Sparks in the Powder Keg

Stonegate Keep fell into an uncomfortable routine after a few days. It was a strained equilibrium, not tranquility. Kaelan made an effort to oversee the keep's operations and have essential, if brief, discussions with Grakka regarding patrol modifications or supply distributions—small issues resulting from the treaty's actual application. Grakka stayed mostly away, either disappearing for hours or brutally efficiently drilling her men in their area of the courtyard, probably studying the keep's architecture for any other flaws Kaelan would rather not be aware of. Despite the uneasy silences in the living room and the nightly thud of Grakka's door bar, their cohabitation remained a question of separate orbits within the same gravitational field.

On the third night following the catastrophic inspection, the tenuous impasse broke. Thick, acrid smoke started to rise from the lower bailey, close to the stables where goblin mounts and human horses were kept, as well as supplies of equipment and fodder. Shouts broke out, initially in alarm and then progressively in rage.

In a moment, Kaelan grabbed his sword belt and sprinted out of his rooms. When he got there, the situation was in disarray. Soldiers and stablehands fought fires by jumping from a sizable shed next to the main stables. This shed held dry hay, extra tack, and—most importantly—sacks of the particular coarse grain that the goblin horses like, which was provided as part of the terms of the treaty. Although the fire was not yet too large, it was in a perilous location and could spread to the surrounding barracks and the big stables. Men shouted commands, water buckets flew, horses cried in terror in their stalls, and the shaggy goblins' horses kicked and bucked against their tethers.

Accusations flashed like sparks among the chaos. A human sergeant, swiping at embers on his tunic, screamed, "Goblin carelessness!" "Always messing with fire!" Grakka's second, Borg, was battling a group of human troops near the goblin mounts, his hand clutching the axe at his belt. He roared out, "Human treachery!" in a hoarse growl. "Set fire to drive us out!" The air crackled with impending violence as well as heat.

His authoritative presence helped to break through some of the panic as Kaelan jumped into the fray and gave clear, concise directions to coordinate the firefighting operation. Moments after his arrival, he witnessed Grakka move swiftly toward her warriors rather than the flames. Her eyes narrowed as she assessed the tactical situation, taking in the fire, her people's proximity, and the human soldiers' furious glares.

The immediate risk of flames had given way to the equally deadly potential of open warfare by the time the fire was extinguished, leaving behind a smoking ruin of the shed, charred supplies, and the pungent stink of burnt fodder. With a soot-stained visage, the guard's captain quickly reported to Kaelan. "Sir Kaelan, deliberate arson appears likely. discovered oil traces close to the source. The men are positive that the goblins were responsible. retaliation for a perceived offense or outright animosity. The captain glanced across the bailey at Grakka, who was encircled by her grizzled troops. It was obvious that Kaelan had to exert authority over his wife's people.

At the same time, Borg came up to Grakka, talking quickly in their savage language. Although Kaelan was unable to comprehend the words, Borg pointed to the human barracks before making a motion akin to sprinkling fluids close to the spot where the fire began. Human sabotage was the clear message. With her palm on her cleaver hilt and her eyes focused on the human soldiers now reassembling under Kaelan's leadership, Grakka listened apathetically.

Both leaders were aware that things couldn't get worse. It would be catastrophic if there were a fight inside Stonegate Keep, as this tenuous calm may rekindle the same conflict it was intended to stop. Kaelan suppressed his anger and mistrust and dispatched a reliable sergeant with a formal request, rather than a summons, for Grakka to meet with him in their quarters. A tense time later, Grakka nodded curtly.

The night air outdoors was colder than the atmosphere in their sitting room. There was a lot of mistrust between them. Borg stood guard just outside, Kaelan stood close to the hearth, and Grakka stayed close to the entrance that she still obviously didn't trust.

Kaelan said, "My captain reports evidence of arson," without raising his voice. Rags drenched in oil close to the igniting point. There is a lot of tension. "My men suspect."

"Your men suspect goblins because they are goblins," Grakka said, her tone piercing. It is less complicated than suspecting their own. According to Borg, two of your soldiers were spotted carrying suspicious sacks and lurking close to that shed just before the smoke emerged.

Kaelan retorted, "Sacks that could have contained anything," Maybe feed for the horses. In contrast, goblins..." He changed direction and halted himself. "Grakka, nobody inside these walls gains from this. Goblin mounts are just as at risk from a fire here as are human horses. It ruins supplies that are essential to both.

Grakka's head cocked slightly as she studied him. "True," she said, her practicality triumphing over her initial animosity. "Negligible damage. Unless destruction wasn't the goal.

Kaelan scowled. "Meaning?"

Grakka explained, pacing uneasily, "Meaning," "the fire was small." easily contained with prompt combat. caused fear, rage, and distrust. She paused and looked him in the eye. "Intended to cause goblins to blame humans and humans to blame goblins." intended to incite conflict amongst us."

Kaelan thought about what she had said. It matched a persistent contradiction he had experienced himself. The armory, the well, or a simultaneous attack would have been the targets of a more destructive goblin sabotage operation. A human provocation motivated just by malice might have been more devious and less inclined to jeopardize their own assets. However, an assault intended only to cause strife That seems eerily realistic.

"Who would benefit from reigniting conflict between us?" The question hung in the strained air as Kaelan pondered out loud. Of course, there were adversaries of the peace pact on both sides. Goblin chieftains who viewed Grok'nar's peace as weakness, nobles who benefited from war...

Flatly, "Someone outside these walls," said Grakka. "There is someone who wants to end this partnership before it becomes established. An someone who want us to be at each other's necks."

For a minute, they stood silent as the reality dawned on them both. They were pawns in a game played by someone else. The initial hostility between them changed, gradually being replaced by the specter of an invisible manipulator. Even if they still didn't trust one another—Kaelan thought Grakka's warriors may take advantage of any reason to use violence, and Grakka probably thought Kaelan's soldiers were easily agitated fools—the present issue appeared to have an external cause.

Kaelan insisted, "We need to find who set that fire," in a forceful voice. "Before our people provide the bloodshed the arsonist intended."

Slowly, Grakka nodded. "My soldiers will observe. Pay attention. We are able to locate traces that people overlook.

"And my guard will conduct their own investigation," Kaelan answered. "Questioning witnesses, examining the scene more closely." He paused. "If your people find anything concrete… anything pointing outside the keep…"

"We share," Grakka concluded in a reluctant tone. "Just proof. Not a single theory. No charges. In order to avoid premature internal conflagration, she was obviously not prepared for teamwork, only a restricted exchange of verifiable intelligence for mutual benefit.

"Agreed," said Kaelan. "Proof only."

With a terse nod, Grakka turned and walked away, with Borg trailing behind. Kaelan watched them leave, a new sort of uneasiness battling with the old frustration. The initial direct threat had been a spark tossed into Stonegate Keep's powder keg rather than an assassin's blade pointed at him or Grakka. Their first unwelcome collaborative attempt had been to find the hand that hurled it. It appeared that the game was becoming much more difficult.