The Duergar were celebrating in the streets. For once, they were not working, but gathering in small groups, eating food they normally could not bear to spare and praising Laduguer's greatness.
This was the first time Renato had ever felt a festive atmosphere among the Duergar. Even their usual malice and prejudice had faded considerably.
One familiar-looking Duergar even waved to him, a rare, friendly smile on his face.
Renato paused, barely managing to identify him by his clothes. If he remembered correctly, this was the old gatekeeper at the Acid Tunnel Mine whom he had spoken to before.
He nodded in response and continued toward Balin's stone house.
He pushed open the half-closed stone door. The room was empty.
Everything had been packed away, and only dust remained in the corner where the tools had been piled.
The old Dwarf was not here. He must have stepped out to attend to something.
Renato turned and headed toward the Altar. The crowd was thickest there; perhaps someone knew where Balin had gone.
The Duergar were gathered around the Statue of Laduguer, praying devoutly. Renato's approach caused a slight stir, but once they recognized him as the human Sorcerer who had brought back the Artifact, the crowd quieted again.
Dungeon Scout Flori knelt on one knee, murmuring something. When he noticed Renato approaching, he stood and brushed the dust from his knee.
"Hey, Sorcerer."
Renato returned the greeting and wasted no time asking:
"Where's Balin?"
"Who knows where that old man's gone?" Flori spread his hands. "He goes out all the time. Maybe he went to Deep Hammer Tower?"
"I just came from there." Renato shook his head. "How long does Balin usually take to come back?"
"Half an hour at most, I'd guess." The Duergar scout shrugged, his tone casual.