Rise of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 036 - Dwarven Guildmaster (Patreon)

Kaen glanced along the shorter counter as two dwarven attendants worked with a set of dwarven adventurers, counting coins after weighing the harvested plants they had taken a quest for.

When he first entered, he had been surprised by how empty the building was.  The building and complex were slightly smaller than the guild hall in the capital of Roccnari.  He had learned from Elies that most halls were not as active or as big as the one in Ebonmount as the other races preferred to stay within their own circle.  Elves, dwarves, taxabi, gnomes, and a few of the other races joined the adventurers guild but they had a wandering itch.

He had only seen two other humans in Tanulivar so far.  One was a trader and the other was an adventurer providing security and protection.

“Thank you for waiting,” Kaen heard a dwarven man who was moving toward the counter call out to him.  “I apologize for keeping you waiting but it is not every day a Dragon Rider asks for a meeting with the guild master.  If you will follow me I will gladly take you to him.”

Nodding, Kaen followed the man as he led him to a hallway that was off to the left of the counter.

“Is everything here made of stone?” Kaen asked as he noticed there was very little wood used, even for decoration.

The stocky, black-haired man laughed, not bothering to turn around as he tapped the stone hallway.

“We don’t waste wood for that with all the stone that we have. Besides,” he informed Kaen as he tapped the stone wall, “this build can stand against almost anything.  Wood burns and takes a lot more magical enchanting to prevent that.”

It made sense, especially after all the work they were doing in Ebonmount to prepare the town to resist a dragon attack.  The stonework was exceptional with detail that rivaled most wood crafters.  He eyed the scenes carved into the stone wall and you could feel the waves moving as he ran his fingers along the different depths someone had done in the masterpiece.

They passed a few more doors and came to a set of stairs leading down.  A quartz-like material was used for the rails going down, polished and smoothed beyond any stonework Kaen had ever seen.  He knew his eyes were wide and hiding his shock at how well everything was done was difficult.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, they entered a room similar to the one outside of Herb’s office with a large stone desk and a set of massive stone doors with runes carved all over it.  Each door had a matching stone carving like the one in the mountain by the entrance to the city entrance in the mountain.

Twelve-foot tall sculptures, each with tens of thousands of lines depicting hair, folds in their armor or cloth, wrinkles, veins, and more.  Each face conveyed power and fortitude.

A slight cough got his attention and Kaen turned to see his escort smiling at him.

“Sorry, I was just lost for a moment.  Those two sculptures are so life-like.”

The dwarf stood a little more erect and puffed his chin out at that comment.

“We have been gifted with some of the greatest stone masons. These doors are almost two thousand years old and have not aged at all.”

Nodding his head in appreciation of that fact, motioned to the door with his hand held out.

The man smiled and nodded.

Running his fingers along the dwarf with the staff, Kaen felt a world of lines and carvings with his fingertips.  Leaning closer he saw just how detailed everything was.  How they had ever crafted something like this was beyond his imagination.

Shaking his head again, Kaen scratched his hairy chin and smiled.

“Now I see why so many talk about the stonework skill of your people.  This is far greater than any painting I have ever seen.”

The man gave a slight bow and grinned from ear to ear.

“I will make sure to let our current stonesmiths know.  They will find the praise of a Dragon Rider a great thing, spurring them on to improve their skill.”

Giving a slight bow back, Kaen watched as the man tapped two runes and the door shimmered and then swung open, providing a small opening into the guildmaster’s office.

“Dragon Rider Kaen, I apologize for making you wait but I had a few things to attend to.  Please have a seat!” exclaimed a blond-haired dwarf who was probably a good four inches taller than most dwarves Kaen had ever seen.  His shoulders were massive and his beard glistened, letting him know the man had just oiled it before seeing him.

“Guild Master Galdin, I appreciate you taking the time to see me.  I must say your guild hall is a testament to the stonework of the dwarves.”

The man smiled and motioned to the stone chairs, each outfitted with cushions that mimicked the colors of gems.  Bright reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, and other cushions all turned a hard surface into an inviting place to rest.

Sitting down, Kaen watched as the guild master took a seat across from him.

“I would offer you a drink but word has reached me that you do not partake in most alcohol.”

Kaen noticed the gleam in the man's eyes and the slight smirk at the edge of his lip.

“That is true,” Kaen admitted as he settled down, shifting to get comfortable.  “I had a run-in with some Dragon’s Fire or Goblin’s Piss or whatever one might want to call it once.  Needless to say, it let me know quickly that I am not meant to drink alcohol.”

Galdin chuckled and nodded as he slowly stroked his beard.

“I have known grown dwarves who have thought themselves able to handle that drink and learn the folly of their beliefs.  Now tell me what can I do for you?”

Reaching into his tunic, Kaen pulled out the paper Elnidith had given him this morning and slid it across the stone table between them.

“I have a request for your guild hall, asking for assistance with a current need in Ebonmount.”

