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"What’s that?"

"There’s sand on the floor of the wagon Not much A pinch or two But it smells like the riverbank It wasn’t there before I know the sather, sensing so as bulky as ever

"I e had weighed him before and after he rode with thehis eyes at the other dwarves, "I’m a dwarf of years of experience I hold a position of trust with the Company Am I to understand you think I took a few handfuls of coin? To what gain, at such risk? My pension is worth on must have eaten it"

"Only two have been alone with theI just wanted to have both of you present while I thought this through," Djer said

"Are you sure there is no error in the count?"

"None," the accountant said

Sekyalked over to Auron, pointing with his stick "Then it on, as I was searched when I left the cart--"

Auron snorted

"Quiet, please I can’t think when you’re talking," Djer said "Shut up or I’ll cram that stick in your mouthUmta, did you check the stick?"

"Solid orewood," the accountant dwarf said "I felt it myself--it was no heavier when he left as when he went in"

"There’s gold in it," Auron said "I can smell it"

"Umta!" Djer said "The stick!"

The dwarf called Umta swore and snatched the stick from Sekyw’s hand He worked first the handle, then the tip, trying to open it

"This is outrageous That stick was a present froe, it’s nothing but solid orewood"

Djer went over to U, breaking it in two Dirt flew in all directions

"So it was hollow, and weighted with dirt That proves nothing," Sekyw said, but his face had grown pale

Auron sniffed at the stick "E clean"

Djer poured the end of the stick out on the accountant’s tally sheet A trickle of sand, golden against the other dirt, poured out

"Who would weight it with dirt, and a little sand? Where’s the gold, Sekyw?"

Sekyw looked down at the evidence and wheezed Dwarves watching murmured to each other as they worked it out, or had others explain it to theold?"

Sekew tore at his beard "The stick was old I buried it so the dragon would take the bla as you’re old, and just because you happen upon a friendly dragon--"<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>