Chapter Twenty-Two

"You know, I've only been to the Shiverpeaks once?" Coran said, his voice slightly awestruck. "It really is a beautiful and majestic place… and here I thought my childhood memory gave it more than it's due."

"Yeah… the majesty rather dies away when you're being ambushed by a legion of Stone Summit." Cynn huffed, shivering either through memory, the cold, or perhaps a little of both.

"Truly, such a racist and bigoted group, aren't they?" The young king remarked. "I'd find it amusing if they weren't so violent, but such is the course of the mind when one allows hatred and intolerance to govern one's thought, words, and actions."

"You said you knew much of Tyria's history…" Devona asked, "What led to such animosity? The Dwarves to a soul don't seem to want to discuss it."

"Then it's probably not my place to discuss it, either." Coran chided. "It actually is a source of shame for the Deldrimor, and they'd rather not have that shame become public knowledge. A momentary failing of their honor that they feel reflects poorly on all of them."

He paused bemusedly, then scratched his forehead, "But since I've already said all that, I suppose there is no harm to tell the rest of the story. The Stone Summitt emerged during the Guild Wars, as most of the ills of this continent seem to. Guilds from Kryta and Ascalon began accusing Deldrimor of allowing raiding guilds to disguise themselves as Dwarven merchant caravans."

"Of course, King Jalis Ironhammer denied the allegations, firstly because he had stated several times before that he wanted nothing to do with the Guild Wars, and secondly because such underhanded schemes ran contrary to the general dwarven code of honor."

"Well, as it turned out, King Ironhammer found out that such allegations were true. One of Jalis's generals, a Dagnar Stonepate, not only was helping to disguise such raiding parties in exchange for ridiculous sums of money, he was also even selling his soldiers to assist in such attacks."

"King Ironhammer's response was swift and decisive, mobilizing nearly his entire force to crush Dagnar and his renegade army. At about that same time, Dagnar had been promised by his human partners assistance in case this very assault came to pass. Sslani suspects that these same guilds promised to help Dagnar in a coup of Deldimor as well, but in my mind, that's largely irrelevant, as the human aid never came to begin with."

Coran paused to admire the scenery outside the carriage, before finishing, "Thus, the hatred of both humans and dwarves was born when Dagnar and the remnants of his army survived the attack. It wasn't much for Stonepate to draw in more numbers, as many dwarves were angered by the humans due to the Guild Wars themselves, and with that, the Stone Summit was born and began to flourish. For the Dwarves of Deldrimor, they find Dagnar's actions to reflect heinously on dwarven kind as a whole, as per their concept of 'collective honor' among their kind."

"How did you learn all this stuff in only five years?" Devona asked in amazement.

"Firstly, you'd be amazed how much you can learn when you do nothing but learning for such a period of time." He replied candidly, "Secondly, the Forgotten Academy utilized means of quantum manipulation that not even I understand at more than an elementary level that made the passing of time itself somewhat arbitrary."

Yuu sighed, and said disparagingly, "There you go again, Coran. In other words, we can't ever possibly hope to understand, so don't bother to try and don't lose any sleep over the issue. It is entirely beyond any of us mere mortals."

"I was trying not to sound condescending, my friend." Coran chastised gently.

"I don't see why you keep bothering with how other people view you. It's such a tiring and pointless endeavor." The assassin huffed unrepentantly.

"Well, since perception is often half of a king's effectiveness, if not more, I am rather bound to appear good and proper and sound in all things in order to actually get anything of consequence done. It is a necessary evil, to be sure."

Yuu's dismissive grunt spoke volumes as to how she felt about that.

At that point, the rough pass of the Southern Shiverpeaks began to smooth into the well-maintained main road leading up to Thunderhead Keep. "I honestly wonder how you fellows managed to hoof this journey, and indeed along the width and breath of this continent."

Devona actually had to agree. She felt… stiff and sore. "Perhaps walking about made the trip more bearable… or more likely than not, our minds were on other things than the travel. At any rate, one thing that isn't different is that I am grateful to Dwayna we have reached our destination… and without any Stone Summit interference."

