Chapter 65
Chapter 65
Max felt the world shift after having traveled to a planet he had forgotten about. Knowing the rules of the place, he immediately stepped off the platform he was on, spotting a bald gnome with spectacles looking ready to shout at him.
Moving to the side, he found a bald dwarf and a hairy goblin standing nearby, both wearing orange jumpsuits, talking about lunch choices.
“Excuse me,” Max said, holding out a card. “Where are the ones I need to check in with?”
“Bah, can’t you see we’re discussing important things!” the dwarf exclaimed. “Find your own way and bugger off!”
Shaking his head, Max ignored the glares both of them were giving him.
To your left, that dwarf over there is giving you the nasty look.
They all have a nasty look on their faces. Don’t any of them ever smile?
Max moved to where a pair of dwarves stood, each with a tight suit featuring metal frames that ran along the outer edges like seams.
“Bout time you got over here,” the dwarf said. “Now give me your paperwork and tell me why you’re here!” Max handed over the card, admiring the tri-colored beard. Even though he wasn’t a fan of the orange, green, and white combination, the dwarf did pull it off well.
“I’m here to collect a reward from Council Members Oleens and Raszu.”
“Uh–” the dwarf said, his throat catching as he stared at Max and quickly brought the card he had given near the tablet he held. All color vanished from the tanned dwarf’s skin, and Max moved quickly, catching the dwarf who had just fainted.
“Hey! What’s goin on over there!?” a goblin in a mechanical suit called out as it clanged its way over. “Do you know the penalty for assault?”
“He passed out,” Max replied, not flinching as another goblin joined the first; the pair looked quite impressive in their seven-foot-tall mech armor, as they had called it the last time. “I simply told him I was here to collect a reward from Council Members Oleens and Raszu. It was after that he passed out.”
Two pairs of bushy eyebrows rose on green skin as the duo of goblins glanced at each other and then at him.
“Who did you say you are?” the goblin asked.
“I didn’t, but I’m guessing if you scan the card this dwarf dropped it will tell you everything you need to know.”
A small crowd was gathering, and Max was certain there were a few dwarves and goblins making bets as coins exchanged hands after the pointing of fingers.
Max bent down, picked up his card, and held it out toward the goblin. “Go ahead. Scan it.”
The goblin grunted, his robotic fingers nimbling, taking the card from Max, and raised it to the mechanical chest. A display appeared before the goblin, and Max was almost certain this one might pass out too from the light shade of green his skin became.
“Oh… for… forgive me, honorable one!” the goblin stammered. “Please… this way. We have a room for one like you!”
Groans came from some of the onlookers as coins changed hands. Max nodded, following the goblin as his mech suit stomped across the metal floor.
This should be fun. Seems they haven’t forgotten us.
I would almost be insulted if they had.
***
The sound of a door sliding open made Max turn, his eyes landing on a familiar dwarf, even if the beard was colored different than the first time they had met.
“Max!” the dwarf shouted, coming toward him, a giant smile on his face, teeth appearing between a pink beard. “You’re back!”
“Fipple,” Max replied, standing and moving to meet and shake hands with the dwarf. “You look good! New beard color?”
“Bah, this old thing?” Fipple said, preening a little bit before winking. “It’s a perk of the new position. I’m enjoying the easy life. Got me a fancy office and may retire soon. It’s good to see you! Someone mentioned there was a commotion earlier, and when I saw your name pop up, I might have laughed so hard I needed a minute to breathe. Now, before I take you to the council hall, what are you really here for? Ready to destroy another compound?”
Pretending to be hurt, Max smiled. “Me? I’m as gentle as a baby… unless you take my bottle and then I get worked up. No, I’m here to collect on the reward I was promised for saving the planet and to ask for some help crafting something. I’m kind of in a time crunch.”
Fipple frowned for a moment, bobbing his head. “You always seem to be in a time crunch. But you humans usually are. Short lives and all. Do you want to tell me what you need before you stand in front of everyone else, so I can tell you if it’s possible or not?”
Max nodded since they were alone in the room. “I need to build a bomb, similar to the one that Nimyn built and I defused. Except I need it to be able to work against a void god.”
Fipple’s jaw opened, and the dwarf’s mouth moved, no words coming forth for a few seconds. “You… you want… to build… a bomb? But worse… than that other one?”
“I don’t know if I’d say worse, but I want to ask how your world keeps from being attacked. I suppose there are at least three gods who ensure that doesn’t happen. Surely, with all the technology your world possesses and the history of weapons you’ve built, you all must have something like that here.”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“I… I don’t know if our gods would even consider it,” Fipple said. “Even though they owe you… what you’re asking for is dangerous. I mean… we’re talking, destroying a whole system of planets, maybe more.”
