by Marcus Sloss
That was dumb of me to forget, I knew I was going into a dark cave. I also realized then that I probably needed to find a third healer, one who signed on and was willing to travel across the boundary. Jak was a bit of a coward, and he was not hired to go into combat so I had little room to demand he fight. Or bribe him into being a combat healer.
I thought over our options with this cave. I did not see many, at most we could lure a few of the brave ones out but then the element of surprise would be gone. I was tired of getting scolded for my impulsive charge in with no strategy behavior but that is probably what worked best here.
“Okay here is the plan, we sneak in. Once combat starts, we need to be loud and violent. Spark fear into these goblins until they piss themselves. Then we butcher them all. Try to save the heads and hearts from damage. If not oh well. Living comes before profits. Follow me.” I said.
Deb hopped off my shoulder and got on a branch as if she knew what was about to happen. I adjusted the strap of the shield and tightened it. The torch had a wrist strap that I fixed to my left wrist. My right hand was free to swing while my left deflected and provided light. I jumped a few times and psyched myself up to get my blood flowing. I did a quick stretch then burst from the bushes toward the cave. The scuff of my feet was the only audible noise as I darted across the clearing. The dirt path gave way to the cavern mouth. Off to the sides, you could see where freshly dug dirt had been tossed.
It was eerily quiet as I entered the dark tunnel. My torch flickered light as I sped down the narrow path. I was too tall for this goblin tunnel and I was forced to hunch over while I ran. I turned a bend and knocked a female goblin under my feet and kept going. I didn't slow, letting someone from behind me dispatch her. I ran down the largest tunnel past a few smaller offshoots.
I entered a spacious cavern where it looked to be the main home of the goblin settlement. It was tall enough for me to fully stand. There was a small fire in the middle. Some goblins slept on the ground, others fucked on a log. Some were doing chores, but they all turned when I gave out the loudest war cry I could. The female goblins went full panic. One even ran into the fire. The children goblins made for the exit and the male goblins pushed both the women and children down in an effort to escape.
I went to the fire first and killed those that were waking. The initial goblin was confused at the commotion when my sword removed his head. I went to the next goblin and sliced open his belly. The third I cut down the shoulder into the chest. So it went until they rallied a defense. I had killed at least ten, and the others with me had cleared half the room. A dozen male goblins had grabbed weapons. With backs to the wall, they faced us.
I turned from my slaughter and moved to the right side of the enemy line. I needed to close the gap before the few archers could stick me with arrows. The goblins charged at me from the left flank as I rushed the right. My shield deflected a pike, my armor saved me from a nasty slash. I reached the first goblin and used my momentum to shoulder check him.
The goblin flew into the wall, his head snapping back with a sickening thunk as brains spilled from the savage impact. I turned on those encircling me. I was on the defensive, it was hard to counter-attack when I was being stabbed, poked, and kicked by ten goblins. My armor repeatedly saved me from injury as the weak goblins got past my poorly skilled guard. I was saved from the increasing pressure as half a dozen men crashed into the backs of the goblins. I lunged forward and gutted one that had become distracted. I hacked with a final swing dismembering a leg and finished the nasty creature with a sharp thrust to the neck.
Five men held the tunnel entrance while the goblins were slaughtered. Some tried to run but there was nowhere to go. The remaining goblins cowered in a corner, pleading in a gutterish speech. There would be no quarter though.
I rejected my human empathy for the weak and defenseless. I buried it deep in my soul. I hacked the rest of the ugly little green creatures until the cave ran red with blood. I was not alone in the slaughter. As we killed those who tried to plead with us some broke off and charged the five guarding the exit. In the end, nothing worked for the goblins. At least I could say they died quickly.
I sat on one of the logs and caught my breath. Some men joined me while others piled the bodies.
“My lord, we have a few sacks between us but they are mostly full of gear for just in case scenarios. The loot here is great, but we have no bridge and no way to get a cart across the river. Did you have a plan?” Joe said. At least I thought it was Joe.
“Joe or Joey?”
It was Joey. So many people, so many names.
“Good point, no I did not. We will build small platforms to get the bodies and loot to the river, then build a raft to cross it. I will send someone to get carts ready for our side of the river. So let us get to it. Pile the bodies here, anything of value that is not a body part pile there. We will sell it all then split the cut once it is sold and funds in hand. Nate take three men with you and head up top.
“Get two or three long branches that can support some weight and then use some rope to fasten them together. Then we will stick some bodies and loot on them and two man haul it to the river. The rest of you with me. We will start with bodies then go and hunt for stuff worth anything.”
I was on my seventh body thrown on the pile when Deb arrived at my feet. She shrieked at me and ran over to one of the logs. I figured something must be important so I went to her. A few more jumps over the same spot got me looking closer. I kneeled and found the dirt had been disturbed here by someone digging. I removed the dirt gently until I found a goblin skin bag. Even goblins used goblin skin for bags, gross. I opened the bag and wanted to kiss the little monox. There inside the bag was a pile of red and blue gems. I had no idea their value was but when the men saw the small stack they gasped. Bonus for the bonus, rubies, and sapphires.
