I'm waking up in a small room, appearing to be an infirmary. They treated me after knocking me out, aren't they able to decide or something?

After a while of waiting around, due to the lacking people to talk with - dwarves with crushed legs in a coma don't really talk - a nurse walked in. A very manly, strong nurse I suppose.

The dwarve looks at me and nods, making a sound like 'HM!', then goes back out. I don't understand these people.

A few minutes later the nursery dwarve comes back, followed by a expensively clothed guy. A king, noble or similar I guess.

Nobleguy:" So you opened the door and survived?"

Ce:" Yeah, I opened your dwarven magic door! Catalyt could've told me about the effect!"

Upon hearing the word dwarf, the nurse gasps and the noble guys eyes narrow.

Nurse:" Did you just call us dwarves?!"

Ce:" Yes, isn't that what your species is called?"

The nurse was flushed red, nearly going on a rampage. Don't like being called dwarves, huh? Luckily, the noble holds him back.

N:" If he asks this open, while being entirely left for our judgement, he doesn't know better, Bjorn. Get us some beer!"

Ce:" Am I allowed to ask what you are then?"

N:" Easily explained,the humans indeed called us dwarves since ancient times. The elves picked it up recently aswell. We are actually leprechauns, though."

Leprechauns? Weren't those supposed to be some myth, giving gold to children that try hard enough to chase their dreams?

Ce:" Leprechauns did get memorised, but I don't think it suits you well."

N:" I enjoy frank people, but the human version of a leprechaun is INSULTING! Our smithery doesn't involve gold! It is way too hard to bend, neither is it stronger than plain iron"

Ce:" Smithery isn't involved in leprechaun myths, ironically"

N:" Damn, the humans minds have twisted facts even more since our last visit!"

So they did visit our population to inform themselves. With that level of smithing a disguise talisman would be very easy to craft.

Ce:" Can we get to my reason of visiting now? I don't really like idle chat"

N:" Neither do I. State your purpose"

Thinking about what I tell him, he receives beer from the nurse, which still seems angry. He puts down my glass on the table, but without looking, I knew it was poisoned. Heavily poisoned.

Ce:" Excuse me, can I have one without poison in it?"

N:" What?"

Ce": This one is poisoned. Enough poison to kill my entire army!"

The noble calls for a few medics, which rush to us to check my statement. They only smell the beer and varify. The noble closes his eyes, breathes in a few times, then begins a monologue, with a voice no one dared to interrup. Disappointment, fury and power.

The nurse falls onto his knees while it flows on.

N:" You know what is teached to every one of us since childhood? Don't mistreat guests. Do you know, how many times our kind was treated bad? Countless. Don't you think we are better? We are! You aren't. As you were my friend, I allow you to choose. Serve... What is your name?"

The last sentence came completely calm, the sudden change got me off guard and I need to spit out my name, concentrating not to laugh.

Ce:" Cecil Winter, sir. Can I get yours too?"

Laurin:" My name is Laurin. Back to the point. Bjorn, you either choose to be banished and serve Cecil or you die. Right here, right now. On my or his hands."

Bjorn:" I refuse to serve this foul mouthed brat!"

The kings lips trembled in anger.

L:" Fine. After disobeying our rules like that, right in front of me, you don't deserve to die on a strong being. You will be fed to our porks, while tied up."

Hard punishments, but fair treatment. He knew his rules all along, he probably knew about the punishment aswell.

B:" Still better than dying on this bastards hands!"

This time Laurins face went towards a large, but severly cold smile.

L:" Well, why not both? Cecil, would you like to cut him to be pieces and feed him to the porks?"

Ce:" Sorry, as a guest - I can't just go around and kill people. Just like you do, I hold my rules tight, never to use my might against anyone is one of them"

L:" You seem pretty reasonable for a... No. Not a human. Whatever, your rules seem well made. Bjorn, the mercy of the guest you detested saved you."

Bjorn looked at me even angrier. Saving his life doesn't suffice to make him okay with me? Stubborn, little dwarf! Hey, using this as an insult is pretty good! Wait...

Ce:" Do you really intend to let your rules be bend like that?"

L:" No, there will be some other kind of punishment later. Why do you ask?"

I grin, having a good idea what to do.

Ce:" So, he hated me after I unknowingly called you dwarves right?"

L:" Yes, go on"

Ce:" How about you just change his name to dwarf until you think it suffices? It will remind him of his failure the entire time"

L:" You know what? Pretty good. I think you understand rules really well, don't you?"

Ce:" Might be, I don't know the rules of this place yet"

Laurin looks at me, while touching his brown beard. He puts down the beer he held the entire time talking, then says :" You are a guest now, the rules will be given to you after you pass the test. Until then it doesn't matter"