Sitting in The Drunken Knave, a horrid excuse for a human tavern, I enjoy my pipe, the swill they call ale here resting by my elbow, with my feet on the table resting my back against the wall. I listen to the petty gripes and complaints of the humans around the tavern, I watch the men grope the women they can catch and leer at the ones they can't and I consider planting a dagger between the ribs of some of the more persistent men, but no that is not my place. I knew staying with the army would mean difficult tasks, that climbing the ranks would mean more responsibility, I never considered a task like this. Being sent to such a place I have to wonder who hates me at home. I grimace as I watch one drunken lout puke in a corner, I am sure the barkeep will be thrilled to find that little treasure.
You would never see this behavior in a Dwarven drinking hall, do these pigs have no manners? Gods how I miss those halls, and the caverns, too much open space out here, too much sky. I think back to home, to working the mines and working the metals I pulled from them. To the man I left behind there, oh Garith. I close my eyes in pain for a moment, taking a long pull on my pipe as my heart aches. My bonded, my mate, how I miss him. Being in this place would actually be tolerable with him, what fun we could have starting fights and drinking then laying under all those stars in the grasslands with only each other for cover. I still remember how hurt he was when I told him that I had to go, that he did not understand why I stayed past my required 2 years. He did not understand the thrill that fighting gives me, or how leading a battalion in a skirmish set my heart beating with excitement, to see the enemy lines and out smart them, how fighting raiding parties and the monsters that live in the mines depths would set my spirit on fire. He never understood why after a successful fight our bedroom games were always better. I grin at the thought but the amusement is short lived as I consider my purpose here and how long it is likely to take now the borders are closed.
It has been a long time away from home, I know my messages get through only by dent of the fact I receive some of my own. Carrier pidgins are the only way, though I know not all make it there and back, I have not heard from any of my commanding officers for months and I am worried. I just hope I can continue long enough to get home when my time is up, and such a long time that seems. I sigh and continue to watch the foolishness going on around me, one thing I find hard to understand though, is this idiocy of the females being below the males with these people. No self respecting dwarven woman would be so foolish as to accept the treatment these human women suffer. As I puff on my pipe and contemplate, I try and plan my next steps, and how to integrate into this confusing society. I'll not be grabbing the behinds of other women that is for certain, I muse with a smirk.
