Battleborne Book 2: Wrack and Ruin

by Dave Willmarth

  *****

  Max had breakfast in the keep’s small dining room at six bells. Dylan and Smitty joined him, both soldiers used to early mornings. They were halfway through their meal when Teeglin and Dalia joined them. Max heard Dalia explaining to the little girl about the bell system for keeping time. The still-sleepy Teeglin yawned as she nodded her understanding.

  “Assistant Chamberlain Teeglin, good morning.” Max greeted her with a smile. “Grab some grub, you need to be in Redmane’s office in about half an hour.” She nodded her head, loading a plate of with eggs and sausage from a side table. They took seats, and Dalia poured her a glass of juice.

  “Are you excited about your new job?” Dylan asked.

  “I don’t like Redmane. He called you fat.” She grumped, taking her glass and downing several big gulps of juice. When she set it down, she had a red juice moustache on her upper lip.

  Dylan patted his belly. “Well, I’m sure he didn’t mean it as an insult to me. Redmane is a good man. Dwarf. You should listen to what he has to teach you. His job involves every little thing that happens around here. Think of all the juicy secrets you’ll learn!”

  “And keep to yourself, right? Everything you learn while you’re with Master Redmane is a secret.” Max admonished.

  Teeglin gave a solemn nod, taking the responsibility seriously. “I promise.” Her eyes widened when a swirl of lights surrounded her, binding her to her promise.

  “Now the gods have taken note o’ yer promise.” Dalia warned, her tone serious. “Ye be sure n keep that promise, or you’ll feel the wrath o’ the gods themselves. This be no small thing, girl.”

  Max put a reassuring hand on the now frightened child’s shoulder. “You’ll be okay. Just remember to think before you speak. And as a general rule, don’t talk about what you hear to anyone but Redmane or the folks in this room.”

  The girl finished her meal quietly, deep in thought. The others made small talk until she was through. She got up, put her plate and utensils back on the side table, and left the room without speaking. Since she turned in the general direction of Redmane’s office, which was only a short distance away, Max just let her go.

  “Redmane will give her a bunch of fetch quests and such. She’ll be able to level up, earn a few coins, and learn about this place. It’ll be good for her.” Max said to no one in particular. The two corporals just grunted their agreement as they ate.

  “What are you guys up to today?” Max changed the subject.

  “Goin to see me da at his new shop.” Dalia volunteered. “Any messages ya want me to deliver?”

  “Ask him if he has time to visit my lab this afternoon? It’s not a command, if he’s busy, we can do it another time. Also, ask him if he knows of a reputable summoner that we can consult on the soul stones I looted from Agnor’s elites. In fact, all of you ask around and see if you can find one. I understand they’re pretty rare.”

  “Will do, boss.” Smitty said as all three nodded. “I’m heading out to see if I can find a trainer for my Scout class. Maybe get them to teach me some things. Thought I’d start with your new Scout Commander out at the mine.”

  Dylan chimed in. “And I’m headed over to Darkholm to see Master Oakstone. He said to return for a fitting. Hasn’t quite been a week, but I also want to talk to him about a weapon. My axe is okay, but…”

  “Good idea. You need some gold?”

  “I have some, boss. And if it’s not enough, I’ll tell him to put it on your tab.” The ogre winked at him.

  “He’s supposed to be here tomorrow for a smithing lesson. You can tell him I’ll pay him then.”

  With that, the others got up to begin their days. Max headed to main hall where he was going to have to conduct the trial of the little goblin thief. He wasn’t looking forward to that at all.

  On his way down the main corridor, he peeked into the open door of Redmane’s office, where he saw Teeglin sitting in front of the chamberlain’s desk, leaning forward to look at a parchment. The dwarf was observing her as she read aloud from the text. From what Max could hear, she was doing well. He smiled to himself as kept moving, then turned into the great hall.

  Servants were setting up a few dozen chairs behind a pair of tables that faced the throne. Max didn’t like the idea of sitting in the throne while conducting this trial, so he asked that another table and chair be brought out and set directly in front of the other two. Sort of like a judge’s bench. He would be setting a precedent today, one that would impact all future trials in his kingdom. As an afterthought, he had two more chairs set alongside his table, for Redmane and Teeglin to observe.

