Chapter 157:

Sally picked at the iron flakes covering the iron bars of her cell. She hadn’t come very far, the bars had barely shrunk despite Sally’s constant attempts to whittle them down. It wasn’t that she expected to actually weaken the bars so she could escape, there simply wasn’t anything else to do. The days and nights merged with one another in the underground cell. There was a small source of light but that seemed to change on a whim rather than the passage of the sun through the sky.

“Sally!” A bright voice shouted down the empty corridor. “I’ve brought you food. It’s really good today.”

Out of the darkness, Mihal emerged. Unlike the rest of the people that held her prisoner he appeared to have…emotions. He skipped happily, barefooted, across the cold and damp stones with a tray of food in his hands. Though Sally was loathed to admit it the steaming meat and rolls of bread did look delicious.

“Sorry I’m late.” Mihal’s smile faded somewhat. “Grandad’s been…”

Mihal placed the plate in front of the cell and pushed it as far as he could. He didn’t have the key, at least Sally didn’t think he did, so Sally had to reach through the bar and began to eat the food. Mihal smiled at Sally in silence.

“I think I did something wrong.” Mihal stretched out his legs. “Grandad’s been upset for a long time.”

I need to keep him as a friend. He’s the only one who’s coming down here…Would they let me starve?

“Why do you think that?” Sally asked as she bit into the bread. “This, this is really good.”

Mihal rubbed his feet. “I don’t know. He’s been grumbling a lot, at everyone and me especially. I don’t know what I’ve done wrong. I’ve done all that he asked.”

Mihal raised his shirt. Sally forced herself to remain calm and continue eating; Mihal’s chest and stomach were covered in silver markings, the same hateful silver Sally touched leaking from the walls. The lines focused around his stomach, forming a circle before the lines dove bellow his pants. Sally didn’t want him to show how extensive they were.

“What are those?”

Mihal traced his fingers over the lines. “I’m not really sure. But Grandad said I needed them….” Mihal smiled and rubbed his chest. “They hurt a lot.”

“But if you did that, whatever that is, then why is your Grandad unhappy? If he’s angry at everyone it sounds like something happened and he’s just grumpy.”

Mihal frowned lightly and tilted his head. “Why would he do that?”

“When my father…” Sally pushed away the screams. “When something bad happened to him, like he hurt his hand, he’d be grumpy for days. My mother…” Again sally pushed it away, though the face remained in her thoughts. “She would get grumpy as well.”

Mihal smiled. “That’s a relief.” He put his shirt back on. “I thought something was wrong.” He held his chin. “I had this done before he got grumpy. Thanks, Sally. I feel a lot better now.”

Mihal began to pull his legs underneath his body. He was but a few moments from leaving, Sally didn’t want him to leave, if only for someone to talk to.

“Any-Any idea what’s got your Grandfather so upset?”

Mihal sat back down and leant close to the cell, checking either side for anyone. “Well, I’m probably not supposed to have done this, but I managed to sneak into one of their meetings.”

“How did you do that?” Sally moved forward. If Mihal thought they were sharing a secret, a secret to a friend, he might reveal something important. Maybe a way out.

Mihal pointed to the stone ceiling. “There are lots of gaps up there for me to crawl about. Granddad was talking about some…some silver mine they wanted.” Mihal shrugged. “Apparently they sent some Goblins to take it but they failed. He was pretty angry about that.”

“What do you want silver for? I mean, your Grandfather. What does he want with it?”

Mihal shrugged. “I don’t know. I think he said we needed it to buy stuff….But I’m sure that he’s got everything we need. Maybe it’s for some good food. I’d like some good beef.”

“That sounds pretty bad.” Sally forced a chuckle. “But that wouldn’t get me that angry and grumpy.”

“He also said something about losing control of some of the Goblins to the north.” Mihal twirled the small talisman in his hands. “That they’re not listening and attacking each other more than usual. I don’t know how that’s possible. They listen to everything they say when we have these…”

Mihal laughed as he let the talisman drop to his chest. “Maybe that’s how Grandad feels about us children.” He frowned lightly. “Then there was something about some islands beyond the sea…Do you have any idea what he’s talking about?”

