“There is still the issue of the listening Dwarves,” Danivra said in the open chat of my mind.

“Oh, don’t worry. I hadn’t forgotten about that. What are our options?” I replied.

“Kill them. Call them out. Speak with Grimstrom,” Sania said.

“We can’t kill them, but we can call them out. I’m not even sure how we would go about contacting Grimstrom, though I’m sure Egard would insist it involves traveling to Agorak.”

I broke the conversation and looked over to Egard. He was drinking and talking with those around him, paying us no attention whatsoever.

“Hey, Egard, can we speak?” I shouted over.

He nodded coldly and got up to walk over. I’d intended to go and see him, but this was probably better.

“You are well?” he asked. I guessed he was referring to what must have looked like a fit to those watching.

“Sure am. Thanks for your concern.”

He sniffed loudly at me and, with arms clenched behind his straight back, waited silently for me to speak.

“You know, man. When I set off from Far Reach, King Oblitifist and Grimstrom, and I’m sure Darkness, actually wanted me to do this. Now, the further north we go, the more reluctant you all seem to help. The trust seems to be at an all-time low, and while I know I’m not the easiest to get on with, I don’t think I’ve done anything to warrant the coldness and disdain you’re showing us. As it stands, I’m beginning to wonder if I should have never embarked on this journey with you all.”

“Then stop and come with me to Agorak. From there, we will speak to King Masacraxe about the best course of action for you.”

I laughed. “Fuck no, man. After the shit you’ve given me, I intend to never set foot in Agorak, and I sure as shit don’t need you to choose my best course of action. About the only Dwarves I’d listen to right now is Grimstrom or Oblitifist. I feel like they’d at least treat me with a bit of respect.”

Egard’s face stretched into a wide, unfriendly smile. “Is that what you think? I’m pretty sure they’d like to see you and your group about now, too.”

“Would they? Why…what gives? Why the change from friends to barely grudging acceptance? What have I done to offend Darkness so deeply that he’s having a change of heart?”

Egard’s smile faltered a little at that, and he leaned in closer. “Oh, it’s not Darkness that you’ve annoyed. He’s above such things.” He straightened back up.

“What then? How the fuck have I upset the Dwarves?”

“You’ve done nothing but upset the Dwarves. This is never an easy duty for any of us,” he snapped. “And that was before the news we had from Nuinaer.”

“And what news was that?”

“I think you already know, don't you, Clive? Queen Danivra?” Egard said, casting his eyes to the side to take in the Dokalfar Queen.

“Know what?” I said, growing irritated, though I was beginning to suspect I knew exactly what he was referring to. “Has something happened?”

“A certain assassin trigger any memories?”

“Sure, the one who killed Oblitifist brother,” I replied, feigning nonchalance.

“The very same. We found out a very interesting fact before what was left of her was thrown into the pit for the Scooch.” His eyes flicked offer to Danivra. “Not that your granddaughter gave any information up. She remained very tight lipped. But we do have our ways and means,” he said, words dripping with menace.

“Say nothing,” I snapped across the bond to Danivra.

She didn’t listen, rising to her feet in a smooth movement to face off against Egard. Her face an expression of fury. “To my knowledge, Dwarf, all of my family were killed when Destruction’s forces decimated Helvien while you hid in your tunnels like the double-dealing cowards you are. So either you lie, or you have just admitted to killing my last living relative!”

Egard took an involuntary step back. To me he was powerful, to Danivra he was a bug.

“Are you telling me you had no idea?” Egard asked.

“I am telling you that, if I find out my granddaughter is dead at the hands of Dwarves, then...” She fell silent for a moment. No one spoke until she finished.

“Then I will never forgive nor forget what you have done here. You look for a price for the king’s brother’s life. Who will pay the price for my people?” she spat, casting her cold eyes over the Dwarves who now stood behind Egard looking like they were ready for trouble. “For me, you are as culpable for the millions of lives on the surface as Justice or Destruction, and I sincerely hope that your day of reckoning comes.”

As the Dwarves looked ready to surge forward at the Dokalfar Queen, I stepped in front of her.

“Why then do you continue to help us? Or was that Grobbler town a trap?”

“It was no trap,” Egard said, anger draining from him at my words, but never taking his eyes from Danivra. “And we continue at Darkness’ behest. We could not intentionally harm you even if we wanted to. But that doesn’t mean we have to like or respect you.”

“The feelings are becoming mutual, don’t worry about it.”