  When the time for the trial approached, citizens began to filter into the room and take seats. Ugnok appeared, along with half a dozen other goblins from the tribe. He approached Max, who had taken a seat at his table and was looking through some of his interface tabs.

  The goblin cleared his throat, and bowed. “Mighty King Max. Ugnok sorry about thief. Max want, I take his head now. No need to waste time for trial.”

  “Thank you, Ugnok. And no, do not take his head. In my kingdom, criminals get a trial. And the punishment will fit the crime. Petty theft will not require his death.”

  The shaman nodded, seeming happy that one of his tribe wasn’t about to be killed.

  “While you’re here, since we have a few moments, I wanted to talk to you about something. I could use your help, if you’re willing?”

  “Whatever King Max need, Ugnok do.” He nodded decisively.

  “Well, you know some of the other goblin tribes in the forest, yes?”

  “In forest, under mountain, many tribes.” Ugnok confirmed.

  “I would like to make you my official ambassador to the goblin tribes. Your job would be to journey to their camps and see if you can convince them to join us. We could use another tribe or three around here.”

  Ugnok’s brows knitted together, and he thumped his staff on the floor. “King Max no happy with Ugnok tribe?”

  “Yes, I’m very happy with Ugnok’s tribe. You have shown me that goblins make valuable citizens. I’m told you’re working very hard, and making yourselves useful. In fact, I’m so happy with Ugnok’s goblins, I think we need more.”

  Ugnok puffed out his chest, grinning widely. “Ugnok do this thing for King Max. Bring back good goblins.” He paused, raising one eyebrow. “You want Ugnok kill chiefs and shamans first?” He looked hopeful at the prospect.

  “Only if they attack you, Ugnok. Try to convince them. I’ll send some guards with you, so you shouldn’t be in danger. And you can take along some gifts to help convince them.”

  “Ugnok not need guards! Stronger than any chief or shaman already. Kill them easy!”

  Max took a moment to Identify the shaman, seeing that he was level fifteen, up from the level five he’d been when Max first met him. He must have joined the kobolds for some power leveling. “I see you have become much stronger! I’m proud of you, Ugnok. And yes, you could probably kill all the goblins in a tribe by yourself. But that’s not why I’m sending the guards with you. I am sending them as a show of great power. So that no goblins dare to attack you. Remember, I want them to join us, not to die in a foolish attack on my ambassador.”

  “Ugnok understand.” the goblin flashed a toothy grin at Max. “I go tomorrow?”

  “That’s fine. I’ll arrange for Redmane to send you to the outpost in the morning. You can find your way from there, yes?”

  “Yes.” Ugnok turned to see that the accused goblin was being led into the hall. “King Max no kill?”

  “No kill.” Max assured the shaman, who moved to take a seat with the other goblins. It occurred to Max that he also couldn’t be too easy on the little thief, or he’d have a crime wave of goblin thieves.

  A few minutes later the eighth bell rang, and Max indicated that the doors should be closed. The accused was seated at one of the tables next to a dwarf wearing a silk vest and spectacles. At the other table was seated another dw
arf in more casual clothes. The chairs behind them were nearly filled with dwarfs, orcs, and Ugnok’s small group of goblins.

  “Let us begin.” Max thumped the table with his fist, not having a gavel. The lone dwarf stood up to speak. “Prosecutor Garlan, Majesty, on behalf o’ the kingdom. The accused, a goblin by the name of Drig, was arrested for theft. A guard patrol witnessed him stealing meat out back o’ the butcher’s shop.”

  “No steal!” Drig shouted. “Drig work for meat!” The spectacled dwarf put a hand on the goblin’s shoulder and pressed him into his seat, leaning closer to whisper harshly to his client. When the goblin slumped in his chair, the dwarf got to his feet. “Barrister Throm for the defense, Majesty. My apologies on behalf of my client. He claims to be innocent of the charges.”

