Chapter Twenty: Forging an alliance

The dwarves approached us. "What do you lot want?" I stepped forward. "We would like to meet with your leaders." The guards both looked at each other, then at us. "Too bad. Go away." Both started walking back to the entrance. "Oh, I guess we'll have to take our cure for black lung with us." I proclaimed.

Both of them stopped dead in their tracks and turned back around. "What did you say, human?" "Oh, it's nothing since we were told to go away." "What does a human like you know about our plight?" "You know, just that mines will kill you faster than any of us would." "Why you!" One of the dwarves stomped towards me, but Kate quickly jumped in front of me.

"We came here to help you, but if you want to fight us, then we will defend ourselves," Kate stated. The dwarves were taken aback by the beastkin towering over them. "If you would excuse me, my Lady." It was Miss Evergreen who stepped forward. "Dwarves, we are aware of your plight, which is why I, the heir to the Evergreen merchants, as well as the noble of this domain, have come here to speak with your council."

"She is right, you have my sincerest apologies, our Lady here has always been a little too brash with her words," Mary interjected as she bowed to them. They both stood there for a moment, then spoke. "Fine, follow us." It's a good thing I brought them along, but I have the feeling the feeling isn't mutual. I can feel Mary staring daggers at me. Oh, well, it worked.

We entered through a massive stone gate inside the mountain. Once we went through, we were struck by the stunning view of their underground city. Despite being underground, the city glowed with a blue light from the energy crystals scattered throughout it. All of the buildings were made of cut stone and featured elegant designs.

We continued to follow them down a winding path toward a large building with columns and a grand staircase leading to the front doors. When we entered, we were greeted with more guards. "What are they here for?" "Urgent matter with the council." "And that would be?" "Merchants and a noble here with a cure for..." The dwarves guarding this building smacked him. "Quite you. That's supposed to be a secret."

"My apologies for interrupting you two, but we are limited on time here," I stated. "Fine, go ahead and enter. It's not my neck on the line." We entered a large, circular room with polished black marble floors and white marble walls, featuring a large cut energy crystal in the ceiling. In the center of the room was a large circular table with many chairs. Several dwarves were seated at the table.

I was about to step up and speak, but Mary elbowed me in the side. "Don't be brash this time," She whispered. "Fine," I whispered back. "Who let you in here!" One of the dwarves yelled. I took a deep breath. "My apologies for coming here unannounced, but I have urgent matters with all of you." "Go away, human, or are you forgetting we live away from you for a reason?"

"I understand your unwillingness to trust us due to the fall of the golden age, but I assure you that we are here to help you with your black lung plight." The dwarves were annoyed by this and started speaking among themselves. "How do you know of this human?" "Simple reasoning, but it seems that you don't want to hear us out." Mary elbowed me again.

"What my lady was saying is that we may have a cure, but there is something we want in return," stated Mary. "So, you're going to extort us with a possible cure." Another dwarf stated. "No, they are here to negotiate a mutually beneficial alliance. That's why they called on me, the heir to the Evergreen merchants." Evergreen interjected.

"Yes, the Evergreens, we have had quite a few trades with you." "But consul..." "No, we should at least hear them out." Most of them looked annoyed, but eventually agreed to hear us out. All of us took a seat at the circular table.

"So, human, what is this so called cure?" Well, that's the problem. I was bluffing when I said there was a cure, because I don't think there is a cure for black lung. It's a sickness you get from inhaling too much coal powder, so at best, I can only offer a solution. If some of them move outside, away from the coal, it could help. Additionally, I could research the development of a type of respirator and ventilation system for the mines. Should I be honest or lie? "Well, human."

"I will be honest with you. As of now, there is no cure." There was an uproar between the dwarves. "Then why are you here!" "I said there, there is no cure now, but there is a solution to avoid more deaths. What is killing you all is dust from coal. The dust coats your lungs and damages them. However, I'm aware that coal is necessary for your survival, which is why I am offering you a solution."

"And what would that be?" "Move to our city, so that..." "Move away from our home! We've been here for centuries!" "And you won't be here another if you don't!" The dwarves started shouting at each other. "Silence!" There was a loud slam of a gavel. "Human, please explain yourself." Before I could speak up, Kate stood up.

"Allow me to explain." "Okay, beastkin, explain." "Despite my lady's bluntness, she does genuinely want to help you. After all, she saved me from a terrible fate and gave me a future worth living for. Currently, she's building a city to combat the corruption of this land, and she needs your help. After all, you dwarves are the best craftsmen in this world."

"That's nice and all, but how does that help us?" This time, Miss Evergreen spoke up. "You have traded with my family for many years for basic things like food and medicine. If some of you are willing to come to our city and help us craft things, then we will be more than happy to trade you food, medicine, and help research a cure."

"That's too risky, and we can't trust that you'll give us anything of value?" Mary spoke up this time. "Oh, so the greatest craftsmen are now scared to take risks. My mother always spoke so highly of you, but I suppose she was only being considerate of your cowardice." Damn, and she called me brash. "I would watch your tongue, Human."

"Why should I, after all, be too much of a coward to build the things we need. Go on, my lady. Show them those plans you have been making." Oh, I see what she's getting at. Tell them they can't do something to make them want to do it. Clever, I wonder if she took that trick from her mother. I reached into my bag and grabbed the many blueprints I had and placed them on the table.

They started passing around the blueprints. Many of which were for items like muskets and cannons, and I may have included a few, such as a steam engine and ideas for electricity. They all look surprised by what they saw. Why didn't I just start with this? After all, how can a true artisan turn away a challenge?

"These things are impressive, but what are they for?" "War," I stated bluntly. "The nobles, the king, and many others are soon going to come after us, since we defied their ways. If they destroy us, then I have no doubt that they will come after you next. That's why we need each other to stand against them. With these weapons, we can easily beat them, but we need your help to build them."

"However, some of these designs are not for weapons but for tools that will increase the quality of life. As I said before, we do not have a cure, but with your help, we can minimize the damage your coal mining can cause, and build a better future not only for you people, but for everyone." Everyone was silent as they all thought about what I said.

"That sounds good, but how can we trust a Human noble?" Understandable, since it seems like the nobles of this world do whatever they want. With hard work, determination, and grit, we together can build a city, no a nation that will survive whatever comes our way. Right, a nation. I stood up from my chair.

"You're right. No one can, or should, trust the Human nobility. That's why I hereby renounce my nobility." Mary, Kate, and Evergreen were shocked by this revelation. "I'm going to build a nation that has the freedom to choose your family's future, the freedom to prosper regardless of status and class, the freedom to take on the world, and the freedom to not only survive but live. For you see, they want to end us, not because we're a thorn in their side, but because they fear what we will become."

"That's why I need you. With your help, we can build a nation that can stand against this rotten world. So, what say you, drawves? Will you sit here and slowly rot away, or will you join us in a future that has a tomorrow? The choice is yours." Mary, Kate, and Evergreen's shock turned into burning determination after my speech. As for the others, they were dumbstruck by my proclamation.

Finally, after several minutes of silence, the head drawf spoke. "We will need to deliberate with ourselves for a moment, since this is a significant agreement. Could you please wait outside for us?" "I understand. We'll be waiting for your answer," I said as I made my way out of the chamber.

We walked outside the chamber, and I could tell they all had quite a few questions for me after making such an important announcement without them knowing about it. They all looked curious, except for Mary, who burst out laughing. "Sorry, it's just you are both charismatic, unsociable, level-headed, and insane at the same time." The other two also started to laugh. "She's right, you always give such nice speeches, but I thought that we were done once you started being too snappy with them," Evergreen said.

"That's one of Lenka's charms. She's a fantastic leader, but a terrible politician," Kate said. "Yeah, it's almost like she needs to start learning about people's traits and looks," Mary stated while oddly staring at Kate. Kate paused and then averted her eyes from Mary. What's their deal? "You're right about that, Mary. Lenka, without looking, what color are my eyes?"

Umm, what color were her eyes again? Damn it, thinking about it, I can't even remember her hair color if she wasn't in front of me. I scratched my head. Damn, they are right. In my past, I only ever saw the people around me as expendable, because they would always end up dying, so I never bothered to remember what they looked like. Heck, I can barely remember what some of the buildings in the city look like. Things are different now, so I should make an effort to look at people and things more.

"I guess, by your silence, you don't know." I took a deep breath. "You're right. I don't know. I'm sorry." "Now, now, there's no need for sorry. Just do better in the future. After all, people want a leader who understands them." This time, I started to laugh. "What, so funny, Lenka?" Evergreen said in an annoyed tone. "It's just, you really fit the teacher role, Miss Evergreen." Her face turned a bright red.

"Well, of course I do," she said, pouting, and everyone started to laugh. When I looked at her, I noticed her emerald-green eyes, her long, light brown hair, and her glasses. Wow, that really goes to show how little I cared about people when I didn't even notice her glasses. It's clear that I need to not only change this world, but also completely change myself.

The doors to the chamber opened, and a dwarf came out. "We've made a decision. Please come in."