Bax the Axegoblin tugged uncertainly at his restraints as his handler led him through the quickly narrowing hallway. "Where we goin'?" he managed to sputter in halting Dwarfish.
The dwarf leading him along kicked open a granite door and led the prisoner through. Mafol was amazed by how cooperative Goblins became in a set of chains.
"The Pit," he said, standing before a freshly-carved hole leading into the underground forest far below Murdercloisters. "Glacial says you're dangerous and we have to get rid of you, and I'm not one to argue with the dwarf, he's never lied to me before."
"Don't like the Pit. Liked cage, was cozy." Mafol started to pull on the goblin, who stood firmly in place.
"We can't have you hurting anyone," the dwarf said with a sigh. "Come on, in you go."
"Won't hurt anyone." Bax smiled gingerly, trying to conceal his rotten teeth.
"I dunno," Mafol said. Goblins lie an awful lot. I think I'd better just throw you in."
"No, please," Bax clasped his hands. "Don't want --"
The goblinflew into the ground with a ceremonious choir of bones cracking and metal crumbling followed by detailed recital of every curse word in the goblin language, with the commonest ones repeated for salience.
Glacial appeared at the end of the hall after a short time. He found Mafol standing at the edge of the pit with a look of concern directed below. "Is the goblin down there?"
"He's down there alright, seems to be crawling away rather slow-like."
"What?" Glacial approached thte hole and looked down. "He's alive?" This wouldn't do. The goblin had seen too much, his escape could spell disaster in bright bloody letters. "Tell me Mafol, what animals have we got that would appreciate a wounded goblin lunch?"
The animal handler returned a few moments later with a muzzled hyena in tow. With a mighty yank, the muzzle came off and the creature sailed into the darkness below.
Mafol stuck his face over the edge of the pit. "Well?" Glacial prompted.
"It isn't moving," Mafol said.
"The hyena? Is it hurt or is it just standing there?"
"It's dead," Mafol said.
"Oh," said Glacial. "Damn." There was a pause. "Well, what else have we got?"
A few minutes later, a warthog, two badgers and a cow were among the dozen animals to find themselves dragged into a narrow corridor and tossed into the unfamiliar world of the underground. Mafol watched as the animals fell in one by one. Glacial stood nearby, waiting.
"Did any survive?"
"They sure did, Glacial. The first badger died but the warthog only hurt itself badly, and it broke the cow's fall, and the cow broke the fall everything else! And the badgers are attacking this giant skeleton monster that just appeared. This worked out really well!" Mafol looked up, beaming.
"Wonderful," nodded Glacial. "And the goblin?"
"He got away in the commotion, looks like."
Glacial hurried out of the room.
* * *
Erib Onullimul, Manager's ReportInspector Graebeard's investigation continues. The latest to be interrogated was Lolor the Metalsmith.
Lolor did not survive the proceeding, and was carried into the hospital bearing an impressive head wound. Graebeard insists that the beating was in strict accordance with the law and was in no way connected with the ongoing investigation. It seems that Lolor's sordid past came to light through Graebeard's efforts.
I for one and happy Graebeard is pursuing the cause of justice with such fervor. It won't be long now before we figure out the cause of these murders. I have my own suspicions, and while I haven't any hard evidence yet, I feel it's just a matter of time before I catch the suspect red-handed. I daren't write too much about it here, lest eyes beyond my own invade my book.
Our incumbent mayor has died in the hospital, leaving the office to Pisanoa. May her reign be longer and more profitable. Oh gods my --
Update: I'm occupied these days but I should have another report up within a day or two.
Poll
73 (58.9%)
Author
Topic: Murdercloisters: Where A Year May Well Be A Lifetime (Succession) (Read 24692 times)