{"id":5716,"date":"2019-02-12T17:07:58","date_gmt":"2019-02-12T17:07:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/wandering-inn\/?p=5716"},"modified":"2025-12-24T00:58:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T00:58:27","slug":"5-59","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2019\/02\/12\/5-59\/","title":{"rendered":"5.59"},"content":{"rendered":"

She had to get ready.<\/em> Erin Solstice woke up on the eleventh day with that thought echoing in her mind. She didn\u2019t know how she knew, or why, but she knew she had to get ready. They were coming. Whoever they were. So Erin opened her eyes, half-sat up\u2014<\/p>\n

And decided she could use a few more minutes of sleep.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMorning, Lyonette.\u201d<\/p>\n

By the time Erin got up for the second time, it was mid-morning, uncharacteristically late. The [Innkeeper] pulled herself upright in time to see Lyonette carefully pulling out a plate of pre-made pasta covered with bolognese out of a cupboard. Since that was completely natural, Erin ignored it at once and focused on the young woman. Lyonette jumped and then turned guiltily.<\/p>\n

\u201cMorning, Erin. Sorry, did I wake you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. I was getting up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin yawned and stretched. She felt awful<\/em>. Tired, lethargic, and sore. As if she\u2019d spent a day lifting rocks and then having said rocks dropped on her back. She wondered why\u2014usually she was able to get up no matter the early hour. Her [Lesser Endurance] Skill meant that she could keep ticking on less sleep. But not today. Erin remembered the events of last night and unconsciously ran her tongue across her teeth. She frowned as her tongue encountered nothing but smooth enamel.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019re the teeth?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lyonette put the room-temperature pasta next to the stove\u2019s lit fire to warm it up. Erin shrugged, and her belly rumbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. They feel different. I think so, but then again, it could be in my mind. I feel like they should<\/em> be different, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d imagine so. Pisces used bear<\/em> teeth, didn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYup.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo they taste or seem\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin shrugged.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot bearish to me. But I keep feeling like they should <\/em>be. I\u2019m just amazed he fixed them, really.\u201d<\/p>\n

She ran her tongue over the caps Pisces had made to fix three of her partially broken teeth and winced. Her tongue was sore from doing that a hundred plus times. But the teeth were<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe should be a dentist.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone who fixes teeth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin rummaged around in her nest that occupied one side of the kitchen. She saw Lyonette taking some utensils out of a drawer and opened a cupboard by her side. It contained Erin\u2019s clothes. The [Princess] kept her back turned as Erin quickly changed clothes under her blankets. Too late, Erin remembered she should have asked if anyone was working this morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs, uh, Ishkr\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDrassi\u2019s here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh. Good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin breathed a sigh of relief. Now that she had more than just a few employees, the kitchen was filled with at least one person more often than not. And there had been a few incidents. Erin began stuffing her bedding into another cupboard as Lyonette checked the pasta\u2019s temperature. She shook her head and then looked at Erin.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should really stay in a room, you know. There are<\/em> some rooms available, even if the Hobgoblins come back. And Mrsha and I could share a room if you wanted one. There\u2019s plenty of space. Mrsha does<\/em> steal your blankets, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI should. I know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin made a face. She\u2019d had the same conversation with Lyonette. It was just that\u2014she sighed as she hunted around for her toothbrush. Which cupboard was that? Oh, right. It was the drawer. Erin pulled it out and grabbed the jar of toothpaste Octavia had made up.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just that I have so much to do, you know? And changing rooms is more work than I want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSays the [Innkeeper] who just lost some of her teeth confronting a Goblin Chieftain and got twenty thousand Cave Goblins to run off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin grimaced as she applied some toothpaste to her toothbrush. It was a very<\/em> astringent substance that Octavia sold, but it did make Erin\u2019s teeth feel clean.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were supposed to go south.<\/em> I have no idea what happened. Or if they\u2019re coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lyonette glanced out of the kitchen, and Erin knew she was looking towards the magic door. Her face wasn\u2019t apprehensive, but there was a note of tension in her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think the Goblins would come here? I mean, if they\u2019re still hostile.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin paused.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they do, we\u2019re running into Liscor. The door\u2019s set up. But Numbtongue and the others\u2014they\u2019re not back. And Jelaqua said they did something. The old Chieftain ran off. Garen. If they come back\u2014we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lyonette nodded. The two waited while Erin scrubbed at her teeth, then decided she had to spit and wash her mouth. She got up as Lyonette took the plate of hot pasta away from the fire. The smell made Erin\u2019s stomach grumble. But\u2026pasta?<\/em> She pointed at the spaghetti, which had been seasoned with sauce, sliced sausage, and just a little bit of spicy peppers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhof fhat for?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

She tried not to spit all over the plate. Lyonette stared at Erin\u2019s mouth and the toothbrush sticking out.<\/p>\n

\u201cDawil ordered it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFo? Fhe Filver Fwords fhare here?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Lyonette opened her mouth and then gave up. Erin walked outside into the common room and thus began her day.<\/p>\n

\u201cErin!\u201d<\/p>\n

A number of voices greeted Erin as she walked towards the door of her inn. The [Innkeeper] stopped, and the people waiting for her saw her turn towards them. A bit of toothpaste was dribbling down her mouth. Despite the myriad and pressing issues that demanded her attention, all those present agreed that she should attend to business first. So Erin stumbled out of her inn and went to the outhouse.<\/p>\n

There were three, now. And each one was set far enough apart so as not to carry smells or, worse, sounds<\/em> to the other stall. Unless someone was having a really bad day. That was an important design decision, which had required the outhouses to be moved when Erin had first discovered the issue. The third stall was huge, big enough to accommodate Moore. It was also the nicest, so Erin sat in that after knocking to make sure no one was inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cToilet bowl, toilet bowl. This is\u2026nicer than a toilet bowl, actually.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin sat on the polished hardwood, having spat and washed out her mouth already. Her feet were a bit wet from the walk to the outhouse, but the grass had only been dewy, as opposed to rain-slicked and muddy. The rain had stopped. Now, the air was humid, muggy, and foggy. <\/em>Erin liked it not one bit; nor did she like the way a lot of the hills had turned to mostly mud and water gathered in the valleys. But it still beat buckets of rain dumping from the sky.<\/p>\n

That was why the outhouse had a roof. And it was<\/em> better than a bathroom, at least in some senses. The wood was just as smooth as porcelain, but it didn\u2019t get as chilly. As for the\u2026other concerns, Erin did have a type of toilet paper at her disposal. The main issue was flushing, or lack of it.<\/p>\n

If plumbing had been invented, it was too costly and too unknown in Liscor for Erin to obtain. So the outhouse was<\/em> an outhouse, which meant that it accumulated rather than moved waste. Erin had originally solved the issue of acquisition by making Toren pour acid into the pit below the outhouse, handily vaporizing the problem. But since he was gone, she\u2019d had to resort to other measures. She still used acid, though.<\/p>\n

Octavia had a wonderful mixture that dissolved undesirable objects slowly. It was enough to keep the outhouses from needing to be emptied, and a lot of fresh-smelling herbs did the rest of the job. Erin looked at the bundle of herbs that Lyonette had placed just the other day. Not having to tend to the outhouse herself was another perk of being the boss.<\/p>\n

Now, what did the evolving and dynamic nature of Erin\u2019s restroom facilities have to do with today or recent events? Nothing. But Erin sat on the toilet for a good while. She had a feeling she was going to be busy if the faces that had been waiting for her were any indication. And she wanted to delay work as long as possible. She managed to hold out five minutes before she decided to go back. After all, she was<\/em> mostly responsible and over half the people waiting on her were her friends.<\/p>\n

And they were coming<\/em>. Erin\u2019s head turned north. She stared at the place where the mountain ranges parted to let travellers come through the pass. It was slightly obscured by a tall hill, but she saw no signs of movement. Yet. She shook her head and walked back to her inn.<\/p>\n

\u201cErin!\u201d<\/p>\n

The first person to hurry up to Erin was Olesm. She smiled at him, and her face fell as she looked at Zevara. Erin threw a mock salute as she walked over to their table. The Drake Watch Captain eyed her.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuman.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Zevara. Olesm. What\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are the Goblins now? What do you know about their status? Will they attack the city? I\u2019ve heard the report from the Gold-rank teams. Ignoring the fact that they were carrying one of your magical doorways north for now, explain to me how<\/em> twenty thousand Cave Goblins and this new tribe aren\u2019t a threat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin blinked at Zevara. Not even a hello. The Watch Captain looked anxious, if her swishing tail was anything to go by. Erin sat down and waved at Drassi.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Drassi, can I have some of our scrambled eggs?\u201d<\/p>\n

She waited until she got a wave and a smile from Drassi. Then she looked at Zevara.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t know, and I think they\u2019re not a threat. Jelaqua said the old Chieftain ran away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGaren Redfang. A traitorous former Gold-rank adventurer who slaughtered four of his former teammates. And nearly did for the other three. How is his absence supposed to reassure me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he\u2019s not leading his tribe. Ooh, thanks Drassi.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin picked up a fork. Zevara eyed her as if she\u2019d gladly grab the fork and poke it into Erin\u2019s eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis tribe is still there. Or we assume so. They\u2019re dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but Headscratcher and the others are with them. They\u2019re nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two Drakes exchanged a look as Erin began eating breakfast. Olesm coughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re saying we should hope that they move on, Erin?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHm. Yeah?\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin looked up. The Drakes stared at her, one with wrath, the other appalled. The [Innkeeper] shrugged.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, what other choice is there? What do you expect me to do about it? Open the door to the Goblin cave and solve everything myself?\u201d<\/p>\n

Zevara and Olesm didn\u2019t meet Erin\u2019s eyes, which told her that was exactly<\/em> what they\u2019d hoped she\u2019d do. The young woman scowled.<\/p>\n

\u201cTempting as that is, I don\u2019t know those particular Goblins. And I don\u2019t want to get my brains punched out again. Did you hear that I lost some teeth? Do they look weird to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

She showed them her teeth. Zevara sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re fine. Hearing about that was the only amusing news I\u2019ve gotten all day. It was about time someone kicked your teeth in, with how many fights you seem to escape unscathed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI let other people hit things for me. And I\u2019m good at ducking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin scowled. But Zevara was right. She hadn\u2019t processed her one-sided punching bag experience, but the memory of trying to fight that muscular Goblin guy stuck with her. She rubbed at her mouth. It had been terrifying, trying to get past all the Goblins with only the five Redfangs shielding her.<\/p>\n

But it had to be done. Jelaqua and the Halfseekers had been in danger. But she\u2019d nearly died herself. If it happened again\u2014could she risk her life like that? Was it smart? Was she an idiot? Erin sighed. She barely noticed Zevara getting up.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the Goblins come back to the city, Miss Solstice\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll try and talk to them. But I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on. I\u2019m not opening that door to their cave until I know. Sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zevara nodded. She strode off as Olesm sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI should get going too. I\u2019d stay and talk, but\u2014we\u2019re at full alert. It\u2019s nice seeing you, uh, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stood up awkwardly. Erin blinked up at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Olesm. How\u2019re the defenses going?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drake [Strategist] hesitated. He averted his gaze.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t say. Military secrets, Erin. We\u2019re\u2026doing good. We got reinforcements from Pallass, and we\u2019ve found homes for them. And, uh, we\u2019re meeting with Klbkch, checking the walls\u2014it will be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tone in his voice and his posture\u2014not to mention his curled up tail\u2014told Erin that was a dead lie. She stared at him and nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I won\u2019t keep you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olesm turned to go. Erin raised her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cOlesm!\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked back at her. Erin smiled with more upbeat emotion than she actually felt.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re, uh, cool with the me punching you and you throwing me in jail, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

For a second, Olesm stared, and then he grinned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are. If you\u2019re okay with it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI liked prison food. And it\u2019s a nice place when you get to know your cellmates.\u201d<\/p>\n

He grinned. Erin kept her smile until Olesm had hurried to the magic door and left. Then she sighed. She turned her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext!\u201d<\/p>\n

Someone else was already coming up to her. Dawil. The Dwarf slid into the vacant seat. He had a half-finished plate of pasta with him and was slurping down some noodles. The sauce got into his beard\u2014well, part of his beard.<\/p>\n

A good bit of hair was burnt off of Dawil\u2019s face. His eyebrows, part of the hair on his head\u2014and a lot of his beard. The sight of his chin and face was terribly disconcerting. Erin stared at Dawil and then averted her gaze. The Dwarf sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo on, look. And have a laugh, why don\u2019t you. That bastard Pisces was laughing all day about it, and the damned half-Elf\u2014mine, not Ceria\u2014wouldn\u2019t leave me alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you okay? Does it hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawil shrugged. He scratched at his missing spots, where thick stubble was already growing. His voice held a note of complaint. Well, more like a symphony of complaints.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s cold. But the healing potion did the burns right. I drank a hair-growing tonic, but it\u2019ll be a week before my beard\u2019s halfway decent. It\u2019s not a problem compared to the shite we\u2019re in, but it\u2019s embarrassing<\/em> more than anything else. But I didn\u2019t come here to talk about hair to you, girl. We\u2019re all in trouble, so I need to speak on behalf of the adventurers in Liscor. This is good pasta, by the way. Needs more meat, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can have Lyonette cut up a steak if you want. Or some pork? A sausage?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNext time, maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawil slurped down more noodles as Erin finished her eggs. He wiped his mouth with a napkin\u2014Erin used the back of her hand. The Dwarf was actually quite fastidious as he cleaned his beard. He even had his own utensils he packed into a small case\u2014silver and gold filigree forks were a new concept to Erin. The Dwarf leaned back in his chair and looked up at Erin.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, let me be blunt since no one\u2019s said it. And you were in jail. We\u2019re leaving Liscor. The Silver Swords, the Halfseekers, Griffon Hunt\u2014and your Horns too, I imagine. Us and a good number of other Gold-rank teams, though I can\u2019t speak for all in Pallass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin frowned.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. I heard about that from Lyonette. The Halfseekers were taking a door north, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCorrect. They were trying to get to Celum so we had a route out, since those Drakes confiscated the mana stone. It would have worked too, but for those Goblins. Now we\u2019re caught between a hammer and an anvil, because there\u2019s a tribe of Goblins north of us that can kick the crap out of six Gold-rank teams without breaking a sweat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawil scowled. He drummed his fingers on the table, reached for his pasta, and then swatted a white paw aside.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot today, you thieving little mole rat!\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrsha scampered as Dawil roared under the table. His roar sent her flying, and the Dwarf looked quite pleased with himself as he turned back to Erin.<\/p>\n