I told Walt and Markus to see if their monox could find any more caches of gems. Deb began to hiss at me and held out a paw. I patted my body then froze. What was I looking for? Only one thing these creatures wanted. Food. I went over to the body pile and cut off a baby goblin arm and threw it at Deb's feet. She did a sort of happy dance then took the arm and ran off. I did not complain, I was happy not to have her eating it on my shoulder. I tucked the goblin sack of gems into my belt and kept stacking bodies. In the end, no more gems were found, some raw freshly dug ore was, and the crude weapons were piled high. There were a few nice swords in the mix, from when or where was anybody's guess. When everything was searched, sorted, and ready to go we vacated the cave.
We hauled the bodies from the cave to the river in fifteen minute trips. It thoroughly sucked, and I was exhausted before we even crossed the river. It took hours. The sun was at its peak when the raft was built. A lineup of carts and a few unarmed villagers were ready to help haul back bodies. That gave our hard working group a sense of relief. We used the rope to guide the raft back and forth. The trips were slow, and due to the size of the raft, we were limited on how many were hauled per journey.
I had emptied the goblin fish lines of four fish and baited the hooks with goblin chunks. No point in leaving them unused, they were ours now. I still had to find the supplies I bought from the fishing vendor and prepare a day out here. Would make for a less stressful job than dragging bodies back home.
It seemed like we took a hundred trips and it was near nightfall when the last landing was made. I stank, I was tired, and I was hungry. The final leg before Fernlan went smoothly and I felt the tingle of the barrier once again. I was happy to be home. I made my way to the fire hauling a cart full of dead goblins. It was past evening meal time and I decided to forgo a bath and found a nice spot to sit. I stripped down to my thin layer of my armor, the chain mail and thick leather tossed to the ground. The armor had done well today, protected me from stabs and a slashes. It was nice to have the fancy set, and I was curious how it would stand up to the stronger orcs.
Elan came and stood by me as I relaxed. “My lord,
more people arrived today and progress was made in the village. Plans for a bathhouse and your manor await your approval at the Inn. Phen the man who maintains the animals mentioned that the monox were released today. I assume that is what you wanted. He wanted to know if we should release the wolves too. There are more issues but I handled most of it for you. I see we have another large haul to sell at the market, I will get a team on sorting the parts.” Elan said while handing me routine paperwork that needed signing.
“Thank you Elan, I appreciate that. Send a runner to Phen, tell him to set the wolves free, and have a team pile some goblin for them to eat. I see most of the monox have returned.” The little creatures had formed a group by the fire pit where food was being handed out. They darted between people asking for scraps. “Get all these meat eating animals well fed, we got more than enough goblin and ogre to go around. Plus we have stored food I bought for us humans that will only last so long. So feed the animals until they want no more. I need to find a new runner, with Donnie going into combat training and Lily gone I got no one to fetch things or run messages. Seen my wife Bella?” I said as I did a quick scan to try and find her. I knew sometimes I could not find things right in front of me but I could pick Bella out easily from her lavish outfits, and lovely curves.
“Bella is sorting things in your temporary residence. She enlisted some help from the cooks you hired. I was able to get some new adventurers to help prepare the evening meal. Tomorrow is the collection day. I got that sorted. It is ready and waiting at the northern road right inside the barrier. Even if they do not come we will be ready. I will see to fattening the animals if you will excuse me.” Elan said and took his leave.
He didn't help me find someone to be a runner. Looks like I needed to hire outside the village or find someone who had most days free of work to do things for me. Nate came over with a stick of meat and a smelon. I gladly took them and he returned with his own.
“A couple of lessons today, for both of us. Little more preparation would go a long way. It is one thing to kill the enemy, it is another to move them. That was some grueling hard work. Still was good to get another win. If we keep this up we will be able to retire from only a year of killing Horde. My wives are going to be thrilled when I go home now that we have more money. Thanks, Gryff, not every day you get a shitty offer that turns into a gem... did you like that pun?” Nate said with a laugh and an elbow jab at this play on words.
I rolled my eyes and munched on my food. The howl of the wolves being released caught my attention. I stood and walked to the pile of meat set aside for them. It was stacked goblin bodies that had no heads, no hearts, no hands, and no feet. The wolf pack darted to me in a blur. I growled at them when they got close, and the alpha stepped forward. He accepted my challenge. Instead of pinning him and making him submit, I appealed to his other basic nature. His hunger.
“Sit,” I bellowed with authority.
The entire pack sat. It took a moment but even the pups joined by placing their butts in the dirt. I reached down and tossed body parts. I threw the entire pile until there was only a nasty bloodstain left. There was lots of growling at first, but because there was an excess of meat the noises sifted to rapid eating. The snapping of bones made me pause to think of how weak the goblin structure actually was. I shrugged the thought off and choose to return to eating my own food. I smashed my hands against my leggings to clear them of blood and grabbed another stick of meat.
“I hope they work out, I felt bad leaving them there to turn into stew meat. If we keep killing Horde like we are I may have the rest of them flown up. Maybe the Duke was right, get them a chance to live out here. If we stop feeding them they won't roll over and die, they will leave to find food. I will pen a letter tonight, maybe work a deal with Count Conway.” I said to Nate.
