The Dwarven town we entered that evening was an interesting affair. The tunnel widened to perhaps double its width, maybe thirty feet wide.

We passed maybe a hundred homes carved into the tunnel walls on either side before the shops started and the tunnel grew higher to accommodate multi-storied buildings. The largest of which was a hotel, complete with bar and restaurant on the ground floor that seemed very popular with more than just the hotel guests.

“Come on, then,” Halbraker said as we approached. “I could eat a Glypto.”

“Shouldn’t we arrange rooms first?” Sania asked.

“Rooms and tables are all sorted. Don’t get your tail in a twist.”

I was taken aback by Halbraker’s rudeness, but it didn’t seem to even register with Sania, so I let it go. I did know Halbraker was a lot more abrasive than the Dwarves I knew so far. They were all brash, but Halbraker had a more disdainful edge to his voice. I was getting the impression he wasn’t overly enthused with having to baby sit us.

I don’t think there was one person among us who didn’t opt for the ale and eel pie after the Dwarf’s recommendation, which was risky, but luckily for them, it paid off. The pies were crammed with delicate white meat, which tasted of chicken more than fish, and had a slight sweetness to it very much like eel from home. The sauce was rich yet tangy, and it was served with a mound of steaming mashed potatoes and a red-colored gravy, which was delicious too.

I knew I could recreate an approximation of the meal, but I dearly wanted the recipe to see what some of the subtle flavors were which gave the meal such depth. Of course, any attempt at conversation over the meal other than, “Yum, that was tasty,” fell on deaf uninterested ears.

After the meal, we were guided to our rooms, which turned out to be not too far short of the rooms in the Glaeg. The Dwarves really did have a high quality of life, and everyone we met seemed happy and content, which was impossible to fake on such a large scale.

As I was dozing off, it made me think on my growing distrust of Darkness, which was unfair as he’d been nothing but amenable and understanding so far beyond the Malatian thing, and I could understand why that had come to pass.

That thought brought memories of Danivra’s conversation with Oblitifist to mind. I sat bolt upright in bed, turning to Sania who was still getting comfortable.

“Damn it. I forgot I need to speak with Danivra,” I said, jumping out of bed to grab my clothes. It was a rare treat in the Nideland that, at least in the warded areas, I could remove all of my clothes, rather than having to keep at least a t-shirt of Darkness on for bed.

“Clive. You can just speak to her across the bond.”

I stopped in mid-step. “Why didn’t I think of that?” I grinned sheepishly.

“Maybe your mind is on other things. Like the recipe for eel pie?”

“Maybe,” I laughed. “I think I just imagined doing it personally, you know?”

“Trust me. There is little more personal than speaking through a soul bond.”

“Yeah. You’re right. I’ll do it now,” I said, getting back into bed.

Sania patted the pillow, then rested her head back down to drift off again.

I reached out only to Danivra’s bond, and pushed a tentative greeting through. “Hi, Danivra. Are you ready to talk?”

“I wondered when you would reach out.”

“You’ve been waiting then?”

“I have. This conversation may cause problems for us.”

“Well, we’re bonded, so whatever it is, we can work through it.”

“Or you will tell the Dwarves and have me killed.”

“Fuck. You sent Angelica to kill Oblitifist didn’t you?”

“I did,” she replied solemnly.

“But why? It makes no sense. Since when were the Dwarves your enemy?”

“Why do you think, Clive?” she said, and I could hear the venom in her voice and feel the hatred in her soul.

“I honestly don’t know, Danivra.”

She laughed maliciously across the bond, and I was beginning to worry I’d totally misjudged her. Not to mention my own waring emotions that she was partly responsible for Daz’s death in an indirect way.

“Because they had promised aid. They were supposed to be allies. Then Kalabri was attacked, and they closed their doors and left us to die. If I had known that they would desert us, we could have planned our own war against Destruction very differently. Clive, for the sake of our bond, and the alliance you hold, I promise I will take no further action against the Dwarves. My primary concern is for the safety of my people and those of Far Reach. But I hold them almost as responsible as Destruction for the wholesale massacre of the Dokalfar and many other races of Kalabri. I will never forgive them. I may have sent an assassin, but they let a whole demonic army reach our gates without a word or axe to help us. Oblitifist lost a brother; I have lost four of my own children, six grandchildren, two brothers and a sister. I have one grandchild left, and I do intend to save her if I can.”

