157 Chapter 154 Meeting The Dwarves (1/2)
(I'M GLAD TO GET AWAY FROM THAT.)
'You seemed rather uncomfortable around her.'
(MY POWERS, WHEN NOT AFFECTING MY HOST, OR WORKING FOR MY HOST, ARE VERY LIMITED.)
'Ah,' thought Joseph, glancing down at the dwarven stronghold below them.
”Hmm. Cool! They are using an active volcano for a smelter and furnace,” he said impressed.
”It can't be that safe though. Fourteen dwarves are coming from around the cliff to our left.”
”Ah, thanks Stella.”
They watched as the stocky forms of the dwarves came into view. The stories always said they were short, but Joseph didn't think they were that short. They were still over five foot and built like bricks.
(BE CAREFUL! DWARVEN MUSCLE TISSUE IS ABOUT 40% DENSER THAN HUMAN MUSCLE TISSUE, AND ABOUT 210% AS STRONG.)
'Seriously, system? Those guys look like they live at a gym.'
(THEY ALSO HAVE APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES THE AVERAGE TESTOSTERONE OF HUMANS, MAKING THEM MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE. ALSO, THE TWO IN FRONT ARE WOMEN.)
'Wow.'
Stella and Joseph stared at them as they approached.
”Why are a human and an elf in our mountains?”
”How did you get past the patrols this far?”
”GRRR!”
Apparently, the two in front hadn't decided on a pecking order yet.
”They called you an elf,” Joseph said to Stella, since she didn't understand the language.
”I am no elf!” she declared, imperiously.
Joseph couldn't help but snicker. Her stance was good, and the threat was definitely there, but she twitched her nose like a bunny at the end. She glanced at him and sighed, because she knew why he snickered.
”Only you aren't terrified of that, Joseph.”
The dwarves had grown quiet while they talked, obviously not understanding them.
”Fine, it's my turn,” said Joseph, turning to the dwarves.
He stepped forward and grinned maliciously with his gold and blue eyes, while his shadow lifted off the ground with red and green eyes. The ground all around him began to glow as he cycled the mana through life and death. He could control out to thirty feet now, and took advantage of that.
”I am much more than human,” he said in a low rumble, as if he were speaking the origin words in the dragon language. ”Take us to your leader.”
Stella had been listening in, through his thoughts, and had to cough, but didn't laugh.
”You'll never take us alive!”
”Protect the King!”
”For honor!”
The dwarves shouted and hefted their weapons, ready to charge them.
”I also have ale,” he said, the magic display went back to normal and he smiled.
”Well in that case…”
”Welcome!”
”Show us first…”
Joseph turned to Stella, actually amused at their quick turnaround, and said, ”Stella, please show them some of the ale I made.”
She sighed, then pulled out a cask. It was one of his experiments while they were in time out. ESSENTIAL WATER subjected to the WATER TO WINE spell. He could barely stand it, but Stella liked to sip a gla.s.s every now and then.
”OK, but they only get to sniff it. Get closer before I uncork it.”
As Joseph repeated her words, the dwarves hurried over. As they waited excitedly for her to remove the lid, Joseph suddenly wondered if she knew how to make it herself.
”Stella, have you ever made wine, before?”
”Oh, no, but we sure drank a lot of it at victory celebrations, and I was the champion after all. I know a few things about it, but you can just create it instantly, so I never bothered.”
One of the dwarves went to reach in with the cup on his belt, and Stella slapped his hand.
Joseph sighed. This was going to be a long visit if he had to be the go between the entire stay.
GIFT OF TONGUES.