Steal woke with a start, his stomach rumbled and his mind felt fuzzy as he looked around the dim room. No fires were roaring, just a large number of paladins lay around on raised beds or on furs spread across the wooden floor, snoring happily to themselves. Kor'Ak was amongst them, just across from Steal.
Steal, you alright?
The familiar, somehow intelligible chitter of Adolfus' voice crept its way into his mind. Steal opened his mouth to reply, but felt his throat tighten as his eyes met those of one of the paladins, sprawled across the ground with the rest of his silver-and-white armoured companions.
Steal's eyes crawled across the mass of bodies that cluttered the floor, expecting to find nothing but shut eyes and heavy snoring. Instead, he saw a dozen more pairs of eyes, following coldly over him in the dark night. He could see better in the dark than they could, they probably didn't even realise he knew he was being watched with such cold intent.
Perhaps it wasn't wise for him to start chattering to a friend that wasn't there when he was surrounded by so many stares.
The cold night air flooded in as Steal awkwardly pushed open the door that led onto the cold, dark streets. The others had made it seem so effortless when they entered all these buildings, but Steal had to exert himself as the wooden door creaked it's way open and he moved out into the night.
A deep breath, then another. Steal rubbed the sleet from his coal-black eyes as the gentle, icy wind flowed over him. Another breath. The icy breeze washed over him again and the goblin shivered in reaction. He paused again as the gears in his head turned, even now, he figured it might not be a good idea to start chattering aloud. Maybe he could use Unholy Communion.
His thoughts were cut off by a familiar voice. Lighter than Kor'Ak's, but one he was still quite familiar with. "I know I'm a little late William, I'm holed up with the adventurer's I hired. Turns out one was a goblin, but that doesn't matter."
Steal peeked around the corner of one of the buildings to see a figure that his eyes could make out in the darkness, mainly because of his abnormal silhouette, caused by his groomed-to-a-point moustache. He was huddled down one of the alleys, seemingly talking to a dimly lit crystal that he had lay carefully on a stack of warped wooden boxes.
"Oh, So that's why they're here..." He nodded "It will be done, If all goes well, I'll be with you soon William."
The crystal hummed a little brighter for a moment before it's light went out, and the human stowed it back into his waistcoat.
Steal's stomach rumbled again, he felt something burning as it rose up his throat. But he swallowed it back down. Making a violent choking noise as he forced acidic bile down into his throat.
The shadowy figure's head seemed to snap around and centre on the goblin's chest, rising with each dry, stinging breath.
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His feet sprang from the stone as he spun around on his heels, intent on getting back inside and lying back with Kor'Ak, the goblin had never seen Kelvin as scary, but the eyes he just saw felt odd to the monster, cold, angry.
Steal's claws dug into the re-purposed tavern's wooden floor as he hurriedly leaped over the unmoving bodies of the paladins that littered the ground; he made Kor'Ak out quite easily, even though the building was barely lit by a few dying torches bound to the walls, and what few slivers of silver moonlight found their way through; though Steal's companions darker skin stood out amongst the silvered armours that the paladin's still wore, even when resting.
Quickly, as he heard the door behind him creak open again, he nestled himself inside of a gap between Kor'Ak's back and the glimmering chestplate of one of the few paladin's that actually slept. The goblin's eyes snapped shut, green skin closing over his coal-black orbs as he heard the light sound of footsteps, felt them become louder, closer. His heart slammed agains this chest as it thumped wildly, he felt something lodge it's way in his throat again. The footsteps quietened. His claws found purhase on Kor'Ak's back, and he pulled himself a little closer, held on a little tighter.
Steal couldn't quite put his feelings to thoughts and words, but it was the way that Kelvin had looked at him, the sharp, searching anger in his eyes didn't feel right, it didn't feel like the Kelvin he'd spent his past few days with.
So, when Steal found comfort in sleep again, he was holding tight to Kor'Ak, unwilling to let go of the only person that was yet to show him some sort of disdain.
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He was woken in the morning by a massive, dark hand shaking his shoulder.
As could be expected, the goblin lept to his feet and snarled at whoever had awoken him, his expression softening a little as he looked up to see Kor'Ak towering over him, wearing the armour he'd picked out the day prior, sword at his side and a shield on his back. He looked a lot better today; his sunken eyes had begun to return to normal, dark rings lightening a little. Though there was something in those same eyes, some unknown, solemn and sad worry as he looked over the goblin.
He blinked, the worry still wasn't gone from his eyes, no joyous spark. His eyes turned to the door, and Steal followed his gaze, not paying attention to the fact the sleeping quarters had emptied.
"Little green one... It is dangerous, you do not need to come with me. If you stay, I will come back with the Knights of Solaria, and we'll head to the capital together."
Steal yipped excitedly, much to Kor'Ak's despair.
And as expected, Steal followed along as his much larger companion easily pushed the ever-creaking door wide open and stepped out onto the street.
The streets and square weren't quite 'teeming' with the Knights of Solaria, but the two dozen knights. clerics and other fighters that stood, side-by-side in the plaza were enough to be an intimidating sight. Kelvin was nowhere to be found amongst the crowd of silver-armoured warriors, so it was merely Kor'Ak and Steal that shuffled their way forwards, awkwardly standing side-by-side at the back of the block of holy men.
The golden-wing-helmed 'speaker' that stood ahead of the knights raised his ornate sword to the sky, the blade was decorated with jewels, gems and inricate carvings; and the golden marks that danced across it's blade reflected the rising, morning sun's rays across the plaza.
A vigorous, excited roar burst from the mouths of the paladins as they finally put their helmets on, raising their own blades, maces and bashing their shields in response to the speaker. Like a flood of mercury, the silver armoured warriors rushed forwards, through the streets, past the plaza, and finally, they stood two-by-two, marching forwards with shields raised and weapons ready.
Kor'Ak and Steal followed along behind, Steal was taken up in the heat and excitement of it all, but Kor'Ak was still weary, cautious.
Still, the Djaal feigned a sigh "Guess we missed the speech, what a shame."