\u201cFun little brat. Where was I? Oh yeah, we can\u2019t go north anymore. Which is a problem because going south takes us longer to get to civilization. And it takes us past the Blood Fields, and it is active in the spring. But there\u2019s no choice, so we\u2019re headed south. With another magic door anchor thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh. Do you need to get a mana stone?\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin looked at the door. Dawil waved a hand and coughed, looking embarrassed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThing is\u2026we\u2019ve already got one. It\u2019s the orange stone, see? Already in the bowl. I\u2019ve been getting your [Barmaid] to check it every half-hour. The Flamewardens are lugging the door south, and they\u2019ll trade off soon. We would have told you, but we decided they needed to go right this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see. So what\u2019s the problem?\u201d<\/p>\n

It all sounded good to Erin. Well, not the Gold-rank teams fleeing Liscor, but if it was that or fight and maybe die, what choice was there? She hadn\u2019t decided what to do either. She could take refuge in the city easily enough, but\u2026the scope of both threats just hadn\u2019t really sunk in for Erin. Having a second escape route would be good, though. Dawil shrugged uncomfortably.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing. In theory. But we wanted to let you know seeing as you had the door. However, if that fire breathing Watch Captain asks\u2026don\u2019t tell her we\u2019re planning to leave. She\u2019d try and stop us, and we\u2019re not willing to die here.\u201d<\/p>\n

He waited, perhaps expecting Erin to object. She just doodled on her plate with a finger. Then Erin looked up.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think Liscor will fall?\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawil sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, lass? Can I call you lass? Sorry. I\u2019m thirty-eight, and Humans feel so young<\/em> to me. You\u2019ve barely lived through any of the big wars, have you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of Izril\u2019s. A few started where I came from. Not sure if they really ended.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawil raised an eyebrow, and Erin kept her poker face up. She wasn\u2019t sure what he knew, but Dawil was someone she trusted. More than Pisces or Olesm, about something like this, even. He struck her as honorable, more so than Falene or Ylawes in his own way. The Dwarf shrugged.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight. Well, it\u2019s a bad scene. I\u2019ve never been sitting in a besieged city, but I\u2019ve seen the aftermath and heard the stories. Flying limbs, people getting slaughtered, and so forth. War is messy. And adventurers get killed in wars. We\u2019re big targets because we can do a lot of damage, but we hunt monsters, not armies. Get it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Maybe? Could you explain that?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Dwarf nodded. He looked around and waved a hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cAle?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGot it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Drassi passed by their table. Dawil blinked as an ale appeared in front of him. The Drake winked at Erin and passed her a cup of milk. Erin stared.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait, how did you know\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[Server\u2019s Prescience]! I got a Skill the other day! Isn\u2019t it cool?\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin stared down at her drink.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHah! Now there\u2019s<\/em> a Skill worth having! Almost as good as the battlefield edition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawil drained a quarter of his mug, wiped his mouth, and then sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Wars. It\u2019s an easy concept. I think you\u2019ll get it better than the lad\u2014I mean, my team captain. He\u2019s a bit thick between the ears when it comes to things like this. Not exactly a tactical mind, if you know what I\u2019m saying. Neither is the half-Elf, for all she\u2019s Wistram. \u2018Swhy I have to come up with the plans.\u201d<\/p>\n

He tapped the side of his head. Erin grinned, tickled.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou,<\/em> Dawil?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow else do you think we survived this long? Someone\u2019s got to be the voice of reason, and it\u2019s not those two. Anyways\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He heaved a sigh.<\/p>\n

\u201cWars. One last time. Adventurers have armor or we hit fast enough so we\u2019re not in danger. Say we\u2019re hunting a Chimera. Or some other monster. We can take them on\u2014hell, we can take on a nest. A small Goblin tribe? Doable. But in large numbers, armor fails. Take my armor for instance. It\u2019s steel, Dwarf-forged and strong. I can fight in it and guard my face. But in yesterday\u2019s scrap? There are too many arrows flying and damn Goblins with fire paste in jars. And in a war\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t defend yourself from all sides.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly. We\u2019re too fragile. Knew you\u2019d get it. I know there\u2019s a bunch of Gold-ranks with Tyrion Veltras\u2019 army. But I\u2019ll bet my beard\u2014what\u2019s left of it\u2014that they\u2019re under contract to only fight if he needs something taken and stay well clear of the main battle. Besides, it\u2019s bad to get wrapped up in politics. Ylawes\u2019 father is marching with the Humans\u2026look, the point is that we don\u2019t want to die. We<\/em> think Liscor will fall. So when the army arrives, we\u2019ll be going. And if you want, we\u2019ll escort you to Pallass. You and anyone you care to bring.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawil eyed Erin over the top of his mug. She hesitated. Rather than address his statement directly, she twiddled her thumbs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen will you be going?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the day we see the army roll in. Or sooner. But we\u2019ll carry the door as far as we can before then. We\u2019ll still be at least a day or two out from the nearest city, but\u2014ah, lass. When we go, it will be quick<\/em>. Make up your mind before then.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawil and Erin sat together in silence. Erin stared at the table. For some reason, Dawil\u2019s words put the urgency of Liscor\u2019s siege closer to home than anything else. She looked at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you thought there was a chance\u2014there are the Antinium. And the Drakes are sending an army. Is there any way\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Dwarf\u2019s eyes were brown, deep and soft as earthy loam, and sad. He shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere may be an army of Antinium. And the Drakes may get here in time to break the siege. The Humans may be stumped or they may win. But the cost will be blood, Erin. We won\u2019t pay the price.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Thank you for telling me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin sat at the table, feeling tired and helpless. Dawil nodded. He got up, walked over, and patted Erin on the shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be here all day. The other teams will. We\u2019re watching your door\u2014and the inn\u2014so don\u2019t worry about someone making off with the door like last time. If you have any questions, ask.\u201d<\/p>\n

He wandered off to his table. Erin looked around and saw Bevussa sitting at a table, along with Nailren and a few Gnolls and Falene. They were talking to each other, relaxing. And watching her. They turned as Dawil wandered over to them. Erin heard his voice clearly as she turned back to her drink.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou lot are about as inconspicuous as a bunch of farting Dragons! She\u2019s not stopping us, so settle down. And you<\/em> can stop listening in, you pointy-eared git! I know you\u2019re casting a listening spell when you get that constipated look on your face.\u201d<\/p>\n

The young woman leaned on her arms. She stared at the empty chair ahead of her as a third body slid into the seat. This time, it was Mrsha. The little Gnoll stared up at Erin, wagging her tail.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Mrsha. How are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Gnoll raised a paw with the thumb up. Erin smiled at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good. Hey, do you want to play catch?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Gnoll cub smiled. Erin slid out of her seat as Mrsha ran to get her ball. She raced over and tossed it at Erin. The young woman caught it, tossed it back, and the two moved down the long common room. Erin\u2019s [Grand Theatre] Skill was in effect, but there weren\u2019t nearly enough people to fill the vast space. Mrsha and Erin cleared some tables and chairs and began to play catch. Just for a while.<\/p>\n

\u201cErin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ceria came over after a few minutes. She watched as Mrsha scampered after a ball, and Erin turned to her. The half-Elf had her hands in her pockets. She watched as Mrsha threw the ball back clumsily. She raised a finger, and the ball swung towards Erin. The [Innkeeper] caught it and threw it back.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Ceria. What\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n

The half-Elf looked unhappy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s, uh, about the door. I\u2019ve been talking with the others.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you? We don\u2019t want to leave without you, but\u2014what are you going to do, Erin?\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin turned. The two stared at each other, Ceria unhappy and Erin uncertain. They looked at each other until Mrsha\u2019s ball bounced off the side of Erin\u2019s head.<\/p>\n

So it went. Ceria wasn\u2019t the last person to talk to Erin either. After the young woman had talked to her, there came Pisces, to offer unsolicited advice which Erin listened to. Krshia, to play with Mrsha, talk about Erin\u2019s door, and about commitments and not <\/em>to ask Erin so loudly that it hurt. Selys stopped in to check with Erin how she was doing and stare at the door for a second. A few Drakes and Gnolls came by to inquire about her door.<\/p>\n

Her door, and the Goblins. And what Erin thought. The trouble was, Erin wasn\u2019t thinking. She was deliberately not<\/em> thinking of what was coming. Because if she did, she\u2019d have to make a choice. Stay or go. Risk dying or leave. Which was better. Which was right?<\/em> Erin didn\u2019t know. But she kept looking north. She was talking with Jelaqua at midday when it happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s the body?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Selphid was sitting at a table. By this point, the inn was getting more business, and Ishkr and two more Gnolls had come by to help work the tables. They stared at Jelaqua and kept clear of her. Because the Selphid was wearing the Raskghar\u2019s body.<\/p>\n

It was disturbing to Erin. The Raskghar looked bestial, compared to the Gnolls. It had a more hunched posture, a bigger body, and thicker fur. But the main change was the eyes. The Raskghar had been savage with a spark of intelligence. Now, there was a sharp intelligence looking out of the dead pupils. Somehow, that was even more uncanny. Jelaqua raised a paw and scratched at her neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine. It\u2019s a good body, actually.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah. Lots of muscle fiber, great condition\u2014a few pests, but they were mostly dead, and I got rid of the rest. My main complaint is that this body\u2019s a bit too bulky for my tastes, but hell, the nose works wonders. The only thing is that I can\u2019t go in Liscor without causing a panic. I nearly got stabbed by a Gnoll [Guardsman]\u2014and that was just at the gate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are<\/em> wearing a Raskghar\u2019s body.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYup. But there\u2019s a shortage of other bodies, so what can you do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jelaqua spread her paws in a Human shrug. Erin stared at her, and the Selphid grinned weakly, another very disturbing sight.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry. I\u2019m a bit mixed up after yesterday. I\u2026took a few hits to my body.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I mean my real<\/em> body.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh. Is it bad? Did you heal up?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jelaqua hesitated.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not quite that simple. But yeah, I\u2019m doing okay. I think. Look, about last night. You really can\u2019t tell anyone\u2014anything. Not that it happened, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Selphid eyed Erin and nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just really important, okay, Erin? Really <\/em>important.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI got it. Lips sealed. About nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Gold-rank adventurer nodded, but she was clearly still uneasy. She scratched at her neck again. Erin wondered if one of the pests had been fleas. She saw Mrsha staring at Jelaqua as she slunk around Lyonette, who was giving Jelaqua much the same look.<\/p>\n

\u201cJelaqua. I wonder if it would be a good idea for you to say hi to Ishkr and Mrsha. Maybe that would make them feel better. Or would it make them feel worse?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Selphid grimaced.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can\u2019t hurt. Showing them it\u2019s me rather than my body usually helps. I had the same problem with bodies I got from executed criminals. I\u2019ll have a word later.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks. Uh\u2014how\u2019s Moore and Seborn?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Raskghar\u2019s expression softened in a way that was true to Jelaqua. She looked towards the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cResting. Moore\u2019s too weak to get out of bed\u2014or eat anything other than liquids. Thanks for all the soup.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo problem. What about Seborn?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s better. He just lost blood. But he\u2019s not talking to me. I think he\u2019s angry about what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jelaqua shook her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt himself. For letting Garen get away. He was right in front of us. But we choked up. And he spared us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin stared at Jelaqua.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how do you feel?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Selphid smiled with the Raskghar\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe? It\u2019s over and done with. Garen lost his tribe. They told him to his face he was a traitor, and he ran off. I\u2019m alive, and so are Moore and Seborn. And we know a bit more of\u2014of what happened that day. It\u2019s all we can ask for, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n

She kept smiling as Erin studied her. She was lying. But she did it with a smile, and Erin felt like pushing Jelaqua would be the worst of ideas. So she let it drop.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just let me know if you need anything, alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure thing. I\u2019ll just have a few drinks, reassure the Gnolls, and check on the others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jelaqua smiled. Erin smiled too and tried to ignore the sense of roiling emotions she was getting from the Selphid. If anyone was close to exploding\u2026she made a note to keep Jelaqua away from Relc if he stopped by. Or Pisces. Or Revi. Erin stood up to accompany Jelaqua in case any of the Gnolls freaked out\u2014or she did\u2014<\/p>\n

And then it happened. Erin\u2019s head turned to the right. She stared straight towards the north wall, and she felt a tingle go down her spine. They were coming<\/em>. And they were coming here<\/em>. It wasn\u2019t a bad sense, not like it had been whenever her [Dangersense] went off. No, it was more like a certainty at the back of her mind. They<\/em> were coming, and they were tired and hungry and desperate.<\/p>\n

Erin hadn\u2019t known who they were in the morning, but now she was certain. And as they came across the Floodplains and Liscor sounded the alarm, Erin stood on the ruined roof of her inn where Bird\u2019s watchtower had been and saw them pour across the muddy hills and valleys like a green wave.<\/p>\n

