31 Appeal to Authority

Cala sits on his throne, biting his nails. Sum's presence made it difficult for him to ask for Dawn's services. He had to make do with other goblins. But the other goblins could not compare to Dawn's beauty and skill.

If only he courted Dawn first, he thought. Then Dawn would be his and his alone. But the chance to seize the throne presented itself to Cala in the form of Flute. Cala remembered it well; he closed his eyes and returned to that hot summer day. The tribe's former chief returned after hunting. They returned with the largest deer the tribe has ever seen, nearly twice the height of their human slaves. Its antlers were four feet long and weighed as heavy as a fat adult deer. The chief penetrated the ground with his sword and declared a feast to celebrate their hunt, surprising the tribe.

But what astonished the tribe the most was chief's declaration during the feasting ceremony. The chief jumped on top of the table and challenged the entire tribe on a Tina Bökh Fight. "The one that could beat me will win the grand prize, the deer's antlers!" He yelled at the goblins. "And those who lose, forfeit their lives!" The declaration shook all the goblins. "In seven days, I will have the battle circle prepared in the middle of the square. There I will be waiting inside of the ring ready to accept any challengers brave enough to fight me! No weapons, only your nails, teeth, and muscles are allowed."

Cala's body was shaking from fear and excitement. He was an ambitious goblin, and this Tina Bökh Fight just lit that ambitious side of him. There is only one problem. The chief has never lost a fight in his entire life. Luckily, Cala had a brilliant idea.

A few months ago, one of the daughters of the chief stole an elixir from a rivaling tribe that cures most injuries in a matter of days. There was only one side effect, and that was paralysis. Cala's friend, Cloud, wanted to learn how to make them, but the chief's daughter kept it to herself. That daughter was none other than Flute.

Flute may not speak as intelligently as Cloud and her father, but she was curious and observant. She learned from observing Cloud experimenting with blue worms and other queer ingredients. She began to use Cloud's method and experimented with different combinations and recipes until she perfectly replicated the elixir. No one knew why she went through the trouble of recreating it. The tribe could have just easily raided the enemy and stole the potions.

Regardless, the elixirs proved to be a successful drug for the goblin's slaves. It healed them from their injuries and prevented them from fighting back. Cala needs to obtain a high concentration of that elixir from Flute.

As the chief's 'loyal' retainer, Cala had access to nearly every place in the tribe. This includes the red barn acting as the slave quarters. Flute can be found there, feeding the slaves mush mixed with the drug. Cala's plan was simple, woe Flue until he gained enough of her trust to give him the elixir.

Cala entered the barn. He looked around for Flute. Once he found her, he walked with a swagger in a shoulder. "Flute, what doing today?" He leaned against the wall with his arms across. He had a gentle but mischevious smile.

"What want?" Flute was annoyed by Cala's presence. She was busy folding freshly washed linens.

"Cala thought Flute need company." Cala opened his arms, revealing his chest and chiseled abs. Flute glanced for a bit before retreating to her work.

"Flute busy." She replied. Flute rarely talked to any of the men in the tribe. She avoids them like a sickness. The only time Cala has seen her speak to another man was her father.

"Cala, help Flute not be busy." Cala sat next to Flute and began to fold the linens alongside her. The two continued to folding. Occasionally, Cala would strike up a conversation with Flute, and she would respond half-heartedly.

As the two worked, the caretakers around began to gossip. Flute would sometimes overhear their comments. She would turn around and snarl at them to get back to work. Cala noticed Flute's flustered expression. By the end of the chore, he purposefully touched Flute's hand as they the same linen. She retracted her hand the moment they touched, and both of them looked at each other. Flute's cheek was blushing.

"Flute finish. Late now, go home." Before Cala could say anything, Flute stood up and took the pile of folded linens. Cala looked around and saw the goblins whispering about Cala and Flute. Cala smiled, for everything was going according to plan.

Cala left the barn and returned to the shed he shares with Sum, Tama, and Cloud. Outside the hut, Cala could see Tama impressing a bunch of young goblin girls. Tama may not be the brightest among them, but he knows that muscle is enough to get the women's attention. But not all of them. Flute is a much harder woman to impress.

Before walking inside the shed, a voice caught Cala's attention. He looked at the group of ladies watching Tama flex. There was one goblin that took his eyes and forced it to only look at her. She had short gold braided hair, a smile that could melt lake made of ice, and a voice more captivating than a bird's love song. Before Cala knew it, he fell in love.

Cala opened his eyes. That memory was nothing more than a distraction to his current predicament. He called for Cloud to brainstorm a way for Sum to disappear from his present.

Cloud finally arrived. His coat was so thick that he looked like a shorter version of Dolce. "What the hell are you wearing?"

"It's freezing outside, so I decided to wear a bigger coat." Cloud struggled to take off the first layer. When he took out his arm from one of the sleeves, he lost his center of balance and fell on the floor.

"I see," Cala could not help but frown at the pathetic scene in front of him. "While you're trying to get out of that coat, I have something we need to discuss. It's about Sum."

Cloud stopped and looked at Cala with an anxious expression, "What do you mean?"

"Do I have to tell you? I need him out of here! Tama is finally gone! Nothing could threaten my rule, that is until Sum returned. We need to find a way to get rid of him before the end of the month."

"B-b-but your greatness; Sum is your most loyal follower. I doubt he will ever rebel a..."

"Our chief thought the same thing, and did you remember what happened to him. I killed him: me, his most loyal servant. I will not make the same mistake as he did!" The building shook from the sound of Cala's voice.

Cold sweat covered Cloud's face, "But Sum will never betray. If any-anything it's those who-who wa-wa-want Sum to become the new chief that should we, we should get rid of." Cloud stuttered and stumbled on his words trying to think fast to save Sum's life.

"How dare you say that!" Cala's voice reached an unprecedented volume. "I am the chief. The tribe's chief. Even if they want a god to replace me, I will never allow!" He grabs Cloud by the neck.

"Then let's have Sum kill them to prove his loyalty." Cloud quickly choked out. Cala released him. He finds the idea to be brilliant. Sum can kill those that are not loyal to him, or even better, Cala can kill them all.

"Cloud! I want a new bomb — not a stinkbomb but those bombs that those little men use in the mountains. Those that can blow up a cave. Those strong enough to blow up a cottage!"