurer doesn't leave too much time for relationships. Nothing lasting."

Steev nodded and allowed himself to relax. "Now, I want to hear about this mission of yours! Let me live vicariously through your adventures!" He gestured for her to take a seat and sat across from her.

While he hadn't eliminated her worry, she gave in and began telling him about their first mission with a young new arrival who'd been Blessed by three Gods, the three who'd disappeared so long ago.

Steev's eyes widened in shock as she described their miraculous and almost disastrous mission in GreenTree Dynasty. He kept his questions to himself until she'd reached a point where he wouldn't interrupt her tale. He could tell she believed everything she described, and he knew Yellsbeth wasn't one to tell lies.

"Our first major clue that we were going to face resistance in our mission came when we got back to Genthale. The new King tried to have us arrested. We represented something he couldn't control. His man has been trying to have us assassinated ever since."

Steev nodded as he connected the dots. "Controlling the ancient cities is a level of power that directly threatens the status quo--" He froze as he locked eyes with Yellsbeth. She didn't deny the thoughts they were both sharing. "My father isn't going to allow you to take control of Pinnacle Reach."

Yellsbeth didn't look away. "We're not telling him about that part of our mission."

Steev leaned back as he thought about that. Then he looked at her again. "Yet you told his son."

She didn't look away. "Are you going to tell him?"

He scowled as he held her bold gaze. "No. Of course I won't."

She nodded with a smile as her confidence in him was validated.

Yellsbeth went on to say their mission in Wave Crest went more smoothly than in GreenTree Dynasty, though they'd faced more attempts on their lives.

Then she sprang another bombshell on him.

He gasped. "They're opening their own University?"

Yellsbeth smiled at his excitement. "Yes! You shoulda seen the haul of artifacts the super party returned with! Far too many for just one university to study, and we know the Human Kingdom is hoarding the knowledge. We're giving the Human university faculty the benefit of the doubt that this selfish policy was mandated by the Human Kings. The deal the original Human King made with the other rulers was not in the best interests of the people of this world. Knowledge belongs to all nations. Universities must be established in all nations to study artifacts from the nearby underground cities. They should share their findings with each other to accelerate the distribution of knowledge and improve their comprehension of what they're studying."

Steev was staring at Yellsbeth with a wide smile. "Where did such a radical idea come from?" he asked knowingly.

She returned the smile but shook her head. "It wasn't me! It was our Swordsman, Joah Rynsburger, who's a veteran Human adventurer. He suggested that the Beast-Kin Council of Elders establish their own university and invite Human professors to visit to see the artifacts and train Beast-Kin researchers. That said, I think he was inspired by Alex's rebellious nature. Alex believes in people, not oppressive political regimes."

"Now I see why you've become a target of assassination," Steev said with a slow nod. Then he frowned in concern. "My father isn't going to react differently. You're in as much danger here as you would be in Genthale."

Yellsbeth looked into Steev's eyes. "I don't believe we intend to say anything about the university until after we return from the city with all the artifacts."

She took a deep breath and looked at him earnestly. "One of the reasons I came to see you aside from apologizing for my past behavior, was to ask if you'd be willing to present the petition to the Council of Elders and lead the Dwarven super party into Pinnacle Reach--I know it's a big ask, but I think we'll have a better chance of swaying the council if you're the driving force behind it."

Steev's eyes widened incredulously. "I'm not an adventurer! I've never even been to Pinnacle Reach!" he exclaimed.

Yellsbeth smiled. "This isn't my party's first mission into the depths of a subterranean city. We're well prepared. We just need to convince the elders that they'll see tremendous benefit by approving the mission rather than denying us. We believe that with you leading the super party, there's a much greater chance they'll be on board."

"You keep saying super party like I'm supposed to know what that is! Not an adventurer, remember?" he gasped, pointing at himself with his thumb.

Yellsbeth grinned and held up her hands to calm him. "It's just a large party of adventurers. Most groups must limit their membership to ten or less, as the items collected typically aren't sufficient to reward them all. For Pinnacle Reach, we're looking at twenty to thirty Dwarves in the super party on top of our group. The monsters we'll encounter in this city will require a larger group to defeat."

Steev was confused. "You're that confident you'll collect enough artifacts for everyone?" He gave her a critical look. "Just how rich do you need to be?"

Yellsbeth snorted and smiled at him. "We're not doing it for the riches." She took a small object from a belt pocket and held it out to him.

Steev accepted it and went still. It was metallic, with glass inserts and intricate carvings, and seemed to have symbols etched along its side. An artifact! It was exquisite!

"Hold it up on your palm and press the little circle on the side," she said with a smile.

Giving her a cautious glance, he did as she asked.

The small device began to emit a swirling light above it, and music filled the room. It had to be music, but he'd never heard anything like it.

He finally managed to turn his eyes back to hers. "It's beautiful! What instrument was used to create these sounds?"

Yellsbeth's smile widened. "Exactly! There is so much knowledge to be discovered about a race that disappeared long before we arrived on this world. We're on a mission for the three Gods that Blessed Alex. They want to know what happened to their people."

Steev tore his attention away from the beautiful music to face Yellsbeth. She reached out and touched a small square on the object, and the light and music faded once more.

"What do you mean you're on a mission from the Gods?" he asked carefully. "How do you know what they want?"

Yellsbeth nodded. "Alex's Blessings came with a difference. Not only does he have three, but the Gods aren't silent." She frowned. "Perhaps silent is the wrong word. They don't speak with him verbally. It's more like a mind-to-mind sharing of impressions, as he describes it. Our party leader, Lyra, is a Healer and was once linked to his mind while he was communing with them. She confirmed they were there."

Steev's eyes widened in shock. "That would have driven them mad!"

"No, Ullentra is one of the Gods who Blessed him, and she heals his mind after they... connect with him. She healed Lyra as well." She sighed sadly. "He's been given a heavy burden along with the Blessings."

Steev saw something in her expression and felt a sudden tightness in his chest. "You... like him?"

Eyes flashed as Yellsbeth looked at him closely. Then she relaxed. "We all like him. He's a good man. We're good friends."

Steev pushed his feelings down as they wouldn't help this situation.

He went back to his biggest concern.

"This mission, I've never ventured into the underground city. What value would I bring?"

Yellsbeth watched his expression, and he saw she was smiling once more. "What value do you bring to the Forge? To the teams you manage?"

His mouth moved silently at first, as he was confused. "How is that pertinent?" he finally asked.

"You lead a large group of unruly Dwarves and keep them focused on their dangerous tasks. How does this not apply to adventuring? We're not asking you to wield any weapon other than your existing skill as a team leader. That's where you excel!" she insisted.

He blinked in surprise, but he had no rebuttal.

"Our Earth Mage is a tremendous strategist. Yes, he can use magic, but mostly he organizes the others to use their skills as efficiently and effectively as possible. Do you think a large group of stubborn Dwarves will listen to a Human's commands?" she asked.

Steev saw a possible role for himself in this.

Then the reality of what he was being asked to do rose up and slapped him in the face. He was a Deshna Blessed Dwarf who hadn't taken control of his own life, much less an adventurer party.

He held out the artifact to Yellsbeth to let her know she would have to find a more worthy leader.

She shook her head and smiled at him. "You can keep that. It was meant for you. Think about what I've told you and come meet Lyra's party. We're staying at the inn closest to the Adventurer's Guild Hall. Don't be a stranger."

With that, they stood, and she left his home with a coy smile as he stood frozen in his living room.

He felt a movement in his chest and a growing warmth. Something he hadn't felt in a long time.

Was it hope?

Chapter 8

Alex had found the peace he was looking for while sitting in the snow watching the clouds drift past the mountain peaks. He'd left his clothes in the guard house by the front doors and switched to his Therrax form, which didn't feel the cold winds. Being this beast, his eyesight was so much sharper, and he'd enjoyed the view even more.

After a short time, several of the braver guards ventured outside and struck up a conversation with him. They were naturally curious about his Blessings and what it was like to become something else.

Alex was patient and answered their questions. He even managed to ask a few of his own. He was interested in Dwarven culture and whether there had been any drift between the Dwarves of this world and the new arrival Dwarves. That concept hadn't even occurred to them for the most part, but one guard had experience with a new arrival who went to live with his neighbor. They'd struck up a friendship, and he said there were some concepts the new arrival had trouble with. Becoming an adventurer wasn't something he'd expected, as he'd been a scholar on the Dwarven home world. He'd unfortunately died on his first mission, even though he'd lucked out to get Saphra's Blessing.

This was how Alex learned that the Dwarves forced their new arrivals into the same deadly game.

They moved on to less grim topics, and Alex developed a clearer picture of people who lived underground on the mountain peak.

None of them suffered from claustrophobia, though they preferred high ceilings in all their rooms.

They liked to drink and sing and battle, at least this group did, believing it was common for their people. Quick to laugh and equally quick to fight, they were a generally gregarious bunch. They had their troublesome malcontents and some diplomatic peacekeepers, though the latter group received less respect.

After a while, the guards wandered back into the city's warmth and left Alex to ponder what he'd learned as he enjoyed the peaceful quiet of the mountains.

When he felt his tummy remind him of the approaching dinner hour, he wandered back to the doors, switched back, and got dressed in the guard house before making his way back to the inn.

He spotted his friends walking down the stairs from their rooms and shared smiles with them. He saw relief in Lyra's expression.

"Did you clear your thoughts?" she asked as she got closer.

"I did, thank you. It was beautiful out there!" he replied. "Then I got hungry."

That got smiles from the others, who obviously had the same idea.

The party made their way into the pub and found a long table by the wall. Alex took a seat at one end of the bench with his back to the wall, so he could see the room and noted it was frequented by quite a few adventurers. That made sense, given its proximity to the guild hall.

A waitress rushed up to their table and took their drink orders. Beer all around, except for Alex, who asked for water. A second waitress arrived and told them the kitchen was serving stew with meat and vegetables, and bread. Everyone agreed.

Alex thought back to his days on Earth, when restaurants served a variety of meals, and you picked your favorite from a menu. Now there was no choice, but the food was healthier.

A short time later, the drinks arrived, and a large tankard of beer was thumped on the table before Alex. The waitress disappeared before he could tell her. He slid his drink across the table to Yellsbeth.

"Thank you, kind sir," she said with a grin.

He just smiled and stood to walk to the bar.

He spotted Barrassa standing there, nursing her own beer, alone, so he stopped next to her.

"Hi!" he said, and she glanced at him, then smiled shyly.

"This place seems very popular with the adventurers. Handy being so close, I suppose," he said to make conversation.

"Yes, it's an unofficial hangout for many of us," she replied.

"Have you had dinner? We just arrived, and there's room at our table if you'll join us," Alex asked.

She glanced back at his group, who were talking and laughing.

He saw her preparing to bow out, but he added some incentive. "It's our treat, and they're a really good bunch of people."

He saw the offer of free food won her over, so he flagged the bartender and managed to cajole him into serving him a flagon of water, though the gruff Dwarf's expression showed his distaste.

"Never drink the stuff myself!" he grumbled.

After topping up Barrassa's mug with ale, Alex slid a coin across the bar to the tender, whose expression changed to delight. He smiled at Alex with a nod before the two walked back to the table. His friends looked at them with interest.

"Everyone, we have a guest joining us for dinner tonight," he said as he had their attention. "This is Barrassa Kindhelm." He glanced at her to make sure he'd gotten that right, and she nodded with another shy smile as she looked to the others.

He gestured for her to take his spot on the bench next to Joah, who looked delighted, and he pulled a nearby chair over to sit at the end.

His friends took turns introducing themselves to their guest, and she seemed to be relaxing by the end. Her eyes lit up as a large plate of stew was placed before her. She was practically salivating, and Alex wondered if she was getting enough meals to feed her larger body. From the poor look of her equipment, she might have been on a very tight budget.

He noted she was glancing at him as he hadn't received his yet.

"Dig in! It looks good!" he said with a grin, and she waited no longer. The look of bliss on her face and how quickly she ate confirmed she'd been desperately hungry. That sent a wave of concern through him, but he did his best to hide it. He shared a look with Joah, who also seemed worried.

He caught Yellsbeth, Thorn, and Lyra watching him, so he hadn't been quick enough to hide his expression. He just smiled and looked at the plate the waitress placed before him. He snagged her sleeve and whispered in her ear. She glanced at him, then nodded before leaving.

Barrassa had almost finished her plate before Alex put much of a dent in his. "It's really good, isn't it," he said, and the tall Dwarf soaked up the gravy with her bread before glancing at him.

"Y-yes, it... was," she stammered as she realized what she'd done. Her face reddened in embarrassment, but Alex just nodded.

The waitress arrived at Alex's elbow with another plate. He gestured for her to place it before his guest.

Barrassa's eyes widened, then she smiled shyly as she accepted the second meal.

"You can take your time with this one if you'd like," Joah teased, and she grinned at him.

Conversation at the table was light and friendly, as they couldn't discuss the mission with their new guest present and so many listeners close by.

Alex saw Dystra passing signs to Lyra, Dale, and Jhaan, who nodded to him. Alex recognized that they were communicating, but he hadn't yet learned what the gestures meant. At his puzzled look, Yellsbeth leaned forward and spoke quietly just for him. "We have ears on our table."

His eyes widened in comprehension. "Do we know who they are?"

Yellsbeth glanced around, sighed, and looked back at Alex. "At least two of them work for the local royalty."

Alex glanced down the table and realized someone was missing. He locked eyes with Lyra. "Where's Alois?"

Lyra smiled. "He's enjoying himself immensely with invitations for dinner and visits with many of the senior families. We may not see him until we leave Kharnthiad. He's a natural diplomat!"

That made Alex smile as Alois seemed to have found a new purpose in his life. He turned to Barrassa to explain.

"We have a non-adventurer guest traveling with the party. He was the regent of the recently deceased King of Thale. With the king's untimely and suspicious death, Alois found himself no longer safe in the kingdom, so he joined us. We've learned that he made many friends throughout his career, and he's wonderful company."

"Where have you traveled?" Barrassa asked shyly but intrigued.

Alex nodded. "Well, I'm a recent new arrival, so I can't say I've been to a lot of places, but when I joined up with Lyra's party, we visited GreenTree Dynasty. We did very well there. After that, we went back to Genthale to report our success to the Guild Hall. Then we traveled to Shalazar and met with their Council of Elders to request permission to visit Wave Crest. We brought a large group of Beast-Kin with us, and once more, we were very successful." Barrassa saw Ti'Nah nodding with a wide grin.

"Now we're here to hopefully explore Pinnacle Reach," Alex finished.

Barrassa's expression showed she'd very much like to join them.

"We'll be asking the Council of Elders if we can bring a Dwarven super party of twenty to thirty members with us," Alex added, and she was practically vibrating with excitement. "I'm not part of the selection committee, but you can apply."

Her face fell. "I don't have a Blessing. I just have the strength in my abnormally large body."

Joah gave her a kind smile. "You don't seem abnormal to me."

Her face warmed up, so Alex continued. "And who says that's not enough?" he said with a raised brow. "You could always guard me. I pull the supply wagons. I'm the porter."

She blinked at him in surprise. "Which God Blessed you with the strength to pull wagons?" she gasped.

He chuckled. "It's more of a case of Gods. I have three Blessings, and one of them is Agron, so I can change into different beasts. I'm still me when I change, so I can be very helpful doing stuff like pulling the wagons." Seeing her doubt, he turned in his chair and lifted his tunic to show her his lower back.

She gasped, then found her voice. "It's true!"

He dropped the hem and turned to face her as he nodded. "Yeah. That's what I discovered when I arrived here. I didn't know Agron had such a bad reputation, but having the other two prevents the issues previous Blessed had with just Agron."

Alex noticed she was staring at him incredulously.

"Why would someone with three Blessings, especially when one is from Agron, need protection?" she argued.

"For the most part, I try to stay out of the fighting on our missions inside the cities. Yes, Agron is a mighty weapon in many of his forms, but truthfully, he's overkill, and we bring along enough strength in the party to handle the fighting. If we get permission to explore the city and bring along a super party, you should apply. Your height wouldn't be a negative with us," he suggested.

She looked at him sharply but saw that he was just speaking the truth.

"Here, it isn't such a benefit when you're the only one," she said.

He nodded, grasping her point. "Have you considered moving to another territory like Yellsbeth and Thorn did to be an adventurer there?"

She looked at him seriously. "I'm not Blessed by the Gods with strength or skills, so it would be extra dangerous for me. I'm accepted here even if I'm treated as an oddity... which I would also be elsewhere."

Her eyes looked past him for a moment, then a frown crossed her face. Alex flicked a glance in the same direction and spotted Karlang. "What's his problem?" he asked, frowning.

Barrassa's scowl deepened. "Karlang got it into his puny brain that he wants to possess me, not marry me. He's a Saphra Blessed warrior, so he's stronger and more skilled than me. He won't stop accosting me, and it's part of Dwarven culture to allow his pursuit until he gives up or I give in. My rejection of him hasn't dissuaded him. He's obsessed."

Alex noted that Yellsbeth and Thorn both seemed very uncomfortable, like they were familiar with the issue. The others at the table looked shocked. Joah seemed particularly affronted.

Alex didn't try to hide his disgust. "That behavior should be seen as sick or criminal."

"I agree, but it's just another burden I must bear." Barrassa looked away to control her expression. "Thank you for dinner and the company. I must head home as I'm tired."

Alex stood as she did. "Thank you for joining us."

She gave him a trembling smile, then left while Karlang had his back to the table.

Alex sat as he watched the stalker Dwarf ordering a drink at the bar. Then he turned his face toward Thorn as her sister had wandered off to speak to someone she knew.

"What's up with Dwarven culture that permits stalkers like Karlang to harass unwilling mates until they give in?" he asked her.

She sighed and nodded. "It's a strength-dominated society to this day. If Barrassa could beat Karlang in combat, then he'd have to concede. Otherwise, she must agree to be his mate. His Blessing makes it impossible for her to win without one. It's an ancient law that gets challenged from time to time, but our leaders won't change it, as they believe it keeps our race strong."

"Physically, but not mentally or morally," Alex insisted, and Thorn just nodded.

Lyra caught their attention. "If dinner is over, I'd like to convene a private meeting upstairs." She flagged down Yellsbeth and called her over.

The party walked toward the stairs leading to the upper floor. Alex followed, keeping his eyes on Karlang, who was speaking to the bartender.

When Karlang suddenly turned, locked eyes, and moved to block him, Alex changed course to meet the angry Dwarf in the middle of the room. Voices in the room went silent as all eyes focused on the two on a collision course.

"Alex--" Lyra began, but he lifted a hand to stop her without looking away from Karlang's eyes. They stopped a short distance away and gave each other an evaluating once over.

The Dwarf growled at him. "I'm told you've been interfering with my bitch. I'm going to have to teach you why that's a bad idea," he snarled. His hand was moving toward his hammer.

"I challenge your claim on Barrassa Kindhelm!" Alex said loudly, his voice reaching every ear, and the room fell silent in anticipation.

Karlang paused, then his grin widened as he saw nothing about Alex that looked threatening.

"You'll honor a challenge by combat?" Karlang asked as his grin widened.

Alex didn't look away. "Yes, skill against skills, Blessing against Blessings. We meet tomorrow morning, outside the Gates of Kharnthiad, after breakfast."

Karlang looked at him curiously. "Why not now and here?"

Alex looked at him with utter contempt. "I wouldn't want to hurt anyone else when I crush you like the little turd you are."

Laughter erupted from the crowd watching.

Karlang showed his teeth in a fierce snarl and barely managed to keep his hand from his battle hammer. His eyes flicked to their audience, who were interested and amused. The expressions on the faces of his foe's party confused him. Only a few looked nervous, and he couldn't tell who that look was for. The two Dwarven females looked at him with absolute contempt!

But it was the Beast-Kin's savage glee that unsettled him most. This doubt caused his rage to flare, and he turned a hateful look at Alex.

"To the death!" he shouted.

"Or until you beg me to spare your miserable fucking life," Alex said coldly.

Seething with rage, Karlang nodded, spun, and marched out of the pub.

Lyra's hand landed on Alex's back as she gently pushed him toward the stairs. The party went up.

The bar's volume also rose as they all began speaking excitedly.

Once the party was behind the closed door of Lyra's room, she covered it with a wall of rippling air magic that would absorb their voices, keeping them from being heard in the outside hall.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Lyra snapped.

Thorn was watching Alex, a smile on her lips. "Challenging Karlang was exactly the right answer to get him to end his pursuit of Barrassa. He had to accept when publicly challenged, and when he loses, she's free of him."

"It's a death duel!" Lyra exclaimed.

"Not necessarily, and I don't think I'm breaking any Dwarven laws," Alex said as he looked to their two Dwarven experts.

Yellsbeth smiled. "He's not, even if he does kill him."

"We need to speak about the mission! Did this have to happen first?" Lyra pushed.

Alex faced her directly. "Actually, it did. Our mission won't go anywhere unless I complete the King's Challenge first. I'll get started on that tomorrow."

Lyra blinked at Alex in surprise. "When did you decide to do it? Shouldn't we have discussed this?"

Alex sighed. "In a perfect world, yes, but the King's Challenge was issued because I allowed Agron to push me into intimidating the King. Mistake number one. We have no choice but to do it, but I'm going to see if I can make the Dragons move to another mountain range. The King was careful not to say I had to kill them, so I'll try to see what options I have."

The group went silent as they contemplated that.

Yellsbeth saw this as an opportunity to share some news. "If you can find a loophole and we get to present a petition, I may have some good news."

Thorn was the one who caught on immediately. "You spoke with Steev!" Her eyes widened as she caught her sister's blush. "Oh! You... spoke with Steev!" she added with a delighted grin.

Yellsbeth's eyes flared with annoyance at her sister. "Yes, we talked. I haven't convinced him to join us yet, but the talk was promising."

"Ooo!" Thorn teased, dodging the slap her sister aimed at her.

"It isn't like that! You know Steev is just a friend and wasn't interested in his father's arranged marriage plan," the redhead argued.

Lyra nodded distractedly in thanks to Yellsbeth but wasn't ready to let go of the issue of Alex becoming a Dragon. "Alex, you haven't had much experience with being a Dragon. Being one in a combat situation in Shalazar almost ended in tragedy!"

Ti'Nah moved to refute this. "I think Alex did very well for his first time as a Dragon! He prevented himself from being harmed, destroyed a ship, and even managed to keep his attackers alive!"

Dystra added his two cents. "You know nothing about the nature of being a Dragon, like how to fly or fight as one. Going up against real ones, you may need to do both at the same time now."

Alex frowned at Lyra and Dystra. "You aren't making me feel more confident about this."

"Maybe you need to hear a rational voice," Dale insisted.

Alex huffed, then turned to face Dale. "Okay, I'm listening."

Dale was caught flat-footed and saw everyone watching him. "Uh, I mean, there is no immediate need to act. Take a step back and use your time more deliberately. Don't let Agron's impatience and impulsiveness set the pace."

Alex nodded as that made sense. He smiled at Dale, who gave him an embarrassed smile. "Good advice as usual, thanks!" He took a breath and looked inward as he reviewed his actions. He didn't feel any interference in this instance and relaxed.

"Tomorrow, after I deal with Karlang, I'll take my time learning to be a Dragon so I can get the feel of it. If I open myself up to the creatures I become, their instincts kick in, and I can learn from that," he said with a nod.

Dale's smile slipped away. "I meant maybe you shouldn't have leapt into going after this Karlang jerk at all!"

Alex held the man's eyes. "I felt no push from Agron for that. That was just the right thing to do. There are some unjust rules in this society that allow the victimization of citizens without Blessings."

Yellsbeth and Thorn lost their smiles and nodded. "That was one of the reasons we left," the redhead stated.

"If you hadn't challenged him, I would have!" Joah insisted suddenly, and all eyes locked on him in surprise. His face reddened. "This creep's treatment of Barrassa goes against everything I stand for!"

Alex nodded to the man with a wide, proud smile, then turned his attention back to Lyra. "We're at a standstill if we can't complete the King's Challenge. Agron's alternate answer to this is too bloody and violent to contemplate."

That brought everyone to silence.

"I wouldn't allow it," Alex assured them.

At their glum looks, he nodded as he had no better answers. "I'm going to get some sleep. Tomorrow might be a long day."

Lyra dropped the magic covering the door, and Alex stepped outside to walk to his room.

He had some trouble falling asleep, and once he finally did, he was plagued by dreams of Barrassa being endlessly pursued by Karlang.

Chapter 9

News of the challenge must have spread well beyond the inn last night, as the crowd gathered outside the city's massive doors was huge and noisy.

When Alex stepped outside with Yellsbeth and Thorn at his sides, a cheer erupted from the gathered people. He saw money exchanging hands, so there'd obviously been bets he wouldn't show.

He spotted the group of guards assigned to protect the city's doors. They were well aware of his Blessings, and they grinned excitedly at him. He knew how they'd placed their bets.

He continued forward to where he saw Karlang waiting. The significance of that cheering wasn't lost on the Dwarf, and his scowl increased. Hate flashed in his small eyes.

So, he wasn't popular with the hometown crowd. Aberrant behavior, such as his pursuit of a mate who rejected him, wouldn't have made him many friends.

"Are you ready?" Karlang growled.

Alex looked past the Dwarf to see the open spot on the slope that would work for him. He nodded as he stepped past the Dwarf and turned to face him and the crowd, who'd gone silent.

"I will give you one more chance to drop your claim on Barrassa Kindhelm," he said loud enough for all to hear.

"Stick your chance up your arrogant ass!" Karlang shouted back. "You fucking Humans are always sticking your noses where they're not welcome! I've come here to answer your challenge and spill your blood across the snow as a lesson to all. She's mine!"

That's when Alex saw Barrassa at the front of the crowd, standing next to Joah. Her expression showed her embarrassment and fear. Their eyes met, and Alex nodded to her before he refocused on Karlang.

"So be it," he said and turned his back on the angry Dwarf as he began to walk toward the open space he'd noted before. Thorn walked with him as Yellsbeth remained to ensure Karlang didn't attack him from behind.

Alex took his clothes off as he went, handing them to Thorn until he was naked. Then Thorn hustled back toward the crowd, picking up Yellsbeth as she passed. The redhead sneered at Karlang before she joined her sister.

Karlang stared at Alex's naked back, then his eyes dropped to see three God's Marks. Confusion appeared on his face as he tried to recall who these symbols represented.

Alex turned to face him, but suddenly, he was no longer Human.

As it had been when he became a Dragon on the road covered with mud, the transition wasn't as dizzying as the first time in Shalazar. He still felt the instant of pain from his body's ripping apart and reassembling, but he was developing a kind of callus that dealt with that pain.

With no ship to obstruct his change, he reached his full size in a flash and felt none of the nausea or light-headedness he'd experienced with a slow transition. That was a relief! Being a dragon felt no different than being a Therrax, aside from the form difference, of course. He wondered if his frequent use of Agron's powers was helping with this.

The speed of the change caused Karlang to stumble back. Towering above him was the largest Dragon he'd ever seen. Its brilliant red scales flashed boldly in the morning sunlight as obsidian claws, taller than Barrassa, dug into the paving stones beneath a light dusting of snow.

Its massive face slowly lowered until it was just before Karlang at ground level, and the Dwarf smelled the smoke and ash from its breath.

Its voice was deep, rumbling the ground around them. "No one can accuse me of not giving you opportunities to drop your repugnant claim. You refused. Now I'll even give you the first blow."

The massive face curled its lip as he squinted menacingly.

"Go ahead, make my day," Alex said in his best Dragon Dirty Harry impression.

Back with the watchers, Dale burst into giggles. That rippled out into the surrounding crowd.

Alex smiled at the sound, showing his massive fangs.

Humiliated, Karlang screamed his rage as he put all his strength into swinging his mighty war hammer.

The blow struck one of the dragon's upper fangs and actually cracked the tooth badly.

Alex winced but kept from reeling back. Tears came to his eyes as pain shot from his tooth through his face.

Red light flashed over the huge skull as Ullentra quickly repaired the cracked tooth, and the pain soon faded. He slowly lifted his head back up to normal height and glared down at Karlang.

"Nice try. My turn," he said.

Belying his earlier slow movements, his massive front foot shot forward over the Dwarf and pinned him to the ground. He stopped before crushing him, though a few ribs broke. Karlang's head could be seen protruding between two of the Dragon's toes. He screamed in agony and rage.

"Do you yield?" Alex growled, and the ground shook.

Karlang stopped screaming to stare up at death incarnate. He knew he'd lost, but he wasn't ready to accept it.

"You cheated!" he gasped.

"Cheated? In what way?" Alex asked so everyone could hear.

"You didn't tell me you had Agron's Blessing!" Karlang said through his pain.

"You didn't ask what Blessings I had, and I told you last night that I had more than one," Alex said.

Karlang stared up at the Dragon's maw in confusion. "You... you didn't!"

"I said last night when I issued the challenge: Skill against skills, Blessing against Blessings. If you'd listened instead of behaving like an arrogant brute, you could have asked what I meant by that. I would have answered truthfully to spare you the humiliation of being crushed like the little turd you are."

That phrase rang bells in Karlang's memory.

"I say for the last time: Do. You. Yield?" His voice shook the ground, causing Karlang to moan in pain.

Bleary eyes looked up from the snow, "I yield!"

A huge cheer rose from the crowd as Alex pulled his foot back and nodded to the spectators.

"You will stop harassing Barrassa. You will not speak to her. You will stay away from her. Breach this contract, and I vow on the Gods who Blessed me, that I will hunt you down, and you will die, slowly and painfully. Am I understood?" Alex said, holding Karlang's eyes.

"Yes," the injured Dwarf gasped.

"Go find a healer," Alex said as he turned away. He nodded to Barrassa, who was staring up at him in shock.

Alex moved further from the entrance as he looked toward the surrounding mountain peaks. Finding Dragons amongst that vast space felt like an impossible task.

At breakfast, Alex had discussed how he planned to begin the King's Challenge. While Lyra and the others still had concerns, they understood his point that not completing it left them with no other option but to move on to another city.

He sighed, knowing Dystra was right. He didn't have the first clue about flying or fighting as a Dragon.

"I was right."

Alex glanced down at his feet in surprise to see the Elf in question glaring up at him.

"Okay! I admit it! I'm just a little hesitant to open myself to a Dragon's instincts," Alex explained.

"What are you expecting will happen?" the assassin asked.

Alex looked to the horizon. "I don't know. I've been listening to everyone's opinions and beliefs about Dragons, and there's a terrible bias in Kharnthiad against them. Savage, clever, and unthinking monsters are prevalent concepts. Agron really likes them, and he's all about aggression. Do I really want to connect to that?"

"You said it. The Dwarves are biased, so don't take it at face value. You have an opportunity to get a true reading on how they think and behave. Open yourself up to that and learn for yourself. Then you can come back and enlighten us."

Alex stared at the Elf. "How can someone be so wise yet so annoying at the same time?"

Dystra smiled. "Years of practice. Now, get moving! I don't want to spend any more time than I must in Kharnthiad!"

With that, he dashed back toward the entrance to go inside and get warm.

Alex nodded to himself.

It was true that he'd physically become a Dragon on a few occasions, but he truly hadn't connected with the essence of being one. He hadn't touched the instinctual programming that hid in the recesses of its brain. Today, he would, as he needed to be up there amongst the clouds. His Human mind said it was impossible for something so large and heavy to fly. But he knew they did.

He glanced behind him and saw many curious onlookers still standing by the doors. One of them was Barrassa. He hoped her life would have fewer challenges now.

Pulling his mind back to the task at hand, he stopped dragging his heels mentally and opened himself up to everything it meant to be a Dragon.

It was... glorious!

A Dragon's perception of the world added a completely new spectrum of sensations, colors, textures... his mind was being swept away by the sudden expansion in the volume of data his brain was processing every second.

The sky called to him, lit up by transparent layers of energy that made his body tingle deliciously! They'd been invisible to his Human perceptions.

He sprang upward, his enormous wings unfurling from his back to beat strongly. His mind guided him to slip between the now perceivable belts of gravity encircling the world. He couldn't see, hear, taste, smell, or touch them, but had an awareness of them all around him just the same. Some new sense buried deep in a Dragon's mind vibrated in harmony with the otherwise intangible waves, turning them into propulsion. His body flowed between these bands like swimming within a strong current. His wings provided thrust for course corrections, but it was his mind's interaction with the gravity fields that made it possible for him to soar through the sky. He felt massless!

A feeling of elation filled him, and it wasn't just the thrill of flying. He'd become birds before, and it didn't feel like this.

It was his interaction with the world's gravity that made him feel... connected to it on a deeply intimate level. His emotions swelled as he set his course for the valley leading to the next range of mountains. He could feel the mountain he'd just left and knew he'd be able to find it again, instinctively.

Looking down at the plateau before the entrance to Kharnthiad, he could see people picking themselves up after being blown over by the downward gusts of wind his wings had caused. He'd apologize later.

Noting the location of the entrance, he turned his vision to the valleys on the other side of the mountain. A report left for him at the inn indicated this was where a Dragon was said to have been causing havoc.

