“A little over thirty minutes remain until you need to be back, sir.”
“Okay, ladies, you have twenty minutes to eat and get anything else done,” Alvin told them.
“Understood.”
“Roger.”
“As you wish, Hero.”
~*~*~
Alvin had to slam on the brakes when they left the base. Twenty armored Dwarves were encircling the area where the Humvee appeared, all with arms extended as if ready to use their weapons. “Bad idea,” Alvin growled.
“Wait!” Desiree shouted, jumping out of the passenger seat. “Stand down, all of you!”
A Dwarf in more ornate armor stepped forward, his helmet melting away. “You are not in char—”
“You are costing us a lifeline that we damned well need!” Desiree roared, cutting the other off. “Of all the idiotic, moronic, stupid—!”
“Sergeant, you are not in charge here,” the other Dwarf said loudly.
“You won’t be either if you continue on this course,” Desiree said flatly. “Mithrilblood will wish to speak to these travelers. They have weapons we don’t and access to plentiful food, and you are on the edge of breaking any hope we have of making a trade agreement with them.”
“Is that the truth?” an old hunched Dwarf said, walking past the ring of armor. He leaned heavily on a metal cane. “Do you wish to trade with us?”
“Unless you all want to fight right here and now. Pretty sure that after the dust settles, the King would be pissed that we killed you all,” Gothy replied, the M2 trained on the Dwarf who had been arguing with Desiree.
“Grandfather,” Desiree said softly, going to one knee before him, “what are you doing here?”
“My favorite youngling went missing,” the old man smiled fondly at her. “I was on my way to assist your brother in finding you, Desiree.”
“You being away from Mithril, though—”
“Shh, child. The kingdom can struggle on without me for a few days. As it is, your cousin has been leading the research for the last few years. Now that you are safe, I can return home. I take it you are escorting these… travelers?”
“Yes… Wait. This was your idea, wasn’t it?”
“I had to see if you were being held hostage. Since you were the one who came out to confront us, you are apparently not being held against your will. Are you in control, though, is a new question, now isn’t it?”
“Grandfath—” Desiree began, but she was cut off when the old man swung the cane in her direction.
“Truthfully, are they friends or foes?” the old Dwarf, who had seemed so kind, now radiated an iron strength that Alvin would have respected if it was not for what he was currently doing.
“Friends,” Desiree said stiffly.
“Hey, old fuck! If you hurt her, we’re going to have trouble,” Gothy snapped at him.
Chuckling, the old man lowered his cane and leaned on it again. “Oh, I see she found a companion that shares the same fire. What is your name?”
“Gothy.”
“Gothy, it’s fine,” Desiree breathed out slowly. “The cane of his is a relic that forces whoever it’s pointed at to speak the truth. Let me introduce you to Gunther Brightblood, my grandfather on my father’s side.”
“Now that I know Desiree is not being coerced or used, I will apologize for my actions. The story we were told last night after you all vanished made me worry for her.”
“Whatever. Come on, Desiree, we’re taking you home,” Gothy growled.
“I have a request,” Gunther said. “Would you be willing to take me with you? You are going to be seeing Mithrilblood, which means I will have to be present anyway. It will make everything easier if I just went with you.”
“Fuck off,” Gothy said.
“Gothy,” Desiree said, sounding upset, “we respect our elders and revere our ancestors. Please, for me… just try?”
Gothy grimaced, “Even though he literally forced this encounter?”
“I was concerned for her,” Gunther replied to the question. “I will apologize for the way I handled things.”
“Grandfather?” Desiree looked shocked, as did the leader of the armored men.
“You say they bring with them food and weapons we need, Desiree. I have always listened to you, so I am listening now, too.” Looking back at Gothy, Gunthar spoke evenly, “I’m sorry that my actions have caused us to have a strained relationship at this moment. Please forgive an old man, who was only concerned for his grandchild.”
“We accept,” Alvin said, getting out of the Humvee. “Desiree, do you want him to ride with us?”
“Please, Hero.”
“Gothy?”
“Fine, but if he tries any more bullshit, I’m going to hit him.”
“Fiery. She is your wife?” Gunther asked Alvin.
“My soulmate,” Alvin replied.
“I shall act as any guest should,” Gunther smiled. “Let me retrieve a few small things and we can go.”
“Sir,” the leader of the guards interjected, “two guards isn’t—”
“The path is free of fungals,” Gunther said firmly. “I will let my two guards trail us, but Desiree shall lead the way.”
“As you command, sir,” the leader saluted with one hand to his chest.
“We’ll be waiting,” Alvin said.
Getting back in the Humvee, Alvin sighed, “Gothy, come up front.”
“Am I to be on the gun, Hero?” Mousie asked.
“No, you’re going to sit on Gothy’s lap. I want the hatch buttoned up so we can hear him without needing radios.”