“You know, I don’t have much choice but to follow the Dwarves, but when you spell it out like that, it doesn’t make good listening. What they’ve allowed happened to Kalabri... But I thought it was the Dwarves of Agorak that let you down?”

“It was all of them, Clive. They have all closed their doors to us. I sent an assassin to King Masacraxe, too. They didn’t make it past the city gates of Agorak.”

“Well, shit, Danivra. I’m surprised you didn’t try to kill Oblitifist while we were in there.”

“Oh, I wanted to, but his death would have swiftly brought about yours and my own. That would mean the end of so many more lives that I care about. I would be no worse that the followers of Darkness if I did such a thing, knowing what the consequences would be.”

“Very noble of you,” I said with the mental equivalent of a sigh. “So have you got any idea where your granddaughter is and how do you intend to rescue her?”

“I know exactly where she is. The prison in Nuinaer. As for how I intend to rescue her, I do not know.”

“You have gotta be fucking kidding me,” I groaned.

“I know it may cause trouble for you, but I will ensure you are in no way linked to any effort to free her.”

“It’s not that,” I said coldly.

“Then what?”

“You might say that Angelica and I have a little history. And an unsettled debt that means I am more than happy to see her executed.”

I sensed genuine surprise and heartache from Danivra. She fell silent for a while.

“What did she do?”

“Used my friends and me when we first got here as human shields against the Saleel that was hunting her. One of my very best childhood friends died because of her actions and subterfuge. Neither Joel nor I nor Mal would be willing to forgive her.”

“I see,” Danivra said. “What a small world indeed as threads weave together and separate only to rejoin in the strangest of circumstances. Would you refuse me the attempt to free her as the last of my line?”

“That’s a hard question, Danivra. Perhaps it’s best if we speak of this tomorrow. I’m feeling a bit exhausted all of a sudden.”

“Very well, Lord Clive. Let me know of your decision.”

“I will, Danivra,” I replied then broke off communication with her.

The first thing I wanted to do was speak to Sania about it, but she was snoring softly into the pillow. I kissed her gently on the head and lay there for a short while to think about how I felt about the whole thing. Obviously, visions of Daz being squirted across the Malatian landscape decided they wanted to play across my mind instead of any fruitful thought, leaving me with little choice but to hold my right hand up to my temple and clench my fist for a few hours peace.

The following morning, I woke up as always in Falritas, feeling remarkably refreshed. Sania was stirring beside me, so I grabbed her attention before we would have to get breakfast and start moving again.

“So how does she intend to free her if we’re a day out of Nuinaer heading in a different direction?” Sania asked in response to my explanation of what had been said the night before.

I shook my head ruefully. “I honestly have no idea. It was all difficult to process at the time, and I didn’t actually ask that question. Perhaps we should go and speak in person before we go down to the restaurant?”

“Best do it through the bond. We don’t want any Dwarves overhearing this kind of conversation. If she has a plan to free her granddaughter that doesn’t involve us going back, then I would probably say yes.”

“What about Daz?”

“I mourn for your loss, I really do. And I can see why you would be angry at Angelica. She clearly used you and put you in a dangerous position to cover her back. But… she’d been sent on a mission by her grandmother and a queen of the Dokalfar to kill a king partly responsible for countless deaths among her people. She was alone, desperate, and being hunted by the followers of Darkness. Even if that doesn’t sway you, which it probably won’t, then do it for Danivra. She’s been an amazing addition to our group and knows so much. Her people have been decimated, and all she wants is her last living ancestor to remain alive.”

I slumped, wrestled into submission by Sania’s argument. Chances were she couldn’t free Angelica anyway, but for me to say no would most likely sour our relationship. Of course, for me to say yes and be complicit with the freeing of a prisoner from the Dwarves could cause serious problems too. Yet I knew what I had to do and spoke to Danivra through the bond.

“Do you have a plan to rescue your granddaughter that doesn’t involve us going back?”

“Good morning, Lord Clive. I did not expect a reply so soon. As yet, I have no specific plan beyond contacting Hek and having him send someone in to break her free.”

“You can speak with Hek?” I asked, both amazed and wary that I didn’t know of this power.

