Barns adjusts his belt one final time as his party arrives at the Dimartino gate. He is greeted by Clancy, his crab, and Jennifer, the new Ambassador to Lantafort. Today, the boy and his crab are escorting her to the Hidden City, and reuniting with Skado.
Jennifer stands with her hands on her hips, her confident posture making up for the obvious nerves she’s hiding. She’s traded her revealing bikini for a more diplomatic outfit - a well-fitted vest over a high-collared blouse, complete with practical pants and knee-high boots. But despite her best efforts to look professional, Barns can tell she’s still not entirely sure what she’s gotten herself into.
"Ready for your first diplomatic mission, Ambassador?" Barns smirks, tugging at his belt. "Last chance to back out."
Jennifer exhales sharply, squaring her shoulders. "Please. I was managing a whole office before the apocalypse. I can handle a few dwarves and whatever else Lantafort throws at me."
"Confident. I like that," Barns chuckles, throwing a glance at Clancy. The crab’s beady eyes are locked on Jennifer’s chest, which, even under more conservative clothing, is still her most defining feature.
Clancy clicks his claws approvingly. "GOOD. CONFIDENCE GOOD. GOOD FOR ALLIANCE. GOOD FOR KING."
"Yeah, yeah, King," Barns says, slapping the crab’s shell. "Let’s hit the road."
They set off through Dimartino’s northern gates, following the now well-worn path toward Lantafort. The road is in better shape than before. Maria has ordered small-scale repairs, making it safer for trade and travel between the cities.
Barns falls into step next to Jennifer, with Clancy scuttling beside them at a steady pace. It’s a long walk, but at least this time, they’re not dragging along a caravan of newly resurrected humans.
"Alright," Barns says, rubbing his hands together. "Road banter time. Let’s get to know our new Ambassador."
Jennifer rolls her eyes but smiles. "I guess our knowledge of each other is quite limited to certain areas. What do you want to know, Mr. Hero?"
"Well, for starters, you mentioned working in an office before the apocalypse. What was that like?"
Jennifer scoffs. "Miserable. Soul-draining. If the world hadn’t ended, I probably would’ve quit anyway. But hey, at least now I can use those skills for something meaningful."
"Yeah, building a better world and all that," Barns grins. "You know, you’re taking this whole ’apocalypse reset’ thing pretty well."
"I mean, what else am I supposed to do? Cry about it?" Jennifer shrugs. "We’re here. We’re alive. And we have a chance to actually fix things. If that means making some political deals and navigating bureaucracy, then I’m happy to help. Happier than happy, actually. This feels for the first time like real work! Like I’m making a difference."
"Wow," Barns says, genuinely impressed. "You might actually be perfect for this job."
"Wait, did you just now figure that out?"
Barns winks. "Nah. I knew from the moment I met you."
Clancy clicks his claws. "BIG CHEST. BIG MOTIVATION."
The conversation carries them forward, and before long, the pale fog of Francois’ domain creeps into view. The Pale Court looms ahead, its eerie, haunting presence unchanged. The shambling humans are gone, but the city itself remains unnervingly silent.
Jennifer slows her pace, frowning. "So, uh… is that the vampire place? The one where I was..."
"Yep," Barns confirms, his expression darkening slightly. "Francois’ domain. She’s still here, but she held up her end of the bargain. The people are free."
Jennifer’s eyes linger on the white stone architecture, her voice quieter. "What’s she like?"
Barns hesitates. "Complicated."
Jennifer tilts her head. "That bad?"
The young woman assumes that Francois is a complete monster - after all, for all those years Jennifer had been held captive in Francois’ soulless trance.
"Let’s just say she’s not what I expected," Barns replies. "She’s dangerous, yeah. But she’s also… willing to change. I get the feeling that she only played her role in the apocalypse because...well, it’s what she was made to do. She even offered to help us defeat the First Vampire."
Jennifer lets out a low whistle. "Talk about a self-loathing bloodsucker."
Barns chuckles. "Yeah. Something like that."
