73

“So what do I have to do?” you ask, trying to feign enthusiasm.

“Hold on, hold on,” says the human-looking woman, “we need to get introduced first. I’m Leanna, I run the yard. Won’t you tell us a bit about you?”

“Oh, um, my name’s Mortimer Halfheart...” you start, and begin telling them a gradually more and more truncated version of your story. You can’t understand why they don’t just go back to their work; you can’t be that interesting. Yet every one of them seems enraptured by your talking.

As you finish, Leanna starts applauding, and the others follow, the dwarf even cheering at you. It doesn’t look like a joke.

“Well,” Leanna says, “since we know so much of you now, I think we’d better let you know something of us. Why don’t you start, Abe?”

The dwarf lights up happily. “I’m Aberforth Grymtoad!” he exclaims as if he can hardly believe it himself, “My family were from the mountains near the very quarry these stones are cut from. I worked here twenty years...”

“Oh let me start,” an orc cuts in, “Let’s not bore our guest with matters of dwarfish importance.” almost the whole party laughs. You just stare. Leanna stares back. “Gather round, I’m going to show this cute little monkey how to hammer and chisel stone.”

He hands you a hammer and chisel with a strange curl in his lip just beside his left canine. It looks like he’s holding back a grin. The rest of the party begins to encircle you as he kicks a half-carved block towards you. Your heart misses a beat and you desperately want not to be here. Nothing here looks remotely genuine or safe.

You shoot a look at Leanna as you feel the group closing behind you. She bares her teeth, not really seeing you anymore, and licks her lips. You’re just meat for the grabbing in her eyes.

“Perhaps you won’t turn, Mr Halfheart? says the dwarf, also baring his teeth. There’s nothing friendly in his smile now. “Then we’ll just eat you.”

The orc puts one foot on the block of stone and sets the tip of the chisel right in the centre. He raises his other hand with the hammer and is about to bring it down. Before he can get his swing going you chuck your useless tools at his face and duck away, turning to try and get through between whoever’s legs are behind you. Test your luck. If you are lucky, your aim is true and the orc loses a tooth, screaming in pain, losing the hammer while you successfully dive out of the group and get running. Turn to 106. If you are unlucky, turn to 305.