NOVEL WEB Chapter 20: Traitor.
Traitors, betrayers—to Kael, these were the scum of the earth. Those who betrayed loved ones, those who betrayed their people, anyone who violated the trust placed in them—these individuals were worse than scum. They were the rotten eggs in the world's basket, needing to be separated from the good and utterly destroyed.
Kael felt an intense pressure to succeed in the mission Magnus had briefed him on. It wasn't simply obedience to his lord's command; a deep-seated hatred for traitors like these fueled his resolve.
Watching Nutgrove and his cohorts being led by the goblin, Krogg, to their meeting with Gaylord filled Kael with disgust and a simmering rage. He yearned to leap from the shadows and end their treacherous lives right then and there. Fortunately for them, Magnus's orders didn't include their immediate execution. But Kael swore to himself, when the opportunity arose, he would bury his dagger deep within them, ensuring their deaths were agonizing.
For now, he had a task to complete.
The group continued their journey, Krogg leading the way, oblivious to the danger lurking in the shadows. He guided them towards an imposing structure, significantly larger than the surrounding buildings, a clear indication of its importance.
"Wait here," Krogg instructed, leaving Nutgrove and his men standing outside. "I'll inform our lord of your arrival." He then proceeded towards the building's entrance. The guards stationed there offered no resistance, allowing him to pass unchallenged.
Moments later, Krogg reappeared. "Come with me," he announced to Nutgrove. "Our lord is ready to receive you."
Nutgrove and his men followed Krogg into the building and down a corridor to a large, opulent chamber. Intricately carved orbs illuminated the space, revealing its grandeur.
A muscular goblin sat upon a massive throne, adorned with gold and precious jewels. Two human women, clearly slaves, attended to his needs.
Nutgrove, upon seeing this, showed no reaction. Kael, watching from his concealed vantage point, felt a deep revulsion. He knew Magnus would share his disgust.
Slave trade, though a lucrative enterprise that even those tasked with upholding the law profited from, was undeniably illegal. The Holy Lands and some of the more powerful kingdoms and empires occasionally conducted raids on known slave trading hubs. However, he understood these actions were largely for show, performed to garner public approval. The true power brokers in the slave trade remained untouched.
It was a tragic reality of their world: the strong thrived while the weak perished or became stepping stones for their ascent.
"Nutgrove," Gaylord greeted with a smile, his gaze fixed on the traitor. "I trust you bring valuable information this time."
"Indeed," Nutgrove replied, a matching smile spreading across his face. "I have something quite significant to report."
"Oh? Do tell," Gaylord prompted.
"Well," Nutgrove began, gesturing expectantly.
Gaylord sighed and tossed a small pouch towards Nutgrove.
"This information is exceptionally valuable," Nutgrove pressed, greed evident in his voice.
Gaylord sighed again, this time throwing a much larger pouch. "You know," he said, though his tone lacked any real menace, and a smile played on his lips, "one of these days, your avarice will cost you your head."
"You need me," Nutgrove retorted, his smile unwavering as he pocketed the two pouches overflowing with treasure. "Besides, it's just business. Nothing personal."
"Enough of this," Gaylord urged. "Speak."
"The young lord is awake," Nutgrove revealed. "And not only that, he's able to stand on his own and seems to be recovering quite well."
"What?" Gaylord and Krogg exclaimed in unison, shock etched on their faces. They had orchestrated the ambush on Magnus and his men, using the intelligence provided by Nutgrove, just a week prior. Even if Magnus had survived, the severity of his injuries should have kept him incapacitated for several more weeks. Both goblins frowned.
"When did this happen?" Gaylord demanded.
"Yesterday," Nutgrove answered. "I left immediately afterward to inform you. He and Augustus are devising a plan to regain the people's trust by compensating the families of the deceased soldiers and such. I suggest you attack now, while they are at their weakest. Giving them more time will only allow them to consolidate their power and bolster their forces."
Gaylord fell silent, a deep frown creasing his brow as he stared at Nutgrove, contemplating his next move.
After a moment of contemplation, Gaylord spoke. "Not yet. We won't attack just yet. We need to weaken them further before we strike," he declared.
"What do you propose, my lord?" Krogg inquired, his brow furrowed.
"We'll poison their remaining water supply," Gaylord responded, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "That should weaken them enough for us to launch our attack." He seemed unfazed by Krogg's look.
"I have some Aetherblight, that should do the trick," he continued, his smile widening, suggesting this plan had been brewing for some time.
Hidden in the shadows, Kael's blood ran cold. If Magnus hadn't sent him, this could have been catastrophic for the territory. Aetherblight was a highly dangerous poison. As an assassin, Kael had encountered it numerous times. It was a toxin so potent that even he wouldn't wish it upon his victims.
Derived from the Gloomwood plant, a species found primarily in desolate environments and warped by harsh conditions, Aetherblight poison was extracted from its roots and incredibly effective. Introducing it into the territory's water supply posed an extreme threat. Aetherblight wasn't a swift killer; its effects took days, even a week, to manifest. By then, a significant portion of the population would likely have consumed the contaminated water, leading to widespread suffering.
Furthermore, Aetherblight didn't present like typical poisons. Its initial symptoms mimicked a common flu, easily misdiagnosed by those unskilled in toxicology. While treated as a minor ailment, the poison would relentlessly attack the victim's internal organs, gradually deteriorating their health until death. By the time the Aetherblight was identified and an antidote prepared, the damage would be extensive. Magnus had sent Kael just in time to avert a terrible tragedy.
"An excellent plan, my lord," Nutgrove said, a sycophantic smile on his face, as if the lives of his countrymen meant nothing to him. "That will cripple them for sure. You are truly a master strategist." He continued his fawning for a while longer, after which Gaylord handed him a vial containing the Aetherblight. Nutgrove and his men then departed, leaving Gaylord and Krogg alone.
Gaylord dismissed the human slaves attending him and rose to his feet. His towering, muscular frame stood slightly over five feet tall, an imposing figure even among goblins, where such height was uncommon. Combined with his battle prowess, he commanded both fear and respect within the territory.
"My lord," Krogg began, his brow furrowed once more. "I'm puzzled why you still trust that old man. It's clear his eagerness to attack stems from a desire to plunder the Lancaster treasury during the ensuing chaos."
Instead of answering, Gaylord erupted into a booming laugh that echoed throughout the chamber.
"They say greed is a path to ruin," he said, once his laughter subsided. "That fool thinks he's deceiving me, but it's the other way around. I won't eliminate him just yet. I still need him to achieve my objectives. Until then, I'll let him believe he's in control." He continued, a sinister glint in his eyes;
"The other lords have begun forming alliances since Arthur's death. It won't be long before their combined forces come looking for trouble. I need that old forger to help me dismantle Arthur's territory while I get my hands on the lord's seal. Then he can die. It's a win-win situation for me."
"Brilliant, my lord!" Krogg exclaimed, resorting to flattery. "You've thought of everything!"
Gaylord beamed, preening under the praise, oblivious to the figure concealed in the shadows, listening to every word of their self-congratulatory pronouncements.
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Meanwhile, Nutgrove and his men journeyed away from Gaylord's stronghold.
"What's our next move, Commander?" one of his men inquired.
"Now we put our plan into action," Nutgrove replied, a triumphant smile on his face, convinced he had outwitted Gaylord. "I'm sure Gaylord isn't stupid. He knows what we're really after, so we need to stay one step ahead of him. We'll make off with the entire treasury before he even realizes it."
Both Gaylord and Nutgrove believed they were in control, unaware of a third player in the game, the one truly holding the reins: Magnus.