As Herbert pointed out before, this was just a preliminary force. The other armies of the kingdom were getting ready to come. But I had a plan for that, as you can see, we had a POW, and one of royalty.
I had planned on negotiating the release of the two POWs in exchange for the troops backing off and the kingdom acknowledging us as a country. I didn’t care if the king respected me or not, but hopefully, the other southern states would go on to also acknowledge us after one of their most powerful people did.
The negotiations started with me writing a letter to the king of Noivern, a man named Bardardi Noivern. He was a former general of the army who had come into the royal family after marrying the former king’s daughter. By all accounts, he wasn’t very reasonable or smart. He relied on his ministers to get things done.
But I had not a shred of respect for a man arrogant enough to send Robert here with such a delegation. And to invade. Although we had not lost a single life, I was sure that the invaders would have done terrible things if they had successfully taken over anything, the Kingdom of Noivern’s military was all-male, and didn’t have a great human rights record.
My letter reflected my lack of respect. It was simple. If you want your son and minister back, back off and recognize us, if not then they’ll meet the same fate as your army, and any army you send shall too. The letter said everything in pure simplicity that even a four-year-old could understand. Sometimes I wondered how a studious person like Jamie could be related to someone like Robert.
My reply came swiftly. He was angry, the king wanted revenge. But I was glad he had intelligent enough ministers and advisors that knew I was serious. If they lost Alvis, their most powerful mage, and another prince to us it wouldn’t reflect well.
In the end, they decided to cut their losses and ask for them back, in exchange for the reparations that I demanded. I escorted Prince Robert out, and the king issued a declaration acknowledging our country as a legitimate state. After the other southern states heard, they followed suit.
All in all, the war was over. I had signed a treaty with Noivern and had some free time on my hands. I decided I wanted some exercise.
“I’m leaving,” I said, Razana and Traya stood in front of me. As my closest friends, I decided to tell them I was going on vacation first.
“But why? I want you to stay!” Razana said, tears forming.
Traya looked at me with a smile, “Well if you are leaving, do you mind one other joining the fray?”
“Sure,” I replied.
“W-wait! What about me? I wanna go. I must spend time with the princess!” Razana demanded.
“Razana….” Traya gave her a pitying look, “Her majesty is this country’s backbone, if she’s gone the only person, however sadly, that can pick up her work is you. Although only for a little while.”
“Oh, so I am the most capable? Wait… What do you mean however sadly? Are you insulting me?” Razana grew red-faced.
“Hey, hey. What Traya is saying is the truth, if I’m not here the prime minister needs to pick up my slack. Seeing as the prime minister is you… I’m sorry but you can’t go.” I said.
“Waaaaaah” Razana fell to her knees and cried.
“Well master, what about me? Might your most faithful servant accompany you?” Amber looked up from her perch on the couch. She was devouring a pot of stew.
I shook my head, “I need you to stay and protect the area. I don’t think anyone’s going to attack, but I want you to stay just in case.”
“As you wish master,” Amber went back to eating.
“Where are we going?” Traya asked.
“Well there’s the dwarf kingdom to the east of us, I thought to go there and perhaps find a few craftsmen and the like to immigrate over. We need more of them.”
Traya shook her head, “Oh, the princess, even when on vacation she’s working…”
“Hm?” I asked.
Traya blushed, “Nothing, it's just that I admire your work ethic Silvi.”
“Well then, we better get on with packing. We’ll be leaving tomorrow.”
Traya bowed her head while Razana started crying again and fell to the ground.
The next morning I had packed a knapsack and Traya a satchel. I had asked Herbert, who had gone to the Dwarf Kingdom before to accompany us.
“Good bye,” I told Razana, she was still crying and we were about to leave. The city gates stood imposingly as we passed through them.
“Your Majesty! I hope you have a good trip!” Razana cried.
I smiled, “I hope so too, hold down the fort while I'm gone.”
Razana bowed, “Of course Your Majesty, I won’t let you down!”
“Good, I believe in you,” I told her.
We saddled our horses and left.
