by Inlo, Jeff
It was a mix of scents, all bad. It was death and decay, but also goblin. It made very little sense, but the delver knew it could not be ignored.
If he were alone, he would have crouched low and picked a safe path to investigate further, but he would not risk putting Stomps in jeopardy. Not wanting to be caught in the open with his dog vulnerable, Ryson made a quick decision.
"Good boy! You did good, but we have to go. Come on."
Ryson started to move toward the northern gate but made sure Stomps would follow.
The dog seemed reluctant, as they had to head west and closer to the source of the smell, but he would trust his master. He trotted along behind Ryson, and they passed through the gate together. Stomps seemed relieved to be back within the walls of the town.
Moving quickly to a guard shack by the gate, Ryson called out a warning.
"Something's out in the trees... due west of our northwest corner. I think it's goblins, but something's not right."
A soldier moved without hesitation to address the issue. Every guard recognized the delver and knew of his keen senses. His warnings were never to be ignored.
Ryson recognized the guard as well, a woman named Abby, and he quickly explained his findings.
"My dog and I both smelled it, so there's definitely something out there."
To her credit, the guard at the post did not hesitate in taking command of the situation. She did not doubt the delver's ability to smell perils in the distance, but she needed details to assess the degree of danger.
"Any humans near the point in question?"
"Not as far as I can tell. It's clear all the way into the trees."
"You're certain about the goblin scent?"
"It's definitely goblin."
"Were you able to see anything?"
"No."
"Then they're still in the trees."
"Probably, but as to how far in, I can't say," the delver admitted.
"Any idea of how many?"
"That's the problem. It smells like a lot, but it doesn't smell right."
"Explain."
"I know there's more than one, a lot more, but there's also a lot of decomposing flesh out there. It's all melding together."
"Do you think an attack is imminent?"
"I really can't say."
Realizing there was an unknown threat large enough to raise the level of alert, the guard made a series of decisions. She called out orders to the surrounding soldiers.
"Archers ready on the wall and close the gate," Abby shouted. She then called up to the tower watch guard. "Do you see anything at the edge of the forest... to the northwest of town?"
The soldier on the elevated platform brought a hand to his brow to shield away the glare from the sun.
"Nothing," was the simple response.
Abby didn't like the uncertainty, but she continued to act with conviction. She issued another order to the guard in the tower above her.
"Signal the other towers. Suspected goblin activity—edge of the forest to the northwest. Numbers unknown. Get everyone inside. Close all gates."
While the soldiers around her focused on their duties, she called over a messenger and continued with her instructions.
"Inform command that Delver Acumen has discovered a strange scent of goblins and we request further instructions. Go."
She watched him leave, estimated his speed, and calculated in her mind the time it would take to receive a reply from the command post at the center of town. It would have been faster to send the delver, but she had other plans for Ryson.
"We won't have to wait long to establish direct communications with the captain. He's going to want more information."
"You have all I know at the moment."
"I realize that, but I want you to go back out and scout the area. We need to know what's out there."
"I was planning to, but I have to get my dog home first. I don't want to leave him out in the open."
Abby felt the delay would be unacceptable and offered another option.
"I know how fast you are, but I don't want to wait for you to go home and come back. Leave your dog with me. I'll see to him."
Ryson hesitated. He wanted no harm to come to Stomps and leaving him felt like too much of a risk.
"It's not a good idea," he admitted. "I'll worry about him more than about what I have to do. You won't get a good report, give me just..."
"I appreciate your concern," the guard replied without animosity but rather with a clear understanding toward the delver's concerns. "I'd feel the same if it was my dog. What's his name?"
"Stomps," Ryson noted somewhat impatiently, as he wanted to move as quickly as possible.
"I'll take care of Stomps. He'll be better protected with me than he would be somewhere else. Trust me."
Ryson could see that Abby meant exactly what she said, and he realized she was right. His wife, Linda, was already at work, and he would have to leave Stomps alone at home.
"Alright. You take care of him. I'll return here when I finish my scout."
"I'll signal a request for Captain Fenden to come here directly to hear your report first hand. Do you need us to reopen the gate?"
"No, I can go over the top."
"That's what I figured."
Before leaving, Ryson patted Stomps on the head.
"You stay here with Abby. I'll be right back."
Abby gently took hold of the dog so Stomps wouldn't bolt after his master.
Watching how the guard acted, Ryson knew Abby would be true to her word. He could focus totally on his scout and not worry about Stomps in the least.
With his concerns alleviated, he bolted toward the wall and scaled a support column in the blink of an eye. Without slowing, he leapt over the top ledge and dropped to his feet in the clearing outside. He shook off the great fall as if he had only descended a single step of a low rising staircase.
Rather than move directly to the source of the foul stench drifting across the clearing, Ryson dashed due north, parallel to the tree line. There was very little cover between him and Dark Spruce until he reached the edge of a farm field. A crop of corn had grown high, as the harvest season was fast approaching. The tall stalks would allow him to approach closer to the forest without being seen. Of course, the long green stems and thick corn husks would also block his own vision, but he was a delver and could rely on his other senses.
