Arrivals
With Xudaal now on their side the temple project had suddenly turned from a far away goal into a real target.
By the time they had made their way to Two Hills Zalen found to his surprise that the giants weren't the only ones there.
In addition to the giant trio there was a group of dwarves there as well, apparently waiting for him.
The leader of the group had really short hair but a thick beard with a thin steel band around it. And for some reason he was wearing only black.
"Are you the chief veil?"
"Umm, yes I am. I'm Zalen."
"Got the gold?"
"Yes. Are you here to help build the temple?"
"Yep."
The strange dwarf turned around, raising his voice. There was a veil hanging from his back pocket.
"Okay boys, we have the funds! Let's get this project started!"
As the other dwarves hopped on their horses and set out in different directions Zalen had time to properly talk with the gruff dwarf whose name turned out to be Bom Steelbeard.
Apparently there was not only a new House of Veils in Um-Barrad but they had at some point gained Bom as a member. And as he was a skilled architect Vivariel had immediately enlisted him to build the temple. And as he later showed Zalen, he had already drawn the plans for the temple, made the contracts for the necessary materials and the workers and was now just waiting here for Zalen to fulfill the last requirement for the building to actually start.
And indeed, within a few days the site had become busy with activity. Caravans carrying materials kept arriving at a steady pace, workers came from the nearby cities, the giants were helping dig the foundations for the temple and so on.
The moon dragon had promised to act as the treasurer during the construction. And she definitely proved out to be a great one! More than a few merchants who had been trying to raise their prices at the last moment suddenly changed their minds when face to face with a moon dragon. A couple more panicked ones even tried to offer her the products for free but to her credit she always insisted on paying a fair price.
The dwarven architect wasn't the only one enlisted by Vivariel either. As the building project continued every now and then someone arrived carrying a veil, having been enlisted by Vivariel to help. Carpenters, a halfling cook, an elven blacksmith, a few mages and so on. And every time the lead architect smoothly put them to work as if he had been waiting for the new arrival all this time.
Zalen himself was alternating between spending time at the temple site and the nearby city. The mages had helped Zalen cast a semipermanent portal between the site and his tavern room in the city. He often used it to jump to the site in the morning with one or two of his wives, use his spells to help with the construction and then return to the city before sunset.
One day he was again at the site helping the masons.
"There's someone to see you, my love," Mirada smiled, giving Zalen a kiss.
Walking to the main entrance that was actually starting to resemble one already, he almost walked into a familiar butt.
"Nelly!"
The demigiantess turned, looking a little apprehensive.
"Hi, Zalen."
Zalen frowned. "Umm, is something wrong?"
"Well, I have some good news and some bad news. And they're both kinda the same thing."
"Well, what is it then?"
Nelly fiddled with the hem of her skirt.
"I... I actually found a man. A demigiant like me! And we're returning back east together!
I know I said I'd come here for you but now..."
Zalen nodded.
"I understand. And don't worry, your happiness is the important thing here."
Nelly smiled. "Thank you. I... I just didn't want to leave without coming to talk with you first."
There was moment of silence.
"So... you probably won't need the crystal anymore then?"
"Hopefully not."
She suddenly grinned. "But I'm not giving it back either! I'm keeping it until we reach our people. And the first cute girl I meet who complains about never getting good sex will get the crystal and can come find you!"
