Downtime and Death (Apocalypse Gates Author's Cut Book 5)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “I can give you prices once I have a list. Because I like your daughter, I won’t gouge you, either.”

  Mithrilblood’s eyelid twitched, but he nodded, “I see. Sergeant, why don’t you show our honored guests the grounds while we decide what goes on the list?”

  “I would be honored to,” Desiree smiled, getting to her feet. “If you’ll follow me?” she said, addressing Alvin, Gothy, and Mousie. Gathering their drinks, the three of them followed Desiree from the room.

  “A tour... been awhile since I’ve been on one,” Alvin said. “I’ll be interested in what you can show us.”

  “Sadly, I will have to keep you to the public areas of the grounds,” Desiree sighed. “There are still some things worth seeing, though.”

  “I’m interested,” Gothy said, moving over to put her arm over Desiree’s shoulders.

  ~*~*~

  Alvin had to admit that seeing how the Dwarves managed their food, animals, and mining was interesting. As they made their way back to the meeting room, Alvin wondered how long the list for him was going to be.

  The room was empty except for Gunther and King Mithrilblood, to Alvin’s surprise. “Where did everyone go?”

  “They shall return momentarily,” Mithrilblood replied. “I have here the list of things we want now, along with the quantity of each.”

  Alvin took his seat and picked up the papers before him. Looking them over, he handed the pages off one by one to Gothy when he finished with them. He whistled and handed off the last page. “I’m not sure I can do all of that, especially the napalm. I just don’t have the facilities for it.”

  “What can you do for us?” Mithrilblood asked.

  “Can I see your stylus?” Alvin asked.

  Handing over the inkwell and pen, Mithrilblood waited while Alvin went through the list, with Gothy helping him. When they finished, he handed it back to the King. “There you go. That is what we can do and the price for each.”

  Mithrilblood and Gunther took the list back and began to go over it. The door opened and the other Dwarves filed back in. Once they had taken their seats, the lists were handed up and down the table for them to see. There were a few muted conversations, and some of the Dwarves added notes to the pages. Eventually, they were all returned to the King, and he took a few minutes to look over the comments.

  “We’re hoping that you can bring the price down on a few items. This is what we will buy right now.” He handed the amended list back to Alvin.

  Alvin and Gothy went over it once again and Alvin smiled. “We’ll have to do this over the next few hours, and will need payment for each item as we supply them. If that’s agreeable, then we have a deal.”

  “What about this relic?” Gunther asked, holding up the piece of Doomin’s armor.

  “Is it what Desiree thought it was?” Alvin asked.

  “Yes,” Gunther sighed.

  “Did you have an offer to make for it?” Alvin asked.

  “We can’t afford it,” Mithrilblood said.

  “I’ll take the relic back, then,” Alvin said.

  Gunther reluctantly let the piece go. “I hate letting it go, but it isn’t mine.”

  Alvin took it and stored it in his bag. “Thank you.” Getting to his feet, he stretched. “How much did you want for three sets of the prototype armor?”

  “We have agreed to sell them for two hundred and fifty thousand XP each,” Mithrilblood said.

  “That still nets me a tidy profit,” Alvin smiled. “Take the total out of the last items we’re going to supply. Where do you want most of this?”

  “Don’t you have to go to the inn to use your base?” Mithrilblood asked.

  “No, I can access my base from anywhere there is a room. If you want this stuff dropped off across the city and want to give us a lift there, we can do that.”

  “Sire, I would suggest the napalm be first so we can start working to understand it,” Gunther said.

  “Very well,” Mithrilblood said, getting to his feet. “If it is possible, I would like to visit your base. Desiree has spoken of it and its many wonders, and I find myself wishing to see it.”

  Alvin paused and Desiree nudged him gently, “Please, Hero.”

  “You, Gunther, and the General,” Alvin said slowly. “Gothy can give you a tour while I start arranging for the items you’re buying.”

  The other Dwarves began to speak against it, but Mithrilblood silenced them with a single firm, “Enough.” With a frown, he went on, “We have a business arrangement in place. I doubt he is going to kill me before he is paid.”

  “Nor after we’re paid. Desiree would never forgive us,” Gothy said simply.

  “I see,” Mithrilblood replied. “Let us make our way to the Capital Laboratory and drop off the engineering supplies first.”

  Chapter Forty-nine

  The lab was almost modern, except that most of the things they used ran off lumios stone instead of electricity. Gunther was able to show them one of the prototype armors being made. Alvin did not understand how the mithril melted into the small jewelry that the Dwarves wore, and though Gunther pointed out the lumios stone that was smelted into it, the science was lost in translation.

  When the tour was over, Alvin handed keys to the three Dwarves invited to visit his base, then summoned the portal. Gothy gave them a tour of the base while Alvin bought the ingredients for the napalm and got to work on making a batch for the Dwarves.

