Man, after such a long time, I’m back on this story again! Ok, I admit that I’ve slacked off for quite a long time for now especially for this story. That being said though, I was planning to update this sooner, but I’ve got a final written test on 6th of March, which means I didn’t do any reviewing or updating before that period. Anyway, since I’m on school holidays as of now, I hope that I can do more updating soon although I know I’ve got a serious problem in slacking off… :( anyway, enjoy what I’ve got here! And one last thing: This chapter is for those of you who think Reyn is a god-mod talent as what was pointed out by one of my reviewers in email, namely Shadowhound… ;)

XXX

Wolfblood – Chapter 5: Meeting

Reyn was clearly relaxing himself in the carriage as it made its way to the mayor’s residence. Tasler seemed to notice it as he said, “It seems that you’re not feeling nervous or whatsoever…”

“What’s there to be nervous about?” replied Reyn.

“It’s the mayor that you’re meeting, not some ordinary person. I guess you might have been more nervous about this…”

“If you’re talking about authority in position, then I can say I don’t care that much. Maybe some form of courtesy when the meeting comes, but I don’t really think much about this issue during the twenty years of my life in adventuring. The notion of authority doesn’t really affect me unless that authority is abused in a certain way. In this case, then I’ll definitely have the urge to stick a boot right into his ass even if it’s just for kicks.”

On hearing the reply, Tasler was slightly dumbstruck by the casual tone that Reyn put in. Then he continued, “I don’t think that an elf would say this kind of thing. I thought that they would be rather formal in speech.”

“Too bad that I’m not one of those who place much emphasis on courteous speech at times. The whole thing is just done on the surface for the sake of face for the other party, so I don’t really care that much for it.”

“You defeat the standard impression of an elf to me.”

“Maybe that’s the case…”

“Just a question that I’m curious about: how did you know the mayor in the first place?”

“Well, I can say that he’s my adventuring partner during the early days of my adventuring. After that, he chose to remain here to oversee the development of this town. I remember him saying that the environment of this place reminds him of the same surroundings of his during his younger days at that time, and thus, his desire to improve it. I guess he’s been able to do this from what I’ve seen now although the whole rich-poor difference here is an assed up society system by my own estimation.”

“You better don’t say this in front of the committee in charge of this place. They’ll go ballistic.”

“If that’s the case, then it’s their problem, not mine.”

XXX

A knock was heard on Pontes’ office door as he was looking through some miscellaneous documents. Without lifting his head, he spoke out the permission for the person outside to come in.

“Mayor Sir,” greeted a sturdily built elderly man in soldier uniform. The mayor looked up at him and saw a familiar face.

“Commander Dill, so it’s you. What’s the matter?”

“I’m here to report something,” said Dill as he placed some report documents on Pontes’ desk, “I think the whole issue will have a certain impact once you go through these briefly…”

Pontes nodded as he went through the documents that Dill had given him. As he looked through the contents of the report, his eyes narrowed and his facial expression went serious.

“Are you sure this isn’t some kind of joke?”

“Positive, Sir. That’s what the scouts had written in their report.”

“Nearby goblin bands being unified and organized… this is unheard of!”

“I was also stunned by the findings saying frankly…”

“Any indication of the numbers?”

“Around five hundred strong by my estimation.”

“This is absurd…”

“The world’s filled with absurdities all the time. That is part and parcel of life… but back to the topic… Mayor Sir, may I have the permission to mobilize the militia?”

“What’s the strength of the militia as of now?”

“A thousand and five hundred, Sir.”

“Then how much of the troops will you need there?”

“I can’t be sure. I might say around six hundred or so given a standard goblin’s poor martial skills. Even if they know magic, the odds probably won’t be strong enough, but given the possible nature of the threat, I can’t afford to take any risk.”

“Bloody fucking hell…”

“Be careful of your language, Sir. It won’t be nice if anybody hear this especially Young Master Tyron.”

“Actually, he has mastered the whole issue of swearing to a certain extent, but enough of that. This is getting insane. I can’t grant you a warrant to launch an offensive against the goblin bands unless the committee gives the go-ahead. They have an equal right over the militia just like me.”

“Actually, the best option is indeed to strike first before they can organize an attack, but there’s the risk of terrain disadvantage. However, if the scouts can lead the way, that risk can be reduced to the maximum. But should the committee forbid this decision, then the only thing we can do is to stay put here and wait for them to come. Not a good thing if you ask me since that will give the goblins more time on their side…”

“Actually, I think that this option is the only one we have given the possibility that the committee will reject this proposal of yours.”

