“Chromatia!”, exclaimed the dwarf, this time with a twinkle of recognition in his eyes, “Ahh, such extravangance! Your lands are in danger?”
“Both Arlonia and the Barren Lands”, explained Ailayah, “And in extension, the dwarven lands.”
“Rather ironic, is it not?” asked the dwarf. “Such a long long time ago, a man stole what was rightfully ours. Our trust was misplaced, and the lands are now in danger. A rather sad tale.”
“Yes”, Ailayah replied. “You must help us. We hear there is a path through your caves that leads to the Barren Lands.”
“Bah! What you are asking is not such an easy thing to ask for, Lady! We have trusted humans in the past, and look what they have done. Technology everywhere! What a disgrace. It was our secret. We trusted the human with it and he broke that trust. You see now?” He looked to Charles and Thomas with narrowed eyes, “You see what your kind has done?!”
“We are terribly -”, Charles began to say.
“YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND ANYTHING!”, the dwarf said pointing his fingers at Charles. “Your kind does not understand the pride that us dwarves have.”
“Does it include that kind of pride?”, Thomas laughed, pointing at the dwarf’s tutu.
“SHUT UP!”, the dwarf yelled out, “ONE MORE WORD ABOUT THAT, AND YOU DIE!”
so this means a high word count by the time I'm through. If I decide I want to send this to an agent or editor I'm gunning for 95 by then.
