It is very convenient for the city to be built in a mountain. First of all, if you don’t know which mountain is the right one you will waste hours, if not days, to find it. Yup, from the outside they all look the same. The only thing that is somehow decorated from the outside would be the gates, but still, because it was located in the valley you would have to walk on the right path first, otherwise, the gates are pretty much invisible. The second nice thing is that at the peak of the mountain there is a hidden door allowing you to scout your surroundings.
This is where I was right now, the dwarves gave me gray clothing so I would blend with rocks around me. I have to admit that the view is truly breathtaking. All these mountains and the valley forming this wonderful maze combined with the sunset on the horizon made me feel nostalgic.
I regained my focus quickly. I am not here to admire the layout of mountains, yet before I started performing my task I noticed something in the valley between mountains on far west – a smoke.
- “Ignore these.” Vakirra which came after me said. “Greenskins are clever. These are fake camps built with only one purpose – to lure us there. Sometimes these are empty, buildings just to keep us busy as they perform the attack in different place, sometimes these are ambushes. A few goblins and hobgoblins are wandering around to make us think that the camp is full, but when we attack other creatures would shoot rocks at us from above. They move quickly. They attack, plunder and then move deeper into our lands. We have no idea how they are doing that, but most of the time they are undetected. You said you have an idea to locate them, that will be the first step to defeat our enemy. Whatever you wish to do, feel free to start.”
Echo of earth will be useless. It works like a map. It creates a 2-dimensional surface in my mind, using it here would be extremely confusing. Casting it on the mountain under me will show the whole kingdom packed in a cube under my feet. But hey, there are other methods! More common!
Morgana told me what was the main duty of familiars – when she got drunk after a session with Aloizy and rest of the group. Exactly after I told her to NOT DRINK WITH THEM.
When a few of her students went on a rampage and her husband formed the first inquisition to hunt rogue-mages down, she showed the man a trick to ask the spirits for protection. Very quickly witches started to summon mice, crows, cats, and dogs –small, inconspicuous animals that were roaming around their houses to see if enemies weren’t approaching. Summoning battle-type familiars took place much later, as witches were pushed back.
Me? I have four wonderful familiars that would scout the mountains in a jiffy!
I raised my hands and started singing chant quietly. The mana left my body and started forming dense, violet smoke. In next moment four ravens left it flying over my head in a circle. Well, calling Walter a raven is like calling a Warg a dog’s pup, but as he is still a bid he will serve his purpose just right.
- “Boyz, there is work to be done. Sebastian – north, Remus – South, Gilbert – West, Walter – East. Show me what you would see.”
Each of them flew in ordered direction. Now all I have to do is wait and take credits for their hard work. Hehe. I feel like a manager in a corporation.
---
- “Move you maggots!” Goblin shaman hurried workers. “Dig that tunnel faster! I want to see an entrance before dusk!”
He used his staff to hit one of his brothers over the back. That will teach them to do their job quickly and efficiently.
- “Calm down, Gobraw. No need to rush your people. We are winning, we have food, we have the better position and the element of surprise. By rushing things you only increases chances of failure.”
Very thin, completely green troll with dreadlocks appeared out of nowhere.
- “What do you want, Th’aki?”
- “Boss is organizing the meeting. You are expected to show.”
- “His majesty? Here? Now? Why?”
- “I am just a scout. If you want to find out where, when and why, just tag along.”
The shaman still remembers the times when his small tribe was having problems to survive. The mountains were dangerous, a monster lived around every corner and stronger tribes had already divided hunting territories among each other. He was doing everything he could, and even more, to find food, to avoid threats. When situation turned truly awful, where stronger clans came to butcher his little family, he came.
Offering new life, new possibilities, new chances! He was strong! Fast! Wise! Gobraw quickly noticed a way to improve the quality of life of his family. He completely dedicated his life to the Leader. The Greenskin Lord saw the potential of a clever goblin, with his help he kept growing in ranks, from a mere commander to a warlord, from warlord to King. When he finally sat on the throne, when he put the skull-crown on his head and sat on a throne made of bones he rewarded those who were supporting his cause.
Gobraw never regretted offering his life to his King.
Indeed, on the other side of camp, a huge tent made of leather was erected, the King’s guards also could be seen around it. They quickly walked inside, guards, knowing them well let them pass without any troubles.
- “Your majesty, I beg your pardon for making you wait.” The shaman said after entering the tent and seeing his leader fall on the ground putting his head in the dirt. Most of king’s body was hidden in the shadow, only his sharp eyes could be seen gazing over the room.
