by Paul Bellow
You cast Charm of Thought.
You have [64/104] mana remaining
The spell went off without a hitch as I concentrated on the seductive hobgoblin. He turned to me, confusion smeared all over his face.
“Goblins rule,” I said in a commanding voice.
The hobgoblin blinked twice in quick succession then turned to the crowd. He paused as if fighting my spell with his own magic.
“Say it,” I hissed.
“Goblins rule,” he shouted.
Everyone in the crowd around us cheered. I pushed forward.
“And elves aren’t so bad either,” I yelled.
The entire plaza went quiet in an instant as all eyes turned to the hobgoblin.
“And elves aren’t so bad either,” the hobgoblin repeated. “I have one or two elven friends.”
Someone in the crowd threw a squishy tomato, hitting the hobgoblin.
“Get out of here, elf-loving traitor,” another yelled.
“Hey,” the hobgoblin shouted as it bounced off his armor.
As he turned his attention back to us, I wondered if I needed to cast the spell a second time.
Had I ruined his reputation enough?
“Everyone shut up,” another hobgoblin said as he walked up. He was dressed in black and wore a beret—then he stopped in front of us.
“Now you did it,” Eric mumbled.
“I didn’t start this,” I hissed. “You fell prey to a simple persuasion spell. Be ready to fight our way to the docks.”
“Are you a spellcaster?” the hobgoblin with a beret asked.
He tilted his head back, looking even more impressed.
“Yes,” I said. “And I’m on a special mission for Magi Inyontoo.”
I felt the eyes of everyone in the crowd on me.
“The plan progresses well?” the hobgoblin asked. “Why are you here in Taowutang? Is something wrong?”
“We’re on our way back to report to him,” I said.
“Yeah,” Eric added. “Are you trying to impede us?”
The hobgoblin chuckled.
“You seem to be doing a good enough job impeding yourselves.”
Isn’t that the truth?
“We should go,” I said. “Time is of the essence.”
“Indeed,” the hobgoblin with the beret said.
He stroked his chin as he continued staring.
I looked at Eric.
“Can we go now?” I asked. “Please?”
“Yeah, let’s get out of here,” he said.
We turned to walk away.
“Hold on,” the hobgoblin said.
Eric stopped.
“Yeah?” he asked over his shoulder.
“Aren’t you going the wrong way?” the hobgoblin asked. “The docks are in the other direction.”
“We’ve got other business to do,” Eric said. “Do we have a problem?”
“No, no,” the hobgoblin said. “Carry on.”
I walked away with the other two at my side.
“Are you crazy?” I whispered after we got to the next street.
“What do you mean?” Eric asked. “You’re the one who cast a spell and got us noticed.”
I stopped and crossed my arms over my chest.
Bernard sighed.
“Will you two please stop arguing?” he asked. “I told you, the game will work against us because we’re getting so close. This always happens. We’ve got to keep our wits about us.”
“He’s right,” I said, dropping my arms. “Let’s go.”
We put our differences aside and headed toward the docks.
“I don’t think we should stick around here,” I said. “Let’s take a boat across the channel to the real Forbidden Kingdom.”
“Agreed,” Eric said. “Sorry I fell for that guy’s charm.”
“It happens,” I said. “We’ve got this if we keep moving.”
“There’s a ferry,” Bernard said, pointing toward the choppy water.
I saw a double-decker barge tied up beside the dock. Goblins and hobgoblins climbed aboard, causing it to sway back and forth.
“We’ve got to hurry,” I said.
The others followed as I walked toward the ferry. Eric double-stepped and got ahead of me, taking the lead. He pulled out some coins as we got closer.
We boarded right before the vessel filled completely. Several goblins untied the ferry from the docks while others took to oars on the lower deck.
I stood at the rails around the top deck with Eric on my right and Bernard on my left. Even after so many hours, I felt weird looking like a goblin.
“You know anything about the Forbidden Kingdom, Charlotte?”
“No, Kali. I’m sorry.”
“That figures.”
“We could listen to the conversations of other passengers,” Charlotte suggested.
“Ooh. That’s not a bad idea.”
I turned around and scanned the deck. Eric and Bernard continued leaning on the rails and talking to each other as I walked away.
The way the hobgoblins treated the goblins stood out to me. As the ferry rocked and swayed in the water, I stayed on the lookout.
While Taowutang—the city we’d just left—had been acceptable, the comments I heard painted a dark picture of Changtao. It’s also known as the slums of the Forbidden Kingdom—the lower goblins called home. Hobgoblins lived it up while goblins suffered.
I found my way back to Bernard and Eric as we approached the island which was a lot larger than the two we’d just hopped across.
Could we find our way in the Forbidden Kingdom? Things already weren’t going so great. We were making stupid decisions.
I walked up to the others near the railing and stopped.
“We’re almost across the channel,” I said. “We need to be careful. There’s no telling what the Forbidden Kingdom will be like.”
“I’ve got an idea,” Bernard said. “And it’s not good.”