Goblins.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

At first, it was the Cave Goblins and Redfangs. The mounted warriors rode ahead of the Cave Goblins, a small army of elite warriors followed by the hordes of grey-green Goblins. That was enough to get Olesm\u2019s heart pounding. But when he saw the second<\/em> Goblin force emerging from the pass leading north, his heart began trying to dig its way out of his chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the Goblin Lord\u2019s army!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can\u2019t be! They\u2019re too early! They\u2019re too early!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Olesm screamed at Embria, who had raised the alarm the instant she\u2019d spotted the second Goblin force. It was vast; it dwarfed the Cave Goblin force by a good margin. Olesm tried to count how many Goblins were present. Forty thousand? Fifty? Sixty?<\/em> It was too small to be the Goblin Lord\u2019s army\u2014not unless they\u2019d taken massive casualties since they\u2019d last been spotted. And yet, it was far too large to be just any random tribe. He watched as they spread across the Floodplains.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat am I seeing, Olesm?\u201d<\/p>\n

Zevara stood on the walls minutes later, breathing hard and looking at the approaching Goblins. Olesm\u2019s heart was trying to escape via his mouth at this point, but he kept his voice as level as possible as he replied. He wished it didn\u2019t wobble<\/em> so, though. Everyone was listening.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a word, Watch Captain? Dissidents. Or rebels. That\u2019s probably a better word for it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRebels?\u201d<\/p>\n

Both Embria and Zevara looked at him. Ilvriss, who\u2019d just made it to the walls\u2014since a Wall Lord didn\u2019t run unless the city was<\/em> under attack\u2014stared sharply at Olesm.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right. Dissidents. Reports from Esthelm claimed the Goblin Lord\u2019s army was moving past them. They were erroneous, but it does match another piece of information we received from an informant in the Human army. They reported a battle between the Goblins\u2014apparently some kind of inter-tribal dispute. The Goblin Lord absorbed a good deal of the defeated tribe, but the rest of them fled and managed to get ahead of the Humans. They\u2019re coming through Liscor because they have nowhere else to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCaught between an axe and the headman\u2019s block, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

Embria narrowed her eyes. Olesm nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut still dangerous. They\u2019re not allied with the Cave Goblins or the tribe that fought the adventurers yesterday. See how they\u2019re running ahead of this tribe? They may be at odds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo will we see a battle between them? Or will they move past our walls?\u201d<\/p>\n

Zevara glanced sharply at Olesm. He peered at the Goblins, twisting the Ring of Sight on his claws, picking out Goblins and staring at them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Watch Captain. The Goblins look exhausted. Half are falling down the hills. They may just stay here until the Human army arrives.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn which case, they\u2019re another<\/em> variable that might go against us. Can we get rid of them?\u201d<\/p>\n

Zevara frowned, folding her arms and eying the Goblins.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith what? A few well-placed spells from the wall? If that lot wants, it could shower us with arrows. I\u2019d say avoid conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do we get rid of them, then?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wait. They may just camp here for a day or two and then keep moving.\u201d<\/p>\n

Embria shifted from foot to foot. She eyed the Goblins. They were still approaching Liscor.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that\u2019s the case, why aren\u2019t they keeping clear of Liscor? They know<\/em> this is a Drake city. Aren\u2019t they wary of us?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey outnumber the Watch many times over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStill. They keep coming. Should we be ready for an attack?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drakes looked at each other. Ilvriss stared at the Goblins and then shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. I think they\u2019re coming for a different reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stared down from the walls at a much closer landmark. Zevara closed her eyes as she followed his gaze.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer. It\u2019s always<\/em> her, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Olesm shook his head. He murmured as he watched the Goblins draw closer. Yes, they were moving to one spot.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot always. But when it comes to Goblins, I think she\u2019s\u2026special.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other three looked at him. Embria folded her arms, exasperated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen what do we do? What can we do?\u201d<\/p>\n

She was impatient. But Olesm just stared onwards. He shrugged, feeling tired. Drakes were a people of law and action. Discipline. But it occurred to him that they weren\u2019t good at being helpless. He looked at Embria and said the one word that she didn\u2019t want to hear.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Flooded Waters tribe walked across the muddy hills. They fell down valleys, crawled up the hills, and some lay where they had fallen, too tired to move. They were\u2026fading. Faded, rather.<\/p>\n

At the end of their tether. And afraid. They had seen the Redfangs and the foreign, strange Goblin tribe moving ahead of them, and they didn\u2019t know what to expect. They were worried too, because the Redfangs were headed in the same direction they were. The Flooded Waters tribe didn\u2019t quite know why, but they sensed their destinations were the same.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t that Redscar was leading them that way on purpose or that he\u2019d said anything like it. But like the other Goblins, Redscar was moving towards the city. Or\u2014to something just ahead of it. Despite the danger of the city, despite their exhaustion, the tribe kept moving. It was just a bit further ahead. They could feel it.<\/p>\n

It was a strange sensation. Something none of them had quite felt before. A feeling\u2014like they had felt from Chieftains and Reiss, but different at the same time. Alien. But entirely pleasant. It was a feeling that ahead of them lay safety. It was a beacon in their heads. Ahead of them was a friend.<\/em><\/p>\n

But what a thought! Friend? Safety? Those were completely foreign concepts to Goblins. And yet, the feeling was a certainty. So the Goblins kept moving. It wasn\u2019t just that instinct in their head that propelled them forwards either. Something else kept them going.<\/p>\n

It was a rumor. Something their Chieftain had said. A memory, or perhaps a promise: a vision of an inn on a hill. A name.<\/p>\n

Erin Solstice<\/em>. And as they kept going, the distant building on the hill became a symbol to them. A symbol that Goblins had never associated with a building before. But it was a familiar concept to other races.<\/p>\n

After all, it was an inn. A gathering place for the weary, for travellers, for the hungry or tired. Only, to Goblins, an inn was death\u2014or a place to target unwary victims. Not a place for their kind. And yet, this inn was different.<\/p>\n

Still, they hesitated when they saw the Redfangs had gathered around the hill. They were a stone\u2019s throw away from the city, and the walls were ablaze with torches. Redscar drew up, patting his weary Carn Wolf. He eyed the Redfangs and the strange grey Goblins. They stared at him. He couldn\u2019t see Garen among them, and he sensed<\/em> something had changed, though he didn\u2019t know what. Then he saw the Redfangs move.<\/p>\n

To the left and to the right. Goblins shifted out of the way, opening a path for him. Redscar narrowed his eyes. He looked at Poisonbite and Noears, both trudging wearily after him. The Goblins looked up at him, and both looked as tired as he felt. Redscar hesitated and looked behind him.<\/p>\n

A sea of Goblins stretched behind him, slowly moving forwards. They were all flowing to this spot. Redscar hesitated. But they had come so far. What was the point of turning back now? He dismounted from Thunderfur and patted the Carn Wolf.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked at Poisonbite and Noears. The two looked at him, and Redscar pointed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI go. If don\u2019t come back\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He trailed off. If he didn\u2019t come back, what then? The two waited, but Redscar had nothing else to say. He turned and began trudging up the hill. The Redfangs stared at him. So did the strange grey Goblins. Redscar kept his vision ahead as he walked up the hill. He knew the rest of his tribe\u2014of Rags\u2019 tribe\u2014was gathering behind him, watching him progress.<\/p>\n

Redscar\u2019s legs burned. He was so tired. He\u2019d let other Goblins ride Thunderfur until now. He tried not to fall as he climbed the muddy slope, avoiding the water pooling in the valley next to him. He could see shapes moving in the water. Fish? He was hungry. Hungry, but so tired he could sleep right then and there.<\/p>\n

Something moved behind him. Redscar turned and saw Thunderfur padding up the hill. The Carn Wolf growled softly. Redscar looked at him. He\u2019d told Thunderfur to stay. But the Carn Wolf was good at ignoring commands Redscar didn\u2019t mean. The Goblin smiled, and together, the two kept walking.<\/p>\n

Up the hill, onto wet grass that hadn\u2019t been killed by the flooding waters. Redscar saw the inn rise above him. Tall. Wide. The windows were open, and the shutters\u2014shutters on the outside?\u2014were thrown open. Yellow light spilled from within. The Goblin hesitated, then.<\/p>\n

It was an inn. It was just like the ones he\u2019d seen in other cities. A Human building, or a Drake\u2019s. Not meant for Goblins. And yet, the door called to him. Redscar trudged over to it, heart pounding.<\/p>\n

He was afraid. Afraid in a way that had nothing to do with fear of battle. He had come so far. He had lost his Chieftain, failed her. The tribe had been broken. And this\u2014this was just an inn. Redscar bowed his head. What could an inn do for his tribe? He almost turned away, and Thunderfur nudged him. The Carn Wolf could smell something inside it wanted. It whined pleadingly, and Redscar looked back.<\/p>\n

He still might have turned back. He still would have walked away, rather than be disappointed. It was just an inn. But as the setting sun shone down on the inn, Redscar saw something. He stared, and his eyes narrowed as he tried to make sense of what he saw. It took him a while, because he was a poor reader. But then he blinked. And laughed.<\/p>\n

The Goblins of the Flooded Waters tribe saw Redscar laugh. They saw him step back and wave, urging them forwards.<\/p>\n

Poisonbite and Noears were first up the hill. They staggered up the slope, wondering what Redscar had seen. They too hesitated as they saw the inn, a symbol of civilization, a place they could never enter. Perhaps at this point they might have wavered. But then they saw it too.<\/p>\n

It was the sign that hung proudly on the door. Right in front, hanging on a nail freshly hammered into the wood. The lettering had been enlarged and underlined by a steady hand, and the sign hung at head height for the shorter Goblins. It was a simple message, but it changed everything. Noears read the name of the inn and the sign out loud for the others.<\/p>\n

The Wandering Inn.<\/em><\/p>\n

That was the name of the inn. And on the door, the sign.<\/p>\n

No killing Goblins.<\/em><\/p>\n

And so they entered the inn.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Redscar, Poisonbite, and Noears stepped into the inn. They felt warm air rush over their faces and hesitated. The scent of cooked food hung in the air, and the inn was bright. Their eyes were first drawn to the warm, bright fireplace, then the candles lighting up the tables, freshly placed, only beginning to drip with wax. They stared at the rug placed just in front of the door. Noears shuffled his feet. Redscar tried to block Thunderfur from poking his head through the door.<\/p>\n

The three Goblins plus one Carn Wolf kept still, looking about the inn. Their eyes picked out only tables and chairs at first. And then\u2014movement. They froze as they saw one table was occupied.<\/p>\n

A group of six Goblins, five Hobs and one smaller Goblin, sat at a table. They had mugs and plates with food on them. Poisonbite gaped, but Redscar\u2019s eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n

\u201cRedfangs.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

There was no mistaking the war paint on their bodies. The Redfangs turned to look at him, and Redscar tensed. He recognized one of them. The other five were hauntingly familiar in some way, but the regular-sized Goblin who tensed was one of Redscar\u2019s old comrades.<\/p>\n

Spiderslicer began to stand up at his table, but one of the Hobs grabbed him and forced him down. The smaller Goblin glared up at the Hob, but he kept sitting. The Hob offered him something. A bit of meat on a stick? Redscar\u2019s stomach rumbled, and Thunderfur sniffed<\/em>. The sound seemed to draw attention to them, because at that moment, someone exited a door across from them.<\/p>\n

A young woman walked out of the inn\u2019s kitchen. She was holding a pot with a wooden spoon\u2019s handle sticking out of it, and something was steaming and giving off a very inviting smell. All three Goblins\u2019 stomachs rumbled. But it was the Human they looked at. She stopped and blinked as she saw them standing there.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, hello there. I wondered when someone else would stop by. One second, please!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Flooded Waters tribe Goblins stared as the young woman flashed them a smile and then went over to the table. She put the pot down in front of the Hobs and Spiderslicer, all of whom sat up. Spiderslicer kept trying to glare at Redscar, but his attention was drawn to the pot. The young woman\u2019s voice was audible quite clearly in the very large\u2014and very empty<\/em>\u2014common room.<\/p>\n

\u201cSoup du jour. <\/em>That\u2019s French, by the way. It means \u2018soup of the day\u2019, which in this case is borscht. That\u2019s egg, sausage, bacon, butter\u2026it\u2019s sour, and I\u2019ve got some bread warming by the stove, so don\u2019t eat it right off. And it\u2019s hot, so be careful, got it? Badarrow, I\u2019m trusting you to serve.\u201d<\/p>\n

She handed the bowls to Badarrow, who grumbled and took the stack and began serving soup in the bowls. Noears\u2019 stomach rumbled plaintively. The young woman turned towards them. She walked over as Poisonbite backed up, hands on the hilts of her daggers. Redscar put a hand out, warning her to keep her blades sheathed. Thunderfur sniffed and made a low rumbling sound. The young woman stopped. She eyed the huge Carn Wolf, who was as tall as she was.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that wolf trained? If it\u2019s going to pee in my inn, it has to stay outside.\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked at Thunderfur and then at Redscar. The Goblin stared at her. The young woman put her hands on her hips after she got no response. Her mouth twitched, then she frowned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n

Thunderfur didn\u2019t care for her tone. He growled, and the young woman\u2019s eyes flicked towards him.<\/p>\n

\u201cSit.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

For a second, the three Goblins felt the air grow heavy<\/em> around them. But the [Innkeeper]\u2019s attention hadn\u2019t been focused on them. Thunderfur whined, then sat down. It stared at the young woman, and its head lowered submissively. The young woman smiled and then looked at Redscar, who was open-mouthed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess that\u2019s a good start. Hey, why are you all standing around? Here, take a seat. Do you have a preference?\u201d<\/p>\n

She indicated the tables. The Goblins stared at her and then edged forwards. They sat at a table, staring at the other Goblins and at the young woman. She nodded, pleased.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright. Now, can I get you anything? We\u2019ve got soup de jour. <\/em>Or du jour<\/em>, whatever the right one is\u2014hot bread, pasta, steaks, and I\u2019ve got specialty treats like pizza, hamburger, and even a cake<\/em>. Tons of food\u2014but no menu. Just tell me if you want a meat dish or what sounds good. I\u2019ve also got a lot of drinks. We have wines, water, milk, honey milk, a dark lager<\/em>, this orange beer I haven\u2019t tried yet, Flamebreath Whiskey\u2014very hot stuff, so watch out\u2014apple juice, soft and hard cider\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

