Chapter 783: Talks (1/2)
Ilea decided to move her mantle out of her face at least. She already had enough people thinking she was some kind of ashen god being. Rocking up in an isolated Taleen city with a Fae on her shoulder and ashen wings on her back probably wasn’t the first impression she wanted to put forth.
Then again, I should probably not try to come off as some random adventurer either. But isn’t that what I am?
She assumed the wanderer title would be received in a somewhat neutral manner at least. Ilea decided not to activate Monstrous. Three marks would mean she was at least worth talking to, no matter how casual she behaved. She stopped in the middle of the small square and watched how the dwarves would react.
A group of them walked forward and down a broad flight of stairs, the leading three a history of generations. First a young dwarf with short black hair and a clean shaven face. She had a neutral expression on her face, green eyes taking her in. She was the tallest of them at around one meter forty, her shoulders broad with defined muscles visible on her bare arms. She wore a dark metal chest piece that had a slight blue sheen to it, dozens of runes etched into it in barely recognizable enchantments.
The middle one was slightly smaller but quite a bit broader, the dwarf wearing silver plate armor with a large hammer strapped to his back. His brown hair was long and braided, the braids in his even longer beard quite a bit more intricate however. He glanced at Ilea before looking up, a slight frown on his face.
The last one of the three had a gray beard braided into something that may or may not be alive itself. Ilea assumed he would get a title for that if he ever unlocked those. The hair on his head was full, gray in color too, thick eyebrows adding to the already shrouded and wrinkled face below, two black eyes taking her in.
[Machine Engineer – lvl 215]
[Paladin – lvl 228]
[Machine Engineer – lvl 262]
I suppose I might’ve gone overboard with the three marks, Ilea thought as she watched the others approach, an assortment of somewhat strange classes. Smiths, hammer masters, cooks, various mages, and enchanters.
“In the name of the Guild of the Makers, I greet you, Wanderer,” the gray haired dwarf spoke.
“We would prefer no Violence too,” the youngest one said, glancing at the Fae with slight interest.
The middle one wanted to say something when a sharp gesture from the gray haired one interrupted him. Another frown, but he did not speak.
“I’m Lilith. And I suppose you are the leaders of the Taleen?” she asked.
“What is your purpose here?” the middle one now said, to the obvious displeasure of the gray haired one. His voice didn’t sound hostile but similar to how a guard might address an unknown intruder to their town.
I guess they would be a little on edge, hmm. “My purpose. To meet the Taleen, I suppose. I don’t know if you noticed, but you weren’t really around up there for a few thousand years.”
The youngest looking one smiled.
“I am Ormont, Guild of the Makers, of the Taleen. May we ask what is happening to Io and its protectors?” the oldest one spoke.
Ilea could tell he was considering his words carefully, if only by his heartbeat, the tension in his muscles, and the intense look in his eyes. “I suppose. Are you familiar with the One without Form?” She sensed the reaction. Not on the old dwarf’s face but through everything else. He knew the name. As did the others. Very different reactions. Interesting.
The Fae giggled.
“We are familiar with the Guardian of the Taleen, yes,” Ormont spoke. Again his words were slow and deliberate.
“Guardian? Well… I suppose, kind of. You weren’t allowed to leave… as far as I understand?” Ilea said. Again, she noted the differing reactions. Oh this will be quite a bit more chaotic than Aki assumed. She smiled.
The young one now outright grinned, raising her brows as she glanced away from the Paladin.
“We remain here, protected by the One without Form, until the holy purpose is fulfilled,” the middle one said.
“Holy purpose being the slaughter of young Elves and everyone else that might go against the core directives?” Ilea asked. She heard him grind his teeth, but he was smart enough not to say or do anything else. If only because of her obvious power.
“Then, have the core directives been fulfilled or changed?” Ormont asked. His voice was almost shaking, though barely recognizably.
“The One without Form has been relieved of its position as the Guardian of Iz. You are free to do what you like, but there are plenty of options me or various allies could provide. If you’re willing to have a conversation,” Ilea said.
“Relieved… this is… nonsense. The Guardian will remain, until the holy purpose is fulfilled,” the Paladin spoke, his eyes glancing between Ilea and some of the other dwarves. There were a few in the back with similarly confused reactions. Some seemed relieved.
“Do you have proof of those words?” Ormont asked.
Ilea summoned a few of the keys and made them float in a circle before she put them back into her domain. “Is that proof enough? Or do you need to see all twelve of them?” She didn’t want to get Aki involved just yet.
“The keys…” the old dwarf murmured. “What… Wanderer, do you… and the new Guardian plan to do with Io and our people?”
Ilea felt genuine concern in his demeanor. The emotion was barely hidden now, the dwarf wrestling with various at the moment. “I’ll be honest, I learned about half an hour ago that the Taleen were still around. Io is your city of course. And otherwise I’m not sure. You can probably do whatever you want… of course I wouldn’t suggest going on an instant invasion or something.”
“That… you didn’t even know,” Ormont said. “We do not plan an invasion or any hostile actions towards you, the new Guardian, or any faction associated with either. I call for a vote of the Guilds. Raise your hand if in favor.”
Most of the present dwarves raised their hands.
“Forty three in favor,” one of them said aloud.
Ilea noted that there weren’t that many people present. She assumed some of them had different amounts of votes, though she didn’t know the total.
“The motion is passed,” Ormont spoke.
“This is unacceptable,” the Paladin spoke. “We cannot make such a decision with so little information. She is a human, talking about replacing the Guardian of our kind!”
“Watch your words, Joori,” Ormont hissed, anger and frustration quite obvious. A plead too perhaps.
“I’m happy to provide more information. Maybe in a more comfortable setting? I can see some of you are cooks,” Ilea said, nodding to a few people standing on the far back.
They seemed a little confused, one of them bowing lightly.
“The Guild of Cooks is honored to provide a feast for the Wanderer,” one of them spoke, a gray haired dwarf wearing an enchanted black apron. He smiled.
Ilea raised her brows, seeing the reaction from some of the others. Not used to having the cook speak up in this kind of setting? Well I suppose they didn’t have this kind of setting in a long while. Not that most of them look a day over three centuries.
“I’m always up for a feast. And I did smell some very interesting spices whilst flying down here. How’s your brewing?” Ilea asked.
“The finest in all of Elos,” the same dwarf said with perfect confidence.
Ilea grinned. “Sure. I’ll be happy to try. Feel free to add some poison if you want to spice things up.”
“I… am not too familiar with that kind of cooking, I’m afraid. But maybe we can try. An interesting challenge,” the dwarf murmured and tapped the dwarf standing next to him, starting to whisper something.
“There will be no poison in any food,” Ormont spoke, slight confusion in his words as he looked at Ilea. “Except of course, you specifically… request it.”
“It’s fine. I’m happy with any food,” Ilea said.
Weird, the Fae sent.
“What do you mean weird? You don’t even eat or understand the concept of food.”
Understand
Weird
“Shut it or there will be some violence after all,” Ilea sent, schooling her face when she noticed some of the dwarves staring at her with uncertainty.
Try
Ilea ignored the provocations. For now. She turned to the Fae and squinted her eyes.