Herbert maintained a good speed in front of us, occasionally slowing down to tell us something. We followed our roads to the border. The Mid Mountain range stood in front of us, slicing the continent in two. The dwarf kingdom stood at the center of the range, it had weathered various invasions with the rugged terrain and the dwarves' natural abilities around stone.
They were some of the best craftsmen in the world. I wanted to see if I could perhaps get a few of them to come back to the Principality. However, if this didn’t happen, I wanted to at least observe their work.
The dwarves’ capital, Armageddon stood sheltered between mountains. It was a fertile valley and the mountains were rich in minerals. We reached gates that led to the city, a large tunnel bore through the mountain. This was something truly amazing engineering. I could only gape as I passed under the mountain. The guard checked our identification, which was our guild cards. After making sure we had no criminal record, he let us through. It was the first time I saw a dwarf. He was short and stout, wearing iron all over his body. His gruff face and eyes stared deeply.
I entered the city and was greeted by a fascinating sight. Smokestacks littered the city as forges and blacksmiths hammered away. Tunnels branched off of the sides of mountains as mines. People lugged heavy materials around on carts and sometimes by hand. Dwarves were truly amazing.
“So where do you recommend you go?” I asked Herbert.
Herbert looked thoughtful for a few seconds. “I recommend a tavern, they’re the best place to find good information. Luckily I have an idea.”
I nodded, “We’ll follow you then.”
Herbert led me and Traya to a tavern called the Silver Drop. It was large and filled to the brim with Dwarves. Dwarves, as demi-humans often got discriminated (though not enslaved, the dwarven kingdom was strong, no country wanted them as an enemy) so I was wondering if any of them would be wary of our party.
As I expected, many of them narrowed their eyes on us. The Dwarven Kingdom refused entry to northerners, so they must have known we weren’t from there, but the south still discriminated, so I could understand.
Herbert went to the bartender, “Hey, I was wondering if you know any good craftsmen seeking employment.”
The bartender looked down at Herbert while he stood on a stool washing glasses. “Unemployed craftsmen huh? Sure, we got a fresh batch of new graduates out of trade school. All the established craftsmen all got apprentices so they’ll be glad to get work. Why are you asking?”
Traya stepped forward, bowing she said, “Master Dwarf, I am Traya Livella, we come on the behalf of the new nation of Tephit. We currently lack any skilled and educated artisans, we were wondering if any of them would travel back to our country with us and serve. We have a few experienced craftsmen but they lack the numbers for our projects to be completed. That’s why we are seeking your country's help.” She said this all formally and with respect.
The bartender looked impressed. “Livella huh?”
Traya smiled, “I have elf blood, yes, my family is from the elven isle.”
The bartender nodded in understanding, “If that’s the case, I heard you beat back the Noivern Bastards. We never liked them anyway, I’ll direct you to a friend of mine. He can probably help you.”
I walked with the others after receiving instructions. “Traya, I never knew you were elven.” Traya didn’t have the pointy ears, but she did have the looks and grace.
Traya blushed, “I don’t normally tell anyone, for you know why.”
I nodded, if they knew Traya was part elven they’d probably start to discriminate.”
“My family immigrated a long time ago to the southernmost kingdoms. I left the household to become a mage.”
Herbert laughed, “Elven huh? I can see it now!”
“By the way, where are you from Silvi? I would think you might have elven blood. You have such a high magical capacity, only an elf could handle that much.” Traya asked.
I never really discussed where I was from, I didn’t want the world god to find out I was from another world by observing the citizens here. “No, I don’t have elven blood, but I’m not exactly from the Mass of man either.”
“Not elven, maybe demonkin? That would explain how you got Amber to come so easily.”
I shook my head again, “where I'm from I was human, so I think of myself as one.”
“Oh, okay that’s cool with me.”
I was glad Traya didn’t press the issue.
We reached a small forge that the bartender directed us toward. Opening the door with a knock, Herbert called out, “Hello? Anyone home?”
“Hello? Who is this?” A gruff voice shouted. A dwarf showed himself. He had a long brown beard and a wrinkled face, behind him he had a younger-looking dwarf. They were dressed in aprons and gloves.
“We’re from the Principality of Tephit. A bartender named Marcus directed us here. Are you Aurelius?”
