Mas sobre Trillian

Trillian's eyes flared open. He scrambled to his feet, ready to dodge the next thrust. Slowly realization flashed over him. He was not in the tavern any longer. The last thing he remembered was strong hands pulling him down a tunnel. He had no idea who had done so or what had happened to Toymo Cre. A grim smile crossed his lips as it occurred to him she was far more capable of caring for herself than he was of taking care of her...or himself, for that matter.
He glanced curiously around. He found himself in a low-ceilinged room a little larger than the common room of the tavern had been. Surrounding him were upwards of 30 little men and women. The tallest one was perhaps 4 feet tall and several looked like they were shorter than three feet. Their stature tended a bit towards stocky but there were plenty who were slender, although he doubted he would consider them "willowy" as he might when looking at Silverglade. They were all looking at Trillian with an expression he would have described as unintelligent but awed.
Hesitantly, he raised his hand in greeting. "Hi. I guess you must have been the ones who pulled me down the tunnel?"
One of the shorter ones stepped up. "Yes. You good to Bayal. You good person. No want see get hurt when flame wall crush all."
Trillian arched his eyebrow inquisitively. "Bayal?"
The little men stepped aside and he saw the barmaid he had attacked Fergus over. She looked up shyly from the stool she was sitting on. "The little ones are kind of my friends."
Trillian sketched an awkward bow. "Trillian at your service, madam."
She smiled. "Thank you for what you did." A grimace echoed across her features. "Fergus has been getting much worse lately. I suppose I should not have been surprised he struck me."
Trillian shook his head. "No, there is no excuse for his behavior. It almost makes me ashamed to be a man."
The little man who had spoken earlier said, "Me know you good man. No let big mean one hit Bayal." He paused and looked down, scuffling his feet for a few moments, then said, "You let big man hit Rike?"
Trillian looked at Bayal for help. She nodded towards the little man and mouthed, "He calls his people the Rike."
"No, while I am around nobody gets hit for no reason."
A low murmur of approval swept through the assembled Rike and Bayal smiled broadly. "Cam is right. You are a good person."
Trillian's cheeks flushed a rosy red. He wasn't trying to gain their approval, he just knew what was right. He had spent long enough with J'red to have a finely developed sense of fair play. Sometimes he wished J'red was a little more pragmatic but he supposed their youth meant it was okay to be a little bit idealistic. Still, the attention his statement was gaining him embarrassed him a little bit.
"I appreciate you helping me out. Where am I?"
Bayal pointed directly overhead. "The tavern is...well, was...directly overhead." She grimacd again as she said, "I think it probably burned to the ground, though. The flames were everywhere by the time I got out." She gestured to the Rike. "They have tunnels and chambers all over the place under the town."
"Why under the town?" inquired Trillian.
"Big people no like us," replied Cam. "Punch us and kick us and push us down."
Bayal nodded. "It's true. People pretty much treat them like dogs."
"No you," interjected Cam. He turned to Trillian, unmistakable pride on his face. "Bayal always nice to Rike. Feed us, no punch or kick or bite. Bayal good person."