[piosenniel]

‘It looks to be a Dwarven axe.’

Pio took the implement from Aman, her eyes sliding over the fine workmanship, from the long, smoothed oaken handle to the sturdy, sharp head. Where the metal of the axe head wrapped round the handle there were set, on the copper plate affixed there, Dwarven runes, filled in with gold.

‘Curious,’ she said quietly, recalling a story her good friend Cami had once told her. ‘I wonder . . .’

‘What does it say?’ asked Zimzi, noting the look of puzzlement on her friend’s face.

‘It was a gift to someone . . . and I think she will come looking for it, and soon. It must be precious to her.’ She handed the axe to Ruby, telling her to be careful as it was quite sharp. ‘Put it away where it will be safe, and out of harm’s way.’

Further discussion of the axe was forestalled as Pio caught a glance of Derufin peeking in from the door to the kitchen. She smiled, her eyes lighting up at the sight of her friend. ‘Come now,’ she called to him, an impish look on her face. ‘Come greet me, stablemaster . . . and tell me how it is you managed to lose my horse!’