“Uh, is that you, Goblin King?” I asked like an idiot as I moved further away from the other three. I wondered who else could contact me like this as I looked at the ring that Brar had given me for the king.

I could hear the chuckle vibrating through my skull. I could not figure out why it was so much stronger than when Brar and I communicated.

“It is. Call me Tez’kar instead. You have earned that right, so I have finally chosen to contact you.”

Glancing around the area, I knew I was far enough away from Turk, Dirk, and Vreek to talk without worrying about waking them up.

“I appreciate that kin…, Tez’kar. I was not sure when you might contact me. What can I do for you?”

“You are strange, but that is to be expected. When I contact the other I have put in charge of camps, there is so much groveling to listen to. It is a welcome change not to have one waste my time like that.”

The truth was I had no idea what to expect from this King. Brar had told me little. I knew he was old. Somehow I doubted he wanted to talk about his age.

“Well, what can I do for you? Also, thank you for the sword. It has been useful.”

“I should thank you for using it,” Tez’kar replied. “Every time you use it, I can tell.”

“You can tell? Is that a good thing?”

Tez’kar laughed again, and this time it seemed as if he had intentionally quieted down or chosen not to make my head feel like it was getting beaten by something.

“It is a great thing. That sword is connected to me. The more you kill with it, the stronger I become.”

I waited for him to explain it more, but no explanation ever came.

“Tell me how the labyrinth goes. Brar mentioned you had entered it. An impressive feat, as I am sure he told you.”

I explained where we were and what we were doing right now, along with all the monsters and bosses we had fought and what we had acquired. Tez’kar never interrupted and just waited till I stopped talking.

“So the next boss will be in a few more floors. Any idea what this one will bring?”

I had thought about it and talked briefly with Turk on the last two floors.

“We believe this boss will be a powerful opponent. Something strong and fast. It will be the hardest battle to date.”

“I want to warn you, Zolb, that the labyrinth will get harder with each floor after the next boss. Do you remember the highest floor the goblins and orcs from thousands of years ago ever got?”

“Seventy-one, right?”

“That is correct. The boss on the floor seventy killed a third of the party. When they reached the next floor, the monsters on it were almost as strong as the boss.”

I let out a whistle and thought about what Tez’kar just told me. Was the fiftieth floor some special exponentially growing level? How far could we get with only the four of us and nine hearts left?

“Can I ask how you know all these things? Brar only knows a few things; I know most of that comes from you.”

“I will share a little knowledge about me. Know that what I what I share is not for the majority of goblins or orcs to know. I have hidden myself for over two hundred years.”

“Two hundred years!” I suddenly burst out. I glanced around, noticed the three were still sleeping, and covered my mouth. “How is that possible?”

Tez’kar laughed, and after he stopped, I heard him sigh.

“I am not just a goblin anymore. I am a cross between a living and a dead one. I studied the arts of necromancy and come from a line of goblin kings who document everything. Most goblin kings live for a hundred years or more. All because of the sword you carry.”

I glanced down at the sword and pulled it out of its scabbard. I watched it turn the space around its edges dark from the lack of light.

“You are holding it now, I can tell.”

I grimaced and put it back in its scabbard.

“Is this like a cursed sword?”

“No, but you are connected to it now. That is not a bad thing. If you manage to do what I hope you can, you will be King one day.” Tez’kar did something, and I felt the sword quiver. “Did you feel that?”

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“I felt the sword quiver. What was it?”

“It is a gem that is embedded in my chest. It allows me to stay alive. The most important thing you need to know about all this is that the sword you carry came from the boss on the seventieth floor.”

I thought about the items that Vreek was now wearing. Were they as powerful as the sword in some way?

“Are all items from the bosses that powerful?”

“No. The next boss will be the first to drop something worthy of a champion. Whatever it is, use it well.”

I could not imagine what it might be, but I also knew that the next boss would be one of the tougher ones we had faced. If they ramped up in power like Tez’kar was saying they did, our ability to not kill monsters would get more challenging too.

“I guess we will have to rest more on the floors as we clear them to the next boss,” I stated as I moved to sit against a tree.

“You won’t be able to do that anymore. After the next boss, they will appear soon after you defeat them. It is what makes the next stage of the labyrinth so difficult. There is only one floor you can rest on besides the boss ones now.”

Crap! While that would be a good thing for not having to worry about leaving a trail of where we went, dealing with a respawning monster system could get nasty quickly.

“I will ensure we stay ready to use our crystal if necessary.”

