On Sixday, Tom again slept in with Diavla, and they had some amazing sex. Eubexa has some great suggestions, he thought happily. Nothing like having a real expert giving you lessons. They weren't ready to face the day until nearly lunchtime. I wonder if Diavla is helping my stamina with her magic. She said she isn't, but...maybe what they say is true, about young men having the most endurance. I won't know until I'm older, I guess.

He hadn't dreamed of Sir Kurt and the guys overnight, but it was only something that happened once in a while. Still, getting a review lesson from Sir Kurt now and then was bound to help his skill. Yup, experts are great. And speaking of experts...

Tom looked around the table, where everyone was eating lunch. "After this, I'm going to try to find the dwarves in town."

Eubexa turned her head sharply. "There are dwarves in Oak Mill?"

"According to one drunk guy at the tavern, yeah. It will be a bit tricky finding the right people to ask. Everyone is so tense and on edge around here, even if they aren't under the influence of a hate demon."

Diavla asked, and Eubexa translated, "Did you meet someone like Edge at the tavern? Someone you could ask?"

Tom was about to say no, then reconsidered. "Actually, I might have. Summer Daring runs the Wandering Ax, and she seems like a reasonable person who knows some things. Thanks, Diavla, I'll head there first."

"What are you going to talk to the Dwarves about?" Eubexa asked.

"Generally, I'm going to ask them for advice. They're the real experts on fighting demons, after all."

"Tom," Diavla called. "Do you think you could ask at the Temple to see if they have spare amulets? I'm sitting around all day so at least I could fill two or three."

Tom smacked his forehead. "I should have thought of that. I'll get some while I'm out. At the very least, we should have more ready for when the others arrive." He looked around the table. "Is everyone wearing a full amulet?" he checked.

Everyone except Diavla nodded. "We have three (something), not two," she told him. "Someone isn't (something) one." Eubexa answered her in Elvish, then turned to Tom.

"That would be me. Nothing's getting past this thing," she explained, pointing at her neck, where the magical necklace was hidden beneath her clothes. "No sense in wasting the spare when they are in short supply."

"So we only need two more for ourselves, then."

"Also, we won't need any spares for at least another day, so maybe you should bring them to the Temple?"

"Maybe we could give a couple to the kids. Just tell them it's a good luck charm, and never to take it off," Arven suggested.

Eubexa made a noise of disagreement. "No, children aren't very interesting to demons." Tom looked at her quizzically, and she added, "I've been reading more of the book."

He nodded in understanding. "Good to know. I guess Piper and Charlie made a good impression on you two, huh?" The elves nodded.

"And when you get back, you can try filling amulets again, Tom," Diavla urged with a mischievous smile.

"Uh-oh. I may be out late tonight," he joked, grinning back.

"Don't you dare," his lover growled, still smiling. Tom winked at her and left, locking the door carefully behind him.

Outside, he looked up and down the street, and frowned. He had been a town guard, and traveled a lot, so he had seen a lot of towns and cities, and he knew what felt normal. This wasn't it. Oak Mill was tense, on edge, waiting for the arrow to land. There were fewer people, but nearly all of them looked worried, harried, or angry. He headed for the Wandering Ax.

I was going to go to the Keep to inform them about the demon threat...but I suspect that would be a bad idea at this point. I've made sure the Temple knows, and they are taking steps. If it comes to a fight, I'm confident I can take down one or two town guards without killing them, but I've got to protect the elves. Hopefully keeping them hidden will be good enough.

Tom thought about the other five elves, on their way to town. That could be a problem. I need to meet them before they get to the town walls, or they might start a riot just by existing. If only we'd had a few more days' head start...

Do I want to take all the elves out of Oak Mill with me, right now? We could camp out north of town—damn it, no, we can't, because of the wagons. Two groups? No—whichever group I'm not with will be a bunch of elves in a land of hostile humans. I'd have to stash them well-hidden off the road somewhere, and I'd have to do it quickly enough that I don't miss the arrival of the others...

No. Too complicated. We'll sit tight, and I'll go out and try to find them before they get to town. Tonight is the earliest they could show up, so late in the afternoon I'll head out. If they don't show up by nightfall, I'll come back in and we'll try again the next day, and the next, until they show up. I really hope they get here tonight.

The Wandering Ax was closed; apparently, it stayed open very late, and so didn't open until mid-afternoon. Tom knocked anyway, hoping Summer was available. Unfortunately, there was no answer. After several tries, Tom gave up on that plan.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

All right, next I'll go to the smithies and ask. If they won't tell me for some reason, I'll ask at the Temple. It can't be that hard to find dwarves in town, no matter how reclusive they are.

Tom stopped by Arville's Anvil, one of his customers. Arville greeted him with a nod and a smile. "Hello again, Mister Walker. I don't need any more salt, if that's what you're here about."

"No, no, I'm happy with our deal. I just had a quick question. A guy named...Benny, I think it was? The other night, he said something about there being dwarves in Oak Mill. I didn't know whether it was the ale talking, or...?"

"No, no, they're real. They're from the Steelfire Clan down south, in the Red Hills."

"What are they doing up here?"

Arville shrugged. "A difference of opinion with folks back home, or so I heard the rumor. They don't talk much—not even when drinking, the few times they've come to a tavern."

"Have they got a smithy here in town?"

"Nope. I think they're jewelers."

"Ah...good stones around here?"

"No, but they get shipped in from north and south."

"Fair enough. Where do they make their home? I haven't seen anything that looks like a mine around here."

