Currently Storm was watching a short, stocky dwarven blacksmith working, trying to figure out what he was going to say to him.
The dwarf was hammering away on a heated metal bar, but as it was still in the early stages of construction, Storm wasn't able to identify what the end product was supposed to be.
He took a deep breath, before finally approaching him.
"Finally mustered the courage to approach the local oddity, lad?" Asked the dwarf.
"Forgive me, I did not mean to be rude." Replied Storm.
"Hmmph." Was his only reply.
He held out a hand for Storm to shake.
"Folks around here call me, Sarge."
"Storm "
He looked at Storm's equipment.
"If you're here to have weapons or armor forged or repaired, then I suggest you look elsewhere.
I don't work on weapons or armor anymore. " Exclaimed the dwarf.
He checked to either side to make sure no one was close enough to overhear him.
"Not even for dragons. " Whispered Sarge.
"How do you know what I am?" Replied Storm.
"It's all in the way you present yourselves.
Dragons try their best to fit in with the common folk when they infiltrate a settlement.
But at the same time, all dragons are prideful.
They walk around in a boastful manner typically only seen among highborns, dragons and cats.
Since you're clearly not a cat, and you're definitely not a Highborn, that leaves one option. Your kind is actually quite easy to make out when you know what to look for. " Explained the dwarf.
He eyed the bar of metal and after a moment, dropped it back into the bed of hot coals in the forge.
"I'm curious what brings one of the 'Sky Serpents' here though? Enquired Sarge.
"Truthfully, I came here by chance. But since coming here, I've been hearing some troubling rumors. I'm hoping you can assist me?" Said Storm.
"My days of fighting are long since done, I moved here to get away from all of that.
So I'm not sure how much help I'd be?" Said Sarge.
"It's only information I need! It is my understanding that you have a 'Order' pro..."
"SHHHH!!! Do you want everyone to hear you?!!" Exclaimed the dwarf quickly.
He frantically looked around before taking the incomplete bar out of the fire and doused it in a bucket of water next to the anvil.
"Not here!! Let's talk inside!!"
He left the forging area and walked to the front door.
He led the way into a small hall where a small group of visitors could be hosted.
"Merida!! We have a Guest!!" Exclaimed the dwarf.
A short while later, a woman wearing a pure white dress approached them. She had long black hair and a thin pale build.She had a small leather satchel that was hanging from her shoulder.
At first Storm thought she might be Kitsune but his draconic senses quickly picked up that there was no auro of magic surrounding her, indicating that she was fully human.
"Storm, this is my wife, Merida.
If you ever get torn up, she's the best at putting you back together again. " praised Sarge.
She nodded her head in thanks for the compliment.
"You're the town healer?" Asked Storm.
"Just a herbalist and physician, I don't have any knowledge of healing magic." Explained Merida.
"Don't sell yourself short, dear. You've saved many lives in this town with half the resources those 'magicians' have." Said Sarge.
She blushed at her husband's continuing praise.
"Would you make us some of your herbal tea, please?" Sarge asked his wife.
She nodded her head, before leaving the room.
Storm watched her the whole time.
"We're surprising you, dragon?" Asked the dwarf.
Storm shook his head
"Not just you two, this entire town is an enigma to me. I just never imagined seeing humans and magical creatures coexisting as equals. " Explained Storm.
"These are good people, dragon. A rare thing to find nowadays." Explained Sarge.
"And yet, if I chose to approach this town in my true form, I'd still be met with blades drawn?" Stated Storm.
"Wouldn't you be cautious if a bear or lion approached your settlement?" Asked Sarge.
Storm glared at the dwarf
"Don't compare my kind to animals, dwarf!
You know we are better than that!" Said Storm.
"Of course we do! Because we dwarves have interacted with and coexisted with your kind for centuries. Humans have not! They don't know you, and so they fear you.
All they've seen is the ugly wrathful side of dragons. Just like how you've seen the greedy hunter's side of humanity. That's why this place is so strange to you. Because you've never seen their good side." Explained Sarge.
"The existence of one small, tolerant town doesn't prove that the species is good!" Retorted Storm.
"So you would condemn them all to death?
Even the ones who would do you no harm?" Asked Sarge.
"If I have to, yes!" Answered Storm.
"Then how are you any better than the hunters?" Asked Sarge.
Storm realized that neither side was going to convince the other. So rather than escalate the argument, he chose to change topics.
"I understand that you have an 'Order' problem? Asked Storm.
"They've been 'requisitioning' supplies from the town for months., And they've been stirring up tension between humans and the elves living in the area. They've also been harassing the merchants traveling along the roads towards town.
Taking what they want from the merchants traveling the roads as 'tolls'
It's caused trade to die down and people are struggling. " Explained Sarge.
"Their leader was a knight in charge of a small piece of land who regularly exploited his citizens, he's a real piece of work."
"Why does your king tolerate all this?" Asked Storm.
"We don't have one, this is a Free City with no monarch having any claim to the region.
Unfortunately, The Order is now taking advantage of that. We don't have a standing army, and no lord to report them to." Explained Sarge.
"So your people are just going to let The Order walk right over you?!" Asked Storm.
The Dwarf grinned mischievously.
"I never said that!"