Beers and Beards: A Cozy Dwarf Tale

Tourmaline led me through the city to the gates of Blackwall. Unlike when I came here with Bran, the guards didn’t even try to stop us, they just waved us through. Tourmaline walked through the gate with her head held high without so much as looking at them, and the guards thumped their chests as she passed.

“That’s handy.” I muttered as we made our way down the pristine, sterile streets of Blackwall. There wasn’t a soul to be seen; the entire city was at the various festivities.

“It’s annoying.” Tourmaline scoffed. “But it does have its uses. I prefer the way people react to me as Wreck, but I will not deny the privilege my position affords me.”

“Must be nice ta have the best of both worlds.”

“It is a travesty. Often I feel like I’m not a citizen of Crack at all, but some separate country. Though it pains me, I agree with much of that idiot Harmsson’s Great Charter.”

I gave her a side eye. “I heard from Schist that you’ve been helping him behind tha scenes.”

Tourmaline nodded. “He is much easier to work with. And he’s clearly not motivated solely by personal gain.”

“So, uh, what’re you aimin’ for? Can I ask?”

“Hmm… no doubt Opal will tell you everything eventually anyways. Our deal regarding Harmsson is over, but I would appreciate it if you continued to send me updates on the pulse of the city.”

“He is busy. You are not.”

“Excuseme??”

“You are excused.”

“Fiiiine, we can keep sending updates. What’s tha plan?”

Tourmaline began ticking points off her fingers. “Schist has been putting pressure on the Council of Greybeards through his contacts within the Guilds and his popular support. He may not be a Guildmaster or an official Greybeard, but he’s been around long enough to practically count as one. Your friend Copperpot has collected the gnomish oligarchs in Western Crack and is applying financial pressure from that direction. And from my end, I have been going to soirees and dinners that neither of them are party to, and gathered significant political support from the minor nobility. Many of the younger dwarves are upset with the state of the country, and wish to see change.”

“Phew.” I breathed. “That’s a lot.”

“It is.” Tourmaline agreed. “But it will be worth it. It is about time that we properly integrated the gnomes and codified the actual responsibilities and laws for the nobility.”

“Any chance I could get into one ‘a those?” I asked. “I have ta boot Louis Blackbeard in the nards.”

Tourmaline arched an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Do I need a reason? He’s Louis Blackbeard. But if you must know, I made a promise.”

“A worthy promise. Unfortunately, after he betrayed Harmsson, Louis has become a favoured son of the Council. He is basically untouchable right now.” She glowered at the thought, her fists clenched.

“And, uh, what about your father?” I asked. I’d never met or even heard the fellow mentioned. “Where does he fit into this?”

Tourmaline shook her head. “He’s taking care of our family holdings further East. With the recent increase in monster attacks, he is very busy. He left the care of Mother to me.”

Rough. As a father, I chafed at the thought; I couldn’t imagine leaving a sick Caroline for Sammy to take care of. But, I also wasn’t responsible for an entire city, so I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

We continued to chat about the state of the country as we walked through the empty streets. I’d missed a lot during the month I’d been locked inside the Goat, and it was nice to hear what my friends and acquaintances had been up to.

Also, it helped keep Tourmaline’s mind off what was about to come. There was a non-zero chance that what we were trying wouldn’t work, and her mother would be dead within the day. She was showing a lot of trust in me. I could only hope that I lived up to her expectations.

Finally, we arrived at the gate of Whitewall, and what a gate it was! Unlike all the other walls, which were, well, walls. Whitewall was the end of Crack itself, a massive white cliff that towered up to the ‘ceiling’ far above. The gate was a pair of white metal doors that dwarfed the surrounding buildings. They were wide and tall enough for a trio of wagons to pass through side-by-side. Runes were etched into nearly every inch of their shining surfaces, and they glowed with an inner fire in my [Manasight]

I whistled. “Impressive.”

Tourmaline nodded. “They’re mostly ornamental at this point, but they once had to stand against the strongest attacks that the ancient monsters of Crack could send at them.”

This time we were stopped at the gates by a pair of guards in black Adamantine armour. They were serious and no-nonsense as they scanned us with Abilities and magic items, and checked our IDs. When they were satisfied that we weren’t going to try and assassinate the King or something, they waved us through.