“I’ll still hit him if he acts up,” Gothy grumbled as she came back into the Humvee.
“Please, Gothy, he’s just protective of me,” Desiree said, climbing into the back seat and placing her hand on Gothy’s. “Grandfather has been the one to shape most of the advancements to our armor. His words carry weight with Mithrilblood.”
“I’ll behave if he does.”
“That’s all we ask,” Alvin said. “Will Gunther behave, Desiree?”
“Yes. He’ll be busy asking a lot of questions during the trip,” Desiree said. “The reason he asked— besides keeping his eye on me— is so he can ask about this vehicle, weapons, and more.”
“Show and tell... take five thousand,” Alvin muttered.
Chapter Forty-three
The trip was pretty much what Alvin expected it to be: boring, with units of armored Dwarves dotting the way. Gothy and Mousie did their best to answer Gunther’s questions, and got some answers from him in return. The biggest thing they learned was the existence of a prototype suit of armor that ran off a lumios battery. Research had begun a month ago, and a working unit had been built just a week ago.
“I do have to say that Desiree does seem to have been right about you all,” Gunther admitted as they drove down an incline toward a valley. “All of the things you can provide us makes it a near certainty that the King will wish to meet with you right away. That, along with news of the return of the fire-breathers, makes it look like we are in for war again, beyond the fungals.”
“I just had one other question,” Gothy smiled. “Where did you get the cane?”
Gunther chuckled, “I’m sorry, but that is a crown secret.”
“It’s not Dwarf crafting though, is it?” Gothy pressed, smile still in place.
Gunther’s eyes narrowed, “Why do you think that?”
“Because the writing on it isn’t your language.”
Gunther’s nostrils flared, and his lips became visible for a brief moment past his beard. “You can read the inscriptions?”
Gothy grinned, “That’s a secret of the Hero.”
Alvin rolled his eyes, about to interject, when Gunther spoke, “If you can read this script, then maybe it comes from your world. Salvage rights on this world hold that it belongs to the crown at this point, so we can’t return it. I would like to know what it says, though. We haven’t been able to decipher it in
spite of our efforts.”
“Maybe we can include the translation as part of any bargain we make with the King,” Gothy smiled.
“I see,” Gunther grunted. “I don’t fault you for wanting to get everything you can. Goodness knows it is the way of merchants everywhere, and information is always the highest priced item in the world.”
“They are fair, grandfather,” Desiree said. “Though I worry how we can afford even a fair price for everything.”
“Mithrilblood will find a way,” Gunther said firmly. “He’s held the throne far longer than any before him. I would never bet against him when it comes to making deals.”
“I’ve never had a bad deal, either,” Alvin chimed in as they reached the valley floor. The lush green plant life was a sharp contrast to the stone and ice that covered the rest of the world. “On any of the worlds I’ve been to.”
“Then it shall be a meeting for the ages,” Gunther chuckled. “I’m curious... how many years have you lived?”
“My age is a bit odd, but let’s call it twentyish.”
Gunther blinked, then began to laugh, “Oh child. You’re half the age of my dear granddaughter.”
Desiree looked horrified at Alvin’s announcement of his age. “Twenty?”
“I’m eighteen,” Gothy added.
“Desiree,” Gunther breathed out, anger starting to creep into his voice, “did you sleep with these… these children?”
“I’m older than Desiree,” Mousie admitted.
“Time out,” Alvin interjected. “Our race lives shorter lives, and we are both adults in our world. She’s not a pedo.”
“Pedo?” Gunther frowned, the word not translating well.
“Pedophile: she didn’t sleep with anyone underage,” Gothy clarified.
Gunther was glowering at Desiree, who looked worried. “Can you prove what you are saying?” Gunther asked stiffly.
Alvin shrugged, “Probably.”
Desiree turned to him, “Please, Hero, I need you to prove it.”
Gothy looked back at Gunther, “Why?”
“Some crimes are met with death. This is one of them.”
“I like these guys,” Alvin said. “I can prove it, so don’t worry, Desiree.”
Desiree looked relieved and let out a held breath. “Thank Mithril.”
“You shall need to prove it before the King,” Gunther said evenly, looking torn. “I am hopeful that what you say is true. I hate the idea that she was saved from the fungals only to be put to death for a grievous crime.”
“You’re all going to need to update your definition of children when dealing with other races,” Alvin added. “I’m fairly certain that even you would fall into the youngster category to Mousie’s people.”
“The longears live longer?” Gunther asked.
“My mother is one thousand three hundred and sixty years old,” Mousie replied.
“That is indeed well lived,” Gunther frowned. “That might mean that the longear who created the fungals is still alive…” Voice fading and eyes narrowing, Gunther focused on something distant.
