Aubrey and Hak-Kun managed to develop a crude form of oral penicillin soon after the election. Despite the best efforts of the others it became known to the dwarves as "Aubrey's Cure". Thanks to the new medicine, whatever one called it, the recovery of the wounded dwarves improved dramatically.

Before long a new, allegedly stronger front gate was installed. The cracks in the wall were sealed. Nalk Baland was well on the road to recovery.

It was time to start asking the obvious question:

"How are we going to get back home?"

"Why would you want to?" asked Gus. "This place is a paradise. Our world is a dump. You kids need to learn to appreciate it when life hands you a win."

"You're kidding right?" asked Ollie.

"You know he isn't," said Victor.

"Everyone and everything we care about is back home," said Aubrey. "Our families. Our friends. We can't just stay here forever."

"Of course you can!" insisted Gus. "I'm King now, or something."

"Lord President," Aubrey corrected him. "E-khozoh-dushuk."

"Right!" said Gus. "Means I'm in charge. So we can all have whatever we want here. We'll live like... well like kings!"

"Those aren't my priorities," said Aubrey.

"Mine either," agreed Hak-Kun.

"Fine," said Gus, with a dismissive wave. "Piss away the greatest miracle any of us have ever experienced. Go off and get yourselves killed by wandering orcs looking for another magic highway. You're not my responsibility anymore. The dwarves are."

"You're really content to stay here?" asked Ollie. "What about your family?"

"The dwarves are my family now," said Gus. "They get me."

Aubrey sniffed the air.

"You're drunk," she said.

"I'm not drunk," said Gus, "I've only had a few drinks."

"Where did you manage to get whisky from?"

"Oh, you think you kids are the only ones who can teach dwarves to build things?" asked Gus.

That was actually kind of impressive without a language, but Aubrey would be damned if she told Gus that.

"You shouldn't make important decisions like this while drunk," said Aubrey.

"Good thing I'm not then," said Gus.

Aubrey gave up.

* * *

Skongroli found Aubrey with the other humans later that day, and pulled her aside.

"Do you think we could speak in private?" he asked.

"Of course," said Aubrey.

Skongroli led Aubrey to a remote corner of the courtyard, away from prying eyes.

"So you're leaving us then?" asked Skongroli.

"I'm afraid we are," said Aubrey. "It was always our intention to find our way home once the battle was over. We stayed here as long as we reasonably could to help but it's time for us to go."

"And there's nothing that might persuade you to stay?" asked Skongroli, taking a step closer.

"There really isn't," said Aubrey.

Skongroli took her hand in his.

"I'm sure if we put our heads together we could come up with something."

"Skongroli-" began Aubrey, gently pulling her hand free of his grasp.

"No please," said Skongroli. "Let me finish. This might be my last chance and I'll never forgive myself if I don't say it. I love you, Aubrey."

"I'm sixteen," said Aubrey.

"Sixteen what?" asked Skongroli, smiling.

"Years old."

Skongroli's smile melted and his eyes grew to the size of saucers.

"Oh," he said. "Oh! Oh no!"

She wasn't just a child, she was barely out of infancy. Skongroli began to backpedal as hard as he could.

"I'm sorry, I never, I mean I just, because dwarves aren't nearly as well developed at your age, not that you're well developed! Or that I even noticed such things. I mean you're a nice person. Kid. A nice kid. And I value our strictly platonic relationship of friendship only. That's all. That's all I was saying."

"It's okay," said Aubrey. "I understand. It was an honest mistake."

"No mistake here," said Skongroli. "Just an ordinary dwarf expressing non-sexual feelings of pure hearted friendship. Please excuse me I have a pressing engagement which demands my immediate attention."

Skongroli ran off as fast as he could without seeming to be fleeing in terror.

* * *

The 2020 Leeds and Grenville Reach For The Top Championship Team packed away the last of their things in their backpacks, along with some preserved mushroom jerky and skins of water.

Foignar watched them from the doorway for a moment before breaking the silence.

"I would be remiss if I did not ask you to stay," he said.

"We can't do that," said Aubrey. "It's long past time for us to start looking for a way home. Nobody here can help us with that."

"I understand," said Foignar. "It would be selfish of us to expect more of your time than you have already given us. In your same position I too would want to return to my home. If I may ask, what is your plan going forward?"

"Well, since no one here has any idea how we got here, and it seems like wizards are a thing in this world, we're going to try and maybe find a wizard who can help us."

"I suppose I'm used to hearing much better plans from you."

"I'm working with what I have," admitted Aubrey.

"Perhaps, then, I might be able to repay you some small portion of the help you have given us."

"How so?"

Foignar looked around conspiratorially.

"The other dwarves would shave my beard to here me say this, but I think I owe it to you. I know of a people who toy with the very magicks you seek. Who even now are departing this world for another dimension as easily as one might sail a ship."

"Who are these people?"

"The elves," Foignar spat the word like it was a curse that also tasted bad.

"Elves huh?"

"That's right. If anyone can help get you back to your dimension it's those smug beardless jackabees."

Foignar looked at Aubrey.

"Not that being beardless is... so bad."

"What's he saying?" asked Victor.

"Apparently this world has elves too, and they know how to travel between dimensions."

"Probably should have guessed that ourselves," said Hak-Kun. "What with all the business with Sindarin."

"So where can we find these elves?" asked Aubrey.

"That's the difficult thing," said Foignar. "Their last city is on the exact opposite end of the continent. And the only land routes there take you straight through the territory of the Dark Lord."

"'Dark Lord'?" asked Aubrey.

"An evil wizard who makes the ogre magi look like fluffy wamblers."

"I have no idea what that is," said Aubrey.

"Well they're tiny white wamblers covered in fluff."

"I guess it doesn't matter."

"The entire reason the ogre cousins were able to assemble a hoard of the size they had is because the orcs population has exploded out of control thanks to the Dark Lord's efforts. The land he calls his own is twisted and corrupted by his presence. Darkness flourishes there like nowhere else. It is full of dangers both subtle and overt. There would be no dishonor in avoiding it. You could still live a beardy life here, with us."

"If there's any chance the elves can get us back home we have to take it," said Aubrey.

She turned to the others.

"Okay now Foignar says the territory of an evil wizard is between us and the elves."

"So, like, Suaron," said Ollie.

"Or Lord Foul," suggested Hak-Kun.

"Neither of you is as off as I wish you were," said Aubrey. "I guess we have no choice but to cross the lands of this 'Dark Lord', whoever it is."

"Don't we?" asked Victor.

"If you want to stay here with Gus I'm sure he'd be glad to have someone to talk to," said Hak-Kun.

"I never said that," said Victor, falling over himself to backtrack. "I'm coming, don't worry."

"We weren't worried," Ollie deadpanned. To Aubrey he added: "Please tell me the route through the Dark Lord's lands to the elves isn't a yellow brick road."

"Sure I'll ask," Aubrey lied, rolling her eyes.

"Thanks for the information," she told Foignar. "This was invaluable. We might actually be able to find a way home now."

"If your mind it made up to go, then it is made up," said Foignar. "But before you do please give us one more day to put together some better supplies for you. This will be a difficult journey and you'll need every advantage."

"Thanks," said Aubrey. "That would be a huge help."

Foignar bowed.

"The debt remains ours."