His vision was so sharp that it was hard not to be distracted by the motion he saw. The sway of the crops in the breeze. The running of the grazing flocks. Trees leaning with the wind. People moving here and there. It was almost an overload, so he pushed that aside and tried to focus on movements in the sky. Other flying creatures, larger than birds.

He followed the valley between the peaks and scanned the skies above and below, looking for any sign of Dragons.

Often, he'd spot Dwarves on the ground pointing at him and running for cover. He didn't have time to explain, so he just continued onward.

As the sun crossed the sky and afternoon light fell on the mountaintops, he felt the futility of searching at random. There was just too much land to cover. For all he knew, he could be flying in the wrong direction, or the Dragons he was searching for could be flying in the opposite direction, one valley over.

Frustrated, he spotted a flat spot to land, a stone outcropping on a peak up ahead, and made for it. His landing was gentle as he wasn't sure if the shelf would support his weight. He kept his wings outstretched in case he needed to launch himself into the sky.

He sat on the rock and contemplated what he could do. Alex glanced around him and saw the valley below split up in five directions, including the valley he'd just come from. Maybe he could call out, and if he did it loudly enough, he could draw the Dragons to him.

Were Dragons smart enough to have a language?

He wasn't sure if Agron's Dragon form had memories. It had instincts, like flying, but language?

He faced each of the five valleys and roared as loudly as he could. Then he waited for a response. He repeated this five times, listening to the sound of the wind as he waited for something.

Nothing.

Glancing at the sun heading for the horizon, he decided he could try again the following day.

He turned toward the valley he'd come from and was preparing to launch himself from the shelf when he heard a faint echo.

He turned his head, trying to triangulate on the sound. When it repeated, he faced the third valley that ran north-west and saw something flying toward him at a rapid pace. It was another Dragon, but this one was bluish-white and seemed not quite as large as he was.

He heard another call coming from the west and shortly after that a call from the south-east

The western Dragon was greenish-blue in color, and the south-eastern one was reddish in hue, fading to blue.

The first, closest Dragon spotted him and roared once more, making a course correction to bring it toward the ledge he was waiting on.

He felt a tingling sensation in his brain and split his attention between the rapidly approaching Dragon and the noise in his head that was becoming words.

"---Dragon----male--save---alone----speak?"

The lovely blue-white creature swooped up from below very elegantly and settled, light as a feather, on the edge of the small plateau. It wasn't too much smaller than he was, so Alex was concerned they'd both go tumbling down the side of the mountain if their perch gave out.

Soon after, the other two followed and took spots on the shelf.

They made short, chirpy vocalizations at each other, and then his mind was filled with a commotion as three distinct voices tried to speak to him all at once. It had to be them, but he was stunned to realize they used telepathy.

The Blue-White one seemed to be the leader as the other two went quiet to let her speak. He focused his thoughts.

"Hello. My name is Alex."

There was silence as all three Dragons turned their heads and looked in all directions before focusing back on him.

"Not Dragon?" Blue-White said. Their mental voices were as distinctive as their colored scales.

It was Alex's turn to explain. "Yes, Dragon... now. Agron Blessing. I became a Dragon to speak to you."

Words and concepts Alex had never conceived of flashed through his mind, leaving him a little dazed. "Do you know of Agron?" he asked.

It looked at him cautiously. "God of Beasts/Chaos/Nature"

"Yes. Do you know other Gods?" Alex asked.

There was a non-committal response, and his impression was that Dragons didn't care about such things.

Blue-White moved closer, pressed its snout against his side, and inhaled.

The Dragon's nose was exceptionally cold, and Alex flinched. She pulled back and rubbed her nose.

"You are Dragon."

"Yes. Now," he qualified.

"We mate."

"Yes!" the other two agreed immediately.

"What?" he gasped.

Startlingly bright blue eyes watched him. "We are the last Dragons. You are male. We are female. We mate and make eggs for more Dragons."

He noted her speech patterns were becoming more complex and clearer in his mind. He realized that it was probably his mind learning to communicate this way and likely had nothing to do with their intelligence.

"Last Dragons? Why last Dragons?" Alex gasped.

"Ground dwellers. Egg destroyers. They kill all Dragons they find! We are last. We must make more!" she said desperately.

"Calm. We have time," Alex assured her, and felt her mind begin to become less frantic. Then it spiked again. "They want to kill us! We thought we were last, and no males survived!"

Alex's mind was getting a battering from her emotions. "Calm, please. Your name?"

"Alleshi Niinaa Jessoo Daessoo Ffaa," Blue-White said immediately.

"Creesha Hassta Lottar Braagh Ssaa," Green-Blue replied.

"Gaella Stronn Maarvva Liona Ggaa," Red-Blue added.

"Those are beautiful names. May I call you Alleshi? Creesha? Gaella?" Alex asked as he looked at each

Alleshi moved closer and pressed her face against his neck. That wasn't as cold as her snout, so it was okay. "We will mate, so you may call me Alleshi."

Creesha mirrored Alleshi's actions, as did Gaella. Alex tried not to be overwhelmed by all the touchy-feely behavior with strangers. It was a Dragon thing, apparently.

"How did you become the last? Where are the males?" Alex asked as Alleshi moved closer again, leaning against him. He could feel her relaxing as she pressed her body against his. She was wound tight. It must have been terrible to know you were the last of your kind.

"Ground dwellers hunt us down. We are best at hiding, but with the shortage of food, we can hide no more," Alleshi sighed.

"Have Dragons always lived here?" Alex asked.

"Yes. Long before ground dwellers arrived. We lived in these mountains, but they drove us out of our caves and destroyed our eggs. Monsters!"

Alex picked up on her anger and despair, but she was still calming down.

"Did Dragons eat ground dwellers? Eat ground dweller livestock?" Alex hoped the concepts were getting through, and she put his mind at ease by answering his question perfectly.

"We have never eaten high-sentience beings. We only kill them when protecting ourselves. We eat the beasts they raise on fields that once had herds of wild deer. Our food."

Ah, Alex was beginning to get a clearer picture.

The Dwarves arrived and pushed out the native species, erroneously downgrading their intelligence because they didn't speak an audible language. They were treated as pests.

Now there were only three females and one... him. He wasn't sure if it would be possible for him to fertilize a female Dragon's eggs. Even if he could, wouldn't there be birth defects as the first generation required mates to produce the second?

"It might not be possible for me to fertilize eggs," he said cautiously.

She looked up at him with huge blue eyes. "You smell right." Creesha and Gaella agreed enthusiastically.

Ah. He didn't know what that meant.

Alleshi locked eyes with Alex. "Dragon births are all unique, and there has never been a birth defect or weakness in a newborn Dragon. Each egg incubates in isolation, absorbing nutrients from the environment. This purifies the egg. They must be placed in caches in mineral-rich pockets in the mountains. Depending on the composition of the minerals, the Dragons will have distinct affinities to various elemental magics."

"I agree we must bring the Dragon race back from the brink of extinction. Having more babies isn't the only thing we must do to ensure your survival," he said.

When their anxiety flared, he did his best to calm them. "We WILL make babies!" he asserted, and felt their voices relax in his mind.

"Is there somewhere else you can live that isn't occupied by the ground dwellers?" Alex asked.

The three Dragons shared looks. "This is our home. It was our home first. We are of these mountains. The minerals that enriched us in our eggs came from these mountains. Could you leave the surface of the land to live under the surface of the waters?" Alleshi asked. "To survive, we must remain close to the elements that birthed us. Instinct guides us in this."

Alex heard what she was saying, but just to be sure, he clarified. "So, as I would not survive under the surface of the water due to a lack of air for me to breathe, moving away from the mountains that sustained you as an egg would lead you to your death from an absence of these elements that you need to survive."

Alleshi and the other two were greatly relieved that he understood, and their joy came through the link.

"We also cannot lay eggs in non-fertile mountains, ones that don't have a majority of the same elements we need, as the eggs would starve." Gaella insisted.

That eliminated the idea of moving the Dragons to an alternate location. He had to find a way for them to coexist with the Dwarves.

"We must ensure the ground dwellers acknowledge you as a high-sentience race and agree to protect your future survival. Both must coexist, so what is necessary for that to be possible?"

The three Dragons watched him closely.

"I will have to convince the King to issue an edict to his people stating that no Dwarf may harm a Dragon or its eggs. I will make him aware that Dragons are thinking beings who existed here before they arrived and must be protected.

Dragons must never kill Dwarves unless in self-defence. You've indicated you already do this, so I will remind the King of this truth.

We must find you a stock of wild deer that can be managed close by, so there will be enough to sustain the Dragons. We will do this because Dwarf livestock must be off-limits as food for Dragons."

Alleshi shared looks with the other two Dragons. "Our people never had an issue with coexistence."

Alex sighed, as this painted a bleak picture of the Dwarves.

"We fly to my dwelling and mate," she insisted, holding his eyes with hers.

"Then mine!" Creesha insisted.

"And mine!" Gaella added.

He looked at the sun, which was almost at the horizon now. It looked like he was staying out overnight. He had no way of assuring his friends he was okay.

"I will follow you," he said. He'd apologize to his friends tomorrow.

Alleshi immediately leapt from the plateau and spread her wings. Alex followed her actions and looked back when he heard the rock ledge finally crumble and tumble into the valley below. Creesha and Gaella were right behind him, so they'd avoided being caught in the landslide.

He glanced down but was relieved to see there was no village at the base of this mountain.

He caught up to Alleshi and followed her up a valley to reach a remote mountain. She flew into a crevasse and into a cave. Creesha and Gaella didn't follow them inside.

Looking around, Alex noted that the cave was certainly not as comfortable as Kharnthiad, with the wind whipping and howling through the narrow entrance.

"I would excavate a new home in a better location, but this would draw the ground dwellers' attention, and hunters would come," she said. "When I am ready to lay our eggs, I will move to the location they must incubate in, as this mountain is not suitable for a cache. I am hopeful that by then you will be able to effect a change in the ground dwellers so they will not harm the eggs."

"When will the eggs be ready?" Alex asked.

"In three cycles of the moon," Alleshi responded.

He allowed his Dragon mind to mentally translate that into three months.

Alex noted the carcasses of two dead sheep-like animals, livestock from some farm.

Alleshi looked at them, then back at Alex. "The wild deer are being over-hunted and have become hard to find. I can't go too far from my home to find more."

Alex nodded as he understood.

"We mate now," Allesha said firmly and turned her body to face away. She pulled her tail to the side, and Alex saw where he was to join with her. Instinct took over once again, and Alex drove himself deep into Alleshi's body. They rubbed their necks together until he erupted within her.

She smiled at Alex once they separated. "I should be able to lay twenty or more eggs with what you gave me".

He returned her smile, then it slipped away as he worried about how he'd convince the King to change his nation's policies toward Dragons when he wouldn't even change a policy that allowed the abuse of one of his citizens.

Alex needed to convince the King that Dragons were thinking beings.

"You have no written records or other artifacts of your culture that I can use when I speak with the King?" he asked.

Alleshi tilted her head as she looked at Alex. Then she pressed her forehead against his.

A flood of images poured into his brain, overwhelming him.

When he came back to himself, she was smiling at him. "What was that?" he asked softly.

"The history of our people from the beginning until today. You are now part of our knowledge," she said sweetly.

Alex realized he could access this vast chronological historical treasury of knowledge. He thought of Creesha and Gaella and found them in the record. Only a Dragon brain would have the storage required to contain such a vast recording of social history and the horsepower to search it.

"Creesha and Gaella await your attention. You will return to us?" Alleshi asked.

He rubbed his face against hers. "Yes, I will, but it might not be right away. Stay hidden, be safe, and be wary of the ground dwellers until I can prove they have implemented a practice to protect you. I need to think on this, but I will speak with you again before I head back to Kharnthiad."

She smiled at him and nodded.

Leaving the cave and crevasse in the heavy crosswind elegantly, as Alleshi had done it, took more skill than Alex had, but he managed to rejoin the other two.

"My turn!" Creesha said excitedly.

Alex smiled at her. "Lead on." The two grinned at him and leapt into the air.

He'd give them the same warning he gave Alleshi.

After the mating.

-=-

Barrassa clung to the bag the Guildmaster gave her after an impromptu celebration they'd thrown for her for getting away from that creep, Karlang. Inside were some newish clothes and some meal vouchers from the pub.

It was the nicest thing anyone had done for her, next to Alex challenging Karlang to help her break free from him.

She hadn't heard that he'd challenged Karlang the night before and only found out when she entered the Guild Hall first thing this morning. She was swept up by a gang of regulars heading for the front gates. On the way, they filled her in on what was about to happen.

She knew Alex had multiple Blessings, and one was from Agron, but she hadn't seen what he could do with it. She was well aware of what Karlang could do with his, so she was worried for Alex.

Seeing him become a colossal Dragon had been stunning, and a little frightening, and for the slightest moment, she'd almost felt sorry for Karlang.

Then she recalled how much of a monster he was and hoped Alex would burn him alive.

Now all she wanted to do was get some rest. It had been a long day.

When she stepped into the alley leading to her hovel-like apartment, she didn't hear the hammer swinging until it struck the back of her head. She hit the ground hard and lost her grip on her bag. Her sword was yanked from its harness on her back and tossed into the shadows.

She next felt herself being dragged by her feet into the darkness of the alley.

"Nuh," she managed to mumble, but the blow to her skull made speaking impossible. Something was wrong with her head. She was surprised to be alive at all.

"Shut up, you cunt! You should have just said yes."

Karlang's raspy voice sent a jolt of ice through her veins, but that surge of adrenaline just made her nauseous. She turned her head and vomited.

"Fuck!" Karlang cursed as the stench of sick wafted through the enclosed space.

Rough hands gripped her legs and twisted her body until she flipped over onto her stomach. Those hands then went to work on her clothes, tearing them from her body until her lower half was exposed to the air.

Barrassa was slipping in and out of consciousness, but each time she returned, she was in a more horrifying state. She suddenly felt him force himself inside her, and she managed a warbling cry. Not too loud, as she still had no strength.

Luck finally came her way when she heard voices nearby, and one of them called out.

"Did you hear that?"

"Hey! Someone need help back there?"

Karlang cursed again and pushed himself off her body to quickly get dressed. He then flipped her onto her back so he could see her face.

His expression was ugly with rage and pain, as the healing he'd received probably wasn't sufficient for him to be doing this.

Then he lifted his hammer one more time to crush her skull. As it dropped, Barrassa managed the impossible. She lifted her arms over her face and turned her head.

Her cry of pain echoed off the alley walls as the heavy weight broke her arms and tore her ear off.

"Hey! What are you doing?" the voice yelled much closer.

Karlang rushed out the other end of the alley to avoid the ones coming to her aid. He grabbed his satchel and hustled as quickly as his short legs could take him to the exit from the city. He wouldn't be coming back. He'd arranged a mount and would be riding away as quickly as it could take him.

Back in the alley, the two drunk adventurers looked down at the mess that was Barrassa.

"Oh, my god. Jexx! Get her some real help! Get the Peacekeepers!" the less tipsy of the two yelled. His friend immediately rushed away to the guard station.

They returned and gently carried Barrassa to the nearby clinic where a healer was on duty. Her face blanched when she saw the damage.

She'd do her best, but this was a little out of her league.

Chapter 10

Alex returned to the plateau before the doors to Kharnthiad by mid-afternoon the following day.

Thorn, Yellsbeth, Lyra, and Dale were waiting for him. From their expressions, he could tell they were pissed that he hadn't returned the night before.

Alex switched back to his Human form, accepted his clothes from Thorn, and quickly pulled them on before he froze.

"I'm truly sorry for worrying you, but circumstances made returning impossible until now. I'll explain when we get back to the inn," he said sincerely.

They walked back through the tall doors, continued until they saw the inn, and went inside.

"Have you eaten?" Lyra asked.

"No, I'm famished," he said, so they waited as he ordered some food to be sent up to Lyra's room.

Once they were inside and everyone made themselves as comfortable as they could, he opened his mouth to begin filling them in on his meeting with the last three dragons.

A loud thumping on the door made them all look at it as Lyra stood to open it.

"Could that be my sandwich?" Alex asked.

Lyra frowned back at him, then opened the door. Several of the King's Iron Guards were standing in the hallway.

"The King wishes to speak to Alex Frost, now."

Alex nodded and stood up. Lyra, Yellsbeth, Dale, and Dystra followed him out the door.

When they reached the main floor, Alex saw the waitress with a tray. "Is that my lunch?" he paused to ask. She nodded, so he reached over and picked up the sandwich and began to eat as he continued out the front door.

The Guard scowled at him.

"Hey, I haven't eaten since breakfast yesterday, and it was a busy day. I'll be finished before we get there," he assured them.

As they finally reached the audience chamber, Alex licked his fingertips clean and wiped his hands on his tunic. He glanced over at Lyra. "Do they have a laundry service at the inn?" he asked in a stage voice.

King Brakt walked into the room and frowned at Alex, who was facing the wrong way and hadn't bowed.

Lyra reached over and turned Alex's face.

Alex gave the King a quick bow and smiled.

With a frustrated frown, Brakt spoke. "I will cut to the chase. I've received reports of multiple Dragons screaming in the valleys. People are frightened!"

Alex nodded. "After searching futilely for hours, I resorted to calling out. That let them know there was another Dragon in the area, and they came to investigate. I apologize for the fright that caused, but you can let your people know there will no longer be any poaching of the livestock. I've fulfilled your challenge."

Brakt froze and stared at Alex as a smile spread across his face. "That's wonderful news! Where are their bodies? Which valley were you in when you killed them?"

"Oh, no. No, your majesty. They're not dead."

Brakt's smile faded into confusion.

"Killing them would have been a capital crime. Dragons are not monsters or animals. They're a high-sentience race. They're thinking beings with a culture and history on this world that's longer than any of the new races brought here by the Gods.

They don't have a verbal language because they speak mind to mind. Their vocal cords have atrophied to the point that they are used only for location signaling, greetings, and defense against attackers.

They control their breeding to maintain a balance with the resources around them. There was never a huge number of them. They need to be in these mountains as their children are enriched by the composition of the mountains themselves, as they are.

They've never hunted or eaten Dwarves, as they won't kill high-sentience beings unless in defense of their lives.

Their primary food source is wild deer, which the Dwarven villagers kill off to make grazing land for their livestock. The Dragons only eat the livestock because they don't have access to the wild deer. I spent this morning bringing a new flock of wild deer to a far valley, which they can access, so they won't need to use your livestock."

Brakt was staring open-mouthed at Alex, so he continued.

"From the day the first Dwarven new arrival landed on this world, they've been treating the Dragons as threatening pests. In truth, it was the new arrivals who invaded the Dragons' land, took over their habitats in the caves, killed their children, and now hunt them for sport! Hunting an intelligent species to gain the intangible benefit of... merit points.

Trophy hunting a high-sentience race.

Congratulations. Dwarven hubris has brought a native people to the brink of extinction."

The King's face was red from suppressed rage. "Where is your proof that they are sentient at all?"

Alex turned to his friends. "How can I prove to him that Alleshi, Creesha, and Gaella are intelligent when their culture uses no artifacts or tools but relies on mind-to-mind communication with other Dragons? They have no written language. Alleshi gave me their entire history in a mental transfer. Millennia of memories. That's how they pass their history from generation to generation. It's how they teach their young."

Lyra stepped forward. "I could link to your mind and bring King Cragborne into the link so you can share it with him."

Brakt and Alex exchanged uncomfortable stares.

"I'm uneasy giving all this information about an endangered race to the leader of the race responsible for their demise," Alex said honestly. "I mean, I know where they are resting. I know where the eggs of our children will be incubated--" Alex suddenly stopped as he saw everyone's eyes widen in shock.

"YOU HAD SEX WITH THE DRAGONS?" Brakt bellowed.

Lyra was staring open-mouthed with surprise.

Alex's face was burning, but he pushed past his embarrassment.

"They're the last ones! They were desperate and lonely. When they discovered I was a male Dragon, they insisted." He glared at the King. "If there's a chance to save an intelligent race from extinction caused by genocide, to bring them back from the brink of oblivion, there was no question what the right thing to do was!"

Brakt was truly pissed, but Alex had to keep pushing.

"The Dragons wouldn't have resisted coexistence. Scanning their history, I found no evidence that they ever started a conflict against your people. Their earliest memories of interacting with the initial group of Dwarves involved being attacked in their caves and being forcibly chased from their homes as their eggs were destroyed. They couldn't communicate with the Dwarves and had no written language, so it was assumed they were mere beasts. No one attempted to study them. No one.

After the purge of their homes, there are plenty of examples of them being hunted by Dwarves. Likely trying to raise their merit levels by killing deadly beasts, who, in truth, were a race that found killing other intelligent beings repugnant. That can't be worthy of merit."

Brakt was breathing hard and flexing his hands into fists, but he wasn't denying Alex's telling of Dwarven history.

"Coexist? After you say we brought them so close to their end? Who would take such a leap of faith!" Brakt scoffed.

"I never said they're ready to trust you. You'll need to earn their trust, but that effort is simple. Outlaw the hunting of Dragons and the destruction of their eggs. Let them live in these mountains. Set aside some land for the wild deer. That's it. That's all they need. Educate your people so they understand your race's ancient mistake and the need to make things right. As time passes and you see how peaceful your new neighbors truly are, fears will ease on both sides. Defining them as thoughtless monsters at the outset of the Dwarven arrival was a colossal miscommunication and has led to this point.

You can fix it.

Dragons have some pretty amazing abilities. Once you've learned to coexist, they might be willing to help you with tasks. Alleshi showed me how to use my Fire Dragon abilities. I can think of many uses for a focused plasma beam. Carving stone to make tunnels and caverns, for instance. Or repairing the Forge," he said. That got a reaction.

He looked into Brakt's eyes, and it looked like he might have made some progress. He took a deep breath.

"I understand taking it on faith is a tough call. If you need proof that the Dragons are thinking beings, I-I'd be willing to link minds with you to show you their memories. I was given them in good faith, as they expect me to protect them and their race's future. Please understand the amount of faith I'm placing in you. I'm assuming you are an honorable being."

The King looked upset, but he nodded stiffly.

Lyra moved closer, and Alex looked at her. "Is there any way to restrict the connection to just the Dragon memory exchange?"

She gave him a little shake of her head. "The mind isn't that easy to tame and compartmentalize. You can assist by thinking of the moment you received the memories." Then she looked at the King. "You should just allow the memories to passively appear in your mind. Don't actively try to interact with them or seek them."

He nodded again.

Alex calmed his mind and prepared to share the Dragon's History. He discovered they were foggy within his Human mind. "I'm going to need to borrow some Dragon attributes," he said, and they nodded.

Alex knew he couldn't become a full-sized Dragon in the audience chamber, but he wasn't sure if he needed a full-sized Dragon brain to see the memories. He'd ease into it.

He switched into the human-sized Dragon form he'd used in Genthale's Guild Hall and reached for the memories. They were clearer, so he smiled and nodded to Lyra.

Lyra took his hand and eased into his mind. He smiled at the sensation of her presence. It was light, soft, and slightly tingly. When she brought the King in, he felt cold, stiff, and brittle, but Alex put that out of his mind.

"Ready," Lyra said.

Alex reached for and shared the Dragon's History.

He watched the King's face and saw his expression flash to shock. He tried to pull away, but Lyra held on tight and eased him out of the connection before releasing his hand.

Then she pulled back from Alex.

He looked at the King questioningly.

"It--They think," he said. "I will speak to the council." He paused. "In the interim, you may have your tour of the Forge. You will be informed when the Council is ready to hear your petition."

He spun on his heel and quickly left the audience chamber.

Dale walked up to join them. "It must be a hell of a thing to learn your people have been committing genocide," he said.

"Let's see what he does to make amends," Alex said with a worried look after letting go of Lyra's hand. He switched back to his Human form.

"Sex with a Dragon! That's another notch in your bedpost," Dystra teased and got a glare from Alex, whose face heated up again.

"She seemed very sweet yet terribly lonely," Lyra said, coming to his rescue. He looked at her in surprise, then he remembered that she was part of the memory exchange.

He nodded and smiled at her gratefully. "I can't imagine how terrible it's been for them," he said.

He looked at the others. "One Challenge down and another to manage."

"Let's go back to the inn and bring the others up to speed," Lyra said.

-=-

Brakt sought out Starrk Drummheller to get his counsel.

"Did Agron's pet Human kill the Dragons?" Starrk immediately asked when the King walked into his office.

Brakt's expression twisted with distaste. "No, he refused. Worse than that, he mated with them to make more!"

"What? He fucked beasts?" the commander gasped in disgust.

"There are three remaining Dragons, and all are female. As he was a male Dragon, the three wanted to mate with him," Brakt explained with a grim expression.

Starrk blinked at the King. "How does he know they were the last three Dragons?"

Brakt's expression darkened. "Because they told him they were."

Starrk's expression froze as he looked at Brakt. "No. No, they're beasts. They don't speak as they're unthinking monsters."

"They're not. They don't speak with voices, but they communicate mind to mind. They have intelligence, history, and culture."

"According to the lies of this Agron freak!" Starrk spat.

Brakt took some deep breaths before he spoke again.

"One of the Dragons shared their racial history with Agron's Human, Alex, mind to mind. He shared it with me with the support of their healer. I saw the Dragon's memories. I heard her communicate with Alex. The Dragon thinks. They aren't beasts. She claims our people have been committing genocide against hers since we arrived on this world," Brakt said, holding Starrk's eyes.

"Are they demanding we return all our lands?" Starrk growled.

Brakt shook his head. "No. They want coexistence and an end to the slaughter of Dragons and their eggs. And the Wild Deer, since it's the Dragon's food source."

Starrk looked at the King carefully. "And you agreed to this?"

Brakt shot the commander a glare. "I did not. I told them I would gather the Council of Elders. But now that we know there are only three Dragons left, their eradication will make the issue go away."

"How are we to find these Dragons? There are too many places for them to hide!" Starrk insisted.

Brakt locked eyes with the commander. "When I was linked to the Human's mind, I saw where they are hiding. I can give you a map. Send a squad of your strongest warriors to each of these locations. Kill the Dragons quietly. Then it won't matter."

Starrk nodded in satisfaction with a little smile on his lips. "What of the Agron Freak and this healer? They know the truth."

The King nodded. "They're going to petition the Council to send a large party into Pinnacle Reach, including a super party of Dwarven Adventurers. This is a hostile environment with many dangers that could kill them. We will agree to their petition and ensure we seed their super party with our own people. The adventurers will meet these dangers, and they won't return to the surface." He turned and moved to the door before looking back. "Be ready for the Council meeting."

Now Starrk was grinning at his King in approval. Brakt just nodded and left.

A man of honor takes care of his people first.

Chapter 11

Alex and his friends returned to the inn just in time for dinner hour. They grabbed their usual table, and the rest of the party joined them. Lyra quickly brought everyone up to speed on Alex's Challenge and his great big discovery.

Alex's extracurricular activities with the three Dragon ladies caused a burst of laughter and cheering at their table, much to his embarrassment. Curious eyes amongst the other tables turned their way, making Alex aim a warning look at Lyra, who'd been discreet with her words but not her actions.

"King Brakt is going to let us petition the Council of Elders," Lyra said with a smile after everyone calmed down.

Thorn looked at her sister. "That's your cue to go speak with Steev again." She bounced her eyebrows at Yellsbeth, who scowled at her.

Dinner was served, and Alex scanned the restaurant as he ate his meal. He was almost finished when the waitress spotted this and stopped by his side.

"If you are looking for Barrassa, she won't be coming in tonight. She's in the clinic undergoing surgery. Karlang attacked her last night, raped her, and almost killed her."

The reaction from his teammates was explosive, but none was as violent as Alex's.

Agron reacted with a sudden burst of anger that threatened to take over, but Alex's rage burned white-hot. He forced Agron back as he grabbed the edge of the table and made it to his feet, unsteadily. Red light flashed over his head, and he shook it off.

"Where. Is. He?" he snarled as his fingers became deadly claws and sank into the table's wood surface.

The waitress stared at him in shock. "He's fled the city. He's long gone."

"I vowed to hunt him down and kill him if he hurt her. He has to die!" Alex growled.

He scanned the room and saw several adventurers who might have known Karlang. He needed to take a scent of his prey. He pushed back his changes, his claws popping from the holes he'd made, and raised his voice. "Does anyone here know where Karlang lived here in the city?"

One Adventurer wobbled onto his feet and stepped forward. "I know where his place is. I'm the only one who put up with him. The bastard owes me money." He made it across the room to stand before Alex. "My name is Pratt. Pratt Ogran."

He was a surprisingly slim Dwarf who smelled strongly of ale. No one else was stepping forward to help, and the expressions on the other diners' faces seemed to validate Pratt's claim, so Alex focused on him.

"How long had Karlang lived at that location?"

"Uh, as long as I've known him. Six years at least."

Alex nodded. That would do. He turned to look at his friends, and Yellsbeth, Ti'Nah, and Joah stood to join him as they followed Pratt out of the inn. It took some time to reach the boarding house deep in the back of the main cave. Pratt thumped the door with a fist, and a short time later, a tough-looking female Dwarf answered and looked at the group cautiously.

"This fella wants to see where Karlang lived," Pratt said, pointing a thumb at Alex.

"He's gone, and he took his stuff!" the female barked and began to close the door.

Alex blocked the door with one hand while showing a coin in the other. "I just want to see his room. Has it already been rented out to someone else or cleaned?"

Her eyes were on the coin. "It's currently vacant. We don't offer a cleaning service. You want to rent it? That will get you a month."

"I just want to stand in it for a minute," he said. She looked at him with a confused expression, then snatched the coin and stepped back.

"Room three on the second floor. The door's open." She closed hers before he could change his mind.

Alex climbed the stairs and stopped before the door to room three. He undressed as the others waited. Pratt's eyes widened in surprise and confusion until Alex suddenly became an Azzarra. The man yelped, but his escape route was blocked by the others.

The Azzarra looked at the doorknob, then back at Dystra because he'd forgotten to open it first.

Dystra snorted and opened it for Alex, who quickly prowled inside.

Everyone remained in the hall as the huge Tiger-like beast moved about the room, taking in the scent of his prey. A low growl was coming from the beast the entire time. Finally, he returned to the hall where he became Human again and quickly got dressed.

"It was him," Alex said quietly as he recalled the scent from when he'd fought him. He struggled to keep his and Agron's rage in check.

Ti'Nah stepped inside to take the Dwarf's scent as well. When she returned, she nodded to Alex.

Then they left the building, and Alex handed Pratt two coins. The Dwarf was delighted. "This covers Karlang's debt to me!" The man hustled away, likely to find a pub to celebrate his recovered debt.

"I need to see Barrassa," Alex insisted, his anger temporarily appeased and guilt taking its place.

Yellsbeth looked into his eyes and slowly nodded. "I know the way."

When they reached the building and entered the reception area, Yellsbeth spoke to the duty nurse and seemed to be arguing with her, but she eventually won. The nurse in charge agreed to bend the visiting rules, but only Alex was allowed in to see her.

He froze when he saw the bandages wrapping Barrassa's head and the braces on her arms. She looked so small on the bed, and he knew this was his fault. He accepted it would probably have happened without his interference... eventually, but he'd pushed Karlang to his limit and triggered this.

He knelt beside her bed and took a closer look at the horrific damage. She was missing an ear!

Phantom pain surged through him as he listened to her shallow breathing. She didn't deserve this. He could have prevented it if he'd ended Karlang's life when he won the challenge. He'd selfishly eased his burden of guilt by ignoring the warning signs and showing mercy to someone undeserving.

He gently rested his forehead against her arm as he closed his eyes to pray to Ullentra. He pleaded for her to heal the woman before him.

Nothing happened.

Next, he begged Agron and Ffornexa to convince the Goddess to find mercy in her heart for something he was responsible for. His failure to fully deal with a threat led to her current state.

Still nothing.

He recalled Agron's reaction to the news of her rape. He reached out to the God, vowing to end Karlang's life in any way Agron chose.

This stirred the God, whose rage flared once more. He pushed a horrific image into Alex's mind.

Ffornexa followed, appearing in Alex's mind, causing Alex to gasp as his body stiffened in shock.

Gasping for breath, he tried to stand but fell over Barrassa's body on the bed as the nurse rushed forward to grab him.

Ullentra arrived to drive out the other two Gods and hit Alex with a strong flash of restoration magic. The room lit up with a bright red flash.

Alex woke on the floor next to Barrassa's bed. The nurse was kneeling next to him, touching his face with a look of wonder on hers. His eyes slid to the side and spotted Barrassa sitting up on the bed, leaning over to look down at him in shock.

He was groggy from the impact of the visiting Gods, but he sent his agreement to Agron to follow through on his request. A shudder went through him as the image resurfaced in his memory. He pushed it back down as he wasn't likely to forget it... ever.

"What did you do?" Barrassa asked as she realized she felt fine, aside from some lower back pain from the crappy hospital cot. She pulled the braces from her arms, which showed no evidence of having been broken.

The nurse suddenly looked up at Barrassa in shock as well. "Your injuries! The doctor still has multiple treatments scheduled for you!"

Alex struggled to sit up, and the nurse assisted him. He felt so very tired. Ullentra had healed him, but she didn't give him any extra energy.

