The metallic sound of weapons clashing rung through the camp of the trolls, the air thick with the smell of blood, smoke and sweat. The sun cast long shadows throughout the camp, but the setting sun had not yet tempered the battle that raged around Swort, Peevy and Kras. Swort sniffed the air. He loved the smell of blood and sweat, it usually meant he could pick up some new stuff he never thought to own before. He could do without the fire, but it could not be avoided in their line of work.
“Come masters, it's here. Yes, yes,“ The gnome squeaked and pointed at what looked like a tent. “You wanted a big chest? Yes? Pipron find chest, the biggest you ever see. Pipron good gnome.”
“It better be something interesting this time.” Peevy said and pushed the gnome ahead. “I'm done with the rubbish you consider treasure. Hurry up!”
“Pipron find real treasure this time. Yes. You will see and love Pipron. Yes yes yes. This way, Masters”
The gnome bounced on his feet with excitement, then darted over the stone ground towards the tent. Which seemed to be a canvas thrown over two sticks and a few cords to tie it all down. The sides were hanging down and the strings waved lazily in the soft breeze. A blanket-roll stuck out underneath one side of the canvas and a monstrous armored boot laid in the entrance. The gnome clambered on top of the boot, then motioned for Peevy and Swort to follow.
For the last months Peevy trained the gnomes to find the right kind of treasure. The gnomes idea of treasure was tainted by poverty and a low standard in general. The first times the gnomes returned with useless rubbish, flimsy pieces of clothing or almost inedible food. Peevy decided to use rougher, more violent methods after the gnomes had led him to stale bread and moldy barrels. He found it was hard to train the gnomes to find treasure, when you lacked the treasure as an example.
Swort squared his shoulder, then sauntered after the gnome towards the tent. The bells in his robes jingled with every step. It was important to pretend to belong in the camp, if you just looked nonchalant or busy enough, people didn't question your whereabouts. He heard Peevy mutter under his breath. The gnome chose the most showy and risky place to wait for his masters. Those gnomes really didn't get the idea of thieving. He hoped that this time, the gnome found something worthwhile.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
At the entrance of the tent, he felt his eyes widen with surprise. A huge, ornate and official looking chest was chained to four stakes on the ground. The lid decorated with intricate golden patterns, small paintings of flowers and animals, was closed with a solid iron lock
“Yes! Good gnome!” Peevy rushed towards the ornate chest and put his hands on the lid. “It seems, you have just found yourself an extra good dinner gnome. Maybe this time, you can have an extra piece of bread.”
Peevy knocked on the chest. Swort could only hear the knock of his fingers on wood. The chest was full. The chains meant that the chest wasn't only full, but contained something precious. Swort smiled feral at Swort, then started yanking at the pins that the chest was chained to.
Swort didn't enter, the filled decorated chest seemed off. It was hard to imagine that a troll owned a chest as such. If one did, any troll would guard it with his life, and would not leave it in a badly set-up tent. Something wasn't right, but he couldn't find what it was exactly. Peevy on the other hand, did not share his apprehension. Sworts' friend puffed with exertion as he pulled the chains again. It didn't budge.
Peevy stuck a grimy hand inside his robes and rummaged in his pockets. He searched for a while with the tip of his tongue out of his mouth, then pulled out a set of different lengths of pins with different shapes.
“If we can't take the chest, we will just fill our pockets with gold.” Peevy stuck two pins inside the lock and started pushing, pulling and turning the pins inside the lock. “at least these stupid bells will finally be useful. Keep an eye out will ya.”
Few trolls wandered around the tents as most of them had attended the entertainment on the crossroads. The ones that were around, didn't look or glance at in his direction at all. Weapons crashed on one another in the distance, he could hear occasional explosions whenever dwarfs discharged their pistols. Swort took up post outside of the entrance. Tents were set up all around them. Most of them a simple cloth with a stick. Only a few trolls had put more effort into setting up a tent by finding an extra stick. Fire pits were randomly scattered among the almost deserted tents. A large fire pit was set up in front of the tent, and rows of logs circled around the pit.