Sophie took a long moment to regain her senses. After a deep breath, she regarded both of them. “I went to tend to the livestock early this morning and found them carrying a bloody bundle from my farm.” She bit her thumbnail. “There were four, two with crossbows slung on their back and two with swords on their waists.” Her breath grew labored, and she squeezed her knees. “They killed my last female,” she said with teary eyes.

  “Where did you see them headed?”

  “The caves.”

  “Just as you suspected,” Reina said, with a stretch. She picked up her travel pack and hitched it onto her shoulder. “I’m ready when you are.” Reina looked at him.

  “Okay, give me a bit.” Rook packed his sleeping area. “Listen, Sophie. We will get justice for your cattle. For now, go rest.”

  She stood in the door frame, giving them a cursory glance, then closed the door behind her. Damn, this is tense for a goblin fight. Rook sighed, and with a small burst of energy, he bent down and looted all of his belongings from his inventory. Sending them back to the astral spaces. With enough supplies, he confidently strode to the door.

  He bristled. “Better now than never.”

  Reina swung her legs off the bed and stretched. The ruby from Joan Cunning’s necklace caught the moonlight.

  She buttoned up her shirt and chuckled. “Shows over,” Reina said, donning her bracers.

  Rook threw his hands up defensively. “I was looking at the necklace.”

  “Sure, sure,” Reina said.

  “Let’s go.” Rook walked towards the door, while Reina followed close behind. Hiking the pack up higher, Reina leveled Rook with a heavy glance. Serious. I like it.

  The tavern was filled with people, nearly as many as last night. Tenya was speaking softly to Sophie, rubbing the poor girl’s back.

  Jody waved at them, smiling like a fool. “How was your good night’s sleep?” Jody asked, taking a drag from his mushroom pipe.

  I really could use a cigarette, not these dried mushrooms either. Rook rolled his neck to the left and right.

  “Yeah, not every night is going to be pleasant,” Rook said back. “I’m used to it.”

  “Must be nice,” Reina said, with a yawn.

  The tavern smelled of a savory soup. I’ll have to get some of that when I come back. The room fell to hushed tones as they exited, and several of the men and women stood up.

  “What are you going to do about it?” An older man asked.

  “I’ve only got one cattle left,” another said.

  “Please calm down, everyone. We are off now, I will convince the city council to offer reparations for the lost livestock,” Rook said, hoping his Silver Tongued Bastard would kick in.

  They walked over towards Sophie.

  “Can you mark the cave on my map?” Reina asked, pulling her folded Centrulia map and pencil free of the pack.

  Patiently waiting for the girl, Rook stared around the room, meeting the gaze of several of the distressed farmers. They look ready to riot. Those with nothing to lose can be the most dangerous. Sophie handed the map to Reina, and after a quick glance, marked it on his internal map as well. Time to go. They walked through the crowd to the doorway with Reina close behind.

  “Do you only have one map?” Jody asked, squinting at Rook.

  “We do, but I prefer sharing.” Rook shrugged.

  “We’ll see,” Jody responded, with a huff. “Not a good idea.”

  “Let’s hope so. They weren’t convinced,” Rook said, painfully aware that his silver-tongued bastard perk didn’t activate.

  “At least you tried,” Reina responded.

  They stepped into the first beginnings of the day’s life. The air was rich with the smell of moist dew, lavender, and manure. Birdsong chimed from small trees and overhead in the cool morning. With a cautionary glance backward, Rook noticed a bird perched outside the window, tweeting this way and that, giving the place a sense of peace.

  Jody walked behind them at a speed much slower than they were used to. They continued for several minutes through the damp grass in silence. Mentally preparing themselves for the worst. He had a good idea of how they operated after retrieving the Uldannish child.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  The looming beast’s feeling placed seeds of doubt and fear into Rook’s guts. Making him falter in his step. I beat the fish people, I can handle myself, so why the hell am I so scared?

  An involuntary shiver ran up his spine as they reached the end of the farmland. Just below them on the beaten path to the forest was an organ and other bloody viscera from where a goblin most likely lost its grip in their haste.

  “Got to be through here,” Rook said, pointing at the opening to the small wooden area.

  He nodded, as much for himself as her.

  Rook stood in the opening for a cautionary second. I really could’ve gone for breakfast. The Dewey cool breeze from the night’s rain washed over him, just behind the warmth in the relative peace of the tavern was hearth, safety, and the promise of a good riot. Reina stood next to him, solemn and waiting for command, just as his Soldiers would, hunching her shoulders in the breeze. Rubbing the back of his head, he walked through the precipice and into the fuckery ahead.

  The forest in the early morning was eerily quiet. A sure sign that predators lurked, which made no effort to calm the mounting feeling of doom in his stomach. Fuck me dead. I’m about to walk into a trap, I know it.

  “Eyes peeled,” Jody said, from somewhere behind them.

  Really, hiding now? Rook glanced behind and saw a smoke ring blow out from behind a tree.

  Command presence activated.

  Speak of the devil.

  “We have company.” On instinct, Rook pulled the mace free and up in a blocking stance. Something sailed through the air, impacting with his mace, and sending him back a few steps.

  “Crossbows!” Reina ducked behind a tree, pulling her blade out.

  From the trees jumped four bloody goblins. The rhythmic metallic jingle of Reina's sword sounded off beside him as she gripped it with a trembling hand.

  “We’ve got this. Don’t let the nerves get you,” Rook said.

  She nodded with a smile. “Not nerves, excitement.” She took a breath, and the jingle ceased.

