Nest rolled the sliver of mahogany around in his mouth like a toothpick. He found the item nearly indestructible to anything but the carving knife he’d bound himself to.

  Sitting outside of the council chambers, Nest rolled the blade in his fingers. The leaders of his clan were among some of the clan’s most powerful sinners.

  It was rare to be chosen by ardite, but when the ones who were selected lived past the first few months of being a sinner, they typically lived for a very long time.

  The youngest among them, those still below the A-Ranks, were responsible for collecting artifacts and cores to feed their economy and their relationship with the Hidden Tree. They delved in other dungeons, often in teams with dwarves or with raiding parties they met in the guild.

  “We’re ready for you.” The voice came to Nest from the other side of the ironwood door, but it was as clear as if the speaker had been standing next to him. It was the governor.

  The young dwarf walked into the chamber of nearly familiar faces. He’d met everyone here, at least in passing, except for one figure. “Lord Emissary-” Nest bowed to the man he could clearly discern as the humanoid boss mob that represented the dungeon’s will in the clan.

  The Emissary took the form of a dwarf to more seamlessly fit in with the rest of the council. Beyond his horizontal goat puppies and curved horns, the man looked like a simple, if not powerful dwarf. His beard was properly trimmed in the fashion of the clan. His round nose was slightly blushed with red, a sure sign among his people that a cup of brandy had been shared.

  The Emissary smiled and lowered his head slightly to return Nest’s gesture. As the young dwarf returned to standing upright, the ram-horned dwarf gave him a knowing wink, as if to say he shared some secret with the young man.

  Was this because of the tree? Because the knife had brought Nest to the very place his people had taken as their clan crest? He supposed The Emissary must know the tree. He had to know why Nest had been called to that place.

  “Please,” The Emissary spoke. “Call me Cambian. laddie.”

  ***

  Cambian had a fairly typical way of conducting himself in terms of the dwarven people. Nothing of Nest’s conversation with the council would have even suggested to him that he was standing in front of anything but another dwarf.

  “So, we are in agreement.” The governor, Toldeer Wolfhammer, a plump dwarf who’s soul abilities were tied to his ardite table fork, spoke nodding his head. “You will be escorted to the city of Evenguard to meet with the guildmaster Tiberious Wolfhammer, my brother, and remain there under his tutelage until a time that you will be of use to the clan.”

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  Nest’s head was spinning a bit with the fact that these powerful men and women that represented his people’s highest echelon were talking about him as if he were some show animal. He had practically not even needed to be here for this meeting.

  Cambian occasionally looked and smiled at Nest, showing that he too thought it was boring and tedious.

  “Upon your return, you will be accepted as a member of house Windcrasher, earning the title of Lord Nest Windcrasher.”

  He had expected something like this to happen. His mother had even mentioned it, telling him not to worry too much about it. The adoption into noble households was common for young sinners. In their clan, it was more of an honorary title.

  Guild members, or sinners, typically had the guild to rely on. The Clan of the Hidden Tree had never allowed a guildhall within the mountain. Once he returned to the mountain, Nest wouldn’t have that infrastructure as support. The Clan’s noble families acted as that support.

  “Objection.” Cambian held up a finger, silencing the room instantly, never losing the grin on his face.

  All the dwarves present, including Nest, couldn't take their eyes off the boss mob.

  “Upon his return, Nest will not be joining the noble families; he’ll be coming with me.” Murmuring filled the chamber as the council broke into multiple side conversations.

  “What do you mean he’ll be coming with you?” Governor Wolfhammer was the first to speak up above a whisper. “It is a part of our oldest agreement with the dungeon that no dwarf, save for the worst of criminals, would be given to the dungeon.”

  “I’m not saying you’ll give him to me, I’m saying he’ll be coming with me. My master has larger plans for this young man than collecting cores. If it makes you feel better, you can still consider him a noble, and he will still be around, just as an agent of my master.” Cambian lifted his hands. “From this day forth, I name you Nest Dungeonstalker; Lord of House Dungeonstalker; Fifth House of The Clan of the Hidden Tree.”

  Silence ruled the room for a long moment before the governor raised a finger. “Um- You can’t do that?” It was certainly more question than statement. A question that had all the other members of the council thinking for what seemed like an uncomfortably long time.

  “I think he just did, though.” One of the noble dwarves spoke softly.

  Cambian smiled and nodded his head. “I did.” He gave them some time to let the information sink in. “Trust me. This is in your best interest. Nest will come with me and the dungeon will provide him with all the accommodations he needs. He will still be an active member of your society, just like any dwarf, but he will simply work more closely with the dungeon than is typical.”

  Nest raised a finger and breathed in as if to interject, but Cambian simply shook his head and held a finger to his lips, informing Nest that he didn’t have a speaking role in this show.

  “As far as what will happen after that, I’m not sure. I speak on behalf of my master. This is my master’s will. Do you need to pretend it’s your idea by voting, or can we be done?”