by Inlo, Jeff
"Don't need help, but with room sealed, you can't escape. Magic keeps you in."
"It keeps you in as well."
Okyiq stood on one side of the cot and Holli on the other. Most of the remaining furniture was pushed against the wall, except for a chair that was sticking slightly out into open space from its spot in the corner. There was very little room to maneuver. The goblin leader appeared to appreciate his surroundings, even acknowledged as much while complimenting Holli's weapon.
"Nice blade," the goblin offered. "Short enough to use in small room, but sturdy enough to do damage. Good choice."
"You do not seem to have a weapon," Holli replied. "That seems rather odd. You said this was all meant to bring me here... to get this encounter over with, but if you knew you were being watched, why go to sleep unarmed?"
"Don't need weapon. You're elf... elf guard even. You know about surroundings. I picked right room for a fight."
"It is small. I will give you that. The restricted space limits certain advantages, like speed and agility. Even if the delver were here, he would have found the confines of this room rather unsettling, especially when facing someone like you."
"Then you should understand."
"I understand the advantage of choosing the proper ground to make a stand and to limit your opponent's options. To a degree, it worked. I did not bring my bow because I understood the constraints of the terrain, but I still brought a weapon. You selected this room to give you an advantage, but you would have been better off with at least a dagger."
"Dagger?" Okyiq questioned with a tilt of his head. "Maybe, maybe not. I knew you were watching. Wanted you here. If I picked up a dagger and then went to sleep, would you be here?"
"You are saying you did not want to give yourself away?"
"Didn't want to make it obvious."
Holli found the goblin's forethought rather astounding. Okyiq continued to surprise her with abilities that seemed so completely out of character for a goblin. She wondered if he received some outside assistance.
"Did the serps help you with that?"
"Serps don't know everything. Think they know everything, but don't. I told you they had no idea about you watching. They're watching now. Know you're here. They're surprised. I can tell."
"So we finally have the serps' attention. Are they worried?"
"No, just confused. They think wizard stuck to bargain, but they can't figure out how you got here without his help."
"Maybe I am just resourceful."
"Or stupid."
"Perhaps. Here I am in a small room, sealed off by my own magic, facing a hostile goblin of unnatural size. You, however, have been able to determine the time and the setting for this encounter. I am impressed, but only to a degree. I am not completely incapable of defending myself, and as we have discussed, I have a blade well-suited for a confined space. You have nothing."
Okyiq held up his massive hands.
"Have these."
"So you will break my neck?"
"No, told you I would kill you slow. That would be too quick. Maybe crush you, maybe slow strangle, or maybe beat you to death."
"And how are you going to get past my blade? Are you just going to ignore it?"
"Only problem with small blade is you have to get close. You get close enough to use blade, I'm close enough to grab you."
"I thought you said the blade was a good choice?"
"Best choice you could make, but you still don't have any chance," Okyiq bragged.
The massive goblin decided the conversation was over and he wished to prove his point. With one swift thrust of his arm, he grabbed the end of the cot and flipped it at the elf guard. He raced immediately after it, hoping to catch the elf struggling with the mattress and wooden frame.
Holli never had to grapple with the cot, for she avoided it completely. Just as Okyiq grabbed the edge of the bed frame, she readied her response. When the mattress flew at her, she jumped past it toward the far corner. She landed on top of the seat of the chair. Facing the wall, she looked over her shoulder and targeted her assailant.
Seeing the massive goblin move toward her previous position but strike empty air, she already knew the battle was over. She played out her attack in her mind and was certain the end would be just as she promised. She braced one leg against the chair and the other higher up against the wall.
The moment Okyiq turned, she made another leap, but one that would send her directly at the goblin leader. The power of her jump carried her over the head of the monster. As the top half of her body soared past him, she plunged her battle blade into the back of Okyiq's neck.
It was a clean death strike and Okyiq never saw it coming. He only saw her body flying past him above his head. He hoped to catch her leg, but before he raised his arm, he felt the stabbing pain erupt at the base of his skull. It lasted only a moment, for he died almost instantly. He crumpled to the ground, the blade still imbedded in his neck.
The elf landed on her feet, past the dead goblin. She turned about and glared at the lifeless heap. She saw a flash of crimson energy burst out of the goblin's body and disintegrate into the air.
"I told you I would kill you quickly," the elf announced solemnly.
Holli felt no great satisfaction in executing the massive goblin, even when she thought of Sy. She knew she wouldn't. She wanted to bring justice to Sy's killer, to avenge his death, but the act itself remained a violent one, even if it carried meaning beyond removing Okyiq as a threat to the land.
While it would not bring Sy back, ending the life of the goblin was a matter of necessity—at least it was to her—and as such, it would also serve to define her acceptance of the deed. The elf would not hide from the true nature of her actions, but she also remained free of shame. The killing of Okyiq would remain etched in her memory—a part of her history, a part she could never escape—but not as an accomplishment she would celebrate or a sin she would regret.
Standing in a small house in Burbon with the dead goblin at her feet, Holli could not help but think of Ryson. She knew the delver understood the need for purging Okyiq from the land, even as she considered Ryson Acumen's near unyielding respect for life. She could not deny the contrast in that consideration, but she remained certain of its validity.
She then thought of how Ryson was ready to take on the responsibility of facing Okyiq himself. She removed that burden from his shoulders, took it on herself, and in that, she found a small amount of pride. She had helped keep the conscience of her friend clean, kept him free of guilt, and perhaps more importantly, allowed him to remain true to his destiny.
The serps might have been hoping the delver would make a mistake and ultimately alter who he was and what he could become, but she had prevented that. She might not have found satisfaction in executing Okyiq, but in regards to assisting Ryson Acumen, she found honor. She actually smiled.
Her moment of contented reflection was short-lived. She quickly realized she was still in Burbon and Okyiq was dead. The town was filled with more goblins than she could count, along with shags, bloat spiders and hook hawks. They would soon discover they lost their leader, and she doubted they would thank her for the achievement. Her position was hardly secure.
She was safe for the moment—her magic sealed the room—but the spell would not last forever. She lacked the energy to teleport safely out of the town as her previous spells drained her of the necessary magic. Eventually, the spell that served to separate her from the monsters within Burbon would fail. The question of her survival came down to timing, as she knew it would. She needed to recover enough magic to teleport out of Burbon before her shielding spell ended.
By Okyiq's admission, the serps were watching the encounter. They knew the goblin leader was dead, they had to. She had seen the red magic leave the monster's body. The break in the magical connection would provide sufficient proof. They also probably knew she was still within the small bedroom.
Even though Okyiq was dead, the council re
tained control over the monsters remaining in Burbon. The serps could easily incite each and every dark creature; encourage them to try to burst through the magical shield, put pressure on the spell, and quicken its demise. Holli would almost certainly have to face the horde.
#
Okyiq's death came as a surprise to the serp council. All five had watched the encounter, and most regarded the loss of the goblin leader as a key setback to their plans for Burbon and Dark Spruce. They gathered immediately at the large dining table in the seaside mansion to discuss the situation.
"The wizard was not to interfere," one of the serps began the conversation with clear disgust.
"This was not Enin's work," Desiv countered.
"How can you say that? He may not have actively participated in the killing, but it was his elf guard that ended Okyiq's life!"
"We remain connected to the wizard. He did not order the elf to attack Okyiq. He did not even send her to Burbon with one of his spells. She teleported there and assaulted the goblin on her own accord. Otherwise, it would not have been a surprise."
"Surprise or not, the attack was unwarranted."
"Nonsense. We had to assume that the killing of Burbon's captain would lead to certain repercussions. This was one of them. Nothing more, nothing less."
Another serp was also ready to blame Enin.
"Even if she acted on her own, it was the wizard's responsibility to keep the elf out of our affairs. If his followers can act on his behalf, he might as well take action himself."
"So what do you suggest?" Desiv questioned. "Should we break the bargain with Enin to punish him for the actions of his elf guard? We can't simply threaten him again. He would view it as nothing more than bluster. We would be forced to actually take some form of action. And where would that lead? We could attack Connel, show him the extent of our power. But then what? He would come after us. What does that gain us?"
"Where will it lead if we show we are not willing to take action when the wizard interferes?" the first serp replied angrily. "Eventually, he will realize he has nothing to lose if he breaks his vow on his own."
"No, that is not a reasonable assumption. We have to view this in a greater context. We made Okyiq part of our council because he posed a potential threat to us. We decided to use him, and so we did. He led our forces into Burbon and he was successful in removing the humans. We have control over the entire town. We obtained exactly what we needed from him, and now the elf guard has done us a favor. She has killed the only goblin who ever managed to break free from the control of a serp."
It was Macheve who found Desiv's optimistic outlook of the disaster most astonishing.
"Are you saying we should view this as a victory?"
"Not a victory, but not a loss. It was a step in the process. The victory was taking Burbon. Using the goblin to lead our forces had both advantages and disadvantages. It allowed us to remain removed from battle, but Okyiq was unpredictable and somewhat hostile. Having the goblin as part of the council was... uncomfortable. Now it is no longer an issue."
"It was you that advised we make Okyiq part of the council."
"A temporary solution to a difficult problem."
"And now you wish to view the actions of the elf as inconsequential?" Macheve questioned. "I do not see it that way. This is the third setback we have faced. We lost two dieruhnes in Dark Spruce. The delver has taken Bol Folarok. And now this."
"Are you keeping score?" Desiv responded with obvious annoyance.
"We all keep score in one way or another," Macheve answered with equal irritation.
"Very well, let us consider that you were in charge of the dieruhnes. If there was a loss in that regard, I believe it rests on your shoulders."
"So now we are issuing blame?"
"I believe you set us on that road."
"No, I was pointing out that we are suddenly facing serious challenges. Momentum has swung against us. Rather than try to ignore these issues, I believe we need to respond."
"And do you also think we should place blame on Enin and provoke the wizard?"
