Bruno led Karl and Lithir into the mines, where gray walls and tunnels lay everywhere. The light from oil lamps hung along the main path into the mines, some thirty feet wide. They were heading to the Chamber of Meeting to meet with Tillo. Several Dwarves scowled at them, and some might even have challenged the trio but for Karl"s rank and the flag of the court of Tillo that he carried on a small banner in his left hand, informing one and all that the highest authority countenanced his mission. The echo of steel tools working stone and metals was a sharp cacophony that got louder, and even Bruno, who was used to such noise, was uncomfortable with the din.
"Well, this is about as comfortable as walking into a den of poisonous spiders," remarked Lithir tightly.
"And when have you ever walk
