Chương 181: Chapter 179 – Short Arm of the Law

Sheriff Matabore's gaze swept over Ray like he was something unpleasant tracked in on the bottom of his boot. Without a word, he grabbed Grim by the elbow and steered him several paces away, far enough that Ray couldn't easily hear their conversation, but close enough to maintain visual contact with the prisoners.

"What. Is. That?" Matabore muttered, jerking his head toward Ray. Grim kept his expression neutral. Years of military service had taught him how to manage difficult personalities.

"That," he said carefully, "is Ray. He's part of our expedition."

"I got that part of it. But what is that?" The underlying tension in Matabore's voice suggested he had already formed his opinion.

"He be a Goblin," Grim said, shooting Ray a sideways glance.

"He's a good guy, gives him a chance, Brodrick."

"I don't trusts no strangers, especially ones that comes from somewheres else," Brodrick replied.

"Yous shouldn't neither. You knows better, Grim," he said shaking his head disapprovingly.

"He's no stranger to me's no more, I has spent a lot of time with him and yous has nuttin' to worries yurselfs about," Grim assured him. While Grim and Brodrick continued their hushed conversation, Sheera approached Ray with her characteristic purposeful stride. Her keen elven hearing had likely caught the undercurrent of tension, and she wasn't about to let Ray stand alone under the sheriff's scrutinizing gaze.

"Everything alright?" she asked, Ray, her voice carrying just enough volume to draw Brodrick and Grim's attention. She positioned herself slightly beside Ray, not quite in front of him, but close enough to signal solidarity.

"And what in Moridin's name is that?" Brodrick asked sarcastically.

"I swears to the Gods Grim you's got yurself a fulls on invasion going on rounds here. Anybodies else lurkin' around somewheres?" He asked, scanning the camp.

"Next thing yous knows some utter creature will be's…"

"Oh gives me a break!" Grim interrupted, his tone riddled with disgust at the Sheriff's bias.

"In Thor's name I swears yur brain is about the size of a pea," Grim said, rolling his eyes.

"You cannots be jumpin' to conclusions like that. They are here under a federal mandate, they are here on an EP48 Visa. I can shows yous if yous likes."

"That be a protected persons Visa. Tell me Grim, whos they need protectin' from and how longs til they comes here lookin' for um?" Brodrick asked, glancing over at Sheera and Ray.

"Sees, I bets you they be plottin' how theys gonna take us over."

"Sheera, Ray…" Grim called out toward the pair.

"would you minds comin over here for a minute so I's can introduce yous to the sheriff right and proper?" Grim called out, hoping to be able to quell the sheriff's dangerous notions.

"Yous be nice." Grim said, turning to look Brodrick in the eye.

"They be guests here and unless you is lookin' to bring down the kings wrath, I'd strongly recommends yous be cordial." Sheera and Ray exchanged a brief, knowing glance.

"Ladies first," Ray said, sweeping an arm out in front of him.

"Don't know who you think you're fooling, kind sir, but I am pretty sure you want something between you and the sheriff. Chivalry has nothing to do with it." She snickered.

"Caught me," Ray laughed.

"Guilty as charged, I am hoping to not to end up playing Dwarf toss. I've had my fill of these little men and their even smaller minds," he said, shaking his head in disgust.

"You should have heard the ones we caught, they are convinced you have some magical powers."

"What?" Sheera replied, eyes widening with curiosity at the ridiculousness of it. She reached out and touched Ray's arm.

"We'll talk about that later," she said, under her breath before returning her gaze to Grim and the Sheriff. She forced herself to smile brightly, as the pair approached.

"Brodrick, this here be Sheera, she is an Elf, and a fine woman if I do say so's meself." He grinned.

"Sheera, this be sheriff Brodrick Matabore, he's the ones in charge in these here parts."

"Pleasure to meet you, Sheriff," Sheera said sweetly, nodding in acknowledgement. The minute the sheriff heard the lilt of her voice he became transfixed.

"Are yous sure she's an elf?" the sheriff asked Grim, unable to take his eyes off her.

"She looks more like Freya in the flesh tos me," the sheriff said, extending a hand to her and bowing. Sheera took his hand with the assumption he was going to shake it, and found herself surprised when he raised her outstretched hands to his lips and kissed the back of it. Sheera looked at Grim then at Ray, helpless, searching their faces for what to do. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Ray, recognizing the potential for disaster, quickly intervened.

"Sheriff Matabore," he said, his tone a mix of caution and amusement, "pleasure to make your acquaintance," he said, extending his hand, praying he would release Sheera's. The Sheriff did not take his eyes off Sheera.

"Yeah, yeah pleasure be all mine." he replied in a tone that sounded automatic, as he continued to hold onto Sheera's hand staring longingly at her.

"Perhaps we should discuss the matter at hand?" Ray began, looking at Grim, motioning to Sheera's outstretched hand still locked in the Sheriff's.

"But before we do that though, let's talk about this hand," he said, gently removing Sheera's hand from the sheriff's.

"There that's better, now as I was saying…"

"Sees, I told ya's she's bewitchin the Sheriff now too!" Gorrick called out.

