“There is a strict law in our kingdom,” Starko'gus replied, as if he knew that the explanation would come from a reliable source. “When a member of a species causes trouble, or something related to it, everyone connected with it is punished, either by banishment or reprisal.”

  “You have some rather strict laws, don't you?” I commented in surprise.

  “Courtesy of Your Majesty. She is willing to negotiate for the greater good of all species, as are you, but if it is necessary to preserve the lawful citizens of her kingdom, she will prioritize the lives of those closest to her,” Starko'gus added, with a tone of respect for the royalty of her people.

  “So, you're ruled by a Queen? Did you ever meet her?” My mind was full of questions now.

  Starko'gus laughed lightly, with an air of modesty.

  “Miss, a humble dwarf like me wouldn't go that far, would he?” he replied, laughing at himself.

  “Smile. I don't know, you have a rather daring way about you.” I laughed back, imagining the scene.

  Dait seemed a little out of place in the conversation, and perhaps even a little uncomfortable with the exchange of topics.

  “HM?” he murmured, clearly trying to remain oblivious to the conversation taking a more personal turn.

  I smiled, but soon returned to the mission at hand.

  “Changing the subject... how long until we get there?” I asked, trying to get back into the rhythm of the journey.

  Starko'gus stood up without hesitation, picked up a dry branch and began to scribble in the sand. His gesture was so natural that it seemed like something he did often.

  Little by little, the drawing took shape and, to my surprise, it was a rudimentary but extremely useful map.

  “If we continue through the morning at the same pace and make a stop, we could get there by the afternoon of the next day or, at the latest, overnight. Either way, we'll shorten the journey considerably,” he said confidently.

  “That's great.” I was pleased with the news. Then a doubt occurred to me and I couldn't help asking. “I've been thinking, you know the right people, but do you still think you can convince them?”

  Starko'gus seemed to ponder for a moment before answering.

  “As I told you, that part is up to you. I'll just make the introductions. However, I must point out that renting them out won't be as easy as you think. Some of them owe me favors, I can charge them, if necessary, but that won't be enough to convince them,” he said, with an honesty that only dwarves know how to convey.

  Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

  It was impossible not to reflect on what he was saying. After all, even in this world, I was the master of the art of business. Although my experience had been acquired in another context, I knew that my ability to negotiate would be essential.

  Still, I couldn't help wondering if the methods I had used in my old home would really work with the dwarves... Perhaps a good piece of silver would be more effective than any favor Starko'gus could call in.

  ***

  Our conversation went on for quite a while. We talked more about the dwarf kingdom, and Starko'gus seemed to enjoy describing life there. According to him, the kingdom was dominated by trade, and in every corner, there was a specific establishment for some need: from equipment for adventurers to more trivial things like potions, herbs and spices. It was a land of constant movement, where business never stopped.

  That sight made me think about how I could take advantage of the opportunity. The ores and herbs I had collected from the cave we were in could make a profit if I sold them in one of these markets. When we had a break and found a suitable place, I would ask Starko'gus for guidance to get an idea of their value. After all, even though I knew the basics of trade, I still didn't really know the prices of things in this world.

  But something else was niggling at the back of my mind, something I needed to resolve before moving on. Starko'gus vaguely mentioned something about the Demon Lords, their tactics and goals for gaining power. I didn't know if I should pay attention to this or if it was just a distant reference that I shouldn't worry about right now. Still, my instinct told me that there was something important behind these words, something I still didn't fully understand.

  Suddenly, I was pulled out of my thoughts by a soft voice.

  “Your Highness, haven't you gone to bed yet?” asked Anthalia.

  I felt a twinge of discomfort in my chest. She had changed the term again, and that always bothered me. Seriously, just call me Satouma...

  I knew that asking her to do so wouldn't make any difference. It seemed more like a tic to her, something natural.

  “Don't worry, I can stay like this all night. It's no problem.” I tried to answer calmly, but my mind was far away.

  Anthalia seemed attentive to my answer, as if she was trying to figure out if something was wrong.

  “Is something bothering you?” she asked, her voice slightly concerned.

  I hesitated, searching for the right words. I didn't want to sound weak or insecure, but there was a growing doubt in me. Something I couldn't ignore.

  “To tell you the truth, yes...” I began, trying to choose my words carefully. “Anthalia, you swore your loyalty to me, but it was for killing your queen. I... I don't want it to look like I've claimed the right to freedom for you. After all, did you follow me out of fear?”

  It was a difficult question to formulate, one that I knew could be interpreted in many ways. I didn't want to think that I was abusing Anthalia and her sisters. I didn't want them to follow my orders just out of instinct or fear, but for some deeper reason. Something I couldn't yet understand.

  Anthalia seemed to reflect for a moment, as if pondering her words more carefully than I had imagined.

  “With all due respect, Your Highness, that thought has never crossed my mind.” Her voice was firm, but filled with a quiet sincerity. “In fact, we ants tend to follow a queen who shows a certain amount of power. Our hierarchy has always been like that: the weakest followed the strongest, and we couldn't question our queen's orders. We just followed, doing her bidding...”

  She paused, which made me look at her more closely. It was a moment when she was really opening up.

  30 chapters ahead: