The dwarf went to great lengths to draw as detailed a map as possible on the dirt. He used pebbles for known villages, rocks for cities, and a slightly larger rock for the dwarven fortress. He then put an indent in the ground with his little finger for their current location.
“Go north,” he walked his fingers to the first rock. “Rudford. Eat, drink, sleep, sell your gems, but don’t stay. He made another walking motion with his fingers, “Northeast,” when he reached a slightly smaller rock, he said, “Lokardale. Eat, drink, sleep, stay. Buy clothes, oil your beard, drink to my health.” Again, his fingers were walking “Northeast” when they reached a pebble. “Small village. Eat, sleep, drink, stay. Don’t leave until you eat the apple pie.” His fingers set out towards the largest rock, “North.” When his fingers arrived at their destination, he said, “Heidle the Hammer, lots of gems, build the map, walk with the fingers; it is the dwarven way.”
“Got it,” Fin went to stand, but he was stopped by Heidle’s stony glare. The dwarf wanted him to repeat the finger-walking journey. After all, it was the dwarven way.
Fin placed his two fingers on the small indent. “We start here and go North.” He walked his fingers up the map until he reached the first rock. He said, “Rudford, eat, sleep, drink-“
Heidle cut him off, “If you drink in the morning, you’re going to be worthless for the rest of the day.”
Instead of trying to explain that he had no intention of drinking in the morning, he started over, making sure to say the words “eat, drink, and sleep” in the correct order. He almost had to start over again when he forgot to try the apple pie before leaving the small pebble.
Satisfied with the finger journey, Heidle pointed to the biggest rock. “Remember, the biggest rock is for the dwarves, always.”
Thinking they were about to leave, Heidle looked at Brando expectantly.
Brando wasn’t as good at the memory map game. It took a while for his fingers to successfully traverse the journey.
Next, they were prompted to take the journey in reverse. Fin was scolded when his fingers reached the pebble; they were on official business, and there was no time for mandatory apple pie. The words, ‘If there is time, maybe, try the apple pie,’ gave Heidle a better feeling about the evolution.
Fin and Brando had only found a gem each when the bell rang. They still had the one left over from the day before, which meant that, ultimately, they had yet to make progress. The two gems would buy dinner. The dwarf had promised to fund their trip, but it would be nice to amass some kind of fortune before escaping. They shouldered their pickaxes and made their way to the front entrance.
When the fat goblin came into view, he pointed in their direction and yelled at them to hurry up. Responding to the raised voice, the other goblins attempted to make their features and postures more aggressive.
Once the pickaxes were returned, the goblins interrogated them about their tools. They both shrugged in confusion. They both explained that they returned their tools and didn’t have any more of them hidden in their sleeves. Finally, the fat goblin attempted to snap his fingers. His motion didn’t make more than a dry, wisping noise, but the order was understood. Three goblins went left, and three went right to search the loop for their missing pickaxe.
If the goblins were tense before, the other slaves in the camp became palpably more tense. Whispers drifted through the breezy silence like a rain cloud over a wedding. Balled-up fists and reassuring hands held the solemn mood that fell over everyone. Fin and Brando sank into the crowd, hoping for anonymity.
Grunts and soft cries slowly broke the sound of buzzing insects as six goblins dragged an old woman into sight. Fin recognized the old woman he had seen the day before, and she looked awful. Battered and bruised, she stumbled closer, pushed forward by the tips of three spears.
“Prepare the brand!” One of the goblins called ahead, waving the missing pickaxe.
“Fin, do you remember Leonard’s cross-shaped scar?” Brando whispered. “I think they are going to try to do that to this old lady.”
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“I’m thinking the same thing,” Fin responded without moving his eyes. “What do we do?”
Brando tore his eye off the limping woman to scan the crowd. “We can’t rush them. You have to use your dragon magic.”
Fin quickly pulled up his window and selected his stat point. He then read through all of his options: Wing attack, Wing shield, Jowls of Strength, Fear Howl, Strengthened Talons, and Piercing Resist.
“The only thing I can think that will help is Fear Howl,” Fin stated, cautiously watching the old woman’s life unravel before his eyes. “And I don’t even know if it will work. I was going to invest this point in Strengthened Talons or Piercing Resist to help us get out of here.”
Brando watched as the goblins threw the old lady on the ground into a heap. “Fin, we are getting out of here regardless of what you invest your points in.”
Fin was frozen in place, staring at his options until a metal brand landed on the dirt next to the fat goblin. One side was wrapped in old leather tied down with fraying rope; the other had crossed metal glowing with heat. A single spark jarred free from the impact solidified the selection of Fear Howl. A tingling feeling crept up Fin’s throat, and his voice rasped as he told Brando to plug his ears. He had no idea what effect this ability would have, but it was all he had.
The fat goblin smiled as he picked up the brand. He would teach these humans that when a goblin rings a bell, they should be honored to come running like dogs. It was their own fault that they acted so weak all the time. When a goblin was at his weakest, that’s when he acted the most powerful and the most feral. When you show weakness, you only invite others to punish you. These humans made it all too easy for him.
Only allowing himself a brief smile of pleasure, he said, “Bring her.”
The other goblins dragged the woman forward, propped her up, and held her arm out to receive the brand. It was easier than they expected. This one was as weak as she looked.
Just then, the fat goblin had an idea, wouldn’t it be more fun to brand this woman’s face instead? Before he had the chance to revel in his options, a loud and terrifying sound resonated through him. His memory flashed back to when he had stolen his mother’s goat leg off the table. Just after he had taken a bite, the old hag walked into the room and leveled her ferocious glare at him. Mind blank with white-hot fear, he dropped the brand like he had dropped the goat leg all those years ago and stood frozen. Some of the other goblins dropped to their knees and whimpered for mercy.
Even though Brando had plugged his ears, he couldn’t completely block out the sound. The loud yell sounded animalistic. It reminded him of all the predatory animals he had ever heard in the woods when it was too dark to see. He stopped breathing, hoping that whatever beast lurked in the shadows wouldn’t sense him. He looked around and saw that everyone else looked like how he was feeling. Seeing the effect on the other miners, especially the goblins, restored his courage. He knew that whatever he had gone through, everyone else was experiencing it worse. He knew what to do.
He quickly approached the fat goblin and called, “Lower the soup!” No one moved, so he tried again.
Finally, one of the goblins on his knees lifted his head and shouted, “Just do it! Soup!”
With the sound of creaking, the giant cauldron swung out directly overhead of the four goblins holding the old woman.
Working quickly and soundlessly, Brando took the old woman and moved her off to the side. After another thought, he gently pushed the four goblins out of the way. There would be a time for crushing goblins under a giant cauldron but now was not that time. They were operating on borrowed luck as it was.
The cauldron landed, followed by the crate of bowls. Brando walked through the unmoving crowd towards Leonard and guided him to the cauldron. He took a bowl and ladled stew into it. He handed the ladle to Leonard and gave the bowl to the woman. As soon as he thought her hands had a firm enough grip, he picked her up and moved her out of sight. When he returned, he noticed Leonard handing Fin two steaming bowls. He received two more steaming bowls and shouted, “Line up!” before following Fin out of the crowd.