The two little Drow, who might not even have come up to his thighs, were startled by Li Wei's sudden shout. The taller one was carrying such a heavy load of ore, yet still managed to draw the bone blade at his waist at once. He stepped back and twisted around, apparently ready to duck into the shadows between the mining layers if the situation called for it.
The smaller one beside him shrank behind the taller Drow like a startled fawn. An ore chunk had slipped loose in the sudden movement and was about to hit her on the head, but she raised her slender hands as if she'd sensed it coming and caught the huge rock that could have split her skull. Still, the tremble in her hands made it clear that strength wasn't her specialty.
But the moment the two Drow saw Li Wei, they froze. The taller one immediately tossed the bone blade—made from some unknown creature—onto the ground and stood ramrod straight. Interestingly, he didn't use the Drow greeting for a superior. Instead, he copied the Security Brigade of Zelandia, raised his hand in a salute, and shouted in a clear voice:
"Lord Hogg! Tristin, miner number 0013 of the Seventh Squad, Hogg Mining, salutes you!"
With his left hand, he reached behind himself and pulled out his little Drow sister, who'd been hiding there. At her brother's prompting, she copied him and shouted in her childish voice, "Lord Hohogg! Tristin, miner number 0014 of the Seventh Squad, Hogg Mining, salutes you!"
Watching the two little ones tremble with nerves, afraid he might punish them for their earlier disrespect, Li Wei couldn't help but smile. He gestured for the Dwarf to lower the mine cart's brake, then beckoned to them with a claw.
"Don't be