- “How many times I have to repeat myself, old friend? Don’t bow before me. You have proved your loyalty too many times.” After saying that his finger slid over long scar near his neck.
- “And I kept telling you, my king, that this is your only command that I shall disobey. As long as I draw breath I will show you the respect you deserve.”
After saying last part he finally raised from the dirt.
- “I doubt that you came just to greet poor, old, green me, my lord. Whatever you desire – I am at your service.”
- “I came to ask how preparations are going. Depending on your answer I shall give specific orders.”
- “Your wish is my will. Unfortunately, after digging the spot underground we found ore. It will take more precious time to thoroughly connect the tunnels, at least from this side. We will also need more tools as these that we have right now will break soon. Goblins are poor miners, my lord.”
- “I know, but I can’t spare you any men. The dwarves are reorganizing their army. They will probably march at us soon. I will need everyone able to fight on the line.”
- “Sir! We can fight too! Just give us a word and…”
- “Your job is far more important. You can say that the battle’s only reason is to keep their attention away from you. We will buy you as much time as possible. We will drag them over the valleys. Stupid dwarves are wearing heavy armors and can’t relocate their forces quickly. All we had to do it to strike and run.”
- “We will not disappoint you.”
The King raised from his throne stepping out from the shadow. He was far from being a “greenskin”. He was two meters tall, his body was full of muscles that would make every bodybuilder jealous. His skin was red like blood and his hair dark like night. From his forehead, one horn was curved toward the sky. This mighty Oni walked to the goblin and kneeled near him so their eyes would meet on the same level. Despite his efforts, the Ogre-king was still taller than shaman.
He put his hands on his shoulders, each of his palms could snap his small body in half.
- “I… No, WE are counting on you, my friend.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
They moved toward the exit to leave the tent.
- “How long will we stay here, m’lord?” A troll asked casually.
- “We are departing tomorrow at dawn, till then. What is this commotion all about?”
Indeed. Few hobgoblins left their tools, picked bows, crossbows, blowguns and slings and kept sending one projectile after another in the air.
- “Tsh. Some bird, right? Bastards. Our meat rations are pretty low, so each time these rascals find some small animal they are going into a frenzy to hunt it down. I allow it, they will make a fool of them for few minutes, hunt that bird that will end up in our soup and they would get back to work with higher spirits.” Shaman just waved his hand to calm his leader down.
Yet the troll was still suspicious.
- “I have been hunting around these areas since I was a maggot-eater. I know one thing for sure. No such birds live in this area.”
Shaman widened his eyes.
- “Can’t be… but what if… No, dwarfs can’t use magic. But, MY LORD! FORGIVE ME, BUT YOU MUST TAKE IT DOWN!”
Raised tone of his subordinate made Red-skin leader of the horde raised his brow, yet he did as his man suggested. He picked a small stone from the ground and throw it at a bird that was flying in a circle above their heads.
The pebble flew with speed of the bullet towards the colorful, bright bird which couldn’t avoid the attack.
The stone hit perfectly into its head smashing it. Its body started falling on the ground.
- “AWAY, YOU SHIT-EATERS! AWAY!” The shaman kicked few goblins off his way as he was walking toward the place where the bird fell. “DON’T YOU DARE TOUCHING IT!”
- “B…But!” One of goblin raised a protest.
- “NO [BUT’S] YOU MAGGOT! HANDS OFF!”
He stepped closer to the carcass pointing at it with his staff. He cast lesser spell of protection on himself, just in case. If there was some trap-spell attached to the raven then maybe, just maybe, it would cripple him instead of killing on spot.
He poked it with his staff and in next moment body started slowly turning into smoke.
He shouted some twisted words beyond comprehension pointing at the body decreasing the speed of its evaporation.
- “As I thought, this is bad. Really, bad.”
- “What’s wrong, Gobraw?” His Lord stood behind him.
- “Magic.” He hissed angrily. “The dwarves must have called for help, my lord. He used his familiar to scout for our locations.”
- “It is dead, so we have nothing to fear, right?”
His lord was strong, but he had not the slightest idea about magic. It was very unfortunate, despite having potential he kept refusing to take lessons. Later my friend he used to say. Yet “later” never came.
- “I am afraid no, my lord. The mage and his familiar have a great bond. They always know where another one is. The mage knows exactly the place where it was killed. But at least he won’t know our numbers. Until he would resummon the raven.”
- “Resummon? What the hell does that mean?”
Shaman whistled making a mole come from the ground and climb up his leg.
