Chapter 167: Testing the Smith

The tall, grouchy man hunched forward. His gradual steps never wavered or altered. A long finger itched a fairless burn just below his furry nipple. 

"You know our kind… And you want to work with us?" 

Rizz boldly curled his fist toward his chest. "If a slowpoke tribe managed to become the best smiths around, then you're skills have gotta be the best."

The old man rubbed the extended patch of fur on his chin, straightening out the brown-grey hairs with his fingers. "You… best not be lying… goblin." 

"You know my race?" 

That was Rizz's cue to dart into the barn, meeting the slow slothkin more than half through the barn-turned-smithy. "Am I the only green goblin you've met?"

"Sorry, boy… but you're the first I've met," the old slothkin answered. 

"Then, how could you tell?" 

"I'm Jiudee. Master smith extraordinaire… and you are Rizzio. The goblin with green skin… I heard all about you. Thanks to a regular this morning."