Chapter 93
Chapter 93
Fowl stood beside Batrire as they watched another group enter the tower.
“That’s the third one today,” he said. “It appears that our kind has had a fire lit within them to push beyond what they thought was possible.”
“Aye,” Batrire replied, nodding. “Kurrar’s success has prompted many to work harder. So what is it you’re thinking in that large head of yours? I can see the smoke coming out of your ears.”
Fowl grunted and ignored her teasing.
Max and Jazzjak are right. It’s time to strike while the metal is hot and our people are focused on what is possible.
“We once talked about forming a school for our people that focuses on training for the tower. Not like a faction but an academy. I think now is the time.”
He watched his wife study him. Her face was expressionless, something he wasn’t sure if she intentionally did to frustrate him or just her normal resting face. After a moment, she stroked her oiled beard and nodded.
“The idea is a good one,” Batrire stated. “I think we should make it happen. Do you already have an idea of where you want to put it?” Fowl grinned and summoned a table, setting it in the stone near the tower, and then pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper. Unfurling it revealed a dragon’s eye view of their capital.
“I was thinking here,” he said, tapping a section of the capital to the north east, “would be the best spot. Water is easy to divert there, and we would have close proximity to a few dungeon portals of various levels. The stone there is good and we could build dorms, kitchens and training areas without any problems.”
“And who would be supporting this endeavor?” Batrire asked.
“In the beginning, it would be our gift as well as from their King and Queen. After a few years, it would be up to Korrun and Melgret to determine if the kingdom will cover the cost or require something from those who enroll.”
Fowl waited for a reply, watching her chew on her bottom lip for a few seconds, studying the area on the map he had pointed to.
“Was this all your idea, or did you get help?” she asked.
“Does it matter?” Fowl replied with a grin. Seeing her eyes narrow, he sighed. “Fine… I ran it by Korrun, Melgret, and Jazzjak. They all felt it would be a fantastic idea.”
“And when were you doing all this?” Batrire inquired.
“While you were training with Max,” Fowl said. “I didn’t sit around doing nothing while you were gone.”
Batrire grunted and shook her head a couple of times before smiling. “You lied to me… when I asked what you did after returning from being tortured by Max, you said nothing.”
Grinning, Fowl shrugged and then started to roll the map up. “What? Can’t I have some secrets?”
She leaned close and grabbed his beard, keeping him from finishing the task he had just started. “Fowl Hammerfall, I love you.”
“I know, woman, but don’t do that here… the guards are watching.”
Batrire turned and saw the pair outside the tower, suddenly looking anywhere but the spot she and Fowl were at. “Bah, let them watch. I don’t care.”
***
Fowl motioned to Max to shift the wall of stone he had created slightly to the right.
“There! That’s it!” he shouted.
“We’re moving faster than I expected,” Melgret said as she glanced at the plans Fowl had on a clipboard. “You didn’t tell us that we’d be getting help like this.”
“He kind of owes me,” Fowl said, motioning at Max with a finger. “Besides, he likes to show off and I think he’s enjoying this more than I expected he would.”
Turning his full attention back to the design before him, Fowl mentally checked off the things they needed to do.
The dorms are complete and just need finishing on the inside… We’ll be done with the training area by tonight. That just leaves the classrooms.
“You sure that’s the right spot?” Max called out after jogging toward them. “I was certain I had it set at the angle you said.”
Looking up from his notes, Fowl noticed the grin on his half-brother’s lips. “Bah, you’re lying and we both know it. If I felt like being mean, I’d accuse you of doing that on purpose to see if I’d notice.”
Max shrugged and kept that stupid grin he always had. “Maybe, but I’m glad to see you’re able to do more than just absorb blows. Besides, I really like what you’re doing here.”
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Fowl felt a sense of pride in his chest. He didn’t mention it out loud, but the fact that Max wanted to be a part of this and one day mimic it felt like he had done something right.
“Just remember your promise. I get a hundred years at least before you go and try building something like this.”
Max nodded and summoned his own clipboard. “So we have what, two main walls left and then a few smaller sections? How long till the stone arrives?”
Fowl turned and studied the carts that continued to flow in and out of the area the academy would be built. Like ants, they formed a line, winding toward the cliffs where stone was being cut from the mountain.
“Probably in a few hours we’ll have enough for the second wall and a couple after that we’ll be able to get the last one,” Fowl replied. “Some of my people were a bit saddened at first that they wouldn’t get to place every stone by hand but when they saw how easily you used the stone they provided, I think most understood the reason for letting you do it.”