She rattled off a list of drinks as the Goblins stared up at her. The [Innkeeper] paused.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026but if you\u2019re not certain, we can start you with some soup and milk. And bread. With butter, obviously. How about that?\u201d<\/p>\n

It was a dream. The three felt certain they were in a shared dream or in some other reality where up was sideways and nothing was real. They nodded silently. Thunderfur whuffed<\/em>, and the young woman eyed him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019ll get you some raw meat for your doggy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doggy.<\/em> Redscar opened his mouth, but the young woman was already moving into the kitchen. The three Goblins stared as they heard her clatter about in there and then looked at the Redfangs. The Hobs were eating already and chattering to Spiderslicer, gesturing around the room. Redscar leaned over to Noears and Poisonbite. The three looked at each other, lost for words. Then Redscar poked Noears. The Goblin yelped<\/em> as Redscar\u2019s claw poked his side. Redscar pinched himself and found that it hurt.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, is your dog okay with raw meat? They can eat that, right? Or is cooked meat worse? Tell you what\u2014we\u2019ll give him this steak for starters, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Goblins started. The Human was back! And she had a steak. Thunderfur got up, and Redscar grabbed his fur to keep him still. The Carn Wolf wagged his tail as the young woman approached. She eyed its open jaws and large, large<\/em> teeth.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my what large teeth you have, doggy. Sit.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Thunderfur sat. The young woman offered him a steak, and Thunderfur drooled<\/em> onto Redscar\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere. You can give it to him. I don\u2019t have a plate that\u2019s not pottery, so he\u2019ll have to eat it off the floor. Don\u2019t worry, it\u2019s so clean you could eat your dinner off it. The tables too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Redscar blinked at the cooked steak and took hold of it with one hand. It was warm. And it smelled so good he wanted to bite it himself. But since the young woman was already coming back with another pot and bowls, he offered it to Thunderfur. The Carn Wolf practically tore the meat from his master\u2019s hands and began to scarf it down.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you feed those things without running out of food? Never mind. Here\u2019s the borscht! And bread.\u201d<\/p>\n

A bowl appeared in front of each of the Goblins. And the young woman began ladling hot soup into each bowl. She put a loaf of bread on the table, some soft butter, and a blunt knife. The Goblins stared at the bread, round-eyed. The young woman smiled as she filled Noears\u2019 bowl and stood back. There was silence. The Goblins didn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n

They knew how this worked. Now was the time when they would reach for bowls and find they were lying in a ditch, half-starved and delirious. It had happened before. This wasn\u2019t happening. This was a happy dream, and so they didn\u2019t move, trying to prolong the moment. They waited for ten seconds and then twenty as Thunderfur savaged the steak, and Redscar felt his stomach begin to try and stage a takeover from his belly. It was a dream. Right up until the young woman coughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s getting cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

They looked at her. She smiled at them.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you worried about the cost? No charge. It\u2019s on the house tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

She gave them a broad grin, and her eyes twinkled. The Goblins looked at each other. Then, slowly, Noears reached for the bread. It was pre-sliced into generous portions and puffy<\/em>. It smelled fresh, not like the bread they found in adventurers\u2019 rations or the stale stuff they sometimes looted. It was soft. And Noears\u2019 claws trembled as he brought it to his mouth and bit.<\/p>\n

He chewed slowly. Poisonbite and Redscar watched him. Noears\u2019 eyes rolled up in his head, and they thought he was having a seizure. But no\u2014he was just chewing. And chewing. And then he bit and chewed again. Every line in his body told them he was enjoying himself.<\/p>\n

That settled it. Redscar picked up another piece of bread and discovered something else. It was warm<\/em>. The bread squished in his claw, and trembling, he brought it to his mouth. He opened his mouth, bit, and the world changed. He began to chew the bread slowly and then with increasing speed as his salivary glands, already prepped, began working overtime.<\/p>\n

He had never tasted fresh bread before. Poisonbite looked at Redscar\u2019s face, then at Noears, and then took things a step further. Awkwardly, she spread some of the butter on the bread and began to eat it. And the wonders continued.<\/p>\n

The young woman watched the Goblins eating the bread. They finished one piece and reached for another. She smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI make good bread, huh? Try it with the soup, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

They jumped and looked at her. She indicated the bowls, and then they realized that yes, they had soup! They tried that.<\/p>\n

Sour<\/em>. Warm! Complex flavors! None of them bad! Redscar had never tasted the like, even when he\u2019d eaten horse stew or Eater Goats. This wasn\u2019t just meat and water with a few extras thrown in. Even Rags\u2019 filling soup wasn\u2019t half as good. This was\u2014this was cuisine. <\/em>He began to eat and only remembered to dip his bread and try that when he saw Noears doing it. Another taste. Another experience!<\/p>\n

Thunderfur watched his master eating, trying to scarf the food and make it last forever at the same time. He whined, licking his chops, and the young woman found another steak for him to gobble. The Goblins ate, chewing their way through one bowl, before halting for a moment. Their stomachs felt full given how much they normally ate, but they wanted more. And there was a pot. The young woman waited.<\/p>\n

\u201cHelp yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

They looked at her. She indicated the pot. The Goblins peered into it and then at her. The [Innkeeper] nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t do table serving here. Sorry. You\u2019ll have to fill your bowls yourself. We do refill mugs. Want more milk?\u201d<\/p>\n

She indicated the mugs of yet-untouched white stuff, which none of the Goblins had quite been certain of. Redscar sipped from the strange substance, and his jaw dropped. He saw the young woman\u2019s eyes twinkle again and her lips twitch. This time, Redscar recognized it. She was suppressing a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell? Any good? I\u2019ve got more, you know. If your friends can behave, there\u2019s enough for a crowd. Not all of them by far, but my inn\u2019s open for business.\u201d<\/p>\n

She glanced towards the door. The Flooded Waters Goblins stared at her and then realized she was talking about the others. The others. They stared at the full pot, realizing they\u2019d been stuffing themselves while the rest of their tribe was waiting outside. Redscar got up slowly. He looked at Spiderslicer and understood in a flash that the other Redfang leader had been invited for the same reason. He looked at the young woman. She folded her arms, regarding him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you the Chieftain? My name is Erin. Erin Solstice. I run this inn, and I\u2019m happy to feed you all. If you\u2019re not here to cause trouble. I\u2019m assured by my regulars\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded to the five Hobs, one of whom waved a hand. Poisonbite looked stunned.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2014that you\u2019re actually good folk. But I had to be sure. How about it? No trouble? Food? Do we have a deal?\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked down at Redscar. Not by much; Redscar was tall for an ordinary Goblin, and she wasn\u2019t the tallest Human in the world. He hesitated. Erin Solstice. She was nothing like he imagined or what Rags had said. But\u2014her casual tone, as if she was speaking to another Human. The hint of a smile on her face, the twinkle in her eye that said she was laughing inside. And the sign. He looked at Noears and Poisonbite. And he dared to believe this was reality.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin jumped. She actually jumped<\/em>. She stared at Redscar as he took a step back. Her eyes widened.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can talk? <\/em>Wait, you can speak English?\u201d<\/p>\n

English? The Goblins didn\u2019t know about that. But Redscar nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan talk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noears raised a hand. Poisonbite nodded. Erin blinked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait\u2014but I thought only Numbtongue\u2014wow.<\/em> Okay. Uh\u2014hi. Pleased to meet you. I\u2019m Erin. You knew that.\u201d<\/p>\n

She held out a hand. Redscar stared at it. He slowly took it, and Erin squeezed his hand. He squeezed back gingerly.<\/p>\n

\u201cRedscar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRedscar? Hey, that\u2019s like Redfang, isn\u2019t it? Are you one of them? Wait\u2014Numbtongue explained it to me. I\u2019m going to get your name mixed up, aren\u2019t I? Sorry in advance! And you are?\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin turned to Noears. The [Mage] blinked up at her, unusually shy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am Noears.\u201d<\/p>\n

The young woman stared at the ragged flesh around both earholes.<\/p>\n

\u201cNoears?<\/em> Well that\u2019s\u2014uh\u2014well, that\u2019s very accurate. Literal names, Goblins. Yep. And who\u2019s your female friend?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI Poisonbite.\u201d<\/p>\n

The female Goblin bared her teeth challengingly at Erin. The young woman smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cPoisonbite? Are your bites poisonous? Hah! I kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her smile made Poisonbite narrow her eyes. The Goblin reached for her sheaths, and Redscar and Noears tensed.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. This.\u201d<\/p>\n

She drew her blades. Erin took a step back as Redscar grabbed Poisonbite\u2019s arms. The [Innkeeper] eyed the coated daggers and Poisonbite.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see. Well, keep your daggers sheathed, Poisonbite. And no fighting in my inn. No fighting, no attacking anyone else, no bad names, and no wolves peeing or doing the other thing in my inn. None of you do that either, got it? I have outhouses. If we can agree on that\u2014you can stay at my inn.\u201d<\/p>\n

The three Goblins looked at each other. They looked at Erin. They had a thousand questions, a thousand things to say. And perhaps she saw it, because she just smiled. They had come a long way. A long way, and despaired. The journey had ground them down. But at last, at long last, it felt like they had arrived somewhere.<\/p>\n

A little inn on a hill. Redscar took Erin\u2019s hand again, and Poisonbite stowed her daggers. The young woman smiled as Noears went to the door and began to shout.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne last thing. The Redfangs want to come through, so you\u2019ll be sharing the inn with them. Like I said: no fighting. And you may have a few more guests.\u201d<\/p>\n

Redscar blinked, but nodded. Erin watched him and then nodded too. She walked over to the far wall, and Redscar saw another door, set against the wall. He frowned. Wait, but there hadn\u2019t been another door on the outside of the inn. So what\u2014<\/p>\n

Erin opened the door. Redscar saw another place appear in the doorway. A city, with the sun setting behind it. He stared. The sun was at the wrong angle! He stared out of the window in the inn. And then he saw them.<\/p>\n

A half-Elf. Humans. Drakes. A huge furry monster\u2014and Gnolls. A small white one that hid behind a bird-woman with blue feathers. They stared at the Goblins, at Thunderfur. And at Erin Solstice. She smiled and raised her voice, beckoning them in.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, everyone! You can come back through! But only if<\/em> you\u2019re cool with Goblins.\u201d<\/p>\n

The people standing in the city\u2014in Liscor\u2014hesitated. Some of them turned away. Others backed up. But then a young woman came through. She tied her hair back and turned to the white Gnoll.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou stay here, Mrsha. You can stay at Krshia\u2019s place. Drassi, Ishkr? Let\u2019s get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

She walked through the doorway. A Gnoll, several Gnolls, and a few Drakes joined her. Some of them stared at the Goblins and one of the Gnolls sniffed, but the Drake just walked into the kitchen. And then a half-Elf followed them. And a young man in robes who sniffed <\/em>the air much like Thunderfur.<\/p>\n

\u201cI trust you have suitable victuals for tonight, Erin? May I inquire as to tonight\u2019s course?\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin rolled her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cSoup, Pisces. Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ve got enough even with the Goblins. Although you\u2019re paying. Krshia! I\u2019m going to need as much food as I can get on short notice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll never feed them all.\u201d<\/p>\n

A haughty, dark-skinned [Mage] walked past the Human called Pisces. She had stitching running around her neck and arms. Erin nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course not. But I think they can feed themselves. At least, I hope so. There\u2019s fish in the Floodplains\u2014Relc told me you can just fish them out. But I\u2019ll feed who I can. Who else is coming through?\u201d<\/p>\n

And they came. One after another. Adventurers, civilians, Drakes and Gnolls and Humans. They came into the inn, staring at the Goblins who began trickling through the doors. Some were uncomfortable. Others calm but wary. A few were openly at ease, and they were the oddest of all.<\/p>\n

But they came, and the Goblins from both the Redfang and Flooded Waters tribe who entered fell under the same aegis as the people from Liscor. They were enemies, possibly mortal ones. But in the inn, on this night, and with her here, there was peace. And so the night continued as Redscar sat and more food appeared. The strangest night he had ever lived through.<\/p>\n

The best.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olesm stared at the door as the Horns of Hammerad walked through and then the Silver Swords, following Lyonette and Drassi and the others. Mrsha circled Krshia, looking unhappy as the Gnoll shook her head, looking appalled and delighted by the amount of food Erin wanted. Olesm turned to the others gathered in front of the magic doorway. Bevussa looked appalled.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo Erin\u2019s just going to feed the Goblins? There are tens of thousands outside!\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Strategist] grinned weakly. He looked at the door and spotted Embria and Zevara staring at it. He tried to move towards the door and failed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s Erin for you. And we can go through, if we\u2019re willing to dine in company, it sounds like fun. Anyone going?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you serious? They\u2019re Goblins.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Keldrass spat a few wisps of flame. He stared at the door, fists clenched. He looked around.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re about to be under siege from the Goblin Lord and the Humans, and she\u2019s letting them in! We just fought<\/em> with Goblins! Killed them!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you expect anything else from her, Keldrass? And yeah, we killed them. They tore us up. If they\u2019re not holding a grudge, I won\u2019t. Not against them, at any rate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jelaqua rolled her eyes. She looked at the half-Giant clutching his side.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoore, you want to go through? We can stay somewhere else or go to our rooms if\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going through.\u201d<\/p>\n

The half-Giant shook his head and walked through the door. Keldrass made a sound of fury.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an outrage. If we weren\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

He broke off, eying Olesm. The [Strategist] looked suspiciously at Keldrass, and the Drake cleared his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2014That is, I refuse to enter that inn. And Erin Solstice is courting arrest or worse by letting the Goblins into her establishment, even if it is outside of Liscor\u2019s jurisdiction! The doorway is connected to the city!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue. We need to close it off once everyone\u2019s through. But it\u2019s not that big of a risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olesm nodded to Zevara, Embria, and the small army of soldiers and guardsmen gathered around the doorway. The odds of the Goblins forcing their way into the city was remote at this moment. Keldrass growled, and Embria frowned.<\/p>\n