Arville smiled. "They don't all live in mines and caves, Mr. Walker. The Steelfires have a couple of connected basement apartments on Maple Street, to the north of Temple Hill."

"Ah. Do they have a shop?"

"Nope. I guess all their work is special projects."

"Interesting."

"What do you want with the dwarves? Just want to see one in the flesh?"

"A magic consultation."

"Magic?"

"Yeah, I came across some dwarven stuff I need information on," Tom ad-libbed. "I thought I'd see if the dwarves in town could help me. Where can I find them, exactly?"

"Well, they might not want to talk to you. Like I said, they keep to themselves."

"There ought to be some way to reach them, though, surely?"

"You might try Anna Houser as a go-between, then. I think she rented them the houses they're under."

"Oh, I know Anna Houser. Thanks, that's just what I needed. Say, how's business?"

Tom chatted with Arville a bit longer than he had the last time he was by. It was something of a relief to have a pleasant conversation outside of the tavern. Arville actually hadn't particularly noticed the town getting more hostile, since he mostly kept to himself. Eventually, Tom took his leave and headed for Anna Houser's shop.

The more he looked around, the more he was glad that he had told the elves to stay put. He saw one of the town guards harassing a young man, and started moving to intervene before the guard apparently was satisfied and strolled off. Tom did his best to hide that he had been about to step in, disguising his reaction as fear. It wasn't hard to pretend; he was worried about what would happen to the elves if he got into trouble with the guard. It wouldn't have stopped him from interfering if needed, but better that the guard didn't know that.

He made it to Anna Houser's place without further incident. She happened to be free when he stepped inside. "Mister Walker! How are you? The house is satisfactory, I hope?"

"Oh, absolutely, Miss Houser. No complaints. Where do you get more firewood, by the way? The elves like to keep the place warm."

"Oh, goodness, this is Oak Mill. Throw a rock and you'll hit a pile of firewood for sale. I usually just use the place two doors down towards the creek, because it's closest."

"Thank you. I also wanted to ask you for directions to the dwarves in town."

"The dwarves?" Anna's eyebrows went up. "Five elves aren't enough for you?" They smiled at each other.

"I was hoping to consult with them, if they're willing to see me."

"It's good that you said that—they aren't always open to visitors."

"Would you be willing to introduce me?"

"I would want to know what this is about, first."

Tom tried to think up an excuse that was true, or as close to the truth as possible. "I've been studying up on demons recently, and I was hoping to check the accuracy of statements in a book I have."

Anna looked skeptical. "That's an odd hobby for a trader."

"It is, I know, but I spent a gold to buy the book, and since I heard there were dwarves in town, I thought I might as well see if what the book is saying makes sense to them, and maybe get some recommendations."

"What's the book?" she asked, still probing.

"On Fighting Demons, by Sir Karl of Briarwood."

The woman continued to stare at him, clearly trying to tell whether he was spinning a tale or not. Finally, she sighed. "Well, I'll give you the address. If they don't answer, let me know, and the next time I am free I will stop by."

"Thank you."

She told him what the building looked like, and Tom recited it back carefully to make sure he had it right. After a few more pleasantries, he excused himself and left her shop. Well, that was harder than it should have been, he mused.

A few minutes later, he was walking along Maple Street, comparing the faces of the buildings with the description Houser had given him. Eventually, he found the right place, and walked down a flight of stone steps to a sturdy basement door. He started examining it for a knocker or bell pull, and didn't find anything besides a very small slot near the doorknob. He couldn't figure out what it was for.

He was about to give up the puzzle and knock when a shadow fell on him, hiding most of the door in gloom. He looked up quickly, wary, but didn't find a threat. Instead, the Priestess from the Temple stood at the top of the stairs, looking just as surprised as he was.

"Mister Walker. I wasn't expecting to meet you here. Coming for a consultation as well?"

Tom nodded. "Once I found out there were dwarves in town, it only made sense." He turned back to the door and raised his fist.

"Ah!" He froze at the warning cry. "That's not how you do it."

Tom dropped his hand and looked up at her with curiosity. "I beg your pardon, Priestess?"

"You have to put a coin in."

Tom blinked, and repeated the sentence in his soul, but it didn't make any more sense the second time. "I beg your pardon?"

"It's a dwarven custom. Have you ever been to a dwarven home before?"

"No, this is my first time."

"Well, the way it works is, you see the slot next to the door handle?"

"Yes?"

"You drop a coin in to announce your presence."

"You have to pay to visit a dwarf?" Tom exclaimed.

"In a manner of speaking. The usual custom is for them to give the coin back at the end of the visit. But if the dwarf feels that you have wasted their time, they might keep it to make the point."

Tom blinked, thinking that over.

"Part of the custom is also to indicate the importance of your visit with the kind of coin. If you put in a copper coin, they won't answer unless they're bored or completely free. A silver is more standard. A gold coin is for important and urgent matters, but not everyone has gold, of course."

"That's...really interesting. I guess it's a good way to keep people from wasting your time." Tom eyed what he now realized was the coin slot, and started reaching for his purse.

"Allow me." The cleric descended the steps and placed a gold coin in the slot. It landed somewhere inside with a metallic rattle, followed by other sounds, and Tom got the impression that the coin was rolling away on some kind of track. The two of them stood and waited. What if they aren't home? He wondered. What happens then?

It was probably less than a minute before there was a loud clunk, and then a small iron slider opened in the door. A pair of dark eyes peered out at them through it for a moment, and then the slider slammed shut again. More noises presaged the door opening, and he took an automatic step back. A moment later, Tom got his first look at the dwarf who might give him some needed answers.

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