"Gnomes are very family-oriented," he says quietly, following Bel to the table without protest. "Especially Deep Gnomes. We have to be. When you're surrounded with things that want to eat you and people that would just as soon enslave you as look at you, the only thing you can do is draw close together."

No offense, Bel. Duergar are at least as much of a problem as drow.

"My village was well-hidden, but our success meant that our population was always growing. Some of us had to leave for the sake of protecting the rest. Even when I'm out on my own, I'm doing it for them." Which is probably why loneliness hurts so much, when it hits.

He reaches for a cup absently, not really enthusiastic about drinking, but going through the motions for his friend's sake. "You're right, of course. He enjoyed my company. Said he loved me, once or twice. But I don't think I was ever as much to him as he was to me."

"It's not that I haven't had love affairs since him. Nothing anywhere near as serious, that's all. I guess I've been carrying a torch for longer than I realized."