“If the queen swears that she had no part in the death of King Oblitifist’s brother, then I promise we will let the matter drop until we return to the capital.”

“You promise?” Danivra replied with a false laugh. “The promise of a Dwarf has the weight of a speck of dust in the wind. If it was my granddaughter who did the deed, then by your own laws I would be considered culpable as her queen and only living relative. You think I am a fool? I have already been judged as guilty, and that at least explains why we are being mistreated and why you attempt so ineloquently to drive us to Agorak where I may be subject to a farcical trial. As you judge me, know that you are judged also, and one day my word may carry weight once more.”

Egard waved her powerless threat off. “The ire of the Dokalfar is the least of our problems. But we will have our reckoning one day soon. Goodnight, Lord Clive. We set off westward early tomorrow. I have arranged a travel breakfast for all.”

Then he walked off out of the restaurant followed by his men.

We sat back down, cloaked in silence for a few minutes until I couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Are you okay, Danivra?”

“Not really, Lord Clive, and I must apologize that the discord with the Dwarves is because of me.”

“The Dwarves had already started fucking us around when the Malatians appeared. I’d still like to keep them onside for obvious reasons, and I certainly don’t want them as enemies any time soon, but I understand why you did it, and I don’t blame you.”

“Thank you for your kind words and understanding.”

“What I will say is that I’ve had about enough of these fuckers treating us like this now and it can’t continue.”

“What do you mean?” Sania asked.

“Next town, we ditch them. Right now, the only Dwarf I would trust to speak to, despite the news, is Grimstrom. Other than him, I just don’t trust them. They might not be able to directly hurt us because of Darkness, but they’re sure as shit trying to indirectly hurt us. I’ve had enough. We know that we're close to the northern lands of Kalabri where we know the armies of Justice and Destruction won't be in as big numbers because there’s fuck all up here. I say put what food we can in whatever pockets of holding we have, and tomorrow when we stop wherever we’re going, we don’t come back down into the Nideland.”

“Seriously, Clive,” Sania asked shocked. “What about coming back?”

“Oh, you mean to Agorak? Where, if I don’t miss my guess, all of the Dokalfar will be killed? No. We keep depending on the Dwarves too much and they keep letting us down. We finish this by ourselves.”

“And if Natom finds you?”

“I don’t know, but I feel like this Stage 1 Godhood will be very beneficial in that conflict.”

“You mean you think you can fight him?”

I laughed internally. “Hell no. But if my body is destroyed, my Ethereal Spirit still remains, and I can regrow my physical body. Though, it takes 300 days. But more importantly, you guys don’t die anymore. We are in a much better position.”

“I hadn’t thought about the Ethereal Spirit thing. Creation's power will be tied to that, right?”

“It would have to be. This body is just a shell. I suppose it always was, but now it means something a little different to me.”

“So we’re doing this? We’re ditching the Dwarves?

“I think it is our only option now,” Danivra said. “They have no good intentions for us any longer. As Clive alluded to, they can do a lot of damage indirectly. I wouldn’t be surprised if this next settlement is dangerous, too.”

“At least we’ll know this time,” Sania said.

With our terrifying plan cemented between the three of us, I told Grigor next, and then we worked through the rest of the group as best we could in the case of those not bonded to me.

All of the Dokalfar and Fensalfar had holding storages to fill up inconspicuously on food. More was ordered and secreted away before we finally made our way to bed for the evening.

I dropped to the bed mentally exhausted, and Sania lay next to me.

“I am so ready to sleep tonight,” she said snuggling in.

“Me too but…”

“What?” she asked.

“Ah, it’s nothing,” I said, raising a finger to my lips to shush her.

“I’m gonna do the Ethereal projection thing to see if we have unwanted ears. Just in case.”

Once I’d finished speaking, I sent my Ethereal Spirit up into the air above me to observe our surroundings, only to discover Dwarves once again listening from the room next door.

“Bastards are listening again.”

“They’re determined to catch us out, aren’t they?”

“Well, I’m knackered, but I think I’ve got enough energy to give them a little physical admission of my love for you. Up for some fun?”

“You better believe it,” she replied, smiling mischievously. “May as well make the most of our last night in a bed for a long time.”

We spent the next three hours in energetic and vocal love making. Afterwards, before I knocked myself out for the night, I had a quick check on the Dwarves. They had actually stopped listening, now sitting drinking their ales in sullen silence. It was a small but enjoyable victory.