Dollano 8, SP~4,909

Rhonda Floam

The Begkragk Dwarves

My day started when Donnessling pulled me aside to let me know we were on our way to find the Begkragk Dwarf Kingdom. He said that the mountains in front of us were their home. He also told me to say nothing until he told me to. Apparently they’re willing to talk with some kinds of nossring (wonder what the history is there!), but they’re not friendly toward the Ten Races, in particular the humans.

I agreed mainly because I didn’t have a choice, but I didn’t like it. Not one bit.

It didn’t take long for us to find these Begkragk Dwarves. It was mid-day and we were half-way up one of the mountain ranges when, there they were, standing right in front of us and all around us. One of them, who was their leader, spoke in an odd language, and Donnessling right away responded in the same tongue. The two of them spoke for a while. It sounded like a negotiation of some kind. At one point the dwarf looked over at me and pointed. Donnessling quickly responded. I don’t know what he said, and the dwarf didn’t seem happy. His scowl was worth a thousand words. But then he gave an order to his kin who lowered their weapons. Whatever Donnessling said, it seemed to have worked, and the dwarves then motioned for us to follow them. They led us along the crest of a long, tall ridge and then down a steep descent into a very narrow ravine. We could barely fit, but the dwarves seemed quite comfortable, and very used to it.

It wasn’t long before I realized that the darkness wasn’t because we were in a deep gully. We were in a tunnel, and then we were headed down some rough-carved steps and the tunnel got wider. A lot wider, though it was hard to tell; the dwarves had lit some torches to help us find our way, but the light was dim and the floor was uneven.

At some point, after we’d been walking for a while, always downwards, I could see light up ahead. There were torches in the walls and we were walking over a smooth stone floor.

It seemed like we walked for hours, and then eventually we came to a large chamber off the main tunnel. The chamber was well-lit with many stone columns along the sides and an elaborate throne on a riser at the end. There was a regal-looking dwarf sitting on the throne. He was a very unpleasant-looking fellow and I was expecting the worst when he suddenly got up, strode over to Donnessling, and gave him a massive embrace.

It was a very jolly greeting all around until it came to me. That’s when the dwarf king, Begkragk, strode up to me to take a good hard look. I looked right back at him. I wasn’t going to grovel to any folk. I’ve had editors worse than this guy!

I didn’t move my eyes away from his stare. I heard Donnessling say something in the strange dwarf language, and then, for no reason I could understand, Begkragk beamed at me and gave me a big hug. Backing off a bit (I’m not particularly comfortable with hugging, but this time I had some strong motivation), still smiling, he said to me, “Welcome, Rhonda of the humans. We do not often have your kind here in our home, but you are a friend to Donnessling, and so you are now a friend of the Begkragk Dwarves.”

At this all the other dwarves in the chamber gave out a hearty cheer.

I wasn’t expecting that. I won’t say what I was expecting. I’m not sure I want to remind myself of that in the years to come. But, it was definitely a good outcome.

Dinner was next. It was very good food and lots of it. Then there was some singing, and then we were shown to a room where the nossring and I could get some sleep.

Tomorrow I will ask if they have any blink bats. Still worried about Bobby.