Master Chapliered the room behind the pair of men with the battering ram. They dropped it to the floor and drew swords from their sheaths as men poured into the office to front the unarmed goblins. Master Chaplin was staring at the empty transport cart in horror. He gulped as he noticed Dink watg him calmly.

  “Master Chaplin, how polite of you to knock first before entering,” Lady Estra said dryly.

  “Apologies, Lady Estra. I was beginning to bee ed for your safety after hearing sounds ing from withihought perhaps…” Master Chaplin replied to her chastisement.

  “Thought what?” Lady Estra demanded.

  “Ahem, that perhaps they broke free of their cage to have their way with you,” Master Chaplin replied after clearing his throat.

  “I take care of myself. I appreciate your but it was unnecessary,” Lady Estra replied curtly.

  “Uh… yes,” Master Chaplin swallowed back what he was about to say. How she had beeed by the goblins in the arena only that afternoon.

  “I believe my attendants' items are still being held in trust with the arena in the event of their deaths. I was surprised to discover my pack bei in your personal office after the battle. I trust that you refrained from searg its tents. The tracer spell was undisturbed aside from inf me of its location. You must have been very fident that I would survive that battle to return for it,” Lady Estra said coldly.

  “I’ll have them here immediately. You, go and collect Lady Estra’s attendant’s items. The arena sweepers will have pleted processing them by now. Also, have them deliver their packs to my private suite upstairs. Lady Estra, I suggest that we move to a loore appropriate for our versation,” Master Chaplin invited, looking toward her with a pleading expression. He regretted barging in only to be berated in front of his men.

  “There’s no need. We will be leaving post haste. Have all possessions brought to me here,” Lady Estra deed.

  “You heard her. Why are you still here? Go!” Master Chaplin instructed his subordinate impatiently. He looked relieved after hearing her iion to leave.

  “Wait!” Dink anded.

  The men all gripped their ons tighter as they te Dink’s words. Master Chaplin looked to be the most anxious, hurriedly leaving the room to escape Dink’s range.

  “What I help you with… Dink?” Master Chaplin asked, even including his name.

  “A mage needs a focus, I’m sure that you uand this. I propose a trade. The attuned focus sword for the are focus goblin staff. The trade is extremely favorable to you and we have no need for a human focus. Do you accept?” Dink offered, his eyes narrowed dangerously.

  “Yes, of course. If Lady Estra agrees,” Master Chaplin quickly responded after seeing Dink’s body nguage. Looking toward Lady Estra in supplication.

  “She agrees,” Dink said. He was enjoying toying with his most ret master.

  He inhaled deeply, the room was filled with the invigorating aroma of fear. He surveyed the men arrayed in front of him. Sweat beaded their brows as their hands trembled with uainty, looking at Master Chaplin in annoyahey wanted him to hurry and accept, not wanting to staween him and a merciless killing mae like Dink. Master Chaplin was aware of their displeasure, giving Lady Estra an apologetic smile before speaking.

  “Theter is settled. An attuned sword focus foblin staff. I accept your trade,” Master Chaplin said with false friendliness.

  “Good. Deliver it to the mairance. I want to use my newfound freedom to experience walking among my ad fans before I leave. Lady Estra, shall we?” Dink instructed as he began walking toward the door.

  The men barring his path dropped all pretence as they lowered their ons and quickly moved out of his way. The master looked like he wao object, but self-preservation overrode his for the crowd’s safety, bowing slightly in acquiesce.

  “I apologise, I fot that I have another appoi. I will leave the men to escort you. Excuse me,” Master Chaplin said weakly as he began to escape the hallway.

  Master Chaplihrough the armoury entrance, disappearing up a flight of stairs leading to the surface. The men nervously followed behind Dink as he led Lady Estra and Murkuk into the armoury. They were intercepted by a pair of arena sweepers carrying packs and heavy armour. They hurriedly presehem to Lady Estra. She accepted the packs while the men tio hold the armour.

  “Take these and distribute them however you like,” Lady Estra said as she gave the packs to Dink.

  “Thank you,” Dink accepted, pg the packs on the ground.

  Lady Estra started elling mana, h a hand over each set of armour and boots still held by the arena sweepers. Dink ighe it his neck as an are sigil appeared in the air, illuminating the heavy armour with light. Specks of shimmering light began to erode the armour until the arena sweeper’s arms were empty. The light flew into Lady Estra’s hands, disappearing under her skin as the are sigil faded away.

  Dink began unpag the leather bags, tossing clothing carelessly on the floor. He found some basic travel rations, biting into the smoked jerky with relish. He tossed the remaio Murkuk who hungrily devoured it in moments. Dink found a pair of cloaks among the clothes. Dink grabbed a dagger from the on rack. Using it to ssh a pair of holes in the cloak for his arms to gh, and cutting it shorter, creating a long, ragged vest.

  He equipped the vest without tying it closed as he raised the hood. The vest covered the entire length of his body, which left his muscur blue-bck torso exposed. He gestured to the pile of clothes at his feet, turning to speak to Lady Estra.

  “Any aking these more appropriate foblins of our stature?” Dink asked.

  “Yes, it’s an easy spell. Why didn’t you include your cloak? I still fix it,” Lady Estra responded, croug down to hold her hands above the clothes.

  “No need. I have an image to maintain,” Dink replied jovially with a rge, fanged smile.

  An are sigil appeared in the air as the clothing pile began to writhe on the floor, shrinking in size until it could fit the pair. Di down to retrieve a pair of trousers, pulling them oossed a shirt and pants to Murkuk while gesturing for him to put them on. The goblin mage mimicked his a of pulling on trousers but looked fused when it came to the shirt.

  Dink sighed, as he took the shirt away from him. He fed each of his arms through before buttoning the shirt closed, leaving the top two buttons undone. He reached up to his colr and fred them up before rolling the goblin mage’s sleeves to expose his hairless forearms. , he took the cloak from the floor and draped it around Murkuk’s shoulders. He expertly tied the cloak closed, pig at it to let it fall with a flourish. He retrieved a pair of purses on the ground, looking at their tents before attag oo each of their waists.

  Dink stepped back, admiring the goblin mage’s appearance. Murkuk shifted in the fn clothing, pulling at the heavy purse in disfort. Dink spped his hand away befrunting in satisfa. He looked very fashionable in the simple clothing.

  “Too bad that we don’t have any appropriate boots that wouldn’t be destroyed by goblin cws. But this will have to do. People won’t know how to react after seeing a clothed goblin. I ’t wait to see their rea. Panic most likely,” Dink said with a dark chuckle.

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