“No. Sorry.”

Mihal pushed the last of the food towards the cell door, Sally quickly finished the remains.

“Oh well.” Mihal smiled. “I feel a bit better now. How about you?"

“Me?”

“Yeah. You can’t exactly go very far in this cell.” Mihal smiled. “And you have only one place to poop. I didn’t want to say anything but it really smells.”

Sally had long ago learned to ignore the smell, there was no alternative.

“It would be nice to get away from it.” Sally turned to the small pit in the far corner. “But I can’t exactly leave.”

“Come with me then.” Mihal drew a small iron key from his pants and twirled it in his hand. “Do you want to come out?”

“Absolutely.”

Mihal brushed his pants and unlocked the cell door. Both were needed to push it open.

“Just stay close to me, okay?” Mihal tapped the talisman. “The Goblins act really mean and crazy if we aren’t wearing one of these.”

So I need to break them all. All except one, then I can walk out of here. But I really don’t know where here is. How far do I have to walk to find someone else?

Before they could take a few paces someone ran down the stone stairs. Sally’s heart lodged in her throat as another Ancient Listener emerged from the shadows.

“Why is she out?” The man asked softly.

Mihal planted his fists on his hips. “She’s been stuck in there for days, with no light or fresh air. I wanted to take her outside.”

The man gently shook his head. “Ghenadie has called for you.” He looked at Sally. “Only you.”

“Then he won’t mind her coming along as well.” Mihal smiled devilishly. “But he didn’t say that she couldn’t come, did he?”

The man already appeared completely and utterly exasperated. “We don’t have time to deal with this. Come with me then. Let Ghenadie sort you out.”

Mihal winked at Sally as they began their ascent. Sally’s legs felt weak, tired, as she climbed the stone flight of stairs. There wasn’t much chance of movement inside the cell, and walking around in a circle quickly drove Sally crazy. Mihal realised she was moving slightly slower and matched her speed, the other man did not.

The walls of the passageway were devoid of the strange liquid silver. Sally ran her fingers over a spot where she was certain it once lay. Nothing. Mihal had no idea what it was but had promised to ask about it, he had probably forgotten. Emerging from the dark passageway Sally felt relieved to not find any Goblins. It was eerily quiet and still, not that either people with her acted as though it was strange. Sally pulled close to Mihal, just in case.

The man led them higher and higher through the central castle, still absolutely no one was present. Finally, they passed a glass window. Sally marvelled at its size, easily taller than her, but then despaired upon looking beyond. The city of Surdon had once been crawling with Goblins, now it appeared to be near the bursting point. Green and Yellow Goblins were organised into great rows, numbers that Sally couldn’t begin to fathom, all under the guidance of Black Goblins and a few humans. They practised swings and thrusts of wooden sharpened stakes, some with stone-tipped spears. An argument broke out amongst the hordes, resulting in a large fight. The humans ordered the Blacks to separate them, the Goblins appeared completely unconcerned with any of their number dying. Reluctantly they broke up the fight, after killing a few more, but the damage was done. Twenty-odd Goblins lay dead on the stone ground. Some diminutive Greens were whipped forward and dragged the bodies away. Sally turned to ask but the two didn’t stop. She ran after them lest a stray Goblin wander up and find her.

“Are we there yet?” Mihal asked as the stairs plateaued out. “Even my legs are starting to get tired.”

“I-”

A high pitched screech sang through the air. Both the man and Mihal began to panic, Sally simply held her ears close.

“Someone has breached the defences.” The man broke into a run to the next flight of stone stairs. “Move it, both of you.”

Who? Who would be out this far?

Sally saw several of the other humans preparing a meal but had no time to ask as she began to ascend the stairs.

Is it help?

---[]---

Sally’s chest hurt when she reached the top of the castle. While her time in the cell had not done her any good she was more than a little relieved to see the other two were struggling slightly. The corridor leading from the end of the stairs was empty, the huge wooden door left open. Inside Sally saw heavily armed men and women, unfortunately dressed the same as the man with them, but their attention was directed to something on the far side. Ghenadie stood with a large table, some sort of map draped over it, between him and the mysterious intruder.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Mihal moved in front of Sally. While it was sweet he was trying to act brave Sally couldn’t ignore who and what they were.