He groggily looked at the nurse. "It was Ullentra's Restoration Magic," he said.

"That's not how that magic works!" a grumpy older Dwarf insisted as he joined them in the room. "It heals the Blessed, not others!"

The nurse bounced up to her feet and spun to face the older Dwarf. "Doctor! My bad joints are healed! The pain is completely gone!" she asserted as the physician stared at her in surprise.

Alex focused on Barrassa. "I'm so sorry I didn't end Karlang's life in the challenge when I should have. I have his scent now. I promise you I will hunt him down and I will end him."

The doctor made a rude sound, and they looked at him.

"Are you marrying my patient?" the doctor asked.

Alex stared at the old Dwarf. "What? No! What gave you that idea?"

"You challenged another male's claim on her, then vowed vengeance on him when he harmed her. You are one step away from pledging your life to her," the doctor insisted.

Alex's mouth worked silently.

"If you're not, then visiting hours are over, and I'll ask you to leave."

Alex tried to get to his feet, then a strong arm wrapped around him, and he found himself upright.

Barrassa stepped back, looked at her hospital gown, and turned to the nurse. "Where are my clothes?"

"I assume they were destroyed in the attack as you arrived in tatters. Your weapon was destroyed as well," the doctor answered. "Your sandals are under the bed."

"I need to go home," Barrassa said softly as she realized she had nothing more serious than some sore muscles.

"My friends and I will walk you home," Alex said, and received a nod.

The nurse got the longest gown they had for Barrassa, which she pulled over the first gown to cover enough to be decent in public. The doctor huffed in annoyance, but after giving her head a quick assessment, he saw no reason to keep her.

She was given the minimal items she'd arrived with in a small bag.

Alex met his friends at the entrance, and they stared in shock at the patient standing next to him.

Yellsbeth walked up to Alex to look him in the eye. "What did you do?"

"I got Ullentra to heal her," Alex responded.

"You said she was done with that?" Yellsbeth immediately returned.

"I promised Agron I would kill Karlang in a way he chose. He pushed an image into my mind, Ffornexa decided to follow Agron for some reason, and Ullentra was forced to heal me... and those who were in contact with me."

Barrassa was staring at Alex like he was mad. "Why are you talking about Gods like you can speak with them?"

Alex looked into her eyes and shook his head. He was too tired. "I don't speak with them. They're in my mind."

The tall Dwarf looked back at Yellsbeth, who nodded and explained. "They don't behave like any Gods you've heard of. They share thoughts with him, but Ullentra has to restore Alex's mind when they do."

Ti'Nah locked eyes with Alex. "How does Agron want you to kill Karlang?"

Alex jerked his head away before the image resurfaced. "NO!" he gasped aloud as a shudder went through his muscles. When he got control back, he flicked a glance at Barrassa. "I promised Agron I'd do it, but I don't want to see it again until I must become it."             

The group went quiet as they stared nervously at Alex's discomfort.

"We need to escort Barrassa to her place," Alex insisted, and they nodded.

They left the hospital and followed her quite a distance into the mountain to a rundown section. Along the way, they talked about their upcoming expedition into Pinnacle Reach.

"I've been on many expeditions, but none past the third level," Barrassa admitted. "It's a challenging mission."

"We're going to petition the Council of Elders to allow us to enter with our party and a Dwarf super party with a lot of adventurers," Yellsbeth said.

"As I said before, you should be one of them," Alex suggested.

"I no longer have a weapon," Barrassa said.

Alex looked at her. "Would it be all right if I offered to buy you a replacement sword for the one Karlang broke?"

She stopped in the narrow alleyway to stare suspiciously at him. "Why are you doing this?"

"Partly, it's because I should have killed him. The rest is because you seem like a really nice person and I'd like to be your friend," he said awkwardly.

"You don't need to buy my friendship," she scowled.

"I'd never think that! It's just... your sword was in a bad way the last time I saw it. As a friend, I want you to have a better one. We made a lot of money on our last expedition, and we'll make more on this one. The cost isn't important to me. Can I buy you a new sword? And maybe some armor--" He suddenly looked at Joah. "Could I ask you to help outfit Barrassa with proper gear? I don't know what a swordsman should have, and you'll recognize quality in a sword and armor more than I will."

Joah grinned at the surprised expression on the tall Dwarf's face. "It would be my honor."

Barrassa blushed at Joah's smile, then saw the smiles on the other faces and the hopeful one on Alex. She shook her head in confusion, then gave in. "Okay. Give me a moment to change my clothes. I'll come back to the inn with you."

Alex glanced past her as he hadn't realized they'd been standing outside her home.

Not long after, Barrassa stepped outside and locked her door. She was wearing soft pants, a tunic, and her sandals.

Alex and Joah were all smiles, admiring her casual wear, which truly softened her image. She noticed, and her face reddened.

They returned to the inn, and the other adventurers crowded around Barrassa. News of her savage attack had spread like wildfire, and they'd heard she might not fully recover.

She nodded. "I heard the doctor admit I likely had brain damage and might never speak or walk again." She glanced at Alex before turning back to the group. "Alex healed me with Ullentra's Blessing after he made a deal with Agron to hunt down and kill Karlang."

Everyone turned to look at Alex in shock. He'd had enough of those looks, so he just turned away and walked toward Lyra, who was getting a report from Yellsbeth. Thorn and the rest of the party were there as well. He noted the expressions on their faces. Some were concerned for him. Some were worried. For him or about him, he couldn't tell. Not that he blamed anyone for having doubts about riding on the crazy train.

His eyes locked on Dale's, who seemed more concerned than the others. The man dipped his eyes and looked away.

Alex hoped that wasn't a bad sign.

Sitting with the group, listening in with fascination was Locke Grimweather, the Guildmaster of Kharnthiad. They'd been discussing creating a Dwarven super party for their mission in Pinnacle Reach. Apparently, Locke was friends with Fenn'Tas Musi, Shalazar's Adventurer Guildmaster.

Alex smiled, then sought out Lyra with his eyes, who read his intent to head up to his room, and gave him a nod. He said his good nights and turned for the stairs.

Ti'Nah, who'd been trembling with need ever since she saw him in his angry Azzarra form, followed him upstairs.

Yellsbeth and Thorn spotted the tigress following Alex and recognized the look in her eye.

They shared a knowing smile, then moved to block access to the staircase to the upper floor and waited.

Some time after the couple had disappeared upstairs, the sisters heard Ti'Nah's roar of release, followed by an even louder roar of an Azzarra.

Yellsbeth and Thorn prevented the surge of adventurers from racing upstairs with weapons drawn.

"The show's over, people! It was just sex," Yellsbeth called out.

The locals on the main floor gaped at her response and were unsettled, but they could see the calm expressions on the faces of this strange new party, so they returned to their chairs. Their conversations became far more animated.

Yellsbeth looked over at the dreamy smile on her sister's face.

Thorn noticed and grinned at her. "Ti'Nah's a lucky bitch!"

The redhead looked at Thorn incredulously and pulled her aside for a quiet conversation. "I don't understand how you think that's sexy! He's a monster in that form!"

"That's true, except he's still Alex. There's no way I'd have sex with a real monster, but I know I'm with Alex, so it's safe to have fun with these fantasy taboos. It's so sexy!" Thorn said, trembling with excitement.

Yellsbeth couldn't help but imagine having sex with an Azzarra, and a quick spark went off in an intimate place, but she suppressed her moan. She glanced at her sister and caught her knowing grin. "Whatever!" she huffed and walked away.

But the tingle lingered.

Chapter 12

The next morning, Alex's face was burning from all the comments and stares at breakfast.

Ti'Nah was purring with contentment, though she walked a little tenderly.

Barrassa had joined them for breakfast, Joah's treat, and afterward they headed off to buy her a new sword and some armor. Alex smiled at her excitement.

In a rare appearance, Alois joined them and told them he had a meeting scheduled that morning with Kalgriginn Silverforge, the Head of the Merchants Guild. He wanted to get more information on the current conflict between Kharnthiad and Genthale.

Jhaan said he was going to meet up with some contacts to get background on how things are going in Kharnthiad as well.

Thorn, Devya, and Ti'Nah headed to the market to check on supply offerings.

Lyra, Dale, and Dystra headed off to speak with the Guildmaster about the super party.

That left Yellsbeth and Alex for their visit to the Forge. They traveled through the tunnels and down many stairs until they reached the vast outer doors to the Forge.

Waiting for them was Steev Cragborne, speaking with a group of his workers arriving for their shift. Alex saw he was a very attractive, soft-spoken, and seemingly intelligent Dwarf. Alex caught the joyful smile on his face when he caught sight of Yellsbeth. He gave her a friendly hug. "How's my ex-fiancé today?"

Grinning, Yellsbeth gave him a cuff on the arm for that, but he just chuckled.

Then he seemed to notice Alex for the first time, and he struggled to keep his smile in place. Alex wondered about that. They shook hands after Yellsbeth made the introductions.

"To what do I owe the honor of your visit?" Steev said smoothly.

Yellsbeth smiled. "Your father granted us permission to get a tour of the Forge. Alex is the one most interested."

Steev scowled at the mention of his father. "The King has no clue about the workload my people are under. He gave me no warning about a tour!"

Alex winced. "I'm sorry for causing you any inconvenience. I only asked as I heard about the disaster and wondered if there was something I could do."

Steev looked at him like he was crazy, then turned to Yellsbeth.

She chuckled at his confusion. "Have you not heard the story of the recent visitor to Kharnthiad who can change into a Fire Dragon?"

Steev looked at Alex in surprise. "You can become a Fire Dragon? How?"

Alex nodded and showed him his God's Marks. "Agron's Blessing gives me the ability to become pretty much any kind of beast or monster. Perhaps I can help fix the Forge if I can see its current state and get some idea from you of how it should be."

Steev blinked in shock. "I suppose I can show it to you, but I've never met a Human who can tolerate the heat. You'll expire in a minute. We have some heavy-duty fire suits for workers who need to get really close, but I doubt they'd fit you."

Alex smiled and changed to his Human-sized Fire Dragon form. "I think I'll be fine like this."

Steev stared in amazement, then smiled and nodded. "I imagine you would be." He turned to Yellsbeth. "Are you ready?"

"Bring it on!" she said in challenge.

He snorted lightly and led them to the main doors.

In the change room they went to first, Yellsbeth and Steev donned fire suits, and Alex stripped his clothes off and stored them in a locker.

"Oh, I'm sorry you had to lose your cock in the trade-off to be a Dragon," Yellsbeth teased.

He chuckled at her jab. "Silly girl, Dragons keep their sexy bits protected inside their bodies in a pouch until they need to use them."

"Ooo! Let's see!" Yellsbeth cooed.

"I think Steev would like to finish his tour," Alex said as he saw an uncomfortable expression cross his face before he hid it.

Steev looked at Alex wearily. "It's nice to know Yellsbeth hasn't changed at all."

"I try to imagine a young Yellsbeth, but it defies my imagination," Alex admitted.

That made Steev laugh, and the sound was warm and genuine. He was looking at Yellsbeth's blush with real joy on his face, and Alex suddenly realized there was a new dynamic to be aware of.

They moved out onto the main floor. The chamber was enormous. Alex realized he could easily change into his full-sized Fire Dragon state and still have plenty of headroom.

The heat was oppressive, and its radiance felt like a pressure wave they were moving through.

His Dragon form had no issues, but he saw Steev and Yellsbeth begin to sweat until any exposed skin gleamed.

They spent a little time watching the workers performing their tasks, and Steev proudly explained the steps. The Forge was a hive of activity, so they stayed out of their way.

When they got fairly close, Steev pointed out the bulging stone cap that was left after the underground stream emptied into the right side of the molten pool. They moved into a raised observation space on the chamber's wall to get a better look.

"What do you think? Can you see anything you might be able to fix?" Steev asked.

"I've learned that I can control the Dragon flames to act as a plasma cutter, so I might be able to carve away the excess rock to expose the lava under the stone cap. But I'd need to see the original design to see where the cuts need to be to expose the pools underneath."

Yellsbeth nodded. "Aren't all the blueprints for Kharnthiad stored in the Royal Library? Only the Council of Elders and the King have access to them."

Alex looked at Steev. "Is that something you might be able to get access to? I'd ask, but I'm not the King's favorite person at the moment."

Steev looked at him curiously. "Why's that?"

Alex smiled. "I was challenged by the King to find the ultimate solution to his Dragon problem. I believe he was hoping I'd exterminate them. Instead, in my investigation, I discovered that Dragons aren't unthinking beasts but highly civilized sentient beings who communicate telepathically. They have history and culture, but no artifacts.

I told the King that the purge of Dragons and the hunting of them must stop before they become extinct. The erroneous classification of the Dragons as pests when the Dwarves first arrived on this world has almost destroyed an honorable and ancient race. It's genocide."

Steev was stunned. "I-I understand now. This is something he and I strongly disagreed about. My father is a major proponent of exterminating what he calls pests. Discovering he's killing an intelligent race must have come as quite a shock."

"I shared my memories of communicating with the Dragons. The King can't deny the truth... but he didn't like it."

Steev nodded as he imagined his father's conflict. He had nothing else to say about the man's character. "I'll ask about the blueprints."

Yellsbeth caught Steev's eye. "We're now allowed to petition the Council of Elders and launch a mission into Pinnacle Reach. We really need someone local and respected to present the petition. We can't think of anyone who could do a better job than you."

Steev frowned uncomfortably. "You've mentioned this to me, and I still have to say I'm not an adventurer!"

Alex nodded. "Neither am I. I pull the wagons as a Therrax. I'm a porter," he admitted. "Dale is our strategist for the teams, but I understand he'll need someone to run interference with the Dwarven super party. You run a great team here in the Forge. That's all we're hoping for on this mission." He watched Steev consider this, so he continued. "In Shalazar's Wave Crest, we had an amazing group with us and collected so many artifacts from the habitation level that the Beast-Kin nation was able to set up its own university to study them. They invited the professors from the Human university to inspect the artifacts and to train the Beast-Kin researchers. There were too many artifacts for just one university to study, and if they are sharing their discoveries, the gathering of knowledge spreads wider and faster."

Steev stared at Alex with wide eyes. "Are you suggesting we expand the Dwarven University's role in investigating the artifacts we collect from Pinnacle Reach?" he asked excitedly.

Alex nodded. "We're going to bring back more artifacts than Genthale's university can study. Unlike Shalazar, you already have a university and researchers. They can expand their team to resume full-time study of their artifacts and maintain contact with their partner universities. Eventually, we intend to set up real-time communication between all universities."

He looked at Yellsbeth and saw her enthusiasm. He looked back at Steev. "We've already completed our runs through GreenTree Dynasty and Wave Crest. To make this happen here, we need your help."

Yellsbeth smiled at Steev like the cat who got the cream. "If you really want to ensure this mission is approved by the Council of Elders, present the petition as its leader. They can't refuse the King's son."

Steev frowned indecisively at Yellsbeth. "What about my responsibilities at the Forge?"

She smirked. "Like you don't have an excellent crew of well-trained managers assisting you with it? Managers who could take over your responsibilities while you are off making history and earning more merit than any other expedition leader ever has? If you care about such things as merit."

Alex looked at Yellsbeth, wondering at her play here, but he could see her words were having an impact, so he joined in.

"You would lead the Dwarven super party as you lead your team here. Lyra's party would assist you to the first habitation level in the city--"

"Wait! Wait! Wait... no one has ever reached that far in Pinnacle Reach and lived to return with the news," Steev balked.

Yellsbeth was ready. "We reached the habitation level in GreenTree Dynasty by ourselves and barely survived. When we did Wave Crest, we had a super party of Beast-Kin with us, and it was much easier. I understand Pinnacle Reach is currently experiencing an increase in monsters. With a Dwarven super party and a monster of our own," she said, hooking her thumb at Alex, "we shouldn't experience anything we can't handle. And when we reach the habitat level, the mission gets much easier."

Steev was looking convinced, but he was also dying of curiosity. "How?"

Yellsbeth's smile widened. "That's something we'll explain once we're in the top-level entryway of Pinnacle Reach. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!"

Steev huffed, but his curiosity wouldn't allow him to reject the idea.

"First, I need to speak to my father about getting access to the Forge blueprints. When do you want to petition the Council?" Steev asked.

"As soon as your father can get them together. May I suggest you refrain from telling your father about the university and that you've been asked to lead the super party?" Yellsbeth said.

Steev snorted in amused scorn. "Oh, believe me, he'll only hear I'm involved when the Council of Elders does. He has no love for me either," he said, looking at Alex.

Then he frowned. "How many people in the super party again?"

"Dale and Lyra worked it out with Guildmaster Grimweather. They decided on thirty," Yellsbeth said.

Steev's eyes widened with surprise. "There's never been a party that large before. It wasn't cost-effective!"

"The return on investment for the Beast-Kin Council of Elders, who paid for the supplies on the expedition, enabled them to set up a university," Alex said. "We would offer these Elders the same terms."

Yellsbeth picked up the point.

"Return-On-Investment isn't an issue. We need this mission approved soon, as we'll need time to run drills to integrate thirty Dwarven Adventurers and Lyra's party into a cohesive, functioning team. The Beast-Kin were naturally cooperative, but we Dwarves are from a competitive society. Not really great at team-based activities. Everyone needs to get it into their heads that just being part of the mission will give them all equal merit. Those who demonstrate superior team skills will be rewarded like your team here in the Forge. That's another reason we need you!"

Steev held up his hands in surrender. "Okay! I'll do it. You're right, it wasn't an easy task to get these workers to think in terms of us rather than me. With Adventurers, it'll probably be even more difficult."

He took a deep breath. "Fine. I'll speak to my father tonight. I'll feel him out about his timeline for the Council." Steev smiled wickedly at the redhead. "I'll tell him you were asking me to find out."

Yellsbeth rolled her eyes, but she smiled with a twinkle in her eye.

They headed back to the changeroom, where Alex got dressed before switching back to the Human form.

Meeting at the exit, Alex gripped Steev's hand, then left the two friends to say their goodbyes.

Moments later, Yellsbeth gave Alex a little side eye when she saw him waiting out in the hall. "Why did you disappear so quickly?"

He showed an innocent look. "What? Oh, no reason. Steev seems really nice!"

She shook her head a little, then smiled. "Yeah, he's a great guy."

"Not too hard on the eyes, either!" Alex said pleasantly, and Yellsbeth smiled with a nod, then froze as she stared at Alex.

"Not you, too!" she growled.

He widened his eyes innocently. "What? I'm just sayin'!"

She turned and headed back to the Guild with Alex following with a hidden grin.

-=-

Joah was enjoying shopping for equipment with Barrassa. She seemed to be having a good time as well. Her smile was bright, and she seemed to glow from the inside. He wondered when the last time she'd smiled like this was.

Once more, he marveled at the turn of events in his life that led him to this moment.

When he lost his family, his world shattered. He'd fallen into a deep depression and spent a year in that grey fog as nothing mattered anymore.

He quit being an adventurer, blaming himself for not being home enough to protect his family.

He isolated himself at home, burning through his meager life savings as he fell into a basic pattern of existence: train, eat, and sleep. These were the three activities he did by rote during that long year.

Then, one day, he heard a monster scream nearby, inside Genthale's city walls, and he was out the door, into the street, sword in his hands, heart racing as adrenaline coursed through his body. He didn't know what made that sound, but it felt like his body had been hit with lightning.

This led to an epiphany. He wasn't ready to fade away. He still had some strength left in his body. He might be able to use it to save someone else's family.

He gave his landlord notice that he was leaving his home. This would reduce his monthly expenses.

Then he went to the local Adventurer's Guild Hall to see if anyone was interested in hiring a mercenary swordman.

He'd be a protector until the monsters eventually got him.

Meeting Lyra that first day was kismet. They clicked, and he found a new purpose for his life.

He eventually learned that a slave ring in Genthale had met its end at the teeth and claws of the monster he'd heard that day.

Alex had been... difficult to wrap his head around at first, but once he got to know him, he realized he was just a man thrown into exceptional circumstances.

The first time Joah had been caught in Ullentra's Restoration magic, it changed everything. He'd been given a new lease on life.

This morning, Joah realized he was happier than he'd been in a long time. He still missed his family and always would, but he would do everything in his power to ensure he protected his friends.

Barrassa was a breeze of fresh air. He was enjoying himself so much in her company. He was grateful Alex had introduced her to the party.

While shopping, they'd found an excellent-quality longsword that she could swing with the ease of a rapier. He was impressed with her strength, especially as there was no Blessing involved.

They'd also picked up a complete set of hardened leather armor and a chainmail vest for good measure. She was rather infatuated with her new Dwarven steel gauntlets, as they would hit as hard as a mace.

They were talking about her skills as they shopped.

"I had to teach myself as my height made the others uncomfortable. I watched the more experienced adventurers and emulated them as best I could," she admitted.

Joah gave her an impressed smile.

"My mother told me there might be Human blood in our family line. There were rumors that my grandmother, a normal-sized Dwarf, was the daughter of a Dwarf mother and a Human father. While my mother was born normal-sized and all my aunts and uncles were normal-sized, when I was born, it was clear I was different."

Joah shook his head gently. "Being different is no reason for being shunned. Everyone is different from everyone else to some degree," Joah insisted. He smiled at her. "You have the advantages of Dwarven strength and Human reach, so that will make you a formidable warrior!"

Barrassa wasn't used to being complimented, so she tried to deflect. "I have no Blessing, so I can't compete with adventurers who have them."

Joah smiled wider. "Not all Blessings are as powerful as you think." He held his hands up to acknowledge the point. "Some are. I'm just saying I got a strength boost from Saphra and weapon mastery, but I still had to learn swordsmanship. There are Saphra Blessed adventurers out there with no clue how to best use their weapon. A Blessing fast-tracks your mastery, and a strong Blessing improves your ability to retain optimal moves, but everyone needs training. I was lucky because a master lived in my village, and he taught me well."

He tilted his head to look her in the eye as she seemed to be trying to hide from his gaze. "Even without a Blessing, you can learn the skills. I'm willing to teach you if you decide to join the super party."

Barrassa was feeling a little overwhelmed, as no one had ever shown her this much attention unless they were plotting something. She gave Joah a suspicious look.

He smiled and raised his hands again. "No pressure. Sorry if I was coming on a little strong there. That's Alex's influence on me. When I first joined Lyra's party, he was new to the planet and had all these blue-sky ideals. He... questions everything. It made me wonder if I'd been wearing a blindfold since I arrived. I was old and cynical, but after the first time I got hit with Ullentra's Restoration magic, all his optimism seemed to make sense."

Barrassa perked up. "You've experienced Ullentra's magic too?"

Joah nodded. "More than once, actually. It's potent stuff! I feel years younger than I did, and the strength in my hands has fully returned. Age was stealing that away, but now it's back."

Barrassa smiled, then frowned. "Did you have a sore back after you experienced it?"

Joah smiled curiously and shook his head. "No, I can't say I did."

Barrassa rubbed her hands across her lower back muscles. "It's just an ache, and it seems to be getting better. Considering how damaged I was before, I shouldn't complain."

She turned and lifted her tunic to show him the spot.

Joah froze as what he saw should not have been there. He was looking at a black-outlined grey square tattoo.

Ffornexa's Blessing.

"Shit."

Barrassa turned quickly to see Joah's worried expression, and that frightened her. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Uh, nothing's... wrong. We... we need to go talk with Lyra and Alex. Now."

She frowned at him, but she couldn't see her own lower back. He began to move away, and she rushed to catch up. After all, he was carrying most of the gear they'd just bought for her.

When they got back to the inn, they found Lyra, Dale, Dystra, and Alex in deep conversation. This ended the moment they caught the look on Joah's face.

"We need to speak privately," the man said.

Lyra immediately stood and walked toward the steps leading to their rooms. Alex was last to catch on and scrambled to join the group.

They went into Lyra's room and turned to look at Joah and Barrassa, who looked increasingly upset.

"What's going on?" Alex asked.

Joah turned to face Barrassa. "Show them your lower back."

She almost refused, then turned and lifted her tunic.

"Shit." "Shit." "Shit." "Fuck."

The last comment was from Alex.

Barrassa spun and looked at Alex in a panic. "WHAT IS IT?"

Alex stepped closer and took her hands. "Nothing bad! You've been given Ffornexa's Blessing."

Barrassa stared at Alex in wide-eyed shock. "I... have a Blessing?"

"Is your back sore?" he asked.

"YES! That's what started this! I asked Joah if Ullentra's Restoration Magic left him with a sore back."

Alex nodded. "When I first arrived on this world, my lower back was very sore, but I discovered I had three Blessings." He looked at the others. "Has anyone ever gotten a Blessing after they arrived or after they were born?"

Dale looked shaken. "No. That doesn't happen. The Gods aren't supposed to do that. It's not how it's done--" Dystra touched his shoulder to calm him, and they looked into each other's eyes.

Barrassa looked at Alex. "I have a God's Mark from Ffornexa? I don't recall what his gift brings."

Lyra smiled at her. "Skills Mastery... of all skills."

Now Barrassa's eyes looked like they might fall out. "All skills!"

Joah smiled. "How about those lessons now?"

"First things first," Lyra said, looking at the stunned female. "You need to keep that mark hidden from people who know you didn't have one. As Dale said, people aren't supposed to get Blessings after they've arrived or been born. Being the tallest Dwarf is nothing compared to this. Ffornexa hasn't Blessed anyone in generations, until Alex arrived. Now he's done this?" she paused. "Wait, when did this happen?"

Alex recalled Ffornexa's sudden intrusion the night before after Agron visited his mind. "Ah! At the hospital! I thought Ffornexa was just trying to calm Agron! He must have had this as his ulterior motive for pushing through!"

Barrassa was feeling a little overwhelmed. "The Gods are supposed to be silent and mysterious. We were never meant to directly interact with them!"

"THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING!" Dale exclaimed a little too loudly for the small room, and everyone stared at him in surprise, hearing the edge of hysteria in his voice.

Catching their looks of unease, he turned away. "I need to get some air," he said as he left the room. Dystra glanced at the others in concern, then rushed after his lover.

"These Gods are a little too... present," Lyra said.

Alex looked unhappy. "I'm so sorry. I wish I had some kind of control over what's going on in my head, but... they're Gods and... I'm just Human." He looked at Barrassa with a weak smile. "I don't regret asking Ullentra to heal you. Involving Agron might have been a mistake, but he did help make it happen. I had no idea Ffornexa would get involved. That said, I can honestly say his Blessing is very helpful."

The tall Dwarf looked at Alex for a moment as she tried to come to terms with what had happened.

She was almost killed by Karlang and would have been crippled for the rest of her life. She understood better than Alex that even if he hadn't challenged him, Karlang would have eventually taken his frustrations out on her, as she was never going to accept him.

Instead, Alex healed her, and one of the Gods who'd Blessed him also Blessed her.

She was already ostracized by her own people, rejected for not being Dwarven enough. For being different.

Now, she had a Blessing that might give her the edge she needed to leave this place and not only survive but thrive!

She gave Alex a shaky smile. "I'm grateful for everything you've done for me. You and the Gods who've Blessed you."

"How about that training?" Joah offered again with a smile.

"Can I participate too?" Alex asked hopefully.

Joah and Barrassa nodded with smiles.

-=-

Dystra caught up to Dale as the man walked quickly toward the city's exit.

"Dalest, please wait," he said, using his term of endearment for his lover.

That seemed to break through the shell Dale was holding tightly around himself. He slowed and glanced back.

Dystra saw a hint of the panic tormenting Dale, and this worried him.

He knew Dale had not been sleeping well, but he'd refused to speak about it.

He caught up and took Dale's hands in his as he looked deeply into the man's troubled eyes.

"Speak to me, please. Share what troubles you," the Elf said quietly.

Dale's eyes flicked to the people in the corridor. "Not here."

Dystra nodded and allowed Dale to lead him toward the exit. They paused to rent two thick blankets from a shop in the hall before passing through the massive doors.

Wrapping themselves in the warm blankets, they walked out into the late-afternoon sunlight and admired the scenery. It might be cold, but the sun's warm rays lit up the surrounding mountain peaks in a gorgeous display.

Dale was still walking, so Dystra reached out and gently stopped him. They were sufficiently far from the exit to have privacy. The Elf was worried, as it felt like Dale would have kept walking until he'd reached the valley floor below.

"Speak to me," he said gently.

Instead, Dale turned and pulled Dystra into a tight hug, burying his face against Dystra's chest. The Elf felt the man's trembling.

They remained that way until Dale seemed to be coming back to himself.

"I'm sorry," Dale said quietly against him.

"You don't need to apologize to me. I would like you to share what makes you feel this way," the assassin said gently.

Dale took some deep breaths. "I'm not as strong as you. Not as brave by a long shot."

Dystra took Dale's face between his hands and gently tilted it up so he could see the fear in his eyes. He kissed Dale's face, sweet little loving gestures of worship. This brought a smile to Dale's face, but a wave of sorrow suddenly swelled, and tears dropped from his eyes.

"Nothing will touch you as long as you are in my arms," Dystra insisted.

Dale struggled to breathe. "We are nothing in the face of a God's whims," he whispered.

Dystra pondered that a moment. "The three Gods we are currently supporting with our efforts for their mission? I believe they have no qualms with us."

Dale looked up into his eyes. "How can you remain so calm as they change all the rules?"

Dystra looked into Dale's eyes. "I'm not a God. I can't expect to understand their intentions, but they haven't asked more from me than I'm willing to give. My impression is that the Gods are aware that the world we live in isn't perfect and needs a little help to restore balance. We're eliminating the presence of monsters! I hope my contributions will assist in this. I can only do what I can."

Dale looked at him in desperation, then pressed his face into Dystra's chest once more. "You just proven again that you're braver than I'll ever be," he said.

They remained there as the mountaintops gave up their last rays of sunlight.

Then they returned to the warmth of their room in the inn. Dale had had enough for today.

-=-

Lyra learned from Steev Cragborne that it would take three days to arrange a special meeting of the Council of Elders to hear their petition. She had to admit that she was impressed with him after they'd met.

As they had that time, Lyra pulled Dale into her room to speak to him about his concerns.

She looked into his eyes and saw he was still nervous. "We haven't had a chance to address your outburst the other day. I understand you're upset, but I need you to fill me in on the issue so we can move forward."

Dale was still carrying tension in his body, and it showed. "They're Gods. We're not. How are we supposed to comprehend the issues they'll drop on us, much less survive them? It's hard enough to avoid the mundane dangers we've finally gotten used to!"

She blinked at this. "You're not facing the dangers alone. We're safer in a group because we all have complementary skills and look out for each other. This is how it's always been," she said calmly. "You know Alex is doing his best to keep his guests from interfering with us."

Dale snorted. "Guests! Alex is just as Human as we are. Do you really think he has any more control than us? When push comes to shove, he'll be just as powerless to stop them."

Lyra locked eyes with the nervous man. "Seriously, you're dwelling on the unseen when you need to be focused on what's happening right now before us. We're going to be meeting with the Dwarven Council of Elders, who are already hesitant to give us access to Pinnacle Reach because we're outsiders. If we can't present a unified front, they'll never give us permission!"

"I can't help being increasingly worried about being caught up in something the Gods are cooking. Something we have no chance of understanding or perhaps surviving," he asserted.

Lyra walked to the door and opened it. As she expected, Dystra was leaning up against the wall outside. "Come in."

He smiled at her and moved inside to sit next to Dale.

Lyra began again. "Let me address your concern that the Gods are cooking something up. I've shared memories with Alex, and I even have my own impressions of the three from my one experience with them. Do I fully understand their motivations? No. Did I feel any animosity towards us? Again, no. Alex is giving us the straight goods when he gives us his impressions. They need us to shut down these portals. We know what a benefit that will have on this world. It will become safer for everyone. We need to do this!" She took a breath as she watched Dale's tense expression.

"Our Gods tried to reach out to us to get the three to contact them. They refused, and we haven't heard anything from our Gods since. That's fine with us," she said.

Lyra locked eyes with Dale. "Can you get past this sufficiently to be our mission specialist and train the super party in the required tactics to support us in the exploration of Pinnacle Reach?"

Dale took some deep breaths and held Dystra's hand. "Yes. I can."

Lyra's face showed her relief. "Thank you! Once we get past the presentation to the Council of Elders, I promise you we will be able to return to a more familiar pattern. Steev Cragbourne has promised to make them listen."

-=-

The next three days were busy ones for the party.

Joah spent every moment training with Barrassa and Alex.

Barrassa was thrilled to discover her new Blessing made learning the elements of Sword fighting much easier. She was a voracious learner, and Joah was delighted with her progress. While she had a decent grasp of the basics, she had no bad habits to unlearn and absorbed the new techniques properly the first time, thanks to the Blessing.

Joah drilled her on her stances and posture to ensure she was in the best position to launch her attacks and support her defenses.

Her strength aided her lessons in grip and sword handling. Not once was Joah able to knock her training sword from her hands. Not so much for Alex, whose fingers always tingled as he hustled to pick up his sword from where it lay in the snow.

After the first day, Alex decided he needed to bow out because he felt he was a distraction in class. He struggled to think of an excuse until Steev pulled him away to review the blueprints of the Forge.