Macheve frowned. She knew that would be the wrong decision. They needed to keep Enin separated from the conflict. Engaging him would only turn into a battle they could not win. There would be no further schemes, only damage on a grand scale. That was not the objective of a serp hoping to gain power through influencing others.
She also realized that the council was facing a pivotal moment. She could sense the growing animosity between its members, something they had not previously experienced. They had enjoyed so many victories, they had forgotten what defeat felt like. None of them relished it. If they were to regain their grip on Uton, they needed to come together on at least one issue.
"No," Macheve replied firmly. "We cannot afford to antagonize the wizard to a point where he will decide to actively engage us. However, this must not go unpunished."
"What is it you suggest?"
"I believe the elf remains in Burbon. We remain in control of the creatures there, and I have used some of the hook hawks to observe the house where Okyiq died. There are still signs of her spell that sealed the room. She could not have left. She must be killed."
It was an interesting proposal, but it also offered dangers of its own.
"Don't you think that might provoke the wizard?" Desiv wondered.
"He would have to accept we were simply responding to the elf's hostile action, just as she responded to the death of Burbon's captain. She killed one of our council. Did he expect we would do nothing?"
The other serps agreed with the proposal and Desiv realized the decision had been made. Debating the issue would only force him into a position of defeat. He knew enough to avoid such pitfalls.
"Very well, we utilize the creatures in Burbon to surround the house and cut off all escape. I doubt she has the power to teleport away. When her barrier spell fades, we will let the goblins and shags deal with the elf guard."
The other serps nodded in agreement, but Desiv pointed out additional challenges.
"Unfortunately, there is another consideration we must face. With Okyiq dead, one of us will have to take greater control of the horde. If we leave them alone too long, they will certainly fight amongst themselves and many will begin to return to the forest."
One of the serps who wished to blame Enin for the death of Okyiq saw the potential in taking command of the vast army. He was quick to offer his services.
"I will take care of that."
The other serps immediately sensed the hidden desire behind the offer. None felt comfortable with allowing one of their members to take complete control of such a large and powerful force. At the same time, they all began to sense each other's scheming plans, and it was Macheve who pointed out the danger that was rising out of the moment.
"You realize this is exactly what they want, don't you?" Macheve asked. "The elf guard, Ryson Acumen and his wizard accomplice; they are starting to take the initiative away from us and leaving us to fight amongst ourselves. They are now defining the path."
"Yes, they do seem to have taken a level of control from us," Desiv confessed, "but that will be addressed when the elf guard is killed."
"And what of Ryson? He has taken Bol?"
"That may work to our advantage."
"Will it? The wizard of Connel might view it as a break in our agreement. He told us he'd be watching. If the algors and dwarves came into conflict, he might consider the bargain ended."
"Do not worry about Enin, we can still hold Connel's safety over his head. And we are not to blame for starting any war between the algors and the dwarves if Bol is now brought to the Lacobian. If it occurs, the delver would be responsible."
"You seem a bit too confident for my liking."
"Only because I still see what we have accomplished. The dwarves and the elves are still very close to conflict, we remain in control of Burbon, and whether others wish to acknowledge it or not, Enin remains uninvolved in our affairs. In fa
ct, I believe that the delver is making a very big mistake with the algors. I think that is something we can definitely turn to our favor. Imagine, the dwarves at war with both the algors and the elves. Think of the opportunities!"
"I hope your optimism bears fruit," Macheve responded, "but we also have another problem. Once more, we are down to five council members. Our mistrust of each other is on the rise. In order to regain balance in the council, we should return to six members. How shall we address that problem?"
"Maybe we should ask Petiole to join us," Desiv offered with a playful grin, building on his growing confidence.
"I can tell you are joking," Macheve responded without humor, "but this is not the time for games."
"It is also not the time to overreact. We can begin the recruitment process for a sixth serp at any time. I would recommend that you handle the issue. I can tell you would feel better if you found someone more to your liking, and in all honesty, I think you need an ally. It would be good for you."
"What about Rivira?"
"The human sorceress?" Desiv questioned. "No. We may have need of her in the future and we can't afford to place her on the council. If she connects with us through the magic, she'll realize what we might have to do. That is unacceptable."
"I suppose that's true," Macheve conceded, then she sighed "I guess I will have to investigate other serps."
#
Holli remained calm, even as she could feel the goblins and shags pounding away at the magical shell that sealed the room. There were hook hawks darting around the sky above the house, and bloat spiders making webs across the roof and in the streets surrounding the house. She had no where to escape.
The shield of energy was beginning to break down. She estimated it would collapse at any moment. She had very little magic to utilize for a spell of attack or defense and no chance of teleporting out of the house. With no where to run and no help on the way, her only option was to fight, but it was an option she considered before she even teleported to Okyiq's side.
She knew she couldn't defeat every creature in Burbon, but she always believed she had a chance. The fight was for time. She only needed to survive long enough to collect sufficient magic to teleport to the edge of Dark Spruce Forest. It was a small distance, but it would be enough to get her to the trees. Once there, she could lose any pursuer in the forest.