Whitewall actually felt like a throwback to Gemena, with its clean golem-patrolled hallways and winding corridors. Unlike Gemena though, the tunnels were large enough for wagons, and there were no dirty miners trudging through them, just well-dressed and un-armored servants hurrying to and fro. They avoided our gaze, and stepped differentially out of the way whenever we crossed paths.

“Ugh, that’s annoying.” I grumbled, as we passed a trio wearing green and orange livery. The group had stopped dead in their tracks and stood to the side of the tunnel when they’d seen us, their eyes to the floor. “It feels… undwarven.”

“Yes.” Tourmaline said. “And rude.”

“How do you deal with it?” I asked.

“I sequester myself in my laboratory and avoid public spaces as much as possible.” Tourmaline sniffed.

With her guidance we soon arrived at a large open square. The main tunnel opened up to a courtyard that stretched about twenty meters up, and spread out roughly the length of a football field. Bright white crystals illuminated the surrounding white stone from every angle, eliminating all shadows and making it feel like the frigging holo-deck from Star Trek. A large fountain, likely fed by the Darkwater somewhere far below us, sprayed water up to the ceiling before arcing down in scintillating rainbows.

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“Nice place.” I gulped. We were the only people in the large space, and it felt ominous.

“The Court of Nobles. There are a lot of magical defenses hidden in here.” Tourmaline said, nonchalantly continuing forward. “The Lyceum you so desperately want to get into is up those stairs over there,” she pointed all the way across the square to where a wide set of stars arced up to a tunnel set in the wall. “But Castle Barnes is over this way.”

She pointed to an enormous gate, then led me off to the left, where a trio of smaller tunnels branched out in different directions. We went down one and were soon back in the twisting branches of ancient dwarven architecture. After a surprisingly long walk, we stopped at one of many identical intersections.

“What’re we doin’ here?” I asked.”I thought Castle Barnes was the other way.”

“Mother isn’t being kept in Castle Barnes.” Tourmaline said, placing her hand against a blank wall. My Manasight and regular sight both showed that there was nothing there. “My Grandfather wanted to avoid tempting my Uncles. Mother is still his heir, even in her current state. We have a double pretending to be her in the medical ward back home.”

So saying, she pressed her palm against the wall and twisted. There was the briefest *woosh* of air as the wall soundlessly dropped into the floor, revealing a new tunnel.

“This way.” Tourmaline quickstepped into the tunnel and I followed after. The door slid back up behind us and I eyed it with interest.

“No magic on that door,” I observed. “Just pure engineering? I guess that helps keep it hidden.”

“Yes. Though a [Whisperer] could find it if they thought to ask the stones in this area. That’s why it's in a random tunnel like this.”

“Still… why hasn’t it been found?” I asked. “Surely the nobility ’ave combed over every tunnel in Whitewall by now.”

“There are hidden spaces like this all over Whitewall. Knowing where they are isn't overly helpful.” Tourmaline declared, “Also, there were a dozen guards hiding on the other side of that door. If you were some random [Whisperer] or weren’t with me, they would’ve immediately eliminated you.”

I gulped. I hadn’t seen or sensed anyone. I went and activated dwarves on my [Map] and swore under my breath as dots propagated it. I nearly jumped as one such dot appeared inside the wall directly beside me. Godsdamn!

After a short walk we arrived in a small room with a bed in it. A white-haired dwarf in the armor of a [Healer] sat beside it in a wooden chair. She had mousey grey hair done up in a bun and a short goatee similar to Opal’s. The room was comfortable, but plain, with no ornamentation or decorations.

A single dwarfess lay in repose on the bed. It was easy to see who Tourmaline got her beauty from. Iris Barnes had the same platinum curls and smooth porcelain skin as her daughter. Her beard was well brushed and maintained, though not in any particular style. Unlike her daughter, who tended to the severe, Iris Barnes had a more aquiline profile. If I had to describe her in a single word, it would be valkyrie.

I’d been expecting something like Sleeping Beauty, with a princess ready to be awoken. Instead, Lady Barnse’s face was a horrid tinge of blue, and her breath came out in ragged gasps. Black veins stood out on her cheeks, and every once in a while she heaved in pain. The [Healer] kept a constant stream of Mana pouring into her patient, and she looked equally haggard.

“How is mother, Healer Beatrice?” Tourmaline asked, without preamble.

“Ah, Tourmaline.” The [Healer] gasped, wiping sweat from her brow. “No better I’m afraid. That last tincture you brought seemed to reduce her pain though. It may be worth trying more.”