To Pontes’ words, Dill could only nod in agreement.

“Well, I think that settles everything then. I don’t really like the way things are going now, but I guess that’s the best we can do… may I take my leave then, Mayor Sir?”

“Go ahead.”

As Pontes looked at Dill departing, a thought enter his mind.

To think that this kind of thing happens at this moment of time. Wonder what Reyn will do if he knows of it…

XXX

The carriage soon reached its destination. As Tasler and Reyn alighted, the guards at the gate gave them a salute.

“It’s good to see you back, Master Tasler. The Mayor is expecting you right now in the garden pavilion.”

Tasler nodded as he led Reyn into the residence while dismissing his attendants. The pavilion was just outside the hall and as they made their way there, Reyn saw all sorts of paintings adorning the wall. When they made their way to the garden, he turned his sight towards a certain finely dressed man sitting comfortably on a chair under the pavilion. Before him laid a table where on top of it were two goblets and a bottle of wine chilled by being covered by a small bucket filled with ice.

“Master Mayor, as you’ve requested, I’ve brought the elf as you’ve requested.”

“Very well, Tasler. And yes, forget about the formality for now. You’re not in front of the committee so that’s alright. I think you should go and accompany Tyron. I saw him sulking just now. Most probably out of loneliness if you are to ask me.”

“Yes, Pontes, I get it…”

As Pontes dismissed himself, Reyn made his way towards Pontes. As he took his seat opposite his friend, Pontes proceeded to take the wine out of the bucket of ice, uncorked the bottle and poured out its contents into the two goblets, offering one of them to Reyn, which he promptly took.

“Vintage Bordean… best served when chilled if I remember…” smiled Reyn.

“Indeed you’re right. I guess you remember that this is the first type of wine we had in the past after we’ve taken care of a certain goblin chieftain. I don’t know how that bugger got its hands on such a fine wine, but I do remember that after we handed in its head for the bounty, the first thing we did is to find a small bucketful of ice to chill it before we started drinking.”

“Yeah… that scene seems like yesterday to me if you ask me… so how’s your job?”

“Fine I guess… except that there’s the typically screwed situation for the poor-and-rich differences.”

“That is not fine then from my own point of view…”

“I know you will say that.”

“You seem to put on weight as well.”

“Well, maybe it’s a case of the town getting richer in a general term…”

“Soft living then… anyway, I remember you saying that from the kind of guy you are, you won’t be able to get hitched. So any change to that now?”

“Well, yes… I managed to get married finally… my kid’s seven now…”

“So how’s the mother?”

Pontes kept silent for a while. Then he said, “She passed away shortly after my son was born…”

“Sorry on that… I don’t know about it.”

“It’s alright. I’ve learnt to cope with the grief.”

“How’s your kid anyway?”

“Fine… except for the swearing part…”

“Swearing?”

“Yeah, that kid can really swear for someone his age.”

“Why is that so?”

“That was due to him getting into contact with the poor. I’ve planned for this, but I never foresaw the fact that chances were that he would learn the art of swearing as well…”

“And you’ve never discipline him?”

“I tried to, but as of now, I can’t convince him that swearing isn’t necessary when interacting with the poor. Hopefully he can realize that when he got more mature…”

“Sucks to be you in this area then…”

“Yeah I know… anyway, how’s life for you right now? Eighteen years is a long time and I’m more than interested to hear what you’ve been through…”

On hearing this, Reyn went silent. Then he said, “Let me ask you this first, Pontes: What do you think of my overall combat skills?”

“Top tier if you ask me. I remember that I got owned by you the first time we’ve met.”

“You know one thing pal? That’s not what I think.”

“But I thought you’re a Wolfblood. Those carrying that name are supposed to be top notched warriors in Selaysnia.”

“Not only my clan. The clan of Leafsong for the Dryads and the clan of Warhoof for the Centaurs are the other two clans that ensure the safety of Selaysnia together with that of mine. The former were experts in magic and the latter were experienced warriors. Clan Wolfblood is somewhere in between the two, able to use both the arts of magic and war, but excelling in neither. That’s why by the standard rule, I’ll have to hone my combat skills for two hundred years from the age of forty onwards.”

“But you should be a hundred and twenty by now if I’m not wrong. If that’s the case, then either you’re lying about your age or you’re insanely talented.”

“Neither of them… I never go by the standard rule. Instead, I opted to venture beyond my homeland, something that no one in my country has done before. I still remember promising that old man that no matter what, I will return in twenty years time.”

