“This is an interesting party,” Everett said, leaning against one of the wooden tables that Alexander had scattered around the warehouse. “I’ve never seen so many dwarves in one location. Should I ask how you got so many to come?”

Max shook his head. “That was all Batrire. Apparently, there are a few locations where dwarves like to gather and drink, and she mentioned this party to them. Free ale, food, and a fiftieth birthday gets you a lot of dwarves.”

Tom started laughing hysterically, and the other two men tried to figure out why.

“Over there! Those dwarves on the donkey! It’s the funniest thing ever!”

Max nodded, having spent a few moments earlier in the evening watching dwarves try to ride a donkey that didn’t want to be ridden. A few broken bones occurred, but Alexander's healer was handling the injuries.

Turning his attention away from the dwarf who just got bucked off the donkey, Tom looked at Max and held out his hand.

“What’s that?”

“A handshake. Now shake it,” Tom replied.

Shrugging, Max shook the older man’s hand.

“Congratulations on level fifty!”

Nodding, Max closed his eyes and then shook his head. “Fowl?”

“Fowl,” Tom replied with a smile. “I’m not sure if it was the ale or the excitement, but he broke like a wall when a dragon hits it.”

Max looked at Everett, who shrugged. “Tom’s not known for his analogies. Regardless, both of us are slightly impressed and also have questions about how. The problem is your newest party member is a day late. She and the rest of her party ran into a problem and got delayed. It will probably be another few days before they get out of the tower. Is that OK?”

Max nodded. “No worries. We’ll keep ourselves busy.”

“Do you need help with anything?” Tom asked. “Obviously, we want to help you four succeed. We can get you into the tower's first floor in a day or two if you want. Like a small trial run.”

“We’ll wait, but thank you. No point ruining the surprise.”

Everett’s fingers were drumming against the side of his tankard as he watched Max and Tom talk.

“You four are going to attempt the demon or dragon dungeons, aren’t you?”

Both Tom and Max turned to see Everett studying Max.

“What? No!” Tom said, looking at Max. Seeing that he wasn’t denying it, Tom groaned. “Why would you risk those dungeons? And with only four of you?! Surely you know how dangerous they are!”

Max nodded at each question, ignoring the frantic tone in Tom’s voice.

“Do you trust us?” Max asked, his voice calm and steady.

“What?”

Max glanced around the party, seeing that no one seemed to be paying any attention to the three humans huddled around one of the tables in a warehouse filled with dwarves. “Do you trust us? Are you willing to let us rise or fall on our own accord, or do you see us as nothing more than a group to farm materials for the Faction?”

Tom’s mouth hung open, and Max saw Everett grin.

“We wouldn’t–”

“Don’t, Tom,” Everett said, cutting off Tom. “We won’t lie to them. They're smart enough and strong enough to know what's best for both themselves and us.”

Everett studied Max as the two of them stood quietly for a bit.

“Ever since you first walked into my office, I knew you four were different,” Everett admitted. “No one has had balls like the four of you in a long time. Even your elf mage has more balls than many of the men who try to join our Faction.”

Picking up his tankard, Everett dumped it out before pulling a bottle from his storage and opening it, pouring a tiny amount into his tankard. He motioned to Max, who mimicked the older man, dumping out his ale and handing his cup over.

“This bottle is worth more than I care to discuss, and Tom can tell you the number of times I have actually shared this with anyone, even him.”

Max glanced at Tom, seeing the man shaking his head as he frowned. “Once… only once with me.”

“Your group is an abnormality, and yes, we have high hopes that you four will propel our Faction to the top in time. If you continue to accomplish a fraction of what you already have and kill what I hope you will face, everyone in the Faction will be stronger because of it.”

Everett looked at Tom, who was still frowning. “Empty your cup, you fool,” the Faction leader said with a groan. “I’m not opening this bottle again anytime soon.”

Without hesitating, Tom poured out his cup and then handed it to Everett, smiling as the man poured a little bit into it.If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

“Now listen, Seth. I’ll shoot straight with you and ask you to shoot straight with me. Why are you all climbing the tower?”

Max looked at the man, noticing his eyes were watching his reactions, trying to pick up the smallest indication of a lie. “It’s simple. We’re going to defeat it.”

Tom started to speak, and Everett shook his head, holding his hand up to stop him.

“Then tonight, we drink to the impossible. I’ll support you as long as I’m the leader, making sure to help in any way I can, but I won’t make the climb easy. If you’re serious about this, you must learn things the hard way. You must face each floor with as little help as we can provide because,” Everett paused, leaning closer to Max, “if you have any hopes of getting past the fiftieth floor you will need to be stronger than every one of us.”

Max smiled, nodding as the man put all his cards on the table.

“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” Max replied.

Everett nodded and lifted up his tankard. “To your dream then. May we see you achieve what none of us believe is possible, and may we be the greatest Faction because of your party’s success.”