- “Mage after having physical contact with his familiar can share their senses and memories. Literally, if that raven would return to his master he would see the same thing that his bird saw. Hear, the same things that his bird heard. We shattered its physical vessel, so both the mage and spirit will need some time before he would be able to summon it again. After that time, he would once again gain access to its memories. All we get is some time.”
- “How much?”
- “Days? Hours?”
- “Not much.”
- “But with some luck, it can be enough, my lord. BACK TO WORK YOU RASCALS! WE NO LONGER WORK IN SHIFTS! EVERYONE BACK TO THEIR JOBS! NO BREAKS! WORK THE WHOLE NIGHT AND DAY! YOU CAN STOP WORKING ONLY WHEN YOU WOULD COLLAPSE EXHAUSTED IN THE DIRT! THE ENEMY IS COMING! STOP SLACKING AROUND!”
---
I was sitting meditating on the peak of the mountain. It has been few hours, yet the queen and Florian didn’t left me even for a moment. Gisele? Either eating, sleeping or sparing with few dwarfs. I wondered if I was supposed to tell my companions that I have no idea how long it may take….
Your familiar [Gilbert] has been slainPhysical form shattered. Time till you can summon [Gilbert] again:00d11h59m52s
- “I. Found. You!” I said with a blissful expression. Dwarfs moved behind me
- “You said something?” Florian asked excitedly
- “Maybe. One of my familiars died. How many monsters here can kill something that is flying? It may be a false alarm.”
- “We have few wild harpies nests, but these don’t attack birds, they hunt some smaller mammals like rabbits, sometimes bigger mammals like goblins, but never birds. No idea why. Maybe they hate the idea of eating something similar to them?”
- “So it leaves only creatures with weapons like greenskins?”
- “Most likely.”
- “Great. The location is around 20 kilometer to West. I will send rest of my birdies there, maybe they won’t kill them all. If not, I will give you specific report about their numbers and formation in 12 hours.”
- “We have no time for that. Greenskins can move quickly. In those 12 hours, they can be in different part of mountains. We have to attack now!” The queen almost turns mad.
- “Forgive me, your majesty, for what I am about to do…” And I slapped her on the cheek. I didn’t hold back the blow. One – she was a dwarf – a tough bastard; two – she was a warrior – even a tougher bastard
- “W..What?” she wasn’t offended. She was simply confused
- “You have to calm down, Vakirra. Calm down and think. It is evening already. Mobilizing army will take you some time, then you would have to march for those twenty kilometers wearing full armors. You would reach it at night. Greenskins can fight at dark, can you? This will not be a battlefield but slaughterhouse with you as the lamb.”
- “I…I… You are right. I am sorry. I lost many precious to me people because of greenskins. I am still not used to the idea of me being responsible for leading all these people…”
- “If you want revenge, then strike them down with as few casualties as possible and killing them with one powerful blow. Information is as important in leading war as soldier and weapons. For now, there is nothing we can do. Meet me in 12 hours and I will tell you if what lays on the west is their camp with main forces or just team of few scouts that happened to pass by and take down my raven…. Because I hope that you don’t want to send the whole army against six greenskins?”
- “No. I don’t. Florian. We are counting on you with weapons.” She said after turning back and walking away
- “I shall start soon. My people are warming up my smithy as we are talking here.” He bowed his head.
And as soon as queen disappear behind hidden door, prince of Redbeard family turned back to me and hissed
- “Did I tell you that high kings and queen are bit special to us? They are representing our whole-fucking-race, you idiot. Not just clan, race! Now, what does it means to you? For example, is some dwarf would see our queen/king getting slapped they can all right to kill you on the spot. Or leave and tell other dwarfs. If one of Ironbloods would be here, tomorrow the whole kingdom would be trying to get you killed. And not even a queen herself would save you. So next time, if you would have an idea to slap her, just fucking bite your hand off, ok?”
- “Then I should be glad that the only three of us were here.” Damn. Investing in luck is surely useful. “Anyway, what are we going to do now?”
- “You? Dunno. Go eat something, drink with a soldier, befriend them, or go to your lady, for I don’t give a damn. When you will be playing around, I will be forging blades. When you will be fighting, I will be forging blades, when you would return in glory from battlefield taking all the credit for winning a war I will be repairing your blades, forgotten, crying lonely in the corner. Now, all clear? Good. Cause, you know, I have some blades to forge.”
He turned around and followed the queen.
Ah, good, old, grumpy Fional. Spending all this time with this formal/polite version of him was exhausting. Good to see that this situation does not affect him.