As she broke cover the Gremlin in charge nodded to two of his companions who scarpered back and shut the door behind her. As soon as the door closed it was like the leaders mask dropped, behind it was a keen intelligence. They fumbled in a pouch at their side pulling out an old clay pipe and as if it was the most natural thing in the world sparked a match, pausing nonchalantly long enough to ensure it was lit before pocketing the spent match.

“now that we’ve ensured we don’t have an audience, how about we drop this farce and talk things through?”

“long as ye divvent expect ous ta talk like that fine by me” Rowe chuckled. “I have some information ye missed when ye took ower this place like, and it will na end well.”

“oh and what pray tell would that be? Because so far our occupation has gone fairly well.”

“for now aye, but 3 details ye missed, first Henry may be aud by now, but he worked the docks and he and his marras have grandbairns with a temper.” The gremlin raised what Rowe could only assume was a brow at this, hard to tell on a creature with a distinct lack of eyes. “Second, he’s worked the mines, and his skill is with poodah*.” At that the gremlin seemed a little more anxious. “Lastly this shed isna his, it’s an aud engine shed, and the company that set it up is gone, meaning neabody tea complain if he blaws it ta hell but his missus, and she’s in nea state tea haud him back at the minute.”

“Now those are compelling reasons, but I still need to look after my clan, and that means they need shelter, so what do you propose Miss? Because we will need an alternative if we are to vacate this place.”

“I may have a place, yan where humans will na bother ye, it has pumping gear, and has been empty for Donkeys years. I’ll even hoy in a pouch of baccy” she could practically feel her pursestrings wincing at the thought of that, but better that than the commotion that would break out if Henry’s shed were held much longer.

“That is far more tempting, so tell me what’s the catch? I know full well if a deal seems too good to be true it probably is.”

“there is nea catch if ye steer clear of the mine there, it’s depleted of anything but Wyrmbone anyway, and if what mi da telt ous was reet Gremlins prefer metal anyway. That and it’s already got a tenant.”

“What manner of tenant are we talking about here? Your hedging on the details is making me nervous, and I dislike being made to feel nervous.”

“The mine has been taken ower by a Bogle, but divvent worry, he’s bound tea the mine, can na leave.

At that the gremlins ears pricked he pondered for a moment and then in quite probably the most unnerving sight Rowe had seen since Cutty he bared his needlesharp teeth and smiled.