Seonghwa paced himself as they followed the servant's short but quick steps out of the throne room. He felt Nozurri's eyes on the back of his head, but he wore his chin high, not showing any vulnerability.

Siding with the dwarves meant Seonghwa always had to be on edge for a sudden betrayal. If the orcs paid higher for Seonghwa's head, Nozurri might take the deal. He was far from a friend.

But perhaps they could use his fascination with the celestial elves to their advantage. Seonghwa would never endanger his kids, but if showing Nozurri the beauty of the stars sealed in mortal vessels, he might reconsider killing them.

After all, he liked to preserve all the shining treasures.

Though his husbands noticed his brooding, they wisely kept silent until they reached the gate leading outside. Their quarters weren't far, right up a staircase next to the palace. Nozurri reserved them their own little hut tucked into the stone, and most of them ducked through the entrance when the dwarf beckoned them in.

Though the ceiling was low, it was cosy. Spacious and clean and, while cold, it made a good home.

"We accept all currencies in Veg Boldhir, so you may shop around the inns for food of your liking. To use magic, you have to go to the enchanter. If you require anything from the outside or which we cannot provide, ask the workers of the palace. You're easily recognisable." She gave Seonghwa an appraising look, but his smile remained peaceful.

"Thank you for the hospitality," he replied, and she grumbled before she took off, leaving them to their own devices.

Morana and Pebble wandered off to look around the small hut, while Yeosang sighed at the lack of natural light.

Yunho turned to Seonghwa as soon as the perfectly cut stone of the door was closed.

"A tense negotiation. I wonder if helping us is worth the risk to him. If we fail, those little gnomes might lose their reputation as our allies."

Seonghwa took off his cape to place it over a stone chair. Jongho had splayed a hand over the wall, crystals a contemplative purple as he took in the information from the other end. As if waiting for orders or for him to share, Buddy stood at his side, tail wagging and staring at the wall.

Hongjoong was leaning against the door, ready to leave and fetch the twins.

"I think he knows who the winning side will be. The emperor is stronger than ever. Without a leader, the orcs are a heap of raw muscle and no brains. Besides, Nozurri wouldn't want his involvement with the orcs to linger in history. Bad for the trade." His voice was confident, gaze calculating and cold against this trial. They needed to look stronger than ever. Any hesitation might indicate they weren't ready for this.

But with the support of the dwarves and the other kingdoms, the titans and the nymphs, the orcs would be wiped out within days.

It was tense, and Seonghwa needed to be prepared for whatever was coming their way.

While the elf settled in, Hongjoong jerked his head towards the door.

"Come on, chick. We're getting the twins."

Wooyoung was up and by his side in a flash, moving like lightening over getting a task instead of just standing around and behaving all day.

Aodhán perked up at the idea of magic.

"Can I come?"

Usually, dwarven enchanters were interesting to Seonghwa as well. They could weave magic into items, make them more durable, resist the elements, or even coat steel with them. Their craft wasn't common in any other folk Seonghwa knew of, so it was fascinating to gain insight into their craft.

But Seonghwa didn't want to expose himself to the dwarven population too much. Who knew who lurked in the shadows and carried out the news? Until they attacked the orcs, they couldn't risk being recognised.

Seonghwa silently gave his permission for Aodhán to join them since he could don his coat, but he caught Yunho's gaze. His husband had been ready with his sword by his side.

"I'll accompany you," he said, and Hongjoong nodded, pleased by the remaining protection Seonghwa would have. San just finished his slow round through the house after checking behind the beds and inside the trunks for intruders.

When they huddled towards the door with Buddy, Seonghwa's voice echoed in these walls, even more of a song than usual thanks to the elaborate architecture.

"Hongjoong, if the dwarves try anything..." He began, not daring to finish the thought, but his mage gave him his shrewd grin.

"I know, Damiana. We'll be careful," he promised, and Seonghwa wouldn't trust anyone else more.

Wooyoung also beamed back at him as Hongjoong opened the door for them.

"I'll take care of our angry mage! He won't get in trouble while I am there!" He boasted, gaining a kiss to his cheek from Seonghwa. When he pulled back, he caught Hongjoong rolling his eyes. His hand tugged on the tip of Wooyoung's wing, ever too flared and in the way.

"Yeah, yeah. Come now, chick."

They left together while everyone else stayed back. Yunho securely kept his hand on Aodhán's shoulder, but the boy was tall enough now that he passed as an adult, not garnering too much attention.

Seonghwa sat down on the bench to try to relax. He was tense from their foreign surroundings, unsure if he could trust the dwarves. But Yeosang caressed his back, taking off the stress.

"What do you think of the dwarves, Jongho?" Mingi quietly asked, also having sat down in a corner. Pebble had crawled into his lap and he mindlessly held the stone, careful with it as he had been with baby Morana.

Jongho hummed, sorting the information inside his peaceful mind.

"They are destructive creatures. Hurting the rock, chasing the coin. The stone watched them change sides often and call the shine in their eyes greed. The greed isn't gentle or singing. I think they are not good people," he ultimately replied, matching the blue lights that lit their temporary home with the flames of his eye sockets.

