Forging A Demon Empire

Chapter 31

Seth and that squinty eye Dwarf Aurar led us through the plains of what was becoming more and more of a caravan. The more I tried to get a sense of marking where we were the more I noticed that it was harder to mark on the map. Heading back would be difficult without help. The road map that I had linked to create a trade was inconsistent and others with actual expertise would have to finish this.

The tensions between the goblins, the dwarf and the others were growing exponentially. The goblins wished to continue with us and everyone else which that they were gone except for me, the fools couldn’t understand we needed them even if it was for just cannon fodder.

None of this was going according to plan. I left Reno in the company of that witch for far longer than I expected. Instead of the dwarves giving us the answer for what we needed we were sent on a further fetch quest to the empire that we were at war with. I wanted to turn back but Seth decided there was no time and things would workout.

Work out? I looked around as the carriage bumped up and down. Things weren’t going to work out like this we were a moving target. My eyes met the guild master. When we had first met he was like all the rest in the city lavished and dressed in style with a shaven face and a smile. Now his green eyes lay dull and he sported a full beard. Tied up by hand by the many cloths we had available and wearing rags worse than those of the beggars that littered the streets. He was barely recognizable at this point. Still I felt no sympathy for the man in the slightest if the roles were reversed he would probably have us all killed.

“What are you looking at you old creep? Do you want to be burned alive this early in the morning?”

“No, no, sorry it was a mistake I didn’t mean any offense but if I may…”

“If you may?”

“Speak.”

“Oh, after all this time and failure you want to be picking your words now.” I paused. “What exactly do you have to say?”

He whispered. “Can you lower the tensions right now between the groups? If we don’t run into a patrol the two groups might end spilling their own blood.”

I thought about his words it wasn’t that I didn’t know this. It was that I wasn’t too sure how to tackle this the glaring hatred was clear bold even despite being outnumbered by the goblins but even in the goblin ranks they were issues. Frustrations from not able to exhibit their own characteristics and nature and when these things hold on it only took one person to send it all boiling over.

We came to a halt as a galloping horse approached us. “There is a Patrol up head! There on foot about twenty men it seems like border patrol.”

“What do their uniforms look like?” Seth asked.

“Fighting, fighting soon,” a goblin chided.

“Shut up! Stupid thing,” one of the men said.

“Human no make sense always insult. Only one thing to do fight. We help humans claim their clan.”

“Fighting! Fighting!”  they chanted drowning out the conversation.

“If you lot don’t shut up. A blade drew from its sheath.

“Enough,” Seth said.

Sharx raised his blade “no fighting, no fighting. Listen first human talk, I don’t understand fully. Cameilla help.”

The scout paused for a while before continuing, “Their colour clothes are green with a yellow hue for their light infantry. Heavy Infantry were covered in gleaming steel forming around their entire bodies. They had two flags as well the empire flag with the crown and its talons and another flag yellow with two black stars.”

“That’s it lad that’s the place we have to go to. We have trade with them so it should be find to get pass the border from here,” Aurar said.

“What do you suggest that we should do knowing the layout better than us?” Seth asked.

“We leave everyone here and you and I enter as travelling merchants. We accepted you into our clan to help us learn more about trade and you have been an asset for us about learning the man ways. You grew up with Dwarfs as an orphan.”

“Seth you’re not leaving me out here alone again. I opened the door. “First we will find cover for the men then another issue must be dealt with before we go and lastly I am coming with you as well.”

The dwarf flared his nose at my response and I lit my hand as a gesture in return.

Seth looked between me and the dwarf, “okay, let’s do that first set up camp with enough shade and food supply.”

The caravan shifted to a source where there was water and everyone including the dwarf scooped it up. Despite how unappealing it looked as the mud ran through it. It was a long time since we had a water source since leaving the dwarves settlement.

Seth took the time to come to me as everyone else were busy setting up scouting for local food supplies and making fortifications around the camp which the goblins seemed to be more useful for.

“You wanted to talk to me?” Seth asked.

His face showed reluctance like he was ready to dismiss me at a moment’s notice.

“Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about the state of the camp and your men.”

Seth stood silent.

“The tensions are rising as you would know I wonder what would happen if we are gone for a long period and it is left unchecked.”

“That’s why you should stay.”

“Your men don’t listen to me, they listen to you. We need to create a way to resolve things before we leave and a small council for disputes otherwise we might come back and find this whole camp wiped out by each other.”

“What do you have in mind?” he asked.

“Oh, I was thinking about it and someone else but I think I found a solution to the problem. We form a small council.”