“Absolutely not!” Zillah said. “You two will not risk your lives.”

“Please, let us do something, we owe your sister and the others that much.”

“It’s too dangerous, I won’t let your deaths be on my conscience!”

“At least point us to someone who can help!”

“No, now please leave!”

Grillek stormed out of the room. Lom was silent. They reported in for roll call. Grillek was silent the entire time. Lom knew by now to not bother or even speak. During roll call, Grillek noticed the amount of names called shrank. Admittedly the working conditions aren't exactly ideal.

The next day after breakfast, Grillek was on his way back to the tent. The guards are now allowing their ‘guests’ ten minutes to get ready for the day’s assignment. As Grillek approached the tent, he noticed the tent flap was slightly open.

“Stay close, something is wrong.”

“Ok, what is it?”

“Tent flap is open, stay close.”

Grillek walked into the tent, with Lom close. Lom pointed at a small pouch with a note underneath. Grillek took the note and softly read to Lom.

Grillek and Lom,

I know you two want to help and I can see that you too have great potential. Here are a couple of potions that will help you escape. If you get assigned to the outside mines, go to the north vein. When there is an opening, drink the potion and run. You will see a cabin go inside and await further instructions.

Once again, Grillek and Lom were picked to mine. One of the mages noted how efficient they were in mining. As soon as the goblins were transported onto the platform, Grillek and Lom raced to the northern vein. But they were too slow.

“We were here first, move,” said the other goblin.

“I say you move, before I make you move!”

“Break it up, you two move over there!”

Grillek sighed and took Lom to the nearby vein. Eyes were on them now so they couldn’t make a move. For a while at least one of the guards was keeping an eye on both groups, that is until a fight broke out behind them.

As it happens in the work camp today, there were goblins from different clans, rival clans. Well there is some bad blood between them, to be honest, it’s been a hundred years that no one knows what happened. Needless to say, ancient tensions came to a boil and a huge fight broke out.

Grillek knew this was his and Lom’s only chance of escape. Lom took out the sack he put his hand inside, immediately two small bottles latched onto his hand like a magnet. Lom wasn’t startled, he knew that the bottles were designed that way. The two goblins drank their potions, and immediately ran.

They ran faster than ever, and when they stopped they saw only an aura around their bodies. They continued to run until they reached the house, as soon as the two goblins entered the house the effects of the potion waned.

The cabin smelled of potpourri and tea. There were tables and chairs in the center. Around them were vines and plants, and the two of them could swear they heard a stream under them. In the back they could hear the clanks of cooking.

“Have a seat you two, your meal should be out shortly.”

Grillek and Lom sat down. Each had their own glass and pitcher of water. “Don’t wait up for me dearies, drink some water.” The goblins drank half a pitcher each. Within moments an older lady walked out carrying a tray of various meats, olives, cheeses and crackers. She sat the tray down. “Please eat, you’ll need your strength for the next part of the journey.”

“And what is the next part?” Grillek asked.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

“Please eat first, ask questions later.”

After eating, the older lady escorted the pair to some chairs. They all sat down, music started to play from the gramophone. Lom was listening but noticed something odd with the music. He’s heard Orinatta’s Symphony 5 but this one seems..off.

“Ah little one, you caught on, your hearing is not waning. This gramophone is altered, the music is actually drowning out our conversation. To keep unwanted ears at bay. Oh where are my manners? My name is Cassie, and you two must be Grillek and Lom.”

“Yes, I’m Lom.”

“I’m Grillek.”

“Now that pleasantries are out of the way, let’s get down to business. You want to break into the king’s castle? Well you two will need to gear up and have supplies. Underneath this cabin is a supply room, it’s stocked to the brim. Weapons, potions, gear, herbs, anything you can think of.”

“Why do you have so many supplies? What is this place?”

“It’s a sort of refuge and resupply base. We provide relief to a weary traveler, or restock the occasional adventurer. Quickly, follow me, no doubt soon the guards will figure out you two are missing.”

