Author's Preface
The next morning, Samuel had gathered all the knights in front of him. Ryan and Thirty-Seven stood alongside his aunt, who was behind him.
"First, let me give you my thanks. You fought bravely to protect me, and I will repay this debt tenfold when we return to Elyndor. Second, as my personal knights, I am ordering you all to never speak of what you saw from Mr. Kade last night. If you speak of it to anyone outside this circle, I will take it as a betrayal of the crown, and I will personally execute you."
"Yes, Prince," the knights rang out in unison.
Behind him, Ryan's jaw hung open. Thirty-Seven reached over and pushed it back up into place.
"You... you didn't have to do that," Ryan said.
"I did, though. You wear that mask for a reason, right? I would hate to betray your trust after you saved us." Samuel put a hand on Ryan's shoulder and stepped into his carriage.
The knight captain roared, "Mount up! Today we push to the capital of Thordin."
Ryan stepped into the carriage. "Thordin. Home of the dwarves. I hope the dwarves don't let me down. So far, nothing is like the comics and animes," he thought to himself as he sat across from the prince.
As the convoy reached the inner kingdom of Thordin, Samuel leaned forward. "Have you ever been to Thordin, Kade?"
"I haven't."
"I think you'll enjoy it."
Ryan leaned forward. "Do they live in caves carved into the mountains?"
"Some do."
Ryan's eyes widened. "Do they craft crazy powerful weapons?"
"They are known as the best blacksmiths in existence. They serve the god of the forge."
Drool ran down Ryan's mouth as he grabbed Samuel's shoulders and shook him slightly. Thirty-Seven reached under his arm with a cloth and wiped the drool off his chin. Ryan ignored her and continued.
"Beer, do they drink absurd amounts of alcohol?"
Samuel nodded.
Ryan leaned back. "Finally, something that makes sense in this fucking world."
The convoy entered the gates of the capital city. Samuel looked at Ryan. "Welcome to Kharum'vor. The Eternal Forge. Capital of Thordin."
Ryan looked out the window. Three to four-foot tall dwarves lined the streets, each with a big, long, thick beard. Each looked like a grumpy old sergeant major. Blacksmiths existed as far as the eye could see. Black smoke from their stacks filled the air. A few dwarves gave the knights ugly looks and cursed them. Dwarves and elves were friendly, but dwarves and elves historically hated each other.
Ryan looked on like a kid in a candy store. "Real-life dwarves, just as I imagined."
Ryan sat back on the seat and sighed.
Samuel chuckled. "You know, sometimes you act as old as my father. Other times you act the same as my younger sibling. We will arrive at the castle shortly." Samuel tossed him a bag of money. "Go buy yourself some equipment and have a look around. I have a meeting I must attend to."
Ryan snapped his fingers as Bubba appeared. Bubba sat between Ryan and Thirty-Seven. He doubled over as he barely fit in the carriage. Bubba looked at Ryan. "Protect small annoying pointy-eared creature?"
Ryan looked at Samuel, who was clearly annoyed. "He didn't learn that from me." Ryan turned to Bubba. "Yes, protect the prince."
"Pointy-eared creature will be protected." Bubba winked at Samuel.
Ryan snapped his fingers again. Bubba turned to smoke and rested inside Samuel's shadow.
"A trick I learned I could do a few months back. If I'm going to go sightseeing, I would be more comfortable if Bubba was with you just in case."
"I'm not sure if I should be happy about that or concerned. And just so you know, I am only a half-elf. So half pointy-eared creature would be better."
Samuel laughed as the carriage came to a stop. The carriage door opened as a dwarf stood outside.
"Dear Samuel, how are you, my boy?"
"King Korrim, I didn't expect you!" Samuel said as he stepped out of the carriage.
"I had to come greet my favorite elf personally. Prince Haldrek is waiting for you inside."
"Let me introduce you to a few people before I head in. You already know my aunt."
Samuel's aunt stepped outside and towered over the king with a rude expression on her face.
"Still as menacing as ever, you old witch."
"At least I've grown, you overgrown child."
Samuel sighed and shook his head. "And these two are from the guild. Nyx assigned them as guards. That is Kade. The other is Thirty-Seven."
Ryan stood there staring at the dwarven king, eyes wide and unable to speak, yet a small grin adorned his face. Thirty-Seven punched him in the arm.
Ryan cleared his throat and bowed. "It is a pleasure to meet you, King."
Korrim waved his hands at Ryan. "We aren't pretentious elves." He stared at Samuel's aunt. "We don't bow."
Korrim approached Thirty-Seven and stuck out his hand to grab hers. "The infamous Thirty-Seven. I finally get to meet you! Welcome, welcome."
Samuel looked at Ryan. "Kade, please enjoy the capital, and do not cause any trouble, please."
Ryan put a hand to his chest and gasped. "You think so lowly of me, Prince. I would never!"