He cracks his neck. The air under the fog feels less chilly today - as if somehow the sunken valley has warmed. Perhaps the valley itself is a reflection of Francois; even as Barns thinks it, he realizes how silly it sounds. Still, there’s something there.
As they pass the vampire’s lair, he swears he feels a sensation like he’s being watched - but when he turns around to see, there’s nothing. No Francois, no sign of the hundred or so humans she kept under her control for ’feeding purposes’. Just a quiet, and seemingly abandoned ’Vampire Lily’.
They move past the Pale Court quickly, not eager to linger in Francois’ eerie presence. Soon, the mist fades behind them, and the looming Chatran Plateau comes into view.
"Almost there," Barns says, some few hours into their journey. From there, it’s just a short ride up the ’Choo Choo’ to arrive at the Hidden City.
Thankfully, last time they were here, Skado briefly showed Barns how to activate the train. With a few buttons and the push of a lever, the vertical train begins its slow ascent up the mountain.
Clancy, who barely fits on the train, darts around with the excitement of a child as it climbs a seemingly impossible angle up the plateau.
"MAGIC TRAIN! NEED ONE FOR BARNS TOWER."
"I...think I prefer you not being able to get up there," Barns blushes. "It’s nice to have a place I know you won’t come barging in all the time, King."
They arrive at the top, and one of the humans who does security for Lantafort meets them to escort them into the city.
Even for people who have been to Lantafort before, finding a way in is difficult. The careful citizens of Lantafort regularly seal and unseal entrances into the city, keeping potential interlopers in a constant state of confusion. One entrance that works today may never be used again - all of the buildings, structures, and mansions on the surface are a cover for Lantafort’s secret networks.
As they finally arrive, Barns remembers the incredible view he experienced the first time he arrived. He knows it’s special, and he’s eager for Clancy and Jennifer to see it.
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"Clancy, Jennifer - welcome to Lantafort."
The underground city is just as vibrant as before, its streets alive with traders, workers, and warriors preparing for whatever the future holds. As they descend, the sights and sounds of Lantafort engulf them - glowing lanterns, shouting merchants, and the faint hum of dwarven singing from the lower levels.
Jennifer’s eyes widen as she takes it all in - not the first time Barns has seen that look. "Okay, I’ll admit… this is way cooler than I expected."
"Right?" Barns grins. "Told you it wasn’t just a hole in the ground."
Clancy clicks approvingly. "BIG HOLE. GOOD HOLE. HAPPY PLACE."
All this talk about holes makes Barns and Jennifer exchange a flirty chuckle.
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As they navigate the bustling streets, Skado emerges from the crowd, his usual smirk firmly in place. "Took you long enough."
"Had to make sure our new Ambassador didn’t get cold feet," Barns says, gesturing to Jennifer.
Skado appraises her, nodding. "You’ll do fine. Welcome to the madhouse."
Jennifer raises an eyebrow. "I get the feeling that’s not a joke."
"Oh, it’s not," Skado grins. "But hey, you’re in luck. Tonight, there’s a little… cultural event going on. You’re just in time for your first taste of true Lantafort nightlife."
Barns crosses his arms. "Let me guess. A dwarf party?"
Skado chuckles darkly. "Not just any dwarf party. The dwarf party. The one night a year they let humans down to the bottom floor, no questions asked. They call it...Festivale, I think. I’ve never been. The dwarves are a little…vigorous, for my tastes."
Jennifer blinks. "That sounds… ominous. What if humans try to go down there on other days of the year?"
"Don’t worry," Skado smirks. "They’re not dangerous or anything. Just a little...insular. Some humans are welcome whenever they like. But only those that the dwarves have accepted as ’Ironblood’, like themselves."
Barns laughs, throwing an arm around Jennifer’s shoulders. "Well, Ambassador, looks like you’re getting your first taste of diplomacy tonight. You want to meet some dwarves? Maybe become an Ironblood?"
Jennifer exhales, shaking her head. "What the hell. Let’s party!"