[Dwarin Thunderhammer]

Dwarin listened to aspida's final charge with profound sadness. Then Aspida's tired body finally went limp and her spirit left her. A single tear rolled down the craggy face of the old Dwarf. He thought of the persecution she had endured. The leers and stares of people at her because of their ugliness, the smirks behind her back as she passed places of meeting. Never to have known the love of a man, or the close bond of a family. Now the final injustice in her sorrow filled life was that she was killed by her own kind. Some men she quite possibly could have delivered as babies. Men she had healed and taken care of. A new fire awoke within the stone heart of the old Dwarf. Not only did he accept her order to watch after Haleth, but he decided to the best of his abilities that he would be the family Haleth never had. He also swore an oath to seek out and kill anyone ascociated with the attack.

Thus it was that among the ashes of a house. that a new foe arose. One more terrible and feirce than any they had ever seen before. So Dwarin once more picked up the frail body of Aspida and carried her to a small green mound behind her house. There he laid her down among the long grass. He picked some flowers and clasped them in her hands, and he set her hands upon her bosom. He then set Gurthden to watch the body until proper burial could be administered. Dwarin himself went to Aspida's garden. He dug with his hands until he found a small iron box. Dwarin then stood as he opened the chest, every bone and muscle complaining as he arose. Inside found a cloth bundle. He carefully unwrapped the material from it's contents. amking sure to fold it and set it in it's box with reverence. Inside he found an emrald brooch. It's beautifull jewel was set in simple silver with a pin on the back. After dwelling on it a moment he put both of them back in the box. The other contents were a map and a small journal. They were both very old and fragile. The cloth map seemed to be a chart of lands to the north, Dwarin made a mental note of this and set it back in its place. Dwarin then removed the journal. it was Aspida's personal diary. He decided not took invade the privacy of the dead woman. But he did notice that the last few pages were empty. He gently laid the journal in thebox. He then stashed the box in a locked compartment of his cart (which was undamaged).

It was drawing nigh on to morning so Dwarin trudged back to the green hill where Aspida laid and relieved Gurthden. He asked gurthden to tend to the wounded men who they saved from the burning house. There, with a heacy heart, he awaited the return of Thenamir and his party.

[ December 21, 2001: Message edited by: Dwarin Thunderhammer ]