Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! Chapter 123: 123-Dine With Spears And Cuddle With War Itself

Read chapter 123 of Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! by A_Random_Turtle on NovelPedia.

Baba ushered them into his hut. Having a discussion outside was distasteful, and even worse was that it was a discussion concerning war. Merlin understood the chief’s perspective. The old dragonman was well aware that the villagers of Blatt were not ignorant to what exactly was happening between their village and the village of Stein to the west, but it would still be foolish to not be tact about such topics, and expose decisions that should be made between leaders and tacticians to the ears of mere villagers. And that was why Merlin and the rest were seated on the ground, legs crossed, in a dragonman’s hut, and before them was Baba, who was flanked by Krieger and the dragonpriest who had erected the barrier over the village. [Is there anything you and your folks would have us offer you]? Baba asked as he waddled to a wooden seat across his hut where a shoddy imitation of a stone fireplace was erected and took his seat. Merlin chewed on the offer and decided to reject with a polite shake of his head. After all, he was uncertain if he and the rest had the same palate as the dragonmen. Water was probably the only universal thing they shared in common, and vegetable and meat, obviously. Besides that, he doubted if their food or drinks would suit his tastes, or even those of the rest of his mates. Sure, he might have no choice but to try them later on, but now was not the time to be doing that. He was thirsty, though, and he was sure the rest were after their run from the sandworms. On second thoughts… “Yes,” he said. “We would like water, please.” Baba bobbed his head slightly and motioned for Krieger to get them some. As the dragonman moved, Merlin continued taking in the scenery of the hut’s interiors, just like the others. It was unlike anything he had seen before. To put it in simpler terms, it was like it was an interior straight out of the caves of the stone age. Bones hung from the roof above, with a large one in particular just behind the chief where he sat. It was a skull with two long horns protruding from each side. Merlin wondered what sort of beast could have a structure, because he knew well enough that it wasn’t a sandworm. The rest of the room saw the presence of carpets of fur, sustained through drying, stones bundled together in the corners for whatever reasons, sticks sharpened at the edges all about, and beams made from trunks of trees where robes hanged. Finally, there was what could be called a bed at the far end of the hut designed by long sticks standing at its four corners, holding another dried fur over it. Merlin pursed his lips, curious at the sight. Then his attention was taken away from the design of the room when Krieger returned with bowls of water for each of them. Merlin nodded in thanks as he received his, and instantly regretted his decision of asking for water. It seemed his mates felt the same way too as they all shot a brief glare his way; he tried his best to ignore Senior Sun-Hee’s, but that was hard when she was seated the closest to him. They couldn’t blame him, though. He hadn’t realized that the bowls would have such putrid smells. What had he been thinking? [Well, drink up, then we can begin our discussion.] Baba motioned for all of them to quench their thirst, relaxing in his chair, oblivious to what he was subjecting them to. Merlin couldn’t come off as rude, since he had been the one to request for the drinks, so he held his nose, blocking off the smell that emerged from the bowl, and gulped the water down. It was not until it was past his throat did he let his nose be, and it was then that he almost fainted. His tongue lost all vigor, and almost slacked out of his mouth. Water was usually tasteless, but that which he had just drunk had the taste of cement and mud mixed together. He had tasted neither, but he couldn’t picture any other tastes befitting of his drink. He tried his best to hold back his thoughts, though, and in return his expression only tightened slightly. Thankfully