Chapter 16 Chapter Thirteen Come on, I said it earlier...

Togg tilted his head slightly to avoid the heavy blow, and the dwarf seized the opportunity to turn and bite the attacker's forearm.His dwarf opponent shook his arm violently while pounding him with the other, and the tenacious Torgg took the blows, biting even harder. He leans toward his opponent, thereby reducing the impact of his fist blows. Using his strong legs for support, Togg shoved and wrestled, knocking his opponent over a table and chair, sending them both crashing to the ground, sending sawdust flying everywhere. They're not the only pair of tavern-brawling dwarves.Fists and wine bottles were waving all over the sky, foreheads collided with each other, many tables and chairs flew up and down, and smashed into the face of a hostile target.

The din and quarrel continued, and the poor bar owner Toever Fengbubble curled up against the wall helplessly, wrapping his thick arms around his chest.His expression was sometimes blank, and sometimes resigned.He didn't worry too much about the damage to his business, knowing that the dwarves involved would fix it quickly. This is customary in tavern disputes. One by one the troublemakers disappeared, mostly with their feet, but some were thrown headfirst through long-broken windows. Seeing that the number of people was reduced to only the leader of the trouble, Toaiwo grinned, and Togg Hammer was hitting the head.

Toiwo had expected it from the beginning.Stubborn Togg never lost a bar fight unless the opponent was overwhelmingly superior, much less when Singers fought alongside him. Though not as swift as some dwarves, sullen old Singers knew how to provoke a fight and throw his foes off guard.Toever laughed as he saw an angry dwarf grab a bottle and rush at Singers. Singers held up a finger in a questioning expression that made the attacker pause.Singers then pointed to the raised bottle and shook his finger, when his opponent noticed that there were still a few drops of wine at the bottom of the bottle.

Singers motioned for the dwarf to drink up the wine first.As he did so, Singers pulled out an entire bottle of his own, pretended to gulp it down, then slammed it in his opponent's face before hitting him again. "Okay, throw them all out!" Toilwo called to Torg, Singers, and the rest of the dwarves when the fight was over. The four men moved, picked up the semi-conscious dwarf regardless of friend or foe, and threw them out of the dead door casually. Then the only four remaining troublemakers started to walk out, but Toiwo called Tog and Singers to a halt and motioned them back to the bar, where drinks were already served.

"A reward for the performance?" Togg asked, parting his thick lips. "You pay for these yourself, and there is still a large amount of compensation to be settled," Toaiwo told Toge with great certainty, "You idiot, are you going to stir up trouble in the city?" "I didn't mean to stir up trouble, I just got involved in the trouble I saw!" "Bah!" spat the tavernkeeper, sweeping a pile of glass off the bar. "What kind of greeting do you think Bruno can get from Mirabar? His Mithril Hall is stealing our business." "That's because they're better than us!" cried Togg.He stopped abruptly and rubbed his sore lips.

"They made better armor and weapons," he restrained his emotions, a little slurred, "the way to defeat them is to make our goods better to open up new markets; the way to defeat them..." "I don't want to contradict you or agree with you," Toever interrupted him, "but you're running around town whining. You idiot, can't you hold back? You're going to take all The dwarves are all agitating against the Marquis and the Council? Do you want to start a war at Mirabar?" "of course not." "Shut your mouth then!" Toever scolded. "You've been whining and whining since you've been here tonight, you idiot! You know half the dwarves here have their wallets getting dry, and they I also know that the culprit is the reopened Mithril Hall. Don’t you know that they won’t listen to you?”

Togg waved his hand contemptuously, and buried his head in drinking again, using futile physical resistance as a defense against Toaiwo's keen observation. "He got to the point," said Singers, who was on the sidelines.Togg gave him a hard look. "I've had enough," added Singers, "we've spoiled a lot of good wine in one night, and it's not a good thing." "They pissed me off, that's all," said Togg, his tone suddenly tinged with remorse and frustration, "Bruenor was not an enemy, and treated him as an enemy instead of being honest with him and his fellow Mithral Hall , that's what a fool would do."

"You yourself have never liked the upper class. Including the Marquis and the four idiots who followed him around, they always put on a straight face, as if they were such awesome warriors," Toaiwo said sympathetically, " Is not it?" "If Mithril Hall was a human town, do you think the Marquis and his people would attack them so decisively?" "Yes," said Toaiwo without hesitation, "I don't think Torger Hammerer would care so much." Togg was trapped on the bar with his head in his arms.This sentence did cover part of the truth, he had to admit.Somewhere deep in his heart, he understood that Bruenor and his followers of Mithril Hall were his own blood.They were all descended from the clan of Denzo, a tribe beyond the memory of the oldest dwarves.Mithril Hall, Mirabar, Felba... They are all connected by pure dwarven history and blood.Basically, what worries Togue is that the trade dispute is about to split this vital bond.

