Стража! Стража!

           Hewasnearlyterminallyinterruptedbyanaxethatwhirredoutofalowdoorwaybesidehimandbouncedofftheoppositewall.Itwasfollowedbysoundsofsplinteringtimberandbreakingglass.

           "Hey,Nobby!"saidCarroturgently,"There’safightgoingon!"

           Nobbyglancedatthedoorway."O’coursethereis,"hesaid."It’sadwarfbar.Worstkind.Youkeepoutofthere,kid.Themlittlebuggersliketotripyouupandthenkicktwelvekindsofshitoutofyou.Youcomealongo’Nobbyandhe’ll-"

           HegrabbedCarrot’streetrunkarm.Itwasliketryingtotowabuilding.

           Carrothadgonepale.

           "Dwarfsdrinking?Andfighting?"hesaid.

           "Youbet,"saidNobby."Allthetime.AndtheyusethekindoflanguageIwouldn’tevenusetomyowndearmother.Youdon’twanttomixitwiththem,they’reapoisonousbunchof-don’tgointhere!"

           ...

           No-oneknowswhydwarfs,whoathomeinthemountainsleadquiet,orderlylives,forgetitallwhentheymovetothebigcity.Somethingcomesovereventhemostblamelessiron-oreminerandpromptshimtowearchain-mailallthetime,carryanaxe,changehisnametosomethinglikeGrabthroatShinkickeranddrinkhimselfintosurlyoblivion.

           It’sprobablybecausetheydolivesuchquietandorderlylivesbackhome.