FLAMEs in Polaris (Part 8)

Stark's eagle eyes bore holes through the bundled mass of fur upon his doorstep. Well over two hours had passed, and still the loathsome creature had yet to take a breath from haranguing him over the injustices of making him wait in the snow. Stark vigorously rubs his taloned hands across his leather encased arms, berating himself for failing to grab his cloak ere answering this errant creature's rude knocking. Icicles had begun to dangle from the point of his raptor beak. This had gone on long enough. A mounting flame of irritation rages through his system until he finally erupts, "Now LISTEN, you vacuous, rat-pelt covered windbag, either tell me what brings you to my door at this time of night, or leave before I give you a burning sensation that's sure to keep you warm in even this frozen place!" Silence stuns the bird as the stranger instantly stops speaking. Stone hard eyes peer through the folds of impeding cloaks taking in the kenku before creasing at the corners as if amused. "Tis about time ye greet a wander'n travler right proper like, ye blasted bird. Had me goin' thru the motions of salutation long nuff, don't ye think!" The stranger roughly pushes past Stark and trundles inside, "Get yer feather-duster arse in here bird, yer turnin blue already. Its time to be gettin' to business." Stark thankfully rushes to close and bolt the door, and turns just as the stranger removes the last of his impeding weather garments. The rotund, gray haired dwarf erupts into a sonorous pronouncement, fit for a Royal Court introduction, "Ye be askin, who I be... well I be the Third Viscount Elias Dirgestandal CleftReaver, Corruptor of the Seventh Sect, Travestor of the Kobold Tribes, Armorer of the Battleragers, third cousin twice removed by marriage from her most prolific majesty, Queen Strangelove, and Emissary of the Dwarven Kingdoms. But Ye, ye can call me Dirge, fer short." The dwarf stomps his boots loudly and bows deeply, the length of his beard sweeping up a mote of dust in its wake. "As fer me purpose..." (continued)