Plus, thinking of the night he had spent with the messengers from Mithril Hall, Torgg realized he undoubtedly liked them. "Well, I hope you stop yelling and we don't have to fight anymore," Singers said finally.He poked Togg with his elbow, winking at the initiator when he looked up, "Or at least slow down the pace. I'm not young enough to have pain in the morning." Toaiwo patted Togg on the shoulder and walked away to clean up the mess. Togg was still lying there, pillowed on the bar all night, with all kinds of thoughts churning in his head. To his surprise, he wondered if he should leave Mirabar.

"Hope the elves don't catch 'em and kill 'em tonight," Bruno muttered, "or he'll have fun." Young Dagna stared at his lord curiously, trying to read between his words.After all, there were only two lines of footprints here, and only two unlucky orcs escaped from the retreat and passed by here.In the past few days, I have been tracking stragglers along the mountain road-usually one or two.As Bruenor complained, Drizzt, Catti-brie, Wulfgar, and Regis could always run into them alone, and finish them off long before the main force arrived. "There are not many miles left to pursue," said little Dagna.

"Bah!" The dwarf king snorted at this, and put the bowl of stewed meat in his hand on the ground beside him, "At least fifty escaped, but we only caught less than a dozen!" "Every day it pushes the rest to hide in caves. We can't chase them there." "Why not?" The question was naturally very thought-provoking, because Bruno asked with anger in his eyes and an expression of unmistakable urgency. "Why did you come here, my lord?" asked little Dagna calmly. "Your dark elf friend and his party can finish all these remaining jobs, and you know that." "We are going to Qianshui Town and other villages and towns to warn." "It's a task that Drizzt is better at, and can do faster than we can, without us." "No, if he does this, those villagers will drive him away." Little Dagna shook his head, "Most people around here know Drizzt Do'Urden. Even if they don't, he can send Catti-brie, Wulfgar, or that little guy to warn them. You know that the raiding party has disintegrated, though half have escaped; you know that they are scattered, hidden in deep holes, and can no longer threaten anyone." "You are discussing on the premise that there are only so many people in the attacking team." Bruno argued. "If there are more, you should return to Mithril Hall," said Little Dagna. "You know that too. So, what are you doing here? What else are you doing here?" Bruno was tense, sitting on the tree stump that was regarded as a seat, staring at little Dagna with a serious and determined gaze. "Do you want to hang out with your beard and throw your ax to kill orcs, or do you want to spit at the ambassadors of Silvermoon City or Thunderbar in Mithril Hall, or bargain with the merchants of Mirabar about the ownership of trade? You prefer Which one, little Dagna?" The other dwarf swallowed hard at the unexpected direct question.Of course he could give a politician's answer; but both Bruno and Dagna Jr. knew that, that would be a lie. "I want to be with my king, because that's what I'm going to do..." The young dwarf started to evade, but Bruenor didn't listen at all. "I asked 'which one', but tell me, don't you have a preference?" "My responsibility…" "I'm not asking about your duties!" Bruno cut him off with a wave of his hand. "You want to tell the truth in order to lecture me again," he growled. "Bring me another bowl of stew when you're done. Because this bowl has been frozen long ago. Do your duty, you puppet!" Bruno showed the empty bowl to young Dagna, and the young dwarf took it after a moment's hesitation.Even though he complied, he didn't get up immediately. "I'd rather be outside," said Dagna Jr. truthfully. "I'd rather fight an orc all day than be at an anvil." Bruno smiled under his fiery red beard. "Then why do you ask what you just asked me?" he asked. "You think I'm not of the same clan as you? The fact that I'm king doesn't make me want to be different from the rest of the Warhammer clan." "You're afraid of going home," said little Dagna courageously; "you see that as your end." Bruenor stepped back, shrugged, and noticed a pair of purple eyes staring at him from a bush. "I just want more stew," he said. Little Dagna looked straight at him, bit his lip and nodded. "I just don't want the bloody elves to kill them all tonight," he said with a grin, before getting up to leave. Immediately after little Dagna was gone, the elf came out of the bushes and sat down beside Bruno. "They're all dead, aren't they?" Bruno asked. "Catti-brie is a good marksman," Drow replied. "Oh, then go find some more to kill." "There will always be orcs," Drow said. "We could spend our lives hunting orcs in these mountains." He looked at Bruenor mischievously until the dwarves looked at him. "Of course you know that." of." "Little Dagna first, and now you're doing it too?" Bruno asked. "What do you