Fin and Brando drank water, picked up their tools, and ate what they could stomach. They traversed the loop in search of Heidle. When they found him, he was already holding his first gem of the day.

"Congratulations on your find," Brando greeted. "Do you have a minute?"

"Have a seat," Heidle smiled, sitting down himself. "What's on your mind?"

Fin explained the changes to their plan and that they needed to be ready as soon as the new shipment of slaves arrived. That would ensure that they had a ride when they got out. He also explained how he planned on tricking the guards.

First, he selected a rock off the ground and secretly stowed it away. He then took out a cloth sack. "I'll say something like, oh, look at all of our gems. Then I'll place a gem in," Fin took the massive gem out of his pocket and put it in the bag, bringing out an empty hand. "Then we say, hey, let's hide this somewhere where no one can find it, and then we walk away." He handed the sack to the dwarf.

Heidle opened the sack, pulled the rock out, and tipped the bag over, dumping dirt and pebbles onto the ground. "Where did it go?"

"Oh, this?" Fin procured the gem and held it up for the dwarf to see.

"Magnificent trick! May I?" Heidle slowly brought his hands to hold the gem. "Where did you find this?"

"I found it in the place you showed me," Brando said, getting used to hearing the thick accent. "It's all thanks to you."

"This is a beautiful stone. When you leave, don't sell it. Take it to the dwarven fortress and show them." Heidle turned the gem in his hand one last time and then gave it to Brando. "They'll offer you more than you can get for it anywhere else." He opened the bag again. "That little trick of yours is really good. How do you do it?"

"It's all in the wrist. Anyway, I have a question that maybe you can help me with," Fin changed the subject. "What do you know about Earth Affinity?"

Heidle stroked his beard, still regarding the gem in Brando's hand. "Deep in the mountains are these round indents in the dirt and rock. Some say they're caused by sprites with an Earth affinity. I've never seen one, but we have a song about how they look like golden orbs. In the song, the dwarves who find them think they are some kind of gem. When they try to mine them, the things melt their tools, and as the song goes, 'the dirt eaters chased them away.'"

"Did you say dirt eaters?" Brando slapped his forehead. "Why didn't I think of that before? Fin, you have to eat some dirt! Oh, and you should put this away." He tossed the gem to Fin.

"Put it away, nice and easy," the dwarf commanded, slowly glancing up. Fin took the gem and stowed it, acting like he was putting it in the sack. As soon as his hand lifted out of the bag, he noticed two ropes tumbling down the wall in either direction.

"I think your plan worked a little too well," Brando said in a low voice as two goblins rappelled down the cliff.

The goblins were sparsely armored with leather breastplates and matching bracers. One of them had a metal helmet that was slightly too big that rested on his eyebrows. They both carried knives; the one with the helmet carried a short sword which he drew as soon as he landed. They ambled closer and stopped three meters from the slaves on either side.

"Why don't you give us the bag?" The goblin wearing the helmet suggested.

Fin held out the sack containing the rock. "You mean this bag?" He moved it left and right, watching their eyes track its movement.

"Which of you do you want him to give it to?" Brando jumped in with an idea to pit one against the other. He pointed a finger at each of them in turn. "You, or you?"

"I'll take it," Helmet announced quickly. When the other one didn't contest the claim, Brando frowned.

Fin considered his options. If he handed over the sack and they noticed there wasn't a gem inside, they would ask for it. When he didn't hand it over, it would be a fight to the death. There would be trouble even if they fought to the end and won.

"Guys, I think we're going to have to move our plans forward. I'm going to give them the bag." Fin looked at each of them in turn and gave them a slight, imperceptible nod. "I just can't decide who to give it to. If I give it to one, the other will be mad at me."

Despite Helmet yelling, "Me, me, me," Fin threw the bag over the goblin's head. When Helmet turned to see where the bag would land, Fin took up his pickaxe and swung it as hard as he could toward the middle of the goblin's unprotected back.

