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“We’ll see the outcome, although I can’t see the reason why these dwarves would be on the lead here” He had nodded towards the dwarves and then smiled to the others. “We may almost walk across the river, but these guys must swim. Nice to see you little folk to do your best!” With a big grin he had walked into the River and started crossing it. (Nogrod #15, modified)
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How long it was from those days? And the other dwarf had won! The news struck Novgorod like a hammer.
This just can’t be! I was so close! And I must have been in the lead! I just stopped for an hour at those creepy Barrow Downs... Then he became to think about it.
No, it’s not possible. I have wandered only a few miles the day I left Bree as I ran the whole day after getting free from the mound and got here. So I must have been lying in the Barrow for a whole day! Some shortcut that was!
Novgorod was swallowing his pride with the revelation. He had been stupid not paying heed to the inn-keeper’s advice and with that he had lost everything.
Cursed be my stubborness...
One dwarf stole the trophy and the other stole my heart! ... Cut it, right there! Don’t get overwhelmed by the things! She wished you no good and it was good we did not trek together for any longer. Carefully Novgorod took a sideways look at Narleah who was sitting some yards away from him. She surely had shaken Novgorod’s balance. Both of the dwarves had.
Before this challenge he had thought of the dwarves as being stupid, boring and greedy. Now one of them had beaten him in a fair competition and the other one had proven to be more interesting than he would have allowed to himself.
Queer folk...
There was a lot of hassle and joining together after Eoln had departed with Berrick. Narleah seemed to be sitting alone. Slowly Novgorod stood up from the bench and took the few steps to reach her.
Whatever, otherwise I’d be wandering home alone anyhow...
“Hi, Narleah! You still haven’t told me the origins of the song I sang you days ago. If you have no company home, come with me, you’ll have plenty of days to remember it, and maybe we could find other songs and stories to share?”