\u201cStill, isn\u2019t this a good chance to\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

She subtly indicated the door with a nod of her head. Olesm\u2019s stomach twisted up. Zevara frowned.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think all of the Goblins\u2019 leaders are in one spot?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe. Watch Captain, this is an opportunity. If you want to risk it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The two Drakes looked at each other. Zevara gritted her teeth.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we should check first. Send reconnaissance. Olesm, you\u2019re on good terms with Erin. Go through, check the Goblins.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t, Watch Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olesm shuffled his feet miserably. Zevara looked at him, and her brows snapped together.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was an order, Olesm. I know you have personal feelings, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not that, Zevara. I can\u2019t go through that door. Can you?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Watch Captain stared at Olesm. Then she stared at the doorway. Olesm heard Embria snort.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you talking about? Of course we\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

She trailed off. The crowd gathered around the door looked at each other. They began to realize what Olesm had picked up on. Zevara stared at her feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t walk towards the door.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe neither.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olesm confirmed it. None of the [Soldiers] or [Guards] or adventurers like Keldrass could enter the inn. There were a few exceptions. Bevussa walked forwards, frowning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine. Look, see?\u201d<\/p>\n

She walked through the door, walked back, and then opened and closed the door a few times. Pisces appeared in the doorframe after the third time.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re letting the cool air in. Please refrain from doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shut the door. The others stared at the shut door. Aside from Bevussa, Mrsha, and Krshia, none of the others could open it. The real question they began debating was why.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt has to be her aura skill. Erin told me she had one. And she\u2019s using it now, I think. The door\u2019s her property, and you heard what she said. Only Goblins and people who can be civil to Goblins are allowed inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miserably, Olesm stared at the door. He bet they could overcome the effects, but it would be detrimental to anyone going through. They\u2019d have to fight just to stay in the inn. Embria scowled.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly Goblins? That\u2019s racist.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeciesist, you mean.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s ridiculous! She\u2019s using an aura skill against us?<\/em> And it\u2019s not\u2014I\u2019m a Wing Commander\u2014I can\u2019t be held back by this!\u201d<\/p>\n

She took a step forwards and stopped. Olesm tried to do the same and barely got his foot to move towards the door.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t so much of a physical barrier as Olesm strongly not<\/em> wanting to put his hand on the door handle and swing it open. It wasn\u2019t that he couldn\u2019t\u2014he just didn\u2019t want to. And because that was the case, there was no fighting the emotion unless Olesm concentrated on why<\/em> he didn\u2019t want to go in. And even then, it was like fighting to keep his eyes open when he was exhausted; if he wavered once, he stepped backwards.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is a powerful amount of concentration. Impressive for an [Innkeeper]. No, it would be impressive for a [Lord] below Level 30.\u201d<\/p>\n

A quiet voice made Olesm turn. Ilvriss was studying the inn. The [Strategist] looked at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you enter the inn, Wall Lord Ilvriss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ilvriss looked affronted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can enter the inn. If I choose to. And I could repel the effects of her aura around me. The question is whether or not it is tactically viable.\u201d<\/p>\n

He strode forwards and opened the door, unimpeded by whatever was happening. He took one look inside the inn and shut the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n

The others waited as Ilvriss stood there, pondering for a second. Then the Wall Lord shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave them. There\u2019s no point to interference. If the Goblins leave tomorrow morning, all will be satisfactory.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if they don\u2019t, Wall Lord?\u201d<\/p>\n

Embria looked angry as she walked forwards, clearly determined to prove a point. She opened the door with effort and stared inside, narrow-eyed. Ilvriss\u2019 voice grew cold.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy understanding is that Goblins elect new Chieftains if the old ones fall, Wing Commander. Moreover, fighting with Miss Solstice\u2019s aura impeding most of us would be dangerous. If the Goblins are here tomorrow\u2014then we take steps. But as Strategist Olesm has said\u2014what real choice do we have? Let us trust to Erin Solstice\u2019s unique brand of\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He trailed off. There was no word for it. Ilvriss turned. Zevara stared at the doorway and then turned.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet someone with a scroll of [Fireball] and put up some temporary barricades. Just in case. If a Goblin comes through, blast the door and seal it. Otherwise\u2026leave them.\u201d<\/p>\n

She strode off. So did Embria, swearing a blue streak much like her father. Olesm watched them go. He stared back at the inn and tried to walk towards the door. But he couldn\u2019t. Shamefaced, he turned away. The inn blazed as he climbed the walls and sat there, staring down at them. Below, the army of Goblins was mingling, campfires going up.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow, they would be an issue. But tonight was for them. They sat around her inn, eating, mingling, flowing in and out of the building. The one place in the world they knew they would be safe. For one night.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

At first, she asked no questions. She just marshaled her staff. Gnolls, Drakes, a young Human girl like herself. She sent them in and out of the kitchen as bodies filled chairs, serving drinks, bringing out food. Then she addressed the larger problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lotta Goblins out there. Redfang\u2014I mean, Redscar. Do your people have enough food for them? What about you, Spiderbite?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpiderslicer.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Numbtongue corrected Erin. The two Redfangs exchanged a look, which turned into a staring contest. Redscar put his hand on the hilt of his sword and answered slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave food. Supplies. But hungry. Use more.\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t know how much food Erin\u2019s inn held, but even if it was packed from floor to rafters, it wouldn\u2019t be enough. Erin nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpiderslicer?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Goblin kept glaring at Redscar. By now, Redscar had heard the news. Garen was gone. He\u2019d been overthrown by the strange five Hobs. He couldn\u2019t help but think he knew them. But that didn\u2019t matter to Spiderslicer. Spiderslicer\u2019s grudge against Redscar was personal. The Goblin grunted.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave food.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay then.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin stepped between the two. She looked at both and then at one of the Hobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there\u2019s not enough food, then we\u2019ll just have to make more. Rabbiteater!\u201d<\/p>\n

Redscar jumped. Rabbiteater?<\/em> He stared as one of the Hobs stood up. But Rabbiteater was a small Goblin! And this Hob who stood up looked\u2014impressive. He had a cloak made of liquid, and his armor looked pristine. He looked like\u2026well, an adventurer. He had been filling a goblet from his cloak, and the liquid looked like blood. Or wine. He walked over as Erin waved at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cRabbiteater, get Pebblesnatch and your people to grab all the fish they can out of the water. Watch out for Rock Crabs\u2014tell them to make a fillet. Something simple. As for here, I\u2019ve got a lot of food. The Goblins can come in and out.\u201d<\/p>\n

She directed Rabbiteater, and the Hob nodded and walked out of the inn. Redscar stared at his back and then looked at the others. No. It couldn\u2019t be. But then\u2014he stared at their war paint, remembering the group of warriors that Garen had sent out of the tribe. His eyes widened.<\/p>\n

\u201cHeadscratcher?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the Hobs looked up. He stared at Redscar and then got up slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cRedscar?\u201d<\/p>\n

The two met. Erin came back from a quick conference with Pebblesnatch and her fancy chef\u2019s hat to see Redscar surrounded by the other Redfangs, sans Spiderslicer, laughing in delight. She watched as the former Redfang second-in-command reunited with his old subordinates.<\/p>\n

It was a lot of backslapping and quick Goblin chatter that Erin couldn\u2019t follow, but the body language was good. The five clearly knew Redscar and held him in some esteem. For his part, the smaller Goblin looked surprised and then happy to see them. What she couldn\u2019t understand was his relationship with the scowling Goblin called Spiderslicer. They were both Redfangs, but there was some serious beef between them. Numbtongue had to explain it in the end.<\/p>\n

\u201cRedfangs. We are all Redfangs. Redscar\u2019s warriors and Spiderslicer\u2019s. But our tribe split. They left with Rags. And they<\/em> went with Garen, our old Chieftain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWow. They went with Rags over that Garen guy? And wait\u2014that means those two are enemies?\u201d<\/p>\n

Numbtongue shook his head. Spiderslicer was walking towards Redscar, hand on the hilt of his sword.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Yes. Not enemies. Redfangs are always Redfangs. Now we are all on the same side. We all\u2026left Garen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what\u2019s the problem?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpiderslicer was the third-best fighter in all of the Redfang tribe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Redscar is second-<\/em>best in all of Redfang tribe. Or was until he left.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.<\/em> Now I get it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin wanted to roll her eyes as Spiderslicer snapped something and the other Redfangs fell silent. The Goblins who\u2019d entered Erin\u2019s inn grew quiet as the two Goblins stared each other down. Redscar put a hand on his sword\u2019s hilt, and Erin felt motivated to interject.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey! I said no fighting!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The two Goblins looked at her. Redscar looked at Spiderslicer, who growled something. The two looked at each other in tense silence, and then Redscar jerked his head. They began walking for the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait, where are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n

Redscar paused to look at Erin.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo fighting. In inn. So going out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin\u2019s mouth opened, but Numbtongue grabbed her and whispered urgently to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill fight anyways. Has to fight. Redfangs have to know who is best.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but they\u2019ll kill each other!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. They won\u2019t use their own swords. Spiderslicer broke his falchion, and Redscar has an enchanted blade. It won\u2019t be fair, so they\u2019ll use other weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell that\u2019s a relief\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ll use ordinary swords instead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The fight went down on a hill close to Erin\u2019s inn. She stood outside the inn with a crowd of adventurers. And Goblins. They stood there, eating and watching as the two Goblins stood in a circle of Redfang warriors. The two were using steel blades, shortswords of identical length. Unenchanted, as Numbtongue had said. But they were sharp and metal.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re going to kill each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin put her hands on her head. Earlia, who was snacking on some french fries, shook her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah, not if they have healing potions. Sparring can be lethal, but it\u2019s not bad if there\u2019s potions nearby. The real injuries happen when you sever a limb or poke out an eye. Or crush bones. But experts can usually avoid that. Hey, anyone care for a bet?\u201d<\/p>\n

Heads turned. Pisces drifted over.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could back a few wagers. What\u2019re the odds?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRedscar will win. Second-best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Headscratcher folded his arms. Shorthilt shook his head dismissively.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot certain. Redscar is best on Thunderfur. Riding. But Spiderslicer fights best on ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpiderslicer doesn\u2019t have falchion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rabbiteater pointed that fact out. The other Redfangs nodded. Revi, staring down at the commotion, looked around.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one with the spider name looks good to me. Put two gold pieces on him, Pisces.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh come now, Revi. Surely you can stand a larger bet. Fifty gold on the spider fellow, young Pisces. How much will that earn me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Typhenous chuckled. Pisces looked up as the other adventurers whistled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll give you even odds on both sides for the moment. Any takers?\u201d<\/p>\n

A clamor of voices arose, and Pisces began to take money or vocal bets from other sides. Erin looked disgusted as some of the Goblins began to offer Pisces bits of food as well or coins of their own. Then she saw a dour looking face appear at Pisces\u2019 back. Erin drifted closer just in time to hear Halrac speak to Pisces.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo hundred gold on the one with the scar.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pisces paused. He glanced at Halrac and immediately adjusted the odds to favor Redscar. Erin slapped her forehead. The [Scout] met her eyes and shrugged.<\/p>\n

The fight went down independent of the betting around The Wandering Inn. Spiderslicer and Redscar advanced slowly. They didn\u2019t touch weapons or nod to each other. They just waited a beat and then tried to stab each other to death. Or at least, that was what Erin made of it. She couldn\u2019t watch the entire thing; every time they leaned back and avoided a close cut or, worse, cut each other, she had to cover her eyes. They were indeed careful\u2014but only to avoid killing each other. Blood soon ran in the mud, and Erin heard the shouts from outside.<\/p>\n

It was over in minutes, which was a surprise to everyone who\u2019d expected a quick match. Both Goblins trooped into the inn, having healed their wounds. Spiderslicer followed Redscar into the inn and sat at the same table as the scarred Goblin. He seemed\u2026calmer now. Erin eyed both Goblins but couldn\u2019t tell who\u2019d won at a glance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n

She walked over to a table of adventurers. And Headscratcher and Shorthilt. Halrac was drinking and counting the coins that Pisces had sullenly paid out\u2014the [Necromancer] had taken a loss thanks to the big bet\u2014and the others were animatedly discussing the fight. Bevussa looked up.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose Goblins are good<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeyond good, I\u2019d say. They actually look like they know swordsmanship. They\u2019re better than almost all the Silver-rank adventurers I see practicing. Some of the Gold-rank ones, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlia grumbled into her mug. She looked disgruntled, almost uneasy. Pisces nodded, sniffing knowledgeably.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir form is impeccable. The one called Redscar is clearly better than Spiderslicer, but both had superior posture, timing, and a modicum of grace. It was certainly a battle worth watching.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom Goblins.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t underestimate them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Halrac admonished the other adventurers. Typhenous, who was sadly drinking from his mug, looked up at Halrac.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re keen-eyed, Halrac. Share your insights with us. How would you rate them on a purely technical level against someone of, say, Ylawes\u2019 caliber?\u201d<\/p>\n

He glanced slyly at the [Knight], who was sitting stiffly at a table and looking at the Goblins around him. Yvlon was sitting across from her brother, clearly displeased. But the two were talking. Halrac eyed Ylawes. He grunted.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo comment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh come on, Halrac.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t gossip about my peers. Especially if what I say will get back to them and ruffle feathers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHold on, you don\u2019t mean\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

The adventurers and Goblins sat forwards at the table. Halrac folded his arms. Erin rolled her eyes. She passed by their table and circulated the room.<\/p>\n

A dozen conversations were happening in different spots at once. Erin saw Noears sitting at another table near the magic door, clearly studying it, Hobgoblins bickering over food with smaller Goblins\u2014and adventurers, cautiously eating and watching them. But she wasn\u2019t interested in them. She found one Goblin sitting with a group of female Goblins\u2014at least, they all looked female to Erin.<\/p>\n

