Chapter 16: Culture Shock

  Corin and the group reluctantly agreed to heed Daum’s advice and avoided the main road for travel. They cut through the forest and continued traveling, hyper alert of their surroundings. They were told of one Zifor squad waiting to ambush them, but they could not know about other dangers that could be lurking, waiting.

  They spent a full day traveling the dense forest, moving at a hurried pace and only stopping when their feet could bear them no more. Close at night, near exhaustion, they saw lights at a distance.

  “Could that be the town he told us of?” Zhi asked.

  “Only one way to find out," Simeon replied.

  The group continued toward the far-off light, given fresh energy by the prospect of finally reaching a place with some semblance of civilization. They were especially keen on finding one without any potential hostile elements.

  After covering enough distance between themselves and the distant light they confirmed that they had found the town Daum told them of.

  “It seems the Zifor's word was good,” Nanaua said calmly.

  Corin felt a sense of relief wash over him as they eyed the town. Something deep inside of him had ached with worry after parting ways with Daum. He had been caught by the Zifors in the first place and had intervened on behalf of Daum. If anything bad were to happen to them now, Corin would blame himself for it.

  Despite the town being right in front of them, they all hesitated. Even Corin, who wanted to believe in Daum’s honesty, felt a deep well of doubt bubble within his stomach.

  They eyed every single feature in the town they could think of. Every building, every window, every door, any potential place for a group of Zifors to come out and attack. But try as they might, the group could find nothing out of the ordinary in the town.

  “Waiting out here won’t do us any good,” Simeon finally broke the silence.

  He walked toward the town. Eventually, the others followed. First it was Corin, who slowly slinked out of the woods as he followed Simeon’s footsteps. He kept his hands close to his waist in case danger manifested.

  Livia, Zhi, and Nanaua all followed, packed together closely.

  As the group entered the town, they noticed finer details about its composition. They noticed the large number of buildings that populated the town. Corin saw rows of alleys one after the other, and through each of them he saw buildings lining up along the street as far as the eye could see. From where they stood, they could already see how carefully designed each of the buildings were. They each had unique carvings on them. The one closest to Corin had carvings of animals on the side, he recognized a cow, a horse, the skull of a strange animal. Whoever had carved this was a master of their craft. And from what Corin saw it seemed that the town was full of these intricate carvings.

  “I have never seen such a large town before,” Livia said.

  “Aye, towns in Khorsor, tend to be much larger than those in Trinixo," Simeon replied.

  “How is it possible? Do the giants allow this to happen?” Corin asked.

  “That can have many answers,” Simeon began. “The first thing to note is that Khorsor, and the terrain can be very difficult. It’s not as easy for giants to traverse the continent as it is for leviathans to move across the sea. And Khorsor is very large. Giants lay claim to massive domains, so while a town like this might seem like a large plot of land to us, to a Giant it is nothing, and thus they might not even know this is on their land. Those are some of the ways that I have heard that furtives are able to maintain such large settlements.”

  “Have you heard of other ways?” Livia asked.

  “Aye I have, but some of them are so ridiculous that they sound like the ramblings of mad men,” Simeon said without explanation.

  The group entered the town but found it very quiet. The buildings all looked perfectly fine, but not a single soul was visible.

  “Is this also normal?” Corin asked. The worry within him began to rumble once more. Did they walk into a trap?

  A bell rang from a distance. It came from the nearby mountain.

  “Zifors?” Zhi asked.

  “Are we under attack?” Livia followed up.

  “Or giants?” Nanaua said, holding her pike.

  “Be prepared for what may come,” Simeon urged.

  The group anxiously looked at all sides, wondering what was to come. The first inkling of what came their way was a constant dull thumping.

  It sounded as if many drums beat to different rhythms. As the group waited it only grew in intensity.

  “What could this be?” Simeon muttered.

  “I see something!” Nanaua said as she gazed toward the mountain her voice tinged with anxiousness. “I see…lots of little men?” Now she sounded confused.

  The group focused on the commotion. In the distance, they could see many torch lights held at waist height and an army of little men marching toward the group. They could also hear rhythmic shouting coming from the horde.

  “Are they going to attack?” Livia asked.

  “If they are, I’ll blast them all!” Zhi replied.

  “Wait!” Simeon shouted.

  As the approaching horde got closer, their shouting became clearer.