The swordsman taught Barrassa to time her movements and gauge her distance from opponents. He eventually had to resort to his superior knowledge of alternative techniques to get past her weapon, but it never worked twice.

At dinner each night, Joah and Barrassa shared the end of the table, talking about her progress, and he let her know how much she was helping him, as well. Having a student who rose to his challenge so quickly forced him to refresh his techniques, which in turn sharpened his skills.

Alex watched them from the other end of the table with a happy grin. He made sure not to let the older man see it.

Yellsbeth was spending more time with Steev, much to his delight. He joined them for dinner after his shift in the Forge.

He'd gone over the blueprints with Alex. The next day, Alex met him in the Forge to give him a small-scale demonstration of what he could do with a Fire Dragon's plasma cutter technique on some stones they brought in. The Forge Master was excited that they might be able to clear the damage and open up the blocked area to return the Forge to its initial shape and size.

Alex said this would have to wait until their return from Pinnacle Reach. While Steev was eager to proceed, he understood Alex's reticence.

The night before the presentation, Lyra and her party went to the Adventurer's Guild to use one of the upstairs meeting rooms.

Guildmaster Grimweather was in attendance, as was Steev, though he entered by the back door to reduce the chances of being linked to the mission. They weren't sure if Brakt's spies had caught on yet, but it wasn't that important at this point.

Steev and Lyra stood at the front of the room facing the others. He was given the floor as he had the first bit of information to share.

"I thought you should be aware in advance of who you'll be meeting tomorrow," he said, and received nods.

"Locke Grimweather, as you know, is the Guildmaster of the Adventurer's Guild, and I consider him to be a voice of reason amongst the Council." Locke smiled and nodded to him.

"Kalgriginn Silverforge is the Guildmaster for the Merchant's Guild," he said, nodding to Alois. "I understand you've met with her. I consider her to be one of the more progressive members of the Council." They saw Alois nodding in agreement.

"Chaggrun Hollowcrest is the Guildmaster for the Armorers and Weaponsmiths Guild. He's a harder read. I work closely with him at the Forge, but he tends to lean towards more conservative policies.

Jagg Markrost is the Guildmaster of the Agriculture Guild, and his partner, Yokkac Stormbane, is Guildmaster of the Farmers' and Herders' Guild. The two typically vote conservatively. They don't like change.

Uthug Smashanvil is the Guildmaster of the Miners and Stonemasons Guild. He's a really good guy but is still blamed for the disaster in the Forge. I suspect he isn't solely to blame, but higher opinions hold sway. He tends to follow in my father's wake on policy decisions to rebuild favor with him." Steev looked to Locke to see if he concurred, and the older Dwarf nodded with a frown.

"Altromorra Duskheart is the Guildmaster of Kharnthiad University. She is the most progressive member of the Council, but her opinion is largely ignored by my father and many of the other Council members.

Tharrula Noblehead is the Guildmaster of the Engineers' and Architects' Guild. She's brilliant and very progressively minded. Father can't ignore her as she's involved in many vital projects.

Angreck Leathergut is the Guildmaster of the Brewmasters' Guild. She's smart, funny, and enjoys a celebration. She's a progressive thinker as well, so I don't think Father takes her seriously.

The most difficult member we will deal with is Starrk Drummheller. He's the Commander of the Iron Guard, the elite soldiers responsible for overseeing palace and national security issues for the Kingdom of Kharnthiad. He's my father's chief confidante. No need to guess his bias."

Steev stood before them, considering the people he'd just described.

"I believe we can count on Locke, Kalgriginn, Altromorra, Tharrula, and Angreck to support the petition. We may be able to sway Chaggrun by telling him about how we intend to fix the Forge. Uthug will also be swayed by that.

I'm not sure how Jagg and Yokkac will respond to the idea of setting aside land for wild deer, but learning there will be no more poaching might appease them.

We can't expect Starrk to support anything involving outsiders."

"Are we introducing the idea of the university in the petition?" Yellsbeth asked.

Steev looked uncomfortable. "No. I don't want to put your approval at risk. After we return is soon enough. It's a more powerful concept if we have the artifacts in hand."

That got nods from the party.

"I may call upon Yellsbeth and Thorn to describe the expedition into Wave Crest if the Council members show hesitation," Steev explained. He glanced around to see if anyone wanted to speak as he was done.

Locke stood. "If I may raise a point?"

Steev gestured for the Guildmaster to take the floor, so he moved to the front to face them.

"Not that long ago, there was an attempt on the life of one of your members. Alex. No sign of the escaped culprit has been found, but his partner decided to share a little information during our interrogation. He claims to have met with an outsider within Kharnthiad who gave them your description and a contract to terminate you. He received a partial payment in Kharnthiad currency, and after he left, the assassin caught sight of him being escorted to an address by a group of shrouded mercenaries who wore the same footwear as the Iron Guard."

An uneasy murmur went through the group.

"Any description of the outsider?" Alex asked.

"Tall. Avian," Locke said, and everyone in the party moaned.

Locke and Steev shared a glance, then looked to the party. "You know of this threat?"

Dystra nodded. "He's an agent of Gordier Jalviere, the King's Man from the Kingdom of Thale."

Alex frowned. "With this escort, does it sound like he's getting support from--"

"Hold that thought, Alex!" Dystra barked to interrupt him. "We don't mention such theories out loud and certainly not within their sovereign territory," he scolded.

Alex blinked at him in surprise. "Oh... okay." He frowned as he turned to face Locke. "What about this address? Are we allowed to ask about it and perhaps visit it?"

"Again, no," Dystra said.

Alex's frown became a scowl. "That certainly doesn't seem fair."

"You don't make the rules here," Dystra insisted firmly.

Alex leaned back in his chair and clamped his mouth shut. A muscle jumped in his jaw, but this was the only visible sign of his disagreement.

Locke cleared his throat. "The point of my bringing up the assassination attempt was to ensure all are aware that the intrigue is still active. While these amateurs were foiled, there might very well be another attempt. It would be helpful to identify all possible sources before we head off into the underground city. There are far too many ways to die in Pinnacle Reach already without adding the threat of assassins."

Alex looked at Dystra with a raised eyebrow, as he wasn't allowed to air his suspicions.

Dystra gave him a sour look before turning to the Guildmaster. "We're aware that the King of Thale has commanded his man to create a situation where we all die. While Alex is his number one target, we're all on his list. We won't speculate on how the King's Man might enlist others to participate, perhaps even those with high-ranking positions. We'll leave that point alone.

That said, Alex just discovered that the Dwarven effort to eliminate what they consider pests is actually genocide, as Dragons are sentient, civilized, and communicate with telepathy. That hasn't made him friends in high places, and that's all we will say about that." He focused on the Guildmaster. "We'll just have to remain vigilant."

Locke's expression showed his astonishment at the revelation. It would take him some time to come to grips with that bombshell.

After a few uneasy glances at Alex's brooding, Steev continued.

"We have the number for the Dwarven super party and even some ideas from Locke of who we want to bring with us. If we get the petition approved, we will immediately begin the Adventurer selection process so we can begin the training sessions." He received nods for that.

This concluded the topics Steev and Locke intended to present.

Joah stood up. "This seems like the right time to present a request. I'd like to recommend a new member for our party, The Answer."

Alex perked up, his funk put on hold as he watched the heat spreading on Joah's neck. He glanced over at Barrassa and saw that the woman was frozen in surprise. He wasn't sure whether this was something she wanted.

Lyra locked eyes with Joah. "Are you recommending Barrassa Kindhelm?"

Joah nodded. "I am. We've been training extensively over the past few days. Her improvement has been astonishing, and I truly believe she would be a definite asset to the party. She would need to be involved in the mission drills for her to grasp the logistics of our party's integration with the super party, but I have no hesitation in recommending her for this."

Lyra turned her attention to Barrassa. "Does this mean you intend to travel with us when we leave Kharnthiad?" she asked.

Barrassa seemed a little surprised to have the opportunity but leapt at it. "Yes, if you'll take me. It's time for me to see what's out there," Barrassa said hopefully.

Lyra looked to Dale, Dystra, Jhaan, Devya, Ti'Nah, and the Killgrave sisters before she turned her gaze on Alex.

"Oh! Are we doing the silent vote thing? I don't know the secret signals. I say, Aye!" Alex teased.

Lyra gave him a crooked smile, then turned back to Joah and his nervous companion. "The Ayes have it. Barrassa, welcome to The Answer."

Her smile was dazzling, and she squeaked excitedly.

"You'll no longer have to apply for a position in the Dwarven super party. Joah, I assume you will take responsibility for training her on how we work?" Lyra asked.

"I will! Thank you very much, everyone!" Joah said with a wide smile.

Lyra nodded and turned back to Barrassa. "We're a fully functional team while we travel, and everyone pitches in to share the workload. We'll train you on all the duties you'll help with.

But that's a lesson for another day. We still have a petition to present and a mission in Pinnacle Reach to complete."

She turned to Steev. "Thank you again for stepping up to present the petition and take charge of the super party!"

He glanced over at the smug smile on Yellsbeth's face and shook his head with a smile.

"Somehow, it felt like something I was destined to do."

-=-

King Brakt paced in his private chambers, waiting for an update from Starrk. The Commander had sent teams out to survey the nesting sites, based on the map Brakt supplied, to confirm the Dragons were actually present at those locations.

If they were, then he'd wait for the Adventurer party to head into the city before he ordered a final hunting mission to eliminate the evidence of his ancestor's mistake and complete the final eradication of the pests.

Starrk had already reported that he'd selected a team to infiltrate this so-called Dwarven Super Party.

Their task would be to plan a strike against the Agron-Blessed Human and take out the others if possible.

A knock on his door pulled him from his thoughts.

"Enter!"

The door opened, and Starrk stepped inside and nodded to his King as he shut it behind him.

"Your maps were accurate. My teams report spotting a Dragon at all three locations. It will be difficult and dangerous to reach their nests because of the height of the peaks they've chosen. This is likely the reason they've been able to remain hidden for so long. However, my teams are well acquainted with difficult missions and are ready to proceed."

Brakt relaxed. He'd been worried that the memories shared with him had been tampered with by the Human or the Healer, but this proved they were accurate.

"The moment the party heads into Pinnacle Reach, send the order to take the Dragons out," Brakt said with a smile.

Starrk nodded. "When is the Council of Elders meeting with them?"

"Tomorrow. The last of the members who were in transit have arrived."

Starrk nodded, then smiled at his King.

"We're ready."

Chapter 13

The formal meeting hall for the Council of Elders was a wide, tall chamber with a gently curved table built onto a dais that followed the long wall. Ornately carved chairs for the councilors were spaced evenly behind the table. Behind each chair hung a tall, embroidered tapestry, depicting the history of each Guild.

There was a difference this time: the central chair was slightly higher and more ornate than the others, and the banner hanging behind it simply displayed the King's royal colors. He was a special guest at this gathering.

Petitioners would present their requests, claims, or complaints in the open space in front of the table. They were not given tables to hold their items or chairs to sit in. This was by design to ensure they wouldn't linger. Nobody liked a lengthy meeting, after all.

Lyra stood with The Answer at her back as the members of the Council of Elders walked into the chamber from a door behind the table. Each elder climbed the stairs to the dais and found their spot, but upon seeing the special guest chair, none sat until Brakt entered and took his seat.

Everyone bowed to the King, then the elders relaxed in their chairs, but most were eyeing the group before them with great curiosity. It was rare for outsiders to address the council.

Alois wasn't a member of the party and wasn't in attendance, as he had a previous invitation for brunch, social butterfly that he was.

Standing between the table and the petitioners was an official clerk whose task was to manage the meeting agenda and present the applicants to the council. He cleared his throat and bellowed for all to hear.

"The agenda for today's special gathering of the Council of Elders contains just one item. A party of Adventurers, namely The Answer, is here to make their presentation. Who speaks for this petition?"

Stepping out from behind Barrassa, Steev moved to stand next to Lyra.

Immediate recognition flared on the faces behind the table. One face registered anger, but the emotion was quickly hidden when Brakt forced a neutral expression.

Starrk Drummheller's eye narrowed momentarily, flicked to the King, then locked on Steev.

"My name is Steev Cragborne, and I have been asked to present the petition with Lyra Foxlove-Baumer of The Answer, as there is a significant Dwarven component to it that is not currently visible. A component I will be leading."

Altromorra was smiling ear to ear. "Another bold Cragborne, imagine that!"

Brakt shot her an annoyed look. It seemed he wasn't in favor of being compared to his son.

Steev nodded in her direction without taking his eyes off his father. "The Answer is petitioning the Council of Elders to be given permission to launch an expedition into Pinnacle Reach. Three of their members are Dwarves, but the majority are not, which is why special permission is being requested."

He passed his eyes across the council. "One additional difference in this petition is the inclusion of a super party of Dwarven adventurers, thirty of them to be exact, who will be led by me."

This generated a burst of surprised voices. Altromorra looked delighted to hear Steev was going, but Brakt seemed to be struggling with his anger.

Chaggrun's voice was stiff with anger. "Thirty Dwarves plus their, what, eleven party members? What is the point of putting so many at risk? The return on such a mission--"

"The Answer has run successful missions in both GreenTree Dynasty and Wave Crest," Steev interrupted.

"In the first city, it was just them, and they acknowledged it was touch-and-go, but they survived and completed the mission with the largest collection of artifacts from that city ever.

After traveling to Shalazar, they petitioned their Council of Elders and included a super party of twenty-six Beast-Kin. During the mission, three members of the super party snuck off on their own and perished, but the rest survived to collect artifacts. The number of artifacts collected far exceeded what they'd ever achieved on their own in GreenTree Dynasty.

Due to the nature of the monsters found in Pinnacle Reach, Locke Grimweather has suggested an optimal party configuration, which requires thirty members."

"Why you?"

All eyes turned to Brakt, who faced his son after blurting his question.

Steev had been expecting the question. "Why me? Because I'm the best equipped to make it work, that's why," Steev shot back.

"You're not an adventurer! You have no skills in fighting! You can't even swing a sword!" Brakt snorted in contempt.

Steev glared at his father. "Can you run the Forge as effectively as I can? Can you ensure the crops and livestock are properly managed, so we have enough to feed our people with sufficient excess to carry us through the winter and support our trading partners as Jagg, Yokkac, and Kalgriginn can? As King, you surely understand that not every task is solved by swinging a weapon! Not every position in an adventurer's party requires someone who fights."

"Don't try to tell me how adventurer parties work, boy!" Brakt snapped.

"Then tell me why you can't see how my skills in leading a team of cranky, opinionated Dwarves in the Forge with great success will translate to turning a team of egocentric adventurers into a cohesive team! Unlike Beast-Kin Adventurers, who are naturally cooperative, Dwarves are driven by our competitive natures. That's what's kept us from success in our missions in Pinnacle Reach and potentially in other areas! The Forge is run as a team. We all succeed, or we all fail. We can't afford the latter on this mission."

"Oh? They'll instantly fall into line when you bewitch them with your magic charm?" Brakt asked with a sneer.

Steev shook his head as he stared at his father. "I never use my Blessings in the Forge. I use the skills of a smart leader. I prove to them that they can reach their goals without unnecessary danger. I prove to them that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Working as a team yields far better results than individual successes."

Brakt wasn't done. "Like you--"

"Your Majesty, perhaps we should hear the rest of the petition before we get lost in the details," Starrk suggested strongly.

Brakt shot the Commander a searing look but finally nodded stiffly.

Steev composed himself, then faced the council. He saw that he hadn't lost any points with them by challenging his father. That was a positive sign.

"As I indicated before, Pinnacle Reach is plagued by particular types of monsters that require very specific responses. A typical Dwarven adventurer party does not have sufficient breadth of skills to manage these for long, so they must return to the surface to replenish and start over. The Answer has a deterrent that reduces the frequency of encounters with monsters, allowing more progress. Bringing a larger team means encounters are handled more efficiently and effectively."

"Larger teams mean more mouths to feed, and more supplies are required," Uthug spoke up.

Steev smiled at his confused expression. "That's true. The Answer's monster deterrent pulls the wagons containing the supplies."

Now, all the Elders looked confused.

"It's time to introduce a special member of The Answer. Alex Frost is a recent new arrival. Except he wasn't Blessed by one of the usual Gods. He was Blessed by three: Ffornexa, Ullentra, and Agron.

Alex stepped forward on cue, turned his back to the table, and lifted his tunic to show the Elders his lower back.

Three God's Marks as described.

Amongst the gasps and excited chatter, Chaggrun had a serious question. "Why was an Agron Blessed Human allowed into Kharnthiad?"

This rebuke was directed at the King, who was still smarting from Starrk's interruption. He locked eyes with Chaggrun. "He has Ffornexa as well, so Order balances Chaos. No deranged behavior, so I allowed it!"

Lyra indicated to Steev that she would speak, and he stepped back. All eyes turned to her.

"Alex's inclusion in our party was a learning experience for all of us. He'd never done any adventuring before and was just learning to use his Blessing. Initially, he joined us as our porter, a role he continues to this day, but as a full member of our party.

As he could change into very large and powerful beasts while retaining his Human mind, he carried all our goods as a Therrax. That was a huge relief for us as we carried nothing but our weapons. We quickly discovered that other monsters avoided us when a Therrax was present. We moved deeper into the cities, faster, with far more supplies than we could normally bring. For the bolder monsters, Alex used his monster forms to engage with them. Again, this saved us from having to fight them ourselves.

When we explored Wave Crest, we had a much larger group, so Alex pulled a train of three wagons with all our supplies and baggage to support the mission. He has a quick-release harness so he can switch from beast of burden to fighting beast in seconds. Mostly, he's there to act as a deterrent and to pull the wagons."

Yokkac suddenly stood. "Wait! Wait! Wait! Are you the huge Dragon who terrorized the farmers?"

Alex turned to him and bowed contritely. "I apologize for any disturbance I may have caused while I was completing the King's Challenge."

"Challenge?" Kalgriginn suddenly asked in interest and turned her face toward the King.

Altromorra gasped. "Ah! Of course, there had to be a challenge! This is a party of outsiders! Such petitions were historically preceded by a challenge! What did you have to accomplish?"

Alex glanced at Brakt but stayed silent as he'd already embarrassed the king once.

"Alex was challenged by the King to find the ultimate solution to the Dragon problem."

All eyes turned to Steev, who was watching his father's reaction. The room went quiet.

Altromorra finally broke the silence. "We're here, and you're presenting the petition. This means you completed the challenge. Does this also mean you killed the Dragons?" she asked stiffly.

"No, I did not," Alex said. "The wording of the challenge didn't specifically say I had to kill them. I found an alternate solution and presented it to the king. He said he was satisfied."

Alex didn't want to push his luck. He gave Steev a cautious glance and saw the man struggling to calm himself. He obviously wanted to use the information as a weapon against his father, but he needed the mission to move forward, too. Alex saw the moment when Steev parked his anger. He'd use it later.

"So, you can become a Dragon and a... did you say Therrax?" Yokkac asked.

Alex nodded in relief. "Yes, I can become all kinds of things. I can even partially change." He gave himself the large, scoop-like ears of a Therrax in demonstration.

"Remarkable! And no urge to destroy civilization?" Starrk added dryly.

Alex looked at the man and saw a smile that didn't reach his remaining eye.

"No, Agron hasn't presented such a desire. That could be Ffornexa's influence, though... and my own, of course."

Kalgriginn turned to face Locke. "I assume you will be part of this super party?"

The Adventurer's Guild leader smiled. "I was thinking one of those thirty spots could be mine, yes."

"Most of us are too old to go adventuring, though this sounds like it might be a historic mission," the Merchant's Guildmaster sighed.

"Before everyone gets too excited about what might just be a fantasy, I need to ask if you can present any proof of this previous success you claim?" Starrk asked calmly. Alex saw the fangs hidden in his smile.

The members of The Answer looked at each other as they thought of that. Then Ti'Nah pulled out her little pocket planetarium. Yellsbeth dug a small item from her belt pouch, which cast a bright beam of light when she squeezed it. Soon, all the members of the party had one or more artifacts in their hands. Some made pretty sounds, or projected odd lights, and others changed their shape in seemingly impossible ways, only to revert to their original compact form. At least half of the party had more than one. The only other place so many could be seen together was at the Human university.

"How can you all have these artifacts?" Angreck gasped in wonder.

Lyra answered. "The habitation levels in the underground cities are where these are found. We collected most of these in GreenTree Dynasty. When we returned to Genthale, the University purchased many of them but spent their yearly budget, so we kept the rest. Then we went to Shalazar and explored Wave Crest. The number of items the super party collected there was amazing. I didn't bother getting anything, though." She looked at the others, and most nodded in agreement, as they hadn't either.

Altromorra was aghast. "You should hand these over to the university to be studied."

Alex glanced at Steev with a raised eyebrow but received a small shake of his head. Steev had seen his father seething, so it wasn't the time to rock that boat.

Nodding, Alex walked over to stand before Altromorra and placed a small, metallic, and ornate cylinder on the table before her.

"Your university can have this one. I have no idea what its purpose is. Good luck!" he said with a smile.

The older female gaped at the object and looked up at Alex. "This could be priceless!"

"The knowledge it represents is priceless. Without understanding its function, it's just an object," he replied. He returned to stand beside the party.

Thorn returned with him as she'd placed an artifact she'd collected before Tharrula. Her artifact appeared to have a means to project a narrow beam of intense light to indicate a level state or angular degrees of tilt. Perhaps the Engineering Guildmaster might find use for it.

Lyra moved to stand before the table. "We are petitioning the Council of Elders for permission to explore Pinnacle Reach with a super party of thirty Dwarven adventurers to be led by Steev Cragborne. In Shalazar, we offered to collect artifacts for their Council of Elders if they sponsored the mission by funding the supplies the mission would require. The return on their investment was... incalculable." She gestured to the artifacts. "We'd like to offer you the same deal. Thank you."

The members of the Council erupted in chaos as they all spoke at once.

"ORDER!" Starrk snapped, his voice cutting through the excited noises.

Altromorra spoke first when calm returned. "I call for an immediate vote on this petition."

"I second your call for a vote," Kalgriginn said with a serious expression as she watched the King and the Commander.

"All those in favor of approving this expanded exploration mission into Pinnacle Reach, raise a hand," Altromorra said as she raised hers.

Locke was next to raise his hand, followed by Kalgriginn, Tharrula, and Angreck. When Uthug raised his hand after sharing a look with Steev, Chaggrun begrudgingly raised his too, but frowned.

That made eyebrows rise, and smiles appear. The Ayes now had a clear majority.

Altromorra gestured for everyone to lower their hands before she spoke again.

"All those in favor of sponsoring their mission into Pinnacle Reach with artifacts collected as compensation, raise a hand."

This time, only Starrk's hand remained on the surface of the table.

Altromorra was all smiles and continued to speak for the council. "Votes carried. The Council of Elders hereby gives its permission for your party to create a Dwarven super party led by Steev Cragborne and to take them into Pinnacle Reach on your exploration mission. We appoint Locke Grimweather as the council's agent to arrange the procurement of supplies for the mission and the collection of artifacts as compensation."

Lyra bowed to the council, then bowed more deeply to the King.

"I hereby close the special gathering of the Council of Elders. The record of the results will be added to the official record," the official clerk called out to bring the meeting to an end.

Brakt nodded stiffly and immediately left the chamber. Starrk watched him go, then focused on the other councilors.

Locke stepped down from the dais and joined the party before the table to shake Steev's and Lyra's hands.

He grinned widely at the group. "Looks like we have a mission to prepare for!"

Uthug climbed down from the dais to join them but drew Steev aside for a private conversation. Steev gave his friend a sharp look before Uthug nodded and left the chamber.

Steev looked back at Alex with a troubled expression, then cleared it as best he could and joined the others to celebrate the beginning of their epic mission.

Yellsbeth gave him an excited hug, and that put a huge smile on his face, all troubles forgotten.

Alex grinned at them and shared a mischievous and delighted look with Thorn.

Chapter 14

The selection process for the super party was done at the Adventurer's Guild. There were only twenty-nine positions available, as Locke was covering one as a Saphra-Blessed warrior. His analysis of the nature of the threats they'd face suggested the following super-party composition: five Saphra-Blessed warriors, six Grolex-Blessed archers, five Phyrrenz-Blessed fire and lightning mages, three Lushella-Blessed water mages, three Macrus-Blessed earth mages, three Julliash-Blessed sorcerers, and five Hallestra-Blessed healers and wind mages.

He took into account The Answer's own contributions of three Saphra-Blessed warriors (Yellsbeth, Joah, and Ti'Nah), one Grolex-Blessed archer (Jhaan), one Phyrrenz-Blessed fire and lightning mage (Thorn), one Lushella-Blessed water mage (Devya), one Macrus-Blessed earth mage (Dale), and one Hallestra-Blessed healer (Lyra).

Lyra told Locke that Barrassa would be a reserve warrior protecting the wagon train with Alex. No one knew she'd received a Blessing, so she was their secret weapon.

Dystra was a floater, going where he needed to go, scouting when necessary.

In truth, Dystra's mission was to protect the party from internal intrigue.

It was apparent to everyone in the party, and to Locke, that certain elements wished them harm on this mission. There was a greater-than-zero chance that another sabotage/assassination attempt would be made during the mission. Its most likely source would be from within the super party, so Locke would have to vet the members carefully.

Dystra suggested they not eliminate all suspected infiltrators but rather limit them and, if possible, note their identities. Know your enemy and keep them close.

Keeping Barrassa in reserve with Alex meant two sets of eyes watching the super party members from the back.

Allowing Dystra to roam free would make his position harder to track. He had to sleep from time to time, but his teammates would protect him during those intervals.

There was a huge surge of applicants for the super party once the mission was announced. Over a hundred showed up before the entrance of the Adventurers Guild the following morning.

Locke stood on the top step before the doors with The Answer standing next to him.

The Guildmaster spoke in a loud and clear voice as he described the mission. When they heard the intention was to reach the first habitation level, a ripple of unease and scorn spread through the gathering. Locke turned his head and smiled at Ti'Nah, who stepped forward.

"I first joined this party when they arrived to explore GreenTree Dynasty. My Beast-Kin party had been ambushed at the entrance when we arrived, and most were dead. Lyra's party arrived and saved my friend and me. They accepted us into their party, and we explored that city right down to the habitation level. While it was hard and we almost didn't make it, we reached the habitation level and collected artifacts to bring back. All of us brought some back. We next traveled to Shalazar and petitioned the Council of Elders to allow us to create a super party of twenty-six Beast-Kin. Reaching the habitation level was so much easier working as a well-coordinated team. We found solutions to challenges we'd never experienced before and returned to the surface with artifacts such as the one I have."

She held out her hand, and her little planetarium began to glow, replacing the dark heights of the cavern ceiling with a field of brilliant stars.

The crowd went silent with awe.

Ti'Nah closed her hand over the projector and slipped it back into her pouch. Behind her back, she signaled for Steev to join her at the front, and then she projected her voice to reach everyone in the crowd. "The Beast-Kin super party worked as a well-tuned monster-killing machine. Maybe this is something Dwarves aren't as good at?"

Steev grinned as he heard the roar of denial. "If you want an example of how well Dwarves can work together toward seemingly impossible goals and succeed, look no further than our very own Forge. After the accident that halved its capacity, we faced a daunting challenge. Would we lose half of our productivity and fire half of the Forge workforce? NO! I knew how productive these bastards could be if we changed our processes to maximize our teamwork. We're almost back to full productivity with only half a forge to work with. Dwarven teamwork is second to none!"

The crowd roared its approval.

"You may be asking, how is working in the Forge the same as being a member of an adventurer party? For both, success depends on each member's ability to work as part of a team. Success is maximized by ensuring each member completes their task efficiently and coordinates their efforts with the others. I can maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of any team. You will be a well-tuned, monster-killing machine! Probably better than any Beast-Kin super party."

Another thunderous cheer went up! Now they all wanted to join.

Locke nodded to Steev and moved to the front once more.

"This will be the first time we've ever attempted to send such a powerful team into a depth we've never visited. There will be dangers we've never encountered. Steev will drill this new super party until we're sure we're deadlier than anything we'll face. Once we've reached our goal, we'll have proven its viability and plan future missions.

In a moment, we'll open the doors and begin the registration process. The deadline is tonight at closing. From the registered adventurers, the initial team will be selected. A sheet displaying the names of the first team members will be posted on the notice board outside the Guild Hall when the selection is complete.

Training for the selected adventurers will begin that day. Anyone who fails to show will be rejected and ineligible for future super party selections. During the training, those who demonstrate superior teambuilding skills will earn bonuses.

Good luck!"

Most of the members of The Answer moved aside to let the applicant pass by. Steev, Locke, Yellsbeth, and Thorn went inside to assist with the registration process.

Alex looked at Lyra. "So, what do we do until they are done?"

"Stay alive," Dystra suggested.

Lyra nodded to the Elf, then looked at Alex with the hint of a smile. "You could always go check on your Dragon girlfriends."

Jhaan grinned and bounced his eyebrows suggestively.

Alex shot him an annoyed look and frowned at Lyra. "I already feel uneasy about exposing my memories to Brakt. I did my best not to think about anything beyond the memory dump, but I can't be sure. Did you pick up anything from the King?"

She shook her head. "Aside from his discomfort and his shock, I couldn't read his thoughts, but he didn't stay connected for long."

Alex nodded, feeling a little better. He sighed.

"Flying out to see them might lead some bad guys to them. I told them I'd visit after we returned from Pinnacle Reach. I'll have to stick to that plan," Alex sighed.

"I'm going to research Dwarven ale with Angreck Leathergut. You're welcome to join us," Jhaan offered.

"Yeah, getting drunk with Agron as a rider doesn't sound like a good idea. Thanks, though," Alex said to him.

Joah leaned in. "Barrassa and I are going outside to do some more advanced attacks. You can join us."

Alex winced. "Yeah, have fun. I'll catch up... someday."

Barrassa grinned at him and followed Joah down the steps.

"Maybe we could do a little poking around and try to find that agent of Jalviere?" Alex asked Dystra hopefully.

"No. Leave it alone," the assassin said and left with Dale, who gave him the side-eye as he passed.

Alex watched Dale walking away, then looked at Lyra. "Is Dale okay?"

Lyra flicked a glance toward her oldest friend in the party and felt a little pain in her chest. "Yes. I think he'll be okay once we get back to adventuring. Once he's doing something he knows how to do and can control, he'll feel better."

Devya and Ti'Nah stopped next to Lyra. The tigress looked at Lyra. "Hey, Girlfriend! Are we going shopping for pretty, dainty, unmentionables now?"

Alex's jaw dropped in shock, and he burst into laughter.

Ti'Nah's grin matched Devya's, and they bumped fists.

"I knew that would work," the water mage said.

Alex wiped his eyes as he finished chuckling.

"You could join us and carry our shopping bags," Devya suggested.

"Wow! While that sounds like Heaven on Earth, I think I'll just go soak in a hot bath," he said.

Lyra looked at him cautiously. "Will you be safe?"

"I'll be vigilant," he said.

She watched him, then nodded. "See you at dinner?"

"Yup," he said with a smile, then walked down the steps and headed up the street to the local bathhouse. Along the way, he occasionally felt eyes on him, but he was tall and not Dwarf-shaped, so that sensation wasn't new. Glancing around, he saw no threats, so he continued on his way.

When he went inside, he saw the bathhouse clerk talking to two men in workmen's gear. They had tool cases with them.

"Are you open?" Alex asked.

"The main pools are closed for maintenance," the clerk said.

Alex sighed, then paused. "If you have main pools, does that also mean you have other pools?" Alex asked, not willing to give up.

The clerk glanced at the workmen. "Have you shut off the water to everything?"

The older of the two workers shook his head. "The original soaking tubs are operational." They gathered their tools and headed off to the back.

The clerk turned back to Alex. "In the back room, we have the original deep soaker pools. They're much smaller and have a continual water exchange process. They're not as popular as the newer pools." He gave Alex an awkward smile. "Some people like the sensation of flowing water."

Alex nodded. "Are they hot? A good soaking temperature?"

"Oh yeah! Same as the big pools," the clerk assured him.

"Fine. I'll use that," Alex said and dropped a coin on the countertop.

The clerk smiled and tucked the coin away. "After you come out of the change room, you walk down the hall, past the entrance to the main pool. It's the door at the end of the hall. Take any of the tubs, as you're our only customer today."

Alex nodded and headed off to the change room. He stripped off his clothes and wrapped a towel around himself before walking down the hall.

He peeked in the entrance to the main pool and saw the two workers diligently scrubbing the inside surfaces of the empty pool.

Continuing onward, he opened the door at the end and walked into a steamy room with the soothing sound of water pouring. So, this was their original offering. Not a particularly attractive bathhouse, but it had soaking tubs full of hot water, so he'd forgive the lack of aesthetics.

Five single-person tubs, side by side, before a wall with candleholders. Only five of the seven holders had a lit candle, so the lighting in the room was poor as well, but he was okay with it.

Testing the water in the middle tub, he smiled. It would meet his needs quite well. He hung his towel on a hook above this one, then eased himself into it. He could feel the water entering the tub at the bottom and flowing up and over the sides at the top, pouring into the drain, which recycled the water. After filtering it, hopefully.