Frowning, Max shook his head. “I believe there is a way, I just need to talk with someone who specializes in those kinds of things.”
A frown formed on Fipple’s beard and the dwarf sucked in his lower lip, chewing on the pink hair. “Maybe… we’ll see. By the way, you do realize it’s been almost a hundred years since you were here. Councilwoman Oleens is no longer with us, yet her name does carry weight if someone mentions her. You may need to prove yourself to the new Goblin Chairwoman. None of the ones who were in charge when you… saved us… are the same.”
“Well at least they remembered that I had been promised a reward,” Max replied. “I guess I don’t have a choice but to meet the new ones and see if they are willing to help me.”
“And you’re not going to vanish on me like last time suddenly, are you?” Fipple asked. “I don’t want to be responsible for you destroying buildings and homes again.”
“Me?” Max asked, pretending to be innocent. “I wouldn’t think about doing that again.”
***
This is the most ostentatious place I have ever seen. Tell me it must be a goblin thing.
I cannot guess what goblins do, yet the memory you carry of the goblin in the yellow tutu is enough to make me believe that perhaps it is a racial thing.
Max stood in a giant half-circle room. Nine stone thrones, each twelve feet tall, were set in groups of three. Two dwarves in flowing robes sat upon theirs, their boots dangling a few feet from the floor. One seat was empty, but a screen, where someone would sit, showed a third dwarf occasionally looking up before their eyes focused on something in the room they sat. Two of the gnome seats had screens, and only one gnome was present. The older-looking gnome stroked a red beard as his eyes rested on Max. The bright purple and pink robe he wore clashed with the choice of colors for his facial hair.
All three goblins were present. The three women wore robes with a variety of colors that almost made Max’s eyes hurt to look at, as the patterns seemed to swirl together. The only thing worse was the giant poster that hung above the throne, showcasing the three of them, each ten feet wide, with their winning smiles.
“What in the gods is that?” Max whispered to Fipple.
“The banners? Oh, they won this year’s wager, so they get to have ’em,” his dwarf escort replied. “Those are tame compared to the ones the gnomes had last year.”
“Tame?” Max said, eyeing the banners again.
“Oh, very much so,” Fipple stated. “Now then, give us a moment, and they should start soon.”
It appears we are not worthy of all their presence, though I wonder if some might be afraid to come here in person.
That would explain the four robotic warriors similar to the ones that escorted them last time we met some of the Council members. Still, I am curious what our reward is. Fipple said he had no idea.
He does seem excited, though. The way he talked about his job sounded like he was bored, and he was happy to be summoned, even if it was to assist you in all this.
One day I might get offended that helping me might be dangerous. I did save the world from a racist gnome. That should surely earn points for thousands of years.
A small door swung open off to the side, and a very tiny gnome entered the room. Max and the others watched as the older gnome slowly made their way toward him, plain grey robes swishing as he walked.
“That’s the speaker,” Fipple whispered. “He’s really old.”
“I’m not so old I can’t hear you talking about me,” the gnome snapped. “Now be silent or leave. This isn’t a place for you to talk.”
Max sensed Fipple straighten immediately, the dwarf standing like he was frozen and unable to bend.
“Max Hoste,” the older gnome said as it continued to draw close. “Your name is written down in a book that used to only contain the names of those who dwell here. Tell me, are you ready for your reward?”
Max waited until the older gnome got within about five feet and nodded. “I am. Though if I’m honest, I came for a different reason than the reward.”
A silver eyebrow rose as the tiny gnome looked up at Max. “A different reason? Do you seek to open trades? You should know that it isn’t possible, as you don’t have a portal system set up on your world. It appears you used a skill to reach us.”
Max heard the council members who were present shift in their seats, none of them saying a word yet.
“I do have a skill that allows me to travel between worlds,” Max said. “I chose to appear on the portal rather than elsewhere because I didn’t want to cause any problems like the last time I was here.”
“You destroyed a family line!” the gnome councilman shouted.
A small staff appeared in the older gnome’s hand, and he banged it once against the floor, the sound of it echoing around the room. Whoever had just spoken snapped their jaws shut, and every other councilmember present sat a little more upright in their chair.
I’m glad we’re both thinking the same thing.
Yes, it would appear that we have met the real power in this world.
Want to bet if he’s an emissary or god?
A laugh echoed inside Max’s head.
You sound like Sog used to. There is nothing we could bet besides bragging rights, and we both know you’d never admit to the others I was right.
“Forgive me,” Max said as he kneeled. “I’m just wondering. Are you the emissary for this world or one of the gods that protects it?”
A grin slowly appeared on the older gnome’s face. “It appears you’re smarter than I had given you credit for. My name is Nerdok. Come, let us go elsewhere to chat. These nine will be nothing but trouble if we stay here.”