The Ruby Empire

Varrick the Dwarf

You chuck the rock into the lake with all your might, feeling better the harder you throw. You sniffle, wiping your face and smearing dirt and mud on your cheek. You've been trying to get a hold of yourself, but when your heart is broken, it's hard to do. It's hard to feel anything without that lingering ache that's always there.

You huff and reach down to pick up another rock. You lose your footing, toppling over onto the rocky beach, hitting your elbow and knee. You lay there on the rocks, staring up the graying sky. You blink a few times before you realize you're hurting in some way other than the internal pain.

You lay there, staring up at the sky, growing darker and darker as the clouds begin to crowd in. You hear someone singing, their voice deep and gravely, a low rasp to match the crunch of the stones under their feet.

"Oh," they gasp. They stop for a moment before approaching you. "Wasn't expecting a mermaid today."

You look up, seeing a dark beard and wild hair. You huff and look aside.

He chuckles, kneeling down beside you. "You look like you've seen better days."

You grimace.

"Way better days!" He holds his hand out. "You best be getting up, a storm is coming."

You huff and ignore his hand. You stand up on your hand and look down at him. You realize he's a dwarf. He has an ax on his back and some sort of open leather bucket on his hip. You sigh, looking out across the lake. Thunder threatens in the distance and the dwarf tugs on your hand.

"Come along, little mermaid," he growls at you. "It's supposed to come down a gully washer." He yanks at your hand.

You wrench your hand away and glare down at him. "Listen here you I-" Rain comes down in such a way it's like a bucket was poured over your head. You scream from the suddenness of it, and the dwarf grabs your hand tight.

You run along the rocky beach, following the Dwarf until you reach a small cabin attached to a dock. Inside, there is a fire and the smell of something cooking.

"Oh my god!" You whine.

The dwarf huffs and he rings out his beard. "You're welcome to stay here, little mermaid. But you may consider adjusting your attitude."

You glare at him. His eyes are frosty blue to match his dark black hair and bear. You then sigh and shake your head. You're standing there, dripping into a puddle. You've got no choice. If he was welcoming enough to bring you into his home, the least you could do was accept the kind offer or go back out into the storm.

"I'll adjust it," you grumble. "I'm just-" you huff and shake your head again.

"No need to talk about it," he hands out a cloth to you so you can mop yourself up. "If you need some dry clothes, I may have a tunic that will cover you."

You lay your arm across your chest, realizing your clothes are clinging in an obscene way to your body. Not only that, your nipples have decided to rise from the dead. "I would appreciate it," you grumble.

He goes over to a chest of drawers by the fireplace and then tosses a bundle at you. "You can go through that door there. Afraid I don't have anywhere for you to change. I'll turn my back, and you can go behind the bed there."

You frown, looking around the one-room cabin before looking back at the dwarf. "If I catch you peeking-" you start.

"I know," he chuckles, turning towards the fire and sitting there. "I'm dead."

You scoff, going to the other side of the bed and stripping off the wet clothes. You slip on the tunic, finding it fits quite well, even if it is a tad short. You'll have to be careful, or your ass will be on full display.