The dwarf's mouth opened for a second, but no sound came out.
Ryn didn't interrupt him, just letting the silence stretch.
"You—you can't just come in here and—" the dwarf finally said, voice cracking as he turned halfway, looking for support.
"Tell him. Tell him this isn't—!"
He stopped.
No one met his eyes.
The guild hall had gone quiet instantly. Men and women stood frozen in place, hands clenched around whatever they were holding.
Not a single person spoke up.
The dwarf swallowed hard.
Ryn tilted his head slightly. "Try again."
"I didn't—" the dwarf said quickly. "I didn't decide anything on my own. I was told where to mine. I just followed orders."
"By who?" Ryn asked.
The dwarf hesitated.
Ryn stepped closer, doing nothing, yet his eyes carried all the intention.
"You've already been abandoned," Ryn said calmly. "This is the part where you decide whether you're alone or alive."
That did it.
