Whelp was awestruck by the sheer size of the crowd of orcs. Thousands, maybe more. He gripped Scorch’s hand tighter, nerves tingling. He had never seen this many people in one location before, and he was frightened. He couldn’t even make out the shape of Free’s Fist over the throng of orcs; though the mountain loomed tall, he was too short to see it, and the rest of the crowd was so much bigger than he was.
He pulled a deep breath, smelling the scent of sweat and exertion; was this the place then? Where the strongest orcs made something special out of the sand? He craned his neck trying to see something, anything. He still couldn’t.
Scorch laughed, a beautiful, high-pitched tinkling, and yanked Whelp up, tossing him casually onto her broad, thickly-muscled shoulders. He could see! He was so tall up here!
The crowd went even further than he thought, spreading off across the horizon, a sea of craggy, cracked grey, bedecked in rough leathers. Weapons abounded, some slung across backs, others wielded in fists. All were at peace, however. There was a distinct sense of calm in the air, as though the wars and battles outside of these hallowed grounds were of no consequence, here.
Whelp felt the reverence, overwhelming peace at Free’s Fist. It enveloped him and surrounded him, filling him in a way that nothing else he had ever felt had filled him. He felt safe, here. He felt as one with his kin, one united front. No fights, no contests, no pride.
But still, a nagging thought, one he couldn’t stop from sneaking into his mind: Why couldn’t it always be like this?
Where was this tavern? Learn thought to himself as he pulled the too-small cloak around his shoulders. It had gotten colder, to the point where it was affecting him, and he didn’t like it. It had been one of the worst parts of his journey here, before he had found clothing that covered him fully.
Best, obviously, had not shown herself yet. It wouldn’t have been like her to be on time, as Learn had swiftly learned. The odd elf clearly operated on her own schedule, and would let nobody else command her otherwise, and despite Learn’s pleas, she had refused to meet and talk any earlier than today, and anywhere other than this tavern.
Which didn’t appear to exist.
Learn could understand the elf’s attitude, appreciate it even. But that was difficult to do, now, in the cold. Right now, Learn was annoyed, shivering. He hated the chill.
Five more minutes. He would give her five more minutes before leaving. He owed that much to Lgthpt, he had promised the goblin that he would meet with Best. But if she was refusing…
Five more minutes.
Learn paced back and forth, trying to force heat into his limbs with the movement. It didn’t work as well as he hoped it would. He rubbed his forearms to get his blood to move quicker.
He turned, and bumped into Best. He hadn’t even noticed her approach. Startled, she let out a yelp and dropped the case she was carrying and it clattered to the cold ground.
“Oh! Sorry dear, I didn’t see you there.” Best said as she squatted to pick up the case. Learn looked around. It was just her and him, here. There was nothing and nobody else around them, save for a few sparse trees, leaves coating the ground underneath their branches. Nothing even remotely distracting.
“Mhm,” said Learn. “Didn’t see me.”
Best stood, stretching out to near Learn’s height. She was a tall elf, to be sure. Learn looked — she was dressed in loose, thick trousers and a billowy shirt. What looked to be men’s clothes.
“Your clothing…” Learn started. Best looked the orc in the face, and he was struck by the elf’s face. It didn’t bear any markings of gender nor sex. It was… confusing.
“Yes dear, I know. I hardly had time to put on something more appealing. What about my clothing?”
Learn threw his inhibitions aside. They only prevented the acquisition of knowledge, and he had needed to force himself to ask difficult questions, these past few months. Besides, he didn’t even know if elves did care about gender to the same level as his people. Orcs had traditions, places. There were rules that were followed.
“He, or she?” He asked. Best blinked in surprise.
“Oh? Oh!” She laughed. “I don’t care, Learn. He, she, they. Why limit myself to one form of expression?” She put a hand on his shoulder, gentle but firm. Her fingers were cold, even through the cloak, and Learn pulled back slightly.
“Okay,” Learn nodded. “Today, which is it?” He needed clarification, else he wouldn’t know how to act in the future.
All expression fled from Best’s face, granite forming her lips, brows, eyes. Her body stiffened, and then she forced herself to relax. The hand came back, on his shoulder, and Learn let it sit there.
“If you insist, darling. I guess today… hm, I’d say he.”
That was that, then. Different rules than for orcs, but rules nonetheless.
“Where’s this tavern?” Learn asked, getting back to what they were gathered here for. “Need to walk?”
Best shook his head. “No, darling. You’ll see, just trust me.”
“Best, listen…” Learn started to say. Best lifted a hand and shushed him.
“No, Learn. It’s my turn to talk now. Let me lead us, for a bit”
Learn clenched a fist. Gods, but the elf was irritating. He shut his mouth and followed, though. It wouldn’t do to have Best ignore his warning just because. Learn’s message needed to be delivered. He glowered, and the elf seemed to understand his point, because he stopped talking and began to walk forward.
They walked for some time, past landscapes that didn’t appear to be any different than the one they were in originally. Some sparse trees, some people on brisk walks before the chill got too deep.
Finally, they arrived, though why this location was important Learn did not know. There were fewer trees, sure. An easier spot for an ambush. Learn loosened his arms — it had been a while since he had fought, but the knowledge was still there, ready if he needed it.
Best stalked to the center of the clearing, looking around. Was he expecting something? Learn had no idea what was going on.
