Library:Grendal:Chapter 0

  Grendal
  A Novel of the Adonthell Universe
  by Andrew Phillips
  acknowledgements: The Adonthell Team
  Dedicated to my Scholar, my actress, my beloved SLL

Uzdun'kal

The young Hilldwarves shushed each other noisily as their grandfather, a wizened old Hilldwarf resplendent in his white-muzzled runebadger form, sat down in the sett's wisdom-seat. For a moment, they were quite still. Then they grew tired of holding their peace and began clamouring to know what story he would tell them.

-Is it about Elvishes?

-What about the Manthing in the forest?

-Yes, tell us about the manthing in the forest!

He looked at them with mock sternness. The look did as he wanted. They were awed into silence as they realized what the look meant. Uszhkal never looked stern if it was not very important to listen to him. Slowly, however, he began to smile. He could not hide the smile without his Dwarvish beard.

-He's smiling! It's going to be a good story!