One of the guards noticed their approach but didn’t move to stop them.

“Is this really necessary?” A woman’s voice called out.

Ghenadie kept his face flatter than normal. “You broke through the barrier. What did you expect?”

“You call that a barrier?” The woman chuckled, though dripping in falsities. “I barely even tried to break it. I’m surprised that you even knew I was here, a novice could have broken through it.”

Only a single woman standing on the far side. She was clearly not a part of them, not only did everyone have their weapons pointed at her but her clothes and even her face were completely different. She had long flowing dark red hair, a slightly rounded face and dark brown eyes. The cloak and what little she could see underneath looked find and expensive, though they were clearly built for long distances. The hem of her cloak was stained with dirt, her shoes scuffed and scarred, but the rest was fine. Did she walk the entire way from the city to the north? Could Sally even make it that far?

“I’m sure that breaking through such a barrier would be easy for a Strega Witch.” Ghenadie held a different talisman in his hand, one made from metal and covered in gems. “But I think even you would struggle to take us all down. Even for a powerful witch such as yourself.”

The woman, the Strega Witch, raised her hands. “I’m not here to fight. I-”

Ghenadie laughed, though stilted. “After breaking through our barriers…It’ll take days to rebuild them.”

“Then you need to make them better in the first place.” The woman chuckled sweetly, holding one hand to her hip while throwing her hair back with the other. “You’re a poor Principle Mage if it takes you that long to make something that weak.”

Ghenadie took a deep breath. “Who are you, and what do you want?”

She clapped her hands. “Straight to the point. I like that. My name is Eluria, that’s all you need to know me by. As for what I want…”

Eluria stepped towards the map. “That is relatively simple as well.”

The guards moved out of her way with a tiny wave from Ghenadie. Eluria stared at the map, her finger tracing a line along the map. Sally could just see over the table; Eluria’s fingers stopped just before a mountain range.

“This city needs to be destroyed.”

Ghenadie leant close, keeping an eye towards the Strega Witch. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t try using your magic on me.”

Eluria shrugged. “If you couldn’t resist that then there’s no point in even speaking with you.”

Though Eluria had only been here a few moments Sally could feel the arrogance seeping through her every word.

“Yes.” Ghenadie nodded. “Atros. We know of it. The only city in the Kar Kingdom that survived. What of it?”

“Why is it still standing?”

“We know they have significant defences as well as a few powerful mages.” Ghenadie tapped the map. “We could destroy it but we didn’t have the numbers then. We do now. We will destroy it, but not yet.”

Ghenadie waved out the window. “Our numbers have only just started to reach an explosive number…Even without humans.”

“It’s a city of two, maybe three thousand.” Eluria frowned lightly. “If you’re afraid to take one tiny town how do you expect to overthrow a kingdom?”

“Why do you want these people dead?” Ghenadie asked softly. “What have they done? Why do you want us to do it for you? Is such a small city really a threat to you?”

Eluria gently shook her hand. “There, there is a reason why I cannot attack the city. If I wanted to I could destroy it. But…I cannot. However, if you were too then there’s no problem.”

Ghenadie continued to look unimpressed.

“They…” Eluria ground her teeth. “They took something, someone, from me. And I could do nothing but sit still and smile sweetly. Sweetly as they barely said a word for her…”

“Revenge is a simple motivation,” Ghenadie said. “But it seems a little simple for a Strega Witch.”

“Do you really care?” Eluria smiled.

Ghenadie shared a glance with the others present. “No. I suppose not. So, Strega Witch, how can you help us?”

“Information, to start.” Eluria tapped the map, pointing angrily at where Sally believed Atros lay. “Do you want to know what’s happening there? They haven’t exactly been idle.”

“How much does this information cost?”

“Nothing.” Eluria smiled. “I told you, I want revenge.”

“Go on then.”

“Atros has grown more than the three thousand you once knew. Now six or seven thousand live there; humans, Dark Elves, Dwarves and Beast-kin.”

Ghenadie raised a brow. “That’s an odd mixture.”

