It was with some relief when Sania and I finally made it to our very own room. Resting in a real bed was something I not realized how much I craved until I dived into the soft square of pure awesomeness.

Rolling onto my back I noticed that the bed was far too small. My feet hung over the edge of the bed by a foot. I reflected that probably meant the bed was seven foot by seven foot, which meant it was still a bloody good-sized bed. Especially for the usual clientele of Dwarves.

While I pondered the important things in life, Sania dove on top of me and suddenly the dimensions of the bed could go and fuck themselves as she pressed her lips to mine. Pushing her hips down into me in a grinding motion. A soft groan murmured from her mouth.

The connection we shared was beyond any I could have dreamed of with any woman, in my life previously and words quickly became meaningless as we made the most of our very rare privacy.

I held back from diving straight in, so I could savour each moment and kiss every square inch of her body. At least what I could reach in my current position. Though the next few hours saw an exploration of almost every position imaginable. Most of which wouldn’t have been possible if I hadn’t upped my agility stat.

With the physical capabilities we both had, making love in Falritas, far exceeded anything I could have dreamed possible on Earth.

When we joined the others for breakfast the following day. Grigor seemed to be a changed Woltar. He was still the same taciturn bastard as always, but there was an air of deference about him rather than sour, grudging acceptance.

I tried not to make a thing of it as I had more pressing matters today. Lierin kept making eyes at me and thankfully, my intelligence wasn’t too shabby at 25, and I didn’t just assume she was trying to hit on me. On this occasion, I recognised the not-so-subtle gestures as her wanting to talk to me privately.

“Hey guys and gals,” I said, way too energetically to Grigor and Sania across the bond. “Lierin clearly wants to talk to me without Joel knowing, so I need you both to engage him in conversation and keep him engaged.”

“Will do,” Sania said just as cheerily.

“Of course,” came Grigor’s wooden reply.

I wandered off to the small kitchen area at the back of the penthouse, where water and beer could be drawn on tap. There was a fresh loaf of bread there too, that hadn’t been touched yet. As fascinating as all of that was, none of that was relevant to my purpose here. I drew a glass of water for dramatic effect and slowly sipped at it as Lierin gradually made her way over to get Joel and her a glass of water each.

Sania drew Joel into a discussion on the best set up for Far Reach, so they knew what to look out for after he had gone.

Lierin didn’t speak to me at first, continuing her ruse of getting water. She looked as though she’d lost her nerve and was about to head back over with the water.

“Come on. Spit it out,” I said softly. Smiling to lessen the harshness of my words.

She looked back. Nowhere near as quiet and meek as when we first met, but the innate fear was still there. Her eyes briefly flicked back to the occupied Joel, making sure he was still busy, then back to me.

“I think he is only going back because of his promise to me. He’s finally found a place of importance among you, and I think he is genuinely happy. But his promise to take me from this world and away from my past life is driving him. The thing is, I’m happy here too. With you and Sania and Sanyl, and the rest of the pack.” She stopped speaking abruptly, as if she’d ran out of steam.

“Well shit, Lierin. What am I supposed to do with that?” I asked. Still offering a wry smile to show I wasn’t completely serious.

“I don’t know. Joel is very stubborn. It is one of the things I admire about him. He has been a rock in the storm, for me. Once he has an idea, he throws himself into it with all of his heart. The only problem is that his ideas are not always for the best. Like trying to protect me on the very first night we met.”

“That worked out okay. Joel’s actions that night not only freed a number of other slaves and brought him closer to you, but he also got me free of Natom. Sometimes you’ve got to trust your gut, even when you’re not sure why and everyone else around you thinks you're mental.”

“You are very similar, the two of you. Bur don’t forget he was also badly beaten locked in a cage, and cost you your legs after you came to help us. You both also lost your other best friend.”

“Ah, I countered, but he’s also unlocked his ability as a top-class builder found a purpose he never had before, and we haven’t lost Mal. Our paths have merely diverged briefly. Don’t worry Lierin, I haven’t forgotten about him even though he chose Devotion over us. He’s still one of us and sooner or later that will come true again. What’s more important right now is how do we keep Joel here?”

“I don’t know. That is why I tried to get your attention.”

“I’ve told him on a couple of occasions how I feel and how much I think he should stay. Have you?”

She looked crestfallen. “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because this dream of going back to his home has kept him going. Until the construction in Far Reach began, it’s all he would talk about. I encouraged him, too. I’ll admit it sounded appealing running away from this land altogether. But now we’ve found a place here and I feel he is following through on his old dream through some misguided belief that he would be a failure if he didn’t. I’ll happily go into your world, and part of me is still very intrigued to see what a world without magic and statistic tables would look like. But I’m no longer convinced that it is what will make Joel happy.”

“That makes two of us Lierin, but I don’t see what I can do. I’ll talk to him one last time, but I know he’ll get angry with me. Perhaps it’s time for you to try?”

