"What do those contemptible monsters want from you?" Huges inquired carelessly.
"Helping my friends I quarrelled with trolls terrifically," Jim replied in a similar phlegmatic way, "but I have no regrets at all, you know…"
"Well, boys," Huges cheerfully turned to the other Dwarfs, "let's make a surprise for the filthy hooligans!"
The first boat approached to the yacht, six or seven leering brutes could see only Jim standing at the steering-wheel. He gave them an ironic smile and raised his hat in a derisive greeting.
The trolls howled in rage at that mock. This time they didn't jump as they had been doing during the attack near the Ariadna City. Instead of that, having sailed closely, the monsters thrust out make-shift ladders, wooden cross-beams were crudely bound to long stakes having iron grapnels at ends. They grappled the yacht with those awkward constructions to make bridges between the two vessels and started climbing up frantically.
But the Dwarfs who had been hiding squatting behind the board parapet suddenly sprung up, their battle-axes began to deal heavy blows to the enemies, cleaving helmets with loud clashing, knocking the assailants down one by one.
Shrill screaming of the brutes, splashes in the water, cracking of the unreliable ladders.
The fight was momentary but impetuous, no brute had a real chance of getting over the board railing to set foot onto the deck, and the victorious Dwarfs had quite contented expressions on their faces. They leisurely hewed the remaining ladders off, and a gust of the wind overturned the empty hostile boat flapping with its tangled sail.
The rest of the flotilla slowed and almost stopped, apparently not daring to attack any more. Huges menacingly shook his fist at them.
The rocky shore got nearer, the surf waves breaking and frothing at stones and cliffs.
"Southern Cape!" Jim announced pointing at high towers and houses built of greyish granite.
"Home, sweet home!" Huges exclaimed joyfully.
Having passed between two majestic watchtowers at the stony banks of a narrow channel, they entered a haven, a vast lagoon enclosed with citadel walls, then moored between other yachts of much the same types, and their ship became practically indistinguishable among the others.
Dockyards, giant winches, mechanisms. Glowing furnaces and banging hammers at forges. A couple of large ships under repair. Shipwrights carrying planks and girders, blacksmiths pushing handcarts with coal, a work in full swing.
Dwarfs everywhere.
But they also noticed a dozen of Elvish archers in dark-green suits standing on the embankment.
"Excuse me, who is captain Jim?" one Elf came up to the Dwarfs who were just unloading their sacks and bags from the yacht.
"I am," Jim responded, this time he lifted his hat without any irony but, no doubt, respectfully, "at your service!"
"My name is Sebastian. Queen Veronica sent us to guard you on your way back to the island," the Elf told him, "when you join your friends, we shall go home through the Dryad portal."
"You have arrived so quickly!" Jim got a little amazed.
"We happened to be in the vicinity when received the instructions," the Elf explained.
"When are we departing?" Jim asked.
"Maybe, in an hour?" Sebastian suggested, "we shall replenish your supplies and bring more weapon…"
"All right, old chap, heh, heh!" Huges patted on Jim's shoulder jovially, "you have enough time to dine with us! Be my guest!"
They left the yacht to the care of the Elves and unhurriedly walked away from the docks towards the city buildings. Granite blocks were carved and polished so masterfully that any joints could hardly be visible, massive houses and walls looked almost monolithic.
Facing the port, the nearest inn had a roomy pub hall on the ground floor. They plunged into the drone of voices of numerous visitors, mostly Dwarfs, though some three knights in long black cloaks were also sitting at one of the sturdy wooden tables.
"Delighted to see you, master Huges!" a human, a stout man in a white cook's garb, smiled and made a wave to the servants. Two young Dwarfs, neat aprons over dark suits, promptly brought trays with tankards, big plates and silver jugs. A broad vacant table was instantly laid for the new-comers.
"Bring me another beer!!" one of the knights, a narrow well cared-for face, small conceited eyes, roared and pursed his thin lips arrogantly.
"Please, do not make noise," the cook said politely, "we shall serve you in a moment…"
"Shut up and do what I say!!" the knight squealed fastidiously.
The cook suddenly became not a soft-hearted laggard but a strong resolute man. He promptly grabbed the offender by his cloak collar, hauled him from the chair into a standing position and gave him a violent push towards the exit. The knight flew across the hall, tumbling head over heels, the hauberk clanking, and flopped down not far from the door.
His mates shrank in fear, sidled away from the table and minced retreating, squinting at the cook apprehensively. They took their companion under his arms to lift him from the floor.
"You will be punished!" being dragged through the doorway, the knight whined before leaving the inn. "Trolls will destroy you with my machinery!"
"Hush! Don't reveal it!" his fellows got even more frightened than before, restless eyes denoted uneasiness, faces turned pale.
The Dwarfs chuckled, and the dinner went on. Rich dishes with chopped meat, pepper and stewed vegetables, beer in tankards and red wine in bowls.
"Hmm, they help trolls!" Jim murmured thoughtfully, not sharing the total merry mood, "it looks like a serious conspiracy!"
"Relax!" Huges was optimistic and life-asserting, "there have always been enough scoundrels with nefarious purposes, but we must never let them spoil our life!"
"Still, I advise you to abstain from new mining expeditions for a while," Jim tried to get focused on his plate.
"You know the situation better," Huges gave him a shrewd glance, "do you think this mess will be for long?"
"In a day or two, I believe, my friends and I shall make the uninvited guests leave this coast."
Soon distant but clear chimes sounded from the city clocktower. Jim stood up, made a ceremonious bow of goodbye with his palm on his heart and walked out into the street.
He dropped in on a jewellery shop. Two men in rich black camisoles were admiringly surveying showcases with sparkling platinum necklaces and gold rings on dark-blue velvet cushions.
"Would you exchange it for cash?" Jim put an emerald onto the counter.
"Oh!" the goldsmith, an imposing bearded Dwarf in a dark-grey suit, examined the precious stone through a magnifying glass, nodded and readily gave him a dozen of gold coins. "Excellent! Very pure! Do you have more?"
"I'll use them later. But right now you can deal with master Huges."
"Has he come back, at last?! Nice!" the goldsmith exclaimed gladly. "What could possibly delay him?"
"A horde of trolls and some greedy troll-like humans," Jim explained to the shocked goldsmith, the two customers listening to the news agape. "These days are not propitious for voyages."
"We should adjourn our evening departure!" one man said to the other.
After that Jim left the jewellery shop and went to the port. Workers kept on fussing, loading or unloading boxes and packages, doing repairs. Despite all those crowds he noticed the same three knights standing on the embankment and viewing the ships in the harbour. He stealthily came closer and hid behind a heap of some huge grey sacks to overhear the talk.