  “So I heard.” Max tried not to grin at the dwarf’s discomfort. Max himself had learned quickly that the little goblins were difficult to control. “Please, Prosecutor Garlan, present the case against Drig.”

  “The kingdom calls guard sergeant An’dag.” The dwarf turned and nodded toward one of the orcs in the audience. A battle-scarred specimen in patched armor, Max recognized him from the first convoy that had accompanied him from the orc city. The orc moved to stand in front of the prosecutor’s table, and Max motioned for another chair to brought. He should have thought of that earlier. When the orc was seated, Garlan began.

  “Please tell the court what you witnessed three nights ago behind the butcher’s shop.”

  “We were patrolling the area around the market square, when one of my guards spotted a shadow in the alley next to the butcher’s. Thinkin’ it might one of those damned grey thieves, we rushed down the alley, where we spotted this little rat.” He paused and pointed to the goblin, “He was taking a sausage link from a box of meat on the back stoop, stuffing it in his greedy little mouth.”

  Max frowned at the orc. “You will refrain from name-calling or insults while in this court, sergeant. Refer to the defendant by name, or race, or simply call him the defendant.”

  The sergeant bowed his head slightly. “Yes, Majesty.”

  “And what action did you take upon witnessing this act?” Garlan asked.

  “We grabbed the little… goblin, and pinned him down. I was about to remove his head for the crime of theft, but another patrol joined us. The dwarf sergeant shouted at me to stop, so I did.” The orc sounded angry over the interruption of the execution. “The goblin was placed under arrest, and taken to a cell in the lower level.”

  “Thank you, sergeant. You may step down.” Garlan stepped forward and placed a sheet of parchment on Max’s desk. “A copy of the guard’s report on this incident, Majesty.”

  Max quickly scanned the report, not seeing any new information other than the names of the guards involved. “Anything else, Prosecutor Garlan?”

  “That is our entire case, Majesty.” The dwarf bowed, then took a seat.

  “Barrister Throm?” Max looked to the defense table.

  “Majesty, I must apologize. I was only this morning brought here from Darkholm to act as goblin Drig’s barrister. In the short time I was able to consult with my client, he has maintained that the box of meat was in fact his, payment for services rendered to the butcher. Further, he was taking that meat home to his family, who he is afraid have not eaten since he was arrested. He requests that the meat be returned to them after your Majesty takes his head.” The dwarf coughed into his fist. “His words, Majesty. In any case, I have not had the opportunity to interview the butcher in question, so I would like to call him as my first witness.”

  A dwarf in the audience stood up and walked forward, taking a seat in the witness chair. Throm asked, “Are you Brilon, the butcher behind whose shop my client was arrested?”

  “I be Brilon, aye. And I can save ye some time. Had them guards asked me, I’d have told ‘em that the wee goblin were tellin’ the truth. He worked in me shop all day, haulin’ boxes and cleanin’ up. I give’d him a box o’ scraps n leftovers to take home.”

  Drig leapt up from his chair. “See! Drig no steal! Tell truth!” He growled and bared his fangs at Throm, who tried to put him back in his seat. It took a moment, but the goblin obeyed. Throm shook his head, adjusted his vest and spectacles, then turned to Max.

  “Based on this testimony, Majesty, I move that all charges be dropped.”

  Max turned to look at Garlan, who stood. “No objection, Majesty.”

  Max looked around the room. “Is sergeant… Orin, who halted the execution present? If so, please stand. Sergeant An’dag, you stand as well.” When both guards were standing, Max continued. “Sergeant Orin. You are to be commended for halting what would have been a murder committed by my kingdom. For that, I award you a bonus of fifty gold, and my thanks. Sergeant An’dag, listen to me very carefully. You are not empowered to conduct executions on my behalf unless directly ordered to do so by myself or Chamberlain Redmane. This goes for all of my guards! Anyone committing a crime is to be arrested and detained for trial. If a suspect resists, you will use appropriate force to defend yourselves, but nothing more. Is that clear?”

  Both sergeants and all the guards in attendance bowed their heads. “Clear, Majesty.”

