Turn Back Time // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Forty-One- Burning Crimson

As the group of us enjoyed our butterbeers at the Three Broomsticks, I couldn't help but remain lost in thought. For some reason, instead of wanting to celebrate and be with my friends, my mind decided to race with all of my other problems.

I felt Sebastian's eyes on me, he knew something was troubling me, but he didn't seem to want to press. "I'm here for you, you know?" he interrupted my thoughts. I inhaled deeply meeting his gaze. "Sorry, I don't mean to be a downer, just started thinking about everything," I admitted.

"What's going on in that pretty head of yours?" he teased. My heart fluttered the moment he said the word pretty. "Everything," I said as my mind continued to race. I looked around the main floor of the restaurant and my eyes found Sirona. It had suddenly dawned on me that day Sebastian and I were confronted by Rookwood and Harlow that there was a goblin here with Sirona. Any goblin Sirona trusted had to be good, right?

In a quick movement, I got up from our table and made my way over to Sirona at the bar. "Sirona, can I ask you about something?"

"Anything, what's up my dear?" Sirona answered.

"That day of the troll attack, I saw you speaking with a goblin..." I started.

"Ahh yes, Lodgok, he's a friend of mine," she responded.

"I don't mean to sound forward, but with everything going on between wizards and goblins, I was surprised things seemed friendly between the two of you," I admitted.

"We've been friends for years. We met when I was just waiting tables here as a student, well before I bought the place. He was always cordial back then, but we were never friends. At the time he had a deep mistrust for wizard kind."

"But you're friends now.." I interrupted.

"We are. It had been years when he first stepped back in here a few months ago, yet he recognized me immediately. He recognized me more than my fellow classmates, noticing I was a witch instead of a wizard now. Not all goblins are like Ranrok and his loyalists. Lodgok is as worried as the rest of us about everything that has been going on." she told me.

"Sirona, I need to talk to him, about Ranrok, I don't mean to sound forward, but it's important," I told her.

"If he's not here, you might be able to find him at the Hog's Head, he's a reputable metal trader, but be sure to mention we spoke. He can be understandably wary about other witches and wizards." she warned.

"Thank you Sirona," I bid my farewell and made my way back to the table.

Sebastian met my gaze and knew the gears were turning in my head. "What is it?"

"Sirona has a friend, Lodgok, said he might be of help when it came to getting information on Ranrok," I whispered to him.

"Lodgok? I haven't heard of him, why do you suppose he'll be of help?" he asked.

"Well according to Sirona, they're friends, and he's just as worried as the rest of us about Ranrok," I said.

"Well I would imagine anyone would be worried about the likes of them pairing up," Sebastian continued.

"Yes, well, but in this case, Lodgok is a goblin, so it is a bit different," I admitted.

"A goblin?" he hissed. "Maddie you can't be serious. Goblins cannot be trusted!"

"Well if Sirona trusts him, then so do I," I told him, a bit caught off guard by his tone.

"Goblins are good for nothing creatures, all he's going to do is use you to get what he wants," Sebastian argued.