Chapter 15: Dwarves returning a favor

We walked into the stone walled town and I smiled when I saw all the Dwarves. The caravan yards were on the other side of the town beside a wide stream. I unharnessed the horses and turned them loose before Ellie took my hand and we walked back into the town. The dwarves seemed to go out of their way to avoid us.

We bought a few supplies and went back to the wagon. I was inside putting things away and pulling out the clothes we needed to wash. The wagon creaked and I held still as there was a loud groan. I turned to climb out and there was a loud crack and the wagon lurched. I tumbled out and rolled before turning to look at the sagging wagon.

Ellie turned from the horses and walked to me as I moved to the wagon. I knelt and looked under the back to see the axle snapped. The whole area around the springs on the left rear was rotten and the supports had cracks. I sighed, “great.”

Ellie bumped my shoulder, “this is a town of dwarves.”

I sat back and looked at her as she grinned. The blacksmith growled as he came to look at the wagon before saying he could fix it. I let Ellie bargain with him as I began unloading the wagon. The blacksmith and several helpers returned as I was pulling out my fishing rod and putting it together.

Ellie had organized everything from the wagon and made us a place to sleep. The blacksmith watched as I looked towards the stream and started walking. The fish were large and seemed more than eager to bite. I was enjoying myself and threw several back before keeping two and cleaning them.

When I walked back to the wagon the blacksmith was grinning, “that looked like fun.”

Ellie snorted as I grinned, “well, I enjoy it.”

He glanced at the stream and then at me, “we had word passed about a man. He is a fierce warrior and surprisingly they say he is a good smith. He also taught some of our cousins to ... fish?”

I smiled as I squatted beside the fire Ellie had going and handed her the fish, “That would probably be Bris.”

He grinned, “yes, they say you helped my people in the mines too?”

I nodded, “necessary but not welcome work.”

He nodded again and I thought of the burrowers. I grinned, “do your people go through the gap?”

He shrugged, “sometimes but the burrowers are nasty.”

I grinned, “and good to eat.”

He looked at me and smiled, “how would you catch them without being eaten?”

I held up the fishing pole, “by fishing for them. Use strong cord and meat as bait. Since you are dwarves you know about rock. Make a stone platform out of blocks or use poles to make a platform well above the ground. Throw rocks out until burrowers come near and then use the bait and cord. Pull the burrower up onto the platform and cut off the head. Use its guts as more bait for the next one.”

I looked at him as he stared and suddenly started laughing and slapping his legs. I glanced at Ellie and she grinned and shook her head. It was a minute before the dwarf stopped laughing and grinned, “that would be the fun way to hunt them.”

I nodded, “and safer.”

He chuckled as he looked at his helpers, “I will have to make me a fishing pole.”

They pulled the wagon away and we sat to enjoy a nice dinner and each other. I finally looked around and frowned, “where is Little One and Charles?”

Ellie snickered, “Little One is flirting with the local toms and Charles is trying to get a few of the ladies pregnant.”

I grinned and shook my head before pulling her close. I was a little worried about Burrowers but Ellie tapped the huge piece of slat our bed was on and pointed out nothing had bothered the dwarves animals. I was up early while she slept in with the two cats for company. I thought I might catch a few fish and smoke them to see how it would turn out.

Somehow I was not surprised to see the dwarven blacksmith. He grinned from the bank, “We are going through the gap with a few wagons.”

I looked at him before turning back to watching what I was doing, “going to make a stone platform?”

He chuckled, “Yes.”

I grinned as I thought of fishing for the Burrowers, “I am tempted to join you.”

Ellie laughed as she walked to the edge of the stream, “They could make stone way stations all the way across the valley. It would open the way up again and they could make money on a toll.”

The blacksmith looked at her and grinned, “now that sounds like an idea. We could even sell roast burrower meat to the travelers.”

I grinned as I pulled in the line and waded ashore. Ellie laughed again and kissed my cheek, “do not get eaten, the cats and I will wait here for the wagon to be fixed.”

I dressed and took a small pack besides the super long and my pistol. The dwarves had moved quickly and I had to trot to catch them in the gap. They had several heavily laden wagons and carried long poles. A few hours later we came out and the dwarves shook their heads at the remains before moving passed them.

The next thing I knew they were all busy leveling an area. I set my pack aside and went to find a good sapling before I started helping. Almost as soon as a wagon was unloaded it headed back through the gap. Thick flat stones were fitted together with a type of mortar or cement and slowly the large area was covered.

I still was not sure it would be safe as the sun headed for the horizon. A second set of wagons appeared as the dwarves started another layer on top of the first. A dozen stayed after the wagons left and I brought my pack to the center where several had stacked wood for a fire. As it started to get dark I realized they had not brought any meat for bait and sighed.