Poisonbite looked up suspiciously as Erin grabbed a chair and scooted over. The young woman stared up at a large Hob with a helmet still on her head. The Hob stared down at Erin. She smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then Erin looked at Poisonbite. The small Goblin stared up at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m told you know Rags.\u201d<\/p>\n

All the female Goblins stared hard at Erin. She raised her hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, I\u2019m not trying to start anything. But I knew her. Before she became your Chieftain. I think. She used to stay at this inn. She was\u2026a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Goblins kept staring. Poisonbite looked at the others.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou knew Chieftain?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA little bit. But she never spoke. I don\u2019t think she knew how. And she definitely didn\u2019t have a big tribe. Heck, at first, I don\u2019t think she had a tribe. She was just\u2026Rags. How did she end up leading such a huge army?\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin\u2019s question provoked a minor furor among the Goblins. Poisonbite hit the table with the butt of her knife and glared.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot army. Tribe. Flooded Waters tribe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry. But can you tell me about her? What was she like? How is she doing? Is she\u2026okay? I heard she was missing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChieftain is alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Poisonbite said it instantly. She glared at Erin as if hinting otherwise was tantamount to treason. She raised her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cChieftain is smart! Cunning! She rebelled from Tremborag of the Mountain. Fought [Emperor]! Defeated pink-death [Knights]! Spoke to him<\/em>. Greybeard!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreybeard.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other Goblins nodded conspiratorially and stared at Erin. She looked around blankly.<\/p>\n

\u201cRags did all that? Rags?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. She is our Chieftain. Worthy. You should know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Poisonbite sneered down at Erin. The young woman nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI should. So tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The smaller Goblin hesitated. She looked uncertain. Then the Hob with the helmet spoke. She rumbled, and Erin jumped.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst Chieftain was in Flooded Waters tribe. First fight other tribes. Had crossbows. Very smart. Very deadly. Shoot in head very dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other Goblins nodded. The Hob fell silent, drank from her mug, and folded her arms. She was clearly done. Another Goblin took up the story. She had a very clear tone. Some of the Goblins were clearly very good at English, or rather, the common tongue, and others were not.<\/p>\n

\u201cChieftain fought many tribes. Garen Redfang himself came to fight Chieftain. Fought. Won. Chased Chieftain and fought and fought. But then Chieftain lured into Shield Spider trap. Garen Redfang submit. Then Chieftain fight other tribes! Redfangs and Flooded Waters tribe, too strong! But Goblin Lord coming. So go north. Fight Goldstone Chieftain tribe. Get Pyrite\u2014Goldstone Chieftain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPyrite.\u201d<\/p>\n

The others murmured his name. Erin looked around.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho was he?\u201d<\/p>\n

The female Goblins stared at Erin. They tried to explain. Erin tried to listen. It was a confusing story, made harder by poor grammar and an unreliable narrative structure. But Erin kept listening. The Goblins argued over the details, threw food at each other, but kept telling the story. And they kept looking at Erin, although the [Innkeeper] didn\u2019t know why. But it was the expression on her face as they told her more of Rags, of her triumphs and failures.<\/p>\n

She was smiling.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Noears sat amid some of the [Mages] and adventurers. Or rather, he sat at a table and they sat at their tables near him and stared at him. They couldn\u2019t help it. Ceria wished she\u2019d joined Pisces at his table, even if it meant listening to him sniff. He had a cold. Anything would be better than this.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I, uh, won my axe during that competition. Dead drunk, you know. Woke up with a splitting headache and the [Axe Champion] class. Never been able to get rid of it, for all I use a hammer. Damn class. I mean, the Skill\u2019s nice, but it\u2019s the wrong specialization. Maybe I should pick up an axe, but it\u2019s just not my thing. So I\u2019m screwed two ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawil finished his story as he spoke to Falene, Ylawes, Yvlon, Ceria, and Ksmvr. The other adventurers nodded without much enthusiasm. Only Ksmvr seemed animated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is a very poignant story illuminating the dangers of inebriation, friend Dawil. May I ask what Skills your class gives you? I am attempting to ascertain which class will be of most use to my team.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, well, if it\u2019s Skills<\/em> you want to talk about, you\u2019d do worse than following Ylawes\u2019 example. He\u2019s always blocking things with his shield. Or his face. [Knights] are a good class. Better than most [Warrior] classes. Right, lad?\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawil raised his voice and slapped Ylawes on the back. The [Knight] lurched and slopped some of his drink on the table. He looked around.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? I\u2019m sorry, Dawil. I was distracted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ksmvr nodded knowingly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. You were staring hard at the Goblin without ears for quite some time. So was everyone else. May I ask what the issue is? Is he horribly disfigured or is this a mark of some kind of sexual attractiveness I am not aware of?\u201d<\/p>\n

The entire table went silent. Noears looked around, and the other Goblins at his table\u2014including Badarrow\u2014looked up. They stared at the adventurers, and Noears raised his voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlack thing asks about this?\u201d<\/p>\n

He tapped his ears. Ksmvr nodded politely as Ceria tried to kick him under the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cOw. Yes, I am Ksmvr. I am an Antinium and a member of the Horns of Hammerad. Ow. Captain Ceria, you are kicking me. May I ask about your missing ears? My companions clearly wish to, but have not broached the subject. I wish to ask so we may continue our discussion unimpeded.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stared at Noears. The [Mage] grinned and shot a spark from one finger to the other. Electricity danced along one claw as he stood up. The adventurers looked as he moved over, ushering a Goblin out of his seat. Noears tilted his head to show them the missing ears.<\/p>\n

\u201cKsmvr Antinium wants to know why ears are missing? Other adventurers know. You don\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea. Ow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noears grinned. He looked from face to face. Ceria couldn\u2019t meet his eyes. Noears tapped the side of his head again.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnswer is bounty. Adventurers get paid for Goblin ears. Two copper coins for Goblin ears. Good money, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

He grinned at the others. Ylawes stared ahead. Dawil looked into his mug and then drank. He uttered an oath. Ceria closed her eyes, remembering. Yes. It was good money, especially if you were starting out. If you got a request to hunt Goblins\u2014or if you met some on the road, you could earn a few silver pieces easy. A request to subjugate a tribe? You added the ears onto whatever money you made. And you never thought twice about it after the first few times. You never\u2014<\/p>\n

None of the other adventurers would say anything. But it was Falene who looked around and felt the need to justify things. She pursed her lips and spoke, avoiding looking at Noears.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt may be distasteful, but the practice of placing bounties has historically been a key motivator in culling problematic populations. Rural Adventurer\u2019s Guilds lack access to truth spells, so the practice of collecting trophies is necessary, however\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDead gods, Falene!\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawil slammed his mug down on the table. Ceria jumped. The Dwarf looked up as Falene fell silent. Her face was slightly paler than usual. Dawil glared at her and then at Noears.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. We know. It\u2019s a thing adventurers do, lad. We kill Goblins and Shield Spiders and other monsters and don\u2019t think twice about it. I didn\u2019t until I came here. Then I started imagining every Goblin I ever killed. I\u2019m sorry for it. But sometimes the Goblins were bastards. Other times\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked away and at a group of Redfang warriors. They were sitting, eating, looking around, in good spirits. Only, now and then, Ceria had caught one of them looking towards the Silver Swords, Bevussa, or one of the other teams that had fought them. Just for a moment. But Erin\u2019s peace held. Dawil shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe fought Goblins on the road not a day ago, and they\u2019re sitting here without so much as blaming us. I don\u2019t know what to make of that, but I\u2019d defend myself and my team again. But the ears\u2014I can\u2019t excuse the ears.\u201d<\/p>\n

The others fell silent. Ksmvr looked from face to face and then at Noears. The Goblin [Mage] shrugged.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdventurers kill. Goblins kill. But next time, make sure Goblin is dead<\/em>. Or Goblins grows up and does this.\u201d<\/p>\n

He pointed a finger. A miniature bolt of lightning crackled up past Ksmvr\u2019s antennae. Falene pursed her lips but said nothing. Ylawes looked down at Noears.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am sorry for your loss, sir. But enemies are enemies. I am aware that there are good examples of your species\u2014once, my team encountered a group of\u2014of noble Goblins in a city besieged by their kind and the undead. But can you speak to the depredations others of your kind cause? What other options is there but to make war against Goblins who kill or steal?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSilver and steel, Ylawes!\u201d<\/p>\n

Yvlon glared at her brother. He returned her look, sitting stiffly in his chair. Noears cackled.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, good point! Good point! Fair is fair. Goblins do wrong, get killed. So. Here.\u201d<\/p>\n

He slapped something on the table in front of Ylawes. The [Knight] blinked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Two filthy gold coins lay on the table. Noears grinned at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone who wants coins cuts off your ears. Don\u2019t have to die either. Free coin! Fair is fair.\u201d<\/p>\n

He cackled, and lightning flickered from the tips of his claws. Falene eyed Noears as Ylawes flushed. Yvlon bit her lip, and Ceria saw she was trying not to laugh. Ksmvr eyed Ylawes.<\/p>\n

\u201cMonetarily, would it make sense to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShut up<\/em>, Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawil chortled. The mood at the table relaxed a tiny bit, odd as that seemed. Falene indicated Noears\u2019 claws circumspectly.<\/p>\n

\u201cMister\u2026Noears. Are you an [Aeromancer]?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Noears stared at the half-Elf. Falene hesitated.<\/p>\n

\u201cA [Lightning Mage]?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh! Yes!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Goblin grinned. He shot more sparks of electricity, blackening the table. A few struck Ylawes\u2019 armor and Yvlon\u2019s gauntlets. Both winced. Dawil, who\u2019d sensibly gone without his armor, swore and threw a piece of bread at Noears anyways.<\/p>\n

\u201cCut that out, you no-eared bastard!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ceria sucked in her breath, but the Goblins at Noears\u2019 table including him laughed. It was a genuine laugh, and Noears relented. He nodded at Falene, who\u2019d deflected a few of the sparks meant for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cLightning mage! Yes! Practiced with spells. Can shoot lightning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Falene shook her head, looking unhappily surprised.<\/p>\n

\u201cFascinating. It was speculated that a Goblin could learn magic, but one of your level is\u2026unprecedented. However, your control of mana is wildly inefficient. And the spells are twisted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYep. Look better that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noears agreed happily. Falene sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t suppose there are any Goblins with a more complete grasp of magic? General magic? Not just a single school?\u201d<\/p>\n

Noears looked blankly at the [Battle Mage]. He scratched at his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, like stupid magic? Lifting rocks and things?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ceria snorted some ale out of her nose. Falene gave her a long look as the younger half-Elf wiped her nose. Ceria ignored her. She hesitated and looked at Noears, then raised her mug.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey. You do lightning magic? I\u2019m an [Ice Mage].\u201d<\/p>\n

Noears brightened. He looked inquiringly at Ceria, and she raised her hand. The Goblins oohed<\/em> as Ceria coated her hand and arm in a layer of ice, her new spell. Noears responded by making a little ball of electricity which he shot at Ceria. She deflected it with her ice-covered hand. Falene sighed loudly.<\/p>\n

\u201cElementalists.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

At another table, no laughter of any kind was going on, and the tension was of a different kind. Moore sat gingerly at the table\u2014on the ground since there were no chairs built for his weight. He was surrounded by pillows that supported his back and allowed him to lean back a bit. He was eating gingerly. The other two sitting at his table, Jelaqua and Seborn, ate very little, but they\u2019d been drinking into their cups.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe those Redfangs don\u2019t hold a grudge. We killed a lot of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jelaqua spoke quietly after a few minutes of silence. Moore looked up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI asked Erin about it. She said they\u2019re not happy, but apparently it was because they were fighting under Garen. His problems aren\u2019t the tribe\u2019s problems. So they let it go. They\u2019re quite stoic about some things. It is surprising.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how they do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jelaqua stared into her mug. The sight of a huge Raskghar hunched over was eerie, but the other two had learned to look beyond form. Seborn grunted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think they are. I think they just know that there\u2019s nothing to be gained from starting a fight right now.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked at a group of Redfangs. They all turned back in their chairs. Seborn nodded to himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ll eat. But they\u2019re memorizing our faces.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jelaqua stared at her mostly untouched plate. She pushed it back and looked at the other two. Only now, a few hours into the night, did she finally bring up the topic they\u2019d danced around.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo. What he said.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe it. How could Halassia do that? She always believed in the best of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was a Drake, Moore.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey cast her out of their city. They called her cursed!\u201d<\/p>\n

The half-Giant looked distressed as he shifted, trying to sit upright. Jelaqua put a paw on his leg.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep still. Healer\u2019s orders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reluctantly, he did. Seborn stared ahead.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter if they hated her. She was a patriot. So was Ukrina in her own way. They loved their cities. And they lived through the Second Antinium War, Moore. They grew up with that devastation. What do you think they would have done if they met Ksmvr? Remember how we never stopped at Liscor when we went from north to south?<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. We\u2019d take a ship and do guard duty instead, never mind how boring it was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEven so.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moore looked down at his bowl. Jelaqua sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe might have been lying.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think he was?<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, Garen? No. He\u2019s a terrible liar. He might have exaggerated or twisted what happened, but I can imagine it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Selphid fell silent. She traced on the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was Ukrina and Halassia, definitely. They\u2019re Drakes. The Goblin King matters to them. To the others too, but you know Keilam wouldn\u2019t say anything outright. And Thornst was new. He\u2019d be keeping quiet. So it was them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did they provoke him? Why not wait? He was offering the information. Why did they push him that far? Surely they did. Or was it him?\u201d<\/p>\n

Moore whispered. Seborn shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. They were right, though.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

The other two looked at him. Moore\u2019s jaw dropped in astonishment.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can you say<\/em> that, Seborn?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Drowned Man looked up.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? It\u2019s a Goblin King. If I was with them, I would agree. One cannot reappear again.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, but that\u2019s not\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Seborn gritted his teeth.<\/p>\n