  “...of the mines,

  yes we’re out of the mines

  No more toiling, no more boiling,

  we’re out of the mines

  Oh darling did you miss me,

  We’re out of the mines

  Oh it’s fine, all troubles aside, I’ll have some wine

  We’re out of the mines.”

  “Are they singing?” Nanaua asked, her confusion still present.

  “Let’s get out of the way.” Simeon urged as he moved to the side of the wide avenue.

  They followed him and stared in awe at the horde that passed by them. Whether the mob of little men noticed the onlookers or not, they did not bother to acknowledge them. The horde kept singing as they hurried toward a large building on the other side of the town. Throughout their procession, the horde sang with no concerns for anything else they might encounter. It took a while for the entire procession to pass by the group; Corin and the rest were too enthralled to look away. Finally, the last of the horde made its way to the building, and the singing and marching had ceased. The raucous noise could be heard coming from inside the building now.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “I’ve never seen so many dwarves,” Corin said, astonished by the spectacle they had witnessed.

  “Not surprising. Dwarves thrive near mountains. Trinixo does not have a lot to offer them,” Simeon said.

  “What do you think? If there is one place that might have information, it seems like that’s a good place to start,” Livia said to Simeon, pointing to the now lively building.

  “Right you are, Livia,” Simeon said and walked over to the building.

  “I’d never seen such a cheerful bunch,” Corin remarked.

  “Yes, quite strange. But at the same time their joy seemed very genuine, almost infectious,” Zhi said with a smile. It had been a while since Corin had seen her or any of the others smile. Especially after their encounter with Daum and the rest of the Zifors. They all seemed to be in higher spirits.

  As the group neared the building, they heard more singing and loud music from it. The various windows that peered into the building showed that no room was spared from the festive mob.

  All the way from the ground floor to three stories above the dwarves could be heard and seen singing loudly.

  The group came up to the door of the building.

  “I guess there’s only one thing left to do,” Corin said as he opened the door.

  Inside, there was only chaos. Amidst the cacophony of singing dwarves, the only furniture that could be seen were tables laid out all over the establishment. Not one of them seemed to be used for the same purpose.

  Various tables had groups of dwarves standing on them singing, each table singing a different song. On one table they seemed to be holding an impromptu fighting tournament; Corin saw a dwarf holding another one in a headlock. On another table dwarves would dance around and try their best not to fall off, they were not always successful. One table placed near the center had a singular dwarf with a horn that was larger than him. He would blow on it at irregular intervals, shaking the entire building.

  Corin was approached by a lively female dwarf with long black braided hair.

  “Hey, mister, what’s wrong with your hands?” She looked at Corin’s hands with a smile.

  He looked at his hands.

  “I don’t know. Is there—” Before Corin could finish talking, he was handed a large glass full of a yellow liquid.

  “See? Your hands were empty!” The lady dwarf cheerfully spoke to Corin, who was unsure of what had happened.

  For a second, it seemed as if the entire building went silent.

  All eyes were now on Corin.

  “I think they expect you to drink that,” Simeon said.

  Corin’s face signaled that he did not know what exactly he had in his hands.

  “It’s beer, Corin,” Simeon said.

  Corin continued eyeing Simeon with a confused look.

  “It’s alcohol, my boy. It’s known as a social lubricant. Helps people feel more at ease when interacting with others,” Simeon explained.

  “Is it poisonous?” Corin asked, feeling alarmed.

  “Yes,” Simeon said, and Corin’s eyes widened in abject horror. “But you won’t feel anything unless you have too much of it. Drink it, my boy. You’ll be fine.”

  Corin took the glass and started drinking it. The bitter drink made Corin almost gag. He had never tasted anything like it before. He could not even fathom why someone would drink this of their own volition. But the establishment was now roaring in approval of him downing the drink, and Corin felt compelled to continue.

  He drank the entire glass in a single gulp. Despite its taste, Corin had not had anything to drink in a long time and was beyond parched, so the drink did help in that regard.

  Once finished, he held the glass up in triumph. The crowd of dwarves cheered and then continued singing.

  “Oh, I won’t worry about no stinking giant

  They can come, stomp, and try to make us pliant

  Oh, I won’t worry about no dumb flying snake

  They can come, blow, and try to make us shake

  Oh, I won’t worry about no silly big eel

  They can come, squirt, and try to make us squeal

  Oh, they can all come, try, and squash us

  But furtives’ll bite their feet if they try and thrash us.”

  Corin found himself enjoying the song.