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Noticing the quick movement, Hemet lifted his sword to block. The shaft of the pickax knocked the sword out of his hand, and the tip implanted itself through the goblin's unprotected rib cage.

Used to mining dirt and rocks, the ease with which the point drove into the goblin was unexpected. Unable to remove the pickax quickly, Fin kicked the goblin forward and leaned down to pick up the discarded sword.

The other goblin saw the thrown bag and instantly dashed for it. When he saw Fin raising his weapon, he changed his direction toward the assailant. He should have considered that his path would take him directly next to the big man and the little one.

Heidle stuck his foot out at the last second and tripped the charging goblin. He then began to lift his pickaxe, anticipating charging in for a swing.

Brando watched the goblin fall, still unsure of a solid plan forward. When he saw Fin's swing connect with the leader goblin, he instantly knew there would be a battle and moved to attack the goblin before it could stand up.

Heidle, being blocked by Brando, moved around the large man to get in a position to help.

Lifting the sword off the ground, Fin spared a glance behind him. He saw Brando lunge forward toward the other goblin. Satisfied that he wasn't about to be attacked from behind, he grasped the weapon handle and stood up.

The goblin in front of Fin casually plucked the pickax from his side and held it in his left hand. Attempting to let out a growl, nothing but blood came out of his mouth. The stern look on his face kept Fin at bay. Noticing he wasn't running forward, Fin checked behind him again and held his ground.

Heidle arrived in front of Brando just in time to see the large man punch a second hole through the goblin's body. Seeing his help wasn't needed, he moved towards Fin. When he got to his side, the goblin was swaying. Knowing it could be a trick, Heidle picked up a rock and threw it at its head. Unable to muster the energy for a dodge, the goblin took the rock on the chin.

As soon as Heidle threw the rock, Fin dashed forward, expecting the goblin to dodge. When the rock struck its face, he prepared to end the fight.

Having destroyed the goblin in front of him, Brando glanced up in time to see Fin stab the other goblin through the throat. "You guys okay?"

Fin's heart was racing, and he was breathing heavily. "I'm okay."

"I've been waiting to do that for a long time," Heidle said as quietly as his excitement allowed. "Even if it's just a couple goblins, there's nothing better to get the blood flowing."

"Okay, that makes all of us," Brando announced. "I guess we're moving our plans forward?"

"Yes, we better move quickly," Fin's attention snapped to the present. "Heidle, you sure you don't want to come with us?"

Heidle reached into his beard. With some twisting and maneuvering, he pulled out and gave Fin a small leather bag, bulging at the seams. "That should get you to where you're going. I'll wait here for your return."

Fin took the bag in his cupped fingers. "I'll try my best not to let you down. I swear it."

"Take as much time as you need. It'll give me a head start on my greedy, cave-dwelling brothers." Heidle smiled sincerely and then began stripping the armor off of the goblins.

"You'll need a disguise," Heidle said, wiping the blood off the helmet. "Every second you're not spotted will help."

"Heidle, we are going to try to climb directly over the wall and go South," Fin pointed at the wall. "As soon as we're safe, we'll cut around. Can you run ahead and make sure everyone's attention is down here?"

"I can lead everyone into singing, Down in the Grey," Heidle suggested.

"I don't think anyone will know that one," Brando countered. "Tell them to sing The Spice Merchant's Daughter. Trust me on this one."

Minutes ticked away as Fin and Brando quickly donned armor that was too small for them. Fin was concerned he wouldn't be able to get the helmet back off, while Brando was worried he couldn't keep his armor on. Brando's Chest plate barely went past his chest, and his arm guard straps were tied together with cloth from his shirt. If the disguises lasted at all, they wouldn't last for long.

The sword belt didn't fit Fin's waist, so he strapped it around his leg. Fortunately, it was short enough to just reach his ankle.

The goblin bodies were tied to the end of the rope so they could pull them out of the pit and not leave evidence to incriminate the dwarf.

Sparing a final farewell to the dwarf, they climbed the rope to the top of the wall.