“You two be safe and look out for him,” Dick said.
“I’m going to talk to Kattie today,” Marie sighed. “Maybe she’ll listen to me.”
“Well, we always do, so there’s hope,” Harry chuckled.
Dick slung the wineskin strap over his shoulder, and the three said one more round of goodbyes before they headed out. Gustav was waiting for them just outside, and as soon as they exited, he took off walking.
“Oh, this is going to be a fun walk,” Harry muttered.
~*~*~
The walk was boring as shit, and the friends got a new appreciation for how hard it was to stay on high alert when you were bored out of your skull for hours on end. They had to ask Gustav to slow down a couple of times, because Tom and Harry could not keep the pace Gustav set. Gustav was silent outside the occasional mumble about the short ones slowing them down. Dick grumbled to himself about the complaints, but didn’t say anything to his friends.
The sun was setting when they approached the large compound that Gustav said was Charlie’s place. The whole complex was surrounded by a five-foot wooden palisade, with the gate directly in front of them. Gustav opened the gate, walking ahead of them and calling loudly for Charlie. Tom shut the gate behind them, tying the leather straps in place to secure it, as everyone walked up the path leading to the house.
Just when they reached the yard, the front door burst open and a tall man came out, crossbow in hand. “Stop right there— Gustav?”
“Elder Orbin sent us to speak with you,” Gustav replied.
The three friends got a good look at Charlie; he was tall and a little scrawny, with a small beer belly and a long ZZ Top beard. Charlie eyed them right back, his lips curled back in a sneer.
“Orbin sent these three? Why would he do that?”
“We’ve been the only ones to kill any goblins,” Dick answered before Gustav could.
“Goblins? Bloody annoying fuckers. Fine, come on in,” Charlie said, turning back toward his house. “Woman, we have guests. Get more food cooking.”
“Woman?” Harry asked Gustav.
“That’s just what he calls his wife,” Gustav shrugged. “He’s an odd one, but he makes all the beer for our village and the next village to the west, too.”
The group followed Charlie, looking around curiously. The interior of the house was clean and orderly. A pile of boots sat by the door.
“Take your boots off before you come in,” Charlie said, pointing to the pile. “Don’t want any shit tracked into my home.”
The house was basically a large room with a couple of doors on each side wall. The back half of the main room was the kitchen, where a short and thin woman stood next to the stove, cooking. Charlie motioned to the large table and his visitors seated themselves. He left, going through one of the doors near the kitchen, and was back a few minutes later with a small keg and extra mugs.
Pouring everyone a round, Charlie took his seat and eyed Dick. “So, what about these goblins?”
“The Rand farm was attacked. William died defending his wife. The goblins had set the cabin on fire trying to get Laurel and Darren out of it. We got there in time to kill the goblins and save them, but Harry’s brother died in the action. We have this for you, as well; a letter from the elder.”
Charlie read the letter then looked at the trow appraisingly, raising his mug slightly, “Always hard losing family. My condolences.”
“We’ll bring him back,” Harry said firmly.
Charlie’s eyebrows raised, “That’s a mighty big boast for a runt.”
“We’ll be bringing him back once we raise either the money or power to do so,” Tom growled out.
“It’s always good to have goals, even if they are a bit far fetched,” Charlie said.
Dick coughed to stop Harry from snapping at their host. “The Wilmirth farm was attacked, too, but we didn’t get there in time.”
“Damn it, David,” Charlie sighed. “I told him living by himself was going to be the death of him one day.”
“Orbin sent us out here to warn you about the goblins so you could be prepared in case they came for you,” Dick finished.
“I’ll have to set the traps again and make sure to keep my weapons on me,” Charlie muttered. “Woman, is the food ready yet?”
“In a minute,” she replied, her voice light and full of humor. “Have another drink. It’ll be ready soon.”
“Glad we made it before the goblins did,” Harry said stiffly. “I hate feeling like we’re playing catch up.”
“They wouldn’t be stupid enough to attack my place, anyway,” Charlie smirked. “They hate having to deal with defensible areas.”
“You’ve dealt with them before?” Dick asked.
“When I was like you,” Charlie nodded. “This is my retirement. Adventuring is a dangerous business, and I decided I wanted a family.”
“Take an arrow to the knee?” Tom asked straight-faced. Harry and Dick just barely managed to hold back their laughter.
“Lost three of my party,” Charlie said, his gaze going distant. “Ten years ago now. Damned trolls.” Downing his mostly full mug, Charlie shook his head. “Never underestimate how strong one of those lanky bastards is.”
“Need fire or acid to keep them down, I’ve heard,” Dick said, fishing for information.
“Yeah, otherwise they’ll just get back up again. Hack them to pieces, gather them up, and toss them onto the fire.”
“We’ll keep it in mind,” Harry said. “Losing friends and family is tough.”
Charlie nodded as he refilled his mug. “It is. Best of luck killing the goblins.”
