Slave, not at all what I was expecting. She notices my confused look. I am a bit stuck for words. What do I say now? What do I ask first? I need to resolve this, but I don't have time. I feel like I take the cowards way out by asking for use to talk about it when I get back. She silently accepts. Hope I didn't just raise a death flag. I am about to attack 30 something goblins on my own. Nothing is certain about my return.

I start running. There are only a few hours until it gets dark. If I run all night I should arrive at the clearing by early morning. If I am early I can plan my ambush. Shortly after dusk I check the progress of the goblins. They have not stopped, but are pressing through the pass. Are they being pursued? No signs of it, but I am not sure about what will and what will not show under the alert marker on my map. I gives me a live read on the location of the goblins, but nothing else.

As I rush towards the clearing, it becomes apparent that the goblins are keeping a steady quick march. They might just be rushing to their assumed safety beyond the pass. Since they can see any pursuers from a long way off at the top of the pass, they can rest easy as soon as they get to the clearing. The perfect time for me to attack. Exhausted by a forced march through the night, in daylight, in a place assumed to be safe. This should make up for the fact that we will be arriving at the clearing about the same time.

As I run through the night I take care to avoid any unnecessary encounters with wild beasts. They would only slow me down. Dawn has just arrived by the time I reach the clearing. Barely in time, I see the hobgoblin delegate some of the stronger goblins to take up guard duty. Two are sent up the cliff side to watch the pass. They are still in sight, but I will only be able to reach them with a bow from the middle of the clearing. Three more goblins are sent north, south and west.

The west heading one walks straight into my ambush. He dies quickly and silently. Next I head for the southward guard, as my main ambush point of the clearing is a small height in the south-west of the clearing. I spot him standing next to a tree. Rushed for time I send an arrow at his skull, which pierces both the skull and the tree bark, keeping the goblin in a standing position while still dead.

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As I approach my ambush point I notice some commotion in the centre of the clearing. Until now I haven't had a chance to study the main body of the raiding party. There looks to be several prisoners, all human females. One is no more than a little girl. She is embraced by a more mature woman, clearly her mother. There are three other women. One, a red haired one, is being pushed down by the hobgoblin and two lieutenants.

This looks to be the first time they have stopped in their retreat. None of the girls look as traumatized as Mari. Though I would prefer to wait with the ambush a bit longer, I can't justify it in my mind. I need to act now, even though it could be less risky later. I draw an arrow at the hobgoblin, who is standing over the redhead. As soon as the arrow flies I knock another and aim for one of the lieutenants, and then a third for the last lieutenant.

The first arrow pierces the chest of the hobgoblin as the third arrow is loosed. Expecting the other two arrows to hit their mark I start aiming and shooting at any goblin still on their feet. Most have fallen asleep next to the heavy loot they have been carrying. With their leadership dropping first the camp quickly falls into chaos. I keep shooting, first at any strong looking goblins, then at goblins closer to my spot, then at goblins looking to seek cover in the trees around the clearing.

Soon the raiding party of just over thirty has been whittled down to 15 goblins in the middle of the clear. They have spotted my hiding spot and charge towards me. I keep picking them off while heading along the south end of the clearing. By the time they reach me I bring out a spear to take out the last 5 exhausted goblins. Using the full length of my spear and space to swing it, I dance out of reach taking one down after another. When did I get this good with a spear? It feels like a natural part of my body.

Jogging towards the centre of the clearing, I spot the two goblins on the cliff side and the northern guard heading towards me. None seem at all worried that I am standing among 30 of the dead brethren. All three drop to arrows from my bow. Was I lucky, or was it supposed to be this easy? Checking that all the goblins are dead I start storing them. When it is clear that none of the goblins are alive, I head towards the prisoners. When I get to the hobgoblin, I find his head has been smashed in by a rock wielding redhead. Looks like he survived my arrow long enough for the girl to get some payback.