Dungeon Annihilation 2 - 8

Evening Again!

Louella

“Thrad. I want you to call more builders in and move up the construction. I have the gold.”

“Lady Louella. I am more than pleased to proceed, but I’m worried how ye might have came about this coin. I really don’t want to anger the marquis again,” Thrad said wiping sweat from his forehead. We were in the middle of a construction yard where trees from the nearby forest were being processed into lumber.

“Don’t you worry about that. I can assure you I got it through legitimate means.” I mean technically I got it while diving the dungeon. Other parties have shown up with more and claimed roughly the same. If anyone really had to know the source, that was what I would tell them. I found it in the dungeon.

Thrad stared at me with a hard eye, but I didn’t back down. “Very well!” The new crews should be here in about two weeks, actually make that three. I want to take the time to make sure I get some good hands this time. I really don’t want a repeat of the dock incident.”

“That’s fine. Do what you feel is best, but you’re right. I don’t want a repeat of that as well.” 

“Since we are shuffling the schedule around, would ye like me to move up yer manor on the list. I feel like pulling me nails out every time I see that thing.”

“Considering the locals were the ones that built it, I would judge it a little less harshly.”

“Aye! It is fine workmanship for the area, but you have the best in the continent in front of you.”

“Alright. Since it bothers you that much! I will allow you to work on it.”

Thrad laughed but nodded. “Aye. That suits me well enough.”

We talked about a few more buildings that I needed constructed. An army doesn’t house itself after all. They would also need places to train, learn, and eat. If having Ezal around me has taught me anything. It was that a soldier was better off knowing more than knowing less.

While we were finalizing the plans for the new military district, there was a crash from nearby. We turned to see a group of dwarves rush in covered in dirt and blood. That said, they all appeared extremely excited. Once they spotted Thrad they rushed over toward us.

“Boss! We need to talk you. Now!” I could barely understand as the man’s accent was really strong in his emotion. 

“What is it? Can’t ye see I’m with the client!?” Thrad demanded angrily.

“Its about the mine!” the man pressed.

Thrad looked at me. “Do you mind if we cut this short?”

“As the lord, I personally wouldn’t mind hearing what he has to say,” I said, curious to what they could have found in the dungeon.

The dwarven man gained a nervous expression. It must be quite valuable if a dwarf was making that sort of face. Thrad sighed then smacked the man over the head. “That’s why I always tell you to calm the fuck down.”

“Sorry boss,” the man said with a painful look in his eye. The smack had sounded like it might have rattled a few things in his skull from how strong it had been.

“Let’s step into the office.”

I followed the two dwarves into the cozy room that served as Thrad’s office. It was small and functional, but I could tell that it would take quite a bit to knock this building over. He poured a cup of brown liquid that I hoped was coffee or tea, but from the smell was most likely some form of liquor.

“Alright. What is it that has yer knickers in a knot?” Thrad demanded sitting behind his desk.

“This!” the man peeked at me then carefully placed some sort of ore on the desk. It had a dull green color with streaks of silver.

Thrad picked it up almost like a priest would a holy object. “It can’t be!”

“What is it?” I asked.

“What do you make of it?” Thrad asked the other dwarf ignoring me.

“Genuine! We found this on what amounts to the second level of the mine section. Along with this,” he placed another ore. I recognized this one. It was orichalcum ore. It was used to make most of the noble and royal weapons back in Lecazar and was considerably valuable. 

Thrad sent a glare at the man. “You’re sure?! You know the consequences.”

“I swear on mine and all of my forebears’ names.”

“Would one of you tell me what is going on?!” I demanded heatedly. I hated being ignored. 

Thrad turned to look at me fully. His eyes a deadly level of seriousness. “Lady, no. Countess Louella Coates. About that deal we made earlier today. Mind if we make some changes?”

“That depends.” 

He lifted the dull green ore into the air. “This is mithril ore,” he said simply.

Everyone knew that dwarves chased mithril ore with a passion that bordered on lunatic. I’d heard legends of dwarven clans going to war over mithril mines in the past. Now the only known mithril mines known to exist belonged to age old clans that would fight until every last one of them were dead. For a new mine to be found, not to mention, one inside a dungeon that magical regrows ores overnight. That was every dwarf’s wet dream.

“I see. That does change quite a few things.”

“The Marbleshaper clan has close to ten thousand. Of that, two thousand are soldiers. As chance would have it, our clan recently angered the lord of the land that our complex resides in.”

“And how did you anger the lord exactly?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“We recently built him a castle. It was several meters to far to one side and the child of a noble threw a fit,” the other dwarf said, his anger flaring. 

“Well, it is a bit more complicated than that, but essentially that is what it boils down to,” Thrad said shaking his head.

“I understand, and what about this change to the deal you mentioned?”

Thrad folded his hands together and took a deep breath. “Yes. You will keep your money. The Marbleshaper clan will build everything at a tenth of the cost. No corner cutting of course. Allow us to migrate here and you’ll have two thousand dwarves at your call and ten thousand total bodies to add to your town.”

“I have to say that is very tempting. But you will have me quite outnumbered if I agreed to that.”

“I understand your hesitation. That said, you will find that I will have little power to keep my clan from swarming this area either way. With my offer you will get something out of it.”

“Twist my arm, why don’t you?” I sighed but there was little to think about in the offer. Like he said, his clan could come here on their own and I’d have to deal with that. This way I get something out of it. Plus, the dwarven soldiers would be a secondary force, and I could still create my army of fifteen hundred separate to them. “Very well. I would like you to set up your complex between the pass on the southern edge of the valley. That way if the worst should happen. You can be reliable in responding to anything that should come from either direction.”

“Those are excellent terms. I will see that they are all met.” 

“Wait. That’s not all.” I pointed at the two ores on the desk. “I want your clan to make me something. Something that a queen might wear.”

Thrad paused but then smiled with a breath. “I guess that is only fair. When the clan arrives, I will have our best smith make something.”

“Good.” I stood to leave. “I suppose you have a lot of work to do.”

“A month my lady. The first of our clan should arrive by then.” Thrad called as I left. I waved my hand to let him know I understood. 

I found Ezal leaning next to the door as I stepped out of the room. “I never knew you to be one for eavesdropping.”

“Someone lacked self-awareness and went into a room with two men on her own. I had to make sure a mistake didn’t happen.”

I blushed at the realization. “Whoops. No matter. In a few weeks, I won’t be so easily pushed around.”

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