and have a mind to claim it and make it theirs, while The Clan simply see and admire it. I like that about you and your kin."
Skharr nodded. "That is appreciated."
"I had a dream, you know, and a human female entered my dream. She was beautiful, I suppose, if you have a preference for human females. Have you ever been with a dwarf woman?"
"I can't say I have. They don't like a human my size much."
"They wouldn't, come to think of it. But back to my tale. She was beautiful with rich black hair and dressed in flowing silks, she looked rather like a goddess, but not any I have ever heard of or seen."
"From what I've heard, there are numerous gods and goddesses who aren't too well-known."
"Aye, it could be. But the point is, she came into the dream to warn me. She said there is a plot afoot between the local Thieves and Assassins' guilds to kill a barbarian but that the gods were in support of the barbarian in this. So perhaps she was some kind of oracle, although why an oracle would need to peep into my dreams escapes me."
Throk paused, took a few bites from the freshly roasted pork belly that was set out in front of them, and motioned for his guest to join him. It was impolite to allow a dwarf to eat alone when in company, and Skharr cut a slab of the pork for himself.
"I tried to think of who she might have been, and I found one of my kin who prays to the goddess of thieves. She’s not too well known and most humans bow their heads to…uh, Neuregh, although I don't think he's a high god in his own right. Still, no matter."
"How long ago did this warning come to you?" he asked. He had a feeling that he already knew which of Throk's kin prayed to a god of thieves, but he didn't want to make any assumptions that could not be withdrawn.
"A few weeks past. I told my kin of my dream, in which the woman asked me to cast protection over the young Brahgen. I did as she asked, and sure enough, there was a slaughter and all those who ruled the undercouncil of Verenvan were killed and a new undercouncil royalty was born."
The barbarian nodded and took a bite of the juicy, well-cooked pork. "I think I know the occasion you speak of."
"Aye. I should have cast a warning your way as well. There aren’t many barbarians in these parts she could have been referring to, of course. You were still in the city and I could have acted or found some way to help."
"It’s no matter," Skharr answered. "It turned out well enough in the end and I am glad your…nephew?"
Throk nodded.
"I am glad your nephew is safe."
"Your concern is appreciated. And yet…there is a rub. Brahgen has to leave and go to another clan. He can't be seen by the humans here who might know he was not killed and assume he was part of the coup. Too many in this city have a mistrust of us as it is, and I would not see him fall victim to that, especially over something that is not his doing."
The barbarian tugged one of his forelocks thoughtfully before he tucked it behind his ear. "Are there no others you could trust this business to?"
"No." The dwarf shook his head and carefully cleaned some grease that had spilled from the pork belly onto his beard. "You are the only one I trust to accomplish this, especially since you might find that Brahgen himself gives ye the most trouble."
"Is that so?"
"The lad fancies himself as something of a thief." Throk snorted. "Simply because he hasn't the body for smithing, he assumes a thief is what he must be. He's barely reached manhood and he's about to get himself killed. The only wise thing he did was pray to some…demigoddess who gave a rat's ass about his sorry skin."
It seemed as though his companion could have revealed a little more of who or what the dream intruder was. He wasn't sure why the dwarf felt the need for secrecy but he decided not to question it. As long as Throk needed something from him, it was only good manners to at least give the idea some serious thought.
"I have intended to leave the city, in all honesty," he admitted and drew a deep breath. "I was involved