  Filling the five-gallon bucket took him over an hour. He stretched after he finished, and went looking for his guests. “Jarvis, where is everyone?”

  “Miss took them into the training room, sir. They have been there for the better part of an hour.”

  “Must be enjoying themselves,” Alvin chuckled. “I’ll go get them. We have a lot left to do before today ends.”

  “Sir, if I might suggest something?” Jarvis offered, sounding almost hesitant.

  “Always. Spit it out.”

  “Give them the relic,” Jarvis replied.

  “Give? Without compensation?”

  “It’s just a feeling I have, sir, but yes. You’re already taking them for a lot, and the envoy update is going to happen soon. You have established friendly relations with the Elves. This would cement you just as firmly with the Dwarves.”

  Alvin leaned against the counter as he thought about it. “Not my usual style, Jarvis.”

  “I am aware, sir.”

  “You think I should, though?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I’ll go surprise them now, then,” Alvin said. “I hope this pays off somehow.”

  “Should I prepare a feast for dinner, sir?”

  “Think it’ll be that big a deal, huh?”

  “There is the chance.”

  “Fine. Go all out and make as much as you can. Who knows where this will lead?”

  “I shall make you proud, sir.”

  “You always have, buddy,” Alvin said over his shoulder as he headed for the training room.

  Alvin was flung away as an explosion went off right when he entered the training room. Paralyzed because he had died in the explosion, Alvin waited for the simulation to end. He did not have long to wait since the room reverted a moment later.

  “Sorry, Hero. I wasn’t expecting you to walk in,” Gothy said, hurrying over to help him up.

  “Putting on a demo?” Alvin asked.

  “Pretty much. We had to kill time. You’re done?”

  “Yeah, I have the five gallons of napalm,” Alvin nodded. “I need to pull the Humvee out so I can buy the one they want. I was able to pick up the books for them, as well.”

  “Excellent,” Mithrilblood said, coming toward them. “This room is amazing. How does it work?”

  “I have no idea,” Alvin shrugged. “I consider it magic and I didn’t make it, so I can’t help you there. I’d suggest you check your kiosks for training room upgrades.”

  “I will check on it, Sire,” the General said. “This would go a long
way to helping us refine our tactics.”

  “I have just one more thing to do before we leave,” Alvin smiled as he pulled out Doomin’s armor. “A gift from us to you.” Holding out the relic pieces, Alvin’s smile grew wider when the Dwarves all froze in place, shocked by his generosity. “Go ahead.”

  Mithrilblood reverently took the pieces, his hands shaking slightly. “I… I don’t know what to say. You seemed adamant about not giving or even selling it back to us before.”

  “I felt bad for holding your history hostage,” Alvin explained.

  “Hero…” Desiree whispered, her eyes shining like diamonds. With no other warning, she lunged at him and wrapped herself around him, her lips finding his in a passionate kiss.

  “Damn, Desiree,” Gothy laughed. “Your dad is right here, and your gramps.”

  “I think she was moved by the gesture, Gothy,” Mousie said.

  The kiss lingered, ending only when Mithrilblood coughed loudly. Setting Desiree down, Alvin was a bit flushed. Desiree was breathing hard when she turned back to the King. “I have decided, father.”

  Mithrilblood had been about to say something when his mouth snapped shut, and both the General and Gunther gasped. An air of solemnity settled over the three Dwarves.

  “This is not what we expected of you, but if you are sure, I will not stand against your wishes,” Mithrilblood said.

  “I’ve known him for a week, but in that time, Hero has proven time and again that he helps those he cares for. He is a warrior surpassing any we have... even you, father. On top of that, he doesn’t try to cage me, but lets me fight alongside him and his other wives.”

  “Wives?” Mithrilblood echoed. “You are both his wives?”

  “Yes,” Gothy and Mousie said together.

  “I am secondary to Gothy, who is his primary wife,” Mousie added.

  “Unusual, but my daughter has long turned down all suitors. Your short life will lead her to grief, but that grief will be tempered by the love that comes before. This will cause some friction with the Ironhand clan, as they have been pressing for her to marry into their clan, but we will weather that.”

  “Thank you, father,” Desiree smiled brightly. “Hero, can we invite my mother over for dinner tonight?”

  Alvin thought about Jarvis’ idea of a feast and his suggestion of handing over the relic, and he knew he now owed him. “We can have anyone you want over, up to eleven people total.”

  “What are your traditions for marriage?” Gunther asked.

  “Normally, someone of power reminds both people that they are together for life, then there’s a party,” Gothy said.

  “How different,” Gunther murmured. “Sire, I suggest we take the fight in the throne room as the first part of the marriage ritual, meaning he would only need to pass the other two.”

  “Other two?” Alvin asked.

  “You must present a beverage worthy of the one you marry to her parents,” Desiree explained. “The last one is crafting your bride an item that she will cherish.”