He relaxed back in the tub and took a moment to get used to the sensation of the flowing water. It wasn't what he was used to, but it wasn't bad.

He let his mind drift as the heat soaked into his muscles.

Ah, bliss!

At some point, he became aware of a change in the sound in the room. He opened his eyes and saw bubbles popping on the surface of the steaming water. The water was boiling!

He still felt comfortable, but he realized his skin was no longer Human. He'd shifted into his Fire Dragon skin. He felt the presence of Agron in the back of his mind, and he wasn't happy with Alex's inattention, but there was also... anticipation?

He sent the God a contrite apology and focused on the boiling water. He was the only one in the bathhouse, and the water became boiling hot.

Coincidence? Probably not.

He held still as the door began moving. A shrouded figure slipped inside and held very still. He seemed to be peering through the dim light to see if boiling the water had done in his target.

"Sorry. Still alive."

The assassin shrieked, slipped on the wet floor, and fell on his ass.

Alex couldn't stop his chuckle. "Are you okay?"

"How?" asked a quiet voice.

"Agron Blessing," Alex said as he remained in the boiling water. The voice didn't sound like the clerk's or the workers', and Alex began to worry about them.

"You didn't hurt the workers in the bathhouse, did you?" he asked.

"Wha--No," he responded in surprise.

"You took the assassination contract from the Avian," Alex said.

The assassin sucked in a sharp breath, which confirmed Alex's guess.

They pulled something from their pocket and began to lift it to their mouth.

Almost faster than thought, Agron surged forward to attack. Alex felt his bloodlust swelling, and that felt... wrong! The conflict felt like a splash of cold water hitting his mind. This wasn't him! The rage and desire to kill weren't his emotions.

He grabbed control at the last instant and directed his aim of the Dragon's spit away from the assassin's forehead to drill a half-inch hole straight through the man's right shoulder. The flesh hissed and popped from the intense heat. Gasping in pain, he dropped the blow dart but scrambled to pick it up with his other hand.

Alex's second spit punched through their left shoulder, and the blow dart tumbled away again.

Stepping from the tub, he got a closer look at the would-be assassin. His cowl had fallen back, and it was the blond dwarf who'd tried to kill him before.

The sensation of anticipation flared, and Agron was there again, raging to kill the assassin, but Alex pushed back. They needed information from him.

Two more spits, one through each thigh, and the assassin fell to the ground, shrieking from the pain until he passed out.

He wouldn't bleed out as the wounds were instantly cauterized, but Alex wasn't sure if he'd heal properly from these injuries.

His head throbbed, and the room lit up with red light as Ullentra and Ffornexa pulled Agron back. Alex sent his apologies one more time. He'd fucked up.

He stood in the dim lighting, going back over the thought process that led to his decision to head to a bathhouse on his own. He typically wasn't so reckless, was he?

Was it his decision... or Agron's?

His mind shied away from looking too closely, as that way lay madness.

Grabbing the back of the assassin's collar, he dragged him down the hall toward the front desk. Glancing in the main pool area, he saw the two workers still scrubbing. He moved on and reached the entrance. The clerk looked up and shrieked.

"Can you contact the peacekeeper? This fellow just tried to kill me."

The clerk calmed as he suddenly recognized Alex's voice. "What? How?"

"You'll need those workers to turn down the heat on the old pools. The water is boiling. It's okay for me in this form, but it would kill anyone else. Oh, tell them to be careful, as there's a blow dart gun in there. Likely poisonous."

Alex dropped the unconscious assassin on the floor and walked back to the change room. By the time he'd dried off, dressed, and returned to the front desk, three Iron Guard were there taking the assassin into custody. He would have preferred law enforcement not linked so closely to the King, but it wasn't up to him how they dealt with their criminals.

"He tried to kill you?" one of them asked.

"Yes, this is the partner of the one who attacked us in the Guild. He fled then, but he tried again today. I was taking a bath, and he must have been following me and took a chance that boiling the water would kill me. It didn't."

Another member of the Guard pointed to the holes perforating his shoulders and thighs. "What made these?"

"Fire Dragon spit. I mean, a Fire Dragon my size."

The room went silent.

"Anyway, this guy is the partner of the man who lost his hands in a swordfight at the Adventurer Guild Hall. He confirmed that he took a contract to kill me from an Avian who's currently a guest in your city. Just sayin', you might want to look into that. Or not. No pressure."

Alex walked away, frustrated by the blatant but hidden hostility of their host. He felt Agron's answer to that and pushed back. As Dystra said, he didn't make the rules here.

Chapter 15

When Lyra found out about the blond Dwarf assassin's second attempt, Alex found himself with babysitters. That's what it felt like to him. He wasn't allowed to wander around on his own. Another member of their party had to be with him at all times.

With his confusion over how he'd gotten himself into the situation in the first place, maybe the chaperone was a good idea.

It took four days to finalize the members of the Dwarven Super Party. A few who'd been selected were no-shows, and alternates had to be selected.

Then it got really busy for over a week as Dale drilled the Dwarven adventurers in team combat on the plateau before the gates. They'd never run drills like this before, and initially, they had some difficulty with it.

In every battle they'd faced to date, every member went all out against the enemy with full-strength attacks. In a drill setting, this looked like chaos to Dale and Lyra. Even Steev caught on that this wouldn't work.

It was a slow lesson to learn that they were fighting imaginary enemies in a coordinated way by gesturing with their blades, axes, hammers, bows, and staffs instead of actually swinging them, firing them, or casting real magic.

Steev finally got through to them by equating these drills to training efficiency. Drill targets, being imaginary, were low effort, so the proper gesture was sufficient to counter them. It still taught them which kind of attack was required for each called-out command. Once they learned this, the complexity of the drills could increase by adding in additional command triggers to mean different offensive or defensive moves and types of spells.

After the first day of drilling, the situation had looked grim. The natural inclinations of these Dwarven Adventurers weren't suitable for team efforts. Each member was working for individual glory when a team effort was required to yield the best results. Everyone would share the glory equally.

From day two onward, Steev was right down amongst the Adventurers on the imaginary battlefield, following the plays and calling out the orders Dale and Locke had worked out based on best practises and Locke's knowledge of the monsters they would encounter.

Their effectiveness improved with each drill, and the debriefs afterward made each member feel part of something larger than themselves. Steev was brilliant at engaging with the team and finding the members who needed additional attention to help them fit in.

Lyra's party integrated with the super party by the third day as they'd had practice with the Beast-Kin super party.

By the end of the week, the drills Dale inflicted upon the group were brutally complex, with frantic pacing and changes, but Steev had them hitting their marks with few mistakes. The debriefing quickly identified how they could improve.

Dale was standing next to Lyra, Steev, and Locke and pitched his voice to keep it to their group. "Okay, I think we're as good as we're going to get. We're going to run one more drill, a short one, but it will include an Omega scenario."

Steev and Locke looked at Dale in confusion.

Lyra nodded in agreement, and Dale turned to the two Dwarfs. "It's a mission that begins with an encounter with a small group of level two, slow, ranged threats, followed by three fast, disaster-level threats."

Steev frowned. "The level twos will draw our warriors forward. The disaster-level threats will wipe them out or, at the very least, generate massive casualties!"

"When the second threat is called, have your team pull back as fast as they can, making as wide a corridor as they can while running," Dale stated.

Steev looked at Dale in confusion, then nodded. He moved forward to collect his team and give them the heads-up.

Soon, everyone was in position. Dale called out the level two, slow, ranged threat, and the front line rushed forward to prevent the ranged attack.

Then Dale called out the three disaster-level threats and yelled another code word.

Steev called for an expedited retreat to flank the boundary markers they'd made in the snow to identify the corridor.

The team ran as fast as they could to flee the three ultimate monsters that were theoretically pouncing on them. They watched curiously as Alex dropped his Therrax form to slip out of his harness. He ran naked through the snow, up the middle of the corridor, to instantly become an enormous Fire Dragon. He opened his massive jaws and shook his head left to right as if hosing the corridor with fire.

Dale called the final drill to a close and clapped as he told them they'd all survived. A massive cheer went up.

When they quieted down, one of the Dwarven warriors called out. "I don't think my pants survived. I shit myself when he became a Dragon!"

The others laughed in relief.

Steev joined Dale and Locke, and the Guildmaster smiled at them and turned to the gathered super party.

"The wagons we'll be bringing have been loaded with our supplies, so we'll be heading to Pinnacle Reach in the morning, after breakfast. We're on the road by nine! We'll set up camp in the city's entrance tomorrow night and begin our descent into the city the following morning.

Get some dinner, but don't overdo it on the celebrating tonight, as we have a long walk tomorrow. Anyone who shows up tomorrow morning with a hangover will be made to carry their pack."

Confused faces looked at Locke, and one called out. "Won't we all be carrying our packs?"

Locke smiled. "Alex will be pulling wagons for all the supplies, including our packs."

A huge cheer went up when they heard they wouldn't be lugging that load on their backs.

Alex was back in Human form and dressed warmly. "Can we go inside now?"

Dale smiled, obviously feeling much better now that he was back doing something he felt comfortably in control of. "Yes, let's get some dinner."

Everyone headed inside, grateful to be warm once more.

"We're going to the public bathhouse tonight, right?" Alex asked, getting nods from most of the party.

They weren't going to have the opportunity for a while.

-=-

Brakt met with Starrk in his private chamber for a final briefing before the party left the city.

"We were successful in seeding the super party with a squad of my soldiers. Not as many as I'd originally planned, but a sufficiently sized team to fulfill the mission. Eliminating three they'd picked yielded one more of my team added as a replacement. That gave us the team size we needed. It would have been too suspicious to make anyone else disappear. So far, they've reported no issues with their integration. Their experience with the party's drill practice proved they have a skilled strategist, and your son knows how to lead a team."

Brakt scowled at the Commander for his comment about Steev. Then he brushed that off. "How about the hunting teams?"

"They're in place, waiting for the signal to begin. The latest report confirms that the three targets remain in the vicinity of their high-peak caves. One was seen bringing a wild deer back for consumption.

"A wild deer! So, they do have access to a new source, as the Agron freak indicated," Brakt said. He smiled at Starrk. "Tomorrow morning, after they leave for Pinnacle Reach, send the signal to your teams. We'll eliminate the vermin on the mountaintops, and your infiltration team will take care of the Agron freak and his friends in the tunnels. Then we can send Thale's messenger on his way with a new treaty for their King."

Brakt smiled. It wouldn't be long now.

Chapter 16

The route they'd take to get from Kharnthiad's gates to the entrance of Pinnacle Reach wasn't terribly long, but it was completely exposed to the elements. Not one tree or outcropping of rock would offer shelter.

They'd take the path around the Kharnthiad's peak to its opposite side, then descend into the saddle pass between the peaks to finish with a climb up to the entrance of the underground city.

This ten-hour journey had to be done in one continuous march, as setting up camp anywhere in the open between the peaks was not advised. It also could not happen if bad weather was predicted. In poor conditions, parties caught in this open terrain were known to freeze to death in minutes.

They watched the weather like their lives depended on it, which they did, and received an all clear to proceed.

As promised, they were out the door at nine with three extended wagons in a train behind Alex. The load was manageable once they discovered and removed six kegs of potent dark ale hidden on one of the wagons. There was some grumbling about this, but being drunk did not improve anyone's combat skills, so they could afford to leave it behind.

Alex set a good pace that most of the Dwarven Super Party had no problem maintaining. Those who struggled were allowed to ride the wagons in shifts.

They paused for refreshments and a brief rest, then pushed onward.

Alex wasn't the only one who was grateful to finally see the opening leading into Pinnacle Reach.

The entrance to the city was similar to the others Alex had been in. A large open space with a high ceiling and a narrowing corridor on its inner wall that led into the first level. The floor and walls were in excellent condition, as they hadn't been scavenged as GreenTree Dynasty's had.

Something about the lobby kept the wind and snow from venturing inside. It didn't even collect in drifts outside the opening. While not balmy, the interior was always warmer than outside. This made it a viable place to stop for the night.

Once everyone was inside the shelter of the entrance hall, they set up camp. They'd remain there overnight, then head into the city in the morning.

Alex picked up the buzz of excitement and anticipation from the super party. Yes, they were tired from the march through the snow, but he'd made a path for them with the wagons and his own body, so their effort had only been a fraction of his.

Their oldest member, Locke, had spent the trip on the bench of the second wagon, so he used his reserve of energy to help the others set up camp.

Lyra joined him once he was dressed and handed him the tube for carrying the city map. They walked to the side of the chamber where they knew the elevating devices were hidden behind the wall.

Lyra caught the eye of Steev and Locke and gestured for them to join the meeting.

Steev moved to stand next to Yellsbeth and raised a brow. "Is it time to learn the secret to making the mission easier?" he asked, staring at the others as a smile popped up on the faces of every member of The Answer, except for Barrassa. She and Locke watched the party curiously.

Lyra turned to Alex. "I think I'll leave this to you."

He nodded and faced the three Dwarfs. "You've heard about our first mission together in GreenTree Dynasty? How we almost didn't survive the push to the habitation level?"

Barrassa hadn't, and Steev frowned, so Alex thought a quick review might be helpful.

"We discovered that we faced far fewer monsters because I maintained the form of an apex monster most of the time. This acted as a deterrent and allowed us to get to the sixth level, a depth no one had ever reached. But the moment we got there, we faced an attack from two monsters and a group of malfunctioning gardening drones. I managed to kill the monsters, but in the fight, I was knocked through a hole in the wall and fell... to the fifteenth level. I almost died, but Ullentra saved me. That's when I met the caretaker drones. They mistook me for one of the city's original inhabitants, helped me return to the sixth level, and stopped the gardening drones from killing my friends. They gave me a map for the city, but we discovered that it doesn't just work for GreenTree Dynasty. It works for all cities."

The three Dwarves froze in shock as Alex pulled the scroll from its travel case. He unrolled it until it snapped into its flat shape.

"It's keyed to my biosignature, my life signs," he said as he handed it to Yellsbeth. She glanced at him, and he nodded. She touched the center of it, but all it did was roll closed. She opened it again, then handed it to Steev, and he held it as if it might shatter in his hands. At her insistence, he placed his palm on the center, but again, it just closed.

He handed it back to Alex, who opened it and immediately activated it with his palm. The screen lit up, and after a moment, they were looking at a side-view schematic of Pinnacle Reach's twenty levels.

"Shit! There are more levels in this city than the others," Dale said.

The three Dwarves stared at the map in awe. When Alex touched the top level, it rotated to a top-down view of that level. The three made exclamations of shock.

"The map is interactive. Again, only for me, but we can see the layout of every level before we enter it. Unfortunately, the map doesn't show the positions or numbers of the monsters, but it does show routes to the ramps leading down to the lower levels.

"If I bring the map back to display the entire twenty levels," he touched the proper control to do this, "and I tap this icon, it will highlight the habitation levels for us," Alex demonstrated.

Levels eight through fourteen became a little brighter than the others.

Dystra examined the map. "There are seven habitation levels. That's three more than GreenTree Dynasty and one more than Wave Crest."

"They also begin on level eight, like GreenTree Dynasty," Dale added with a frown.

"What's the significance of the extra habitation levels?" Locke asked.

Dale looked at the Guildmaster. "If it matches the other cities, each habitation level typically has over twenty-seven hundred living units. Inside each of them lived one person who worked on whatever projects they wanted. The science, technology, art, music, philosophy, and mathematics found in each unit are beyond comprehension."

Alex spoke up. "Which brings me to the cautionary message. Some of these people might have been working with biological, chemical, or radioactive materials that, if unleashed upon the world, could potentially destroy all life. That's why we must be incredibly cautious about opening these living units. I can open the vault-like doors, but when we get to that level, I will only open one to contact the city maintenance drones. They are aware of what the inhabitants were working on, so they can tell us which ones we should avoid."

"What if you open a hazardous one on the first try?" Steev asked.

Alex nodded to him. "That would truly suck, but Ullentra might be able to save me. That's why only I go into the first one, and I close it once I've contacted the drones and exited. They'll come to us."

"What will they do when they arrive?" Locke asked.

"They'll bring us all back here in seconds with the city's elevators," Alex said, gesturing to the lobby. "We'll set up camp, then we'll use the elevators to visit the habitation level in smaller groups and ask them to show us safe rooms to open to collect artifacts until everyone has some."

"What's an elevator?" Steev asked.

"It's like a large room that moves vertically behind the walls," Yellsbeth answered with a twinkle in her eye as she gestured to the wall behind them with a thumb.

Steev stared at the blank wall, then looked at her, stunned. "This is what happened at Wave Crest?"

"Yes!" Yellsbeth responded, smiling at his wonder.

Alex raised his hands for calm. "That's true, but we're getting ahead of ourselves. We still have eight levels to traverse before we get to look in a habitat. That isn't going to be smooth sailing. We'll have to remain vigilant and work as a team to ensure we all make it."

Dystra glanced back to ensure they had separation from the others before he spoke. "We're tracking the problem children we've identified," he said, using the name they'd chosen for the spies in their midst.

"Four of them have been identified so far, but there could be more," Locke said, and Steev nodded. They were certain that four of the super party were ex-Iron Guard agents. Keeping track of them, who they spoke with, and where they went was an ongoing effort to identify the others.

Alex scowled. "I could ask them nicely who the others are."

Lyra placed a hand on his arm to calm him and felt his muscles begin to relax as he glanced at her with a self-conscious smile.

"Couldn't we just send the four back, as that would mean four less?" Dale asked.

Alex nodded to him in agreement.

"They would just follow and potentially pick us off from the shadows. Traveling with us, we can keep an eye on them and ensure they assist us in the interim. We need the firepower to make it through the levels. If we'd prevented them from joining, we would have had to deal with this unknown quantity hunting us from behind," Locke insisted. He shook his head. "Vigilance."

Alex released a breath and nodded. He kept to himself that Agron would have massacred any party following them.

"Let's review levels one and two to find the safest, quickest route," he stated, and the others nodded as they looked at the map more closely.

-=-

Darerreal Noblebane cleaned his sword amongst a group of adventurers working on their own gear as he kept the party leaders in the corner of his eye. He'd already witnessed something extraordinary. The Agron Blessed Human possessed some kind of artifact that functioned as a map for the underground city. He'd made a show of how it only worked in his hands. Undoubtedly, that demonstration was for onlookers like himself as well as the leaders.

He ensured he presented no visible signs of observing them aside from the occasional curious and open glance. Completely natural.

He never looked directly at the one Blessed by Agron. He'd been observed in public demonstrating beast-like heightened senses, so he might pick up the sensation of being observed.

When Starrk approached Darerreal to lead this mission, he'd agreed with no hesitation. He knew his skills and his record with missions in the city gave him an excellent chance of being selected for the super party. His ability to blend in made him a natural infiltration expert.

He looked like a Dwarven Adventurer. Powerfully muscled, wearing worn but well-maintained armor and weapons. His long black hair was properly braided to ensure it didn't interfere with his vision in battle. Nothing flashy about his gear or himself, as being invisible was preferable. His Blessing from Saphra was strong, but his training didn't rely on that. He practiced endlessly.

Running a mission in which the team members had to maintain distance from each other and limit communication was a definite challenge, but he was up to it. How his teammates coped would be seen.

There were six other agents on this mission. Two he'd wanted for the team hadn't been selected, and two he didn't want on the mission had been. Nothing he could do. Two were thugs with few wits to share between them. Darerreal knew he could run the op with the four, so if they acted out, he might have to see to it that they got themselves killed.

He put his weapon away and packed up his cleaning kit. They were discussing the strategy for moving through the levels, and he wasn't close enough to see any detail, so he was done observing tonight.

As he made his way to his bedroll, he signaled the four members of his team he knew he could rely on. They returned their response gestures with minimal effort, none of them acknowledging his passing.

One of the four, Larrkane, had been his lieutenant in his squad. He was the best of the four, so he felt assured of their success.

The final two partially turned to face him, so he walked by without acknowledging them.

Idiots!

He settled himself on his bedding and closed his eyes.

He wasn't sure how he'd do it, but these two had to meet their end before they blew the mission. Luckily, Pinnacle Reach was well equipped with dangers capable of culling such troublemakers.

Speaking of dangers, it seemed the leaders' meeting was over. The Agron Blessed was walking towards the inner corridor in the shape of an enormous Therrax once more. What was he up to?

When he returned after disappearing into the tunnel for only a minute, all Darerreal could do was speculate on what he'd been doing in that tunnel.

Maybe they'd find out on their way in tomorrow.

-=-

Alex grimaced at the stench of the partially dissolved Dwarven Adventurers. It was a truly revolting smell!

The Answer and their Dwarven super party had made it to the third level in a day and a half without so much as a stubbed toe. His ability to deter the approach of smaller monsters was working well.

Now this.

Two axe-bearing adventurers had decided to get ahead of the party during the lunch break and became lunch themselves after they ducked into a side corridor. Creatures affixed to the ceiling dropped their gelatinous stomachs onto the Dwarves and immediately began ingesting them. The organs were lined with barbs that pierced flesh and injected paralytic poisons. They hadn't stood a chance.

Dystra was the one who noticed the absence of the two. He also found them and reported back.

According to Locke, the corridor in question was a known trap and should have had a warning marker on the corridor wall. Alex noticed there was no signage now to identify the danger.

Someone removed it, but when?

It could have been someone from a mission prior to theirs, but he doubted the removal of warning signs was something that happened often or ever before.

If it had been someone from the super party, the only time it could have happened would have been just before they called to stop for lunch, and it had to be someone at the very front of the group. Their grouping had been a little chaotic, and it was possible that one of them might have had the briefest opportunity to slip ahead to do it.

The timing required was precise, as no one in Lyra's party had seen anything. If one of the super party Dwarves had done it, they were very good. Maybe even Dystra-level good.

They'd have to tighten up their grouping to ensure they didn't lose track of their members.

This led to the question of how the two had slipped out of sight during lunch. Also, what prompted the two to go and head for that side corridor?

Dystra and Locke were standing side by side with grim expressions, speaking in quiet tones to not be overheard.

When Locke headed back to the chamber where they'd stopped in for lunch, Alex joined Dystra.

"That's two of the infiltrators gone," Dystra said quietly to Alex, who looked at him in surprise.

The assassin nodded slightly. "They were part of the group we've been watching."

"That's not what I expected," Alex said.

Dystra's expression was grim. "We need to keep track of our super party members better. I don't believe for a moment that someone from a prior mission randomly removed that warning sign."

Alex frowned. "But taking out those two?"

Dystra scowled. "I know. Does it make sense that the infiltration group would reduce its numbers? Or is there another group at work here?"

Alex's eyes widened. "I don't like how crazy that's beginning to sound."

Dystra nodded stiffly, then looked at the dissolving bodies. "We can't burn them as the smoke will become toxic." He eyed Alex, who glanced at him in question.

"What?" he asked, feeling uneasy.

"You could dissolve them," the assassin suggested quietly.

"OH, HELL NO! Come on! Don't you know how revolting that is for me? Would you ingest your enemies?" Alex snapped with a scowl.

Dystra raised his hands in surrender. "I'll ask Devya to flash freeze them solid, then Yellsbeth can hit them with her axe to break them into pieces."

Alex turned and walked away, struggling to get the image of dissolving and consuming the two dead Dwarves out of his mind. His lunch threatened to leave.

He felt a pressure building in the back of his mind, and he immediately knew it was Agron's frustration with their inaction against those conspiring against their mission.

He sent a silent plea to the God for patience and assured him he wouldn't allow anything to prevent him from completing their goal.

The pressure eased, but he detected grumbling.

It was the best he'd be getting today.

-=-

The progress they were making in Pinnacle Reach wasn't as fast as it had been in Wave Crest, but Dale suggested this was likely due to the increased number of monsters in the underground city. They'd begun encountering swarms of minor threats, most of them spiders the size of small dogs.

They hadn't proven to be too challenging for the team they'd brought along. The drills they'd practiced proved highly effective in molding their parties into a devastating killing machine, and morale was high.

Therrax urine proved not to be a deterrent against these monsters, so Alex stopped taking the precaution of marking the corridors around their camps.

Locke confirmed that spiders were the most common form of monster in this underground city, along with a variety of centipede-like creatures. Armor plating on the centipedes protected them from the spider's fangs and made them tricky to kill. They seemed to be native enemies and likely came from the same place through the portal.

The greatest challenge would be getting past the horticulture zone, as their most effective weapons against the spiders were fire and lightning. Using either was problematic as the gardening drones automatically responded to both aggressively. They didn't want to be forced into defending themselves against the drones as well as the monsters at the same time.

Levels four through seven were horticultural zones. The deepest reported level Adventurers had reached in Pinnacle Reach was five. Most returned to the surface before their supplies ran out.

They were taking a break at the ramp leading down to level four, going over their strategy. The basic rule was to stay on the path that ran between the fields, and no fire!

They reviewed the map again and discovered a shorter route to a ramp down to level five, which was fairly close to a ramp to level six! They'd descend levels faster at the cost of a slightly longer path on level six to reach the ramp to seven, but the distance they'd shave off the trip made it worthwhile.

"Why has no one found this shorter route before?" Locke asked in frustration.

Dale examined the map and sighed. "It's counter-intuitive to take a path that leads away from where the ramps typically are. Without a complete map like this one, you can't see that there's a ramp in this direction."

Locke nodded begrudgingly and reviewed their new route. "Hopefully this will shave off some time. It looks like it should."

Dale nodded with a little frown. As they'd be the first to use this path, he was worried about what fresh hell they might stir up.

-=-

Alex wondered if this was an arachnophobe's definition of Hell. He was glad that he didn't suffer from the phobia. Devya and Jhaan both seemed to have a touch of it and were not enjoying themselves.

They'd spent five days getting through three levels and fought thousands of spiders ranging in size from palm-sized to some that could be mistaken for minivans, albeit vans that moved on eight long furry legs instead of four tires. Proving their mortality, their numbers decreased as their size increased. They bred in large quantities as few survived. One reason for this turned out to be their tendency to eat their own young. That was a gruesome discovery.

Another lucky fact was that the larger they became, the slower they moved. Typically. One of the big boys had learned how to use their larger limbs to leap forward. That was a terrifying sight.

Against a team of grim-faced adventurers, even these brutes could be taken down in short order.

The party's Healers did their work, returning their injured peers to the fighting force. They couldn't afford to have many walking wounded.

On the fourth level, they also encountered a team of gardener drones which took exception to having their work interrupted. Alex quickly donned his Master gown, spoke with the biomechanical workers, and commanded them to ignore his guests to the city. This immediately defused the encounter and saved them a lot of bloodshed.

He noted that unlike the gardeners in the other cities, these were not suffering from the rot. That was good to see.

The super party was stunned by this new trick Alex had up his sleeve.

It wasn't an Agron-based method and raised a lot of questions about how he knew how to control the drones.

When they reached the ramp down to five, they were ambushed by a swarm of at least fifty grubs which burst from the soil on either side of the path.

Roughly the size and oblong shape of a rugby ball, blind but sensitive to heat, they moved quickly on short, sticklike legs and had a sharp, bitey end. The Dwarves were thrilled to kill these pests by cutting off the toothy end, tearing off their legs, and tossing them in a pile.

Locke explained their excitement at finding these creatures with a smile.

"They're a delicacy! I've never seen so many in one place!" he gushed.

They'd feast on grubs tonight!

Yellsbeth was grinning at Alex as she walked up to see him examining one. "Oh yeah! They're delicious! You'll love them!"

When her sister left, Thorn leaned close and whispered in his ear. "They taste like you'd imagine a rotting corpse would... if you left it in a toilet. Don't be fooled. It's considered a rite of passage for Dwarven warriors to eat a full one. I'm sure they pretend they like it."

Alex gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you. I feel no impulse to prove my manliness."

Thorn burst into delighted giggles and left to help Yellsbeth set up camp.

Alex watched her leave with a smile. He'd refrained from getting intimate since the beginning of the mission, but that didn't stop Ti'Nah from curling up next to him when they rested.

He knew Beast-Kin needed the contact when they slept, but he knew better than to start something with her.

-=-

The next morning, after breakfast and tearing down their camp, the party headed down into level five.

Once more, it was seemingly endless fields of crops. The workers weren't present as the fields required no attention at this time.

One of the scouts returned from the front with news of a monster blocking their way ahead.

Locke, Dale, Dystra, Lyra, and Alex slipped closer to get a better look.

They discovered it was an enormous centipede that had clearly taken major damage in a battle. The back third of its body seemed to be paralyzed due to a terrible rupture in its belly armor that severed its ventral nerve cord. Instructions from the central brain weren't reaching the ganglia in the latter third of its body segments.

The weakened monster was struggling to move, but the dead weight of its paralyzed segments prevented it from making much progress. It was also leaking fluids from the injury, so it might eventually bleed to death, but they weren't going to be able to go around it.

"What do we do about this one? It's too freaking big for us to battle and it's blocking the path!" Dale growled.

Lyra looked at it critically, then eyed Alex.

He gave her a suspicious look of his own. "What's going on in that mind of yours?" he asked cautiously.

"The road ahead of us is blocked by another kind of avalanche. We need heavy equipment to push it aside," she said with a slight smile on her lips.

Alex's eyes widened. "You want me to become a Dragon to deal with this?" He glanced once more at the monster blocking their way. "Unlike a mudslide, this is alive and will resist being pushed off the path."

She tilted her head as her smile remained in place. "And how do you think you might deal with that?"

Alex blinked at her. "I-I can't use fire! That will draw the gardener drones."

"Brute force?" Dale asked.

Alex looked at the centipede's head. Its mandibles were scary big. They might even be sharp enough to damage a Dragon's scales. Could he pin its head down long enough to break through the first segment and take its head off? He'd need a plan B if he couldn't.

"I think I'd rather fight a Spider, but we aren't moving forward until we deal with this bastard," Alex sighed. He looked into the eyes of the others. "Give me a moment."

He disappeared, and his clothes fell to the ground.

"WHAT?" Locke blurted in shock.

Dystra took the senior warrior's arm and pointed to the edge of the path ahead where a small, furry, and long-bodied beast was racing up the hallway, darting from shadow to shadow.

"That's Alex? What's he doing?" Locke asked incredulously.

"Reconnaissance," Dale said as he shared a look with Dystra.

Lyra collected his clothes as they watched from cover as Alex got closer.

One of the issues Alex had with becoming these beasts was that their senses were often so much stronger than his Human ones. The weasel-like creature he was now had an intensely strong sense of smell, which was likely useful to them when hunting for prey. Approaching a massive centipede monster that was spewing its bodily juices onto the ground, leaving puddles everywhere, Alex wanted badly to vomit. The stink was horrific, and his little weasel nose twitched madly, but he wasn't getting used to the odor.

He was close enough, perhaps too close, but he knew he couldn't take the funk anymore, so he had to act.

Glancing up, he noted the ceiling was high enough and reached for his Dragon form.

As he snapped up to his full height, the centipede caught the motion and twisted its body lightning fast to face him straight on.

Before Alex could prepare, the centipede surged forward with mandibles spread wide to bite him.

Alex leaned back and barely managed to get his front arms up to catch the closing jaws. It was an awkward angle, so he didn't have the leverage needed to push them open. The serrated inner edges of the mandibles began to dig into his scales.

Alex was well braced so the centipede couldn't topple him over, though it tried, but it did begin to curl its body around him. The dead third of its body dragged behind and prevented a complete encircling, but all the extra legs clinging to him began to hurt.

He realized he was in trouble as this fucker was damn strong for being half dead.

Alex had only one weapon left, but he couldn't blast the monster with a huge burst of flame as that would trigger all the drones on the level to rush to this area and attack in a frenzy.

The crushing pressure was increasing, and Alex's hands were bleeding, so he compressed his plasma like he was cutting stone in the Forge and spat a shot directly between the monster's large compound eyes.

KAPOW!

The superheated plasma drilled straight through the tough chitin armor and shot through the gooey interior, passing through its head and front three sections of its body. All that liquid instantly flashed to steam, and the front half of the centipede exploded violently. Shards of bug armor flew in all directions, and Alex was knocked completely off his feet to crash into the field on the right side of the path. He'd dragged a large section of the monster with him into the dirt.

He was stunned from his proximity to the explosion and hurt by flying chunks of chitin.

"ALEX!" Lyra screamed. She ran closer with desperate fear in her eyes.

Dystra said something to Dale, who ran back toward the party. Then Dystra and the others followed Lyra.

Alex was on his back, staring at the ceiling as his senses returned to him. He slowly rolled his head to face the party members.

"Ouch," he moaned.

"How badly hurt are you?" Dystra called out from the path.

Alex took stock, and aside from a fair amount of pain from being far too close to the concussive blast and the damage of multiple cuts and stabs, he decided his injuries weren't fatal.

"I'll live," he said as he slowly extricated himself from the clawed feet that had impaled him. He was also covered in bug guts and fluids.

"Move back. I'm a mess," he groaned.

It took a few minutes, but he managed to step out of the field and back onto the path. He painfully shoved the remaining section of centipede into the field, so the path was clear. The drones would have to deal with the cleanup.

Dale returned with Devya and Ti'Nah at his side. Both stared at Alex in dismay.