"Demons and orcs create chaos by spilling blood. Dwarves sell their own mothers. The only loyalty they have is to the coin," San agreed as he tied up his sleeve. His magical hand had fizzled out from their blockades.

Morana jumped right in, always eager for a spat.

"Takes no genius to notice that. What a gaudy display of wealth in his throne room. Not one plate of food but all the gold you can chew on. I understand when a dragon does it, but the dwarves? Definitely brittle ego," she scoffed, but Seonghwa had to smile at them.

"The strength of the dwarves is using their riches for innovation. No one else has the genius to build their machines. No one else makes such fortunes through their cunning. The dwarves are easily bought, yes, but they are loyal to their reward. Without their neutral stance on politics, we couldn't have earned them as our allies," he pointed out and Yeosang leaned his head against his shoulder, always happy listening to him. They all had been entranced before the war, but after Seonghwa's return, they listened to his voice with a reverence that was glad for every moment they spent with him.

"Same reason they joined Yongguk," Morana pointed out, and Mingi anxiously listened, worried she might fight with Seonghwa. His fingers fiddled with Pebble's rough surface so he could step in if he needed to. The golem was unimpressed.

But Morana was right. Smart as much as she was gorgeous. Seonghwa praised her with a smile either way.

Yeosang helped him explain, finding the best words to describe it to the girl.

"They have their culture as we have ours. Riches mean status and survival here and those without are reduced to slaves. If they weren't trading and building their machines, they wouldn't be able to keep up with other races who possess magic or wings. Shrewd beings, yes, but people like all others."

"They lack hospitality. Even the titans remembered we need food," San commented and Seonghwa rose elegantly.

"Shall we go out to find something to eat? The twins will be hungry."

Instantly, Morana's frown disappeared, and she hopped to her feet. Her hand tugged on Mingi, warning him of the low ceiling as he had to bend deep down, whereas Yeosang and Jongho just distributed their height onto their shoulders and hips. When Seonghwa complimented Yeosang's charming skirt, the dryad twirled for him.

Morana's noise drowned out all else.

"Yes! I'm also hungry! Let's hope the dwarves at least have good food."

Mingi smiled to himself as she dragged him towards the door, even when his horns scraped over the ceiling.

Seonghwa picked up his cloak once more.

"What do dwarves eat? Gems?" Yeosang joked on his way out, well aware of the long hours of studies he and Seonghwa spent together on all races of the known world. He did it to humour Morana, but Jongho had an anecdote.

"Gems don't have much of a taste aside from the echo of their crunch, which resonates differently if they are consumed. Rubies taste rich and like earth to me. Onyx is like the black smoke that rises from a fire. Moonstones sing like Seonghwa," he recounted, and Morana stared up at him in awe, tempted now to try some for herself.

San had to chuckle before he folded his wings and led their group, keeping his eye out for any danger.

They were close to the market, and it was easy to blend in with the crowd. Onyx sailed overhead, not alone among some curious species of bats that seemed to exist only inside here. He quickly scouted for every food stand and inn down the road and returned to them to caw into Morana's ear, directing her. Her way of understanding him wasn't like Wooyoung's, who communicated with birds as if in a language. Morana read Onyx' body language, his bobs and the tone of his caws, and that was how she knew where to go.

Seonghwa was immensely proud as she directed San with her fists bunched into his cape, tugging him left and right while the seraph's wings shielded her.

They found a few booths with gorgeous pieces of jewellery and decoration, magnificent craftmanship that Seonghwa wanted to gift his husbands. But it was useless, for now. They had no place to put their belongings and didn't need that much luggage.

So instead, he purchased a bag of candy in the shape of crystals, sparkly for Wooyoung to enjoy since he had greedy eyes like the dwarves, but also a delight for the kids.

They found an inn and took a while to piece together Yeosang's and Seonghwa's knowledge of the dwarven language, combined with the dishes served to its patrons to figure out the menu. The dwarves offered meat from creatures they hunted in these depths, massive salamanders and the blind fishes of underwater caves. They had no common vegetables on the daily menu, but they farmed mushrooms and some equivalents to surface fruits, even when the nutritional value was different.

Ultimately, they followed their noses. Yeosang ordered them some dishes with meat, some without, along with the ale of the dwarves' making. He was asked why he was a walking tree by some amused dwarves nearby, and when he just smiled at them, they cursed and scratched their heads, confused why they saw such beautiful features in a walnut's bark.

Soon, their dishes came out, generous portions with some added drinks, since Yeosang gladly paid them more. It was an easy way to buy the friendship of the dwarves and the foreign visitors were accepted quicker than expected. Though petty with payment, the dwarves liked to appeal for their customers' return.

They were told to bring back the plates and bowls later before they took off with laden arms, even Seonghwa balancing a heavy platter in careful hands. San looked angry at himself for being unable to carry it for him, but his right arm cradled a pot of ale already.

Once they found back to their house (thanks to Jongho detecting Pebble in there since they all looked the same), they spread out their meal and poured the drinks. Mingi happily distributed spoons wherever he heard a mug click into place on the stone table and soon, they were all seated and waiting for the rest of their family with a warm meal.