The wind was blowing from the west and the breeze would bring every scent from the area in question right to his delver nose. He kept the bizarre, overpowering odor centered in his mind as he navigated a path through the cornfield. The smell grew stronger as he moved, but it did not change in composition. He detected no other dark creatures, but he could not separate the scent of goblin from the smell of decay. The odor also became more pervasive, an indication that the source had become stationary.
While the breeze would ruffle the stalks all about him, he could tune out the distraction and hone in on any sounds coming from the trees. He heard nothing that would indicate the presence of goblins. There were no guttural whispers and no clang of metal chest plates.
The cornfield did not reach to the very edge of the forest, as the farmer who tended the land did not wish to plant too near the trees. There was a sizable gap that Ryson would have to cross, but the grass between the corn and the forest was tall enough to offer cover of its own.
While Ryson could use it to his advantage, it might have also offered cover to a small raiding party. The delver, however, dismissed such a peril. The scent from the forest revealed far more goblins than could possibly hide in the swath of grass, and the penetrating odor was much too concentrated for him to suspect the diminutive monsters had spread out.
Just before reaching the final edge of the cornfield, Ryson stopped to gaze into the forest. He saw nothing but trees and brush, but in examining the branches with greater attention, he realized the forest lacked the normal movement of birds and squirrels. Only the breeze moved the
leaves of the trees, for the small animals had sought refuge elsewhere. Something had raised their alarm.
He was very near a narrow footpath that led deeper into the forest. It was Staffer's Trail, a pathway that allowed local farmers to collect firewood for the dormant season. It didn't receive a great deal of traffic, but it was used often enough to allow for clear passage. The opening enabled Ryson a clear view somewhat deeper into the forest, and yet he still found nothing to explain the strange conditions within the trees.
With the mystery deepening, Ryson could no longer contain himself. He needed to find the answer, discover the source of the heavy odor. Even if it meant heightening the risk to himself, he had to enter Dark Spruce.
He did so with the speed of a purebred delver. He understood it was the safest approach. Slow caution would never serve him as well as rapid motion, and he leapt from the edge of the cornfield like a deer jumping a farmer's fence. In two quick bounds, he crossed the tall grass and reached the trees. He never stopped moving, never allowed himself to become a target for a goblin crossbow. In a relentless blur, he bounded up a wide maple tree and raced across the branches to jump to the center of a tall elm.
It was the high vantage point that allowed the delver to immediately understand the source of the strange odor. The discovery whisked a cold shadow across his soul as he viewed it from up high. He scanned the grounds below in all directions, but he knew there was no imminent danger, just a message... a ghastly communication of a task completed, and perhaps more treachery to come.
Dropping to the ground, he surveyed the path. An understanding of the situation seemed to bring a greater darkness to the forest, as if someone had pulled a heavy shade down across a large window. He cursed under his breath, but there was little he could do. He gave one last listen to the forest, one last sniff to the wind, but he knew the perpetrator had left. There would be nothing gained in trying to pick up the trail of the goblin responsible, and so he took the only option left to him. He returned immediately to Burbon's north gate.
After bounding back over the wall, Ryson found Sy Fenden waiting beside Abby and Stomps. Seeing his dog almost erased the gloom that dampened his spirits... almost. He placed a hand on the dog's head and nodded to Sy.
The captain noticed the dark expression of his friend and needed to understand the full scope of the threat.
"What did you find?"
"A message... for you... maybe for all of us," Ryson responded almost grudgingly.
"What kind of message?"
Ryson looked to the guards who waited nearby. He wasn't sure if it was a good idea to share the information in front of others before Sy had a chance to review it. It would lead to rumors, bleak and dangerous rumors, and he didn't want to be the one who started brewing that pot of potential controversy. He thought it was best if Sy decided exactly how much to share with the town guard.
"It's better if you see it for yourself," Ryson explained. "I don't want to try and describe it on my own."
Sy sensed Ryson's meaning and he almost thanked him. He knew the delver was allowing him to make the final judgment, deferring to the captain's authority. Still, Sy was operating on limited information. He knew a threat existed outside of Burbon's wall but remained uncertain as to its full extent.
"Any immediate danger I need to be aware of?"
"No."
"Do we need additional support? Or can we go alone... just the two of us?"
"We're good on our own."
"Very well." Sy then turned his attention to the guards. "Keep the alert status where it is. No one is to exit the town until I return."
Ryson made a request of his own to Abby.
"Please keep watching Stomps, okay?"
"Not a problem. Should we leave the gate open after you leave?"
Ryson looked to Sy. He didn't believe he should make the decision, but he was ready to offer his opinion.
"Well?" Sy asked, as he returned the delver's questioning glance with one of his own. "Is there something out there that's going to try and enter the town?"
"I don't think so," the delver replied.
"I need more than that."
"It's a message, not a raiding party or anything else that wants to get inside. That's the best I can say. You'll understand when you see it."