“Have no idea what’s going on,” he grunted. Best waved a hand at him, fingers dripping with jewelry. Ostentatious, really. He was startled when Best began to shout.
“Hey, old man!” Best yelled. “Let me in! I request entry, and protection for myself and mine! I will vouch for my guest. We will bring no violence upon your doorstep, nor harbor any secrets!”
Learn started to back away, slightly worried. Best’s words had the cadence of an enchantment, of a casting, of a Command in process, and Learn had no conception of what it would do if the elf finished it.
A split second, two possibilities: respond, or let him finish. Learn balled up his fists, he wished he had brought some components with him, in case something was about to happen. He resolved to never make that mistake again. He would need a focus, though he had no idea how to go about making one; he’d have to ask Magister Lrfshmn.
Best finished the incantation, and Learn held his breath, muscles taut with anticipation. Best reached out a hand and it clasped around…
A doorhandles? A door that wasn’t there a second before, which now existed. It was tall, with no frame around it, made of solid, dark wood that was marked with nothing but the passage of time. Learn relaxed, and stepped toward the door, and toward Best.
“What?” he breathed. Best quirked an eyebrow, grin widening his lips.
“You’re cold, right dear? Come on in.” He pulled open the door, revealing a hole in reality.
The hole, in particular, appeared to lead into a fairly nice foyer. Best gestured, and trepidatiously, Learn stepped through.
He was inside a tavern, dusky and dark, with flickering firelight illuminating the sparse inhabitants of the building. On his right, a bar made of some odd marble, with an assembled assortment of barstools, each different and mismatching. On his left, a series of tables, patchwork and unassuming. A man in a deep cowl sat in the corner, nursing a stein filled with a dark brown liquid.
Learn looked around, then let the gates in his mind open. He had just been transported, instantaneously, through some magic. The consequences of this were astounding, and his brain flared with the possibilities. Instantaneous communication, rapid trade, there were so many paths that this Command could lead to. He turned to look at Best and opened his mouth, breathing in to begin a tirade of excitement.
“Not transportation,” Best shook his head, “I asked. The door only leads here, and this bar isn’t… anywhere.”
Learn frowned. His caravan of thought had been stopped as it began, and it took him a bit to recover from the whiplash. It made sense, he thought as he looked around. There were no windows, no way to see outside.
“Where are we, then…?” He let the question trail off. Best gave a weak smile, a shrug, and walked over to one of the tables, gesturing for Learn to join him.
“Where Ends Meet. I know, it’s all a little weird, darling. This is a place that exists nowhere, and the worries of the world cannot come here. By coming in, you promise to leave all of your baggage at the door. Fortunately, I made that promise for you.”
Learn nodded.
“Extradimensional space. Theorized about, but no real examples. Who owns this?” Learn asked.
Best gestured to the bar. Behind it stood a human man, of moderate height for the race. He was balding, but his body looked strong underneath the thick leather apron he wore. His face was normal, in a way that made Learn think a Command was at play. There was nothing amenable nor disagreeable on that face, nothing that particularly stood out.
The man stood behind the bar, small rag folded neatly over his shoulder, wiping out a glass with another rag held in his hand. He looked toward the two newcomers and raised his chin in acknowledgment.
“He likely had a name, once, but the man who stands there is Host.” Best answered. “Owner of Where Ends Meet, gracious guest-keeper, provider of brews.”
“Most of those titles are of your own making.” Learn said bluntly. Best laughed.
“Just so! What I am certain of, darling, is that Host is quite appreciative of a good performance. Though there are rarely many guests here, the coin flows like water. Honestly, I don’t know where he gets it all.”
“Listen, Best. Need to warn you. Something is coming to Shrike, something big. Would be best if you left, went somewhere safe.” Learn let the words fly out of his mouth. If he let Best interrupt again, he might not ever get a chance to say what he needed to.
Best laughed, a glass noise.
“Darling, what could possibly scare you enough to ask that?”
“Not. Lgthpt told me to.”
“Ah, what a sweetling. While I appreciate her intentions, she usually isn’t as observant of events as she should be. Short attention span, you know.”
“Agree with her,” Learn grunted. “Big threat.”
“Well, if it’s that big a threat, why are you not leaving? Do as I say, not as I do, is it? I’m Tasked, darling. Dramatic situations are my favorite. A big threat coming? The people will look toward a hero, toward someone to save them. And wham! There I will be, standing tall and proud, cape flowing in the wind, sword held aloft.”
Learn glowered. The elf was, frankly, infuriating.
“Besides,” Best continued, “if it gets too dangerous, I’ll just pop in here. Where Ends Meet is impregnable, if you don’t know how to get in.”
It was the best he would likely get, Learn thought. The elf was stubborn like a mule. Or an orc, a small part of his mind piped. He nodded, lips pursed together. He missed his tusks, and the frustration they could help him convey. It was as though he were speaking a language he only knew half of.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to earn my keep,” Best proclaimed. “If you want a story, darling, see Host. He has stories aplenty, endless things for you to learn.” The elf picked up his instrument and began to tune it. Learn felt as though he had been excused, though he was the one to call for this meeting in the first place. Frustrating.
But the offer was good, and Learn couldn’t ignore it. He got up and went toward the bar. First the owner, then the old man in the corner.
