Le nain noir

A bleak April morning finds the Scottish lowlands cloaked in fresh snow, and an inn at Wallace becomes a waypoint for two rugged travelers. Their arrival sparks a lively, if uneasy, conversation among the locals—farmers, shepherds, and a learned patron—who trade stories about the infamous Black Dwarf, a solitary figure said to haunt the nearby hills. The villagers’ gossip is a mix of superstition, grief for lost livestock, and the practical concerns of survival in a harsh landscape.

Through sharp dialogue and vivid description, the novel paints a portrait of a community caught between fear of the unknown and the mundane demands of farming life. As rumors about the dwarf’s somber deeds spread, listeners are invited to glimpse the tension between legend and reality that fuels the region’s folklore, setting the stage for the mystery that will slowly unfold.