Finally, Alex faced the others. "I'm going to change back and hopefully get healed."

"Let Devya wash you off first!" Dale called out.

Alex stared blearily at them, then nodded.

Devya hit him with a blast of warm water, and he rocked on his feet as the pressure sent agony through his injuries. He persevered, and when the water was done, he immediately switched back to his Human form and fell to his knees on the path.

Ullentra hit him with a blast of Restoration Magic.

He was out before he hit the ground.

-=-

Dystra shared a look with Dale and Lyra, then turned to Locke. "This is a dangerous state for Alex to be in if the party infiltrators decide to make an attempt to take him out."

"They'd have to get past us, first," Lyra said firmly. Dale smiled at her then looked at their Beast-Kin member.

They watched Devya use her magic to power wash the gore from the path. They'd be walking through this, and no one wanted to get this stinky goo on their feet.

"Ti'Nah, can you carry Alex back to the wagons?" he asked.

"Sure," she replied and lifted Alex into her arms.

The group walked back to the party and saw expressions of dismay on the faces of the super party as they spotted Ti'Nah carrying their good luck charm in her arms.

Locke grinned at them to reassure them. "It's fine. He's just a little tired from killing a monstrous centipede which was blocking our way. We'll get moving again once he's ready to go."

Smiles of relief returned to their faces.

-=-

Darerreal clenched his teeth in frustration as a prime opportunity to eliminate the Agron Blessed Human slipped by. He was too closely guarded by his party mates, and there were too many pathetic bootlicks nearby to make the attempt.

He caught sight of one of his team and saw the same tension in their body language. He turned away and slipped a smile onto his face before he gave away his true feelings.

With The Answer's assassin doing random pattern patrols, there hadn't been any opportunities to organize a strike against Alex Frost. The deeper they got into the city, the more difficult it would be for them to escape unless they got the dwarves in the super party to join them after they managed to terminate the Agron Blessed Human and his party.

Seeing how the members of The Answer worked together and witnessing the strength of their Blessings, he was growing concerned about the success of their mission. At best, they might kill Alex if they could strike during a moment when he's recovering.

Darerreal saw a hand signal from Larrkane: a hand on a hip, ring finger tucked under.

A question about the need to abort the mission. Another member doubting the ability to meet their goal.

He rubbed his right eyebrow as if it were itchy. The signal for patience. Then he rubbed his chin as another response.

Soon.

Chapter 17

They camped at the base of the ramp down to level six. There was a large open space next to the maintenance buildings for the gardeners. Their arrival triggered a visit from a group of the drones.

Once more, Alex donned the Master gown and spoke to the biomechanical drones, informing them they were to ignore his guests who would be moving on shortly. They didn't have the means to speak back, but they did understand.

When the drones returned to the maintenance sheds, the super party members breathed a sigh of relief and quietly cheered for Alex.

They knew reaching the ramp to seven would take a longer walk, so anyone not on first watch grabbed a quick bite and settled onto their bedrolls.

The rest period was thankfully quiet, and once everyone was up, they were eager to get through the sixth level as quickly as possible. They knew the eighth was their final destination, where the promised riches awaited.

-=-

Based on what they saw when they reviewed the map the night before, they hoped it would be possible to reach the ramp to seven before they'd need to set up camp once more. They were prepared to push through to reach the next ramp today.

Fortune was on their side as the only challenges they encountered were three packs of spider scouts. These were mid-sized spiders in clusters of fifty or so. The size of German Shepherd dogs, they were quick but no match for waves of arrows, earth and ice projectiles, and any who managed to avoid that faced swords, axes, and hammers.

Devya was getting better at controlling her magic and only twice sent a bus-sized block of ice through the onrushing scout spiders.

None of the Dwarven super party or The Answer were seriously injured, and the healers quickly dealt with the few minor wounds.

When the group broke for a meal, they discussed what the presence of so many scouts might mean for the next level.

"They're looking for a new location for their nest. This many scouts probably suggests urgency and likely means the existing nest is being endangered." He let that sink in for a moment. "I think we'll find a spider nest on the seventh level," Locke asserted.

"A nest? What does that mean?" Steev asked.

The Guildmaster frowned. "A Queen. Enormous but slow-moving. A nursery of hundreds to maybe a thousand eggs. Probably a large assortment of spiders of all sizes working the nursery and serving the Queen."

Silence settled over the group.

"Fuck. Is there any way around this?" Dale growled.

Alex collected the map and powered it up. He zoomed down to the sixth level and checked where the closest alternate ramp down was. It was on the far side of the current level. Switching to a view of the seventh level, he saw the ramp to the eighth was closer to the center of the seventh, meaning it would be a shorter trip if they took this ramp down. There was no guarantee that either ramp to the seventh avoided the nest.

He looked up at the Guildmaster. "We need to know where the nest is before we can tell which ramp is a safer route."

"Sending scouts of our own would be a death sentence. The Monsters on this level are too strong for anything less than a super party," Dale asserted and received nods of agreement. "So, moving forward is our only reasonable option. We descend to the seventh and look for signs of the nest and the trouble the spiders are trying to avoid. It's gotta be the damn centipedes."

Dystra nodded to Dale, then looked at the others. "We're going on high alert."

Steev quickly moved to fill in the super party on their findings and the plan. While there was a little grumbling, Dale could see they agreed with the plan as well. That took some of the pressure off. He got the parties moving once more, and they descended the ramp.

A small group of grubs attacked at the base. Steev called out the play, and the grubs were obliterated immediately. This excess violence was likely just nerves, but it put grins on the faces of the adventurers.

"Stay frosty!" Steev called out, and their discipline sharpened, but the smiles remained.

They seemed to like working as a super party. It was clear that relying on others with distinct skills to target specific threats worked best.

As they worked their way across the seventh level, they saw damaged and destroyed gardeners here and there.

Occasional clusters of spiders surged out of the fields at them, but the team knew how to deal with those threats.

Hours later, they saw a large white dome in the distance that went from floor to ceiling. The clusters of spiders were increasing, but they proved to be no match for their forces. Steev spoke with the warriors after each skirmish to get their opinions on whether the enemy's actions were changing. So far, they hadn't.

As they got closer, Alex was getting the impression that the large white dome they were approaching was designed like an igloo. At the base of the dome were small, extruded archways for entering and exiting. Spiders of all sizes could be seen using these tunnels.

The party leaders moved to stand near Alex to hear the Therrax's review of what he could see.

"The Queen is inside," Locke said after hearing Alex's report.

That's when Alex's extra-sharp Therrax eyes picked up an anomaly in the base of the white silk dome. The ring of dark shapes sticking out of the silk, trapped in it. Recognition came with a gasp.

"The spiders have incorporated gardener drones into the dome's wall ringing the bottom," he called out.

"Why would they do that?" Dale snapped, his tension showing.

"It has to be some kind of deterrent, maybe against the centipedes?" Jhaan offered.

They stopped to make sense of what they were seeing. Alex watched a small spider climb up the side of the dome and begin eating the biological component of the drone.

"Oh, fuck!" he exclaimed in revulsion. "They're using them as food!"

Matching expressions of distaste and disgust crossed the faces of the party.

"Does spider silk burn?" Alex growled.

Dale frowned at him. "Likely fast and hot, but we can't use fire without drawing the aggro of the gardeners. The level's fire suppression systems would likely trigger as well, so you wouldn't get flames for long. It might be a water-based system, but if they use gas to snuff out the flames, we could be snuffed out as well."

"Where is the ramp to the eighth level?" Locke asked.

Dale pointed toward the dome. "Either behind that or inside it. But based on the last time we looked at the map, I think the entrance is inside the dome."

"Dammit!" Alex cursed. He brooded about the difficulty of this latest challenge. He wanted to use a plasma jet to cut through the dome, but Dale was right. The response to flames would be more trouble than it was worth.

He turned his head to stare at Devya as a thought came to his mind. He was thinking of his use of plasma against the monster centipede.

"I compressed the Dragon's plasma into a super tight beam. This increased its ability to cut through anything--"

"We just said fire can't be used!" Dale snapped.

"Water! Water can be used as a cutting blade if the pressure is vastly increased and directed as a tight stream. Devya has power to spare when it comes to her magic!" Alex insisted.

Eyes turned to look at the woman as she stared at Alex in surprise.

"I've never done that before!" she insisted.

"That just means you've never tried," Alex added with a smile. "You already have incredible power in the flow. You just need to compress it into a tight beam. It will cut through the webbing like a laser beam but won't trigger any fires. We just need to ensure there aren't any friendlies in front of you."

"What's the point of cutting through the dome? What does that achieve?" Dale asked.

"If we cut the supports bonding the dome to the roof, then it should collapse on the Queen. That should give us an idea of where to direct Devya's cutting beam to kill the Queen.

"Which will make the rest go into a frenzy. How does this help?" Dystra asserted.

"Or will they flee with the eggs to protect them and make one a new Queen?" Lyra suggested, and Alex nodded to her.

Dale and Steev shared a look as they considered what kind of response they'd need to have their fighters prepared for.

More planning was required, but they had to do it fast.

-=-

Darerreal knew this was the moment. He was growing desperate as they'd had no other opportunities and they were at risk of failing the mission. They couldn't go any deeper as they were already at the threshold of the habitation level where he'd heard hints that the mission would become far easier. That meant less danger for The Answer to deal with.

Facing a Spider Queen and all of its defenders was a perfect opportunity to finally throw too much chaos at the parties to survive. The trick would be surviving themselves while spreading enough chaos behind them to prevent the others from following.

Seeing The Answer's assassin working closely with his party, he raised his hands to scratch his scalp, then slipped back toward the far edge of the super party. A short distance from him, he saw the other members of the infiltration team slowly move into place until they were all at the back of the group. Pretending to check his weapons, he noted that no one was paying attention to them. This was good.

He passed a signal to the others, and they faded into the fields on the right side of the road and moved a short distance from the party. Darerreal quickly outlined a plan to trigger a fire at the dome to force the spiders into an attack before quickly heading back through the crops to return to the ramp up to level six. They would lay down more fire before heading up to trap the parties between two walls of flame.

There was no guarantee they'd kill Alex and his friends, but they were out of opportunities. They had to make the most out of this one.

They moved deeper into the fields and rushed forward, flanking the super party, killing the few spiders they crossed paths with. They came up to the leading edge of the field as the spiders had cleared an area around the dome. Larrkane was their expert bowman and specialized in payload projectiles. His fire arrows carried a charge that did nasty concussive and fire damage. He sent arrow after arrow into one of the tunnels leading into the dome.

When they exploded, the spiders poured out of the opening, some of them on fire. The tunnel was going up in flames, and a flaming spider rushed around the side of the dome and entered the other tunnel, setting it ablaze as well.

Almost immediately, far up on the side of the dome, a massive tear appeared, and titan spider legs began to push the sides open.

The Queen was escaping.

It was time to go.

Darerreal signaled Larrkane and the others to race around the outside edge of the fields to make their way back to the ramp to the sixth level where he'd meet up with them.

He separated from the group. He needed to ensure Alex Frost died on this level.

-=-

"SHIT! What the fuck was that!" Dale barked as a fast series of concussive blasts erupted in one of the tunnels leading into the dome. Then they saw the flames.

"Looks like the infiltrators decided to make their move," Locke growled.

Dystra nodded and disappeared into the field next to the path.

Watching the commotion at the dome, spiders rushing here and there, some on fire, it was clear to see the situation was quickly becoming chaotic.

Then they saw the Queen tear herself free from the dome.

"She was a lot higher than I expected her to be," Alex muttered, pushing back at his instinctive fear. He had no arachnophobia but... Geezus! Look at the size of that thing!

He shifted to Human to step out of the harness, then immediately went back to Therrax form. He turned to Devya. "How about it? Do you feel up to trying a water jet cutting technique?"

Devya stared at him. "Against her?"

"Preferably," Alex said, holding her eyes with his.

Devya hiccupped in surprise at his response, then looked at the massive spider making its way down the dome slowly and carefully.

"I'll need to get much closer, which I don't want to be," she muttered.

They watched Steev and Dale calling out orders to arrange the super party in the most efficient placements. So far, the spiders weren't attacking.

Fire was gaining purchase at the bottom of the dome, accelerating as it spread. The Queen was in danger of being caught in the flames as she descended. Two of the dead gardeners were being immolated when they suddenly exploded, ripping a huge tear in the side of the dome.

Lyra moved closer. "We need to cut the top half of the dome free from the bottom, so the flames won't spread. If the top catches and falls, the ramp down will be covered in burning silk! It's going to be hard enough to cross that burning ring to get to the ramp."

Alex stared at the huge dome. "Shit! I didn't think of that."

He knelt, and Lyra pushed Devya onto his back so she could climb on him.

"Hang on!" Alex called back as he accelerated toward the dome.

As they approached an open space around the dome, Alex slowed and let Devya slide to the ground.

"Conceptualize a funnel with a wide end facing you, narrowing to a point the diameter of a pencil facing the dome. Imagine this funnel is made of an unbreakable diamond and your magic water stream feeds into the wide end facing you. Point the narrow end at the edge of the dome above the flames.

Devya nodded, then closed her eyes. She took some deep breathes then held out an arm with fingers splayed. She brought her fingers together slowly as she imagined squeezing her raging river of water to such a narrow point of focus. A tremor went through her body as her power fought back at being controlled so tightly.

When she opened her eyes, she pointed a finger at the dome and a tight, focused beam of water shot across the open space and ripped through the dense silk like a hot knife in butter. She slowly panned her arm across the webbing, and the lower half folded over and dropped onto burning sections below. This snuffed the flames temporarily by cutting off the oxygen. She'd have to saturate it with water to completely stop the smoldering embers.

Her cutting jet penetrated deep inside and cut the inner bracing until its energy was dissipated. These cuts began to destroy the structural integrity of the dome. From outside, it looked like it was warping and collapsing.

"STOP!" Lyra called out, and Devya immediately did, hearing the concern in her friend's voice.

"We're going to bury the ramp to the eighth floor--THE QUEEN!" Lyra shouted.

The monstrously large spider finally reached the ground and immediately turned its attention to the threat tearing the nest apart. They felt the thump of its enormous feet striking the ground as it moved to attack Devya.

The woman in question froze for a second, then directed her cutting jet on the monster.

The spray destroyed the joints of its front legs, making it fall forward, its horrific face striking the ground heavily.

Devya shrieked and focused her power on the terrifying jaws and fangs snapping in her direction. The less armored bits of its face dissolved under the intense blast of the cutting jet. Devya screamed as she pushed harder, and its entire cephalothorax exploded in a spray of brains and guts, the beam punching completely through to the thorax, which erupted as well but with less mess. They were pelted with bits of Queen Spider and narrowly missed being hit by one of its fangs, which bounced past.

"I think you've killed the Queen!" Alex called out to her, and Devya released her grip on the beam. It immediately expanded to the width of a truck and smashed into the carcass of the spider, knocking it back. The entire area got a good spray until she relaxed her cramping hands and canceled the magic.

Devya began to collapse, and Alex switched to his Human form to catch her.

That's when his troubles began.

-=-

Darerreal watched the Therrax protecting The Answer's Water Mage as she used her outrageously strong magic to fight against the Queen of the nest. No one was this strong, but he couldn't deny what his eyes were seeing.

When the massive spider exploded, spraying bits of itself everywhere, Darerreal was watching Alex carefully.

The water mage began to collapse from exhaustion and the damage she took from being struck by pieces of spider carapace.

Alex dropped his Therrax form and moved to catch her.

Darerreal was moving before Alex caught the falling woman. He leapt from cover and raced forward as quietly as he could. Drawing his sword back, he swept it in an arc to cut the man's head from his body.

He saw the woman's eyes widen in horror as she saw him coming, but Frost was watching her, not behind himself.

The sword bit deep and struck bone, cutting through the spinal column of the Azzarra where Alex had been a second before. Darerreal's sword was trapped in the dense body, wedged between the shoulder bones. He'd missed beheading him, but Frost was in no condition to fight back with a bisected spine.

He couldn't even snarl.

The Dwarf pulled a long, serrated dagger from his belt. He'd just have to cut his head off the long way.

His right arm suddenly went numb as a dagger thrown from the edge of the planted field embedded itself into the meat of his bicep. The blade dropped from his numb fingers. He glanced back and saw the assassin rushing closer.

Darerreal palmed his other dagger with his left hand and reached around the Azzarra's wide neck to cut it open.

The sharp tip of a monstrous spider fang drove deeply through his ear into his brain. He only had time to twitch once before the residual poison seeped into his grey matter. He moved his eyes and saw a shocked expression on Steev's face as he held the other end of the severed Queen's fang.

Steev killed him?

His mind began to slide away, but he couldn't escape the concept that someone with Deshna's Blessing had gotten the better of him and his Saphra Blessing.

He lost all muscle control and fell onto his back as the spider poison began to cause his muscles to contract painfully. Sinews tore. Bones snapped.

Jaw locked, he could no longer scream as the poison flooded his brain, melting it from within.

-=-

"ALEX!" Dystra shouted as the Azzarra slumped to the ground.

Steev kicked the killer's curled-up body hard enough to make it tumble away from his victim. Then he looked back to where his super party was glancing at him with wide eyes. He saw the approaching spiders, spared a glance toward Alex, then rushed back to his team and began barking orders.

Dystra grabbed the sword embedded in the Azzarra and pulled it free in a splash of blood. Alex immediately became Human once more. Devya was still partially covered by Alex when the area flashed bright red.

Lyra ran to Alex's side and touched his bare skin to check his condition.

Her expression relaxed a little. "He's okay, but we shouldn't expect his help for a while."

Dystra seemed to be in shock. "I wasn't even touching him, but I got caught in that flash." He collected his thrown knife from the poisoned Dwarf's shoulder.

Joah and Barrassa joined them, staring down at Alex with relief on their faces.

Steev returned with Dale next to him. Their Earth Mage stared at Alex. "What happened to him now?"

Dystra frowned at his tone but answered. "One of the infiltrators tried to cut his head off but only managed to cut through his spine. Steev killed the attacker before he could finish Alex off." He stared past Steev and Dale at the spiders, who weren't attacking but had instead set a perimeter around the ruined dome. The fires were out, and the spiders were preventing anyone from getting closer to the nest.

Then they spotted spiders exiting the nest on the far side. Workers carrying eggs, each balancing multiple eggs on their backs. These were guarded by larger spiders. The same kind of spiders that were making a barricade to stop them from going after the eggs.

The spiders were leaving the nest in a steady stream, and the guard spiders between them never approached the Dwarven fighters.

"Lyra was right," Dystra said. "They are prioritizing the eggs."

Steev got closer and called out. "We're not pressing the attack to finish them off?"

"No," Dale called back. "We don't need to continue the battle. The next team of adventurers can deal with the next Spider Queen. Probably on the sixth level."

"Aren't we going back through that level?" one member of the super party called out.

Steev shared a look with Dale, who smiled and nodded to him. He could give the good news.

Their Dwarven party leader smiled as he raised his voice to be heard by the entire line of Dwarven Fighters and Mages. "When we get to the next level, the habitation level, we'll be getting assistance from the city drones to bring us back to the city's lobby via a shortcut that takes less than a minute. Then they'll bring us back to the habitation level in small groups to collect the artifacts. We can't contact the drones until we reach the eighth level, but once we have their help, we can rest in the safety and comfort of the top level while we collect our rewards. We're almost there, so stay sharp and keep your eyes on the enemy!"

This generated a lot of relieved smiles, and Steev settled them down and had them keep watch on the Spiders.

"Why did Darerreal attack Alex?" another voice called out.

Steev scowled. "We'll discuss that upstairs." He glanced at Dystra.

The assassin did a quick pass around the super party and returned to speak to the others.

"Four are missing from the super party--" A series of concussive blasts sounded from the other side of the level.

"That was the same sound we heard when the tunnels on the dome were set on fire," Dystra insisted. "If they're setting off explosions behind us, they might be trying to block us in between the spiders here and the gardener drones from six?"

Two more explosions suddenly sounded from the direction of the ramp.

Dale was frowning. "No, that sounds like they're fighting something. Maybe another of those monstrous centipedes?"

Lyra and Dale turned their attention back to the spiders exiting from the nest and rushing away with their eggs.

"If it's another centipede, it's going to run right into those fleeing spiders with the eggs. We don't want to be here when they meet," Jhaan suggested.

They looked at the guard spiders and saw they were moving around the side of the dome as if to follow the others.

"I think they're the rearguard, and they seem to be leaving," Dystra said.

"Should we make a run for the ramp to the eighth?" Lyra asked. She saw agreement on the party's faces.

Devya sat up, blinking at Alex, who was still out. "What happened?" she asked.

"We'll explain later. We need to run for the next ramp down. We also need to pull the wagons as Alex is out," Lyra insisted.

"I can help pull," Ti'Nah offered.

"So can I!" Yellsbeth said.

"Steev, get a dozen of your strongest volunteers to help these two pull the wagons," Dale said, and Steev rushed away.

Lyra caught Devya's attention. "We may need you to cut a new doorway in the dome for the wagons if the tunnel entrance has collapsed," she said, and Devya nodded nervously. "In the interim, rest on the bench of wagon one. Ti'Nah, please lift Alex onto wagon two."

Their plan decided upon, they all got busy.

-=-

It was a struggled to maneuver the three wagons through the mess inside the dome, but with Devya's cutting beam, they carved a path through to the ramp leading down into the habitation level. Lyra worked on Alex to try to boost his energy to bring him back to consciousness, as they couldn't do the next step without him.

They were down five more members of the super party. The one who'd tried to kill Alex and four others who'd disappeared during the Spider Battle and most likely had been the source of the explosions in the distance. When asked about them, the other members of the super party had little to offer as they hadn't been talkative at all. They'd just been familiar strangers and kept to themselves. Some had gotten the impression they might have been ex-Iron Guard based on their attitude.

Dale paced nervously next to the wagon as he watched Lyra work on Alex. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Lyra smile.

"Welcome back," Lyra said, watching Alex's eyes blink open.

A shudder went through Alex's body as he recalled the final seconds of the attack on him.

"Ugh, that was awful." He turned his head and saw Dale watching him tensely. Locking eyes with Lyra again, he sat up. "What's happened?" He looked up and saw white silk. "We're inside the dome?"

"The ramp down to eight is inside the dome," Dale said, the tension in his voice giving away his unease.

"I'll have to ask the city drones if they can deal with that," Alex muttered to himself. He rubbed his face. "Is Devya okay?" he said as he suddenly glanced around to find her.

Lyra smiled. "Yes, she's just resting. We had to cut our way through the dome to get to the ramp. It seems it takes a lot of energy to use that skill."

Alex nodded and climbed down from the wagon. He noticed he was naked, so he quickly switched to his Therrax form and walked up to the first wagon. The super party members pulling the wagons cheered when they saw him. Ti'Nah approached him, and he rubbed his face against hers, drawing purrs from her.

"Hook me up," he said, switching back to Human to step into the harness. Once he was back in Therrax form, Ti'Nah tightened the belly strap, and he looked back.

"Are we ready to go?" he asked Dale, who was on the bench of the first wagon.

Dale waved to the driver on the second and third wagons, and they all indicated they were good to go, so Dale turned back to Alex. "Ready."

The Therrax leaned into the harness, eased the load forward, and took them down the ramp as the super party and members of The Answer led the way into the next level.

Alex spotted Yellsbeth at the lead, and Steev wasn't too far behind, staying between his team and Dale, who watched for dangers from his raised vantage point on the wagon.

Their arrival at their destined level was anticlimactic, and they were all very pleased this was the case.

Alex pulled the wagon train closer to the wall he knew the elevator bank was behind and switched back to his Human form.

Right on cue, Thorn arrived with his Master gown, which he slipped on quickly and gave her a kiss.

He turned to walk back toward the wagon where Locke was sitting, speaking to Steev standing next to him.

"It's time to...." His voice faded as he turned his attention toward the ramp.

A slow rumble could be heard coming toward the ramp from the seventh floor, and it quickly became louder. A dwarf covered in blood and gore suddenly appeared at the top, running so quickly that he left the ground and sailed through the air over most of the ramp before his feet touched down once more. It was clear he was pushing his Blessing to give him the strength to run so fast.

He was carrying a bow with a notched arrow, the tip replaced with a small bound package.

Two large centipedes collided at the top of the ramp in their fury to chase the bowman down it. Their limbs tangled and they struggled to be first down the ramp. They were both showing damage, missing limbs, scorch marks, and plenty of blood and unrecognizable gore. Still, they pursued their attacker.

They were roughly half the size of the monster Alex had killed in his Dragon form.

Alex immediately yanked his robe up and off, tossing it onto the wagon.

A mighty gust of wind knocked him aside as it redirected an arrow aimed at him. Lyra sent it back to the bloody Dwarf who'd just tried to kill him.

The missile struck him center-mass, the resulting explosion tearing him into chunks of dead Dwarf.

Alex gaped at the mess, then walked closer to her to kiss Lyra's hand. Her face went a little red as he was standing before her naked, his lips pressed to her skin. Then he turned his attention back to the centipedes, which continued to claw at the ramp.

Moving closer, Alex switched into a Dragon and spat jets of fuel through the skulls of the two monsters without the resulting fireball.

Pausing momentarily to watch them twitch through their death rattles, he climbed the ramp and pushed the carcasses back into the mess of the dome. He listened, but nothing else seemed to be coming.

Alex returned to the eighth floor and the wagons, where he became Human once more and donned the Master gown. He collected his map and walked over to speak with Locke and Steev.

"As I was saying, it's time to contact the city drones to get their assistance," Alex said to the group.

Locke and Steev looked excited, so Alex smiled at them and tried to reduce their expectations. "Perhaps this would be a good time to remind the super party about the process of taking the elevator to the top lobby and setting up camp before we begin bringing the groups down for collecting the artifacts?"

The two nodded and headed back to the group.

Dystra approached Alex. "Same plan as before? I walk with you to the first residence, and you go in to call for the drones?"

"Yes. I can't think of a safer plan," Alex said with a serious expression.

They headed for the hall leading to the habitations.

"We'll pick the closest again," Alex said, gesturing to the first vault-like door.

Dystra nodded and moved to the side to shield himself from the opening, just in case.

Alex opened the map and activated it. Then he shared a look with Dystra.

With the active map in his left hand, Alex reached out and pressed the control on the door with his right.

Again, he felt a moment of unease as nothing happened, then came the whirring noises of the locks disengaging. With a final click, the door began to swing open.

With a nod to Dystra, Alex handed him the map and slipped through the door. The lights came on, and he walked to the wall where the contact button was located. He pressed it and saw the square light up.

Time to leave. He gave the room a quick glance and saw it was mostly barren. Almost no furnishings and no clutter of an inhabitant. They'd skip this one.

Once he was outside, he pressed the door control and watched it begin to swing shut.

When it closed with a gentle thump, he smiled at Dystra. "We should wait by the elevators."

They joined the others.

"What was in the habitat you entered?" Locke asked excitedly.

Alex shook his head. "It was disappointingly empty. I'm not sure if anyone lived in that one at all. We'll get more information on better units once the maintenance drones arrive."

He looked curiously at the Guildmaster. "Did the super party members have any questions or concerns on next steps?" he asked.

Steev smiled as he nodded. "There were the usual grumblings. Frustrations about finally being here and not getting to enter the habitats, but I explained we'll only enter units the drones identify as safe. Being able to relax in the lobby without worrying about monsters attacking beats waiting to find out what other nightmares are found in these lower levels. I'm personally ready to go back up!"

They chuckled at Steev's honesty, and Yellsbeth gave him a one-armed hug as her other hand was ready on her axe.

Locke gasped in surprise as the wall behind them suddenly opened and a small drone rolled out of the room behind the wall to face them.

Alex stepped forward to face the drone and switched his eyes from Human to Azzarra and back.

The drone paused, then moved closer, reaching up to touch Alex's temple.

"Master! You're back! Who are all these beings with you? There are many different types!"

Alex smiled at how curious this drone sounded. He had the perfect name for it.

"I prefer to speak aloud so all can hear. Yes, these are my guests. They live on the surface in a number of cities they've built since the Masters perished," Alex explained. "I have visited Greentree Dynasty, Wave Crest, and now Pinnacle Reach. I was sad to see how the cities have declined since then."

"How may we serve you, Master?" the worker asked. The watching Dwarves gasped to hear it speak and, more importantly, to hear it call him Master.

Alex smiled. "We should first bring the wagons and all my guests up to the top level so they can rest in safety. It was a dangerous journey to reach this level. All sorts of creatures have infested the city, and many of them are a threat to life. The seventh level has taken great damage and will require repairs. Can you summon many more drones to assist us in returning to the surface level?"

"I have summoned assistance!" it said.

"May I call you George?" Alex asked.

The drone paused. "Yes! I am George!"

"Thank you, George," Alex said with a grin.

He saw Dale giving him a confused expression.

"Our friend George was asking me questions about the beings gathered here and how there are so many types. He's a very curious maintenance drone."

Dale's lips moved as he sounded out the words.

"Curious George!" he groaned as a slow grin spread across his face. "I haven't read that since I was a kid!"

"Who's Curious George?" Dystra asked Dale.

Dale smiled gently. "He's a good little monkey, and always very curious!"

Alex chuckled, fondly remembering his mother reading him these stories when he was very young. He had some good memories of her.

Another elevator opened, exposing yet another deep and wide empty room. A large group of maintenance drones rolled out, and George got them to move the wagons into their elevator car.

Alex waved for everyone to join him as he walked with George and The Answer into the first elevator.

Once everyone was inside with no stragglers left behind, the door closed. Alex heard some nervous grumbling as they picked up the sensation of movement. "This is just another method of traveling, like riding a wagon. Only it goes up and down, level by level, in comfort and very quickly."

When the sensation stopped, the door opened, and they were facing the wide-open lobby space once again. What had taken days to achieve was undone in just a little less than a minute. Everyone stepped out of the elevator with the oddest feeling of distorted reality.

"Let's set up camp, as Yellsbeth creates the visiting lists. Groups of six. We'll get started on the artifact collecting shortly.

Yellsbeth, please let them know the behavior code for the collecting process," Alex said, and she nodded.

Alex turned to George. "We have a couple more things we need to do. First, I need you to take me and a few others down to the control room on the last level. Is it safe to visit? Have any monsters broken into that level?"

"There have been no intrusions in the last level of the city. It is safe to visit," George responded.

Alex looked to Lyra, who nodded. Dale and Dystra wanted to join, and Ti'Nah moved to stand by his side. It was clear the Beast-Kin was coming.

"I think Locke and Steev need to see this as well as Barrassa if she's joining the crazy train," Alex said, and Dale jolted slightly and gave Alex a guilty look. It was obvious to Alex that their thoughts ran parallel on this point.

Joah nodded to Alex. "The rest of us will wait for your return, momentarily."

Meaning they would keep the super party calm until their return.

"You can give them the briefing," Alex said to him, and he smiled with a nod, pleased to be given that responsibility.

Alex walked back to the elevator with George, and the others followed.

Once they were inside and the elevator was moving, Barrassa looked at Alex. "Where are we going?"

He smiled at her. "The very bottom level of the city where the control room for all the systems is."

"What are we going to do there?" she asked, wide-eyed.

"We're going to make the city, and the world, a little safer," Lyra responded with a wide smile.

When the elevator stopped and the door opened, they saw the same corridor they had seen in the other cities. The designers were consistent at least.

George led them to the control room. then turned to Alex.

"Can you activate the large display screen to show us the room directly above the power generator?" he asked the drone, and George touched the controls to show an enormous centipede monster slowly squeezing out of the portal. It was hideous! They hadn't encountered one of this variety yet, and he never wanted to.

He knew a way to kill this one.

"George, roll back the last software update the power generator received. It would have come from Shadow Cape. Once it's been rolled back, erase the file so it cannot be run again."

"I can prepare this for you, but you will need to be the one who activates the change, as I am unable to do this," the drone said.

"Yes, quickly now," Alex said, watching the horrific beast entering the room.

The drone made the necessary changes, and the prompt to launch the change appeared. As it looked to Alex, he slapped his hand down on the control.

The lights dimmed perceptibly, then there was a bright flash on the screen as the portal collapsed and ripped the monster in two. When the screen came back on, they could see the splatter of gore filling the room.

"Ugh! That's disgusting, but I'm damn glad you were able to kill that thing before it got through," Dale muttered.

"What just happened?" Barrassa asked in bewilderment.

"Sorry I didn't have time to explain it, but I needed to quickly shut the portal down to kill that last monster. With the portal closed, no more monsters will enter this city. Once the existing monsters are hunted down, the city will be safe," Alex explained to her.

"All Pinnacle Reach systems are functional, but the network is down between the cities," George noted.

"Reestablish communications between here and GreenTree Dynasty and Wave Crest," Alex said.

Moments later, the large viewscreen showed a split view showing two other control rooms. There were drones already in place before the consoles.

"Is that you, Eon? Noah?" Alex asked with a grin.

"Ah! Master! You have reactivated Pinnacle Reach!" Eon responded.

The other drone on the screen turned to leave. "I will summon the one named Noah." It left the screen before Alex could let it know it didn't have to.