“Somehow they’re staying together.” Eluria shrugged. “But they are growing and fast. Given a few winters they might be unassailable for even you.” Eluria looked out the window. “Even with all these…Things.”

“They will be destroyed in the spring,” Ghenadie said gruffly. “The Goblins do operate well in the snow. They refuse to obey even our orders, rather they seek out some shelter to avoid the snows. We’ll probably lose ten to twenty percent…They’re already starting to act rebelliously.”

“By the time the snows pass it will be too late.” Eluria ground her teeth again. “Are, are you hard of hearing?”

“A little.” Ghenadie shrugged. “But there is nothing I can do. But, if you cannot help us further I’m going to have to ask for you to leave.”

Ghenadie gripped the strange metal amulet tight. Eluria paid it nothing more than a single glance.

“You are having trouble in The Shadow Isles, yes?”

Ghenadie frowned. “How…I suppose I should expect you to already know about that.”

“I can help there.” Eluria chuckled. “Help you collect more of your Ancient Essence.”

The amulet glowed in Ghenadie’s hands. “You shouldn’t know about that.”

Eluria laughed, Ghenadie finally shrugged and looked to the map. “So…You know about that too. So, again I ask, what can you do to help us?”

“Two things.”

Eluria opened her cloak. The guards readied their weapons when she reached in deep. “Relax everyone. I’m not going to do anything bad.”

“You destroyed the barrier,” Ghenadie said dryly.

Eluria held back the desire to scoff and roll her eyes. She produced a small scroll of paper and small square leather bag.

“A map of all known locations of Ancient Essence.” Eluria delicately placed the bag down and unfurled the paper. “Even ones that you don’t know.”

Eluria’s arm obscured the map but Sally caught a glimpse, a glimpse of blue, of the seas. It was a map of the entire world.

“How did you come across this?” Ghenadie kept one eye towards Eluria as he took the map. “We’ve been searching for generations for scraps and the tiniest hints of where they lay.”

“The United Empire did a very good job of unearthing their locations.” Eluria smiled. “It’s just that not everyone agreed with finding such a potent and dangerous thing.”

“But where?”

“I suppose it doesn’t matter if I tell you.” Eluria shrugged. “It’s not like you’d ever reach it. I found in the deepest part of the Eldfjall Trelleborg library. Nearly cost my life but…you don’t care about that.”

“Most of these have been destroyed,” Ghenadie grumbled. “Not that you’d know that.”

“I know more than you think. I know that one of the sites in the Frindal Emirate still exists. The fools think it’s some sort of sacred relic.”

“It is a sacred relic.” Ghenadie angrily spat out. “More so than you know.”

Eluria shrugged. “So there’s another source, unless you have enough to get by.”

Ghenadie grumbled. He glanced at Mihal, clicked his tongue and tapped the table. “No. Not yet.”

Eluria looked at Mihal then to Sally with a questioning gaze. Whatever thoughts raced through her mind they were quickly discarded.

“But thank you, Eluria.” Ghenadie smiled. “This alone is incredibly helpful. Do you require shelter or resources? We can provide both…In a limited fashion.”

Eluria laughed. “No thank you. I…I don’t want anything tainted by the grotty little hands of a Goblin.”

“What’s the second thing?” Mihal asked.

Eluria’s gaze truly fell upon the young boy. He had lost his sense of bravery, already having fallen back into his curious gaze.

“Child, do you have any idea what’s happening to your body?”

Mihal titled his head.

Eluria chuckled and shook her head. “It is not my problem. You butcher and carve through your children…” Eluria coughed lightly. “Forgive me.”

Ghenadie frowned at Eluria. “So what is it?”

“Something else I found in the library.” Eluria tapped the leather box. "This...This will help you on The Shadow Isles."

Eluria tapped the top again. "You've suffered setback after setback in those misty lands. And now it's even worse with the Dark Elves united against you. Yes?"

"We were told they were fractured," Ghenadie grumbled. "It appears they are anything but."

Eluria blinked, her red brows furrowed lightly before it faded away.

"That may be. But, what you really need now are numbers. Your Goblins don't really have much else going for them."

"They are adequate servants," Ghenadie spoke defiantly. "And we don't have access to any of the others. Even the Ghlotsm refuse our call. Not for long though."

