Chapter 146: Bedrock and Bedrooms
Pip, his team and their large, unexpected entourage step out of the forest into the clearing and every single one of them stops dead in their tracks the moment they finally see what’s been waiting to meet them.
A massive tent dominates the center of the open field, flanked by a dozen smaller ones as well as a menagerie of machines and equipment.
Dwarves, and other races of every size, hurry between the tents with real, purposeful urgency, hauling barrels, stacking boxes, shouting instructions across a camp that looks less like a diplomatic outpost and more like a small, opulent city that sprouted overnight, complete with lanterns, banners, and the unmistakable smell of multiple delicious foods roasting somewhere within.
Vuvi plants both hands on her hips, thoroughly impressed by what she sees, and slaps Pip’s shoulder. "This," she says with a pride-filled grin, "is exactly the kind of welcome you deserve."
A dwarven lookout spots them, whistles, and shouts something over his shoulder before every last person in the camp freezes, turns, sees Pip, and immediately begins rushing about in every direction at once, completely abandoning the slow, careful process they had just been part of.
Vuvi turns to Sha’Rona. "Appreciate the send off." She says, gesturing to the crowds behind them, "But this is where we part ways." Vuvi turns to the assembled beast-kin, thanking them warmly for their hospitality before the rest of the team joins her.
The crowd begs for them to visit again, with Pip, as soon as possible, before they turn to go. But Pip sends out a heartfelt thought-wave that has the whole crowd swooning and surging back toward him.
Sha’Rona whistles sharply and calls them off, yelling something in Green Tongue that sounded vaguely rude. One by one they peel away slowly, wishing the team well as they go, and within minutes the beast-kin are gone entirely, fading away into the forest around them.
Vuvi turns to Sha’Rona, who scoffs. "I’m not going anywhere. Not until I know the forest’s actually safe. I don’t trust them." She says as she watches the camp bustle, her face twisted into open suspicion. "I’ll stay. Make sure you keep your promise."
"Of course," Vuvi says. "Might actually teach you a thing or two about your so-called enemy. I’m half-dwarf myself, you know. We’re not all bad."
"You’re also half in love with anything that has a engine in it." Sho’Rana pouts, "I’m not sure you’re impartial."
Three dwarven women approach them, dressed in beautiful, dignitary-grade finery, and bow deeply to the group.
Vuvi returns the bow before she pulls Pip forward, "Vuvela Blackthorn, and this is Pip, the Pleasure Prince. Probably heard of him. We’ve come to bring our services to the Kingdom." she announces.
The women gaze at Pip with something close to religious awe, "Thank you!" One of them says, "For bringing your miracle all this way."
Pip gives a grateful beep, and all three women’s eyes go wide before they dissolve into giggling.
One steps forward and takes Pip’s hand. "Someone important would like to meet you."
"Lead the way," Vuvi says, and they sweep Pip forward through the camp while the rest of the team trails behind.
The walk past rows of dwarven workers who wave, bite their lips, and clutch their chests as he passes.
"Blackthorn!"
Vuvi turns as a young dwarven woman pops out of a tent, goggles pushed up on her head, face streaked with grease, wiping her hands frantically on her overalls.
"You’re the one from Nettlehusk," Vuvi says. "The Alchemy Guild."
"That’s me," the dwarf says. "Thari Deepcoil. I got back a fortnight ago. Been telling everyone you were on your way this whole time. Got a bit embarrassing after you didn’t show up for more than a week ."
"Sorry." Vuvi winces. "Side quests."
"Ah." The dwarf nods, like it explained everything perfectly. "Say no more. Heading to the main tent?"
"Yes, apparently we’re meeting someone important."
Then Thari’s eyebrows shoot up. "Mind your manners in there. That’s dwarven royalty."
"How royal are we talking?" Veena asks from behind Vuvi.
"Very. Try not to touch anything, don’t sit unless she offers, and whatever you do, don’t mention her brother."
"What’s wrong with her brother?" Sera asks worriedly.
"Not my story to tell." Thari replies, already backing away. "I’ll catch up with you later, Blackthorn, there’s someone else I want you to meet."
"Who?!" Vuvi yells out.
But Thari was already gone, ducking between two tents and vanishing into the general chaos of the camp, leaving Vuvi and her team with nothing but the distinct, uneasy feeling that they were about to walk into something they were deeply unprepared for.
Moments later, the group steps pass a string of very nervous looking gaurds, and into the massive main tent and stops short of the flap, blown away by the sheer opulence of what stands before them.
It looks less like a tent and more like a queen’s mobile palace. A massive four-poster bed, heaped in silk, stood in one corner, an equally massive porcelain bathtub right beside it. A dining area groaning under a fully laden table. They saw a lounging section, a reading corner lined with books and at the center of the tent, a long meeting table.
And all around them worked young dwarven attendants gliding between everything, keeping it all in perfect, unbothered order.
And at the back, raised on a modest dais, stood a throne.
And on the throne, a young woman sits curled sideways over one armrest, crown slightly askew, entirely absorbed in a thick, well-worn book titled A GUIDE TO DWARVEN DEBAUCHERY, VOL. III: BEDROCK & BEDROOMS, its spine cracked in at least four places from what looks like extremely dedicated and repeated reading sessions.
She peeks over the top of it, spots the group filing in, makes a small, strangled noise entirely unbecoming of royalty, and shoves the book beneath her own backside in one smooth, well-practiced motion.
She straightened her crown, smoothing her dress, and beaming out at them all with a warm, entirely composed, entirely too-innocent smile.
"Welcome!" she yells out to the group, "You’ve kept us waiting."