The White Horse

[Kiara]

Enthralled by the ancient story of her kinsman, Parin (who had been sitting in the shadows nursing her seemingly eternal cold with wholesome chicken broth) sat gaping in wonder and awe. Her unfortunate spoon, though she did not notice it, so vision-filled was her little head, had slowly slipped to the wooden floor beneath her. The gentle clatter it had made was not enough to rouse her from her revery. But now, the retreating figure of the mysterious dwarf and the possibility of losing the opportunity to make his aquaintance grew slim. Yes, now she needed to act, or suffer the consequences of sloth.

Jumping up from her table, she nearly sent her bowl, contents and all, to the same dismal end as her spoon, but from some smile of fate, the bowl pirouetted once, twice, thrice, before settling calmly in the center of the table, as though ready for applause from the gathering in the room. But it remained, as she had been, unnoticed in the corner, until now....

"Master Dwarf, do you retire so soon? I would seek a word with you, if you would be so kind as to flatter a young dwarven maid's fancy. If it is fatigue you seek to ward off, may I offer you a coffee on me for your pains? I assure you, the black bean Bethberry uses for her brew is the finest I've tasted!"

This was received, however, by uproarious laughter in the dimly lighted inn, for as high and fine as her words sounded, she had not counted on the effect of her crowded sinuses....What they heard was this:

"Baster Dwawf, do you retiwe so soon? I would seek a wowd wid you, if you wouwd be so kide as do fladder a young dwarben maid'z fanzy. If id is fadigue you seek do wawd off, bay I offew you a coffee on me fow youw painz? I assuwe you, duh black beand Bedberry uses fow hew bwew is duh finesd I've tasded!"

Oh no!, she thought,Now he and everyone else is going to think I've been at the drink!

So, completely abashed, Parin began to slink back into her corner, amidst the continued chucklings of those around her....