The grey dragon is often nicknamed as ash dragon due to their rather destructive choice of habitat, whatever the location previously was burnt to the ground. They use the ash as camouflage against the retaliatory forces that inevitably come from such an act. They have instinctual command over fire and the ashes it leaves behind. The only know sentient grey dragons live in lands already taken by the demons – Common Monsters

Adrian

After having to wait for a few minutes without the soldier returning I frown, great they want to make me wait. I pull out the book I found this morning and start reading the introduction for it. I finish that before the soldier returns and begins to lead me to one of the conference rooms, not the one I asked for but I don’t really need to talk to all of them anyways. Would they still be there anyway?

The trio follows me as I enter the room to see Secretary Jasmine sitting with a few people that I assume are her aides. No one else from that other meeting are here.

“Are you here to give me more problems to deal with or are you done with that?”

I seem to have upset her quite a bit, should I have tried to meet with someone else? No, I already have a deal with her.

“I actually wanted to talk about helping you set up stable relations with the dwarves, that and if I could get some weapons.”

“Why would they want to talk now? They were clearly against any diplomacy that did not include the Althaen before.”

“You can ask him that but I know a dwarf official who wants to create a trade agreement and could probably be talked into including more. Is that enough to get someone to talk to him? I’m sure would be something that the president would like to have.”

As terrible as that man is at some things he is good at business deals. The smile on her face lets me know what I need. Thrane will get his meeting with someone who can make his trade agreement.

“I’ll bring the dwarf over later today and you can get him set up with the meeting he needs. In the meantime, could you help me get a hold of some firearms and ammunition?”

I am met with a frown and a shake off her head, “supplies are too thin. Unless the monster threat on the northern part of the city is dealt with we are stretches too thin guarding the streets. We don’t even have the ammunition to deal with all of the Althaen you pissed off yesterday.”

Shit, maybe I should have tried to get supplies before my fight with the Althaen.

“There wouldn’t be any supplies in territory that isn’t held is there?”

“The closest would be fort Riley but that’s out of town. You’ll have to scavenge through the shops outside of the safety perimeter. I’ll have the orders given to those guards that you can pass by tomorrow morning. Whatever those green skinned monsters are doing their movements have been increasing.”

“I’ll be going then if there isn’t anything else.”

She doesn’t respond and goes back to reading reports that are scattered in front of her. No one stops me this time as I walk out of hotel towards the building I met with Thrane yesterday.

Unlike yesterday there are dozens of dwarves patrolling around and not a single Althaen in sight. None of the dwarves stop us as I walk towards the front gate. I can hear them talking to each other and my name was included but I can’t tell if it was a positive or negative light.

Once we are at the gate the two dwarves in plate open the gate and then stand at attention until we pass through. I am going to have to ask Thrane what the deal is about all of this. I did not think that dwarves respected power but wealth.

Since Thrane is standing at the door I can only assume that one of the dwarves must have acted as a runner and went and informed him of my arrival.

“Welcome back Dragonlord Ravnos. I have a meal prepared for you and a place to talk prepared. Follow me if it pleases you.”

Thrane turns and begins to walk through the house until we arrive at a room filled with fancy couches and chairs, not all of which are from the modern era. Once we arrive and sit but before I begin to ask the questions I have, two serving girls walk in. One with a plate of fruits that she brings to the elven twins while the other has cooked meats she passes to K and me.

I pick up some sausage but start to speak before I eat, “why has your treatment of me changed so much?”

“You are a dragon who is not a beast. That alone makes you deserve the up most respect.”

“Could you explain why?”

“We, the dwarves, have a relationship with dragons, at least those who are old enough to speak. Often our mountain homes are shared with your kin and we work together to defend it. In return for this help and the aid of dragon magic we craft beautiful treasures for them and feed them. A symbiosis, through you we gain strength to defend our homes and magic while we gift you with food, treasures and our service.”

“Is this a standing deal with all dragons?”

“Unfortunately, no, some dragons would rather kill and take from the dwarves than work together, usually chromatics. Are you that kind of dragon?”

“Not unless I have to be. Is our deal from before still valid?”

“Yes, but I will have it declared void. I never would have charged you if I . . .”

“Don’t, you deserve to be paid for the job you did. If you still want to set up a trade deal one of the government people can set up a meeting to do that, would you like to meet this person when we are done here?”

The smile Thrane gives me threatens to rip his cheeks and if he was any more excited over it I think he might have popped himself.

“That’s a yes then?”

