The Measure of a Ling

[Chevette]

The cage door slammed behind Matilda and she fell to the straw-strewn floor. Small hands reached to help her up, but she scrambled to her feet and turned to glare through the bars of the cage at the tall, thin man who stood smirking down at the tiny halfling.

"You should know better than to insult a potential buyer," he said in that deceptively calm tone of his.

She gripped the bars and spit toward the man's feet. It fell short, and his cruel mouth twisted in a smirk. Suddenly his foot flew out toward the cage and smashed into her fingers. With a cry of pain she stumbled backward into the gnome behind her.

"Try not to make him madder!" Garwink whispered urgently as he steadied her.

"Take an example from this," the slaver said, his voice still much too calm. "Hostility will be met with punishment. Compliance with reward." He turned to smile at Winnie, the golden-haired halfling who had been so subservient during the buyers' visit. She was unchained and dressed in fine clothing. She still hadn't been chosen, but it was clear it wouldn't take long for one of the tall folk to claim her. She was small, sweet, pretty, and knew exactly what they wanted. Matilda was disgusted by her. With one last cold smile the man turned and walked away, Winnie following close behind him.

Once he was gone, another ling rushed over to look at Matilda's fingers, which were beginning to turn a dark shade of purple.

"I don't think anything's broken, just bruised," she said, smiling comfortingly at her.

"Someday we'll show him," Garwink muttered. The the other three low folk who shared their cage nodded.

Matilda scowled as she sat on the dirty straw-covered floor, sucking on her fingers and nodding along with the others.

Someday.

[Hedvan Arumdal]

((This is fabricated Mling propaganda aimed to provide excuse for the acute anti-gnomish sentiments!

With that out of the way, can't wait for more.))