They all clanked their cups, and Max watched as Everett and Tom tilted their glasses upside down, swallowing the contents quickly.

Both men sucked in air rapidly, grimacing and smiling at the same time.

“Drink it quick,” Everett said. “Trust me.”

Max nodded and mimicked their actions, feeling the alcohol hit his tongue, and a sensation of warmth and heat enveloped his mouth, running down the back of his throat and traveling all the way to his stomach.

Within seconds he felt a warm sensation all over and found himself sucking in a breath of air like they had.

“Wow, that tastes like… I’m not sure. It’s so smooth, but… I can feel it already.”

Everett nodded and started to laugh. “It kicks like a mule. Like a mule kicking a dwarf dumb enough to try and ride it.”

Tom started to laugh louder than he should, and Max could feel the alcohol beginning to make his mind go slightly numb.

[ Regeneration ]

It took a moment, but after a handful of seconds, he felt the effects starting to wear off, his mind clearing as the slight dizzy effect that had begun to set in vanished.

Once he felt back to normal, Max smiled and gave a bow.

[ Regeneration Expired ]

“Don’t mind me. I need to go and spend some time with my friends.”

The two men nodded and laughed, each smiling more than Max could remember seeing before.

“Are you okay?” Tanila asked as Max stood beside her, scanning the crowd of dwarves laughing and dancing with Fowl and Batrire.

“I am,” he replied, smiling slightly. “I’ll tell you what Tom and Everett said later but know I’m ready for what is about to come. Never in my life have I wanted anything more than I want what is in front of me now.”

Shifting under his gaze, Tanila’s cheeks reddened, and Max grinned. “You seem a little bold with that statement,” she replied. “Are you certain that you mean what you are saying?”

Max nodded, moving closer and standing slightly on his toes, as her shoes had made her tall enough that he had to meet her eyes. “I think we should dance.”

“What?! To this song? We’re not prepared for the rowdyness on the dance floor!” she exclaimed.

Nodding, Max moved back and then ran to the stage, jumping onto it and moving to where the band leader was. After he said something, the dwarf nodded and cut the music.

Groans came from around the room and a few boos as the song stopped mid-way through it, but Max moved to the front of the stage, smiling as he held his hands up.

“Forgive me, but someone once told me that a bond between two dwarves is a very special thing!” Max shouted.

All around the room, dwarves shouted that he was correct.

Smiling, Max pointed at Fowl and Batrire, who were breathing hard from the fun they were having. “The birthday dwarf has a very special lady, one he calls his love, and they have pledged themselves to each other in a way that goes beyond anything else. They protect each other. Fowl shields Batrire with his body and armor, gladly throwing himself before any creature or person who might mean her harm.”

Fowl reached over and grabbed Batrire’s hand, nodding and smiling as he looked into her eyes.

“Batrire protects her brave warrior, using the gifts that Ockrim has given her to keep him healed even when he was close to death!”

Cheers rose, and the dwarves clapped and stomped their feet.

“Tonight, we will give them, and those who have such a person in their life, the chance/opportunity to dance to the song of life! Join them as these two dance to a song that only those with a bond like theirs can! If you have someone like that tonight, do not wait or hide behind fears and doubts. Tell them, and celebrate life together for as long as the gods allow it!”

Max immediately turned and signaled the band to start. They began playing a slower song, the drums sounding like a heart beating, safe and secure. The wood instruments took on a tone that carried the joy of the hope of a new day. The single harp strummed, its crystal clear sound filling the warehouse.

The dance floor began to empty as Batrire and Fowl came together, holding hands and smiling as they moved slowly, bodies close and whispering in each other’s ears. A few other pairs of dwarves joined them on the floor.

Max turned and looked at Tanila, who was shaking as he jumped off the stage and moved to where she stood.

“Dance with me. Please.”

Max held out his hand to her, waiting, baring everything he had to show her how he felt.

“But, what about–”“None of it matters, Tanila,” Max said, stopping her from voicing excuses or concerns. “I will never stop loving you, and no matter what happens in life, I will always protect you. If that is enough, then dance with me.”

A few tears slid down her cheeks, and Max lifted his hand, wiping them away gently.

She grabbed his hand and squeezed, nodding and smiling.

Together, they stepped onto the dance floor, holding each other close and letting the song control their movements. He laid his head against her chest, sad that he couldn’t put it higher, but the way her skin felt against his cheek made him feel alive.

“I should have taken off my shoes,” she whispered, leaning against him. “Then you wouldn’t be so short.”

Max chuckled and nodded once. “And yet I think every man, elf, and dwarf in this building would agree I have the best place to lay my head.”

She started to laugh, her voice rising above the music as they wrapped their arms around each other.

Max saw Batrire and Fowl looking at them, smiling, tears staining their faces.

“Thank you,” Fowl mouthed silently.

Smiling, Max winked, watching his dwarven brother laugh and roll his eyes before returning his attention to Batrire.

Closing his eyes for a few seconds, he was grateful for the world giving him this moment.