The two friends walked upon the twisted streets of Barrelgutt row. Robin seemed undisturbed by their surroundings. The wizard seemed to feel otherwise. Mendel’s nose wrinkled from the stench which emitted from the nearby sewers. It emanated from the waste that oozed into them along with fresh rainwater. Robin stopped looked about. He saw several goblins playing dice next to a seedy looking bar. He felt it prudent not to attract their attention. He motioned in silence to Mendel and indicated a nearby alley. The wizard followed but rolled his eyes with disgust.
“Those elves and the precious Law, sometimes I do wonder if that is all they care about. They should be apprehending goblins. Not bothering wizards about Hopportation.” Mendel grunted while his lit up his staff to shed light upon the filthy alley.
“It is the Law that has kept this city safe for the most part, and it is all any elf cares for if one were to ask them.” Robin’s smile glimmered in the staff’s light.
“Why are we here Master Robin? This place is unsafe. It is full of spell gun toting goblins, thuggish ogres, and swindling satyrs. What information could be sought here?” Mendel’s face lit up with realization. “You can’t be serious, that satyr is a nothing but trouble. He is rude, and should consider using soap more often, besides he is an outright liar, and I am not sure this is wise”
“Well Mendel, do tell me how you feel about Sethel.” Robin peered out of the alley. He checked on the gang of goblins, who still seemed content to gamble than notice new arrivals.
“Mendel, are you ready to visit you good friend Sethel? “Robin did not wait for a response and slinked back out onto the street. Mendel followed and doused his staff and tried his best to be inconspicuous.
The nearby goblins had broken into a scuffle, over the outcome most recent roll of the dice. Then silence fell upon them. It appeared they had noticed they were not alone. The group of gangsters grinned from gold earring to earring. Their red glowing eyes narrowed with greed and hatred.
The silence stopped Robin and Mendel dead in their tracks.
“Well, lookie here, we gots company fellas." Shouted a particularly large and rather ugly goblin. He then waved his companions to follow him.
Robin identified him as their leader. The two friends watched as the group of goblins approached them. The goblins spell drew their spell guns with green, wart covered hands.
“An old geezer and a boy. Think they lost?” Cackled one of the goblins. A grin of sharp yellow teeth spread upon his ugly face and his eyes flashed with a reddish glow.
“Evening Gentle-goblins, my friend and I are on our way to meet someone sorry if we disturbed your game.” Robin tried to defuse the situation.
“Meeting someone eh, well we can help you find em for a small fee of course.” The leader laughed and his cronies followed suit.
“Robin, Good to see you…old pal.” A voice piped from behind the goblins.
The goblins turned to seek the origin of the voice. As a satyr dressed in a dirty yellow waist coat moved among them.
“Pardon me, sorry was that your foot?” the satyr remarked and trotted over to Robin and Mendel. Sethel straightened his orange-colored beard and put out a fur covered hand. Robin shook the satyr’s hand and nodded for Mendel to do the same when Sethel extended his hand toward the wizard.
“Well met...Mendel, excuse me one moment” Sethel turned to face the goblins who now aimed their guns upon him.
“There is no need for violence, when there is drink to be had.” Sethel grinned at the goblins.
“Drink? What do you mean goat foot? “The leader of the goblins grumbled.
“Why I heard Drake Leone is buying drinks for all at the Crooked Moon.”
“Well free ale is always better than killin'. Move out vermin best get there before the Drake changes his mind.” Before their leader could utter another word, the goblins ran off. “Luck found ya today fellas. Next time you might not be so lucky” The goblin holstered his gun and ran off after his cronies.
© Cathalson – 2008 / CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT PERMISSION.