Coralbeards

“Land!”

Alexia excitedly hops out of the canoe onto the soft sand of the beach. The sun sits high in the sky as the canoe slides up onto the small shore behind the inventor.

“I’m surprised it only took us two days to get here.” Roden looks over at Lakie “You said we were not in Coralbeard territory so I assumed it would be quite a trek in such a small vessel.”

“Of course it wouldn’t take long!” Lakie hops out of the canoe and pushes it ashore “But we are only on the edge of our territory.”

“Do we need to go further?”

“If we want to get a better ship,” The dwarf spits onto the ground “We’re gonna have to talk to the admiral and the captains.”

“Something we should know?” Alexia stands up.

“Not really.” Lakie rubs the back of his neck “They just got their heads up their own arses instead of out in the waves.”

Lakie looks at his canoe.

“What is it?” Roden stops next to the dwarf.

“Can you cast a spell to make this easier to move?”

-- -- --

The trio steps out of the tropical forest onto a small dock as the sun is setting. Lakie’s canoe is dragging behind its owner.

“G’day mate.” Lakie raises a hand to the fellow dwarf “I’m knackered!”

“G’day.” The female dwarf looks over at Lakie and his companions “Didn’t expect tiny tims around here.”

“I found’em out in woop woop.”

“You’re a scout, ya?” The woman runs her fingers through her beard “Inn’s down the road, chuck a u-ey, and bob’s your uncle.”

“My uncle is Aleius. Who is Bob?” Alexia looks at the other woman baffled. The fisher just laughs at the inventor whilst Lakie sighs.

-- -- --

“More sailing…”

The sun is rising over the ocean expanse as a canoe sails across the gently lapping water carrying Lakie, Roden, and Alexia. The inventor is hunched over the edge of the vessel as Lakie and Roden both paddle.

“What do you expect, it is a chain of islands.” Roden sighs as he bumps his oar into Lakie’s.

“Watch it!”

“Sorry, I am not much of a sailor.” Roden looks back at the dwarf.

“At least you’re willing to help.” Lakie glares at the seasick woman “Unlike someone.”

“I would apologize,” Alexia takes a deep breath “But I am not sorry.”

-- -- --

The trio reaches the dock of a large island as the sun hangs high in the sky. Many dwarfs are going about their business whilst a few look at the canoe and its occupants.

“Can we please stop sailing?” Alexia hops out of the canoe “I just want firm land under my feet.”

“We do still have to get back to Nelaros.”

Alexia glares at the mage as a crowd begins to form around the two humans.

“What?” Roden looks away from the inventor “I am just being honest.”

“Wow you’re tall!” A child looks up at Roden.

“Thank you for noticing.” Roden squats a bit to get closer to make eye contact with the child “Even for a human I am actually quite tall.”

Lakie walks over to a dwarf away from the crowd around his two foreign companions.

“When’s the next meeting?”

“Tonight.” The male dwarf scratches at his beard as he eyes the crowd.

“Tonight!?” Lakie tugs his beard “That’s not a lot of time.”

-- -- --

The twin moons shine bright in the nearly cloudless sky. A small group of dwarfs are standing at the top of a long set of stairs with another dwarf sitting on a well maintained throne. A larger group of dwarfs stand on the landing in the middle of the stairs while most people, including Alexia, Roden, and Lakie, are spread out below the stairs on the dirt of the town square.

“Anything else to add to the agenda tonight?” A dwarf on the middle landing looks out at the crowd below.

“Yes!” Lakie pushes through the crowd to the bottom of the steps “Yes! I have something!”

“Ah, that scout.” The dwarf from the landing looks at Lakie before down at a piece of parchment “Proceed.”

“While exploring new territory I found these two humans and I plan to help them get back home.” Lakie looks at the ground and begins tugging his beard “So I would appreciate a boat to cross the stronger waters. Our canoes are fantastic construction but I doubt they could hold up to pirates or worse.”

“You expect us to give you a boat?” A dwarf near the throne glares at Lakie.

“Well not a big one captain.”

“You can’t just appear here and assume we will give you something to help some tiny tims!” Another dwarf near the throne scowls at the scout.

“The audacity.” One of the middle landing dwarfs attempts to shame.

Some in the crowd yell in agreement while a few even laugh at the scout.

“Admiral.” An unassuming dwarf man standing on the middle landing of the steps clears his throat “Perhaps we have them take care of a problem for us.”

The crowd falls silent awaiting the admiral’s words.

“Do you have an idea for your suggestion?” The admiral’s stern gaze lands on the dwarf officer.

“I do.” The dwarf seemingly unfazed smiles “There’s been a, moderate, issue of late.” He turns around and looks at the crowd below.

“We should not be discussing such things in front of-” Another captain next to the admiral utters but is quickly silenced by the admiral’s hand.

“A wyrm has been sighted near Kolton docks.” The dwarf officer turns back to look at the admiral.

Much of the crowd gasps at the news.

“Silence!” An older looking captain orders the crowd “We will have order here. The admiral has the final word!” The crowd falls silent as he looks over at the other captains and the officers on the middle landing “All of ya should feel ashamed at letting a simple request get under yer skin so much.”

The silence quickly weighs heavily over everyone in attendance until finally the admiral speaks “Deal with the wyrm and ya may have a boat from Kolton’s docks.”

“Admiral?” Most of the captains and officers appear quite shocked.

“Well then, may the waves be calm for you.” The unassuming dwarf smiles at the scout.