Those sentiments were roundly seconded.

Cynn smirked, then said, "You know, Coran… your brother promised us a round of Dwarven Ale when we came to the Shiverpeaks with him."

Aidan's eyes gleamed slightly, "Yes, and while unfortunate circumstances prevented him from making good on his promise, I do believe the burden now falls on you."

The young king smiled in amusement, and said, "I suppose I must, shouldn't I? It is good form, after all."

Yuu then interjected, her voice unusually teasing, "I suppose your good friend who has been your shielding hand for two years isn't worthy of such reward then?"

"That is separate debt, but one that can be partially paid as well." Coran laughed. "I suspect King Ironhammer will know of several wonderful establishments in which to sample his kind's unique brews."

"Ah, King Coran, you are early!" King Jalis Ironhammer declared as the caravan started to disembark, "A more pleasant surprise there is not!"

"Well, I would be concerned that you are so easy to please, but I suspect you've survived long enough for my worries to be unfounded." Coran answered, smiling brightly.

"Allow me to extend condolences on the deaths of your brother and father. Your father's valiance was legendary, and I saw your brother's courage and honor first hand."

"They did honor to my family name, as your brother did yours. The Deldrimor are all greater in the eyes of the gods due to him."

"Gracious of you to say, but I suspect your friends would rather we continue our banter out of the cold." Ironhammer gestured towards the central fort overlooking the city outside of the keep. "Fortunately, chambers were just prepared for all of you… and once Queen Salma and her entourage arrive, the summit can start."

"When are they due?" Devona queried.

"Not for another day at least."

"Then, may I be momentarily excused. I wish to visit Marhan's Grotto and have some new armor crafted for me."

King Ironhammer nodded. "Better craftsmen I do not know, but be wary, for they ask a king's ransom."

"Fifteen platinum? Are you insane?" Devona howled.

"For the hauberk." Karl, the armorer, replied gruffly, his arms crossed defiantly.

"For one piece? Fifteen platinum? I can find armor just as good at Droknar's."

"If you want generic crap, then you're welcome to go there." Karl snapped back, his tone suggesting his price was not negotiable. "My armors are beautiful as well as functional and unique with greater detail and dedication."

"For that price, it should open a portal directly to the Hall of Heroes." Devona fumed.

"That's my price, take it or leave it."

Coran's voice cut in, "When Jalis mentioned a king's ransom he truly was not kidding, was he?"

"It's outrageous. I'll just go to Droknar's."

"You'd miss the opening of the summit, plus I do feel you deserve something truly special. Fear not, I can cover the purchase."

"I could not ask such a thing of you." Devona declined.

"Why not? Does the bondmate of the King of Ascalon not deserve a few perks?"

Devona flushed, worried that the eyes of the denizens of the Grotto were starting to turn their way. Of course, she held such attention from the moment her argument with the crafter began… but she hadn't been self-conscious at that point.

"We've been over this, your highness…" Devona whispered meekly, "Please let's not make a scene."

Coran looked momentarily hurt, but said, "Then fine, allow me to get this for you as a friend. Or are we no longer friends either?"

That struck a nerve, and at that point, Devona knew she couldn't refuse. Grenth take him, why did he have to make things so damned complicated?

"Fine… as a friend."

Coran grinned as if we had won a small victory. "Have a messenger speak with King Ironhammer, and he'll arrange for a release of the coffers, dear sir." He said to Karl. "Now, when can we expect the finished product?"

Karl snorted. "I am prompt and quick as well as precise and flawless in my craft. If your 'friend' wants a full set, I will have it ready to her specifications by the next morning."

"That will be more than acceptable. Have your messenger send the product as he speaks to King Ironhammer." Coran said.

"Will do, King Coran." Karl replied, suddenly cheery. "Oh, and by the way, missy, I recommend you give your 'friend' a night he will never forget for this gift."

Devona's eyes bulged, and for a moment, she was about to charge the dwarf in indignant fury, but Coran's hands on her shoulders calmed her enough to decompress. Still, she made her displeasure clear with her heavy, angered steps on the icy floor of the grotto as she was escorted out…