WorldCrafter - Building My Underground Kingdom-Chapter 184 - Embervale
184: Embervale
184: Embervale
The Scorchkraken shifted again, its scaled arms coiling tighter around the hull.
“You there.
Merchant.
What’s your name?”
The Dwarrow jolted as Ben addressed him, nearly dropping the ledger he had been clutching like a lifeline.
“I… yes!
Of course, my lord!”
He stammered, scrambling to the edge of the boat and giving a bow so deep his forehead nearly touched the scorched wood.
“Name’s Barrek, sir!
Barrek Flintbraid of Emberreach!
Trader of ores, dried provisions, and—” he glanced nervously at the Scorchkraken, which let out a curious burble, “—beast-handling contracts as well.”
He straightened, eyes wide with admiration and barely contained hope.
“I heard the city had a new lord, but I never imagined… stars above, you faced those Gravenhold bastards like they were nothing!”
Barrek pounded a fist to his chest, voice growing more passionate by the second.
“If Krahal-Zir is really rising again, then let me be the first to pledge my stock.
I’ve got fresh mountain barley, obsidian-pickled mushrooms, flameroot wine, even some forge-grade slagsteel tucked in the hold.
All yours at first-pick rates, my lord!
Just say the word, and I’ll make sure this river knows who’s back in power.”
He leaned forward, eyes gleaming beneath his soot-smudged brows.
“Just give me a foothold in your market, and I’ll make sure Krahal-Zir’s name echoes in every tunnel from Ashgrave to Dreadpit.
You have my word, lord… and a merchant’s word is his bond.”
Ben rolled his eyes, then turned his gaze toward the bubbling lava river.
Steam hissed as a half-melted crate slowly sank beneath the molten surface, releasing a puff of ash and the scent of charred fiber.
“Aren’t most of your shipment already swimming in lava?” he said dryly, his arms folding across his chest.
Barrek blinked, then whipped around just in time to watch another crate pop and vanish in a flash of flame.
His face contorted in horror.
“Ah—by the Forgefather’s beard!” he shouted, scrambling across the deck.
“That was my mushroom barrel!”
He turned back to Ben with a sheepish grin, smoke clinging to his beard like shame.
“Well… not all of it’s gone, my lord!
Still got a few crates left.
The slagsteel’s untouched!
And the flameroot wine’s packed in stone-cased casks, Gravenhold dogs couldn’t lift those if they tried!”
Ben raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching in mild amusement.
Barrek straightened again, brushing soot from his tunic.
“Point is, I’m still in this, my lord.
You give me the word, and I’ll bring in ten more boats heavier than this one.”
He jabbed a thumb at the Scorchkraken, which gave another low trill.
“Even Old Grizzle here’s got siblings ready to work.
You want trade moving through this river again?
You won’t find a more stubborn bastard than Barrek Flintbraid.”
Ben glanced at the remaining crates, mentally tallying what was left.
Barrek hadn’t been lying, most of the food was gone, but the wine and slagsteel survived.
Not ideal, but not useless either.
His people needed meals, yes, but forging supplies and morale had their place too.
His thoughts drifted to the Dwarrow blacksmith he’d seen through Eight’s eyes, the one still hammering blades in a dying smithy, his apprentice asking why they bothered.
Slagsteel wouldn’t go to waste there.
Ben’s gaze returned to Barrek, who was still half-covered in soot and buzzing with nervous energy.
The merchant was clearly loud, pushy, a bit wild, but his enthusiasm was genuine.
Ben smirked faintly..
“Barrek, right?” he said, stepping forward.
The Dwarrow straightened, surprised but eager.
“Aye, my lord?”
“Let’s go to my city, then.”
Before Barrek could respond, Ben turned and grabbed the unconscious Gravenhold soldier by the back of his armor, lifting him like a sack of rice.
Without ceremony, Ben leapt.
He landed on the deck of the boat with a thud that rocked the entire hull, nearly sending Barrek stumbling over the railing.
“By the Deepforge..!” Barrek wheezed, clutching a crate as the Scorchkraken groaned beneath the sudden weight.
Ben dropped the soldier with a dull thump beside the remaining supplies and looked over his shoulder.
“Well?” he said calmly, “What you’re waiting for?”
Barrek scrambled to regain his footing, still wide-eyed as the boat settled from the impact.
The Scorchkraken let out a low grumble, shifting its limbs in the lava, but it resumed its steady pull down the channel without protest.
With a grunt, Barrek adjusted the tiller and nodded. fгeewebnovёl.com
“Right then!
Krahal-Zir it is!”
The vessel began to move forward, riding the gentle current of molten lava.
Ash drifted through the air like gray snow, and the distant silhouette of the city rose through the haze ahead.
For a few quiet minutes, only the hiss of lava and the soft churn of the Scorchkraken’s movement filled the air.
Then Ben spoke.
“You said you were from Emberreach,” he said, eyes fixed on the glowing river ahead.
“Long way to come.
What’s it like there now?”
Barrek gave a soft, bitter laugh.
“Hotter than a dragon’s backside, and twice as stingy.
The Ashking’s collectors pass through every ten days now.
Raised the soldier tax again last month.
My cousin couldn’t keep up… his second-born’s wearing a collar now.”
Ben said nothing, but the flicker of heat in his gaze darkened.
Barrek shrugged, trying to mask the anger behind humor.
“That’s Emberreach for you.
Work like mad, pay through your nose, and if you’re lucky, you die before the debts catch up.”
He paused, glancing sideways at Ben.
“That’s why I gambled on Krahal-Zir.
Heard rumors.
That a new lord took the city without a siege.
That the old bloods ran screaming.
Thought… maybe it’s true.”
Ben’s lips curled into a grin.
He reached out and clapped a firm hand on Barrek’s shoulder, nearly making the Dwarrow stumble forward again.
“Then you just hit the jackpot,” Ben said, voice rich with confidence.
“Stick with me, and I’ll make sure you become the richest merchant in this entire kingdom.”
Barrek blinked, stunned for a beat, then let out a short, breathless laugh.
“Well now, that’s a promise I’ll tattoo on my back if it comes true.”
Ben’s grin lingered, but his eyes softened just slightly.
“What about your family?”