“Those are impressive gates,” Alvin commented when they reached the end of the lush green valley.
The sheer face of a mountain loomed above them, climbing high into the sky, broken by two massive doors that stood closed. In the right-hand door, a smaller set of doors were open, guarded by five armored Dwarves.
“The bands are lumios stone?” Gothy asked.
“Yes,” Desiree replied. “They help power the doors.”
Gunther blinked, the conversation bringing him back to the present. “It was an easy way to ensure the doors are always ready to be opened or closed. My great-grandfather came up with that innovation.”
“Looks like the Turtle can fit,” Mousie said softly.
“Why are the doors so large?” Alvin asked as he followed the guides toward the doors.
“Generations ago, we killed the fire-breathers and their kin and brought them home; hence, the doors,” Gunther replied. “I don’t think the main doors have been opened in the last two generations.”
“Hmm. I’d suggest sealing them,” Alvin commented. “There aren’t any gigantic corpses to be dragged back anymore.”
“For now,” Gunther shrugged. “In one hundred or five hundred years, things may change again and we have need of the doors.”
“Maybe,” Alvin said, even though he was sure that was not ever going to happen.
“If you will stop here? Desiree and I need to announce you and see to some business. I will have your guides bring you to a place to rest.”
“Works,” Alvin said. “Though as you’ve seen, we might not be there.”
“I would suggest one of you stay behind,” Gunther said quickly. “It would be best for all of us if you could be summoned when needed.”
“Hero, we can survive a night here if they have comfortable rooms,” Gothy said.
“Thank you, Gothy,” Desiree said as she opened her door. “I’ll see you all soon, I hope.”
Gunther got out the other side, “If you have proof that you are counted as adults on your world, I suggest you gather that evidence quickly.”
The Humvee’s doors shut in unison, and Alvin sighed, “You know, I know plenty of stories where the MC fucks the older races, but I’ve never seen any of them have this problem. Okay… I guess we’ll make a quick detour to the base and pick up a book explaining our world. I wonder if it’s a great idea to show them before we make a deal with the King, though?”
“Won’t that put Desiree in danger?” Mousie asked.
“Very likely,” Alvin said, driving through the gates and into Mithril at the urging of their guides. “Fucking hell…”
The tunnel behind the gates was only fifty feet long. The sight when they exited it was breathtaking. The ceiling, already high, vanished above their heads. Lights dotted the walls that stretched away from them, vanishing into the distance. Massive columns of stone were spaced across the interior of the mountain helping to keep it stable, but those pillars were not just pillars: they were homes and businesses. Large open-air elevators ferried people and items from one level of the city to another.
“I… David would love this,” Gothy said softly. “I think he always pictured Dwarven halls like this.”
“The effort, time, and love that went into making this...” Alvin said. “I hope to see more wonders like this and the Queen’s castle. Those two things have made traveling through the Gates amazing.”
“There is no sky,” Mousie said softly. “It feels like the whole place might come down on us if we breathe wrong. There is a beauty to it, but I don’t like being in here.”
“Elves and Dwarves,” Alvin chuckled softly. “Once we get to where they want us to be, you can go back to the base and wait for us, Mousie.”
“No,” she replied quickly. “If you and Gothy are going to stay, then I will, as well. My place is with the both of you. Being with just one I’d be okay with, but I don’t wish to be without you both.”
“Okay, Mousie,” Gothy said, tightening her arms around the Elf still sitting in her lap.
“We’re the center of attention,” Gothy added, looking out the window at the Dwarves staring at them with interest.
“They have some beasts of burden,” Mousie said hesitantly as she eyed the scaled beasts that were pulling carts or lumbering along with baskets of goods strapped to their backs.
“Giant lizards,” Alvin chuckled, “how stereotypical. I wonder if this is the source of their limited meat?”
“I can see that,” Gothy nodded. “Dual purpose livestock.”
“That looks like where they’re taking us,” Alvin said, nodding toward a doorway outlined with lumios stone. “‘Enlightened Sleep?’ How very quaint.”
“Inn, much?” Gothy snickered.
The two Dwarves paused by the doorway, their armor melting off them. Alvin set the Humvee’s brake and jumped out. “This the place we’re supposed to stay?”
The male Dwarf glared at Alvin. “This is it. I’ll be arranging a room for you and your companions.”
“Dugik, they will be speaking to the King,” the female snapped at him. “Go get the proper rooms arranged.”
Stomping off, the male Dwarf glowered, but did as he was told.
Alvin took a moment to look over the female Dwarf’s bodysuit. Physically fit was the first thing that came to mind. The second was curiosity about what had caused the deep scarring on the left side of her face. “Sergeant?” he hazarded, based on the insignia that was on her bodysuit and armor.
Downtime and Death (Apocalypse Gates Author's Cut Book 5) Page 36