[Koobdooga]

‘Oh, I don’t know about a wager.’ Ibun’s eyes twinkled as he looked the lass up and down. ‘Now I could be wrong, but you’ve not the build, or so it seems to me, to drink us Dwarves under the table.’ He thumped Fror on the back, showing how solidly his friend was built. ‘But ye can try it if you’ve set your mind to it.’

Ibun motioned a server to bring over a half dozen more mugs, and another pitcher of ale. ‘Now you realize we’ve been drinking since mid morning . . . I think. Isn’t that right Fror? When that Hobbit brewmaster turned up and was giving out free samples.’ Ibun poured the six mugs full of foaming ale. ‘Now you just finish those off, and maybe a half round more, and you’ll be caught up to us.’

He sat down and grinned at her, egging her on. ‘And I suppose I should introduce myself. You’ve already met Fror, it seems. My name is Ibun Lodestone. And you’re Penn, aren’t you? Penn of the ferrets.’ He smiled again and raised his own mug to Fror and then to her.