He nods and struggles to get back to a somewhat restrained demeanor. Once he calms I move on to my next goal in this talk with him.

“Did you get me the books I need to learn the Dwarven tongue?”

“I did better than that.” Thrane then pulls out a crystal, placing it before my eyes in the best possible light. My lack of knowing what it is must have been displayed on my face, or he could have been wanting to show off this item as he continues on to explain what it is after a slight pause.

“This is a memory crystal, they are able to contain the experience and knowledge of others should they sacrifice their own retention of it. The crafting of these costs thousands and thousands of gold, blood and months’ worth of draconic mana. Once made however they can be used so long as the mana is refilled. This crystal contains half a dozen languages along with most of the dwarven crafts. It is the most valuable thing owned by my clan but the alliance with a dragon is worth far more.

I can either let you use it if you would refill it or have it as the first treasure gifted if you all with clan Goldenrock.”

Ok, that sounds pretty good, but what does the supposed alliance entail? If they would give me so much and treat me so well for the chance of getting this what do they gain?

“What is involved in this alliance?”

“Defending each other, blessing some of us dwarves with pact magic and when you can gift us with mana to be used in building up the clan.”

“What is this blessing and why do you need mana?”

“The mana of dragons is more potent than most other races and can be used in things otherwise not possible. The blessing is you showing favor to some of the clan and strengthens their physical bodies and allows them to produce and use mana. As you know we dwarves cannot directly use mana without a third party giving the ability to us.”

I did not know that, I knew that arcane casters we’re all but unheard of among dwarves, is this why unlike among the Althaen they have a lot of divine casters? What could give magic to dwarves? Apparently, dragons and obviously deities, so probably fiends and celestials would be included too.

“And would I be expected to just follow your clan around? I don’t want to stay in this city and I don’t expect you to follow me wherever I go either.”

There is disappointment on his face but he still replies with a smile. “That is actually common, most dragons don’t want to live among dwarves at first. Blessing a few with your favor and gifting mana a few times a year. If I am not mistaken you are no regular dragon either and should be treated better than most.”

Hmmm, aside from what the cost of this blessing maybe it sounds like a good deal. I turn to the trio a question on my face and they begin to answer it before I speak.

“Please don’t make us live in caves” Talia says.

Lysan just smiles, while K goes into further detail.

“Dwarven equipment and supplies would be a lot of help and their influence among the people of Althrá is great. I personally dislike their greedy nature but they are good warriors and make some of the best weapons and armor.

I don’t want to live among them though. They did not always treat me as well as they are now, but that also was not this clan. They have honor but care little for those who are not their people.”

What to do? I don’t want to live in caves either but I could use them just as they want to use me. Could I talk them into a lesser deal? An official friendship? I only need some supplies and would like that knowledge. . .

“How about a friendship? I can’t agree to the alliance stuff until I understand just what all of it’s parts do.”

His smile says I am falling into his tral to get what he really wanted.

“Of course, Dragonlord. Please use this crystal and afterwards I’ll help you with your more immediate concerns. We can talk of this later.”

Before he finishes speaking the memory crystal is in my hand. Looking at it I am unsure of just how to use it. It should work through mana somehow so I try to grab a mental hold of the energy I use for Void Cache and the dragon breaths but I am struggling to even notice it.

After a moment Thrane speaks up and tells me how it is used, blood connections. Ok that is a lot easier for me to do. With a claw, I cut the back of my hand and touch the fist sized crystal to it. Years worth of memories flood into my mind, clearly the lives of different dwarves but I feel something else in there too. I hear the laughter of me-but-not-me before the flood end.

Once the crystal dims I lift it from the cut. As it does so I notice what it is that I am feeling, the crystal dissipates into ectoplasm. The crystal is made from souls? I can feel something happening in my mindspace.

[What is going on?]

[The woman is not happy with the uninvited intruders. She is ranting about barely tolerating the presence of the wolf and me as she rips them into oblivion.]

Great more foul play. The question is if it was intentional. The crystal did what was said, I think. I feel my knowledge expanding.

“Why was this crystal full of souls?”

Thrane turns pale, “I don’t know, I only knew there was knowledge in it. I was only told to use it and make sure to make a deal with you. . .”

“He is not lying” K interrupts.

Unintentional foul play, at least on Thrane’s part. I can’t trust the current leaders of his clan. They however don’t know it failed to do its secondary effect.

“Lead me to those in charge of your clan.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Make a deal, just not the one they hope for. You’ll end up benefiting from it so hurry up.”