“We haven’t been hired yet,” Dick said. “We were just hired to warn you of the threat, is all.”
Charlie slammed his mug down, a bit of beer splashing over the sides. “Gustav, what the fuck? Orbin hasn’t hired the adventurers yet?”
“I think he wanted to test them first,” Gustav said, shrinking back from the irate drunk.
“We just rolled into town and aren’t the most outfitted group,” Dick said. “Can’t blame him for being cautious.”
Charlie eyed them again and sighed, “Fucking greenhorns. You’ll get killed with no gear. Are you even on the right paths to be adventurers?”
“Brawler,” Tom said.
“Scout,” Harry added.
“Magi,” Dick finished.
“Hmm, you would make a good group with that,” Charlie said, rubbing his chin. “Maybe we should step outside and you can show me a little of what you can do.”
“Food first,” his wife said, bringing platters to the table. “Don’t feel like you have to, either. He’s just angry and wanting to beat on someone.”
“We make a good team. It might not be as bad as you think it would be,” Dick said.
Charlie’s smile widened and became a touch wild, “Oh, talking big for an elf-breed.”
“Stop. Eat,” the wife sighed. “I’m Sara Dean. If Charlie gives you any problems, just let me know.”
“Stop undercutting me, woman,” Charlie grumbled as he speared a thick piece of meat. “Dig in, fellas. If you’ve still got any fight left after dinner, we’ll see what you think you can do.”
~*~*~
Stretching out, Tom kept his eyes on Charlie, who was grinning like a madman. Dick stood off to the side talking with Sara, who turned out to also be a magi. Glancing over at Harry, Tom motioned with his head, getting a slight nod back in return.
Charlie’s grin grew wider when he caught the friends’ silent communication. Picking up the wooden training sword, Charlie spun it around his hand. “You ready?”
Tom tossed the wooden blade he’d been given to the side. “I’m ready,” he replied, bringing his fists up in a classic boxer pose.
“Brawlers, heh... been a long time since I’ve seen one,” Charlie replied as he advanced toward Tom. “Just remember to pull the punches so you don’t hurt me too badly.”
Tom kept silent, watching Charlie g
lide toward him effortlessly. How is he that smooth after so much beer? Tom wondered.
Separated by almost twenty yards, Tom was not prepared for Charlie’s sudden rush. Caught off guard by the burst of speed, he missed deflecting the first swing. The slap of the wooden blade against his arm made him hiss, blinking his eyes against the pain. Charlie brought the blade around his moving arm, catching the underside of it.
Growling, Tom lunged at Charlie, his fist just missing the wiry man. Charlie laughed as he turned and slapped the sword across Tom’s ass. “Come on, you can do better than this, surely.”
“He can, and don’t call him Shirley,” Harry said, appearing behind Charlie as he drove the wooden blade at his back.
Charlie chuckled, weaving away from Harry’s blade before slapping his own training blade against him twice in rapid succession. “Good, teamwork is important. No goblin would have seen you coming, but I’m no weak sniveling goblin.”
Dick watched his two friends chase Charlie, “I take it he was quite the adventurer back in his day.”
“Yes, he was,” Sara smiled. “It’s good to see him having to work a little. Your friends work well together.”
“We’ve had a lot of time to learn what each other would do in most situations.”
“I would teach you a spell to help, but I don’t think there will be time,” Sara sighed. “Before you leave Greenways, please try to make time to visit. I’ll teach you one of my favorite spells.”
“I’ll let them know,” Dick nodded. “The more options I have, the better off we’ll be.”
“Having options does help,” Sara agreed. “Keep that thought in mind when it comes time to choose your path.”
Dick was about to ask what she meant, but something warned him against it. “I will. Thanks.”
Five minutes later, Charlie called the fight off. Tom and Harry were winded, but Charlie looked fresh and able to keep going. “If you can keep that level of teamwork and expand on it, you’ll be a fine team. More even, once your other friend is with you. Never underestimate what a magi can do if given time to work.”
“We know what a caster can do if they have time and protection,” Tom said, catching his breath faster than Harry.
“Especially once he gets the big spells,” Harry added.
“Just as he knows that without you two helping him, he would be so much chopped meat,” Charlie nodded. “You have a long walk back tomorrow. We should turn…” Charlie trailed off, his eyes going to the fence. “Oh, you stupid little shits.”
Chapter Seven
A barrage of stones came flying at the group. Barriers sprang up in front of Dick and Sara, and the stones that would have hit them fell harmlessly to the ground instead. Tom, Harry, and Charlie weren’t as lucky: a number of stones hit the three of them as they retreated into the house. Tom and Charlie used clotting blood to heal some of the damage they had taken.
“This won’t stand,” Charlie snarled, the laughing demeanor gone. “I’m getting the pig.”
Sara nodded, “I’ll make sure there’s illumination for you.”
“Pig?” Harry asked, wincing because the stones had bruised him deeply.