Nodding, Galdin picked up the paper and opened it.

His fingers tightened when he reached the part of the request that specifically asked for Elnidith and her warriors and families to come.  He could see the paper crinkle a little.

A faint grunt was made but Kaen’s hearing was better than many might not realize and he smiled when he heard it knowing that Galdin was going to have a hard time with this request.

“This is… a very specific and difficult request,” he finally declared as he folded the paper and put it back on the table between them.  “You know that the King might not want this to be approved?”

Nodding, Kaen intertwined his fingers together and rested them across his body as he tried to look relaxed.

“None of what we are dealing with right now is easy.  You know the problems Tanulivar will face in the coming years.  Allies are an important thing and we will need to work together if we hope to overcome the darkness that is threatening us all.”

A frown appeared on Galdin’s face and he stood up, moving around his chair and going to a stone shelf with a variety of cups and containers with drinks.  He poured some into a cup and paused, adding more to the cup before setting down the glass container on the shelf he had taken it from and quickly guzzled everything he had poured.

The cup was set down harder than Kaen figured Galdin had meant to as he turned around and came to sit back in his chair.  He closed his eyes, rubbing them with his thumbs as he sat quietly for a moment.

“I’ll come back to the request in a minute,” finally said as he opened his eyes.  “There is no offer of a reward here.  How would I prove there is a value for those who answer the call?”

Smiling, Kaen watched as Galdin took in every movement he made.

Leaning forward, he tapped his chest with his finger.

“I personally told Elnidith that we would give them land to live on and jobs for their people.  They would also be paid and opportunities would be given.  I however did not share yet that I would allow a portion of their children who desire to join the academy I have started to join, free of charge.”

His eyes widened at the mention of the academy.

“I have heard some things about your academy.  Tell me more.”

Almost half an hour later, Kaen could see the difference in Galdin’s face.  Perhaps it was the alcohol he had taken, but he would like to believe it was the things they had discussed.  The knowledge that there were opportunities for the dwarven children to attend his school and possibly earn a lifestone was huge.  Families would sign up just for that chance.   Getting a lifestone here was impossible unless one came from certain bloodlines or somehow earned it.

“You are a shrewd negotiator,” he finally admitted as Galdin watched Kaen sitting there quietly.  “There is no doubt you know what we need and want and have tailored your request to make turning it down difficult.  I could ask for more but we both know you are at the limits of what you can offer and promise.  We also both know what you are offering is far beyond what most people here would ever hope to attain.”

He paused, bending over, picking up the paper from the table again, and opened it again.

“I have heard of your exploits and how you have treated Marfo today.”

Kaen sat there, still like the two figures carved on the outside of the doors to this room.

Galdin gave in first, snorting and letting out a sigh.

“I will do everything in my power to make this work.  Knowing Elnidith has already signed off on this and desires it will make this easier.  It may take us half a year or more to relocate everyone.  I am assuming this won’t be an issue?”

Kaen shook his head no and grinned.

“I am honored and grateful for you to be our allies.  I understand the logistics of moving that many people and the necessary materials over a distance like this.  Just know that you need to be careful in the coming year.  I have seen people working from Luthaelia being involved in a variety of subterfuge and more.  I would not put it past them to try their best to sway others here or even attack you in your own homes.”

Galdin narrowed his eyes, sensing what Kaen was saying had something behind it.  He watched the young man across from him and noticed that Kaen gave no other hints.

“I take it by your silence that you are unwilling or unable to go into more detail?”

Leaning back in his chair, Kaen tapped his finger against his chin for a moment.

“It shouldn’t surprise me that word hasn’t reached here or perhaps Guild Master Herb did not share the findings of what happened in Ebonmount.  Are you saying you did not hear about the attempt on my life?”

A coughing fit replaced Galdin’s casual demeanor, and it took him a moment to get it resolved.

“Someone attacked you?” he gasped.  “When? How?”

Grunting, Kaen tapped his arm where the dagger had barely cut him.

“An assassin, most likely from the secret assassin guild that every guild master seems to know about, came after me.  He cut me with a blade covered in wyvern’s poison.”

“Yet you survived!”

Chuckling, Kaen nodded as Galdin realized how his statement sounded.

“I mean you survived of course,’ he muttered, “yet you do not look at all how one who typically gets poisoned by a wyvern does.”

“I owe most of that to Pammon and Lord Hurem,” Kaen stated. “It took a week basically for me to make it through and without them, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Galdin jerked on his beard a few times, apparently unaware as to how hard he was pulling it.

“I am grateful for your warning, then.  I will make sure to inform the King of what transpired.  After you leave, of course.”

“Speaking of the King,” Kaen said as he stood up.  “I need to go and prepare for my meeting with him later tonight.”

Rising from his chair, Galdin moved around the stone table and held out his hand to Kaen.

“It has been a pleasure and an honor, Dragon Rider Kaen.”

Shaking the man’s hand, Kaen gave a slight bow.

“The pleasure has been mine.”