Стража! Стража!

           Afterall,probablythefirstthingayoungdwarfwantstodowhenhehitsthebigcityafterseventyyearsofworkingforhisfatheratthebottomofapitishaveabigdrinkandthenhitsomeone.

           Thefightwasoneofthoseenjoyabledwarfishfightswithaboutahundredparticipantsandonehundredandfiftyalliances.Thescreams,oathsandtheringingofaxesonironhelmetsmingledwiththesoundsofadrunkengroupbythefireplacewho-anotherdwarfishcustom-weresingingaboutgold.

           NobbybumpedintothebackofCarrot,whowaswatchingthescenewithhorror.

           "Look,it’slikethiseverynightinhere,"saidNobby."Don’tinterfere,that’swhatthesergeantsays.It’stheirethnicfolkways,orsomethin’.Youdon’tgomessin’withethnicfolkways."

           "But,but,"Carrotstuttered,"thesearemypeople.Sortof.It’sshameful,actinglikethis.Whatmusteveryonethink?"

           "Wethinkthey’remeanlittlebuggers,"saidNobby."Now,comeon!"

           ButCarrothadwadedintothescufflingmass.HecuppedhishandsaroundhismouthandbellowedsomethinginalanguageNobbydidn’tunderstand.Practicallyanylanguageincludinghisnativeonewouldhavefittedthatdescription,butinthiscaseitwasDwarfish.

           "Gr’duzk!Gr’duzk!aaK’ztezemkebur’ktzetzim?"

           Thefightingstopped.AhundredbeardedfacesglaredupatCarrot’sstoopedfigure,theirannoyancemingledwithsurprise.