They waited for Prenanala to return. Tristan and El Sid both wore expressions of anger, but for now they had agreed to leave without saying anything further to the elves.

Glorm cleared his throat. The sound was something akin to that of a fireball going off inside an outhouse. "You human talk to much, like gargling stream" he said in broken common. "OK, we not tell thin man about little skirmish in bar, but I must talk with thin man alone. He may know more about where Glorm live. A bowl and snifter of Glorm's best will loosen his tongue, or I am a thin man too. Char Char Har" The windows shuddered slightly at Glorm's guttural laugh. Glorm carefully filled his dragon pipe and sucked on the stem for a minute before lighting it. The look on his face was distant, and only a fool would think to argue with him now! After a minute the smoke seemed to draw together in the form of a face, but before the details could materialize, a small breeze scattered the smoky image.

Just then Prenanala and Krinn returned. El Sid quietly explained that they were tired from the road, and that they should head for their inn. Prenanala offered them accommodations for the night, but Tristan declined; elvish protocol demanded Prenanala make the offer, but the elves were sticklers for fair value, and Tristan knew it would be a faux paus to withhold information but accept Prenanala's hospitality.

"I am curious," said Prenanala, "about how this scroll did end up in Kethem. I will look into it from my side, and if you continue to pursue it, perhaps we can exchange notes at some time."

El Sid nodded politely. "I look forward to it. Please accept my thanks for your help, and do not hesitate to visit hold Borgia at any time. I would very much enjoy an opportunity to show you the hold."

Prenanala smiled. "I've heard a bit about it. The season, sun and moon rooms are quiet well known. I'd welcome an opportunity to see them."

El Sid nodded silently, then turned and walked out, the rest of the party following.

Glorm remained staring at the wall smoking his pipe as the others filtered out of the room. Finally, the thin elderly elf cleared his throat. "Your friends said you had something to ask of me".

"Ah yes" the dwarf said sadly. "Please join me in smoking a bowl of my best; it brings back fond memories of my home." He carefully filled his spare pipe, this one had images of a dwarven maiden on its briar bowl. After a moment he handed it to the tall elf and waited quietly as the elf drew the pipe alit. Finally he said "I saw the way you looked at me when we first met. I may be the first of my people you have seen in person, but you know something of my kind. If you have mercy in your soul, you will help me find my way home. My bones ache for the rocky crags of my homeland and the feel of a dwarven maid in my bed at night. I will not deceive you, I have little to offer save a few drams of brandy and a pouch or two of tabbac, but still I ask for your aid." Having bared his soul, he grew silent again.

"I'm sorry" said the elf in a distracted tone of voice, "did you ask me something?"

The Dwarf looked at him more closely. Did he have wax in his ears, or was this some kind of game? "I ask if you know Dwarvish homeland?"

The elf had some kind of odd greenish glow behind his eyes, and shook his head dazedly. "I'm sorry, I just can't seem to concentrate... was there something you wanted to know?"

[ed. note: Glorm left his homeland after stealing a strange emerald that seems to bring him bad luck...]

"I... I..." Glorm stopped. Had he been asking the elf something? It was hard to think, for some reason. "I think I need to catch up with my friends."

"Yes. That would be good." They smiled politely at each other, and the Dwarf reclaimed his pipe. "Thank you, an excellent smoke" said Prenanala.

The party was still just outside the door and as Glorm joined them, he heard Krinn speaking. "You do not trust Elves! Let me tell you there are Elves who would just as soon be rid of you humans, but Prenanala is not one of them." With that she spun around and started walking away.

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