“I can, though he is not powerful enough to reply at this range. I do not require that we go back, as that would throw everything into jeopardy, and our mission, though it saddens me to say, is more important than any one soul. However, I need no reply. If I ask him, he will send someone into Nuinaer.”

“What about the thick, massive doors sealing the Nideland?”

“We are Dokalfar, Lord Clive. Infiltrating areas we should not be is somewhat of a specialty. I will ensure, if they do manage to escape, that she does not return to Far Reach where the Dwarves can track her and cause issues with us.”

“Well, yeah, that’s not such a bad idea,” I agreed. “They’ll have to be quick, though. I don’t think the Dwarves are likely to fuck about. They’ll probably have her pitted in a few days at the most from what I gathered. Is she likely to rat you out?”

“You mean give us away as being those who sent her?”

“Yeah, sorry. That’s exactly what I meant.”

“Then no, she would never,” Danivra replied with certainty. “What is the pit you speak of?”

“Uh. Grimstrom told me about it. They toss criminals in it and feed the ancient monster that lives in there. A Scooch, I think they call it, though that sounds pretty stupid when I say it.”

“I am familiar with a Scooch, Lord Clive, and thank you for that information. It could be helpful in freeing her.”

“Whatever you say, Danivra. If it’s all the same to you, I don’t actually want to discuss or think about this anymore. I’m still pretty bitter about the whole thing with Angelica.”

“I understand and I thank you, Lord Clive. She will appreciate your magnanimity.”

“I’m agreeing for you, not for her. I’ll go now and get dressed for breakfast. See you down there,” I said perhaps a little too abruptly.

“Very well, Lord Clive,” she replied, and I sensed a strange pulse of humor from her.

Breakfast was a slightly uncomfortable affair with Danivra, though she was as calm as ever. I was a little on edge. Thankfully, by the time we were back on the tunnel road again, I’d managed for the most part to block the whole thing from my mind.

The next three days followed the same pattern. As we headed along the main tunnel route to Agorak, each town we passed and stopped at followed much the same stamp as the first but seemed to have their own food specialty according to the eternally hungry Dwarves. Granted, I took their advice on each meal and hadn’t been disappointed yet.

The people we passed and met on our journey were friendly and supremely interested in our eclectic group. But we were never held up. In fact, the only real problem we faced was the Fensalfar, Wultr, and Nystiobek becoming a little irritable underground. Only the Krysan and the Dokalfar were unaffected. Though, the Dokalfar seemed to deal with everything with a certain calm gracefulness.

A few hours into that fourth day, as Danivra predicted, Halbraker led us off the main tunnel into a far narrower one, similar to the tunnel we traveled to and from Far Reach through. While it was still well lit and had plenty of room, I was beginning to want to get out of the Nideland myself.

We continued down this tunnel without deviation for three more days, stopping at towns much smaller than the ones on the main road. Though they still had a pleasant enough atmosphere, it was with great relief when we reached an exit.

There was a guard house to the side of the double as usual. Though, only one guard seemed to be present. Halbraker spoke briefly with him before addressing my group.

“This exit will bring you out in the eastern forests of the Kalabrian Central Plain. I’m sure some of you know the area a little at least.”

Some of the Wultr and Dokalfar voiced their familiarity with the place. So Halbraker continued.

“Hopefully, the Wultr living here shouldn’t be too hard to find. If the area is swamped with enemies, I have to ask you all not to risk yourselves. Get back here and we can hold the door and get you to safety. Also, remember that we cannot under any circumstances lead them back here either. Give them the directions to Far Reach and let’s keep moving. We have a lot of ground to cover.”

“Sure. But you saying we have a lot of ground to cover makes it sound like you're talking specifically about your scouting mission and not our rescuing people mission,” I replied tongue in cheek.

“Aye, lad, we all have a job to do.” With that, he swung open the heavy gilded doors.

I was hoping to be bathed in glorious sunlight, but I should have known it would open up into another tunnel.

The ten Dwarves that had been selected to come, led by Halbraker, led the way, and after five or so minutes more, we came out of a mossy mound in the middle of a winter punished forest. Most of the trees were evergreen, but had the look of a hard life nonetheless. Rain, mixed with the occasional flurry of sleet, was whipped into our faces by the howling wind. Ominous black clouds hung low and heavy above us. I seriously doubted that those who needed it would be recharging their vitamin D stores today.