“That old man… this isn’t the proper way to address your father…”

“He’s not my father. Rather, he’s my mentor.”

“Okay, so I see… but still, you seemed rather good in combat when I first met you…”

“Only in terms of normal human standards. After I left you on your own in being the mayor here, things started to get pretty rough…”

“As in?”

“As in the fact that I have the tendency to step on the line between life and death in combat on a certain basis. It’s tough to have the will to live on when you’re facing the brink of death in battle, but once you pulled through that, you’ll find that you’re on the first step to become stronger. That’s how I pulled through my past eighteen years in combat after you decided to stay put here. I remember having my own companions along the way, but in the end, I’m still by myself although it’s my choice… that being said though, I can’t say I’m god-tiered in combat up till now…”

“Then it seems that you’ve been through a lot…”

Reyn paused for a while. Then he said, “Yeah, I guess that’s the case. You can’t really say you’ve grown in both mind and body unless you witness the whole concept of life and death in battle…”

“So where are you going now?”

“Back home. I’ve reached the end of the twenty years of adventuring and therefore, to keep the promise to that old man.”

“All the best to you then. Do you mind if I make you my guest for a day or two?”

“Well, I guess that’s fine for me.”

XXX

The goblin chieftain was confident that he could get his aim accomplished through uniting the surrounding goblin bands. Like other goblins, he wasn’t exceptionally bright, but he more than made up for it in terms of superior skills in combat and magic in goblin standards, for through this, the other goblins began to subject themselves as his underlings. He didn’t know what was going on in Greavus, his sole target, but at least he would be confident that he can conquer the town. Then a messenger came before him and reported that someone claiming to be from Greavus sought an audience, in which the chieftain dismissed with a flick of his hand.

“Why didn’t you take care of him?”

“Well, boss, you see, that person said that he had a way to enable you to accomplish our,” the messenger shrunk back as his superior gave him an annoyed stare, “err, I mean, your plans. He said that everything will be much easier if you follow his lead.”

On hearing that, the goblin leader paused for a while. Then he said, “Let him in.”

The person who was then led to the goblin wore a hooded cloak, but there was no disguising in his fat build. As he lowered down his hood, the green skinned leader saw a bald man with a slippery smile.

“What do you have for me that can help me in my conquest?”

“Very easy,” smiled the man as he continued, “I can render the militia of the town you’re targeting unable to fight, thus enabling your forces to take over.”

“And what are the means that you have?”

“Wartsos… have you heard of it?”

“Wartsos… a drug that once burnt, can render others weak in limb and a small amount can affect a town. I believe that it’s mostly used by assassins to accomplish their job. You don’t seem like one to me.”

“Of course I’m not. But I’ve got this drug recently in order to find a way to get rid of the mayor and those who stands against me in order for me to be the new mayor; plus the antidote as well to ensure things don’t go wrong. But now that Your Greatness is planning to invade this town, what I can do is to burn the drug and greatly weaken the people there, thus enabling you and your army to take this town without any casualties.”

“And what do you stand to gain from this?”

“Simple… once you take over Greavus, give me the second highest ranking post there just below you. I swear I will be loyal to you, plus I believe I can do a much better job that your subordinates in managing issues…” said the man with a devious grin.

The goblin eyed the human for a while. Then it said, “Very well. I accept your idea. When will you take action?”

“Tonight. I will set up a flare signal and that’s when your forces can begin to move.”

“Very good. I’m looking forward to this…”

XXX

“You’re crazy, Ortoff! To think that you will associate with the goblins at this point of time!” exclaimed Rait.

“This is not crazy, Rait. This is my chance to call the shots here after everything’s over.”

“This is insane!”

“Not really. Just think of what I can get should my alliance with the goblins succeed. And not just me, but you stand to gain as well. Now here comes the second plan.”

“Second plan?”

“Yes, second plan, and that is to hire an assassin to get rid of that foreigner who made me look like a fool in case he tries something funny. That will teach him a lesson at his own expense. In fact, I’ve already employed one for your information.”

“I don’t think this is still right…”

“You don’t have to worry, Rait. Very soon, we will call the shots here and no one in this town will go against us!” smiled Ortoff in an evil manner.

XXX

Okay, after such a long time, this story’s been updated. Yay:) Anyway, I’ve got a certain plan of where to carry the next chapter. Hopefully I can get it done soon! Now that I’ve said that, click the nice little button below!