Feeling a little foolish, Alex turned to Eon. "How go the efforts to reestablish the Subterranean transportation systems between GreenTree Dynasty and Wave Crest?"

Steev and Locke looked shocked, so Alex gave them a smile.

"Tunnel refurbishment is underway as some small damage and corrosion have occurred in the interim. We project completion will be within the next thirty days. While this was underway, we conducted an inventory assessment and compiled a list of elements and items that we will share between the cities. Now that you have reestablished Pinnacle Reach's network, shall we add them to the reconnection project?"

Alex nodded with a smile. "Definitely!" He saw a new drone arrive on the screen from Wave Crest.

"Master! You've reactivated Pinnacle Reach!" Noah exclaimed.

"Yes! I'd like to introduce you both to George. George, Eon is from GreenTree Dynasty, and Noah is from Wave Crest. Please work together to reestablish the subterranean transport systems between your cities. Eon and Noah have compiled inventories of their city resources, and if you do the same for Pinnacle Reach, once the tunnels are repaired, you can share the resources to begin repairing the damage in your cities. Keep in touch with each other as Eon and Noah have. Each of you compile a list of elements you require that can't be provided by the others, and I will see what I can do to get them to you. I'll reach out to you from the next subterranean city we visit. I'm not sure which one it will be yet. George can get started on this once we leave Pinnacle Reach. Thanks!"

Instructions received, Eon and Noah disconnected.

Steev moved to stand next to Alex. "What's your end goal for reactivating all the cities?"

Alex smiled at the concerned expression on his face and saw Locke had the same question in his eyes.

"Nothing less than the betterment of the lives of all people on this world. Eliminating needless deaths caused by forcing people into being adventurers when they're clearly not suited to the task. Letting people live simple, fulfilling lives no longer under the threat of monsters, be they creatures from the portals of the subterranean cities or the corrupt rulers of the surface nations.

The underground cities have these wonderful automated gardens that can produce food to supplement what's grown by the surface nations. No one needs to go hungry. We should utilize them and supply them with the elements they may need so they can keep going.

The cities are also stockpiles of knowledge. Knowledge that will help people in their daily lives and help us understand the world around us. Who knows what we'll learn!"

He saw he'd eased most of their anxiety, so he continued.

"Listen, I'm not on some power trip. I'm not interested in ruling the world. That sounds like too much work, and I want to live a simple, fulfilling life too. People should be able to live in harmony and balance with one another and with the world.

Maybe that's too grand a dream, but I believe we have a chance of achieving it. I believe most people want this for themselves and their loved ones. That doesn't mean some won't crave power and control over others. Those aren't healthy concepts, and they don't belong in a civil society."

"Don't you have the entire Beast-Kin nation worshiping you like a god?" Steev asked, glancing awkwardly at Ti'Nah. She smirked in amusement.

"Alex isn't a God. He's an Emissary, a conduit to the Gods. A wonderful yet flawed being like any mortal being on this world. His mind and heart are filled with these wonderful selfless ambitions. This is why we love him."

Alex held up his hands in surrender as his face felt hot. "Okay, I'm getting embarrassed now." He saw the content smile on the Tigress' face and nodded to her before turning back to Steev and Locke. "I think we should head back up. I'm sure the super party members are getting impatient."

George led them back to the elevator, and they returned to the lobby.

When they left the elevator, Alex moved aside and gestured for George to join him.

"Our next task is to visit some of the habitats of the Masters. You have done an excellent job of preserving their work. We will be collecting some to give it purpose. Each of my friends will be tasked with collecting artifacts from the habitats to be brought back to the University for study. The Master's knowledge will be shared to enlighten all."

George was quiet for a moment. "This is very good. It is fulfilling to have purpose. Knowledge needs to be used and shared."

Alex relaxed and smiled at the drone. "Exactly my thoughts as well."

He looked at the excited expressions on the faces of the first group of super party members to go.

"Can you arrange for twenty maintenance drones to accompany us to keep watch for approaching monsters? We will try to avoid conflict during this activity," he said to George.

"Done," the drone replied, and a selection of the drones joined him.

Alex nodded. "I'll also ask you to identify which habitats can be safely entered, as some may contain materials hazardous to biological life. If you could go inside first to detect if such dangers exist, that would be helpful. Also, if you can identify which area of study the original inhabitant studied, this might assist us in finding good matches for us."

George seemed to grasp the necessities and led them to the elevator.

On every visit, Alex and Locke were included, as Alex was the go-between for the drones and the Dwarves. Locke was needed to collect artifacts for the members of the Council of Elders.

They brought six super party members and three members of The Answer for three trips to the level, then a final trip with the remaining five super party members and just Barrassa. That covered everyone. On each visit, they went to two habitats to ensure a broad cross-section of artifacts across different fields of study.

By the time they returned to the lobby, the noise level from the excited super party was almost deafening. It was too late to start back to Kharnthiad, so they'd stay here.

A more significant reason for waiting was the violent storm screaming across the valley between the peaks.

Steev grinned and shook his head.

"I can't believe it's over! Everything we set out to achieve has been accomplished, and we're returning to Kharnthiad with more artifacts than have ever been collected before," he said in wonder.

Locke nodded. "As we promised, we owe our people an explanation for the deaths that occurred on the mission." Steev's smile became a serious look, and he nodded to the elder.

They stood, and Locke raised his arms and bellowed to get everyone's attention. The happy faces of the super party members turned to face them curiously, and everyone quieted down.

The Guildmaster panned his gaze across the adventurers. "I have a few things I need to tell you before we return to Kharnthiad. You've probably picked up some hints by their obvious behavior, but you should be aware that we began this mission with a group of infiltrators in our midst. We had strong suspicions, but we weren't positive of their identities or their ultimate goal. It seemed safer to keep them in the party to keep an eye on them."

There were a few nods from the group as they'd witnessed the attempts on Alex's life.

"When we discovered the two dead adventurers on the third level, we'd already identified them as part of the infiltration team. We determined that they'd been murdered by someone on their own team. Why and what was their goal?"

He saw confusion on their faces, so he continued.

"The team went silent after that, but we maintained a vigilant watch. As they were constantly under scrutiny, their first opportunity occurred when we encountered the Queen Spider's nest. While we were all distracted, the infiltration team slipped away from us. They set off the initial explosions and fire at the dome. We believe most of them then ran for the ramp to the sixth level to block our exit. Darerreal Noblebane went after Alex. He almost managed to kill him, but Steev killed Darerreal first."

Eyes turned to stare at their leader, and grins appeared as they saw how uncomfortable that made him.

"The group of four who ran for the ramp must have been surprised by encountering the two centipede monsters, as the creatures showed damage from a battle with explosives and fire. The last surviving infiltrator was their bowman, Larrkane, who used explosive-tipped arrows. We all witnessed Larrkane attempt to assassinate Alex as well. With two of their members trying to kill the same person, that clarifies their mission.

The infiltration team had been tasked to kill Alex Frost. As they attacked the spider nest and then set off explosions behind us to catch us in the middle, I believe they wanted to ensure none of us returned."

Now there was serious grumbling from the super party.

Locke's expression was grim. "We can be certain their primary goal was to ensure the deaths of Alex and the other members of The Answer--"

"They wouldn't have wanted me to return to Kharnthiad with what I know," Steev growled angrily.

The members of the super party watched the two with obvious interest.

Steev held up a hand to block the question on their lips. "I'm not going to put any of you at risk. I'll make full disclosure when we return to Kharnthiad, if it comes to that."

Locke nodded to Steev, then faced the super party once more.

"Another fact you should be aware of is the true purpose of our visit to Pinnacle Reach. After we first returned to the lobby, the initial group to descend in the elevator went all the way to the bottom of the city to visit its control room. From there we were shown another room just above the power generator, the huge machine that keeps all the lights on, the air moving, and the water flowing in the city. In the room above the generator was...." He failed to come up with a word to describe what he saw.

Alex stood and took over. "A dimensional gate. It's like a doorway to another world. Each of the cities The Answer has visited, GreenTree Dynasty and Wave Crest, had one. We closed their portals, and tonight, we closed the portal at Pinnacle Reach. These doorways lead to other worlds where the monsters live. They've been coming through for years, and that's the source. There will be no more new monsters coming into Pinnacle Reach."

The super party cheered loudly, and Steev raised his hands to quiet them down after a bit.

"There are still plenty of existing monsters, but it's good to know that no more new ones will come through. The end is in sight."

More cheering erupted.

Alex turned to George. "Could I ask you to have the drones set up a security perimeter to ensure no monsters sneak up on us as we rest?"

"Certainly, Master!" George said cheerfully and sent a squeak to the others.

Locke looked over at Alex as he saw the mobilization.

"Our early warning system for creatures large and small," Alex explained. Locke nodded and passed along that message.

Smiling at the excited and relieved faces of the super party, Alex realized it would take a long time before they got to sleep tonight.

He walked over to speak with Lyra and her team. "Another successful mission under our belts. Thank you all for making this happen and for keeping me alive!" He locked eyes with Lyra, and she smiled as a blush appeared on her cheeks. "Group hug!" he cheered and found himself in the middle of a warm hug as everyone joined in.

Even Steev was there. Any excuse to hug Yellsbeth, Alex guessed with a grin.

Regardless, being hugged by all his friends was the sweetest expression of genuine caring he'd felt in a long time.

Then he realized he had another responsibility to his friends. "On behalf of Agron, Ffornexa, and Ullentra, I thank you for supporting their mission."

Alex felt a strong surge of warm emotion that wasn't his own and wobbled slightly on his feet. At the center of the hug, he was in no danger of falling.

A tingle flushed through his body and his eyes snapped open to catch the tail end of a red flash. He blinked and saw similar expressions of surprise on his friend's faces.

"What was that?" Steev gasped.

Joah shared a grin with Barrassa then looked at Steev. "Congrats, you've joined the Ullentra Restoration Club."

A chuckle rippled through the party.

Steev glanced behind himself to see Locke standing a few feet away, an expression of shock on his face.

"That was Restoration magic?" the senior asked in awe as he flexed his hands, which no longer ached.

Steev looked closer. "Did you get caught up in that?"

"I wasn't even in contact with anyone! I was close but...."

"What's going on?" Lyra asked Alex as she looked into his eyes.

He couldn't escape the sincere concern in her gaze. "That was... particularly strong this time," he admitted quietly.

Delicate eyebrows rose. "Has something changed?"

Alex just shook his head and gave her a weak smile as he shrugged.

That didn't ease her concern at all.

Chapter 18

Waiting out a fierce storm raging across the mountain pass in the relative comfort of the entrance cavern of Pinnacle Reach gave the adventurers time to reflect. After the vicious battles of their last day in level seven, the disclosure that a team of infiltrators had been plotting their demise, and the excitement of visiting the habitations on level eight, the current wait felt a little anticlimactic.

The super party members were relaxing and sharing their tales of the battles, relieved to have survived and grateful that so few had perished. They truly felt like they'd experienced a miracle.

The general mood was upbeat, as they'd also reached a level in the underground city that had never been reached before and survived to tell the tale. Many nights to come would be filled with retelling their tales of adventure and survival over tankards of ale. They might play down the fact that their monster deterrent was very effective.

The super party members were also eager to return to Kharnthiad with the artifacts they'd collected. Most had two or three, so Kharnthiad University would be flooded with research materials. They would have to expand their team.

Steev was circulating amongst the super party, ensuring all was well. It was clear by their smiles that they were grateful for his efforts.

Once he was done, Steev joined Locke and Lyra's party as they sat in the open space before the elevator bank to have their post-mission debriefing.

"How long should we expect this storm to last?" Lyra asked.

Locke glanced toward the exit, then focused on Lyra. "It should be done by tomorrow morning."

"Will we face a welcoming committee when we get back?" Dystra asked.

Steev traded grim looks with Locke. "That's very likely. As my father and Starrk sent us into Pinnacle Reach with a kill team, they won't be expecting us to return, and when we do, I'm not sure what to expect from him. I can't imagine he'd attack us in front of the super party, so perhaps he'll just try to arrest us on some bogus charges."

"He might attempt to arrest us on King Ungar's behest. The Human King has issued warrants for our arrest and wants us dead. I'm sure the Avian has passed along that fact," Dale suggested.

Locke looked at Dale and the rest of Lyra's party. "Would you really let them take you into custody?"

"No, but Alois might be taken hostage. His extraction would be difficult and potentially bloody," Lyra said.

Dystra grinned at her, and she rolled her eyes. "It's not how I'd want things to go, but push comes to shove, we will protect ourselves and our friends."

"Well said," the assassin agreed with a wide smile.

Alex gestured for George to approach, and the drone did. "Please provide me with another city map so I can have it keyed to the biosignatures of my two friends here, Steev Cragborne and Locke Grimweather. If either arrives in this chamber with the map and activates it, please have a maintenance drone meet them here to provide them with whatever information they request."

"Yes, Master," George said, then beeped to a nearby drone, which immediately entered an elevator and left.

He turned to face the two stunned Dwarves. "They will not take you to the habitation levels, as they're not battle drones and cannot ensure your safety that deep into the city. They won't open the habitats without my presence.

The objects collected may or may not have documentation from their creator. The drones can provide hard copies of this as requested."

Alex looked out at the storm. "Has anyone ever thought of building a tunnel between the two cities so you can travel between them more safely?"

Steev grinned at Alex. "That sounds like an excellent idea!"

The second drone rolled out of the elevator and approached with the map in a carrying case. It handed this to George and rolled back to its guarding position.

George opened the map and took Steev and Locke through the calibration steps. When they were done, both were able to open and activate the map. Locke was enamored by the map controls for moving through the levels.

"This only works for you two and only within the city. Keep it in a safe place when you get back to Kharnthiad," Alex said, and the two nodded.

"Did you collect sufficient artifacts for the Council of Elders?" Lyra asked Locke.

The elder tore his gaze from the map to smile at Lyra. "Yes, though I'm not sure if Starrk will accept his."

Time would tell.

The group turned their attention to the storm raging outside and hoped it would end soon. All they could do was rest and wait.

-=-

Crispy sweet sunshine warmed his face as tart echoes of the wind howled a short distance away.

Alex felt the presence of unimaginably huge mountains surrounding him.

One was echoing an odd, deep rumble, and his brain finally registered it might be chuckling. Was someone very pleased?

A cool and calm breeze touched his forehead, and he felt at peace, the pressure of the laughter easing.

It was Agron! He was happy. This was what he took from that.

They'd completed three cities. No more monsters would be appearing in Pinnacle Reach. Eradication missions would need to continue, and none of the non-native beasts would be allowed to live.

Alex got a clear impression that all three Gods were pleased by the achievement of shutting down the portal, but it felt as though the act might hold greater significance than merely eliminating the monsters. They hadn't shared with him their actual purpose, but the outcome was so positive that he didn't feel he should protest their silence on that matter.

He got the impression that his connection to the Gods had strengthened, like a camera lens focusing just a little sharper than before, or maybe more like a reduction in background interference. He couldn't pin down the actual cause, but he perceived a detectable difference.

Was there a correlation between shutting down the portals and the strength of his connection? Was there any impact on the connections between the other Gods and their Blessed?

It made him nervous to think about what it meant to have a stronger connection to the three Gods, as his existing connection was already disruptive enough.

Pushing that aside, he realized that with three of seven cities done, they were almost halfway through the list.

He wasn't sure which city would be next.

Agron pushed forward, impatient to move on.

Physically closest was Victory Plains, in the Human territory, but Alex might need to overthrow the monarchy there first.

He pushed back at the impatient God but sent an impression of love.

It was returned so forcefully that Alex felt his mind pummeled by the psychic blast, and red light swept him into deeper sleep.

-=-

Hallestra surfaced from her efforts to draw a newly deceased Human from Earth across the dimensional divide. The energy it took was detectably higher than before. She'd noticed that ever since their failed effort to reach Ffornexa, Ullentra, and Agron, drawing recently departed souls from their worlds of origin had become a little more difficult. Today she felt drained by the process. Now, it was measurably more difficult.

She felt a gentle ping on her mind and opened her space to Lushella. Many of the Gods remained in close proximity to react more quickly to changes. This gathering happened just after they discovered the three Gods had not perished as first thought but seemed to be working together.

"Something has changed!" the Water Goddess immediately asserted when her presence appeared before Hallestra.

"You perceive this as well!" Hallestra exclaimed in relief. She'd been concerned that this increased difficulty was a sign of diminished capacities.

"Yes, the energy required to transition beings from their source dimension to ours has increased by a defined factor. Something is interfering!" Lushella insisted.

"I will contact the others to see if they are aware--I'm receiving another contact request," she noted as another ping arrived, then a second, followed by more. She opened all the connections and her space flooded with the presence of the other Gods. All the remaining Gods had joined them.

Phyrrenz, currently in his God of Passion gender state, was the most agitated. "I almost lost the being I was attempting to bring across. The energy I'd allocated wasn't sufficient this time! When I detected the issue, I managed to boost the connection to complete the transfer, but it was close."

"The integrity of the dimensional boundaries is healing," Ophrax, as her Goddess of Change gender state, asserted.

"Based on the incremental nature of this healing, we may assume it isn't a natural process," Julliash, Goddess of Intellect, added.

Phyrrenz flared. "Am I the only one who's willing to state the obvious? The three who abandoned us must be responsible for this? We must find them!"

Grolex, the God of Wisdom, frowned at the histrionic deity. "We're all aware of where they went. A place none of us can go. I can only assume they survive in the hostile energies of the outer realms due to Agron's affinity to chaos. The only conduit we have to communicate with them at all is through the connections we share in the beings who've been Blessed by us and touched by Ullentra. Our earlier attempts to speak with them were not enough to make them reach out to us. We must try again with a message that will convince them to cooperate."

Hallestra wondered if Grolex had willfully forgotten his role in driving the three away. "Are you really going to delude yourself into believing they would ever want to come back to us? Have you forgotten everything that was said and done before they chose to leave?" she asked.

Silence filled her space as each God recalled the terrible arguments that raged through the Pantheon in the final days before the three's departure.

An argument that still hadn't been resolved.

They'd implemented a plan to prevent their final dissolution caused by the loss of their people.

The plan faced heated opposition in the Pantheon, but they'd run out of time, and the majority decided to proceed with the solution they had.

It worked... but terrible compromises had been made to ensure that success. Flaws that remained unchanged to this day.

Promises were made to the dissenting members of the Pantheon. They'd eliminate the flaws, but these were empty promises, as they didn't know how to fix the issues and weren't willing to face the fear of dissolution again.

"Perhaps there is another way to communicate with them?" Wavesh suggested gently.

Their focus turned to the God of Luck, who continued. "We know we can perceive Ullentra's energy on our Blessed after she touches them. If one of ours used their Blessings on the one Blessed by the three, we might be able to reach out to this being through the lingering energies of our Blessing. Hallestra's Healing seems the most suitable for this."

"The being has Ullentra's Blessing. How much healing do you think he'd require?" Grolex said doubtfully.

Wavesh focused on Hallestra. "There is only one way to know if this will work. Would you be willing to try?"

Hallestra thought this was a long shot but knew her healing energy could not be erased by Ullentra's restoration energy. Faint traces might still exist if he's been healed by her Hybrid Blessed. That said, contacting the mind of the thrice Blessed through them would be difficult.

"I will try. I must exit this communication first. I will contact you with the result," she said and dumped everyone out of her space. She admitted to herself that she rather enjoyed doing that.

She absorbed a moment of silence and solitude in her empty space before she turned her attention to finding her Hybrid Blessed, who remained in close proximity to her target. When she connected lightly to the female's sleeping mind, she was like a snowflake landing on eyelashes. She used her location to scan outwards for traces of her healing magic.

One being glowed with her energy, so she believed she found him. She used her energy to gently slip into his mind, once more using exceptional lightness so as not to trigger a response.

Agron's energy permeated this body. The... male was saturated with it. Ullentra's energy as well. Traces of Ffornexa were also detectable.

Hallestra felt good knowing the others still lived and seemed to be flourishing in this one being. That was more than a little surprising. What was different about him that made him so compatible?

Alas, she didn't have time to investigate his uniqueness.

She'd proven she could reach him, so she knew that she should disconnect. The other Gods of the Pantheon would want to create the message to deliver to him for the three Gods.

To ensure she could reconnect at a later date, she decided to embed a permanent tag of her energy inside his body. It wasn't the same as a full-blown Blessing, as he'd be unable to access her energy. He would have no mark from her, but for her, he would glow in her perception of the world.

She listened carefully for any sign of the three, then implanted the tag.

Hallestra heard a violent roar and felt teeth closing in on her. Then she was pushed from the being's mind and dumped into her domain, courtesy of Ffornexa's last-second intervention.

She took a moment to let her trembling complete, then reached for the tag. It was still there. She breathed a sigh of relief. Her efforts had not been a waste. She'd pass along the good news.

Once she could shake the sensation of being eaten.

-=-

Locke was correct about the storm's longevity, as they woke the following morning to sunlight on the snow, as the brilliant orb peeked over the horizon. With a cloudless sky and the gentlest winds, it was perfect weather for the early start they wanted.

Alex had gotten up before the sun after a night with nightmares he could not fully recall.

He pushed that aside to make breakfast burritos for everyone, which were eyed suspiciously until a few brave adventurers gave them a try and realized how good they were. He'd had to make two more batches before he shut down his kitchen and packed it away.

As he cleaned up, he had a little talk with George to ensure that it understood it was to maintain communication with the maintenance drones of GreenTree Dynasty and Wave Crest. It also confirmed that it would compile the list of supplies and ensure the supply lines between Pinnacle Reach and the other two cities functioned. It acknowledged that Alex would attempt to contact it from the next city they brought back online.

Once the wagons were loaded and strapped down, Alex switched into his Therrax form, stepped into the harness, and pulled the wagon train from the entrance hall.

As everyone else was well rested, Alex took the lead and plowed through the snow to make a path behind the wagons. He didn't push himself too hard as he wasn't sure what they'd be facing when they arrived.

They stopped for water twice and a midday lunch. He was grateful that the storm's winds had kept the snow from collecting too deeply, so they were making excellent progress.

Alex's keen Therrax vision spotted the first sign of potential trouble.

A sentry ahead spotted the returning party and rushed back to the entrance. Not too long after that, a group of Iron Guard gathered on the plateau between the entrance and the approaching party. The group soon became a crowd as it looked like the Commander had ordered every member of the Iron Guard to join him

Alex turned his head to call back to the others. "We have a group of roughly fifty Iron Guard ahead preparing to block our entrance to Kharnthiad."

Locke and Steev called for everyone to stop.

Steev stood before them and felt them all focus on him.

"It looks like we might face some trouble ahead. Probably not for anyone in the Dwarven super party, but it might be safer for you to wait until we see what King Cragborne, Starrk Drummheller, and his Iron Guard have in mind for Lyra's party," he said, and they stirred uncomfortably.

"It seems that it's time to fill you in on some troublesome facts. We know my father has been in contact with the new Human King, Ungar Alvarest. Ungar likely asked him to arrest or kill the members of The Answer. Ungar is afraid of Alex."

Now the super party was pissed, knowing Alex had put his life at risk to protect them. He'd also kept his promise to get them to the eighth level of the underground city, and they'd all returned with treasures.

They were also upset that their King would act in the interests of the Human King before his own people.

Locke spoke up. "The infiltrators who put our lives at risk in Pinnacle Reach were agents of Starrk Drummheller, acting on orders from the King."

Steev nodded to Locke, then he faced the super party. "Please wait here while we move closer to see what they intend to do--"

The angry roar of defiance surprised everyone.

"We call bullshit on that idea! There is no way we can stand aside and let them kiss the Human King's ass and put you at risk!" one called out, and the rest roared approval.

Alex shifted from his beast shape so he could step out of the harness. Then he returned to the Therrax form before moving to face the super party. He bowed to them as best he could in his form.

When he lifted his head, he looked them in the eye. "I'm touched by your thoughtfulness and your profound sense of justice. We're incredibly grateful for your assistance with our Pinnacle Reach exploration and couldn't have completed it without you. Our mission in the underground cities is not yet done, so we cannot allow King Brakt and Drummheller to prevent us from continuing. It's not our intent to fight, but if he attacks, we will defend ourselves, and that will not go well for them. I don't want any of you to get caught in the middle. Please wait with the wagons as we go speak with them. Thank you!"

That message got through to them, and he saw he had their agreement.

Alex turned to Lyra, Dale, and the others. "How should we proceed?"

Lyra nodded. "Our party will lead with Locke and Steev following. I don't want them caught in the crossfire in case the Iron Guard have kill orders."

Alex nodded and began leading the party up the slope toward the group at the top.

A shrill call made Alex stop, turn, and tilt his head up to see the source of the call descending to meet him. Alex immediately switched to his Red Fire Dragon form and heard Alleshi's voice in his head.

"Alex!"

"Yes, Alleshi! Why are you here where they can see you? What's happened?" Alex sent back to her in concern.

He felt her joy in seeing him again as she landed and pressed her face against his neck. He did the same for her, but he kept his eye on the Iron Guard as he did it. The group appeared agitated, and someone at the front was flailing his arms. They were still too far away to be heard or to be a threat.

"I've been watching the route between our old home and the ancient one's dwelling. You said you would be in another beast form pulling wagons, so I knew it must be you!"

"What's happened?" he insisted, his worry spiking.

Blue eyes locked on his. "It happened as you said it might. They sent hunters to the nests."

"They got the eggs! Are Creesha and Gaella okay?" Alex gasped, reeling back as he struggled to control his rage.

"We are all well! They did not get the eggs as they are still developing within us, and we haven't laid them yet!" she said with a smile, and Alex suddenly recalled how much time it would take. He gave her a sheepish grin, and she rubbed her face against his once more as she smiled.

"As you suggested before you left us to return to our old home, we found new nests we'll use to hide the eggs, then we returned to our old nests to make them appear occupied. It wasn't long before we detected the hunters approaching, so we set the traps you described and left to hide. We heard their screams as the traps sprang and the crevasses took the hunters."

Alex relaxed as he took a deep breath, then turned his head to look at Steev. He needed to hear this. He looked at Lyra.

"Can you link to my mind with Steev... and Locke, so they can hear Alleshi's thoughts?" he asked.

Steev's eyes widened. "What's happened?" he asked as Lyra moved to Alex's side and placed her hand on his scales. She held her hand out to Steev, and Locke joined them to hold her hand as well.

Soon, Alex felt Lyra's mind in his, with Steev's and Locke's awe radiating from them. It was a new experience for them both.

"Alleshi, may I introduce my good friend Lyra Foxlove-Baumer, and two new friends and allies, Steev Cragborne and Locke Grimweather."

"Greetings, friends of our savior Alex!" Alleshi said to their minds, and Alex felt their shock and wonder. He was a little embarrassed being called a savior.

Then Alex turned his attention to Steev. He spoke aloud, but his thoughts were shared as well.

"King Brakt broke his promise. After discovering that Alleshi and the other dragons are sentient and are therefore entitled to protection, he sent hunters out to kill the last remaining Dragons. He wanted to complete the genocide of her people before we returned. I'd suggested to the three dragons that this might happen and to take precautions just in case. It seems that was a good idea, as hunters went after them but fell to the traps I showed them how to build. Now I know the assassins he sent into the city with us were meant to kill us to keep the secret of his act. The man has no honor."

Steev's rage swelled, but he contained it with great willpower. Then he faced the Blue-White dragon. "I am deeply disturbed by the barbaric actions of my father. On behalf of the Dwarven nation, I apologize for the pain your people have experienced at the hands of the Dwarves. I will see to it that he is punished and that this can never happen again."

Alex looked at him in surprise as Steev gently released Lyra's hand and walked back to the party to draw Yellsbeth aside. Locke watched him go, then turned back to Alleshi. "I, too, apologize for this terrible mistake my people made in judging you incorrectly and for the terrible treatment your people received because of it. I will endeavor to remedy this injustice if it takes the rest of my life!"

"I look forward to developing this new friendship," Alleshi shared, and Locke's eyes twinkled with excitement.

At Alex's nod, Lyra released Alex and moved back to join the others, drawing the awestruck Guildmaster with her. She began sharing the news with the others.

Alex focused on the Dragon. "Alleshi, I need you to hide once more but keep an eye on us. I need to speak to the current leader of the Dwarves, King Brakt Cragborne, and the Commander of the Iron Guard, Starrk Drummheller. These two are guilty of great crimes against your people, and they must be brought to justice. They also tried to kill us, so they'll be punished for that as well."

Alleshi's concern for him swelled in their link, and she rubbed her face against his. "You must not be harmed!" she insisted.

He sent her a mental hug, and she enjoyed that. "I have some protection from the Gods I'm working with, so I should be fine. Watch for dangers. Be safe."

Alleshi looked into his eyes for a moment, then nodded before she leapt into the sky and rapidly flew away, disappearing behind a distant mountain.

Alex lowered his head to face his party, then moved back a little as he recalled his breath wasn't the nicest scent.

"Starrk is a real bastard, isn't he," he rumbled.

"Yes, he is. His team's devotion is absolute. They will fight to the death for him," Locke replied.

"Is there a way we can do this with the least amount of death and bloodshed?" Alex asked.

Locke shared a look with Steev, whose expression was grim.

"I can't think of any way to get past the Iron Guard without a fight," Steev said.

"What if you grabbed them inside yourself as a giant slime monster?" Dystra suggested. "You don't have to digest them, just choke them out."

Alex thought about that, then received some bad news from Agron. He shook his huge head. "Slimes don't like the cold." Agron sent him a suggestion, and he flinched.

"Agron had an idea?" Dystra asked as he watched Alex open his eyes again.

Alex nodded. "Nothing pleasant."

Locke and Steev stared at Alex in awe, but Alex just shook his large head. "I can't put it off much longer, as they'll probably charge down the hill at us, and that puts everyone at risk." He sighed. "I learned my lesson from that creep Karlang. If their intent is my death or the death of my friends, I can't respond with less for them. Are you okay with that?" he asked, watching their faces.

He saw the conviction in their eyes, and even their two Dwarven leaders seemed to agree.

Alex nodded. "Let me go ask them how they want to play this. Please wait here."

He turned and walked up the hill toward the waiting Iron Guard. He spotted the Commander standing in front of his soldiers, dead center of the line.

Alex sat a short distance away and eyed the archers in the back row. They would be the first to fire.

He focused on Starrk.

"This isn't the most welcoming sight to return to. Care to tell me why we're being blocked from entry to Kharnthiad? Does it have anything to do with the seven-man kill team you had infiltrate the super party?" Alex asked.

Starrk scowled at Alex. "Where are they?"

"They failed their mission. What did you expect would happen in that scenario? They put everyone in severe jeopardy. It took extraordinary efforts to protect the super party and Lyra's party. We all survived. Your killers didn't. Oh! Two of them were killed by their own people, early on. We found that a little odd."

Starrk looked furious.

Alex panned his eyes along the line of Iron Guard, then locked them on Starrk. "What's the intent here? You planning to arrest us for King Ungar? Execute us for him, too? Licking the boots of the Human King?"

Then he leaned forward with a growl. "Or were you hoping to hide the fact of your attempted genocide of the Dragons? We just spoke with Alleshi. She told us of the hunters you and King Brakt sent to their nests. Their... decoy nests."

Starrk was truly pissed to hear he'd fallen for a trap. His voice became a highly agitated shout. "King Cragborne was fully justified in ordering the extermination of these vermin--"

Alex interrupted. "Thinking beings with more value than you'll ever have."

Starrk's rage had reached the limit of his control, and he lifted his sword to point it at Alex. "At--"

The top half of Starrk's body exploded into a spray of Dragon spit, blood, bone chunks, and pieces of meat as Alex's hypersonic spit tore through its target. The gore splashed back through the Iron Guard, immediately spreading out in a fan until it reached the archers in the back row.

Alex ignited his next blast, and everyone caught in the first spray of Starrk bits discovered that the spittle had been unburnt fuel. The new blast was amplified by the fine fuel-air mix and exploded with intense, concussive force, the shockwave ripping apart and tossing the broken Iron Guards around like dust motes in a tornado. He felt a little ill as he didn't want them to suffer, so he began to fire coup de grâce blasts to ensure they died quickly. This did the job, but soon there was nothing left but minced soldiers.

The pop-boom of these shots echoed off the neighboring mountains and shook the surrounding plateau.

Agron's satisfied purr filled the back of his mind, but Alex pushed that back.

Looking beyond the carnage of the dead and dying Iron Guard, Alex noted that the front doors of the city were closing. He leapt over the mess and shot forward as quickly as he could fly, just managing to get his claws through the gap to stop the doors from sealing. He gave a mighty tug, and the doors swung open once more. Several of the peacekeepers he'd met when he first arrived picked themselves up off the ground. Alex spotted the hairy one running at him, sword raised and a look of terror on his face.

That made Alex sad, as he had no hatred toward these Dwarves.

"I'm not going to attack the city," Alex said, and did his best to ignore the swords, axes, and spears bouncing off his scales.

Gradually, the attack petered out as he continued to just stare at them and not respond. A little red glow rippled over the minimal damage they'd done. He looked at the hirsute guardhouse peacekeeper and repeated himself. "I'm not going to attack the city, but the super party needs to come home with Locke Grimweather and Steev Cragborne.

