The city was even further than Dem had initially the thought. The last hour of the walk proving to be the most challenging.
Thankfully the city had sent out riders that met the group just outside the cities walls, they were given water and escorted beyond the walls and to the longhouse in the cities center that apparently acted as the city hall here.
The brings that resided here were humanoid like the Drenzien's and the Ta've, only talker and more slender. They almost resembled humans with a more orangish hue to their skin, and on average were all very much taller than any human could be. Del could barely see anyone under seven feet here.
"Iordans, they're called iordans." Dimmit whispered to Del, clearly seeing the look on Del's face as he indiected the beings.
"Ah, thanks." Del whispered back not taking his sight off of the tall fascinating beings.
The three of them were escorted through the city after they were given water to avoid delirium. The inside of the city was just as hot as the outside, though the heat didn't feel as dense with all the buildings and shade in place. Still the planets surface seemed almost inhospitable without a constant flow of water which thankfully these people seemed to have.
The three of them were brought to the city hall building and stood before a tall lengthy humanoid sat in a large metal chair. He was dressed head to toe in metal rings and plates. The being before them appeared to be heavily armored compared to those escorting them.
"You came from the sky, yes?" He said, leaning forward to look Del in the eye.
"Yes, listen we…" Del began but the man in the chair held up a hand.
"Tell me, are you one of…them?" He asked nodding to Del's drenzien compsnions.
Suddenly a look of worry struck both of their faces. They broke their composure and were suddenly in fear.
"No." Del slowly answered with one eyebrow raiser. He looked to the two Drenziens with him then back to the iordan in the large metal throne.
"Listen, we're actually trying to get away from the Drenziens." Del explained.
"Away? You? And them?The iordan asked nodfing towards the two Drenzien's.
"Yeah, they've defected." Dell answered.
"Hmph. Defected" The tall being chuckeled. His rib cage expanding causing the various metal rings and plates covering him to shake and clank.
"Listen, uh, I didn't catch your name." Del began.
"Tryl." The iordan said letting out a long thin smile.
"And I am sorry to inform you traveler, that your company is nothing but a couple of undercover spies." Tryl stated.
A large silence fell over the room. Del looked to Arish and Dimmit and they both shook their heads.
"Drenzien's are loyal to the cause. All Drenziens. It is why they have conquered so much." Tryl shrugged.
"But here, in the great city of Makrunsta! My people, Kunstai the civil! Here, my people keep them at bay, and when we don't our crazier wild civilizations get the job done."
"Well, then this seems like a perfect place to take refuge." Del mused.
"For you… perhaps, but them." Tryl said, once again nodding to the Drenziens.
"We really did defect!" Arish shouted.
"Drenziens are loyal, down to their last breath. You might have fooled this poor rock head, but I don't believe you for a second." Tryl sneered at Arish and Dimmit. There was a long uncomfortable silence that followed. Tryls presence taking up the large stone room. His metal throne creaked under his weight in the silence.
"Look. Kunstai." Del broke the silence.
"Kunstai the civil!" Tryl quickly shouted.
"We just need some help with the ship and we'll be on our way." Del stated.
Del spoke in a deeper tone than usual. He was bordering on irritated, trying to look intimidating, which caught the attention of both Arish and Dimmit. Tryl looked Del up and down and scowled.
"What can you offer us in return, outsider? We, Kunstai the civil of Malimora, hmm?" Tryl said now standing from his metal throne. He towered at what must have been just over nine feet tall over Del.
Del looked to his companions who now looked slightly frightened. Then back at Tryl, the towering iordan before him. Then, realizing he was now at another stop on his journey, closed his eyes and squinted hard, trying not to be annoyed or irritated with the iordan. Or at least trying not to be noticeably so.
"Well, I'm a smuggler mostly, but really I'm a jack of all trades." Del began. He put one hand on his hip and looked the tall iordan up and down.
"You… What was it again? Kunstai?" Del asked.
"Kunstai the civil." Tryl said sternly, correcting Del immediately.
"Right… Kunstai the civil, you guys need something? You can just name it." Del stated standing tall and proud. He made sure not to appear intimidated by the taller human like alien.
Tryl considered his words for a moment. There was a brief silence. Then looked back down at Del, offering only a long hideous grin.