Across the ocean Book 1: On the run

Chapter Twenty-Two : Bluffing

Alvindraft sat at a table crafted for being a table. His chair, as well as the one which served to support the Goblin in front of him, was only what it was. Decorations were inexistant in this cold round room with a central pillar which had stairs going up and down in a coiling fashion. This was the first story of the dungeon, where prisoners were kept. His jacket was hanging on a chair, leaving him with a tunic to fight off the humid heat which gathered in towers made of stone. Wood paneling could help with insulation, keeping the air cool in summer or warm in winter, but there was none.

-"Kermosh," said Alvindraft with a tone not too pleased despite the coolness, "I struggle to find words capable of expressing my disappointment." He gestured towards the stairs leading to the cells.

Kermosh had a scar on his left cheek, a mark left by the assassination of a female Human two days ago. He wore a cloak some traditional Goblin garment : a shirt with leather patches on the collar and yoke while the rest was made of linen; a pant made of leather at the waist and on the side of the legs with the rest being linen. Looking at the Human before him, Kermosh was tapping repetitively with his fingers on the table. The moving of joints was reminiscent of a spider's locomotion, moving up and down like four legs on the same side. Meanwhile, his right hand was flexing. Hands, Goblins expressed so many things through their hands. He listened silently to Alvindraft's complaints.

-"For twenty years I have served the Master, suffering the dismissive attitude of his representatives as they come to me in his stead to deliver me words. How long before I am deemed worthy of his attention? My father spoke with him face to face."

-"Human! The release of them an order is."

-"And from whom?"

-"From me, tsssk."

The lack of light from outside made the candles so much more present and made the faces of both Alvindraft and Kermosh dance with light and shadings. It was a fitting atmosphere, as if the ongoing battle between light and darkness showed the animosity between the two individuals.

-"They are under my roof and under my authority. They work for me, not for you. Kermosh, I know you have reasons to give me in your defense for having spies in my entourage, you always have!" Alvindraft stood up and walked towards a triangular window, looking at the starry sky. "Too bad their service has been compromised for some time now. My butler whom I trusted with a key to the very room where I store my most prized possessions, a spy. One of my maidservants, a spy. Amaley's servant, a spy."

His heart's beating was a reminder of who he was dealing with, a Goblin who could out of spite do much damage to the city. Not only was Kermosh the most frequent representative of the Norvinduntrahïm, but he was also the leader of the faction within Claörgh's family which saw their Master as a literal master. That Goblins could hold vendettas was a well-known fact. For a brief moment, the local lord of Mildoyest had second thoughts about Nartûsh's idea of rebelling: she had been the initiator. The sigh coming out of him was heavier and more expressive than intended, inciting him to find a comment he would feign to be the cause of it.

-"And now I must forbid my chief of personal brigade men to speak with Amaley's servant. That woman has been toying with him from the start only to get another of my entourage compromised. Why my guards now?"

Although displeasure filled both the Human and the Goblin, the later became saturated with it. Kermosh joined his hands and started to slam his thumbs together on the table, making a loud noise which was of an annoyance to Alvindraft. Tap. This Goblin had a temper. Tap. To be questioned by the local lord was severely out of place. Tap. He would have to remind him who he was. Tap. He did not trust Alvindraft. Tap. That the local lord had found out about his spies was one thing. Tap. That they were locked up was an affront to Kermosh's authority. Tap. He knew that this Human was hiding something. Tap. The changes with decoration had roused his suspicion. Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap.