Vorwort
Diese Geschichte wurde im Rollenspiel in Herr der Ringe Online so gespielt.
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Zakariya sets down the pencil on the scripture he just finished. A description for a new process of refining the Shroud he creates for the Family. A satisfied smile slowly forms on his face, at least until he hears the houses’ door fall in its lock. Heavy bootsteps follow, familiar steps. He recognized Sutmena long before he could see her silhouette in the corner of his eyes.
“Anything new to report?” her grouchy voice asks. “Nothing,” replies Zakariya. He is not confident to share this new process before having it tested meticulously. Two long sighs follow. An audible one from Sutmena leaning on the doorway and one internalized one from Zakariya in response. Her steps can be heard moving past him towards the other side of the small lab, in which Zakariya lives. He catches a glimpse of Sutmena sitting down on his bed, spreading her thighs and resting her elbows on them before seemingly interrogating him: “You work this late for the fourth consecutive evening and have absolutely nothing to report? You are not writing poems, are you?” Zakariya avoids looking at her. Not necessarily out of fear, but because he avoids looking at any people. Facing his desk he replies: “No, I do not. But if I am not mistaken, I work for the Rah’kal family.. and therefore Maleek and not you.”
He swallows as he had calculated a certain risk of physical response from Sutmena, but sighs in relief when he hears her scoff and say: “Well then I hope Maleek does not find out about the rat infestation you brought in here. He might come to wonder why some of the indebted have bite marks on their feet.” Zakariya grins, recognizing Sutmena has no agency over him anymore. “I have them under control,” he promises, still grinning at his work. Sutmena snarls: “They run about everywhere in the house, how can you call that control? Is that how you work now? That is sloppy at best, sabotage at worst.” The man in the chair leans back. It does not surprise him that Sutmena doesn’t understand, so he explains: “You see.. rats are often viewed as chaotic by humans. That is because they do not adhere to our rules and move quickly, sometimes unseen and sometimes to the sheer horror of noble dames and lords. But.. you see.. If I were to place some delicious, smelly cheese right here in the middle of the room.. they would all come running. That is because rats are, quite the opposite of chaos, pragmatic animals. And thus orderly. Controllable.”
Despite the explanation, Sutmena still does not understand. Perhaps she does not want to: “Whatever you say, but if one of them disturbs my sleep when I am here with such a noble dame, I will gas all your little rodent friends and you with them out of this house, understood?” Zakariyas blood boils. Threatening these innocent creatures, his friends, was too much. He closes his eyes for a moment or two, trying to control his breath, before stating: “You would not dare to.” Sutmena takes up on the challenge and rises from the bed, slowly approaching while snarling: “What would you little worm do to stop me? You believe that you are untouchable, that the power of friendship protects you and those damned rats?” Zakariya finally turns around and stares at her eyes, now directly behind the chair he is sitting on. And although he shivers in a mixture of anger and fear, he rationalizes: “I work for Maleek, and your family brought me here because I am the best chemist in all of Harad. And my work speaks for itself. If you were to pinch only a hair of mine or distress me by hurting my rats.. Maleek would come up with a new way to gruesomely kill someone, just for you.”
Sutmena swallows. She raises her chin slightly to pretend superiority over the sitting man, but retreats to the doorway, growling a defeated: “Just keep them away from me.” before disappearing. The house’s door opens.. and closes behind her.