Linvin stumbled through the wood as daylight arrived to show
him the way. With every step, Linvin
knew he was a little bit closer to being able to put the heavy carcass
down. The thought made the weight
bearable for a time. It was not long,
however, before those steps made the weight greater and his strength fade.
When it seemed Linvin could go no further, he heard the
rippling of the wind on the water of the spring ahead. His heart was lifted as he summoned all his
strength and forced his legs to finish the march.
When the clearing came into view, Linvin stopped and did not
move. The boar fell to the ground as
though Linvin simply forgot it was there.
His eyes beheld a sight he could never have even imagined. Anvar, Bander and Rander were surrounded by
goblins.
Anvar lay face down on the ground alongside four goblins he
presumably had killed before being overrun.
The twins were bound like steers and were propped against the login the
camp. From time to time a goblin,
appearing to be their leader, would prod one of his captives with the blunt end
of a spear and yell at them. Linvin was
too far to understand what was said. He
guessed that either Bander and Rander did not speak or else their answer was
not acceptable, because the Leader struck them most severely moments later.
As the interrogation continued, Linvin climbed a tree to
stay out of view. From his vantage
point, he peered through the leaves to see the clearing. He took stock of the situation.
The goblins were not of the same variety as the Marsh
Goblins he had fought years before. Their
skin was closer to the color of mud than the sage-green complexions he had seen
in Valia. A mark on their foreheads
clearly identified them as belonging to the Cangon Clan from the Goblin Nations
to the far northwest. Known to be
primitive, even by goblin standards, they nevertheless outnumbered all the
other clans combined.
Their stature, too, was different than their southern
brethren. Cangons were more squat and
rounded. Though similar in height, the
Cangons far outweighed the others. With
short arms and legs, they were known to prefer spears to using swords. The band making camp before Linvin, however,
bore both weapons as well as custom-fit leather armor to handle their girth.
In all, Linvin counted twenty goblins still alive. Several stood guard in a perimeter while the
others lit fires in hearths they looked accustomed to using.
Linvin fixed his gaze on Anvar and hoped to see any sign of
life. His uncle did not stir. The distance was too great to be able to tell
if he was breathing. Linvin momentarily
despaired.
What have I done? he thought to himself. I have led my only remaining family to
their deaths. They trusted me to lead
them and I led them into peril. What was
I thinking? This was the only water
around and I did not even consider that it might attract others here as
well? I am a fool, but the fool is not
the one paying for the lapse in judgment; they are! I should be down there with my kin.
His self-pity was short-lived. He knew he must act. Every moment, the morning light grew brighter
and his chance of being discovered increased.
Bander and Rander still appeared to be alive, for the time being at
least.As Linvin watched them suffering, a great rage brewed within him. He clenched his fists and gnashed his
teeth. I will annihilate those
miserable slugs! Not one shall escape my
wrath,but I must keep my composure. It is time to act.
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