“Have you noticed that goblin watching us the entire trip?” Eric asked then quickly added. “Don’t turn around and look.”
“Then how will I know who you’re talking about?” I shook my head. “You need to calm down and relax.”
“Someone’s behind us,” he said. “I’m sure of it.”
I looked at Bernard. He shrugged, offering no help.
“We’ll lose him on the docks,” I said. “We need to huddle up and come up with a plan to stop making such stupid mistakes.”
“Good idea,” Bernard said.
I turned toward the front of the boat as goblins lined up near the stairs down to the main deck. The sun reflected off the water.
“Something’s not right,” Charlotte said. “Someone is following us.”
“We’ll lose them on the docks. Don’t worry about it.”
“I worry all the time, Kali.”
“Me too, kiddo. Me too.”
I had enough mana to do deal damage or bend minds to my will if necessary, but the goblins and hobgoblins outnumbered us.
The ferry bumped up against the long, wooden dock. I watched as several goblins jumped off then tied up the boat with ropes. Every dip and rise of the vessel brought my breakfast one step closer to coming back up.
I clutched the rail, not wanting to let go.
Had that waitress poisoned the food or messed with it?
“Come on,” Eric said. “We need to blend in with the crowd. That goblin’s still watching us. Let’s go.”
He stepped toward the stairs leading down. Bernard and I followed close behind.
Was he right about someone following us?
Maybe we’d blown our cover? Why hadn’t they captured us back in Taowutang? Questions piled up as I followed the crowd.
On the main deck, we waited in line as everyone departed down one of two wooden planks making a ramp to the docks.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw a goblin looking right at us.
Was it the same one?
He looked
away as I stared back at him.
The line is moving, Charlotte said.
I took a few steps forward.
“Uh oh,” Bernard muttered.
“What is it?” I asked.
“There’s two hobgoblins in black armor on the docks,” he said. “They’re looking for someone. I think it might be us.”
My heart pounded faster.
What should we do?
16
Goblin-Style Soup for the Soul
Eric
* * *
I gripped the hilt of my sword tightly as we stood on the deck of the ferry. Boldly strolling behind enemy lines might not have been the best of ideas.
“What are we doing?” Bernard asked. “Fight or flight?”
I took another deep breath as the crowd thinned.
“Hold on a second and let me think,” I said, running through various possibilities in my mind. “Can you charm them?”
“Yeah,” Sarah said. “Maybe.”
The line moved forward another few feet.
“Don’t freak out,” I said. “Let’s see how this goes.”
We walked forward in silence. On the docks, the two hobgoblins in black armor motioned us over to them. I took a deep breath.
“Problem?” I asked.
“Welcome to Changtao,” the one nearest me said. “We’re here to make sure you come to the celebration tonight. Garr the Great requests your attendance.”
“Of course,” I said—though not knowing anything about Garr the Great. “But we can’t stay long. We’re on official business. How did you know we were coming?”
“You only need to make a quick appearance,” the hobgoblin said. “The Black Guard sees and knows all.”
The hobgoblin soldier grinned, baring his carefully chiseled teeth that had been capped in silver.
“Fine,” I said. “Magictology rules.”
Both hobgoblin soldiers straightened up and saluted.
“Magictology rules,” they shouted in unison.
I glanced over at Bernard and Sarah, shaking my head.
“Come with us,” the first hobgoblin said.
They turned and walked down the dock.
A few frightened goblins yelped and fell over the edge and into the choppy water below.
I took off after them, not believing our luck. We’d meet Garr the Great, then be on our way—one step closer to destroying the pendant.
After that, we’d find Josh and get out of the game. Bernard was nuts.
How could a game work against you? Especially if it was a prison.
We reached the shore then followed a dirt path a half-mile or so to an intricate, two-story straw hut. It stood on the edge of a shanty town.
“He’s inside,” a warrior said.
I walked over to the rickety door and opened it. On the other side, a wrinkled goblin with a tuft of grey hair on his chin sat on the floor.
He looked up from the middle of the room and smiled as I entered.
“Come in, come in,” he said, struggling to his feet. “I’ve been expecting you for some time. Your information will help us in the war against the humans.”
Bernard and Sarah stopped next to me. I guessed Garr was a shaman by his get up. A bone necklace hung from his neck.
“When I heard you were coming, I prepared a feast,” he said.
“That’s great,” I said. “But we need to leave tonight. We’re on an important mission, and we can’t delay.”
“Nonsense,” Garr said. “A goblin-style celebration is just the thing for you right now. The Last War is about to start up. We’re guaranteed to win this time. Everything is going to be fine.”
“Do you want me to tell our leader you made me late?” I asked.
The shaman stopped smiling.
“I insist you at least try the man-flesh soup we’ve made just for you,” he said. “Our finest cooks have been working all day.”
“How did you know we were coming?” I asked.
Garr stopped a foot or two away and cocked his head to the left.
