The two of them ran flat out without stopping.
Following the broad stone-paved avenue, they quickly left District 3 and put the chaos in the Jade District far behind them.
No one, human or monster, stood in their way. Renato guessed that all the Duergar in the district had been deployed to the Jade District to wipe out the Orcs.
The Mind Flayers' servants obeyed their will completely and would not act on their own.
After nearly an hour of nonstop running, Balin ducked into a narrow tunnel, with Renato close behind. They emerged from the other end into a small natural cavern and finally stopped.
Balin leaned against the rock wall, gasping for breath, sweat dripping from his thick beard.
Renato also sat down against the cavern wall, taking deep breaths to calm his racing heart.
Before long, his breathing had mostly steadied. Renato looked at the Dwarf, who was still panting, and voiced the question on his mind:
"Balin, do Mind Flayers devour each other too?"
"How would I know?" The Dwarf took off his helmet, steam rising from his hair as though from a furnace. "Maybe that tall Octopus-Head was starving."
Taking the waterskin Renato offered him, the Dwarf had a sip and continued:
"I've seen plenty of Mind Flayers, but that was the first time I've seen two Octopus-Heads grab each other's heads and start chewing."
"Still, all the better. By Moradin's teeth, let those monsters slaughter each other."
Apparently, the Dwarf did not understand what had happened either. Renato had to set his questions aside for now and ask Balin about his haul instead.
"Just a few bags of mushroom powder and a few Healing Potions. Nothing else." The Dwarf spat. "Damned Orcs. Those beasts ruined everything edible. If you ask me, the Duergar should