This was the first time Tristan saw a dwarf up-close. The only other he ever saw was a certain famous actor in a certain movie about a throne.

The dwarves locked up in front of them was something else to say the least. They have an average height of four feet, with stout and broad bodies, and thick facial hair. 

“So, are you going to release us, or what?” The dwarf with a red beard asked in a grumpy voice. The other dwarf who spoke to Tristan before quickly stopped his friend from speaking any further by shushing him.

“Please pardon my colleague’s behavior; he has a reputation for always being grumpy, nothing personal. Let me introduce myself, I am Bifur, and this is Bofur.” The dwarf gestured to the red-bearded dwarf with his chin. “We are dwarves from the Ashenforge clan.” 

Tristan glanced at the third dwarf who remained silent. The older look white-bearded dwarf did not even acknowledge his stare.

“That is our master, Belot, and we are both his apprentices. If you have something to discuss, we will speak on his behalf.”

From what he and the group had gathered so far, the dwarves are known for being a crafty race deft at metallurgy and architecture. Tristan decided not to beat around the bush and asked for help to fix their ruined fort.

“That sounds like something we could do…” Bifur mumbled.

Tristan was about to sigh in relief, but then the white-bearded dwarf, who had been silent so far during the entire exchange, started to speak up.

“No. We will not help them” 

Bifur was startled, he turned to look at the white-bearded dwarf and trying to convince him to at least consider the proposal.

The grumpy dwarf shook his head and said. “Hah! If the master says no, we should follow, Bifur!”

Apparently, nothing is ever going to be smooth and easy for Tristan. He decided to go for the negotiation route with the most obvious bargaining chip, their freedom.

“Alright, if you fix the forts, I will definitely release you.”

Tristan saw the white beard seemed to shake his head a little which made the red beard spat at the ground. “Bah! We cannot trust you! Elves are full of trickery!”

Tristan narrowed his eyes. It seems that the red-bearded dwarf kept testing his patience for no reason. But, he decided against letting his anger known and tried to find another way.

Persuasion is one of the other fortes that Tristan learned in his years of extra studies or else he would already have died, being one of the youngest and weakest in the prison.

He gestured to Karra and said

“Open up, let them go outside”

She looked at the orcs, and a few grunts came to take them away still in chains, but the decision made the dwarf a little worried

“What are you trying to do elf!! I tell you it wont work! We are not afraid to die!” 

Tristan led the orcs and dwarves to the main gate. Surprisingly when everyone thought they would be hurt, instead Tristan told the orcs to take off the chains binding the dwarves”

“Ok freedom is that way. I only need one of you to help fix the fort, the other two can go”

The dwarves were startled

“Also I promise the one who stays, only needs to help for a few days. Three days top”

While the dwarves were still confused, Tristan added with a troubled expression and a long sigh.

“I also wish to reward the one who stays, unfortunately, we have nothing much to give, but at least we can assure your safety from the barbarians”

“!!!.. barbarians?” 

“Oohh yes.. did I forget to mention that there was a barbarian invasion going on right now?, you see we just lost hundreds of our friends yesterday, from the warmonger barbarians. Hence the need to fix the fort”

Hearing it the three dwarfs started to panic and debate among themselves. 

Tristan smirked secretly. First he let the prisoner have a taste of freedom, with the open air after days of being stuck in the dark dungeon should give them a positive reaction. At least, that was what Tristan experienced during his time in prison.

Second he showed his generous offer while giving them the right incentive which at this moment  is fear. 

Although Tristan was not 100% sure it would work, if it doesn’t, he was prepared to resort using violence or even using the blood seal skill to manipulate one of the dwarves into doing his bidding. But if at all possible, he would rather not have to waste his limited blood essence.

But the way it looks, Tristan believes they would agree in fact he would get all three to work for free.

The master seemed to really consider the offer, and the three of them were about to say their decision. But right as they opened their mouths, a loud shout could be heard from the back.

“Golug! Az nok!”

Tristan turned around to look at the source of the noise, and saw the warchief with a few of the warrior orcs standing behind him.

From the looks of it, the chief and Karra were having a heated debate.

After a while, the female orc approached Tristan  “The chief doesn’t agree with your release of the dwarves”

“What the hell?! Why?”

Karra shook her head. “He wouldn’t say the reason, he just disagrees”

“Fuck! Can you tell him that I did this for them?! This is for our mutual survival”

The female orc once more had a debate with the warchief and Tristan could see the huge greenskin only turn more irritated.

Karra was frowning and she said. “I believe the chief just doesn’t like how you are acting as if you are the leader of the camp”

It was Tristan’s turn to be irritated, at a moment like this the foolish orc worried about such a thing. “Dammit! your leader will be the death of us”

Karra on the other hand replied with a smile “If you can do better. Maybe you should be our leader then.!”

Hearing that. Tristan confidently said.

“Hell Yes!, maybe I should”