"Devils woman I tells ya, it's just a matters of time before she takes…"

"Shuts it, I's heards about enough out of yur fool mouth!" Grim called over to the prisoners. Ray was beginning to sense that there may be some truth to the older dwarf's claims, especially now that Grim had the same stupid look on his face that the Sheriff currently had. First Max, then Grim, then the prisoners, now the sheriff. This was just too much to be a coincidence.

"Sheera, would you mind giving us a minute or two to talk?" he asked casually.

"I will fill you in later, if that's alright."

"Sure…" She began, looking confused by the request but also looking relieved.

"I'm just going to…" She sighed.

"I'm just going to go over there and find something else to do," she announced awkwardly turning and walking away. Ray watched Sheera head back toward the main camp, then turned to see both the Sheriff and Grim watching her with utter fascination.

"Okay guys, knock it off, you're being creepy," Ray said, rolling his eyes. The sound of Ray's voice did nothing to make them turn away from watching Sheera. Ray moved, directly into their line of sight, hoping that would do something to snap them out of it. This is insane. He thought, looking at the two dwarfs slack‑jawed expressions. Then suddenly their expressions hardened and they looked at one another confused.

"What in Valhalla just happened there?" the sheriff asked as the effects of Sheera's voice began to wane.

"It 'twas like I had no control over me thinkin' I just wanted to be as close to hers as I could be. Never in all my days have I ever felts like thats before," the sheriff said, looking at Grim for answers."

"Uh… don't know what ye be talkin' bout there Brodrick.

"Now lets talk bout the current sit-yeeation heres. We's gots ourselves a group of thieves thinkin' they be miners. They done blown the top of that there mountain over yonder," he said pointing to the range.

"They be threatenin' us yesterday and then this bunch heres, took cheap shots at Ray over here. Good thing they be as bad at shootin' arrows as they ares at minin' 'cause then they'd be facin' a hells of a lot worse than bein' tied up." Grim said, growing increasingly animated as he spoke.

"What you plans on doin' 'bout it sheriff? I think you'd be better spendin' your time figurin' out what to do 'bout this, then worryin' about these nice folks who ain't done nothing wrongs but exist." Brodrick looked over at the group of dwarves tied up in the back of the wagon.

"That be you Durkin?" he called out, walking closer.

"Oh for Maribore's sake, you too Mort?" he sighed, shaking his head before noticing the older dwarf doing his best to keep his head low so he wasn't seen.

"Come on now Gorrick, yous know better than 'dis. What you doing hangin' round this lot? You knows they aren't up to anythings but no goods."

"Brodrick, I swears, I didn't knows what they were ups to when we left the village. I thought we was just headin' over to Red Rocks fur the days. You know do's a little huntin' or sometin' likes that, I didn't knows they was gonna blow up the stinkin' mountain the ways they did," Gorrick replied, pleading innocence.

"Yeah, and I be goin' fishin' up theres too." Brodrick said, shaking his head.

"Whats you talkin' 'bout, yous can't fish at Red Rocks, there be no water to fish in! You'd have to go on over to Crown Point, theys got a fishin' hole over there." Mort said. Gorrick looked at Mort incredulously.

"What is wrong witch you Mort?" Gorrick said, shaking his head.

"You really is as dumb as people says you is, aren't ya."

"You knows I'm gonna have to take the lot of yous in right?" Brodrick said, putting his hands on his hips.

"Who's all left up top?" he asked, motioning to the mountains.

"They aints gonna give me troubles are theys?"

"I dunno." Mort said.

"Theys might."

"Would you shut that stinkin' pie hole of yurs!" Gorrick said, becoming increasingly annoyed with Mort's commentary.

"At least until yous find a way to makes that brain of yours thinks before the words fall outs of yur fool mouth."

"But…" Mort began, before Gorrick shot him a warning glance.

"Brodrick, I don't know what wes can tell ya," Gorrick said, "Taint seen none of dem befores yesterday. Theys came into town and says that they give us a share of the gold if we just made sures noones came up the road til theys was done."

"Well how many of them are still ups theres?" Brodrick asked.

"Bout a half dozen or so I would figure." Gorrick said, "I can'ts rightly tell yas though, we wasn't up there, we be staying downs here on the road, making peoples think there was a big mess up ands the road was blocked. We'd just be turnin' peoples back at eithers end, tellin' em it would be a few days 'tils they could come on through.

"So, the road be fine then?" the sheriff asked.

"Yeah, it's as clear as Silver Springs." Gorrick replied.

"If ye be lyin' to mes Gorrick, I wills have your hide and nails it to my office wall, you hears me?" Brodrick said before looking at Mort.

"Same goes for yous as well. Durkin, you be awfuls quiet, you gots anythin' to say?"

"Does yous really gots to 'rest us Brodrick?" he asked, his eyes sullen.

"My missus is already gonna tan my hide and makes shoes outta me for bein' gone for two days. If shes finds out I was 'rested too she's likely to make soup out of me entrails."

"I gots me some thinkin' to do," Brodrick said as he turned to walk away.

"You boys sits tight," he called out over his shoulder walking back toward Grim and Ray.