by T. H. Lain
Soon Tordek realized the trap of such honest gratitude when he began feeling that he should do more to deserve their accolades. They asked for nothing, but a blind man could see that they needed help repairing and rebuilding homes. Even with the return of the captives, they were left with barely half their previous population. Many of the survivors were injured too severely to be of much help. It would be worse for the families of the slaves who died in the mine, Tordek knew. He wished fleetingly that they had found a way to rescue all the hostages before facing Hargrimm and his henchmen, but he also knew that more evil might have been the result if he carried Andaron's Hammer any longer than necessary.
The druid's spells were especially beneficial in healing the wounded and repairing damaged property. Devis worked reluctantly during the day, but in the evening he was the center of attention as he told the tale of Andaron's Delve to an enraptured audience. The chronicle grew and transformed each time he repeated it. By the fifth night, it had become a tuneful song.
It was around that same time that Tordek and the others came to an unspoken agreement that they had lingered long enough. It was time to count their coins and gems, divide them equally as they had agreed, and go their separate ways.
"You can't be tired of me already," protested Lidda. "We've had some great times, haven't we?"
Tordek nodded. "We will meet again, I'm sure, but it's time I walked alone."
She made no attempt to hide her disappointment, but the halfling nodded her acceptance. "I guess I understand that. You don't mind if I take Devis with me, though, do you? I know you and he have this special bond, but if you really want to be alo-" She leaped away just in time to avoid Tordek's boot connecting with her bottom.
Lidda and Devis set off that afternoon. The halfling gave Tordek a fierce hug and made him promise to look for her the next time he heard of a great adventure that didn't involve spiders, aboleths, illithids, or anything gelatinous.
Devis offered his hand, and Tordek grasped it.
"You'd do well to stay out of dresses," advised the dwarf.
"I can't promise that," said Devis, "but I promise to stop wearing them around frisky dwarves."
On the morning after their departure, Tordek rose early to find Vadania sitting nearby, waiting for him to wake. She sat patiently as he went washed his face and dressed. When he finished, she had her pack slung over her shoulder.
"Well, then," he said. "All obligations settled?" She nodded. They clasped hands and said in unison, "Bargain." Vadania tugged gently on Tordek's beard and leaned down to kiss him on the cheek. "If you should ever need a friend's help, do not think you need to hold my obligation to call upon me."
"Aye," he said. He hesitated so long that she turned away to leave before he added, "And you should call on me."
She smiled at him over her shoulder. "I shall," she promised, "whenever I need a valuable dwarf."
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