  “You see, our cause is universal,” Simeon muttered.

  Corin was confused for a moment, but he quickly understood. This group of furtives, these dwarves he had never met, who led a completely different life than his, shared something in common with Corin. They knew what it was like to suffer under the oppression of the titans, but what they did was something more than suffer, they thrived, and they lived.

  “You’re right,” Corin replied as he looked at his surroundings.

  “My boy, I’m going to try and find information,” Simeon said. “I trust all of you to not cause too much trouble.” He walked off to join a group that was conversing quite loudly.

  Along his way, Simeon made sure to grab a large glass of beer. Whether it was to fit in with the rest of the dwarves or because he enjoyed it himself, Corin did not know.

  “So what now?” Corin asked out loud. Before he finished speaking, Nanaua, Zhi, and Livia were already making their way to grab a drink themselves.

  The three women found a table with some space to sit at and sip their new drink. Corin joined them without anything in hand.

  Livia took a sip. “Hmm, what a weird drink,” she said.

  “I know. I didn’t care for it,” Corin added.

  “Oh I didn’t say that!” Livia interjected.

  “Blegh!” Nanaua replied and put the glass down.

  Zhi was the last one to try it. She took a sip, hesitated for a second, and followed it up with a large gulp.

  “Wow, I didn’t know how much I needed that!” she said, her cheeks getting red after the long gulp.

  “Hey you, dragon lady!” someone shouted from across the room.

  With no hesitation, Nanaua got up. It was obvious she was the one being called.

  “I am no dragon lady. I am a dragoor, a furtive like you all,” Nanaua said proudly, replying in the general direction that the shout came from.

  The place quieted as Nanaua walked toward the group that had called out to her.

  “Our sincerest apologies, but we’ve heard tell that your kind are some of the strongest furtives,” A blond dwarf with a stylish mustache walked out and addressed Nanaua. Unlike the other dwarfs, this one was not grimy and covered in soot. His clothes, which included fine trousers, a jacket, and a vest, seemed impeccable and his hair was styled. He stood out from the rest of the dwarves.

  Corin started to get up to intervene on Nanaua’s behalf.

  “Don’t worry about her,” Zhi said to Corin. She didn’t seem to be as interested in whatever was occurring. Nanaua did not need any help.

  “The information that has been relayed to you is correct. We dragoors know no equal in strength amongst the furtives who live among us,” Nanaua replied to the mustachioed blond dwarf.

  “Aye, no equals amongst the furtives you know, but how many dwarves live in those fancy sky palaces of yours?” A grin spread across the dwarve’s face.

  “Ha! You think you are able to match me in strength?” Nanaua asked.

  “I didn’t say I thought I could,” he replied slyly.

  “Then who? Who here thinks they can best me?” Nanaua asked loudly as she looked around at the large bar.

  “I shall best the dragon lady, Zancco!” A white-haired dwarf emerged from the crowd. This dwarf was old, and unlike the dandy Zancco, and he seemed as grizzled as any furtive Corin had met. His face was decorated with a long scar that ran from his temple, down his right eye, and through his lip. His white hair was unkempt, and his beard almost touched the ground. This dwarf was the stockiest one Corin could see in the room. He almost seemed wider than he was taller. His arms were as thick as Corin’s waist. Corin could not imagine trying to best this dwarf in any contest of strength.

  “Dragon lady?” Nanaua uttered through gritted teeth.

  “What say you, dragoor? Do you accept the challenge from Holdi?” The blond dwarf, Zancco, eyed Nanaua with a wide smirk.

  “What are the rules?” Nanaua barked.

  “Do you know mercy?” Zancco asked.

  “Aye, I do.” Nanaua smiled.

  “I assume the rules allow for the loser to get thrown?” Nanaua asked.

  “Of course, it’s not really mercy if the loser does not get thrown across the room.” Zancco smiled.

  All dwarves in the room howled in approval. They were itching to see this contest. The center area was cleared, and Nanaua and Holdi walked to the center, both cracking their knuckles in anticipation.

  “Who here has the dragon lady winning?” Zancco asked the crowd.

  Some cheers erupted, and Zancco collected bets amongst those who believed in Nanaua.

  “Who has our undefeated champion Holdi winning?” Zancco asked.

  The majority of the establishment broke into loud cheers and applause. It took longer this time for Zancco to collect bets for Holdi.