Despite all that, I still rejoiced to be out from the tunnels, basking in the feeling of the elements on skin. I could tell those with me, aside from the Dwarves, relished it too. The Fensalfar, in particular, became more talkative almost immediately. It was the first time I’d seen Rella smile since leaving Far Reach.

Once we were ready to move off, the Krysan, and Wultr dropped into their animal forms and made use of their enhanced senses. Both Grigor and Sania wanted to head off, but I talked them into keeping within a half mile distance. They encircled our group and we moved forwards.

I expected to hit an enemy, or at least someone, quite quickly, yet it took over an hour before one of the Wultr to the south of our group picked up a scent, and it was that of Krysan. I told both Sania and Grigor through the bond, and we moved quickly toward our target.

The Krysan watched us intently as we appeared through the trees. Each of them were in the mid-thirties in level. I assumed they could detect us as much as we could them, and they would know we had Krysan and other beast kin in our group, but they still leveled their spears at us as we approached.

Grigor went forward first and held out a hand. “We are not here to fight or cause you further hardship. We are here to find others who, like ourselves, were pushed from these lands by war.”

The Krysan didn't look convinced, snarling and thrusting their spears forward threateningly. It wasn’t until the Krysan of our group moved forward, and Ralaex their leader began speaking, explaining to them why we were here. As the discussion went on, more Krysan appeared from the thicket behind the two guards.

They all held spears, but what was more notable was that they all looked worse for wear. A higher leveled Kuryosa named Herai stepped forward amongst his people.

“We cannot leave our nest. We would die out there.”

“We’ve all lost many people. It may be that you’re different, and you do not suffer the same fate as we did, but all of our lands were razed by Destruction’s forces,” Grigor replied in a genuine heartfelt tone.

“Better to die protecting our nest than die running across the open,” Herai said.

“We thought the same until our homes were burned to the ground,” Ralaex added.

“We will hide, we will survive,” Herai replied flatly, bringing an end to the conversation.

“It saddens me that you will wait too late to take up this opportunity,” Ralaex said as Herai made to walk away. “But know if you change your mind that there will be a place in the Craster mountains beyond the Forsaken Lands.”

Herai stopped and looked at Ralaex. “We thank you for the offer, and good luck on your journey.

“If you won’t come, do you at least know where the Wultr of the area are?” Grigor asked. “Even a direction for us to search?”

“They went east for the summer. Not their usual direction, but there is a demon army to the north.”

“Thank you,” Grigor said. “May fortune favor your survival here.”

I didn’t feel like I had to add anything. If Grigor and Ralaex, both beast kin, couldn’t persuade them, then there was nothing I’d be able to do as painful as that was to accept.

“What now then?” I asked as we moved away. “Do we continue east, or do we go back into Nideland and go east underground?”

“I would suggest everyone travel underground and I would go alone to find the Wultr. It is easy to avoid detection alone,” Grigor said, “and you can follow the bond to me. But I do not know how long it would take.”

“Nah, man. I’m sorry, but we stick together. Sania and I can fly off and do the same thing even quicker, but what if we get pinned down or you get swamped?”

Grigor nodded reluctantly.

“What do you say?” I asked Halbraker.

“Tunnels are safest,” he said with a wide smile.

“Sania, how far can you scent?”

She laughed at me. “That is a ridiculous question, Clive, it depends on so many factors. With this whipping wind and the rain, I’ll be lucky to smell a mile.”

“So this weather is affecting your abilities.”

“Yes, Clive. It has a dramatic effect.”

“In that case, we could walk almost blindly into trouble. Let’s head back, Halbraker.”

I let Halbraker lead the way back to the tunnels.

“This is not the same way,” Sania noted.

Halbraker grinned. “There’s another entrance a few miles this way. Kalin and the others will be there waiting for us, and it means we won’t need to head all of the way back west. Wasting time isn’t on the agenda. Though, staying as safe as possible certainly is,” he said with finality and stomped off through the forest.

We hit the new tunnel ten minutes later, and as Halbraker had said, the others were already there.

As soon as we were back on the Dwarven roads, we were off moving again, and I suspected this was actually a faster way to travel. There were no obstacles or potential enemies, no steep inclines or rivers and streams to cross—just a straight shot east. When we came to the next tunnel exit, according to the Dwarves, we’d covered around twenty-five miles. Which, seeing as we’d only been walking for around four hours, was impressive going.