“Conway is a good man, my wife's brother works for him. Never had a bad thing to say about him, you know that is a good employer. Damn look at them eat, those wolves were hungry. There is Phen, the thin short man, baldie. That one,” he said pointing. “He is feeding them more. Good animal handler, you probably are paying him more than me.”
“I am sure one day when I get time I can learn everyone's name and go over how much this is all costing me. In the end, it doesn't matter. I would pay more... wait until the next contract to ask for it. I got no desire to hide away and retire, I am right where I want to be. On the frontier making a difference. I happen to need more help doing it. The size of this village and the limit on warriors exiting the barrier ties my ambitions down though.” I said in thought.
“Well, we did exceptional today my lord. We reduced the world of some goblins, fed some starving animals, and made some money doing it. The work was hard but rewarding, I see why you like this little village. I am off to bathe in a cold dirty creek. I heard something about a bathhouse needing your approval. Wink, wink.” He patted me on the back before he left.
I got up and leisurely paced my way to the Inn. It was nearly dark when I entered the building. Jak sat at the bar talking with Zack and some people I didn't know. That is when it dawned on me. Una should have been here by now if she left yesterday morning and rode all night. I stepped back out of the building and asked for a report on their progress. Lydia had an answer ready for me. They were a few hours south and safe. The horses had been eating a lot, slowing them down. They tried to go through the night but the animals forced them to let them eat. It made sense and I thanked her for the report.
I went back into the Inn and high stepped my way to the bar in an effort to avoid people and gear sprawled everywhere. Zack and Jak greeted me as I approached.
“This is your new employer, Earl Gryff. Boss this is fire mage Lamont, air mage Eona, and water mage Tarkon.” Zack said introducing us.
“A pleasure to have you all here, nice to see we are well represented on the mage front. Which of you has the most war experience?” I asked. While I talked I vaulted the counter to get behind the bar.
“That would be me, anything I can help with?” Lamont asked.
“If I were to tell you the griffins were breeding specifically with the idea the peace accords will break. Or that there will not be a renewal in fifteen years. What would you say?” I asked the group with a quiet tone. I knew in the future a private meeting room would be required, but my quarters were busy and it was loud enough to currently mask most conversation in the bar room.
Lamont had curly red hair and lots of dark freckles. He was an older man but still in his prime, forty if I had to guess. He had broad shoulders that spoke of keeping fit. A mean scar went from his cheek to his ear on the right side of his face.
“That the empire is not on the same page. Our mages receive less and less tutelage. The mage academy is more selective, and prestigious than ever. If the accords break or expire, and the griffins disappear, we humans most certainly would lose. I did hear the Emperor is building a fleet to expand onto the freezing southern ice shelves. I wrote it off as a silly notion then.” Lamont said.
“It is my understanding that we need to be prepared. I tell you what Lamont, do you trust Zack?” I asked.
“Known him for a decade, not much of a fighter, more of a scholar. Well read though, we go to each for favors and conversation over the years. I was surprised to see him here on the frontier, but I suppose the barrier keeps him safe while surrounded by Horde. No offense Zack, you being around fighting has never been your thing.” Lamont said.
“None taken, I find fighting causes me to freeze up. I do not wish to die, so I flee to safe zones. As for trust, Lamont is a trusted mage of Duke Riza and has worked for King Horus. Would be hard-pressed to find a better man to trust.” Zack said. They gave each other cheers of a mug and took a long pull. I went to the cups, grabbed one and poured myself a glass full of ale.
“Yum, this keg was on Melina's list. We need to find another barkeep now that we have people visiting again. Off topic, so give me a moment.” I reached into my belt and pulled out my marker bag
. It was soaked in a mix of river water and goblin blood. I plopped it onto the bar and opened it. I pulled out five hundred in markers. Then thought on it and pulled another five hundred out. “Gross. I need to find a rag to clean the bar after. So much on my to do list.”
“I Earl Gryff of Fernlan, hereby name Lamont Master Mage of the Fernlan mage academy. You may choose your council as to how you see fit.” I formed two fingers into a pretend sword and did the knighting routine.
“I do not understand,” Lamont said with a confused face.
“You are going to create a mage academy here. These thousand gold coins should help with supplies, personnel, and teaching staff. We will use this village as a minor academy to the capitals major academy. Those rejected can come here and train. It has a win win effect. I get mages hungry to test battle magic, they get schooling denied to them.” I pulled in close to the group. So only they could hear me. “And while you are bringing in students and supplies you will get your hands on all the catalysts you can for the griffins.”
This had their attention.
Eona the air mage with curly black hair and soft features spoke up. “I like the idea, I know many students denied from the academy in the capital. This would give them a place to learn and prosper.”
The others nodded in agreement and mentioned it would fill a need in the mage community.
“I think I get it. You want to make a small war front academy. This will not anger many because it is fighting goblins and orcs, where the real academy is the study of magic. Not adventuring. While doing so you want to teach the griffins as well. It is an audacious plan. I would need more than a thousand. If I tell the Duke and King your plan and fears of peace falling they may chip in too.” Lamont said quietly.