  Finally, Zancco finished his bookkeeping. He grabbed a piece of chalk and drew a circle around Nanua and Holdi.

  “Prepare to taste defeat!” Nanaua said as she held her hands out.

  “Ah, as if a dragon lady could best me!” Holdi replied boastfully as he grabbed them.

  The two interlocked their fingers and stood their ground. Nanaua was over twice as tall as Holdi, but the old dwarf was wider than her.

  The entire bar was absorbed in the spectacle. Shouts and jeers erupted as the contestants prepared for their clash of strength. The only one who was not shouting or jeering was the blond dwarf, who quietly observed.

  “What do you think, Corin?” Livia asked.

  “I’ve heard that dwarves are some of the strongest furtives, but I’ve never met anyone as strong as Nanaua. Not even close to it,” Corin replied.

  “Begin!” Zancco shouted.

  Instantly Nanaua began to push back against Holdi, but he did not budge. Instead, Holdi assumed a low stance. He focused all his strength on his hands and did everything he could to crush Nanaua’s fingers.

  “AARGH!” Nanaua yelled as she fell to a knee.

  Corin stood up, feeling concerned for her. Zhi did not seem bothered, she kept sipping on her drink.

  “Do you cry mercy, dragon lady?” Holdi roared victoriously still applying pressure.

  Nanaua stood up again.

  “I see what game you play, old dwarf! I shall show you that this furtive dragoor can play at it as well!” Nanaua shouted as she stood her ground and clenched her interlocked hands with a vise-like grip.

  “He’s done for,” Zhi said.

  “AAARH!” Nanaua yelled as she raised Holdi’s hands high above him. The dwarf’s face betrayed his cool confidence as the fast maneuver caught him by surprise.

  Nanaua stepped closer to the dwarf and brought his hands down on him. As the dwarf tried to hold his ground, Nanaua yelled in his face, “What say you dwarf, mercy?”

  The old dwarf stared at her with his eye. He did not reply.

  “I thought you wouldn’t!” Nanaua smiled. Her grip intensified, and the loud cracking of bones followed. The dwarf’s fingers were bent out of shape, and the entire crowd gasped.

  “Oh dear,” Corin muttered.

  “Seems like you were right,” Livia said.

  “Great job, love! Now throw him across the room!” shouted Zhi after taking another sip of her drink.

  Nanaua picked up the dwarf by their interlocked fingers and threw him across the room to a mob of other dwarves. They toppled as their defeated comrade crashed on top of them.

  The crowd erupted in cheers, and Zhi got up and went to Nanaua.

  “Fellow dwarves! You have seen history! We have a new champion, the furtive dragoor!” Zancco announced. He went around the room collecting and doling payments from the bets.

  Zhi walked up to Nanaua and gave her a kiss, “I never doubted you.”

  The dwarves began to sing once again, and Corin and Livia were urged to join in and sing and dance with them.

  At first, Corin was unsure of what he was supposed to be doing. His skill at singing and dancing was nowhere near anything the dwarves displayed. But the more beer Corin drank, the surer he was that his singing and dancing was actually on par if not better than that of anyone else in the room. He let loose in a way he did not even know was possible.

  Livia herself seemed to experience the same effect as Corin. She had started reserved and quiet, but as the night had gone on, she had been louder and more creative with her dancing. It did not take long for the married couple to be singing along to the dwarves’ songs as if they had been doing so their whole lives.

  Amidst the chaos of the scene Corin noticed that even Nanaua and Zhi had joined in on the event. Nanaua was now wearing a red sash, which she had won after her bout.

  The rest of the night flew in a whirlwind for Corin. He and Livia continued dancing with each other even after the music had died. To them, it made no difference. It was nice to have others around them, but they had each other, and that was what they would always need and want.

  “It seems as if we’re the only ones not asleep,” Livia mentioned to Corin, who looked around. The establishment was quiet, and most of the patrons, including Nanaua and Zhi, slept on tables. Nanaua and Zhi snuggled each other closely, both wrapped in Nanaua’s red sash.

  “I guess you’re right,” Corin replied while looking at his wife’s beautiful brown eyes.

  They continued dancing to their own tune for a while, enjoying each other’s company amidst the snoring dwarves.

  After several more minutes, they finally gave in to their tiredness. They picked an empty spot in a corner and lay down. Despite whatever else may happen, they had each other.

  “We’ll weather the storm,” Livia said to Corin.

  Corin held his wife’s hand. “We will.”