Chapter 45 - Meeting With The Dwarven King

The streets of the dwarven city were paved with precious stones. The homes and shops were all etched from solid marble and granite. They were all single cravings with no seams.

"I have never seen a place more beautiful." Zell said.

"I haven't either." Kaitlyn replied. "Everything is just so shiny."

"Few other than dwarves ever see our kingdom." One of the dwarven guards said.

Looking around Zell had noticed; the busy streets all stopped and stared as he and Kaitlyn passed. "Explains the looks." Zell said.

"A human is exceedingly rare." The dwarf said. "I don't know if Frongon has ever had a human in its hallowed halls."

"I am honored then." Zell said.

The rest of the walk was in silence. Zell and Kaitlyn just took in the sights as they walked, amazed by the hidden beauty beneath the surface. There was a lake near the center of the city that's bed was made of crystals that emitted a faint glow. The water was so clear you could see all the way to the bottom, as well as all the creatures swimming beneath the surface. Benches lined the waters edge, they too carved from the rock. Dwarves were there with their children enjoying the day.

There were no signs of the war that rages between the humans and nonhumans, only the beauty and peace of the dwarven kingdom. As Zell looked around, he saw something unexpected. Pipes and machinery. He noticed everything was being illuminated by lights, not fire like the entrance. The whole city was running on electricity.

They arrived at the palace. It was a massive structure, made of pure gemstone. The dwarves took them inside and led them to the throne room. They opened the door and lined either side. "You can go in now; the king is waiting for you."

"Okay but how does the king even know we are here?" Zell asked. "Don't you need to tell him you found us outside and you know everything else."

"No, it will be fine." The guard laughed. "Just go meet our king."

Zell shrugged his shoulders and went inside the room. Kaitlyn followed him closely behind. The throne itself was cut from diamonds. The room was empty besides one dwarf sitting on the diamond throne.

He noticed as they entered and perked up. "You there!" He said. "Tell me, are you from Earth?!"

Zell was shocked. "How did you know?" Zell asked.

"That stylish three piece you are rocking my man." The dwarven king said with glee. "That is the fine work of an Earth tailor if I ever saw it."

"I saw the electricity throughout the city." Zell said. "Am I to assume you were brought here from Earth as well?"

"You got it." The king said, snapping his fingers and giving Zell a thumbs up. "I was just living my life and then one day bam dead. Woke up here as a tiny dwarf baby. Thankfully due to my unique skill: Remembrance, it allowed me to remember my past life as a science teacher back on the third rock from the sun."

"So did you meet the lady god?" Zell asked.

"Nah, just woke up here." The king said. "You can call me Ortan, King of all the dwarves. Inventor of all things cool and interesting. Improver of lives and bringer of peace."

"Okay." Zell said. "Nice to meet you, I assume this is why the guards took me straight here when I said I was from another world?"

"You guessed it." Ortan said. "They are under strict orders to bring me anyone they suspect of being from another world. I suspect the demon lord is as well."

"He was sent by the god of destruction to destroy all life." Zell said. "At least that's what the lady god told me."

"That's some heavy stuff." Ortan said. "Though I do find his lust for power most unappealing. He claims it is all for peace, but just look at my kingdom. We are safe, fed, happy, and secure. We need not the wars of this world, we can make it just fine without the other races."

"So why even bother bringing me here?" Zell asked.

"Oh, I just like meeting people from other worlds." Ortan said.

"Have you met others?" Zell asked.

"None from Earth, other than you." Ortan said. "But during my hundred years as king, yes I have met a few. They were all like me with some knowledge of their past life. You are the first I have encountered that mentioned a god of any type."

"Yes, she had an unmatched beauty, and claimed to be the sole creator of all things." Zell explained. "She gave me a mission that has given me some suspicions. She claims to be of creation and peace, but she has told me to kill the demon lord and my sister."

"I take it your sister would be the wretched queen?" Ortan asked. "That little wench has been a busy one. My network of spies tells me she is using her influence as humanities' hero to recruit all the other human kingdoms to her cause. I fear that god of yours may be right. The only way to stop the war might be to chop off the two heads."

"Maybe, but it just doesn't sit right with me." Zell said. "Not that I even have a choice, she could kill me with a snap of her fingers."

"Well, I don't envy you." Ortan said. "But if you want some advice I will more than willingly provide it. Just like I used to tell students. Sometimes one must look outside the problem in order to see the solution. If you want a different path than wanton murder, take their power away. I would start with your sister; she seems to be the weaker of the two. Plus, you are a human, so getting other humans to follow you should be an easier task. Start with the kingdom furthest way from the queen's and work your way over to her. If all of humanity rallied against her, she would lose her power and you will be able to defeat her without killing her. After that the demon lord should be more than willing to meet you."

"That is actually a very reasonable plan." Zell said, surprised.

"Hey, give this old man some credit." Ortan laughed. "After all I have been a king for longer than you have been alive and will be for much longer. Turns out I lucked up becoming a dwarf, we seem to live for hundreds of years."

"I guess you did." Zell said. "Also, nice work on your kingdom, everyone seems happy."

"Well of course." Ortan said. "Now, I will give you a hand. Allow me to send one of my strongest warriors with you. Kilgon!"

A muscular dwarf walked into the throne room. He walked up to the throne and kneeled before his king. "Yes, my lord?"

"I want you to go with this human here." Ortan said. "Help him out. He is going to overthrow the wretched queen. I have often feared the war on the surface would some day reach us, so this is a way we can keep ourselves safe. Take them out the back way through the mountains and go to the kingdom of Kermonth."

"I will do as you say." Kilgon said as he got up. He looked Zell and Kaitlyn over and then just started walking away. "Follow me.." He said as he passed them.