. . .

“Stupid dwarves,” says Mr. Gulley, to the only person — well, the only gigantic chained-up wolf — that he can really talk to. “Now I don’t have a smith-dwarf. Now I don’t have a wife. Now I don’t have an anything.”

Fenris makes a face at him.

“You sold your son’s heart to help chain me,” says the wolf. “And now you expect my sympathy?”

Mr. Gulley looks at the wolf. Mr. Gulley looks away. He shrugs.

The wolf is quiet for a while.

Finally the wolf says, softly, “I’m sorry you’re afraid, gumby. I’m sorry you don’t like this. At least it’s almost over.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

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