The Dreadlung pressed his back against the wall, throwing himself back behind cover in time to avoid a spinning garden trowel.

“Oh hey. Tinc, that’s for you, isn’t it?” he wheezed.

The horticultural espionage professional did not appear amused.

“What went wrong? It was talking with you. What did you say?”

Douk had been left behind to tend to Btiobhan. Intunmeroon-evenI’mhavingtroublesayingitnow held position across from Rhode, on the other side of the entrance to the arboretum. Tinc had ducked behind an overturned, flying saucer shaped globe. Its brass lid opened like a trash bin, and the goblin made his body as small as possible as he held it in place.

A ceramic pot arced through the air, denting the far wall as it shattered.

“It’s going better than it looks. I’m gonna put my foot down and say that this is actually a pretty healthy reaction, given the circumstances.”

“Healthy.”

“Yea,” Rhode murmured distractedly. “I'm cautiously optimistic.”

<> Pratiksha cried. Her voice warbled, and echoed strangely.

<> Rhode barked back. <>

<>

<>

<>

<>

<>

<>

<>

<>

<>

Pleased, Rhode nodded to himself.

“What did it say?” Tinc hissed one last time.

“Bad news, Tinc my man,” the homunculus sighed dishonestly, “I think he doesn’t trust you guys.”

“Wh–” the gardener almost said.

The saucer bin had been painted with lacquer to depict constellations of the night sky. Its purpose had been to keep drinks chilled and locked up for the adults. A rectangular wooden planter snapped the metal hinge of the container. The lid bent completely back, twisting Tinc’s wrist and breaking three of his fingers. The heavy planter carried through, deforming the thin bronze and the whole mess slammed downward and into the goblin’s head.

He was struck downward, his neck at a bad angle. The force of the long box deflected along his body and turned him sideways. The man rolled over, face-first onto the tile and began to moan.

“Shit,” Rhode winced.

<> Pratiksha’s voice cried out. <>

The Hero lumbered forward and fell to an aching knee next to the spy.

Tinc was spasming in agony. His fingers were moving, and so were his legs. His eyes were shut, but his brow was expressive and his mouth was working too.

Rhode didn’t waste time. He pawed at the ground beneath Tinc, searching until he found a small, rectangular slip of sky blue jade. It was a tiny thing, as long as the short joint of Tinc’s pinky and only half as wide.

“Stay with me, Tinc. You okay? How bad is it?”

The gardener spat flecks of drool and groaned.

“Okay. Don’t move your head if you can help it.” <> Rhode growled at the air.

The homunculus slid the jade slip out from below Tinc with one finger, and then casually crushed it under his heel.

“Goodeman Innie!”

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

“You can’t call me Goodeman,” the soldier replied. His spear pointed unwaveringly.

“I’ve really got to call you Villain? Whatever, man. Get over here. Tinc’s seriously messed up.”

“You need to take cover, Ser.”

“Stuff that. Get this man to safety.”

“I’m not supposed to leave you, Ser.”

“I will smack you sideways out of your senses if you don’t take him right now.”

<> the Third called out.

<> Rhode bellowed. He wrenched the bronze lid free from the ruined bar and lifted it up like a shield. <>

“Ser,” Intunmeroonkunkt tried again. “I can get his legs if you get his arms.”

Rhode shook his head. Setting down his lamp and lid, he swept his huge hands underneath Tinc and plucked the goblin up. He was screaming inside as the small man’s unsupported head lolled.

The monster pressed the whole body of the gardener against the soldier, forcing the villain to carry him. Rhode gently tapped Intunmeroonkunkts’s head and shoulder to better support Tinc.

From down on his knee, the homunculus met eyes level with the soldier. “Get him to Noffet, man. Don’t mind me. I got this.”

“I’ll be right back, Ser.”

Rhode laid his hand on the goblin’s shoulder as the man cautiously readjusted his carry. “Depending on you, Villain,” he said.

<> the Third asked.

<> Rhode replied. Then he fixed Intunmeroonkunkt with a serious expression, and nodded to send the man off on his way.

Rhode shut his eyes. The world was swaying around him. It was growing blurry and colorless around the edges. It took a long moment for him to stand again.

<>

The Third didn’t respond. She was standing out in the open, leaning against the greenhouse enclosure and under the first warmth of sunlight. Rhode picked up the lid so that it hung over his forearm. He left his lantern behind.

The arboretum was dominated by the presence of a great, dead tree. The soil inside the inner room had gone bone dry long ago, and its largest occupant had gone withered and skeletal. Shelves of dead plants and gardening supplies circled the outer walls, and the familial compound stretched on for a few rooms further in two directions.

Pratiksha hugged the glass, circling backwards around it as Rhode moved forward. Her blood left little smudges behind her.

<> she asked.

<>

<>

<>

<>

<>

<>

Rhode tried to smile and failed. He slowed down to allow the Third to gain more distance from him. <>

<> Pratiksha replied.

<> “goblins” <>

<>

<>

The [Relay] in Rhode’s pocket quivered, and he swallowed the lump in his throat.

<>

<> Pratiksha mouthed.

<>

<>

Rhode openly chuckled. <>

<>

<>

<>

The two homunculi had been circling each other. They stopped.

<>

<>

<>

<>

Rhode shook his head. <>