“Pig-splitter, his old weapon,” Sara clarified, going to the door and casting a spell. Glowing lights drifted up into the sky, illuminating most of the compound. Another barrage of stones was launched at her, only to once again impact a barrier. “There. Illumination should give him enough light to work with.”
The sound of wood breaking made everyone pause, and Charlie ran back into the room, “Did they just break into my brewery?”
“Probably,” Sara replied. “Do try to keep the damage you inflict to a minimum. You know how you can get when you get worked up.”
Charlie had a hide tunic pulled on over his clothes, with a shield strapped to one arm and an axe in his other hand. “If they break anything…” Running for the door, Charlie rushed into the yard. The sound of clattering stones warned them of the barrage the goblins had released just beyond the fence.
“We should go help him,” Dick said.
“I’m not going out the front,” Harry said.
“There’s a back way through that door,” Sara pointed before she went to the front door. “Feel free to go assist him. I’ll try to stop the slingers.”
Tom, Dick, and Harry left her to it, heading for the door she had indicated. Behind them, they could hear Sara chanting a spell and a moment later, a loud boom echoed throughout the house and yard. “It’s been so long since I’ve used these spells,” Sara murmured as they left the main room.
Crossing the store room, they found the back door. Tom took the lead and rushed through the door, waiting for stones to come flying, but nothing happened. The sound of combat and cursing in at least two languages could be heard from inside the building in front of them.
Tom headed around to the back, followed by Harry and Dick. “Why are we going around the back?” Dick asked.
“Because there’s likely another way in, and I’d rather come up behind them,” Tom replied.
Tom turned out to be right. They reached a set of double doors that had been forced open, a makeshift battering ram laying beside it. Harry slipped past Tom, moving slowly as he went from shadow to shadow inside the brewery. Tom gave him a moment before he pushed the broken doors further open and followed, Dick trailing him.
The sound of combat was almost deafening inside the building. Charlie’s cursing was much louder now, along with the voices of goblins. Tom moved carefully forward and rounded a large copper tank. He saw Charlie surrounded by twenty goblins, with many more sprawled on the floor around them. Rushing forward, Tom was able to close on the goblins before the ones who could see him gave warning.
Tom’s hard overhand right caused a goblin’s skull to crack, the body dropping instantly as it died. Three orbs of magic went flying past him and struck three more goblins, killing two and wounding the third. Harry appeared on Tom’s flank, his newly acquired sword piercing a goblin in the back, severing its spine.
“Glad you showed up,” Charlie roared, flecks of foam bubbling at the corners of his mouth. “I would have been in a tight spot without help.” Another loud boom from outside let them know that Sara was still working her magic to assist. “That’s right, woman! Kill them varmints.”
Half the goblins turned on the newcomers while the others kept after Charlie. Charlie was able to avoid and block most of the attacks, but a handful managed to get through. Half of those didn’t hurt him, the hide he was wearing stopping them from reaching his skin. Charlie’s axe wasn’t idle, either. He slit one goblin’s throat open, then stabbed into the chest of another.
Tom did his best to help Harry, who was wheezing slightly, the damage from the stones earlier hindering him still. Slapping two spears away from his friend, Tom used body like iron to ignore the attacks on him. One of the goblins hit him just as the ability wore off, cutting a deep line across his ribs.
“Charlie, watch your feet,” Dick called out, uttering a string of magical words. When he had finished his chant, nothing happened. “What the— fuck, no focus or components. I can’t use slip right now.”
“Damn,” Tom said, feeling the ribs of another goblin crack when he hit it. “Would have been nice for them all to fall down.”
“Yes,” Harry wheezed as he stepped back. “Repositioning,” he added just before he vanished.
Tom faced the seven goblins that were trying to kill him and felt a moment of fear shoot through him. Doing his best to stay alive, his hands slapped at the crude spears that were thrust at him, deflecting as many as he could. Some still managed to reach him, with one or two doing more than lightly scratching his skin. Feeling the blood drip from the wounds he had taken, Tom used clotting blood again.
“Who wants to live forever?” Tom roared and triggered fury. With a wild laugh, he hit the next goblin, its sternum caving in as it was thrown back several feet.
The six remaining goblins all paused, wide
eyed at what Tom had just done to their ally. A beam of energy flashed by him, hitting another goblin in the eye and killing it instantly. Harry reappeared on the other side of Tom, his sword slicing across another goblin’s neck. Not wanting to get hit again, Harry used vanish for the last time.
The four goblins that were left surged toward Tom. Two tried to get past him to Dick, while the remaining two tried to pressure him. Having to step away or be stabbed, Tom growled when the two goblins darted past him.
Harry reappeared, his blade punching through a goblin’s chest. Dick brought his axe down on the second one, grinning when his barrier turned away the attack that would have injured him otherwise.
Greenways Goblins (Resurrection Quest Book 1) Page 7