expect me to say, Elf?" "Thoughts in your mind. Nothing else. When we first set out on the road, you strode forward with great anticipation. Then you seemed to see Gauntgrim, or at least the harbinger of a great adventure, the greatest A harbinger of adventure." "And now." "No," argued Drizzt, "our encounter at Fell Pass showed that you were troubled by the fact that your plans were about to go awry. You know that once you return to Mithril Hall it is impossible to leave it; you Know, they'll do their best to keep you inside." "There is reason, Elf," Bruno said with a wave of his hand, "Are you thinking that you guess more than you know?" "I didn't guess. I just observed," Drizzt replied. "Every step you take out of Icewind Dale is harder than that Bruenor before, every step—except for the moment when we temporarily diverted us from the goal. ; like, The journey to Mirabar, and the pursuit in the mountains." Bruno leaned forward, clutching Little Dagna's empty bowl.He shook the bowl, reached to the bottom of the almost empty stew pot, took a spoonful, and drank it in one gulp, licking the thick soup on his stubby fingers when he was done. "Of course, in Mithril Hall, I'll have the stew served in a nice bowl with a big nice tray and nice napkins." "You never liked wearing napkins." Bruenor shrugged, and his expression told Drizzt that he was on to something. "Then when you go back, hire a steward immediately," said Drizzt, "and rise to the throne as you go, expanding the reputation of your people and seeking out great kingdoms that are still older. Mithril Hall can run itself; if you don't believe , you didn’t go to Icewind Dale last time either.” "It's not easy." "You are the king. You set the standard of kingly behavior. This duty traps you, it scares you. But it only traps you when you yourself submit. Ultimately, only Bruenor Warhammer can Decide the fate of Bruenor Warhammer." "I think you oversimplify it, Elf," answered the Dwarf, "but I don't think you are wrong about it." He ended the sentence with a sigh, which was drowned out by a gulp of boiling broth. "Do you know what you want?" Drizzt asked, "or are you a little confused, my friend?" "Do you remember our first Mithril Hall expedition?" Bruenor asked, "Remember me pranking you about dying in bed?" Drizzt pursed his lips into a smile - that was a scene he will always remember, they led the residents of Ten-Towns who had just won the war against Akar Kessell's slave army who possessed the Crystal Shard, Drizzt was brought into what seemed to be the verge of death Before the dead Bruenor—only in this way can he trick the drow into agreeing to help him find Mithril Hall. "I don't need you to remind me too much," Drizzt replied. "You know I found two things on my mind when I found it," Bruno said. "I told you that seeing my homeland again and avenging my ancestors made my heart beat wildly. Let me tell you, Riding the dragon into the darkness was the quintessential moment of my life, even though when it happened I thought it was the last moment of my life." Drizzt nodded, aware of the direction the topic was going. "What were you thinking when we found Mithril Hall?" he asked.Because he knew Bruno would announce it loudly, admit it openly. "Honestly, I'm trembling! But there's something else..." He shook his head and sighed again, "When we returned from the south and my people took back their homeland, I felt a pang of sadness rise from my heart. " "Because you realize it's an adventure, and the journey is more important than the outcome." "You discovered that too!" Bruno blurted out. "Why do you think Catti-brie and I left Mithril Hall so soon after the drow war? I'm afraid we are the same kind of people, and this is probably the end of our fateful lives." "Then how do you get on the road to the end, Elf?" Drizzt smiled, and Bruenor joined him.Drizzt felt that the burden had been lifted from Bruenor's shoulders.But Bruno Gege's laughter suddenly stopped, and a stern expression enveloped his face. "Where's my girl?" he asked. "What if she gets killed on the trip? How can you get rid of endless blames on yourself?" "That's something I often think about too," Drizzt admitted. "You saw what that thought did to Wulfgar," Bruenor said. "He forgot his role and kept an eye on her." "That was his mistake." "Then you mean you don't care about her?" Drizzt laughed loudly. "Don't take me off topic," he said, "of course I care about her. But tell me, Bruno Warhammer, is there anyone in this world who loves Catti-brie and Wulfgar more than you ? And you just let them stay safe in Mithril Hall and don't let them go anywhere?" "Of course you don't," Drizzt continued, "you trust her and let her go her own way. You let her fight and see her get hurt—recently. If you ask, I'd say that's not quite a father. " "Who asked you?" "Oh, if you..." "If I do and you bring that up to me, I'll kick your elf ass!" "If you did and I told you that again, you'd kick the air and wonder why a hundred fists were punching your