“I’m not doing all the work,” Max replied, pointing at a few dwarves who were shaping some stone. “Those five are also doing work.”
Laughing, Fowl shook his head. “Bah, we both know they’ve done less than a percent of what you have. It takes them forever to regenerate their mana after forming something. You just keep on going. Still, it’s been a good experience for all of them.”
Three sharp whistles came and Fowl turned to see a line of carts coming from a different direction. Each of them was filled with stone and ore from Sog’s kingdom.
“It appears you’ve got everything you need from the others,” Max said. “Cordellia’s wood should be here soon enough. You never told me how much all this is going to cost you.”
“That’s because my wife doesn’t want me to discuss kingdom politics ,” Fowl muttered. “She let Korrun handle all of the negotiations.” A cough came from behind him and he turned to see the Queen of the dwarves smiling.
“Ah… forgive me,” Fowl said. “I didn’t mean any disrespect.”
She smiled and shook her head. “I wouldn’t be foolish enough to argue with a god. Besides, I think my husband has enjoyed getting a chance to negotiate like this. I’ve seen the numbers and feel he did fine. For so long we’ve been very generous, as have the other kingdoms, with our trades. Eventually, it will change but right now we’re laying the foundation of how things might proceed long after we are gone.”
“Do you really think about when that might be?” Max asked.
Fowl watched as the Queen nodded, never backing down when Max spoke to her.
“I do. I know that humans often see time differently,” Melgret said. “Many who were here when our world began, of your kind, have already passed. While some still have another fifty years before they will be laid to rest, our people have hundreds of years or more. Memories fade and promises made will be forgotten. All we can do is strive to build upon the framework you and the other gods have created to try and keep peace between the races as long as possible.”
Fowl heard some of the thoughts Batrire occasionally in the words Melgret spoke.
“It’s true,” he said, turning his attention to Max. “Both Batrire and I have spent many nights speaking with Melgret and Korrun on how we want our people to be ruled. I think the model that Ockrim gave us and the way that we lived was a good one. Family and people handle the little things while the royalty deals with the big ones.”
“I agree,” Max replied. “I’ve watched Edward and Lanyra handle our people like yours. Even though I’m only half dwarf, I’ve tried to instill the importance of family.”
“You’re only half-dwarf because you don’t have a beard,” Fowl teased. “Now, let’s get ready for this next load of stone. I want to have this spot finished and opened before the rains begin in a month.”
Max came and gently punched him on the arm. “Don’t worry about that,” he stated. “The way your people work, you’ll be done in a week.”
***
Fowl squeezed Batrires' hand as they stood in the courtyard that led to the main building of the academy. Black stone from Sog’s kingdom had been used for the classroom and administration area. Its natural durability would handle and potential mishaps that might take place in some of the labs and stood out from the normal brown or tan stone that came from the mountain.
“We did it,” he whispered.
“No, you did it,” Batrire said. “I’ve watched you work nonstop since we started. I’m proud of you.”
“Ahh, don’t make me cry,” he teased, pretending to wipe a tear away. “I’m excited for next week when the official opening of this place happens.”
Together they walked through the doors, nodding and acknowledging the workers who were adding final details to the stone. Every crafter who was skilled with stone carving came and made their mark, knowing it would stand for thousands of years, a testament of their life and gift to future generations.
Thick wooden doors, all carved with runes, many with phrases that Batrire had come up with, stood open, letting air flow freely through the building. Their steps seemed to resonate with the rock beneath them, almost as if it approved of their presence and what they had done.
“Can you imagine a place where any dwarf can come and learn?” Fowl asked. “I mean… other races can come too, but this is a legacy for our people.”
Batrire’s hand tightened on his. “I know… in some ways…” She paused, taking a deep breath before letting it out. “This will be our children.”
Fowl stopped walking and pulled her toward him. His free hand brushed her cheek, wiping away the small, damp spot that had appeared.
“I love you,” he whispered. “I wish I could give you the other, but will gladly love on every child that comes to this place as if they came from our very flesh.”
Batrire smiled and gently stroked his beard. “But they do come from our flesh. Each of them is here because of us.”
Fowl blinked a few times, and the realization of why his wife spoke the way she always had suddenly made sense.
They are our children…
He smiled as she let go of his beard and touched the spot on his cheek that was now damp.
“It seems you aren’t so dumb after all,” Batrire teased.
“Well, hopefully our children will be more like their mother,” Fowl replied.