“I will,” she replied with about as much conviction as a wet paper towel, before leaving with the water.

I shouted Joel over. The following conversation lasted less than five seconds as he approached.

“If you’re gonna try and make me stay, don’t waste your breath. I’ve got plans back home and I’m gonna see them through.” He turned away before I could even reply.

“You fucking arsehole,” I snapped. “This is probably the last time I’ll see you and that’s your crack?” I asked, genuinely pissed off. He at least had the good nature to look embarrassed.

“Joel. You may not wanna hear this, but if you have any respect for me at all, listen anyway. I actually need you here. The dwarven builders will be great, but they won’t be you. We can build something here together, that matters. Have a word with Lierin. I know shell agree.”

“Lierin needs to get away from here, and so do I. Part of me wants to stay and help, mate, but it’s too dangerous. The fortifications are useless against what we’re facing, and I can’t see what the Dwarves can do that will make it any safer against a horde of 20-foot demons. Walls are useless against monsters that can crawl like cockroaches, jump like grasshoppers, and fly like, well take your pick. They can fly. Stone walls are ridiculous. It’s a pipe dream, Clive.”

“It’s not a fucking pipe dream, Joel. It’s the life I’ll be living, while you're moping about on a fucking rinse and repeat building site again.” I replied angrily. “I think you’re forgetting just how shitty our world and our lives were.”

“Oh, like it’s not been shitty here?” Joel replied quickly.

“Hell yeah it has. I know that better than anyone. But at least we’ve been alive here and we’re worth something. When do you ever feel that way at home. Go on! Go back to the daily fucking grind. Eat, sleep, work, repeat and get smashed at the weekend to drown your fucking misery!”

I knew nothing I said wouldn’t make any difference. Joel was pig headed and arguing with him would only push him further away from agreement, but I’d gotten carried away.

“I’m going home, Clive. Sorry, man, it’s just what I’ve gotta do. It’s good to know you still want me here. You’re a good mate.”

I smiled, calming instantly at his words, and shrugged. “It’s okay man. I know what a stubborn git you are. I didn’t expect you to change your mind, but I had to try one last time.”

I looked over to Lierin to see if she would add anything to the conversation. To my irritation she didn’t.

Before I could do much of anything else, there came a knock at the door.

Sania was there in a flash, pulling it wide to reveal Gildria, the receptionist from the day before.

“Head Guardian Grimstrom requests your presence at the palace. If you could make your way to the main entrance at your earliest convenience,” She finished with a slight curtsy.

“Thank you,” Sania replied, and the receptionist left without another word.

“This is it then.” I said with a deep sigh. Losing Joel had filled my mind, but now it was time to go back for a short spell myself and I found I was full of nervousness.

“I need to give you your Minted Deer Haunch of Strength back,” Joel said, reaching into his pocket.

“Keep it man. It might come in handy back home.”

“I won’t say no. Though I wish it was a chewing gum or something. It’s gonna be tricky yanking this thing out and chewing down on it before a fight.

"You might have a big day at work where you think you can make good price.” I laughed.

“Depends on how much this gold sells for,” he grinned. “I might be buying some properties to flip and start making some real money.”

“Well, good luck on whatever you do mate. I wish you both the best.”

We all left our suite and headed down to the main street. It was strange as we left, because being inside had tricked me into thinking we were just in a normal building and not miles underground.

At the palace entrance, Grimstrom seemed to appear at the same time as we arrived. He had a huge smile for us and beckoned us in eagerly.

He led us to another room of the main entrance. This one had a four other dwarves of differing levels but non below level 40. They were busy tinkering on a giant portal ring that took up most of the room.

It was made of dark grey stone with amber veins running through it, depicting some kind of serpent twisting around. Like everything else here, it was exquisitely carved.

“Are you folk ready?” Grimstrom asked.

“I will not be passing through,” Grigor said eying the ring dubiously. “If that is possible without breaking the bond?”

“Sure it is. The bond will go freely through the portal. O’course, if the portal shuts off, or Clive doesn’t make it back in time for some reason and the portal closes, then you’ll probably die.”

Grigor paled a little at that information, but his resolve to not go through didn’t waver.

“You seem to know a lot about the bond,” I said to Grimstrom.

“I’m just surmising really,” he said as he began working with some of the runes on the side of the ring. The portal suddenly sprung to life, the centre seeming to turn into an oily pool.

“Hey Grimstrom. Quick question. How did you guys know where my home is for the portal?”

He shrugged his massive shoulders. “Darkness knows and that’s all I know about that.”

Joel cleared his throat. “Why’s the stuff we have to walk through look like oil? The portal we came through was all swirling whites and reds.”

“Probably because this portal is made with the power of Darkness.” Grimstrom replied, starting to get irritated with our questioning. “Now are you going through?”

I looked to Sania and smiled. “Come on. Let’s go. I want to try and grab as much as I can.” I took her hand and we walked through the darkness together.