“I have something new to try.” Tourmaline said, gesturing at me. “A friend has an Ability that should help.”

Healer Beatrice eyed me with the mistrustful eye of a doctor who suspected a WebMD self-diagnosis. “You’re one thing, Tourmaline, I trust your ability as a [Toxicologist]. But a random dwarf off the street is another. Have you spoken to your Grandfather about this?”

“No.” Tourmaline declared. “But he knows Peter, and he trusts him.”

I kept my eyebrows tamped down. He did?

“Then I must protest.” The dwarfess said, moving between us and the bed. “Lady Barnes is my patient. I will have to ask you to tell me what you have planned, first.”

Tourmaline looked cross, but I nodded. “That’s fair. I have a fate manipulation Ability.”

The [Healer]’s eyes widened. “Those are exceedingly rare. I don’t know of any in all of Western Crack. Are you sure this dwarf is not misleading you, Tourmaline?”

The temperature turned icy as Tourmaline gave her a stern stare. Beatrice paled and stammered, “Excuse me, of course not. You say the Duke knows him?”

Tourmaline nodded. “As well as grand uncle.”

“Prophet Barnes?” The [Healer] said, surprise in her voice. “How?”

“I’m from Minnova, originally. Prophet Barnes and I did some work together. He taught me a lot.” I smoothly interrupted. Oh yes, he’d taught me plenty.

Beatrice gave me a stern stare, then stepped aside. “Very well. I do so under protest though, Tourmaline.”

“I understand.” Tourmaline said, stepping forward. She pulled a vial out of an extra-dimensional space with a twist of the wrist, and popped the cork. The liquid inside was a grungy brown colour and smelled vile, pun not intended. She passed it to the [Healer] and said, “Administer this when Peter gives the word.”

I stepped up to the bedside and took a deep breath. Here went nothing! “[Lucky Break], [Karmic Reversal]!”

*Bing!*

[Karmic Reversal]

Reverse the fate of [Iris Barnes]?

Fate will resume its course in one day.

Do you accept?

Yes/No

I mentally hit ‘Yes’ as I shouted. “Now!”

Frowning, Beatrice placed her free hand on Lady Barnes with a clipped, “[Administer Medicine]”. The liquid level of the vial in her other hand slowly drained away. On the bed, Lady Barnes arched her back and began to spasm. Her gasps turned to moans and then shrieks of pain. The veins on her face went from black to bright red and began pulsing.

The [Healer] immediately began activating Abilities rapid-fire “[Lesser Healing], [Reduce Pain], [Cure Poison], I hope you two know what you’re doing!!! Help me hold her down, and Tourmaline, put in the mouth guard!”

I did as instructed, holding down Lady Barnse’s shoulders while Tourmaline inserted a small wooden mouth guard between her teeth. Tourmaline’s face was bone white as Lady Barnes continued to scream and shake, froth and spittle spilling out from behind the mouth guard.

Then, as suddenly as it had begun, it stopped. Lady Barnes slumped, her body becoming limp as a wet rag. I noticed with relief that her chest was still moving up and down, and the black veins on her face had receded.

“Mother?” Tourmaline asked, her voice smaller and more broken than I’d ever heard from her. It reminded me of how Sammy had spoken to me in the hospital, and I shuddered. She ran her fingers through her mother’s beard, desperation etched in every movement.

The [Healer] checked Iris’s pulse and sighed with relief. “Her pulse is stabilizing. I don’t know what you did but – “

She gasped and fell backwards as Lady Barnes sat bolt upright in the bed, her eyes blazing. She grabbed Tourmaline’s wrist in a vicelike grip and looked around the room in confusion. “[Sentinel]! [Greater Improved Perception]! [Quicken]!” She shouted, her fingers questing for a weapon that wasn’t there.

“Mother?” Tourmaline choked.

“Mal?” Her mother asked, confusion in her voice. She let go of Tourmaline’s wrist and massaged her temples. “Agh, my head! What’s going on? Where are we?” She glanced down at the bed and her white medical gown. “What am I wearing??”

Beatrice and I left to give the pair some space as Tourmaline burst into tears and fell into her mother’s arms.

At my request, a pair of beaming guards emerged from the walls to escort me back to Redwall. We walked back through the winding tunnels in companionable silence.

Okay, I may have cried a bit, too.

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