  Good. Rook peeking over the log, hoping to catch a glimpse. Hoping to God he wouldn’t get struck in the head by one of the goblin bolts. Breath hissing, he pushed on his Attramancy, feeling the world around him. The space shifted into a series of pulses; four of the faint pulses moved, bouncing about like running rabbits. One rabbit moved to the rear of the others, no doubt to reload the crossbow. While the others cautiously approached.

  “Get anything?”

  “They’re coming,” he said, letting his mana cool.

  Bursting forth from the trees in a gravely battle cry, one crossbow and one swordsman charged towards them. Rook reached into the quiver, pulling a bearing free, then thought better. The crossbow aimed, and Rook pulled on the line, reaching towards it. A goblin cried out as the Rook forced the trigger. The bolt flew forward into the tree several feet away. He hopped the log.

  “Take the bowman.”

  He squared off, while Reina’s form quickly rushed past. Shifting its weight, the goblin struck first with a slash across with the intent to hit him in the stomach. Rook dodged and kicked at the planted knee, breaking the joint with a meaty pop. In pain and off balance, the goblin fell to the soft ground. Rook silenced him with a double strike, bludgeoning his face and cracking him against the shoulder.

  “Right behind you,” Rook said, breath heaving.

  The goblin had a small stiletto dagger and a crossbow. Reina shifted her stance, letting the weight balance on her back leg, intending to end it quickly. This is what you were training for, huh? She batted aside the goblin’s clumsy dagger strike and lunged, hitting the goblin in the neck. It dropped its weapons and clutched at its throat, attempting to stop the flow; it fell with a squawk.

  The shuffling in the forest told Rook that the others were almost on them. His eyes could make out the faint shape of the figures in the early morning. The sun was at his back, blinding the goblins. Luck was on their side. Rook fired a projectile at the crossbow, striking him in the head with a wet crack.

  The other looked at his companion with surprise. No plan ever survives first contact, and whatever plan these two mouth breathers hashed out was no different. That plan sailed, long gone when the bearing took a tumble through its ugly goblin head. The moment of hesitation was all Rook needed. Rook swiped the mace in a distracting arc, the goblin brought its sword up and fell back as Rook’s bearing struck it in the neck.

  He brought the mace up, intending to strike the last goblin, when it threw a pile of sand in his face, temporarily blinding him.

  “Really, pocket sand!?” He stumbled back and tripped on a root. Fuck. Fuck. Spitting out gritty sand, Rook rolled backward, in time to see the goblin standing over him in his blurry vision. The goblin’s sword raised, and an amused look appeared on its drooling face. Its yellow eyes went wide as Reina’s sword pierced into its heart, quick as lightning.

  She freed the blade, and the little green corpse fell to the mud in a heap.

  “Couldn’t let you beat me three to one.” She smiled, holding her hand out.

  “Yeah? That’s what we’re playing now?” Rook asked with a breathy chuckle. He took her hand and stood up.

  Woodland goblin killed x3

  +90 experience obtained

  392 experience of 750 until level 13

  Would you like to loot corpse

  Y/N

  Yes.

  Potion of health x3

  Goblin torch

  4 gold

  2 silver

  800 copper

  This fucking money is crazy. Speaking of crazy. Rook glanced around to see Jody sitting on a stump. The dwarf waved a hand at them.

  “That was quick, impressive really,” Jody said, digging in one ear with a pinky. “Well, maybe not for you, lad. Sand in the face, simple, but an effective way to die.”

  “Noted,” Rook said, before smiling at Reina. “Really saved my ass back there.”

  “This Necklace of Joan Cunning really made a hell of a difference,” Reina said.

  In his inventory, he had a small fortune, seemingly enough to pay for anything they’d need in Ollar. His grandfather was adamant about never questioning a gift horse, and this loot was a gift horse. The goblin torch, on the other hand, was not what he wanted to see; it was an unfortunate foreshadowing, in his opinion.

  Goblin Torch (copper)

  Goblin made, from tied branches and a sticky sap. Complete with attached flint rock.

  Placing a hand on his shoulder, Rook relished the warm sensation of stamina replenishing. Reina repeated the motion on herself and looked more tired than before.

  “Thanks, need a mana potion?” Rook asked.

  “No, I’ll let it naturally replenish while we walk,” Reina responded.

  “Good idea, never know when you need a potion handy,” Jody said.

  Walking in silence, Rook carefully listened to the birdsong and insect chattering.

  Ahead of them on the beaten path was the dark mouth of a cave. She shot him a look; they’ve been in enough fights to speak without words now, as only good friends can. He pulled a mana potion out, drank half, bringing his bar back to 100%. Wiping his mouth, he handed the bottle to Reina.

  “That was much easier than before. Let’s just hope there’s nothing in here.”

  She looked at him. “Rook, I’ve only ever heard stories about ghouls. Trust your instincts; it will use dark Infernal magic to fool you.” She looked at Jody. “Right?”

  “Exactly,” Jody chimed.

  Rook smiled. “Let’s be careful then.”

  “This is as far as I go,” Jody said, crossing his arms. “I’ll be there if I think your life is truly in danger.” He pulled the pipe out of his sleeve.

  The serious look on Jody’s face didn’t help the pit Rook felt in his stomach. Nonetheless, they entered the mouth of the cave and walked until the sunlight no longer illuminated the cavern space. Still have this. He pulled the torch out of his inventory and handed it to Reina while he worked the flint rock. Grabbing the small stone in his hand, he struck the rock, creating sparks that caught the sap and ignited the torch with a roar. Blood and bones littered the ground, scattered every which way. Droplets led in all directions as if someone was blended in the cave.