Chapter 62: Korgin’s troubles
"However, what if I had evidence?"
"Huh? What are you..." The Half-Orc panicked again, taking a defensive stance. All the other Dwarves and Half-Orcs around the fire got up as well, and the tension was palpable.
However, Riku’s eyes went towards Korgin again. The Dwarf was wearing a slightly oversized, floppy leather hat, pulled down low.
"Korgin, wasn’t it?" Riku said, his voice still calm, but with an edge of certainty. "You’ve been by the fire for an hour, you say? That’s a long time to wear a hat indoors, especially next to a warm fire. Are we hiding something important under there? Perhaps something that doesn’t belong to you?"
Korgin flinched, his hand instinctively going to his hat. "Noo... it is not bad to wear it inside." However, the nervousness laced in his voice made it evident to the Half-Orcs and Dwarves who were trying to defend him as well.
"Just an observation," Riku said mildly. "Sometimes, things have a way of... revealing themselves." He made a small, almost imperceptible gesture with his fingers. "Wind Gust."
A tiny, localized puff of air, no stronger than a sudden draft, swirled around Korgin’s head. It was just enough to catch the brim of his floppy hat and send it tumbling to the ground.
And there, nestled in Korgin’s matted hair, for all to see, was Riku’s leather coin pouch.
A stunned silence fell over the group. Korgin froze, his face a mask of guilt and terror. The other Dwarves and Half-Orcs looked from the pouch to Korgin, then to Riku.