an Unlikely Arrangement

Balok kept his mouth from snickering at the 'High' orc's accent, at his terrible pronunciation. The dwarf leader knew that too much was at stake and this 'arrangement' would be the start of a strengthening of dwarvishkinde, the beginning of a renewal. And if it meant temporary allegiance with the orcs, so be it! 

"When can ye starrrt building us our armorrr? We needs chestplates and shoulderrrplates...eh, gloves too, fer smashing! and grrreaveboots and helmets, but make 'em properrr 'Rrrkish." 

Balok mused at the leader's use of thier word for who they were: "rrrkish" instead of common orcish; of course the dwarf had other words in mind, words that were true but not good for a working relationship with the orcs. He kept those words to himself when he said: "Our work against the spindley human trash began long ago. Our metalsmiths can work up orcish mail that'll defend against the human bullets starting the moment I return. We'll work round the tick-tock of the clock and you'll see our handiwork within three days time." 

"And what o' da...da guns as dey arrrre called....when can we begin killing dem wid deirrr own fancy machines?" 

"THAT," said the dwarven elder. "That will take longer. YOU and your troops must first GET us one, and DON'T let your-" Balok had to bite his tongue before he let out with what he really thought of orcs. "Tell your 'troops' to get us one that WORKS. If they...accidentally...break it, it does us no good." 

"Dey'll do dat," said Sithe. "We'll do our worrk, ye just make surrre ye do yerrrs!" 

1. For better or worse, even as the two leaders ended their bargain, an unlikely coincidence occurred... 
2. Far from that bargaining table an otherwise unknown human with an undervalued responsibility came across a very important....