“A wise plan. Tell me, Zolb, what is your next plan if you survive the labyrinth? What do you intend to do to help our race?”

I had no answer for that. I knew what I wanted to do, but we were far too weak to accomplish that.

“I do not have a plan to give right now,” I stated. “I know we need to get stronger, which is why we are here. At some point, I want to attack the human capital and take it back for our people. I am afraid we are far from being able to make that happen. Even if the entire Slendal tribe came, we would be outnumbered, and I am sure the elves and dwarves would help defend the humans.”

I knew we needed more allies, but I was unsure where to get them.

“Is there anyone else you can ask to help us in our battle?” I asked

“There are a few other races you could seek out, but I cannot approach them. The truth is…” Tez’kar paused for a good ten seconds as I waited. “The truth is I cannot leave the room I reside in now. My power has grown weaker over the last hundred years. It will take you slaying well over ten thousand with your sword before I can leave the castle I have sealed myself in.”

I had so many questions. Where was this castle? How did he survive all this time? I knew the chests acted as a transportation thing between Tez’kar and his subordinates.

“I want to ask so many things,” I told Tez’kar. “Is it worth asking them, or should I wait?”

“Wait for now. Using the ring drains my power. It would not be a lot if I were able to hunt like the rest of you. For now, stay safe and keep growing in power. Talk with Brar and keep him updated on all your actions. He can update me. The chests do not require me to expend my energy.”

I felt for Tez’kar. He was trying to save his people but was limited in power and inability. All he could do is oversee and direct. I could not fathom doing what he had been doing for two hundred years and being locked away for so long. He was sacrificing so much, and he knew he might never succeed.

“I’ll do my best. I’ll update Brar as we get deeper inside the labyrinth. Thank you again for the sword and for talking to me.”

“Thank you for being willing to risk your lives and the lives of your sons for our cause.”

I waited to see if Tez’kar would say anything else, and after a minute, I knew he was done talking. My mind was wandering in so many different directions. The truth of how the king was trapped and the real reason why he gave me the sword answered a few questions I had struggled with for so long. Why would a king give away such a powerful item? Now I knew he had a secret motive behind it. The stronger I got with it, the stronger he became as well.

I glanced at the three still sleeping and decided I needed to sleep as well. Vreek had agreed to take the next watch, so I made my way toward him.

Right now, I needed sleep more than anything.

“You talked to him?” Brar asked, completely surprised at the news.

“I did. He is different but just like you described. I wonder if he and his sons will be the ones to achieve what we had given up on for so long.”

Tez’kar shifted on his throne. The room was dark, and the two green flames that never went out flickered, even in the absence of wind, gave almost no light at all. The hall he was in was seventy-five yards long, and all of the windows were sealed. The doors were barred and sealed by magic. No light had reached this hall in over a hundred years.

“Thank you for the heart,” Tez’kar stated as he held the day-old heart in his hand. There was no skin, just bones that ran all the way to his right shoulder socket. That spell had cost him so much. It had been worth it. So many goblins and orcs died that day, but it had stopped the heroes who had found his castle and had tried to invade.

“It is my honor, my King!” Brar replied. “I do believe they will do what none have been able to. After all, they made it inside a labyrinth! Two of them have evolved! What more can we ask for?”

Tez’kar sighed and then lifted the heart to his mouth. The rot that often affected his face was gone for now, thanks to the number of creatures Zolb had been killing with the sword. Chewing on the heart, Tez’kar felt the crystal in his chest-beating. It served as his heart. He had modified the sword the goblin kings had passed down for generations to keep him alive. How many goblins and orcs had died wielding it as a gift from him? Each time it would return to him once they lay dead. A secret none but he knew of. As long as the crystal was in his heart, it would always return to him.

“How many warriors can I depend on from you when the time comes?”

“I have two hundred well-trained and better warriors now, thanks to what Zolb and his boys did. We are growing stronger, and with the spoils from that town, our warriors are outfitted better than ever!”

Tez’kar nodded as he finished the last bite of the heart Brar had sent him.

“Good. I will contact you after I reach out to the others. And Brar, I need you to keep Zolb from the human capital as long as possible. He needs to be much stronger before that day comes. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my king! I will make sure he understands the wisdom of that.”

Tapping his ring, Tez’kar cut off the communication and laid his head against the stone throne. He could not feel the cold stone against his skin. The hair had fallen out decades ago. If someone saw him now, they would think he was a litch or worse. He knew the truth. He was far worse than a litch.