A loud knock at the door roused Tobit Gododdin from his bed. The noise swelled till a thunderous knock shook the door. Thump. "Who beats at the door?" "Eureka! I found it. Reach out and touch the Nibelung gold." Tobit opened the door and Bifrun O'Sheehan barged in. His mouth foamed like a mug of Mulka. "What are you talking about?" said Tobit. "What nonsense is this?" "What, sir, do you mean?" "You talk in riddles, Bifrun. What did you find?" "Treasure, sir. A gold ring." "A ring?" "Drink, sir, compelled me to the deed." "Fie, don't tell me that. I don't want to know what you did." "Here, sir, Alberich's ring." Tobit cupped the ring in his hand. It burned in his palm. "The Ring of Nibelung, sacred to dwarfs, thought lost forever."