"Uh-huh." Samuel rolled his eyes and chuckled. He turned and walked with his aunt and King Korrim into the palace.
Ryan turned and looked at Thirty-Seven sideways.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing."
"You're staring."
"Apparently you're infamous."
"Apparently."
"You going to elaborate?"
"No."
Ryan sighed. "Of fucking course not."
Ryan smiled as he rubbed his hands together. "Time to live out a dream and go get drunk with some dwarves!"
Thirty-Seven followed Ryan down the cobble road until he reached what he could only assume was a tavern. Dwarves filed out, stumbling with liquid all over their beards. Ryan smiled wide and made a beeline for the entrance. Thirty-Seven sighed and quickly followed.
Ryan sat at the bar and waited patiently for the barkeep. Thirty-Seven tugged on his arm. "Maybe you shouldn't."
"Why not?"
"You're fifteen. Have you ever drank before?"
Ryan thought to himself. "Woman, I've been drinking longer than you've been alive." He looked at her and winked. "It will be okay."
The barkeep walked over to Ryan. He leaned over the counter and pulled Ryan's hair back. "Oh, a man. We don't see many of you around here. What can I get you?"
"Your strongest mead."
"A strong-willed man. And for the lady?"
"Same as him."
"Coming right up."
The barkeep brought over two pints of their strongest mead. Ryan grabbed the cup and lifted it to his mask. A small opening appeared by his mouth as Ryan took a big gulp. "Ahhh, that hits the spot."
The barkeep stared at Ryan for a moment, then signaled for others to come over. The barkeep looked at Ryan. "Take another drink."
Ryan obliged.
One of the dwarves leaned on the counter beside him, examining his mask. "How the hell did you do that?"
Ryan shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Ask her." Ryan pointed at Thirty-Seven.
One of the dwarves grabbed Thirty-Seven by the sleeve. "Is it spatial magic?"
"I don't know."
"Transmutation?"
"I don't know."
"Does the opening like, physically exist and is hidden, or does the enchantment temporarily alter the material?"
"I don't know."
Another dwarf shoved his way through the others. "Let me see the runes!"
"There are no runes." Thirty-Seven said as she took a drink of her mead.
The dwarf froze. The tavern went silent. Ryan slowly lowered his mug. Every dwarf surrounding Thirty-Seven stared at her.
One whispered, "No runes?"
Thirty-Seven looked around at them. "Correct."
"WHO MADE THE FUCKING MASK LADY?"
Thirty-Seven pointed at Ryan.
Ryan nearly spit his mead through the opening. "What the fuck! I didn't make it!"
"Then who did?" the barkeep demanded.
"I don't know. I assume some elf."
A dozen dwarves groaned at once.
Ryan laughed and lifted his mug. "God, I fucking love this kingdom."
A dwarf beside him slammed his mug against Ryan's. Mead splashed across the counter. "And Thordin loves you, masked bastard!"
"ANOTHER!"
The tavern erupted.
Thirty-Seven slowly sat back down beside Ryan as another mug was shoved into his hands.
"You have had six," she said.
Ryan looked down at the mug. Then at her. "So?"
"You're fifteen."
"Physically yes."
"Your physical liver is fifteen."
Ryan stared at her for several seconds. "Why do you always ruin everything?"
Thirty-Seven picked up her own mug and finished the entire thing without breaking eye contact.
Ryan's shoulders dropped. "Oh, whatever, show-off."
For the first time all night, the corner of Thirty-Seven's mouth lifted.
Ryan pointed at her. "I saw that."
Her expression immediately went flat. "Saw what?"
"You smiled."
"No, I didn't."
"You fucking smiled!"
Thirty-Seven stood from the bar. "You are drunk."
"I'm not drunk!"
Ryan stood. The room shifted sideways. Ryan grabbed the counter. Thirty-Seven stared at him.
Ryan stared back. "The building moved."
"The building did not move."
"We're in a mountain. Could've been an earthquake."
"We aren't in a mountain."
Ryan looked around. "Oh."
Thirty-Seven grabbed the back of his cloak before he could fall over.
A dwarf raised his mug. "THE MASKED MAN CAN'T HOLD HIS MEAD!"
The tavern exploded with laughter. Ryan ripped himself free from Thirty-Seven and pointed at the dwarf.
"You shut your fucking mouth. Give me another."
Thirty-Seven grabbed his wrist. "No."
Ryan looked down at her hand. Then slowly looked up at her. "Thirty-Seven."
"Mr. Kade."
"I am your superior."
"No, you aren't."
"I'm technically protecting a prince."
"So am I."
Ryan opened his mouth. Nothing came out.
Thirty-Seven nodded. "Exactly."
Ryan slumped back onto the stool.
"I liked you better when you didn't talk."
"We can agree on something then."
Ryan's eyes glossed over as he opened his mouth to talk, but his head hit the bar with a loud thud.
"Tch. Pathetic." Thirty-Seven lifted her hand toward the barkeep. "Another."