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Vex hushed, trying not to hum, whistle, or sing softly as per her habits.
"We're refugees, sir." she said, poking her head out from behind Hooper, who she was substantially shorter than.

Yalun looked at the old man, his focus upon the eye. He stayed still. He smiled slightly. "And defenders."

Ben looked the old man in the non-mechanical eye "we were wondering if you could answer a few questions sir"

"Refugees? Defenders?", the old man retreated back into his home and beckoned them all in, "Why? May I ask? You can ask me questions later".

"We were in the town of Valley when it was attacking by some... robotic men." Vex said, frowning.

"If it wasn't for Hopper here, all of us would of surely died, but some later than others." Yalun said continuing the story.

Jason entered the Windmill without a word.

The group entered the windmill and the door slammed shut behind them, Hooper remained quiet as the old man sat down, "Robotic Men?", the old mans eyes widened immediately, "Ah, yes, the Dwarves are invading! Their first push I gather, must be their rather large mechanised army. It can't be anyone else, nobody except the Dwarves have an army that large".

The old man got up from his chair immediately, "And you'll do well to quell that cocksure behaviour young man!", the old man walked past the group. Wierdly enough, Yalun felt something slap him across the back of the head as the old man berated him.

Hooper entered the conversation, "I'm trusted by the garrison master Uncle, i'm sure I could get him to reinforce this position", at which Uncle stopped where he was standing, "BAH! I don't need help, why would the dwarves invade here? I pose no threat, if anything you should be telling the garrison master to take back Valley!".

"Dwares are invading?" Jaosn asked in disbelief. He grunted and continued; "Never liked the midget [&@%!] anyway, have to put the down now."

Vex looked confused. "Why would the dwarves invade?" she said.

Yalun smiled and rubbed his head. He stayed silent, his cane quivered slightly. "Land and power most like." He smiled to Vex.

Ben took a deep breath as he took in the news The Dwarves are invading, well that puts a stopper on my plan to go north he thought. "Is there anywhere in the Human Kingdoms that will be safe sir?" Ben asked

"Land and power? No you kid yourself", Yalun's foot began to itch uncontrollably as the old man kept on talking, "Any idiot could realise the dwarven king is a rascist, my, I was even there when he banned all humans from Ironsight Pit, so many died, whilst the Human Kingdoms sat back and cowered. No, David, tell this garrison master of yours that he should damn well make sure the Kingdoms Army to retaliate, and at force!".

Hooper shrugged as if agitated, he hated his first name for unknown reasons, "Why wouldn't they just laugh me off Uncle?".

The old man turned on his feet, and although he spoke with a low voice, the building seemed to tremor, "Tell them the Old Man of Arvel has advised it".

---

The old man slowly managed to gather a seat for everyone in the group after hurrying out his nephew to fetch groceries, "Good kid, but he talks too much, and too answer your previous enquiry, I suggest you go to Kimmit with David".

Jason twiddled hist thumbs and said judgmentally to Ben; "You seek protection where there is none. Instead of fighting the only thing that can bring the Human Kingdom to it's knees, you cower in the shadows." He turned to Hopper and added; "I'm sure some support from a veteran will help too."

"Retaliate?" Vex said, startled. These things escalate quickly.

Ben was panicking now there, was noway he was going to Kimmit "Can't we just stay here sir?" He asked "You said it yourself they've nothing to fear from Arvel so why would they attack?"

Jason turned to the old man and replied; "That was my intentional plan, I have other business there." Pathetic. He thought as he heard Ben's weeping.

Hooper shrugged as he left the room, "I'll talk to you on the ship about it", he didn't get the groceries, instead he leaned against the outside wall, veteran? I wish.
---

The old man clicked his tongue and what appeared to be an antique owl rsutled into life and flew around the room, it's clockwork wings ticking slowly, "I suppose you can all go with my nephew to Kimmit?", Uncle creaked his head over to Ben, "Your cowardly behaviour, it reminds me of Hooper before he got that ship of his".

Yalun sighed. "No staying? The children will weep.." He sighed.

Jason sighed and stood up, he was getting sick of the moaning. He walked over to Hopper and leaned against the wall next to him; "Cowards, they hide in the time the kingdom needs them the most." He whispered to Hopper.

"Cowardly ?! I am sorry sir but you are the one who is staying here whilst we are flying to Kimmit" Ben said trying to keep an even tone. He then turned to Jason "and you Mister... have fought battles before, shot and killed, you may be able to stare down danger but I for one can't"

"Then learn to!" Jason exclaimed, irritated becasue he wasn't surrounded by real soldiers and real men; :The kingdom needs the support of it's people now more than ever!"

Ben stayed silent, he could see the irritation on the bigger man's face and he wasn't going to get into a fight with someone he knew could pluck him like a chicken.

Uncle looked at Ben, "Look at me! Do you really think I could help? Go, everyone, leave, find something to do for the hours you are here, next level down is the market, and the next two levels after that are the housing levels, do what you please".

The old man adjusted his mechanical eye for a few seconds before turning back to the group, "All those with a mechanical vocation can stay here if they wish, I have a proposition".

Vex was deathly scared of the thought of combat, and even going back to Kimmit. But this would be her only chance for free transportation back to her home city. Maybe her parents had been released. She had to find out
"What do you need, sir?"