“Do you doubt my great powers?” he asked. “You’ve been in the lands of the humans too long, perhaps. The man-flesh soup will do you good. We’ve got bits of elven flesh in it too.”
I smiled weakly as my stomach grumbled.
“Fine,” I said, not wanting to cause a scene. “We’ll have a taste on our way out of town. The information we’re carrying is important, though, and we need to deliver it.”
“Outstanding,” Garr said, smiling again.
He walked toward the door leading outside. I followed him along with Bernard and Sarah, but we didn’t stop outside.
The shaman walked toward the shanty town with the two hobgoblin warriors at his side. I glanced around. Goblin families deformed by malnutrition stood outside the tents and wooden shacks, watching us walk by.
A foul smell filled the air, getting stronger the closer we got to the center of the shed-town. I breathed through my mouth.
Garr glanced back and grinned as if we were actual heroes.
Something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
We kept walking.
Strange, acrid smells wallowed through the air. My eyes watered as the aroma overwhelmed me. I wiped them with the back of my hand.
A mountain range rose in the distance, kissing the sky with snow-capped peaks. The game could be so damn impressive. The shaman kept walking, paying no attention to the puddles of water or all the mud.
I skirted the mess as much as possible.
When we reached the end of the road, I saw a mud-covered square. A few goblins stood near an enormous steel cooking pot. Others stood around in groups of three or four.
All of them watched as we followed the shaman up to the goblins near the pot.
The smells coming out of it got even stronger and stranger as we stopped. Garr lifted his staff in the air to get attention.
“In honor of our guests, we all feast on man-flesh tonight,” he yelled.
The gaggle of goblins went wild, hooting and hollering. When Garr raised his staff again, they settled down.
I took a deep breath.
Can I eat the soup?
While never a picky eater, I wasn’t about to eat human flesh. Even if it was a game, it didn’t sound right.
Garr turned to me as the goblins quieted down.
“Welcome to Changtao,” he said in a loud voice.
“Tell us about your people,” I said.
“Don’t you mean our people?” Garr asked.
Ugh. Another damn mistake. What am I doing?
The nearly naked goblins looked from their shaman to me.
“Yeah, our people,” I said. “My bad.”
“What do you mean your bad?” the shaman asked.
His eyes narrowed as he stared into mine.
I noticed the two hobgoblins in black armor standing nearby.
“The human-tongue lingers with me,” I said. “They’ve got me using their words and phrases. Some man-flesh soup will do me good.”
Garr threw his head back and cackled.
“Prepare a portion of the ritual soup,” he said. “We’ll all be eating soon. The time for the Last War is finally here, my kin.”
The goblins in the crowd mumbled to each other as even more arrived—crowding around the muddy city square.
“I’m going to be sick,” Sarah said. “I think I ate bad food this morning. Let’s get out of here. I’m going to throw up.”
Garr walked over and asked, “What’s the matter?”
“She’s not feeling well,” I said. “Bad food.”
“Man-flesh soup will fix her up,” Garr said.
Sarah doubled over and puked on the ground. I walked to her and put a hand on her back.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She shook her head and groaned.
“I need to get away from this smell,” she said.
“Hold on,” I said then turned around. “She needs a plac
e to rest.”
Garr looked over at her.
“She can rest in my hut,” he said. “We’ll go back to get her after you taste the soup. Can she make it back on her own?”
“I can find it,” she said, her face pale. “Come and get me when you’re done. I just need some fresh air. Sorry.”
As she staggered away, I thought about telling Bernard to go with her. Garr put his hand on my arm and pulled me toward the cauldron.
“Come, come,” he said. “Time to eat.”
Bernard—sweat pouring down his brow—followed me. The murmur of the hundreds of goblins surrounding us grew louder.
Garr stopped next to the cauldron and stepped onto a ladder. A goblin ran up to hand him a metal ladle, and the shaman dipped it into the pot.
I braced myself as he pulled it out. Steam came from the vile liquid.
Am I about to eat human flesh in the game?
The thought sickened me.
Can I talk our way out?
Garr handed me the ladle. I looked down at the brown-green liquid bubbling.
Did something just move?
I slowly brought it to my lips. An idea hit me before I swallowed any.
“Can I give a quick speech?” I asked.
“Have the soup first,” the shaman said. “We’re all hungry.”
“It’ll be short,” I said. “For Magictology.”
Garr nodded.
“For Magictology,” he said.
I glanced at Bernard. He offered no help.
“There’s a big world out there,” I said. “And someday soon, it’ll all be ours.”
Every goblin who heard me cheered, some shouting, “Magictology.”
Where am I going with this? I can’t stall forever. As I thought of my next words, I heard the loud bass of drums thumping nearby.
“The honor guard is here,” Garr said. “Is your speech finished yet?”
“Yeah,” I said, gulping as I looked at the ladle full of goblin soup.
The pounding drums increased in volume as they got closer. Bernard stared at me, looking for direction. Time to step-up and be a leader.
“I hope it tastes as good as it smells,” I said.
Garr broke into another round of laughter with his high-pitched voice.