Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 115: First Dawn

The next morning brought with it a strange, enveloping calm. The usual rooster's crowing did not resonate; even he seemed to have decided to fall asleep, confused by the lack of light due to the dense and persistent rain. Outside, the sound of the drops hitting the roofs continued with a constant rhythm, enveloping the entire place in a damp, gray blanket.

The first to wake up was a border collie, whose presence always stood out for its diligence and dedication. Without worrying too much about the time, he got up, took a yellow tunic, which he had impregnated with wax to make it waterproof, and prepared a pair of homemade umbrellas. He didn't need anything more than that to face the weather and fulfill his responsibilities.

The rain didn't let up, but that didn't stop him. He headed determinedly to the kitchen and began to prepare breakfast. They weren't elaborate dishes, but they were the quickest and most nutritious, ideal for a morning like that. After a while, he had around forty plates in front of him, each carefully wrapped in leaves to keep warm and protect the food from moisture.

With everything ready, he began his tour of the cult, distributing breakfasts to each of the cultists' homes. He stopped at each door, leaving the plates according to the number of residents in each dwelling. It was a task he performed with pleasure, and in that cult, everyone trusted everyone else; there was no fear of thieves or spies, as their leader was in charge of keeping the environment safe and peaceful.

Once he finished with the deliveries, he walked to the house where Lambert and Narinder slept. Although he knew that his god did not need to eat, he considered it important to bring him something just in case, a gesture of respect and dedication to his leader and his companion. Leaving two bowls in a discreet corner so as not to interrupt his rest, he headed to his final destination.

With a few more steps, he reached the cabin where Goliath was. Unlike the other doors, here he decided to knock, waiting a few seconds before entering. He knew that Goliath was a newcomer and was still adjusting to his new life in the cult. So, with a respect that always characterized his actions, he waited for some sign before entering, finally allowing himself to cross the threshold to bring breakfast to the new member of the place.

Goliath snored deeply, wrapped in the sheets in such a mess that his legs could barely be distinguished between the folds. His position seemed almost comical; one of his legs hung over the edge of the bed while his body was twisted in a way that only a goat could find comfortable. His heavy breathing filled the room, and the snores echoed in the small space, mixing with the sound of the rain.

The border collie, seeing Goliath in such a state, could not help but smile. He sat down on the next bed and, with his eyes shining with excitement and his tail moving quickly from side to side, he watched the goat sleep. His breathing accelerated in his excitement; It was as if he were in the presence of someone important, although his enthusiasm seemed purely instinctive and overflowing with energy.

Finally, Goliath opened his eyes with a slow, confused blink, looking at the collie with a mixture of bewilderment and a bit of discomfort.

"And who are you?" he murmured, his voice somewhat raspy from sleep.

"Hello!" the dog replied, his tone cheerful and diligent. "I am in charge of running our lord's errands. Since you are the new one here, I came to answer a few questions, bring you breakfast, and an umbrella, in case you want to go out." The excitement in his voice was unmistakable, and his tail did not stop wagging.

Goliath gave him a mocking, somewhat lazy look. "I know how a cult works," he commented, his tone dismissive but amused.

The collie did not flinch, and instead eagerly brought the bowl and umbrella closer. "Oh, that's great! And what do you want to work on? That way I can coordinate the others."