The two in question hustled up to the doorway, Yellsbeth at their backs, and looked at the peacekeepers in surprise.

"Is everyone okay?" Locke asked.

The lead peacekeeper seemed a little shaken, but he answered. "Uh, yes. He just stopped the doors from closing. No one got hurt."

"It was a dick move for those Iron Guard to attack us when we returned from Pinnacle Reach," Yellsbeth snapped.

"You're back sooner than anyone expected," the hairy one admitted.

Steev looked him in the eye. "We completed our mission. We reached the eighth level, collected artifacts, and returned." Steev gave his head a small shake as it sounded incredible to him, and he'd been there! He glanced at Yellsbeth and caught her knowing smile.

"I'm going to get the wagons and bring the super party back to the entrance," Alex said as he locked eyes with the peacekeepers. They raised their hands, indicating agreement.

Alex moved back to the plateau, then launched himself into the air to glide down to where the wagons and super party were waiting impatiently.

He switched back into his Therrax form, and one of the party members tightened the belly strap on his harness. He pulled and got the wagons rolling forward once more.

As they reached the carnage that was once Starrk and his Iron Guard, he saw that Lyra had used her air magic to make a path through it. The super party members went quiet as they passed through the devastation.

Soon enough, they were walking through the tall gates of Kharnthiad.

Alex spotted Altromorra, Head of Kharnthiad's University, and a younger female who looked like she could be her daughter, standing next to her. Steev was barking orders to the peacekeepers, and the spacious lobby was a hub of activity.

He walked back to stand before Alex.

"Can you switch back to your Human form?" he asked.

"What about the wagons?" Alex asked.

"They'll be fine where they are. I've asked the peacekeepers to collect the Council of Elders members and bring them here. We're going to have a public hearing in the lobby before the citizens of Kharnthiad." He looked away as he saw Uthug enter the space. With a nod, he walked over to speak to the Guildmaster.

Thorn joined him with some of his clothes, so he quickly changed into them. The two of them walked over to join Lyra and the rest of her party.

Alois walked into the lobby with the hairy peacekeeper at his side. Pointing a furry knuckled finger in Lyra's direction, the peacemaker turned away to speak with Steev. The ex-regent joined them with a curious look. "What's happening?"

Lyra smiled at him. "Steev called a public hearing. I suspect it had something to do with the assassins in the super party and the attempt at genocide of the remaining Dragons."

"Oh my!" the older man exclaimed. After a quick headcount, he glanced at Lyra. I don't see any missing members from The Answer, so I assume you dealt with the assassins."

"Yes, but Starrk Drummheller attempted to capture or kill us when we returned. Alex dealt with them."

Alois looked at Alex, and the next question died on his lips. He didn't really want to know what dealt with meant.

The remaining members of the Council of Elders arrived and looked around at the gathering citizens.

Tharrula frowned and approached Locke. "What's the meaning of this?" she asked.

"Young Mr. Cragborne is calling a Public Hearing. Where is the King?" Locke asked.

Tharrula looked into Locke's eyes. "He's on his way."

-=-

Before the King arrived, Steev had something he needed to share with the people. He moved to the center of the entrance chamber. He looked into the eyes of the gathered citizens and saw a range of emotions. Most were confused, as he typically kept out of the spotlight.

The eyes of the super party members showed no confusion at all.

"Before our King granted permission for Lyra's party to enter Pinnacle Reach, our King assigned a challenge to one member of their party to complete. Eliminate the issue of the Dragons!"

That caused a stir as it was a divisive issue.

"The member assigned to do this was Alex Frost, who has Agron's Blessing and can become a Dragon. He left Kharnthiad to investigate and found more than he expected. He'd been told that Dragons were mere beasts, thoughtless monsters.

When he found the Dragons, he discovered a shocking fact. Dragons do not speak with voices. They do not use artifacts like tools or create documents to record their history.

What they can do is communicate mind to mind, and they have a language. They share their thoughts and maintain the history of their race in every Dragon mind.

They think. They communicate. They have a culture."

The people began to make noise about this as it flew in the face of their beliefs. Steev's voice rose over theirs.

"They don't kill other sentient beings unless they are threatened. They never eat sentient beings. They only eat our livestock because their food, the wild deer population, has been devastated by our culling process for opening fields for livestock.

Alex learned all of this and accepted the history of their people into his mind.

When he returned to Kharnthiad to inform our King, Alex shared the memories with him so he would know what a terrible injustice we've caused the Dragons. There are only three left. They need protection, not persecution.

King Brakt accepted that the Dragons were not beasts and agreed they were sentient. He promised to implement policies to protect them. Then he allowed Lyra to petition the Council of Elders to let us explore the city with the assistance of a Dwarven super party." He gestured to the group and clapped for them. Lyra's party took up the applause with enthusiasm, and soon everyone in the hall was cheering for them. They seemed very pleased to be getting the recognition.

Steev continued. "We discovered that some of our super party were agents planted by Starrk Drummheller. During a deadly encounter with a Queen Spider and her troops, these agents attempted to sabotage the mission, nearly getting us all killed. We survived, but the agents did not.

We achieved our goal of reaching the eighth level and collected a huge number of artifacts, more than anyone has ever gathered from the city.

As we returned to Kharnthiad, one of the Dragons joined us and informed us that three teams of hunters had been sent to kill them after King Brakt's promise. On the slope outside just now, Starrk confirmed my father had given him the orders to send his men after the last of the Dragons.

He broke his promise. He's a man without honor."

A grumble went through the crowd as they knew where these words were leading.

On the far side of the chamber, King Brakt suddenly strode boldly toward them with eight Iron Guard forming a perimeter around him.

Steev watched his father approach, and for the first time in his life, he felt nothing but contempt for the man.

While they'd never truly seen eye to eye, Steev acknowledged he'd always held just a little latent need for his father's approval. He'd respected his conviction even when he disagreed on the subject. He'd admired his strength of will, though he found him too unbending on changes that would clearly benefit the Dwarven nation and its people.

Those sentiments were destroyed when he discovered Brakt had broken his word, so he could kill off the last members of a sentient species, even at the cost of killing a group of his citizens, including his own son.

His father was the lowest form of scum, and Dwarven society needed to be free of him.

He saw the tension in his father's eyes, locked on Alex. He still ignored his son as he had no faith in him.

So be it.

The Iron Guard bristled with weapons, as if they were prepared to fight for their king.

He'd have to do something about that.

"IRON GUARD. STOP. DROP YOUR WEAPONS!" Steev called out with a loud and clear voice, pushing with the full strength of his Blessing's magic.

The King's eight bodyguards immediately froze, then dropped all their weapons onto the floor around them.

One of the spectators standing back against the wall yelled out in surprise when he was struck on the back of the head by a bow and arrow, dropped by an Iron Guard hiding on a balcony with a clear view of the chamber. The sniper dropped more weapons, but they just struck the ground as the spectators below had moved aside.

Scowling at his father, Steev pointed toward a space at the side of the chamber. "IRON GUARD. MOVE TO STAND BY THE WELL AND WAIT FOR MY NEXT ORDER."

The Guard in the balcony climbed over the railing and lowered himself down, floor by floor, until he reached the ground. Then he hustled to join the others.

"Here we see the truly horrid nature of your damned Blessing!" Brakt spat.

"I've never used my Blessing unless my life was threatened. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the greatest danger I've ever faced was a team of assassins my father ordered to ensure none of us left Pinnacle Reach alive."

He raised a hand to block his father's reply. "But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Just now, on our approach to Kharnthiad, we met with one of the Dragons you had Starrk send hunters to murder. Through Lyra's ability to link minds, we were able to speak with the Dragon. She explained how hunters appeared as Alex warned them they might. After you promised to protect them, knowing they weren't mere beasts, you broke your word.

The ex-Iron Guard agents you sent into the city with us to ensure we failed and met our deaths did not survive the effort." He swept his arm to indicate the super party. "All of these citizens almost died due to your orders. Including your son."

Brakt's face was red with rage, but Steev pushed onward.

"You're not worthy to lead our people. You have no honor."

-=-

Brakt snarled as his eyes flicked to lock on Alex's steely gaze, which seemed to be waiting for him to make a move. The Human's sharp focus felt like chains tying Brakt down. He chewed the inside of his cheek, hoping the pain would free him from his panic.

Steev continued. "To follow a traditional leadership challenge, I will choose my champion, as I'm not a warrior. I'm a leader, but I wasn't blessed with fighting skills."

It was too much for Brakt. He knew he would call upon the Agron Blessed Human. "You can't choose a non-Dwarf to be your champion!"

Steev stared him in the eye. "I've chosen one of our people as the challenge requires. I would never dishonor the office as you have!"

Brakt snarled again as his eyes immediately darted to Uthug, who chuckled as he shook his head.

Confused, Brakt turned back to his son, and for a moment, he wasn't sure who he was looking at. A joyful expression lit up Steev's face, and the warrior at his side looked at him with an equally wide smile.

Then she turned to face Brakt, and recognition hit him like a physical blow.

"Yellsbeth?"

"As Steev Cragborne's champion, I hereby challenge you to a duel for the leadership of Kharnthiad. You may surrender now or name your terms for the battle," she asserted.

The words felt like a slap. There was no warmth in her eyes for him. She didn't respect him at all.

Brakt's expression stiffened. He'd wanted her to marry his useless son so she could take over as Queen when Brakt retired in his old age. He knew Yellsbeth was a powerful warrior, but he had too many years left in him to give up being King now.

"I won't step down," he growled.

"Name your terms," she insisted.

Again, her cold delivery felt like she'd spat in his face. His anger began to swell.

He looked at Steev. So, he was happy? We'll see.

"To the death," Brakt said firmly.

Steev's expression immediately stiffened. He glanced at Yellsbeth, but she was nodding as if she'd expected this answer. Steev's smile returned as he saw her confidence.

"You won't mind if I kill your father, will you?" Yellsbeth asked Steev.

Steev gave Brakt a disappointed look. "He stopped being a father to me the day he based my value to him on my Blessing. He's never made the effort to see beyond his limitations, so now, he's nothing but an honorless stranger."

Brakt did his best to ignore the barb, as what would he know about honor?

It was Yellsbeth's chuckle that got under his skin.

The crowd, watching excitedly, moved to the outer walls, leaving the center of the chamber clear. Yellsbeth nodded to Steev and walked into the open space. She slid her axe from its sling on her back and went through her warm-up in preparation for the battle.

Her eyes never left Brakt's.

He moved to the open area and unsheathed his sword. He'd used it to take the lives of many monsters and a good number of challengers as well. He was confident of this strength, his Blessing, and had far more experience than his opponent.

He had high-grit sand in one pocket to blind his opponent and round pebbles in another to make her lose her footing should she prove to be more difficult to overwhelm, as he usually did. He ran through his stretches, and while he wasn't at his peak, his strength and endurance would be sufficient for this battle. Axe fighters were all about flash and brute force attacks.

They moved to face each other. They nodded to indicate the start, then Yellsbeth moved closer as she bounced on the balls of her feet.

A smile stretched across her lips, and Brakt wanted to slap that away.

She swung her axe in a series of blazingly fast overhead slashes, which he deflected aside, but he felt the jarring impact of each in his arms. Then he swung his blade in a wide arc to tear through her torso... but she wasn't there. Without the expected impact, he was thrown off balance and lunged forward into the space she no longer occupied.

An intense burning streaked across his back, and he gasped.

He spun and threw a blocking sweep, but Yellsbeth was bouncing on her toes backward, well out of his range. He centered himself and focused on his next move. It was time for him to go on the offensive--the axeblade was once more crashing off his sword, again and again, without respite.

He lashed out with a brutal kick to her left thigh to drive her back. He connected with less force than he'd intended. As his leg was outstretched, she slammed the butt of her axe handle against his right kneecap.

Something cracked inside, and he stumbled back. He saw she was favoring her sore thigh, but he couldn't bend his knee without excruciating pain. Brakt pushed that aside and knew he could continue now at the cost of pain later. Pain was an old friend.

He watched her movements to see how much loss of mobility the bruised thigh was causing her. He tried not to grin as she was doing her best to hide her limp and her inability to protect her left side.

It was time to end this and go for the kill.

Faking a slash against her right side, he ground his teeth to ignore the pain in his knee as he suddenly stopped and thrust his blade toward her heart.

With no sign of pain, she spun left, knocking his blade away with a smaller hand axe she suddenly had in her left hand.

She'd faked her injury!

Clever bitch!

He was caught unprepared as Yellsbeth finished a powerful horizontal arc with her right, slamming her battleaxe through his armor and into his ribs. Bones broke and shards stabbed deeply into his lung.

He clumsily tried to throw himself away from her attack, but his damaged knee collapsed under him. He went down hard, his face striking the stone floor hard enough to daze him, but he rolled onto his back, flailing at her with his sword. She easily knocked it aside with the hand axe just before her heavier weapon slammed into him again, slicing completely through his shoulder and into his chest.

The impact was so devastating, he bounced off the ground once and lost his air.

His sword tumbled away from his nerveless fingers.

Gasping for air, he choked as he was drowning in his own blood.

Impossible! Yellsbeth couldn't be stronger than him! And wasn't his experience so much greater than hers? How did she learn to fight like that?

He willed his body to move, to shake off the damage, but all he could do was twitch. His jaw opened and closed as he tried to scream with rage, but he had no breath to feed it.

He stared up into the dark recessed of the ceiling above until he saw the faces of Steev and Yellsbeth looking down on him as if he were a small unfortunate stain on their carpet.

Steev's expression was simple disappointment. Brakt winced, and that left him confused. Why did it matter what Steev thought of him? Brakt didn't respect him, so why did that look make him feel so... insignificant?

Yellsbeth didn't appear winded at all. He tried to focus on her, but she was sliding away from him.

Then he realized it was him who was sliding away... from life.

-=-

Yellsbeth pressed her fingers against Brakt's neck as she tried to detect his pulse. His heart had stopped. She closed his eyes and pulled her axe from his chest, wiping its blade on the king's robe.

She stood and nodded to Steev. He turned to the gathered people.

"The Leadership Challenge has concluded. The King is dead. I now accept the mantle of King of Kharnthiad," Steev announced loudly to ensure all heard the news.

The cheer began with the super party and The Answer but quickly spread to the rest of the crowd watching history in the making.

Steev pulled Yellsbeth into a hug, and she felt his relief that she was safe. She turned her face up to smile at him, but his lips landed on hers. Her body and mind filled with bliss as the kiss went on. She clung to him as being in his arms felt like... home.

-=-

Thorn's smile couldn't be wider. She'd known for years that Steev was in love with her sister, but the only thing harder than her sister's axe was her stubborn head. Thorn was so relieved that the truth had finally sunk in.

Yellsbeth looked happy and... content!

The younger sister understood what this meant for their adventuring days. Yellsbeth needed to remain in Kharnthiad to help bring the Dwarves out of the past and into the future. Steev would be an excellent King as he had the right values to make that happen, but he'd need her strong arm at his side to deal with the less flexible-minded holdouts fighting to maintain the status quo.

They were the perfect couple to make it happen.

She caught Alex watching her and saw his thoughts had been following the same course hers had. His smile was equally joyful but with a little melancholy as he knew Yellsbeth wouldn't be continuing with them.

Thorn heard shouts across the chamber as someone was pushing free of the crowd. They suddenly threw off their cloak and brilliant white feathers came into view. Leaping into the air, they shot forward, magically assisted with strong wind magic, toward the massive doors a short distance away. The gust knocked onlookers off their feet.

Steev yelled for the doors to be closed, but the streak of white slipped through them before they could be fully sealed. A few feathers floated to the floor as they reopened the doors to let Dystra rush outside.

He returned momentarily with a few long tail feathers in his hand but a frown on his face. The Avian had gotten away, again.

At least now they knew which God Blessed him, and it was a fortunate Blessing for an Avian.

-=-

Luc'San knew something had gone terribly wrong when he overheard the Commander of the Iron Guard shouting as he rushed through the outer halls of the palace, his voice bouncing off the corridor walls in his rage. He was barking orders at his underlings, telling them to contact all the active and off-duty Guard and send them to the plain outside the main gates.

The Avian spent a moment conjuring dire scenarios that might have prompted such actions, and they all returned to one possibility. The target had returned from Pinnacle Reach sooner than expected.

He'd assumed the Commander had been asked to sabotage the mission, and obviously that had failed too.

If the Agron Blessed Human was on his way back, then Luc'San needed to flee. Kharnthiad was no longer a safe haven for him. He had no faith in the King or his Commander.

Slipping on his cloak, he left his room and silently exited the palace amongst the confusion the Commander left in his wake.

He'd studied the floor plan of the city to ensure he could move toward the exit without taking the main corridors. His drab cloak let him blend in with the stone walls, so he managed to get all the way to the main entrance chamber before he had to join the crowd collecting there. He kept to the back wall and used his height to peek over the gathered Dwarves as the target's party entered the open space.

He listened to the King's son outline the crimes of the Commander and his father, who arrived to face an official leadership challenge.

Luc'San was once more grateful his Blessing hadn't pushed him toward the warrior's path as the sheer brutality of the battle turned his stomach until he knew he had to escape.

He pushed through the crowd and saw the doors closing. He tore free of his cloak and leapt into the air, pushing his wind magic as hard as he could to launch himself toward that closing gap.

A sharp pain shot up his spine as he heard the thump behind him of the doors closing. He'd lost some tail feathers in the effort, and that would hurt for days as his healing magic weakly assisted with regrowing them.

Snapping his wings open to take over the duties of keeping him in the air, he relaxed his effort on his magic and set a course to take him out of this frigid air. He'd wait for the party down on the much warmer plains. He felt a wobble of instability due to the lost feathers.

Once more he cursed his poor Healing Blessing. That said, if his Wind Magic hadn't been so strong, he never would have escaped.

He'd contact the Stinky One tomorrow.

While he now knew he was Gordier Jalviere, he'd use the nickname in his thoughts as that's what the man was and would always be to him.

This mission had become a literal pain in his ass.

-=-

Alex watched Dystra rejoin them, holding some long feathers.

He was definitely not happy.

Turning to share a smile with Yellsbeth, he knew she'd found happiness. The love she'd been searching for since before he met her in Genthale had finally found her, in the hometown she'd fled from. Now, she would be the catalyst of change needed to purge the evil she'd turned her back on.

Steev looked overjoyed. He was the perfect match for Yellsbeth.

He felt a stirring at the back of his mind. Agron was impatient to move on to the next city.

Alex pushed back as there were still things that needed to be done here before they could leave.

The Forge wouldn't fix itself! He had a promise to keep for the new King.

Speaking of royalty, he assumed there would be official swearing-in ceremonies they would need to attend to see the new leaders take their roles.

Then there was the treaty between the Dwarven People and the Dragons. A long overdue treaty. Lyra would have to be the intermediary, or more helpfully, train someone here with the necessary skills to let the Dwarves hear their neighbors' thoughts.

After they left, the new King and Queen of Kharnthiad would begin to address all those antiquated laws that needed updating or eliminating! Exciting times ahead for the new couple.

Once again, he felt a sharp tug from Agron, and he wobbled until Joah caught his shoulder with a look of concern in his eye. Barrassa caught his other side, equally worried.

He sent a plea to Ffornexa and Ullentra for help in calming Agron and felt their response far more strongly than he usually did. It surprised him with its intensity.

Red light flashed over him as Ullentra pulled the others away, and he heard Joah and Barrassa gasp as they were caught in the glow as well.

Alex felt the Gods slip into the background once more, and even that felt... more defined than before. He began to wonder where this... acuity had come from.

He returned from his thoughts to find Lyra holding his face between her soft hands. Her blue eyes were watching him closely.

"Sorry, did you say something?" he asked as he gently pulled away from the hands bracing him. He flashed a smile at Joah and Barrassa as he nodded to them.

"What happened?" Lyra asked.

"Oh, uh, Agron was being impatient. The other two... helped me," he said vaguely. He didn't want to start a panic. He wasn't absolutely certain that his connection with the Gods had changed. It could just be a perception issue. Maybe it was the altitude. Who knows!

Dale was suddenly in his face.

"We just finished a fucking mission! How can he be asking us to leap into the next one so soon!" Dale exploded. When Dystra tried to calm him, Dale wasn't having it. "No! Fuck no! Tell them to leave us alone!" Dale said, jabbing a finger against Alex's chest before he spun and walked away, stiffly.

Dystra flashed a worried look at Lyra, then rushed away after Dale.

Lyra gave Alex a serious expression. "It's true. We need some downtime between missions, and I'm not including travel time in that. Traveling toward the next challenge does not alleviate tension."

"Yeah! I get it, and I'm on your side! Ullentra and Ffornexa are too," Alex insisted and saw Lyra's relief. "I'm at a loss about what I can do to relieve Dale's concerns."

He decided he needed to keep his suspicions about his strengthening connection to himself. That would just be throwing gas on the fire in Dale's case. They needed him as he was the best strategist they had.

"Dystra is there for Dale," she replied, but he could see the strain on her face. She and Dale had been friends the longest time amongst the party. Given that their occupation typically led to shortened lifespans, that longevity carried greater significance.

Alex had no wisdom to offer here, so he just nodded and watched her turn away to speak to the new couple.

"I'm calling an immediate meeting with the Council of Elders," Steev said loudly, and the elders in question all came forward.

He looked toward the well, but the Iron Guard were no longer there. The compulsion he'd applied to them must have worn off in the shock of seeing their King die. None remained.

Steev turned back to the Elders. "I'm officially disbanding the Iron Guard. Kharnthiad has the Peacekeepers. The King of Kharnthiad will not maintain a second tier of private security that behaves as if it's above the law. The funding reserved for the Iron Guard will be added to the peacekeeper budget."

Uthug stepped closer and shook Steev's hand with a proud smile.

"I know you'll be a far better King than your father ever was. You have my full support," the massively muscled dwarf said with a smile. This started the ball rolling, and each elder stepped forward to shake his hand and pledge their support.

When they were done, Steev bowed to his Council of Elders. "I'm going to be sitting down with each of you to see what obstacles are preventing us from fully growing our economy, our business relationships, and supporting our people's needs."

Steev smiled at Altromorra. "One of my first acts will be to reinstate the Kharnthiad University fully. Our university will research all artifacts collected from Pinnacle Reach in full cooperation with the universities of Shalazar and Genthale. You're going to need to hire and train more researchers."

Altromorra's eyes widened in delight and shock. She was trembling with excitement. "What about the treaty between Kharnthiad and Thale?"

"One of many agreements that needs an update. We aren't keeping the knowledge from being shared. Our mandate is cooperation between the universities for the betterment of all the citizens of this world," Steev said with a grin as he glanced at Alex, who returned the smile.

It looked like a gentle breeze could knock Altromorra over, but her joyful smile was a beautiful thing to see. "Yes, your majesty!"

Steev looked at Alex. "With your help, we'll return the Forge to full capacity so we can begin to grow our economy.

He nodded toward Lyra as well. "We'll need your assistance with the new treaty with our neighbors."

The two shared a look, then turned back to the new King and nodded.

It was time to make some positive changes.

-=-

After the excitement of their return, Yellsbeth found a quiet moment to speak with Lyra and Alex alone.

"I-I guess it shouldn't be any surprise what I'm about to say," the redhead began.

Lyra and Alex just grinned at her, and she saw they already knew.

"We couldn't be happier for you! We also agree this is where you need to be!" Lyra said.

Alex nodded. "We also need you to be here. Bringing the Kingdom of Kharnthiad into a bright new future with updated policies for its people is a vital component for making the world a better place. We have complete faith in you and Steev. You also make a lovely couple!"

Yellsbeth wrapped her arms around her friends, and they shared a few happy tears.

"We'll always be the best of friends!" Alex whispered to her.

Yellsbeth nodded as she couldn't trust her voice at the moment.

"Is Thorn staying as well?" Lyra asked.

Yellsbeth shook her head. "No, she's still enjoying the adventurer's life." She glanced at Alex. "Maybe a little too much."

Lyra grinned. "Not to worry. We'll take good care of her."

Yellsbeth smirked as she saw the twinkle in Alex's eye.

"Oh, she'll be in the best of care," he said with a wicked smile, his eyes flashing gold.

"Maybe I'll ask her again if she'd like to stay home," Yellsbeth said.

Chapter 19

Karlang chewed the hard, salty jerky he'd been surviving on since he left Dherndibm. He hated the stuff, but he had no cooking skills, nor was he a skilled hunter, so it would have to do until he reached Genthale in the Kingdom of Thale.

Living amongst the Humans wasn't his preference, but as he'd learned the Human King had warrants out for the lives of the Agron Blessed Human's party, it seemed like the safest place to be.

He'd never been outside the Dwarven Kingdom before, so after passing the last few small farming villages, he stopped for the night in an open area next to the road passing between the trees. He wished there was an inn here with food and a bed, but he wouldn't be seeing one of those for weeks, maybe a month.

Listening to the sounds from the forest, he suddenly wished he'd been Blessed by Ophrax, so he'd have scouting skills and know what to do in this damn wilderness.

All he had was his small campfire to keep the beasts and the darkness away.

He sat, staring into the flames, brooding about Barrassa's rejection of him. Why hadn't she accepted what he could offer her? Her freakishly large body thrilled him in ways he couldn't explain. Killing her hadn't been his plan, and he hadn't gotten any satisfaction from her when they'd had sex.

He squirmed as the sensation of fucking her unresponsive body repulsed him and killed his erection as it had done then. If she'd fought back, he might have been able to keep it up.

He'd find someone else to fuck when he got to Genthale.

He stretched out on his bedroll and stared at the stars. His night vision was still limited from looking into the flames, so he couldn't clearly see the stars yet, but it was a cloudless, moonless night. He'd see more stars soon enough.

For just a second, he saw the stars ripple, as if something had passed in front of them.

He frowned as he ran the memory back through his mind. What... what could cause that?

Then he realized the sounds of nature from the woods had gone quiet.

Like it was holding its breath.

With a gasp, Karlang suddenly leapt to his feet and started kicking dirt over his fire to put it out. Sparks leapt up from the campfire as small debris ignited. He grabbed his canteen and poured it over the flames, only to cause it to roar to life in a fireball. Then he recalled this canteen was filled with liquor.

The flash blinded his night vision, so he reached for his war hammer, but it wasn't there.

Blinking, he spun around looking for it, but it was gone.

He had no weapon.

Ping.

Ping.

Ping.

The slow sound of metal ringing off metal came from the darkness of the surrounding woods. The sound was moving, encircling the clearing in the trees. As it moved out onto the open roadway, he began to see a dark shape.

Firelight gleamed in large, feline eyes. A second set of gleaming eyes appeared lower than the first.

He heard the faint sound of them scenting the air and gusting out their breath.

Still no sounds from the woods around him.

The lower set of eyes suddenly leapt forward into the air, pouncing on him. He called upon his blessing and threw a powerful punch where the head would be, but feathers slapped his face as the pouncing beast disappeared.

An enormous paw hit his back and slammed him face-first into the ground, knocking the wind from him. He tried to move, but he was pinned in place. Looking forward, he could still make out the gleam of feline eyes out on the road ahead of him.

"Thanks, Ti'Nah. I've got it from here. You don't want to watch this."

Glowing eyes disappeared into the darkness.

Karlang didn't recognize the squeaky voice, but he knew who it had to be.

"Bastard! Let me go! Fight me like a man!" he screamed in rage, but there was a clear undertone of terror he couldn't hide.

The paw got heavier on his back as a sharp beak moved to speak close to his ear.

"Fight like a man?" Alex scoffed. "You're not a man. You're a piece of shit. You forfeited all right to be treated like a civilized being when you clubbed Barrassa in the back of the head. Like the coward you are."

Karlang forced out a bark of laughter, hoping to make his opponent lose his temper. "Is the cunt dead or just brain-dead?"

"Fully healed and doing very well, actually. She even has a new boyfriend."

Karlang sputtered as that was obviously a lie.

"I healed her, or rather Ullentra did. Then Ffornexa gave her his Blessing, Skills Mastery. Her new boyfriend, Joah, is a master swordsman. He's training her to ramp up her skills. She joined our party and will be leaving Kharnthiad with us. I'll make sure to tell her exactly where you were when you died screaming, so she can spit on the spot."

Karlang was silent as he listened to these obvious lies. "Was there some point to this fable?"

"I let you live after you lost the challenge. You should have just walked away, but you didn't. I promised you that if you went near Barrassa again I'd hunt you down and kill you slowly and painfully. That was my promise to you. When I needed Agron's help to make Ullentra heal Barrassa, I promised him that he'd get to choose the method for killing you. That was my promise to Agron. I keep my promises."

Alex sighed. "You're about to meet Agron. He'll be in charge of my body while he punishes you. When you meet him, you'll come to realize I wasn't lying. But by then, it'll be too late."

The heavy paw suddenly lifted from Karlang's back, but just as quickly, a sharp needle suddenly pierced his shoulders and hips.

After the pain came a sensation of disconnection. He could feel his limbs, but they wouldn't respond for him. He could wiggle a little, but that was it.

A stiff limb with a hooked claw at its tip slapped against Karlang's side, shallowly piercing his chest. Then he was roughly yanked over onto his back.

Karlang was staring up at a nightmare. Its legs folded backward like powerful springs, built for launching itself after its prey. Its raptorial upper limbs were serrated traps, designed to capture and hold its victims immobile before its most horrifying feature. The creature's face was dominated by a series of mobile jaws with deadly-sharp teeth. These jaws moved independently for tearing small bites from anything caught in its arms. The jaws then moved these small bites to its main mouth for further shredding and swallowing.

The Dwarf began to shriek in terror as the monster seized his body by the shoulders and lifted his face toward the eager jaws.

The shrill screaming went on and on until it became guttural grunts.

Karlang no longer had the means to make articulate sounds.

-=-

Curiosity made Ti'Nah peek through the trees to see how Karlang was meeting his end. The sounds he was making sent chills down her spine until they became garbled. She looked just in time to see a red flash around their heads, restoring the Dwarf's chewed-off face to its original state. Karlang froze as his mind snapped, realizing the torture was beginning again.

Ti'Nah yanked her head back before those jaws reached his face again. Karlang's screams rose three octaves amongst the tearing and snapping sounds, then quickly faded as his consciousness fled.

A terrible, violent crunch made her look back to witness the monster tear the Dwarf in two, then stagger away from the corpse it dropped.

Red light pulsed over its body, and when it faded, Alex was Human once more and collapsed like a puppet with cut strings.

Ti'Nah raced closer and lifted Alex to carry him away from the carnage. She set him down on soft grass on the opposite side of the road, far from the evidence of Agron's rage. She touched his face tenderly.

The horrors these Gods forced upon him were too much! Her heart was breaking to see it.

Moments later, Alex's lashes fluttered as he surfaced. He gave out a little moan.

"Are you hurt?" Ti'Nah asked.

"The Gods are arguing. Noisy," he managed to say before a dim red light passed over his head and his brow eased. "Ah. Better."

His eyes opened, looking up at Ti'Nah, and he smiled. "Ullentra was severely pissed at Agron for... something. Ffornexa was backing her up."

He sat up with Ti'Nah's help. "Where are we?" he asked.

Ti'Nah looked at him in surprise. He didn't remember?

Alex glanced around and saw the campfire on the opposite side of the road.

"We found him?" Alex gasped and tried to stand, but Ti'Nah gently stopped him.

"It's okay. It's done. We can go back to Kharnthiad," she said to ease his mind.

Alex looked at her in confusion. Then he seemed to be looking inward.

"She took them--my memories," he finally said.

Ti'Nah nodded as she relaxed. "Good. You don't need them. It's over."

Alex's eyes locked onto Ti'Nah's as he could see the truth there. "Ah... that bad?"

The tigress nodded. "Agron's reputation for savagery isn't completely undeserved." She glanced across the road, then nodded. "What Karlang received also wasn't undeserved, so it balanced out. Let's get back to our friends. Tomorrow, we begin our next journey."

She made Alex wait as she collected Karlang's satchel and his weapon. She untied his agitated riding beast, which immediately rushed away, heading back toward Dwarven territory and its stable. A thoroughly domesticated beast. Likely, Karlang hadn't paid for taking it from Kharnthiad territory. He wasn't coming back, so he wouldn't have cared about the theft charges.

She didn't look at Karlang's corpse. His bones would most likely be picked clean by the morning.

Alex switched to his Dragon form, and Ti'Nah wrapped the long rope she'd brought around his neck as a harness. She'd tie herself to this to keep from falling off when they flew back.

It was Alex who had the idea of tracking Karlang from the air. They could move far more quickly, and they'd estimated that their target couldn't have gotten much further than the woods leading to the plains.

When Alex suggested they also search for the Avian to deal with him, the other party members vetoed that plan. They didn't want Alex to be away for too long. They promised not to go past the edge of the forest before returning. They'd lucked out that they'd spotted his campfire when they did, as they'd be heading back to Kharnthiad tonight.

Ti'Nah was thrilled to be riding on a Dragon again. It was a childhood fantasy! Kids dream of silly things, but this one had come true.

Alex was fulfilling all her dreams, and she couldn't wait to see what their future would bring them.