The tavern wasn't much of a kind place, but it was still a friendly place and had one of the best features a dwarf can ask for: feeling at home.

  The lounge was full of travellers and merchants making a lot of noise around, all men and dwarves. Elves are not the type to share with others, which is why, when you see one, it's better to pay your respects. Riuluk was too tired to get drunk with strangers and tell his stories; he wouldn't say no to the company of a nice dwarf lady, but he was tired even for flirting. He just went to speak to the tavern's chief, who asked for his doc number and name, booked a room, and requested that the meal be brought to his room...

  “Okok, sir...meals also for the two plants you are carrying?” joked the chief

  “Actually...yes, I don't really know what they eat yet, but let's say 3 meals then,” said Riuluk seriously

  “Hey, hey..don't take it so seriously, fellow! Had a bad day?”

  “A terrible one, but I was not angry, dear fellow. I'm actually very hungry, 3 meals would fit for me..thank you.”

  “Alright..ahah, that's the dwarf I like! There are not as many of you around anymore these days!” said the chief

  “Roundath! Bring 3 meals to room number 38! And make it fast...I need you to finish cleaning up the plates!”

  “Yes, yes..father, just stop that attitude towards me! You may have talked all your life to mom like that, you'd better change it with me at least!” answered a very sweet voice coming from the kitchen.

  “Hitch!” Riuluk sobbed

  The chief looked at him...

  “He he”, laughed Riuluk sheepishly.

  The chief gave him a look like..be careful, lad, don't make anything stupid. Riuluk took the key, which was actually a very big one, with the number 38 carved on it, along with some ornaments, and went to the room.

  There he was in this very simple room: a bed with clean sheets, a small desk with a chair and an old but comfortable sofa in front of a fireplace. He put the plants on the table...

  “Come out...” he said

  no answer

  “Helloo? We are safe, come out!”

  nothing

  “Mmmmh..you know, I apologise for the..thing..with the warriors, I wasn't expecting that, I know I should have...I didn't...ehm....sor...ry?”

  Nothing at all

  So strange, I mean, everything about them is strange. Riuluk started to go around the room, trying to deduce a way to make them come back as creatures. He did not find anything.

  “Knock knock!” the door knocked

  “Y..yes! Come in,” said Riuluk

  A very beautiful, dwarf lady came into the room with a tray full of food.

  “Good evening, Sir. My name is Roundath. Anything you need, you can pull the rope on this wall, and the staff will come forth. Here's the meal you requested, Welcome to the Rolling Pear,” said Roundath

  Riuluk was blocked. So beautiful...he did not say a word.

  Roundath looked at him as an idiot, smiled and closed the door behind her.

  “Hhhhhhiiiieeeeuuu..” breathed Riuluk with a strange sound

  He then turned his eyes to the food. There it was, the speciality of the dwarves of the air: fresh grain focaccia with tomatoes, a chunk of ham, beers and a bottle of Duerth Mankrom...

  “Ooooow yesss..” said Riuluk

  He sat on the sofa and ate the whole in front of the fire, getting drunk by himself. He then remembered...the stone! The mushroom!

  He kept them close in his jacket all the time, too busy with all those emotions and dangers; he almost forgot he had them.

  Riuluk put his hand in his jacket and took out the stone...there it was, pale...he thought, what if I bring it close to the fire?

  He jumped from the chair and went close to the fireplace...

  “Maybe it will give me an answer? A direction?”

  The stone kept pale as any other would have been.

  He then took off the mushroom...it was there, like nothing had happened to it, so beautiful!

  “Ahahahahah!” laughed Riuluk

  “So busy with dangers! I almost forgot...I can buy a new sphere with this!!”

  He continued to laugh, jumped on the bed and started to tell himself all the things he wanted in the new sphere. He then looked at the plants all of a sudden... he felt bad to see them so close to the window, maybe it was going to be cold. He brought the plants on the sofa, closer to the fire.

  “I'm feeling like an idiot, taking care of plants now..bah!” said Riuluk and went off to sleep.