\u201cGaren was in the wrong. He attacked them.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut if they were threatening to hurt him\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe. Attacked. Them. I remember what I saw. It was murder.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeborn. Enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jelaqua interrupted him. The Drowned Man sat back, simmering. He sipped from the hard spirits in his mug, then drank down the water in another tankard. Drowned People had to watch out for dehydration on land, and that went double when drinking. Jelaqua waited until both he and Moore had relaxed a bit to go on.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey should have waited for the rest of us. Regardless of anything else, they should have waited.\u201d<\/p>\n

No one had anything to say to that. Moore looked down and put his bowl on the table, no longer hungry. Seborn kept drinking. Jelaqua thought. At last, her lips twitched. The two looked at her, but it wasn\u2019t a happy smile. It was bitter. Jelaqua looked up at the two of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what we would have done. But think of it this way, Seborn. Even if we all agreed that the Goblin King\u2019s treasure was too dangerous to give to the Goblins\u2014what is it? Is it just a magic weapon or is it something else? We\u2019d have<\/em> to find out and bring Garen with us, probably. Especially if the treasure is something only a Goblin could find.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue. So what?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jelaqua shook her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d have gone to get it and decided afterwards what to do. It would have probably taken multiple Gold-rank teams and maybe even Named Adventurers. The High Passes. Dead gods. But we would have gone looking for it. That\u2019s what Ukrina and Halassia didn\u2019t understand. Either way\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Moore went pale. Seborn stared at Jelaqua for a long moment. Then he cursed and looked around.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need another drink. Drassi!<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

He waved a hand. The Drake saw it and nodded. Seborn waited, but instead of his drink, someone else wandered over. All three Halfseekers froze as a Goblin with a scar on his face walked over. He sat at their table without asking and looked at them.<\/p>\n

\u201cRedscar. Second to Garen. Second strongest in Redfang tribe.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was an introduction, however curt. Redscar eyed the Halfseekers, and Jelaqua knew that he knew how many Goblins from his tribe they\u2019d killed. She eyed the enchanted sword at his side and remembered the flails in her room. Seborn shifted, and she knew he was checking the positions of his daggers. Moore reached out.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeborn.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot here to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Redscar looked at Seborn as he said that. The [Rogue] stopped.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want?<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

The Goblin waited as Drassi came by with another mug and took Seborn\u2019s old one. He looked at the two of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cGaren. He talked about old team to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Halfseekers looked up sharply. Moore tried to sit up again.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes. When drank. Very few times.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jelaqua looked at Redscar. The Goblin shrugged.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes said about how strong. Or one of them. Cunning [Rogue]. Strong [Green Mage]. Brave Captain. Drake made of ash who was beautiful. Sometimes curse and throw things. Sometimes old stories.\u201d<\/p>\n

He gestured, indicating the others. The Halfseekers were silent. Redscar looked at them.<\/p>\n

\u201cHeard from Spiderslicer what did. Traitor. Betray tribe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were a team. Not a tribe.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

Redscar shrugged as if to say \u2018same thing\u2019. He looked at Jelaqua, then Seborn, and then Moore. He hesitated, then came out with it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas he good? Good teammate? Good\u2026adventurer<\/em>? Before?\u201d<\/p>\n

The three looked at him. Jelaqua saw a bit of anxiety in Redscar\u2019s eyes. And it wasn\u2019t about the Goblins they\u2019d killed. It was about something simpler. His question. He was asking\u2014was Garen a good teammate? Had he told the truth? Was anything true?<\/p>\n

It would be so easy to crush those fragile hopes. To tell the truth, but in such a way that Garen became a monster completely in the eyes of his tribe. And part of Jelaqua wanted to. She saw Moore hesitate and close his mouth. Seborn was stirring. She met his eyes and said not a word. The Drowned Man opened his mouth. He hesitated, looked at Redscar, and shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas he a good adventurer? He was a terrible one. He betrayed his team. He could barely <\/strong>read. <\/strong><\/em>He got us into more trouble than any of our other teammates just by walking around the city.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

Redscar sagged a bit in his chair. Seborn went on bitterly.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdventurers started fights with him, he got arrested, started panics\u2014if he\u2019d started any of it himself, we\u2019d have kicked him out from the start. But he never did. And he was strong. Aside from Jelaqua, he was the best in the group. When he found that enchanted blade, he became our front line.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

Jelaqua looked up. She saw Moore\u2019s head rise. Seborn made a disgusted sound.<\/p>\n

\u201cBastard. I nearly lost an arm twice thanks to him, and I had a rope around my neck one time. We were nearly <\/strong>lynched.<\/strong><\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked at his teammates. Jelaqua slowly smiled. The Selphid looked at Moore and then at Redscar, who\u2019d glanced back up. She tried to remember, and surprisingly, the memory came into her head without hurting as hard. It still hurt like a needle to the chest, but Jelaqua spoke anyways.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s true. Garen had a knack for trouble. But he was hardly as bad as Ukrina, was he? The number of times she got in trouble for her tail tickling the wrong young woman\u2014remember the time we nearly got killed by that angry [Lord]? Lord Tourants or whatever he was called? Garen wasn\u2019t with us\u2014mainly because we were afraid he would get executed if he wandered around in plain sight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moore nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a bounty on Goblins, and we couldn\u2019t convince anyone even though Garen was Silver-rank at the time. So he was hiding in the forest with Halassia waiting for us to come back. When he learned we were being held prisoner, he attacked the prison with her. People were screaming about a Goblin army when it was him and a few illusion spells.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other two snorted. They\u2019d nearly forgotten that detail. Redscar scooted closer, listening as Jelaqua fished for another memory.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember the time he got tricked and paid that [Wagon Driver] in gold instead of silver? He got so mad when he found out he tore up half the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr the time when he tried to beat a Minotaur in a fist fight?<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

The Halfseekers laughed. They began telling stories. It hurt each time they brought up Garen\u2019s name, much less Halassia, Ukrina, Thornst, or Keilam\u2019s. And it hurt worst of all to remember a happy moment when everything was going well. It hurt because it was a good memory, poisoned by what had happened. It felt to Jelaqua like all their memories had been infected with it.<\/p>\n

A slow, bitter poison. It hurt, coming out. But as Jelaqua spoke, the poison did drip away, leaving the wounds clearer at last. Not entirely, but some. Jelaqua paused in the middle of a tale about Garen, a flying boot, and a battle with a Creler nest and stopped.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was our friend. Our comrade in arms. I wish I could have stopped him. He was our friend, but there\u2019s no forgiveness. Some things you forgive. But other things you can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other two nodded. Redscar nodded as well. He looked at his arm, where a bit of red paint was beginning to flake away. He picked at it.<\/p>\n

\u201cBad friend. Bad teammate. Bad Chieftain. But good one, sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

And that was it. The Halfseekers nodded and began telling stories without a second beat. So did Redscar and some of the other Redfang warriors. Garen had betrayed their trust. He couldn\u2019t be forgiven and that couldn\u2019t be forgotten, no matter how much time passed. Neither the Halfseekers nor his tribe could bury the past.<\/p>\n

But they had liked him.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Goblins cycled in and out of the inn. A few, the lucky few, stayed. The Redfang five\u2014Headscratcher and company\u2014Redscar, Spiderslicer, Noears, and Poisonbite. But the others came and went, eating a meal, pausing to listen, to look around, or to point out Erin to each other, to listen to her shout obscenities as she lost a game of chess on her magic chessboard or try to teach someone how to play. They came and went, offering other Goblins a chance to see.<\/p>\n

The myth was true. The legend was real. And the inn was safe. For a little bit. The Goblins were relaxed, more at ease than they had been in a long time. But they were still watchful. It was ingrained in the psyche. So they noticed the dark shapes marching out of the darkness and over the hills.<\/p>\n

Of course, they\u2019d come under the hills first. Goblins shouted in alarm and backed up. Many didn\u2019t recognize the strangers, but they didn\u2019t need to know the Antinium to be wary. They raced towards the inn as Pawn and a group of Painted Soldiers walked out of the darkness. The [Acolyte] swung a censer, and the Painted Soldiers walked ahead of him. But something was strange.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are Antinium. Not a threat. They are guests of the inn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Numbtongue insisted as Redscar stared down at the Antinium. The Goblin looked extremely doubtful, but he whistled, and the Redfang warriors backed up and quieted their growling Carn Wolves. The Goblins drew back, and Erin, who\u2019d come to see, peered down at the Antinium.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey didn\u2019t come through Liscor. I wonder why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey probably don\u2019t want to walk through the barricades. But there\u2019s still water down there. Aren\u2019t they nervous? They could slip and fall.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ceria appeared at Erin\u2019s side. The young woman peered down.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they\u2019ve got a light, and Pawn\u2019s taking a good path. But\u2014is that a lantern he\u2019s swinging?\u201d<\/p>\n

The half-Elf\u2019s eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. That\u2019s not a lantern. That\u2019s a\u2026what is that? It\u2019s that burning thing you had him make.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHis censer. It\u2019s glowing.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin breathed softly. The censer was indeed glowing. It was a soft yellow light, and it had seemed exactly like a lantern at first. But the light was too pure, and it never wavered. The Antinium shook it, and it lit up the area in front of him as he and the Painted Soldiers\u2014eleven or so\u2014walked towards the inn, past the staring Goblins.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn enchantment? It has to be an artifact. Did they get it spelled somehow? But who would\u2014no. Wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ceria\u2019s voice faltered. She stared down at Pawn. Erin heard her gulp.<\/p>\n

\u201cCeria? What is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no magic. I can\u2019t see it coming from the lantern.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin looked down. The censer was glowing, just like a light spell. Only, it wasn\u2019t like a light spell, was it? The censer was glowing, not an orb of light. And Antinium couldn\u2019t cast magic. At least, Pawn couldn\u2019t. Ceria looked pale.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow is he doing that? How\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The Goblins looked at Erin. She nodded and stared at Pawn. She could hear it now. A faint click.<\/em> The Painted Soldiers were marching rhythmically. And every ninth step, their mandibles would click together.<\/p>\n

Click.<\/em><\/p>\n

It was a hypnotic, gentle procession up the hill. And the light reminded her of\u2026well, it reminded her of something. Erin stood with her noisy inn behind her and watched Pawn approaching. She whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cFaith made manifest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen it is not faith, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ceria looked suspiciously at Erin. The young woman turned.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. I suppose it\u2019s not. In that case, I guess you\u2019d call it\u2026religion.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The half-Elf opened her mouth to tell Erin the gods were dead. But then she looked down and realized there were no gods there. Just the Antinium. And the censer, humble though it was, small though it was, glowed. Any Tier 0 spell could do the same and make light just as bright or brighter. But it wasn\u2019t magic. And that made Ceria wonder.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAttention everyone! These are Antinium! They\u2019re guests! No one scream or stab them! Thank you!\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin clapped her hands together. The Goblins looked up, stared at the Antinium, and kept stuffing their faces.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pawn leaned his censer on a stick against a table as the Soldiers sat in the provided chairs. Erin saw Lyonette coming over with some hot, gluten-free food and smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great to see you, Pawn.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you, Erin. And you too, Lyonette. I wished to come tonight when I heard what was occurring. Will you please help me feed my Soldiers? I wish to speak with the Goblins.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Worker nodded to the Soldiers who were staring at the borscht and then looked around. He spotted the Goblin he was looking for quickly and walked over.<\/p>\n

\u201cNumbtongue. I have returned with Purple Smile. Yellow Splatters was forced to remain in the Hive as it is tactically unsound to bring both [Sergeants] in case we were attacked and killed. Shall we resume our chat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Numbtongue grinned. He looked at the curious Soldier who was waving with three of his four hands while one of them grasped a special mug designed for him. Purple Smile raised his mandibles, and Numbtongue waved over some of the curious Goblins. The Antinium and Goblins mixed, cautiously at first, and then with ease as they found that they could actually understand each other through sign language as much as words. Erin blinked, mystified.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought they only met once. Since when did they become friends?\u201d<\/p>\n

Bevussa shrugged as she passed by Erin.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot goes by that we don\u2019t know about. Do you have any more beer, Erin? We\u2019re all out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Goblins and Antinium sat together. Numbtongue pointed at Pawn\u2019s censer. The Antinium admired the Redfang\u2019s war paint. They were quite similar, for all they were different. And then Erin turned from a conversation and shouted the words that made the entire inn look up.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, you lot! Lyonette tells me you can dance!<\/em> Is that true?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cFascinating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pisces stood by the door with a drink in hand. Wine, unfortified and delicate. Taken from Rabbiteater\u2019s cloak of all places. He supposed the location didn\u2019t matter since the quality of the wine was<\/em> a fine vintage, but he couldn\u2019t help but feel that it cheapened the entire experience a bit. Well, free wine was free wine. He drank and looked at Ceria, Falene and Typhenous, who\u2019d both gathered around Noears. The Goblin was flicking balls of lightning up which exploded harmlessly. But that wasn\u2019t what had prompted Pisces\u2019 rare outburst of admiration.<\/p>\n

It was the floating orbs of multicolored lights that Noears had conjured with a single [Light] spell. Pisces admired the colors\u2014the Goblin had an eye for pleasing aesthetics\u2014and then looked at the other [Mages].<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can see the spell was clearly boosted by the ambient mana. In fact, all of our magics tonight are. If you see\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

He flicked his fingers, and his wine glass turned upside down. But the wine within remained perfectly still, controlled by the telekinesis. Pisces lifted it to his lips and drank, letting gravity take over.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou see? That would be far more difficult normally, especially as I am not well-versed in telekinetic magic. But the ambient mana in Erin\u2019s inn is charged.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt hasn\u2019t been until now. Why is that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ceria frowned at the glowing light spell. Typhenous cleared his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do recall Miss Lyonette mentioning a similar phenomenon. But why would it only occur now after so long? Unless\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