  “Hero, we can do it,” Gothy smiled. “Why don’t you go along with the King and his advisors while we stay here and get ready for tonight?”

  A warning bell went off in Alvin’s head, but before he could speak, Gothy kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear, “For me?”

  Exhaling deeply, Alvin hugged her tightly. “Okay, Gothy.” Letting her go, he looked at the three guests. “Gentlemen, if you’ll come with me, we can get the rest of this done in six hours or so.”

  “We’ll need to send word to my wives and the other guests we can bring,” Mithrilblood said. “Six hours should be long enough for them to get ready.”

  Alvin let his clothing shift to his normal set. “Follow me, then.”

  ~*~*~

  Alvin was close; it took them a little over seven hours to deliver everything where the Dwarves wanted it. He often used most of the XP from one item to purchase the next batch of goods, but he knew he would have a large amount of XP left once everything was bought and delivered. He nodded at Gothy, Mousie, and Desiree in passing when he saw any of them, but they were busy as well, getting themselves and the base ready for that night.

  “Okay, that’s it,” Alvin said after he dropped the last sack of seeds onto the pile.

  “Very good. We just need to collect the other guests,” Gunther said.

  “Did the King have enough time?” Alvin asked as he drove them back toward where the inn.

  “I’m sure he has,” Gunther replied. “I do thank you for giving me the chance to change into more suitable clothing. It wouldn’t do to wear less than my best for this momentous event.”

  “I’ll change once everyone is ready,” Alvin chuckled.

  “That is the wardrobe function?”

  “Close enough. Probably better to think of it that way, honestly.”

  When they pulled up to the inn, Alvin’s eyebrows went up as he took in the fifty guards in armor that were deployed at the inn. “Damn, now that is security.”

  “Of course,” Gunther chuckled. “All of the monarchs are here. We don’t normally have any serious strife between the clans, but with everything in flux right now, it’s best to be safe.”

  “Well, let’s go get them. The portal is going to be out here, so I can park my vehicle for the night.”

  “Looks like there is no need,” Gunther said, spotting the King and his entourage exiting the inn.

  “Works for me,” Alvin smiled as he triggered the portal to the base. “Just need to hand them the keys.”

  Alvin approached the King and Queens, greeting them with a half bow. “Dad, you already have a key, but I have the extras for Mom, Mom, and Mom there. Who else is coming?”

  Mithrilblood and the three women flanking him all stared at him, surprised by the casual way he addressed them. “Allow me to introduce my wives, Gerta Brightblood, Hanna Brightblood, and Emilia Brightblood. I invited the other clan heads since it is a major event. Lord Ironhand declined, but the others accepted.” He indicated the other Dwarves who had come out of the inn behind him, “Lady Goldheart, Lady Steelblood, Lord Copperfist, and Lord Bloodfist, who you have already met.”

  “Lords, Ladies,” Alvin smiled. He eyed Bloodfist for a longer moment, but did not see any anger in him. “Please, take these. I will need them back once dinner is over, but you need them to step into my base.” He handed out the keys and greeted each person in turn.

  Bloodfist took the key with a wide grin, “That was a good fight you gave me. Is there any way I can get hold of a book that’ll teach me some of that style?”

  “Bloodfist,” Mithrilblood snapped, “you were warned not to bring business into tonight.”

  “Majesty, I apologize,” Bloodfist said, bowing his head to the King.

  “Maybe tomorrow,” Alvin chuckled.

  “Very well,” Bloodfist pocketed the key, blinking when the glowing arch became visible to him.

  “Now that you all have a key, that glowing archway you see is the door into my base. Let me go first to get the Turtle parked, then you can follow me in.”

  Gunther went to stand with his relatives, so Alvin was able to get the vehicle parked in short order. He was waiting by the portal when Mithrilblood walked into the base.

  “Welcome to our home,” Gothy said from the garage doorway when the Dwarves entered the base.

  Alvin glanced her way, and a broad smile appeared on his face. “Very nice, Gothy.”

  “You like it?” Gothy asked, letting a hand trace the side of the gown.

  “It’s great,” Alvin said as his clothing shifted to the suit he had become accustomed to wearing for formal events.

  “The others are waiting for you this way,” Gothy added, motioning the Dwarves to follow her.

  “That is one of your wives?” Emilia asked, hanging back to speak to Alvin.

  “Gothy. The most important woman in my life, and that isn’t meant as a slight on Desiree.”

  “She is quite forceful,
” Emilia replied. “Desiree will have her work cut out for her should she wish to become first wife.” They walked toward the door, and she stopped him with a hand on his arm. When he looked at her questioningly, she asked him quietly, “Do you care for my daughter?”

  “I have enjoyed having her with us, and Gothy is adamant that she stays. I was surprised when Desiree asked for this, but I’m more than happy to accept her into our family.”