Sally didn't miss the flicker towards Mihal's chest.

"Until then you are stuck with these little creatures. And there are only so many humans that you can kidnap before everyone comes down on you. Graterious has some...Interesting mages. More than capable of destroying you. Not to mention the Knights of Qaiviel. Unless you planned to buy them from Seocuria? The Goblins don't care what womb they plant themselves in."

The silver mine! But...I don't know what's in Seocuria. Where's that?

Sally broke out of her mental musings, Eluria stared deep into her eyes. Sally's body tensed, her hands gripping tight into fists.

"Ah." Something flashed over Eluria’s face. "There was one amongst those disgusting miscreants. I wonder..."

"The box?" Ghenadie asked, his voice conveying his annoyance.

"Since you only have access to goblins, and they had difficulty breeding with one another...Well, the answer is simple, isn't it?"

Eluria flipped open the bag. Inside lay dozens of small glass vials filled with a black and white liquid. The stripes twisted and swirled through each other, as if they were alive, but never fully mixed.

"How much do you know about the end of the United Empire?" Eluria held a vial tight in her hands.

"Little," Ghenadie admitted. "Its fate, other than it's gone, means little to us."

"Perhaps you should learn more about history." Eluria chuckled. "Near the end, the United Empire was desperate for manpower. Enemies beset them from within and without. So, they turned to the unthinkable." Eluria waved to the window and the fields of Goblins below. "They tried what you did, but with much less success. Although a lot of what you do is based on their work."

"It took us generations to create these." Ghenadie held the small talisman that everyone, bar Sally, held. "This is our creation, not theirs."

"Of course." Eluria smiled. "But the United Empire needed tests subjects. And they made this."

Eluria removed the lid. Immediately her nose was assaulted by an acrid and burning smell.

“What is that?” Mihal covered his nose with both hands. The others were slightly distressed but didn’t take their eyes of Eluria.

“It’s difficult to explain. Probably too difficult, especially if you don’t have a few days spare, but this mixture, The Rupturing Kiss, will make a female Goblin produce ten times as many babies and guarantees pregnancy. I believe that makes it forty to fifty per female Goblin.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“I haven’t tested it.” Eluria fastened the top and passed it to Ghenadie. “But I think you should try it. After all, you’re the people interested in these little creatures.”

Ghenadie took the vial and held it close to his eyes. “I can’t tell what it is…How did you make this?”

Eluria winked, again it felt extremely forced. “That’s my secret. If I tell you then there’s no reason for you to keep me, no?”

“Indeed. We will need to see if this works before we go any further.”

“Not like you have to go far to find a Goblin.” Eluria laughed.

“They aren’t allowed inside the central castle anymore,” Ghenadie said softly.

“I thought I felt something different.” Eluria smiled. “What is your little cult planning?”

“Exactly why I don’t trust you.” Ghenadie pursed his lips. “But we will see if this works. If it does, then we can discuss things further. Regardless, we aren’t going to be attacking Atros before spring. It is simply not an option. I’m surprised the snows haven’t started to fall. And if we lose control of them during the march…”

“You’ll regret not attacking them now.” Eluria folded her arms. “They will only grow stronger.”

Ghenadie smiled. “But if your potions work then we won’t have to worry about that, now will we?”

Eluria nodded once. “If the writings are true you might want to space them out when you give this to them.”

“What?”

“Leave about five or so feet between each female. Oh, and you’ll lose the male too. But that’s not a problem.”

What are they going to do to them? Do…Do I actually feel sorry for the Goblins?

“We’ll take as many as you can give. Our forces in The Shadow Isles will appreciate this.”

Ghenadie waved Eluria to the map, the guards lowered their spears while Mihal stamped his feet in happiness.

“We’re doing it,” Mihal whispered. “We’re actually doing it!”

“Why are you so happy?” Sally asked in a harsh whisper. “Do you know what she’s doing? Do you know what you’re doing?”

“Yep.” Mihal smiled. “Grandad said that we’re going to do great things. We’re going to bring back the true gods and save this world and everyone on it. How is that not a good thing?”

Mihal looked to the ceiling, ignoring Sally. “I wonder what he really looks like.”