All three went down to the basement, Cassie was accurate in her brief description. The basement was laid out like a large indoor market. Signs could be seen in the aisles. Weapons of every shape and size. Potions, too many to count, and various adventuring supplies such as rope, sacks, lockpicking tools and it goes on.

“How did you get all this stuff?” Lom asked.

“Donations, mostly, we don’t ask and they don’t tell.”

“Alright, all this free stuff, what’s the catch?”

“Ten items max, and you must carry it.”

“Fair, alright Lom, let's go shopping. You seem to know some remedies, potions are over there.”

Lom nodded and went toward the potions. “Don’t forget to pick up a bag to carry it!”

“Don’t worry about storage, you two will be supplied with bags, your choice.”

“Bless you Cassie,” Grillek said.

It took an hour for the two to gather what they needed. Each had to weigh what they needed and how much they could carry. Grillek chose a pair of daggers, which Cassie counted as one. Also, is some rope, rations, waterskin, thieves tools, a throwing knife, a disguise kit, and four pieces of coin. Lom chose a towel, rations, waterskin, a bundle of 5 bandages, potion making kit, herbs and liquid to make healing potions and a small dagger.

Cassie presented Lom and Grillek with magical sacks that could fill everything they had in. All they had to do was think of what they needed and it appeared in their hand. In addition, as a gift, she gave them each their own walking stick and new clothes.

“There, now the bath is down the shop and-”

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

“Oh I wasn’t expecting visitors and that was a hearty knock. Oh wait here, but be prepared to run.”

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

“If I say, ‘no one here except me and my chickens, you run out the back of the shop. A door will appear.”

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

“Say the phrase, The veiled sea is calm tonight, now get ready.”

Cassie went upstairs. Grillek and Lom were at the bottom of the stairs. Grillek could not help but wonder if they were found. He can’t and won’t think of the terrible things that could happen to them or Cassie if they were caught. Lom was shaking, Grillek did his best to calm him down.

“Oh, hello, oh? No one here except me and my chickens.”

Without a hesitant thought, Grillek and Lom darted out. As they were darting the floor shook. Several of the shelves came down blocking their path. Grillek took Loms hand, and ran through another aisle, within seconds the floor shook, the ceiling started to buckle. They were close to the door and then another boom, which threw Grillek down. As he was about to get up a beam fell on him.

“Ahh this damn thing is heavy, no Lom go, leave this cursed continent, leave me here to die. I’m an old goblin, leave me be. You’re not listening, are you?”

“No, please drink this.”

“Is this what I think it is?

“Drink your spinach juice, it’s good for you.”

Grillek had this before, when he and Lom escaped. Grillek was low on energy, but this, whatever this was, pumped him up. But the taste was ever so foul, and this concoction was no different. As soon as he drank it, he felt like a new goblin. Grillek lifted the board and threw it away from him. Lom was already at the door. Grillek ran to the door and yelled out the passphrase.

The doors flung open and the pair rushed out of the room. In front was a long staircase, they descended as fast as they could. Once they reached the bottom the door opened for them and they raced out. They were far from the cabin but they could see what was firing at it. A ring of mages was surrounding the hill and cabin. Some were floating, every ten seconds, each mage casted out a ball of energy toward the cabin.

The last two rounds of firing went in a quick order. After the last wave, there was a crack and as if the cabin was able to collapse. The mages backed away and a taller, older one wearing elaborate garb floated toward the hill. She stopped and opened her arms. The cabin lifted up from the ground, exposing the basement.

“Let’s get out of here, I’ve seen enough,” Grillek said

“No, look”

Cassie was brought forth before the mage, in chains. There was an exchange that neither goblin could make out. Then a portal opened near Cassie and the archmage. Two soldiers came out and took Cassie away. Grillek and Lom ran as fast as they could.