“Yes I am he, Marcus sent you huh, you must be worth my time. Do you say you're from that new country? What’s your business?”
I stepped forward, “Greetings, I am the crown princess of Tephit, Silvi Tephit, I was wondering if you would move to our country and help us with your crafting skills.”
“Huh? Royalty huh, and you're asking me to move.”
“Yes, if it's too much trouble please think nothing of it, I know it was unacceptable to just barge in and ask so much of you.”
“No no, I don’t mind. It's just that you might have a solution to one of my problems. But before we talk, I must ask you to keep this confidential.”
Traya raised her eyebrow, I shrugged. “We agree,” Traya said.
“Okay, follow me.”
He led us to his backyard. He opened a door that led to a basement. Grabbing a lantern he talked to us. “The kingdom of dwarves is a great place, we support the crafts so well. But there are things we do terribly as well. For a craftsman to go to trade school and become certified apprentices, they must come from a line of distinguished craftsmen, making an unknown dwarf hard to come into the business.”
Herbert nodded, “And?”
“Well, there are a great number of talented youngsters that don’t come from those lines, but they can’t ever get licensed.”
“If your country is looking for craftsmen, I can’t find no one better than them to take.”
Traya opened her eyes in understanding.
He knocked on a door at the bottom of the steps, “Please, come on out.” His assistant, who had followed us, stepped back and opened the door.
A young dwarf came out, he looked mature but only had a stubble, and behind him came out a young dwarven lady. “This is William and his sister Alice. They are the greatest craftsmen I have trained.”
“What’s this? Aurelius, who are these people?” William asked.
“They are from the principality, they wish to employ you.”
“Employ us? But we are your apprentices!”
“I know son, but you are never going to be able to get an official apprenticeship here, and these people's country is supposed to be free of prejudice, go there and make a future for yourself. Find those who will accept you.”
Wiliam’s eyes grew wide, he stared at us. “Is it true, you will treat me as your equal?”
I smiled, “Of course, I guarantee it.”
He looked at the ground, “It is true that I will never become Aurelius’s true apprentice, and if he agrees then I suppose it would be good to go with you. Will you be satisfied with a craftsman like me who had no family name to speak of?”
I smiled, “Why don’t you let your work talk?”
He nodded and led us into his workshop, “Take a look.”
Herbert picked up a sword, he tried an experimental slash. “Wow, this is perfectly balanced!”286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROGvELbwKS
Smiling, he turned to me, “It's good to work, I approve.”
“If Herbert approves then I do as well,” I said, “Please, master craftsman, come with us.”
“What of me?” Alice asked.
“Well, Aurelius says that you are a good worker as well, I would be honored to have you.”
She blushed, “In that case…”
Aurelius and his assistant smiled, “Will you go?” They asked.
William turned to them, “Yes we will, thank you, master, I shall never forget you.”
I and Traya smiled, but right when they were about to hug, a voice shouted, “Aurelius! what’s going on here?”
An armored dwarf barged in, seeing the workshop and Wiliam his eyes widened. “What’s this?”
Aurelius looked panicked, “Cato, what are you doing here?”
“Someone told me they heard noises down here, I came to investigate, and seeing this and him, I think I know what’s going on.”
“No! Friend, he’s not doing that anymore!”
“Regardless, it’s illegal for a dwarf to craft without a license or an apprenticeship. This man is obviously not either, you know the law as well as I do.”
Herbert, Traya, and I looked at each other, confused. “Sir, it’s okay, we were just discussing how they would…”
“It doesn’t matter human. This is a serious infringement. Something needs to be done, first of all, all dwarves in here come with me.”
Alice and the others hung their heads. The armored guard escorted them, it was unfortunate timing. I knew nothing could be done at that moment, but I wasn’t about to give up. The guard told me they’d be tried in front of the king soon. I wanted to wait for that trial to protect these new people I had met. The law was stupid, anyone should be allowed to pursue their craft, regardless of pedigree. Not only that but William created amazing weapons and trinkets. And based on what I saw in the workshop, Alice was a phenomenal engineer. I needed them286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLW3e9k1bH
