Zephyr scrutinised the exchange with narrowed eyes.
Why would the Draegorths pay a human?
This wasn't the first time they'd left the camp for such meetings.
Why..
His thoughts cut short the moment he leaned closer to get a better look at the hooded figure. Power thrummed in the room, almost suffocating him into submitting his head down in respect. Respect?
Zephyr snapped his head back, glowering at the force emanating from the dingy room they were in.
Dain smacked his arm lightly, trying to gain his attention. His eyes asked Zephyr what he could see, but he shrugged him off.
That wasn't a human. Their hand may have the skin of one, but his very presence caused a shiver of ice to trickle down his back and make his sixth sense wary about them.
Dain shoved into the small space beside Zephyr, glaring at him before his body froze. He pointed a thumb behind him, and Zephyr had to resort to lip reading because the Slinktail wouldn't speak out loud.
'We need to pee NOW.' That definitely wasn't right, though the urgency in Dain's eyes proved it could be? No, Dain was insistent on leaving. He seemed rattled, but it only fuelled Zephyr's desire to learn more about the purpose of this meeting and who the Draegorths were with.
Dain pointed at the window, then pointed two fingers before slicing it across his neck.
Two deaths?
Dain moved aside, believing Zephyr was now silently following behind him but the Slinktail had returned to the window, brushing his ear closer to the wall whilst watching the Draegorths meet this mystery person. Their hood may cover their features, but Zephyr noted the luxurious material fitted to the man's body. In his work he was getting a good eye for such things.
The man pocketed the money while the Draegorths kept their heads bowed respectfully. Zephyr initially thought they were in that position because of their huge bodies that seemed to squeeze into the room but now they sat down and their eyes were cast to the ground. Now that he felt the intimidating power emanating from this man, Zephyr was sure it had more to do with him than ducking inside of the room.
A small candle on an iron candle holder stood in the middle of the rotting table between the Draegorths and the hooded man. It granted them a soft glow of light in the otherwise dreary and damp room. The hooded man's features still remained in the darkness but it was clear he was an important figure.
He sauntered around the room, his strides long and at ease while he looked at the three Draegorths. A part of Zephyr was satisfied by Garzon's reaction to the man. Every time he moved, the Draegorth flinched. He was certainly powerful, so powerful it was hard for Zephyr to breathe.
It was like a weight crushed down on his chest and was squeezing his head.
"You have not been keeping your heads down," the man drawled. His voice was full of amusement, but that only made the Draegorths shudder. "Bodies are showing up across Iron Hold, all human."
The man sat, crossing his ankle over his knee, hand on the table, fingers tapping rhythmically. "I do not care if you cause some trouble, but when it forces enforcers and hunters to come and give me work… Then, I am less than impressed. Mazginath, you're giving me work… I do not like…"
The hooded man's head swivelled to the side in the window's direction. Zephyr jumped back as soon as he felt the heat of the man's golden eyes sear into him.
"Your weak stealth is highly insulting to me. Come out before I really lose my temper." Before Zephyr could move, the planks of wood burst from the window, and the Slinktail fell onto his back from the blast. His ears rang as though there had been an explosion, but if that was the case, he would be in pieces.
A figure loomed over Zephyr and gripped him by the collar, bringing him close to the man's face. "A Slinktail?" His golden-red eyes gleamed, turning his head back to the others in the room. "One of yours?"
Demon.
He was a demon!
This close, Zephyr discerned the demon could kill him in mere seconds.
"Yes, Lord Sorgaran," Garzon snapped. "That is Zephyr, the one causing all the trouble for us."
Lord Sorgaran?
The demon gently pulled on Zephyr's shirt and was tossed into the room like a weightless pillow. He slammed into the other wall, which cracked beneath his weight and dropped to the ground.
Lord Sorgaran inhaled deeply. "Where is your friend?"
Zephyr coughed roughly from the bruising of his ribs, leaning on his forearms and knees as he stared at the wooden floor. "What friend?" He wheezed out before dragging his eyes up to meet this Lord's penetrating gaze.
Lord Sorgaran watched Zephyr intently while brushing off the dust from his lavish garments. It was then the Slinktail had a good view of the man. His hood had fallen down, revealing the demon's features. He almost looked human.
Lord Sorgaran's skin was smooth and pale, complemented by dark red wine hair cropped short to his shoulders, perfectly straight. With a smooth jaw and straight nose, there was no doubt women would fawn over him if it wasn't for the four small horns merging from the top of his forehead like a miniature crown.
"Who did you bring with you?" Garzon snapped, kicking Zephyr under the belly until his body lifted from the ground, and he dragged a sharp breath in.
Lord Sorgaran sighed and raised a hand. "Enough, Garzon." At the exact moment, he ordered the Draegorth to stop Zephyr's beating, the demon flicked his hand, and the wooden planks from before started rebuilding and covering the window's entrance.
Zephyr watched in awe. He'd seen brutal strength from the Draegorths, and he had only touched the surface of the dark, ominous power trailing him around. Yet this was the first time he was seeing real magic.
Magic!
"A fine, rare quality for a Slinktail to have is loyalty and not wishing to snitch. It is obvious he does not fear you, or he would not be here... You picked a good one," the Lord mused dryly as he sat back down in the chair at the table.
"We didn't pick him," Garzon muttered grumpily, his head respectfully low again. Zephyr could tell the Draegorth was trying to throw him under the bus. The fuck didn't like him, and this was the perfect time to get rid of him.
"You didn't pick him?" Lord Sorgaran drawled, his attention turned to Garzon. "What, he just climbed into your camp, and you accepted him? A weak Slinktail?"
"He fought to the death for his spot," Maz spoke up before Garzon could continue. He glared at the minotaur who merely shrugged.
Lord Sorgaran's brows rose. "Really?" He observed Zephyr closely and clicked his fingers, pointing at his boots.
Zephyr grit his sharp teeth, tasting blood as he crawled along the ground to his boots and glared at the shiny leather, keeping his head down. Lord Sorgaran tilted the Slinktail's chin up with a flick of his finger, and a force shot his head up to stare at the higher-level demon.
"You're the one thieving for them?" It wasn't a question; the Lord already knew. "The only reason you've been granted extra freedom is because of me. When I see talented demons, I loosen their leash. Loosen, not let go. But do not get it twisted. You fuck me over, you're dead. Stick to thieving or be treated like any other Slinktail. Now be gone."