Ryan asked, “Are these the same dwarves of Hamarven?”
“No. We are too far north, and if their territory spread all this way, Harmarven could claim the entire mountain range. But the dwarves in one place are much the same as another for not sharing. They are good-natured and came to the rescue of Valegis during a troll attack long ago. There has been an alliance ever since, with agreements on where the town can mine, and how deep, in exchange for dwarven help with safety, gem cutting, even tunneling. Valegis is where the dwarves barter with much of the outside world, so it is a trading town. We will find many dwarves there. This may reassure you we have little to fear. Still, the guards will be surprised to see Andier and I approaching on foot.”
Matt asked, “Do you need a good story to get into town? Or to see the leader? Do we know his attitude?”
“I do not know who it is. I am trusting our Silver-Tongued Rogue to get us where we need to be.”
Everyone looked at Eric and he admitted, “I will have to improvise. The big question we need an answer for is where did we come from? Why are two apparent humans walking around in the mountains?”
“Speaking of that,” began Anna, turning to the dragon, “your appearance when you look like a human is pretty striking. Do you have control over that? I knew when I first saw you that you probably weren’t human despite your shape.”
Jolian nodded. “Yes. That is how I choose to look, but I will choose something more appropriate.”
Eric gave Anna an approving look and turned his thoughts to what to tell the guards. If he and Jolian lied to get past them, and that became obvious while talking to the mayor, or whatever his title was, that could prevent cooperation. But what of the truth could they say? Talking about the Orbs of Dominion might not work if people didn’t believe they were real. Remote mountain town guards might not have heard of them at all. But being on a mission from King Orin of Minari would get their attention and likely get them an audience quickly. But what mission could they admit? Maybe he refused to say it to anyone but the mayor. That might work.
But why would anyone believe them? He couldn’t even claim to be Andier of Roir, one of the Ellorian Champions. For all he knew, this town thought the champions were still missing, and no announcement of a quest went out because King Orin was enthralled and would have interfered, so no one would expect this. That truth would not pass the smell test. Besides, with only himself present, being one of the champions was hardly convincing. How often did the real champions go around alone? He imagined saying his title and getting a snide response that the guard was really the King of Gisla.
And Andier was a known smooth talker not known for honesty. Admitting to their identities didn’t seem like a good move, or at least, not to some guard at the gates. Jolian could prove she was a dragon and impress upon them that something serious was afoot as a result, but that would just get them shot with arrows.
But he had an idea the others agreed to, and with time precious, he helped Ryan carry Brazin into the mouth of the tunnel to Kirii Cave so everyone could stay out of sight while he and Jolian were gone. Eric walked up the dragon’s red wing and sat on her spine again. Scattered leaves and dirt filled the air as she lifted off. He felt like he was getting used to this, but he didn’t have long for this ride.
Valegis was hours away by foot, partly due to steep and challenging terrain, but they were near within a few minutes, Jolian flying low so that no one from the town saw them. She also didn’t fly directly at it, but toward a wilderness area suspected to have fewer witnesses. For their story to hold up, they could only approach on foot from one direction—that of Kirii Cave—and this limited their landing options to that side of town. She glided between the peaks, just above the trees, and finally touched down with surprisingly little sound halfway up a mountain. Then she crouched down behind the trees and transformed to humanoid to get out of sight, hopefully no one witnessing the change.
Jolian looked more human this time, her red hair in a tight ponytail and less fiery. Looser, black leather that seemed functional, worn, and used had replaced the sleek, form-fitting red, her boots appearing scuffed. She gave the impression of a well-paid and skilled warrior who could pass for someone on a mission from a king. She took Novir’s sword from him to complete her disguise.
“There isn’t much of a path from Valegis toward Kirii Cave,” Jolian observed, “but it is there. The town is around the next mountain over. I did not think getting closer in the air was wise. We should move quickly.”
“At a run.”
“Agreed.”
They carefully ran across the bare earth, where small stones and boulders jutted up. The pine trees were sparse enough that they did not need a trail. Eric kept alert for signs of trouble, which could have just been animals, not ogres, trolls, and similar threats, but the way became more dangerous once they reached the way toward Valegis simply because traffic, however rare, might be expected there. It was just wide enough for one person. As they went, they sometimes had to walk because a rising cliff wall or boulder obscured the sight of any trouble ahead. Even when they could see for fifty yards
