and sporting a rather unfriendly expression. He looked annoyed at having his work interrupted.
‘What is it?’ he said with a thick accent from the far south.
‘I'm looking for Mr Debroth.’ James tried to peer inside the warehouse, but the porter was effectively blocking the entrance. ‘We had an appointment.’
The man first sized up the elf, then the soldiers and Draco. Whilst his expression didn’t change with the first, he hesitated with the others. He thought for a brief moment.
‘Wait here,’ he said to the blacksmith’s apprentice. ‘You honoured ones as well,’ he added, addressing the dragon in particular.
The warehouse door closed.
‘You command respect,’ Kei joked, pretending to look at the reptile with surprise.
‘Not me, just the crest,’ Draco corrected, glancing at his shoulder.
‘Whatever, he can believe what he likes.’ James looked resigned. ‘I thought it would be quick, but I’d probably have been arguing with that bloke for the next half hour. I’ve had enough for today,’ he added wearily.
‘Didn’t you get a letter from Master Vittoro?’ asked Forth, looking around, though nothing was happening in the immediate vicinity.
‘No, I don’t think he expected there to be such problems here.’ James spread his hands. ‘And not just at the entrance to the storerooms, but even here.’
The door opened again, but this time a short goblin stood in the doorway. Short, wiry, with dark green skin and large, protruding ears. On his head was a small tuft of pastel-brown hair. His face, furrowed with wrinkles, betrayed little emotion, though his rust-coloured eyes, darting quickly from person to person, seemed cold and calculating. He was dressed rather richly, in a robe trimmed with gold thread, and held a slender cane with a handle shaped like a clenched fist.
‘I was hoping to meet Master Vittorio,’ he stated bluntly. The goblin’s voice was harsh and unpleasant, and the added arrogance in his tone only made the first impression worse.
‘Good morning, Mr Debroth,’ James tried to be as polite as possible. ‘Unfortunately, my master is currently occupied with other matters of the