All the [Mages] looked to the magic door. Pisces stroked his chin.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen was the last time the door wasn\u2019t teleporting someone to Celum every night? Or Pallass? How much mana does<\/em> it take to send someone a hundred miles in a second?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been using the door today\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly to go back and forth between Liscor. And the teams taking the door south. But Nailren\u2019s team is only, what, twenty miles south of here? Thirty at most.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo the door isn\u2019t consuming as much mana! Of course! Imagine the drain\u2014how much magic is Erin\u2019s inn producing normally, do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEnough to make that spell possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ceria eyed Falene and Moore. The two were sitting together, and the half-Elf had conjured a floating procession of plates to move past Moore\u2019s head while he sat back. Thus he could eat without having to sit up, and she could keep talking without having to look up at him.<\/p>\n

Pisces waved that away.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is a spell fueled by Miss Skystrall\u2019s magic. A product of ability. But that [Light] spell was overcharged. I wonder, how much power could<\/em> you draw without the door present?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWanna try? Blow up rocks?\u201d<\/p>\n

Noears grinned and shot a few tiny lightning bolts from his fingers. Pisces sniffed.<\/p>\n

\u201cTempting, but I think that would be considered an act of aggression from Liscor at the moment. But I do wonder if we could\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

He was discussing spells with the others when he heard a sound break through the general hubbub. Goblins turned their heads as a Hobgoblin with a guitar struck a chord. Numbtongue played a riff and then modulated the tone. Instead of the crackling electric chords, he played something much softer.<\/p>\n

Another sound joined him. A Cave Goblin on a pair of improvised drums. A pair of Goblins blew into flutes they\u2019d carved out of wood. A third had a kind of violin. Pisces\u2019 jaw dropped.<\/p>\n

Cave Goblins took their places as a young woman waved a stick, mimicking a conductor without in fact lending anything to the performance. Numbtongue ignored her as he plucked at his guitar. The Cave Goblins played. Their instruments were crude. But the sounds they made were pure. After all, they\u2019d listened to Numbtongue, and he knew what the other musical instruments should look and sound like, at least in theory.<\/p>\n

The sound they made as a whole was discordant at first. The Cave Goblins hadn\u2019t played in symphony, and this song was new. But they were Goblins. Cooperation was in their blood, and in time, they had a song going that was\u2026close.<\/p>\n

It sounded vaguely like something Pisces would hear in a ballroom in Terandria, albeit with a faster tune, more bass and drums, and a good deal more mistakes. But the resemblance was uncanny. He stared at the Goblins. And then he got the shock of his life.<\/p>\n

The Painted Soldiers had turned at the sound of the music. They had stood up as one. Now, they stepped into the middle of the common room, which had been cleared of tables and chairs. Pisces watched them a tad bit apprehensively. He wasn\u2019t sure what they\u2019d do. What he was not<\/em> prepared for was to see two of the Soldiers lock hands and begin to dance.<\/p>\n

Not just dance. They began to step in pairs, in a classic ballroom waltz. Across the room, Halrac nearly choked on his drink as the Antinium slowly walked down the long [Grand Theatre], towards the dais at the back of the room. They turned, stepped, turned\u2014their steps were perfectly in synch. Memorized, coordinated. As only the Antinium could do.<\/p>\n

The Antinium\u2014and a [Princess]. Lyonette spun past the Soldiers, Pawn holding her hand gingerly. Pisces rubbed at his eyes and stared down into his mug as Typhenous went to sit down and landed on the floor. Everyone watched as the song played on and the Antinium danced. For a minute, two, the Antinium moved to the sound of the playing Goblins. And then the music changed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Numbtongue! Hit it! Better When I\u2019m Dancing! <\/em>This is my song!\u201d<\/p>\n

Erin jumped into the middle of the dance floor. The music changed, picking up in tempo. It took a distinctly un-<\/em>ballroom-like melody. Pisces saw Erin stop and then began shuffling her feet. She winked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI learned this one from Charlie Brown.\u201d<\/p>\n

She began to dance in a way that had nothing to do with memorized steps or patterns. It was individual, cheerful, and completely embarrassing. Pisces saw Revi snort, and the Goblins exchanged glances, unsure if this was comedy or something serious. Erin just laughed. She beckoned.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on!\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a moment of hesitation, then a Goblin pushed her way through the crowd. Pebblesnatch looked around importantly, then handed her prized chef\u2019s hat off to another Goblin. She began to copy Erin. The young woman laughed. The two began to dance, and then another Goblin came forwards. He struck a pose and that was it.<\/p>\n

The dance floor began to fill. The Antinium Soldiers watched, then began to copy Erin. Pisces watched, dribbling wine onto the floor. Ceria laughed and laughed and then grabbed Pisces\u2019 hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on! You\u2019ve seen Erin dance, Pisces! And they\u2019re playing all of the songs on Ryoka\u2019s music thing! How did Erin teach Numbtongue that?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, absolutely not\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Pisces raised his hands. But then Ksmvr was there.<\/p>\n

\u201cComrade Pisces, will you dance with me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ksmvr didn\u2019t seem to understand the traditional gender pairing that went along with such things. Pisces was trying to explain it to him as Typhenous tried to muffle his laughter with his beard. That was when Erin grabbed his hand and towed the old man into the dance.<\/p>\n

Bright music. The Goblins standing outside the inn waiting for their turn stared through the windows. They looked at each other and then shouted for the others to see. And the dancing spread. After all, Goblins were<\/em> thieves. And stealing music and footwork was considerably easier than food. All they had to do was watch.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

A pair of blonde figures sat at a table as Erin led the Goblins through the evolution of dancing throughout the ages. She had to describe some of it, not being capable of advanced moves like breakdancing, moonwalking, or anything past the electric slide, really. But it was a sight to see Antinium Soldiers doing that.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yvlon had to wrench her eyes away from the mesmerizing sight. She looked at her brother and blew a bit of hair out of her face. Somehow, Ylawes was capable of ignoring even the most wondrous of sights. He frowned at her as he drank from a small cup, his face slightly flushed from the alcohol.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s dangerous, Yvlon. All the adventuring teams are going south. They intend to go through Drake lands, but we\u2019re Human. If it does come to war, we\u2019d be in danger. I had another idea, though. If we go north, we\u2019d run right into the Goblin Lord\u2019s army.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s your idea?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her sarcastic tone made her brother grimace.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust wait, Yv. Yes, the Goblin Lord would be marching towards us, but Lord Veltras is pursuing his army. I doubt he\u2019d let us come to harm. And our father is marching with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yvlon folded her arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you want to run to Tyrion Veltras. Just in time to participate in the attack on Liscor?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe wouldn\u2019t demand that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo? You\u2019re a Gold-<\/em>rank team, Ylawes. He\u2019ll conscript you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Knight] paused.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps we could talk him into negotiating instead. Or at the very least, ensure that the battle is merciful to the defeated if\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDead gods, Ylawes! He\u2019s going to sack Liscor with the Goblins! You think he\u2019ll be merciful when\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Ylawes signaled frantically as the aforementioned Goblins looked around. Yvlon lowered her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think this is right?<\/em> No! He\u2019s going to start a war, and we\u2019re on the wrong side. Father was an idiot for supporting him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t talk about our father that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yvlon\u2019s older brother frowned angrily. Yvlon clenched one fist.<\/p>\n

\u201cShouldn\u2019t I? He\u2019ll be part of the bloodshed, Ylawes.\u201d<\/p>\n

That made him hesitate. Ylawes took another drink from his cup.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is part of the army. He must cooperate or be seen as dishonorable. You can see the integrity in his decision\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Yvlon tossed the contents of her mug at Ylawes. He dodged it, and an unhappy Goblin shook a fist at both of them. Yvlon snapped.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re unbelievable.<\/em> Integrity? Father threw out centuries of our family\u2019s friendship with the Reinharts. You want to talk about honor, Ylawes?\u201d<\/p>\n

He held still, face red, but looking serious.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one is perfect, Yvlon. We try. I have seen a lot which has changed my mind, but the facts cannot themselves change. Liscor will be under siege, and I think you and I both know it will fall. Please think on what I\u2019ve said. If not for yourself, then for your team.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKsmvr\u2019s Antinium.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he is your team. And if you convinced Erin to go with you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Selys? Mrsha? The others? Will you take them all as prisoners, Ylawes?\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Knight] shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could order you to go. I am your brother, and I outrank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yvlon raised her middle finger. Ylawes sat up straight with shock.<\/p>\n

\u201cShove this up your ass, Ylawes. I\u2019m not a [Knight], and adventurers don\u2019t follow military command. That\u2019s Drakes you\u2019re thinking of. And I\u2019m not your little sister. I\u2019m a member of the Horns, and I refuse<\/em> to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright Gangnam Style! Follow me, everyone!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Yvlon and Ylawes both looked left. They stared as Erin pranced across the room, doing a dance the armored woman could only describe as a horse prancing crossed with a wagon driver flapping his reins. Yvlon stared as Erin crossed the inn, singing a nonsensical song and dancing that ridiculous dance. Ylawes watched with open mouth as Erin showed the other Goblins how to do it.<\/p>\n

The entire inn came to a standstill as they watched Erin lead the Goblins, Drassi (and a few of the Antinium) across the floor doing the iconic dance. Dawil laughed so hard that he fell out of his chair and couldn\u2019t stand up for a good three minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat in the name of silver was\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Ylawes shook his head, coming out of his trance. He looked at his sister and saw her getting up.<\/p>\n

\u201cYvlon! Where are you going? We haven\u2019t finished this discussion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to try that dance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ylawes looked aghast. Yvlon smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not? And the answer is no, Ylawes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t over.\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Knight] vowed as he got up. Yvlon stared at him. Then she turned her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t force me to change my mind, Ylawes. I\u2019m with my team.\u201d<\/p>\n

She walked off. Ylawes saw her tap Ceria on the shoulder and try to drag the half-Elf onto the dance floor. Embarrassment hated company, but it couldn\u2019t do without. He sat back down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t force you to change your mind, but I promised I\u2019d keep you safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Knight] muttered to himself. He watched Yvlon and then shook his head. They called this<\/em> dancing? It was\u2026well, he might have given it a shot. If there weren\u2019t so many witnesses. Or if Dawil wasn\u2019t watching. The Dwarf still hadn\u2019t stopped laughing.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

As all things happened, it ended. Goblins fell asleep. In piles. Outside. Adventurers went to their beds. Erin stumbled about, trying not to step on bodies. And the adventurers looked at each other, deep into their cups. Not a little bit drunk, but still high on the remnants of the party.<\/p>\n

A party. When all that had happened and was going to happen was in the air, they\u2019d had a party. Ceria rubbed at her head. It was an Erin thing. But somehow, it was fitting. There had been a truce. She went from table to table, trying to find where her teammates had passed out. She found Ksmvr lying under a chair, moaning about water as some dripped from a cup onto his head. She decided he was fine. Then she looked for Yvlon. She found Pisces instead.<\/p>\n

The [Necromancer] was sitting at a table, wine cup in hand. He was murmuring to himself. Ceria went to take the cup away. Pisces let her. She lifted him up.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, Pisces. To your bed. I can\u2019t carry Ksmvr without Yvlon, but you\u2019re light enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI resent that\u2026Springwalker. I was deep\u2014immersed in my thoughts. Creating art, if you must know. A reflection of this moment. In celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pisces\u2019 breath was full of wine. Ceria, none too steady herself, dragged him to the steps, avoiding a sleeping Hob.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah? Tell me another one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you insist. It is an opus of sorts, however unpolished. Ahem.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pisces cleared his throat. Ceria turned to tell him she didn\u2019t want to hear, but it was too late. He began speaking softly. And perhaps it was her inebriation, but the poem was quiet and pleasing to the ear in the silence punctuated by soft footsteps and snores.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat madness, what fright!<\/em><\/p>\n

A terrible, glorious sight!<\/em><\/p>\n

When traitor fled and Goblins rode<\/em><\/p>\n

And came to rest, here on nowhere\u2019s road<\/em><\/p>\n

A strange thing happened; an inn they stayed<\/em><\/p>\n

Where Antinium danced and Goblins played<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, how I wish I\u2019d stayed<\/em><\/p>\n

But too quick the night stole by<\/em><\/p>\n

And I,<\/em><\/p>\n

Had to bid the day goodbye<\/em><\/p>\n

On this, a springtime<\/em><\/p>\n

Miraculous night.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

He broke off, swaying, and Ceria stopped. She looked at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat wasn\u2019t half bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think so? Ah, but I knew so.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pisces grinned blearily at her. Ceria rolled her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, yes. Don\u2019t let it go to your head. Who did you steal that from?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a matter of fact\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The two went up the stairs, arguing quietly. The last of the Goblins fell asleep now that the noisy Humans were gone. They slept where they\u2019d fallen, full to bursting, filled with alcohol and, strangest of all, feeling safe.<\/p>\n

Safe. What a word. They were camped beneath a Drake city with the Goblin Lord and Humans hot on their heels. But\u2026tonight had been a reprieve. A special moment. For a little bit, for one night in their lives, Goblins had been people and people weren\u2019t any better than Goblins.<\/p>\n

It was indeed a miracle. Or perhaps a changing of opinions.<\/p>\n

A much quieter Human listened to Ceria and Pisces go upstairs. Erin Solstice looked around at the slumbering Goblins. It would be a problem tomorrow. It might be a problem in two hours, when the sun rose. She didn\u2019t know what to do. Still. It wasn\u2019t as if dancing or drinking could solve the real crisis ahead of her. And yet, she couldn\u2019t regret tonight. It was needed.<\/p>\n

One good night. Erin walked into her kitchen. She lay down and sighed. She dreaded tomorrow and hoped it would never come. But she knew it would. But at least tonight, she savored forever and let the night stretch on into one eternal, immortal moment.<\/p>\n

[Magical Innkeeper Level 37!]<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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