The basement smelled of damp stone and old wood.
Low lanterns burned along the walls, real ones, with wax and flames instead of the usual manalite ones Ryn was used to seeing.
The space was wider than expected, though clearly built to house wine instead of people.
People were already there.
A handful of dwarves sat or stood in small groups, simply waiting in silence.
They were given weird looks as they passed by but Ryn paid no attention. He set Amelia down carefully on a folded blanket near the wall. She leaned back, wincing slightly but otherwise steady.
Amelia must've noticed it too and pieced the puzzle together.
"This happens a lot," she murmured.
Before Ryn could answer, a voice spoke from behind them.
"Aye. More than folk like to admit."
Ryn turned.
A dwarf sat on a crate near the far end of the room, back against stone, a blue coat draped loosely over his shoulders. His beard was braided simply, without the normal ornaments.
