“Shadow elf?” the cleric asked.
“High priest,” Tarron said.
The high priest looked at the group. “What is going on? That elven realm gate has been disused for thousands of years. We only kept it because removing it would probably destroy the temple.”
“We’re looking for the elves and dwarves,” Layla said in Dwarvish. She’d learned the language when in the dwarven realm of Nidavellir. Everyone on the team knew the language and could speak and understand it with ease. The dwarves had a machine they used to implant their language or other information into people’s heads as if they’d always known it. Everyone who had been through the process came away thinking the same thing: that it was a strange experience they didn’t want to ever repeat.
“They’re right there,” the high priest said, indicating Zamek and Tarron, clearly confused as to what was going on.
Zamek waved. Harry forced the dwarf to lower his arm.
“I’m just trying to be nice,” Zamek whispered. “They outnumber us a hundred to one, and they have really big weapons.”
“You’re a walking weapon,” Harry whispered back. “Don’t make any sudden movements.”
“I think we should go to my chambers,” the high priest said. “We don’t appear to be getting anywhere here.” He waved at the congregation, who all lowered their weapons or at least didn’t look like they were about to use them.
The group followed the high priest through the massive temple hall, which, while certainly made for those who were much larger than human, was almost dwarven in its influences. The white bricks and dark wood were joined together seamlessly. Layla found the whole thing quite stunning, especially with a roof that was in large part made of what appeared to be glass. It let her look up at the bright-blue sky above. The whole thing was beautiful.
The buildings outside the temple were just as impressive. The group stood on top of a large hill overlooking the city below, and to Layla’s mind, it really did appear as though it had been made for dwarves. Except on a much larger scale. The city stretched as far as they could see. It was easily the same size as a human city but appeared to have considerably fewer people.
“Did you guys do this?” Layla asked Zamek.
“We learned how to craft from the dwarves,” the high priest said as they descended the stairs to the town. “They taught us a lot before they vanished. But yes, they built these buildings. Maybe two thousand years ago now.”
“They look new,” Layla said.
“We know how to make things last,” Zamek said proudly.
The high priest looked back at them. “If you are looking for the rest of your people, I think you’ll have had a wasted journey.”
Zamek shrugged. “I’m used to it.”
“So who were you when the dwarves were around?” he asked. Layla noticed the six guards who followed at a respectful but cautious distance.
Zamek looked uncomfortable with the topic of conversation, but he sighed and answered truthfully, “I was . . . am, I guess, Prince Zamek.”
The high priest stopped in his tracks and turned back to Zamek, staring at him intently. “I knew your father,” he said. “He was a good dwarf, but arrogant and full of pride. Have you learned from his mistakes?”
“Probably not,” Zamek said.
The high priest laughed. “At least you can admit your failings,” he said. “It was more than your father and brothers were able to do. Your sisters too. Actually, the whole royal family. Dwarves are a proud people. Royal dwarves are . . .”
“Blinded to anything not happening in front of them,” Zamek said. “Yeah, I’ve met them before.”
“Your father would never have allowed you to wear armor like that. He would have wanted it to gleam.”
“My father isn’t here,” Zamek said. “And I’m not a prince anymore. Besides, armor that shines is stupid and just makes you look pretty when you’re dead.”
The giant slapped a huge hand on Zamek’s back. “Too right,” he said. “I tried explaining that to him, but I was a young man, and he was not one to be easily moved.”
“No, that he wasn’t,” Zamek said. “What were you doing for the giants at the time?”
“I was a soldier,” the high priest said. “Not a very good one either. Or an excellent one. I forget how that works. Either way, I left one order and joined another. This one has less people being stabbed, though.”
“How many less?” Harry asked.
The high priest laughed. “I like you.”
The expression on Harry’s face suggested he wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.
“And you have a saber-tooth panther,” the high priest said conversationally as the stairs ended and they started walking along the brick roads of the city, getting several strange glances from the giants that lived there, as their buildings towered over the group like an entire town of ten-story skyscrapers.
Several giants, probably no more than children, ran over to the team. Each one was already Layla’s height. Their parents barked commands at them to leave the newcomers alone.
Layla stopped outside a building that, while only two stories, was over sixty feet high. The high priest opened the door, and Layla suddenly felt like Alice after drinking a shrinking potion. The group walked through the house, most rooms of which were big enough for an entire human family to live in. The table in what Layla assumed was a dining room was higher than her head. Layla smiled at the thought of needing a stepladder to get onto the chairs. They all left through a door at the rear of the property and stepped out into a garden.
“My people can shrink to about seven or eight feet,” the high priest said, “but we feel more comfortable in our homes at taller heights, so it would be impossible for us all to talk in there. But I have a place for when the dwarves used to visit.”
At the end of the garden, which was about a quarter of a mile in length, was a building that, while not quite human size, was also not quite giant size.
“This is awesome,” Harry whispered.
“Thank you,” the high priest said. “Whispering doesn’t work here. Our hearing is better than yours.”
Kase laughed and gave Harry a playful hug as he sighed with embarrassment. “Apologies,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to be rude.”
“Oh, no need,” the high priest said as he removed a bunch of keys from a pocket in his robes and unlocked the door with the smallest one. “Humans are a strange species. There are so many rules and ways to behave. Giants are easier. It is difficult to offend us. Be kind. Be respectful. Crush your enemies. After that, we don’t worry too much.”
“Crush your enemies?” Zamek asked.
“We’re a peaceful society,” the high priest said, beckoning everyone into the building. “But we’re capable of laying waste to those who cross us if need be.”
“Like flame giants?” Layla asked, stepping into the building.
“Ah, yes. A sad story,” the high priest said, following after them but leaving the door open so his guards could join them.
The room contained a large table that could have easily seated twenty people, chairs, a tapestry on the wall that appeared to depict some kind of battle, and a set of stairs that led to whatever was above them.