  “Further, both of you sergeants will receive a reprimand for failing to question butcher Brilon. A simple questioning to confirm the crime would have saved all of us a lot of trouble.” Max looked at the orc sergeant. “It is clear to me that your dislike of goblins shaded your judgement in this matter. Would you have tried to summarily execute a dwarf or a fellow orc?”

  An’dag hung his head, shaking it, unable to meet Max’s angry gaze, “No, Majesty.”

  “I thought as much. I have made it clear to everyone from the beginning that Stormhaven is to be an open city. We will have residents and visitors of many races, light and dark, as we grow. All of you need to be able to set aside your grievances and preconceived notions regarding other races. I understand it will take time, and will not be easy. But we can not have another incident like this, where a citizen is presumed guilty, and nearly killed, based solely on being a goblin. Let this be a warning to everyone. If such an incident happens again, there will be dire consequences for those involved.” Max bared his fangs and let the last sentence come out with a growl. “Drig, please stand.”

  Max waited for the little goblin to hop off his chair again. His head barely cleared the top of the table in front of him.

  “Drig, on behalf of my guards, and myself, I apologize to you. I’m glad you found a good job working for Brilon.” He looked at Garlan. “Can I assume the box of meat was preserved as evidence?” When the dwarf nodded and produced the box from his inventory, Max nodded toward the goblin. The box was passed over to him. “I return your payment from the butcher, and award you ten gold coins as compensation for the time you’ve been falsely imprisoned.”

  The little goblin, tightly hugging the box of meat, gasped in amazement when he heard ten gold. “S’okay, King Max. Drig thanks you!”

  Max smiled at the little guy, then sought out the butcher. “Brilon, as a reward for the kindness you’ve shown our little friend here, and your no-nonsense testimony that saved us all some time today, I award you fifty gold as well. Can I assume that you will continue to employ Drig going forward?”

  “O’course, Majesty. And thank ye. He be a hard worker, and learnin’ fast.”

  “In that case, this young lady,” He indicated Teeglin, sitting next to Redmane. “will be bringing you a parchment with my favorite recipe for meat on a stick. If you can teach Drig to properly cook that recipe, then I will use your shop as my personal supplier of travel victuals here in the city. I like to take several dozen portions with me when I hit the road.”

  “We’ll start today, Majesty. Right after young Drig takes that meat to his family.”

  “Wonderful! Now, unless anyone else has something to add?” Max scanned the room, but saw no one interested in speaking. “This court is adjourned. Please clear the room
, as I have some visitors to meet with.”

  Max remained at his table as the room emptied, nodding to Redmane who in turn whispered to Teeglin. The little girl hopped up and dashed out a side door exit. Spotting Captain Rockbreaker among those leaving, Max called out to him. “Captain, please remain a moment.”

  Rockbreaker turned and walked back to stand in front of Max’s table, saluting with fist to chest. “Majesty!”

  “Relax, sit. And knock off the majesty stuff when it’s just us chickens here.” Max waited for the dwarf to take a seat. “I need your help with this. I’d like you to write the reprimands for the two sergeants. Give them and their units some real shit duty for the next week or so, to press my point. The more they bitch about it to their fellow guards, the better. And spread the word as emphatically as you can. I won’t tolerate another incident like this. Next time, I will demand blood.”

  “Understood, Max. I don’t like it any more than you do. It be hard not to look at orcs n goblins as enemies, but not that hard. I’ll make sure the word gets passed around. This coulda been a serious stain upon our honor.”

  “Thank you, Rockbreaker.” Max motioned that he had permission to leave. Rockbreaker stood and saluted again, grinning as he did so, then left the hall.

  “Well done, Max.” Redmane offered when they were alone. The chamberlain motioned to a servant, and suddenly a dozen more appeared, gathering up chairs and removing them. “Might I suggest you retire to the throne? It is only proper when receiving visitors at court.”

  Max snorted. “Court? Really? Does this have to be a formal function?”

  Redmane chuckled, familiar with Max’s aversion to formality. “You are the king here, Max, and you can decide how formal an event should be. However, you are about to welcome several minotaurs. If you have not met one up close, they are all generally at least a foot taller than you. It is… difficult to project authority when looking up at your audience.”