thick skull." Bruno wolfed it down, slammed the bowl on the floor, grabbed the horned helmet, and turned it around on his head. "Bah! Only a hundred can't get through this head, elf!" Drizzt smiled, and he totally agreed. Little Dagna returned at this time, and found his king in a very good mood.The young dwarf looked at Drizzt, and the drow just nodded, then his smile widened. "If we want to reach Shallow Water Town in two days, we have to get out of the mountain immediately," said Little Dagna. "When this group of orcs die, they can no longer chase them." "Then stop chasing," Drizzt said. Little Dagna nodded, looking neither surprised nor worried. "Isn't it time to go home in the end?" Bruno shook his head, and the broth was thrown from his beard.He reached out and stroked his beard. "Otherwise, we have to use Shallow Water Town as a forward position." Little Dagna said, "and then form the external joint defense line of Mithril Hall with Pante's group, and we will be in the vicinity of Shallow Water Town all summer. Running around in the mountains. I think the locals would appreciate it." A look of surprise melted into a smile on Bruno's face. "As for me, I like the way you think!" Bruno said when the little Dagna took out the bowl for the third time, "Be careful, don't leave too much for the glutton," Bruno said between swallowing , "If we still want to walk the mountain road, we can't let him get fat again, right?" Drizzt settled back comfortably in his seat, satisfied with his dwarf friend.Knowing what you need is one thing, acknowledging it is another. It is even more difficult to make yourself follow it. Togg walked on the north wall of Mirabar with a cane, limping a little because one of his knees was swollen from the transgression last night.The wind was hard that day, blowing sand and stones around the dwarf, but the temperature was not cold, so Torgg let go of his breastplate. He noticed the eyes of the surrounding guards - most of them frowning - shooting at him.His reception of Bruno leads to a whirlwind of arguments and fights in the town.Torgue was tired of these reactions.All he wanted was to do his part, to get outside the walls and get rid of the gossip, get rid of the trouble. He knew his wish would not be granted when he noticed a neat-looking dwarf in bright robes approaching. "Togg Hammer!" yelled Councilor Agranth Hammer. He walked to the foot of the ladder on the side of the battlement wall, pulled up his robe and tried to climb up. Togg was still walking in the other direction.He pretended not to hear, and looked outside the city wall as he walked.But when Alanthe called his name louder again, he found that not answering would only make him feel more frustrated. He stopped, propped his bruised palm against the wall, and his eyes wandered to the open space outside. Agranther walked up to him and leaned on him as well. "There was another fight last night?" said the MP. "If someone wants to fight, someone will fight." Togg replied. "How much more can you beat down?" "That depends on how much you still owe." He looked at Agranther, who didn't seem to be joking at all. "Your actions are driving a wedge between Mirabar. Is this what you dreamed of?" "I didn't want to ask for anything," Toger argued frankly.He turned his head and squinted at Agranther, "If you mean speaking my own mind, then the problem existed before I said it!" Agranther leaned more comfortably against the wall and seemed to be relaxing, as if he had no objection to it. "Many of us shake our heads at the existence of Mithril Hall, you know. We also hope that the biggest competitors are not Warhammer dwarves! You know, that's what happens. If you keep pointing people's noses Put pressure on them and their noses will buckle." "Bruno and us are half-baked in hostilities and quarrels," Togg reminded. "If everyone plays with the times, they may all benefit. If no one tries, how do you know it won't work?" "What you said is not completely unreasonable," the member also admitted, "This point has already been proposed and discussed in Yaoshi Council." "Most of them are not dwarves," said Togg, and Agranther gave him a cold look. "The dwarves also have spokesmen, and their opinions are heard by the council." Torgue knew from the dwarf's expression and impassive tone that he had irritated Agranther, the proud lifelong councilor.He recalled his reckless and blunt language, at least so reckless that he ignored the feelings of the companion in front of him, but he didn't agree.He felt that a voice in his head, independent of his own common sense, was making him lose his self-control. "You swore an oath when you joined the Ax Guards of Mirabar," said Agrantha. "Do you remember that oath, Torg Hammer?" Now it was Togg's turn to stare. "The oath is to serve Mirabar—not the Lord of Mithril Hall. You will be wise to consider." The senator patted Togg on the shoulder -- as many have done lately -- and walked away. Torgue recalled his oath, weighing it against the reality of Mirabar.