"I'm guessing I won't see it until I get to the trees, correct?"
"That's right."
Sy considered the facts before him. He trusted the delver's instincts, but caution was usually the wiser path when information remained limited. He issued his orders directly to his soldiers.
"Things could change fast," the captain explained. "Until I know exactly what's out there, we play it safe. Close the gate after we leave. Keep the archers posted on the wall. Also, send a signal to the western gate, relay it through the tower signals. Have them ready to open the gate for us if we need to alter our return."
"Yes, sir," Abby replied.
Sy stepped toward the wall as the soldiers opened the gate. He moved out into the clearing first, but paused to allow Ryson to step up to his side. Before proceeding any further, he called out to the tower watch.
"Anything in sight?"
"All clear to the trees," the soldier announced.
Sy looked toward the forest and then requested direction from the delver.
"Where exactly are we heading?"
"Staffer's Trail," Ryson responded. "It's on the path."
Sy looked to the cornfield. He considered taking the same path as Ryson had utilized, but then changed his mind. He believed there was nothing to be gained in stealth. The delver had stated there was no immediate danger, so he headed toward the entrance of Staffer's Trail by crossing the barren clearing that surrounded Burbon.
As they drew near the trees, the captain noted the pungent odor that had led to the alert. He didn't have Ryson's tremendous senses, but he couldn't ignore the overpowering smell that lingered heavily in the air like some trapped cloud that hung over the scene of a very grisly battle. The stench was so disturbing that he began to breathe through his mouth to limit the effect on his senses.
At the start of Staffer's Trail, Sy stopped again and peered down the path. He could only see a few paces forward. The passage banked downward slightly but also curved to the north. The trees and brush blocked his sight further down the trail. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, but the stench drifted out from the trees stronger than ever.
"How far in?" Sy requested of Ryson.
"About thirty paces. It's not hidden."
"Now that we're alone, can you tell me what to expect?"
Ryson hesitated, but then revealed what he had seen.
"Goblin fingers, separated from the hand apparently by a sharp knife. They've been set across the trail in a deliberate fashion. That's the message. When you see it, you'll know what I mean."
Understanding more of what he faced, Sy marched down the path. When he turned north, he could finally see dozens upon dozens of small, gray fingers scattered along the trail, only they weren't thrown haphazardly upon the ground. The oozing and decaying digits were arranged to spell out a series of words. They formed a message that Ryson was able to read easily when he was high in the trees, but the words were still discernable for those who stood on the ground.
Sy walked along the trail reviewing the gruesome message. His disgust was matched by his growing unease. He read it over several times, always silently in his mind, never speaking the words out loud.
I told you I kill them all.
Burbon's captain didn't need to guess at the author of the ghoulish message. Sy immediately recalled the large goblin that had successfully breached Burbon's wall during a heavy rainstorm not too long ago. His name was Okyiq, and the brazen monster led roughly two hundred goblins in a deadly raid.
Okyiq actually made it past the wall, even began looting, but he was stopped before he could escape. The other goblins abandoned him once he was captured. Sy released Okyiq after obtaining valuable informat
ion, but also after the immense goblin vowed to kill each and every goblin that had fled the town.
Sy grimaced at the chilling message before him and then turned to Ryson.
"Has to be Okyiq," the captain revealed.
"That would be my guess," Ryson agreed.
Sy didn't waste time counting each individual finger, but he made a rough estimate in his mind.
"There's certainly enough here to account for most, if not all of the goblins that followed him. He said he'd kill them all. I'd say there's close to two hundred here. Godson, I can't believe he caught them so fast. I would have guessed once the goblins knew he was hunting them, they would have scattered. I thought he'd be deep in the forest for almost forever trying to catch them all."
"Maybe he did catch two hundred goblins," Ryson allowed, "but maybe they're just the first goblins he came across, not necessarily the ones that followed him."
"I don't believe that," Sy declared. "No, he caught the ones that were with him on the raid. He wanted to punish them and prove to me he could do it. It's the message he wanted to send. It doesn't work if he just killed any goblins in the forest. He's letting the goblins know never to turn on him again, and he's letting me know he succeeded... leaving me the proof."
Sy paused to look further down the path.
"Do you think he's nearby?"
"He's probably in the area, but not that close... I'd know," the delver answered. "These fingers were put down very recently, so he couldn't have gone far. I don't think he's hanging around, but if I start searching, I can find his scent trail. I just have to go deeper into the forest, away from this stench. I could follow him if you want... see where he went. What do you think?"
"Maybe," Sy replied.
The captain wasn't ready to release the delver until he developed a better plan for what to do next. He had a few ideas, but he knew Ryson would probably resist what the captain ultimately believed needed to be done.
"I don't want to just send you off until we get a better grip on this," Sy continued. "Okyiq knew I would find this. Actually, probably figured you'd smell it. Godson, I was able to smell it before we even got near the trees. He took a risk with that. If you were on a scout earlier, you would have found him before he finished."