Chapter 451 Hammer Clan
The deep and dark passage has no end at a glance, the burning torch makes a crackling sound, and the sound of shoe soles on the ground can echo for a long time before disappearing.
The air is very turbid, mixed with the smell of earth, and sometimes you need to take a big breath to meet the needs of your body.
Stanford and his men were walking in such an environment. They were passing through a mountain tunnel opened by dwarves.
Many people were uneasy and their bodies were shaking uncontrollably. This atmosphere seemed like they were walking on the road to hell.
Many people are also afraid that the tunnel will suddenly collapse and bury them all underneath.
"Humans, let me say it again, if you are afraid, you can go back the way you came."
Balash said with some pride, the dwarves have loud voices, Balashyu What's more, because of the deep tunnel, the sound now is more like ringing a bell.
Stanford shook his head. go back? joke.
One night two days ago, the dwarf Balash promised to help them pass through the Rocky Mountains. After resting for a night in the dwarf camp, Barash will personally lead them to the home of the Hammer Clan - Furnace Keep.
The trip over the mountains and ridges that Stanford expected did not happen. The dwarf led them to take a shortcut-drilling a tunnel.
The tunnels of the dwarves are essentially mazes, with twists and turns. After a few steps, you will encounter a fork, and it goes up and down, not to mention that there are no torches in some sections. , relying on some unknown fungi that can emit fluorescence on the stone wall to provide a little light, which greatly increases the difficulty of remembering the route.
If you wander around in such a tunnel without a guide, the piles of bones you will pass by from time to time may be the fate of most people.
The tunnels they walked in were not continuous. Although each one was very long, they would eventually come out. The exit was often in a valley, and then they continued to walk through a mountain road before entering another. In a tunnel.
“We’re here!”
Finally, they came to the most open valley since entering the mountain.
When they were about to exit the tunnel, Balash once again kindly reminded them to squint.
Stanford half covered it with his hands, squinting and looking into the distance.
He first saw patches of land that were irregularly distributed but had obvious traces of care. It seemed that the dwarves in the mountains also had farming.
Looking further into the distance, a huge, towering building stands in front of the stone wall of the valley.
It seemed to be a castle, but in an extremely rough style.
“Welcome to Furnace Keep.”
Balash pointed at the huge building on the stone wall.
"In your human terms, this is the 'royal capital' of our Hammer clan. Soon you will be able to meet my father."
"What an honor!" Stanford thanked him.
The group continued walking towards the huge castle.
As the distance got closer, Stanford could see clearly that the main body of the castle was actually carved out of the rock wall, with bricks and stones piled in some parts.
He once again admired the dwarf's uncanny craftsmanship.
“Are we the first humans to visit here?”
“Haha, Mr. Stanford, it’s a pity that you can’t achieve this achievement.”
Barash grinned.
“In the long history of the dwarves, many foreign friends have visited here, including orcs and humans. They often have some kind of kindness to our people, and they are all loyal and reliable people who keep their promises. But it may take decades to have such a lucky person."
Imar on the side interrupted: "There are still wars that happened in ancient times..."
"Shut up, Yi. Mal!" Balash interrupted him, "Stop talking about this, let's go in."
When the dwarf warriors guarding the castle gate saw that the young patriarch had brought a group of humans, they opened their eyes one by one. Big eyes.
But they didn't stop them, they just kept casting curious glances. After all, humans are also rare to some dwarves who don't go down the mountain very often. Stanford and his men entered the castle while enduring the discomfort of being watched.
Only then did they realize that there was a cave inside the castle. This building was not just a shallow layer carved out of the stone wall, but very deep, and unlike the ones they had walked through before. The tunnel is so cramped and the space is so huge that it makes people feel like they are in a town - even at human height.
The roads inside the castle are well developed and the ventilation is very good. There is no dull feeling like in the tunnel.
Walking along the way, Stanford saw taverns, markets, shops, residences and other building areas with different functions. Many places were bustling with people, just like the human world.
Yes, the city, this is a city embedded in the mountain.
A wide main road led directly to the residence of the clan leader, and they followed this road to the end.
The place where the patriarch lives is not as majestic as a human king or lord, but the gate is larger than other dwarf buildings.
Balash led them straight in without being blocked.
The patriarch of the Hammer Clan met with Captain Stanford in a large hall.
Balash's father is a dwarf with a beard that can almost reach the ground, but his face is very rosy and plump, and his body is extremely strong. He wears linen clothes and a shawl made of unknown animal skins.
It seems that except for his beard, the patriarch is no different from his people.
"My child, why did you bring a group of humans to Firecastle?" The dwarf patriarch looked at the group of people with stern eyes.
"Father!" Balash stepped forward to explain, "These humans saved Emaar from the orc bandits."
"Oh?" The dwarf patriarch glanced at his nephew.
"Tell me the story carefully."
Imael immediately stood up and "described" the process with added detail, mixed with outrageous bragging about himself as always.
But his boasting served as a good cover. The dwarf patriarch knew his nephew's character, but did not doubt the premise that "human beings saved him".
“So, do you want to get any reward?”
“We want to return to our hometown in the south through the Rocky Mountains.”
Stanford asked him and told his story.
"Please also ask the great dwarf king to accept this disrespectful gift."
He presented the gift in a familiar manner.
"King of the dwarves? Hahaha!"
The patriarch laughed, "Humans, you are really good at complimenting. Okay, I will accept these exquisite gadgets from you. Son.”
“For the sake of gifts and life-saving grace for my people, and for your courage, I allow you to travel through our territory, but you must swear to your gods not to reveal the details along the way to others. ”
“I swear to do as you ask!” I didn’t remember anything anyway.
The patriarch looked at his nephew.
"Okay! Emaar, it's a bit late today. You should lead the human guests to rest first. Find someone to guide them to the south tomorrow. You know what to do."
"Yes, uncle."
Stanford let out a long sigh of relief, it was finally over. He followed Emaar outside. The sound of the dwarf patriarch talking to his son came from behind.
"Balash, you will notify the elders to come over later. We have to discuss it. Some orc cubs are so arrogant that they actually set their sights on the dwarves."
"Yes. , father.”
(End of this chapter)