I quickly burned his words into my mind and headed over to the storage room to retrieve his order. I found a hopefully suitable whiskey, a thirty-year-old enchanted Dwarf Bane, which is specifically made to intoxicate any creature. We would normally never give out such an expensive brew but I didn’t want to get on that creature's bad side. I had trouble locating a high-quality bone so I asked the head servant for help and he directed me to a back room. It was large and covered in all manors of bones, probably for certain guests, I walked in and started to dig around for a fine bone until I finally came to a barrel that contained fresh horse-like kelpie bones. I grabbed a femur that was almost as large as my arm and began rushing out, it’s in good interest for my health that I please this creature.

I briskly walked over and slowly placed the bounty in front of him, and carefully backed away. He picked up the bottle and inspected for a second before smoothly removing the cork and taking a large swig before snapping the kelpie femur, I looked on in slight horror as I observed it snap the bone like a twig. The good news was that it seemed satisfied with its meal, so I slightly backed off to the side and waited patiently.

It took a few more swigs before digging into the bone. I watched in fascination as it easily broke a bone that would require the force of over twenty men to even fracture. Thanking the gods I was not behind that force I observed the creature mechanically feast, but my attention was soon diverted to the doorway when I heard the slight patter of feet. A small man had entered and was skittishly looking around the room, after confirming that it was in no danger it fell to all fours and crawled over to a table on the far end.

It was a strange sight for sure but it wasn’t in my section so I didn’t care. I turned back to the creature only to find that it was almost done with everything, so I came up to take its order again. When I asked he just gestured to the bottle and bone, which I took as him wanting the same thing. Before I went to get its order I reached down to collect the leftovers when I suddenly felt a stinging cold on my wrist, I looked over only to find the creature had grabbed my wrist before I even noticed a thing. I tried to jerk my hand back but I couldn’t even make it move an inch, I looked at the creature as terrifying fates crossed my mind. Was he cursing me or draining my life force, maybe I insulted it by trying to touch its prey?

I held my breath and waited for my unescapable gruesome death only to have a bone-chilling cold on my wrist disappear and a serene calmness wash over me. I was stunned for a second but quickly regained my bearings, I turned and bowed to the creature to show my thanks for not ripping me to shreds and walked off to retrieve the order. After searching around for a second I found a second Dwarfs Bane and kelpie bone. With quick steps, I left the back room and headed for the creature.

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I found it fiddling with the bone pieces, it was slowly creating a circular base. Not wanting to disturb it I quietly placed the bone and bottle down before quickly backing off. Once I was at a relatively safe distance I watched the creature as it quickly built up a humanoid figure. Its hands flowed seamlessly around it and after a few more tweaks it sat back and inspected it, and after seemingly deciding something it leaned back down to alter it.

I wanted to keep watching its work but I needed to meet with a coworker to discuss the plan. I discreetly backed away and headed to the backroom, with soft steps I walked through the maze of rooms until I finally reached the meeting place, a small cellar room filled with pickling jars. At first glance, there was no one in the room but I knew my colleague was there. He wouldn’t show himself incase a shapeshifter took my form or a spirit was controlling my body, so I needed to prove it was me and I was in control. I calmly walked to the fourth jar on the fourth shelf and opened it, causing a strong smell of vinegar to permeate through the room.

I reached into the murky liquid and rummaged around until I found a small sphere. I pulled it out and cleaned it off using a rag before slightly squeezing causing a spike to stab my palm. I felt a slight prick and my magic being rapidly absorbed by it, and after a second it started to shine a dim light. I heard a sigh come from behind me causing me to reflexively send a punch towards the source. After I realized what I was doing I stopped the swing and glared at the yellow-eyed, slightly handsome man behind me.

“You know you're going to get what you deserve one of these days if you keep pulling that.”

“Whatever do you mean, I was just standing here when some crazy lady suddenly assaulted me.” He said with a voice laced with amusement.

I swear this guy will be the death of me. Ugh, why was I assigned to this mission with him? I glared daggers at him and asked

“Have you completed your mission yet?”

“Yes, in fact, it was easier than we first thought.”

“Good, is the shock force in place?”

“Yes, the party crashers are ready to be mobilized as soon as the broken hand of God is revealed.”

“Ok, I have to quickly return to my serving duties before suspicion is aroused.”

“You just love being a nice little lap dog don’t you cutie.” He said with his signature slight smirk.

“I swear, one more word from you and I will turn you into a rug.” I really would, consequences be damned.

Reading the genuine threat in my voice he raised his hands and backed off. I sighed and walked out and headed to my section.