Malcolm stood inside the village gate. Nervously, he yelled out towards the woods. "I HEARD YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ME! WELL, HERE I AM! DO WITH ME WHAT YOU WANT! JUST LEAVE THESE PEOPLE OUT OF IT! THEY DID NOTHING WRONG!"

Silence.

Then a rustle. A small one, but still a rustle.

Slowly the Toe Goblins emerged, their yellow eyes and crude daggers glinting in the torchlight. They snuck forward in a diamond formation, as if enemies would spring out of the shadows.

The Toe Goblins stopped a few feet from Malcolm, so close he could smell their stench. Sven raised his knife and pressed it to Malcolm's stomach.

"Why did you do it?" He demanded, twisting the knife so that it was under Malcolm's ribs.

"It was an accident." Malcolm said calmly. "And I am truly sorry."

Easing the pressure, Sven nodded solemnly. "I understand."

Malcolm chuckled. "Well, I wasn't just talking about the arrow."

Villagers burst from various hiding spots, roaring with rage and brandishing assorted makeshift weapons. They charged the Goblins, yelling threats and screaming curses.

Enraged by Malcolm's trickery, Sven shoved his blade into the man's gut, burying it up to the hilt.

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"NASTY SLIMY TRICKSTERS!" Sven screamed, ripping his dagger out of Malcolm. "WE TRUSTED YOU! AND YOU BETRAYED US!"

As the angry mob closed in on the Toe Goblins, Sven gave a quick order. "Get 'em boys! Ten fine toes to the one who drops the most!"

Then chaos erupted. Like a swarm of bees, the little creatures darted from shadow to shadow, impaling the calves of the confused villagers. As people began dropping around them, some of the less brave towns-folk ran into the nearest home, barricading the door.

Those were the fortunate ones. The remaining men, women, and occasional child were completely powerless to stop the rampaging Toe Goblins.

Occasionally Sven would yell out insults such as:

"You could at least TRY to run!"

"Hey you! Yeah you... the ugly one!"

And his favorite, "Your toes are so bad, even I don't want 'em!"

Within a few short minutes, it was over. Most of the town was lying in the dirt, passed out from the pain and blood loss.

Stepping around the bodies, Sven and the rest of the Toe Goblins approached Malcolm.

Staggering to his feet and clutching his side, the man groaned." Just kill me already."

"But that would take all the fun out if it!" Sven cackled, swinging his knife in the man's face. "Plus, you've accepted your fate! There would be no excitement in killing you now! No no no... I want to make you suffer!"

Malcolm spat at Sven. "Do your worst, Goblin."

Turning away from Malcolm, Sven and his crew crowded together, discussing... something.

Sven broke the huddle and approached Malcolm. "You should be more grateful human! We have a deal for you. Either we kill you..."

"Generous." Malcolm scoffed.

"...OR you join my crew for a year."

Malcolm was stunned. Of all the things he expected Sven to say, that was not one of them. The only sound he managed to make was a faint "What?"

"A Foot cannot function properly without all five Toes. You killed Svangal, so as punishment, you should take his place."

Malcolm weighed his options. Either I die, or I have to spend a year with the Toe Goblins. After a few moments of careful consideration he replied.

"Fine. I'll join your little crew."