Disbelieving Dwarves

"The dwarven tribes who live in this area are said to be are a sturdy and dependable people," siad Fred, "but they have memories as ancient, solid, and unshakeable as rocks and do not let grudges go easily. This bodes ill if Belboz has had bad dealings with them in the past."

Indeed, what Fred had said proved to be true, as the dwarven sentries pointed their wickedly sharp axes at Belboz. "You!" one of the sentries at the front gate shouted. "You vile son of an orcish whore! You were told if you came back here we'd flay you alive!"

"Hold!" shouted Andromeda. Her powerful, commanding voice and manner riveted the gazes of the dwarves to her easily. "The only reason he has returned, along with my companion and I, is that a great threat to all our peoples is growing. My companion and I trust Belboz no more than you do, but we need a mage to aid us, and he was the only one in these caves."

The dwarves scowled, but did not attack. "We'll see about that," the lead sentry said. One of the sentries was sent off to fetch the guardsman and the chieftain. Before long, a large regiment of dwarves came, with a man who was obviously their chieftain at the center. He was very tall for a dwarf and was loaded down with gold ornaments that clinked comically, but Fred and Andromeda knew they could not afford to laugh.

The chieftain stepped forward and extended his hand to Fred. "I am Griminir Magnusson, cheiftain of the Stonecutter clan. Who are you, foolhardy humans?"

Fred grasped his hand with his firmest grip. "I am Lord Frederigo D'Honaire, of Allaria. Remember that my family has always dealt honorably with your people."

"So you say," said Grimnir threateningly. "What about William D'Honaire, and how he decieved us during the treaty of Tarnford?"

"He was a shame to our family. He was killed by his own brother and son," said Lord Fred.

"Very well then," said Griminir. He turned to Andromeda and offered her his hand. She answered him with a grip that was every bit as strong as Fred's, and his eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I am T'ai Andromeda Teyzahi, and I hail from the city of Atlantis."

At this, the dwarves burst out in raucous laughter. "O ho!" said Griminir. "You come from Atlantis, then? Have you come to bring us green cheese from the moon, or warn us about an enormous mutant star goat?"

Andromeda remained impassive, looking him in the eye with a steely gaze. "In case you did not notice, I have gills. I would not havef much use for them if I were not an Atlan."

The dwarves drew back and murmured. "Hmm... We do not know much of Atlantis," Griminir said. "It has been a long time since your people bothered to acknowledge ours. A very long time. All we have of you is legends. Some say that yours was a wise and enlightened kingdom, others that it was a dark and blasphemous monstrosity. There are some clans among whom atlan is a dirty word." He smiled toothily. "But never mind. You do not pose an immediate threat to us, so we will discuss your vague threats." He turned away, pointedly not offering his hand to Belboz. The dwarven guard escorted them through the walls and into the stronghold.

Within the walls was a massive warren of tunnels with houses hollowed out into some of the walls. Its construction was crude but impressive. It was filled with a vigorous current of dwarves going about their business, which stopped to a halt whenever the humans passed by. After a while, they reached the massive hall of the Dwarven chief, its walls inlaid with gold. They were taken to the central table in that hall, where the cheiftain and his council sat. The humans were sat on seats by Grimnir, with the dwarven guard surrounding them. "So," said Griminir once they had sat down, "what is this vague danger you have come to warn us about."

"It is the dragon," said Andromeda. That definitely got a reaction. And she told all of her story and what had happened. Grimnir looked decidedly displeased.

"This sounds like utter nonsense!" said Grimnir. "Minestus has never had any reason to harm us, and we are turning a good profit from our dealings with him." Some grumbling around the table made it clear that not everyone in the council was pleased with these dealings. "Should I take the claim of someone who claims to be an Atlan and travels around with a vile necromancer over his?"

"You should know better than to trust a dragon," said Fred. "He is not like your people. All dragons are skilled in cunning and deciet, and all of my kingdom's experience with him has shown that he is one of the most cunning and decietful of all, with a heart full of malice. If you try to deal with him peacefully, you will regret it."

The king and the councillors then had a loud debate in dwarvish, which none knew except Belboz. Belboz did not look pleased with what he was hearing. "So you are a Dragonslayer, then?" said Griminir finally.

"Yes I am," said Fred proudly.

"Then I'd imagine you'd turn a good profit from killing Minestus, wouldn't you?" said Grimnir slyly.

Fred was enraged and almost drew his sword and smote Grimnir on the spot. "I have come here to kill Minestus because he is a being of evil who will destroy my kingdom and yours if we do not stop him!"

"But you would turn a profit, wouldn't you?" said Grimnir, chuckling. He didn't need to hear an answer. "I think this nonsense has gone on long enough. Let us retire to my room and make a final decision."

"So what shall we do now?" said Andromeda. "It seems we must face Minestus and his terrible power with no allies. I have no way to earn their trust or respect."

"Perhaps, perhaps not," said Fred. "From what I have heard of them, they respect those who can handle strong drink. Those who don't drink are considered untrustworthy and unworthy of their time, but those who can are considered true warriors worthy of their respect. So perhaps I could engage the dwarves in a drinking contest. I must warn you, though, their are the strongest drinks anywhere, and some humans have died from drinking Dwarven mead."

"Then perhaps I should challenge them," said Andromeda. "For one of our religious festivals, we drink a sacred drink that can easily drive men insane. Compared to that, this dwarven mead would be nothing." Fred wasn't sure what to think of a woman engaging in a drinking contest, even a warrior like Andromeda, but acknowledged she was probably right. She then spoke up to the dwarves. "Before that, perhaps we should have something to drink? I've gone on too long without any mead."

The dwarves laughed. "We take pride in our strong drinks. Humans have died from trying to drink our mead, little missy," said Grimnir.

"I think I would not," said Andromeda. "In fact, I think I could match you drink for drink." The dwarves were all a bit taken aback.

1. "Do you really think so," said Grimnir. "Very well then." He ordered a dwarven woman to give them both drinks.
2. "Are you mad!" he shouted. "I am the cheif of this tribe! This human woman is insulting my honor! Throw her in jail!"

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