“They are back Fritz!”

Piper poked him gently. He overslept. No wonder. It was already dark.

As Fritz woke up from his nap he quickly approached Curan that entered the encampment. He was alone and bleeding from the arm. Fritz could only wonder what happened as Curan pushed his welcoming hug away keeping him at bay.

“You could at least tell me how he attacked you..”

Curan passed him and stood in front of Peter instead. Fritz was mumbling something in the background. Piper stood silent probably regretting goblins death. Curan knew this man inside out. He really was a kind soul.

Peter glared at his chief a small smirk that Curan clearly noticed escaped his usually expressionless lips. Behind him Curan observed as Viper stealthily entered his tent. Very well.

The moment the tent was shut he punched Peter in his gut. The man stumbled onto his knees, barely keeping his dinner in check. Curan violently raised his head to look straight into Peter’s eyes. He was still smirking.

“I asked you if the goblin was intelligent, you nodded.”

Nod.

“I Asked you if he maybe is some sort of magician’s pet and you nodded.”

Nod.

“So when I asked you if he is a powerful why did you say no?”

Peter didn’t nod this time he just raised his shoulders slightly. He didn’t because Gob wasn’t a strong caster. His mana was decent at best. Why would he tell Curan such a thing? He smirked even more.

Curan released Peter’s head from his hand and crouching next to him he asked him once more.

“Was it maybe that next to a pixie he looked a bit weak?”

This question didn’t require Peter’s nod. He smiled instead revealing a few missing teeth. Through the holes one could see that his tongue was cut off.

Curan smiled as well before punching this moron in the gut once more. This time Peter’s lunch travelled to the ground he was kneeling on. Curan stood up. He could hear bewildered Fritz whispering “fairy” over and over. Such creatures were so rare Curan could possibly buy a small village for just some fairy dust.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

He stood from the mess of a man he left on the ground and focused on the cook.

“Do not dare give him anything to eat until tomorrow. He will guide you both to dig up another treasure. There are a few decent things so try keep up a decent pace. I do want to sell some junk before we will move our camp.”

“We’re moving already?”

Fritz was too shocked to ask about the fairy. They barely lived here from Autumn! He had many questions, but Curan was on the way to his tent already. Seeing that Fritz was following him he turned around and pointed at Peter.

“Just ask this moron if you really want to know what was going on.”

Fritz was left standing, looking at still smirking Peter getting up from the ground.

“Wait, a second!”

Piper was the one that finally put two and two together and asked.

“Is the goblin alive?”

Curan looked back at this team of stragglers. Murderer cooked his meals. Chronic loudmouth was his second in command and whatever Peter was, was his best magic alert. He thought about himself and smiled. The goblin would fit just fine.

“I don’t care who will be keeping watch upon his return just don’t fucking jump him. He said he will at least take that knife back.”

Curan left inside his tent leaving relieved Piper, smirking Peter still holding his stomach and suddenly upset Fritz looking at the dagger that was still stuck in the tree. Curan didn't looked like Gob was going to only take his little possession.

“It is my watch isn’t it?”

He looked at closed curtains of the tent. It was Curan's idea to make the goblin talk no matter what! Had he known he would need to sleep next to this creature he wouldn't have pissed him earlier! Well. He wouldn't piss him so much. It was fine to sleep next to someone like Piper who just made a few crucial mistakes involving some blunt objects and cracked skulls, but a goblin!

It was like being forced to sleep next to a serial killer and rapist in one! Distressed he still shouted at the closed tent.

"If he kills me on the spot, it's on You chief!"

Oblivious silence made him shiver. He focused on the Peter that tried to silently remove himself from the scene. Piper blocked his way with his giant frame.

"Where do you think you are going? I want to know about this Fairy business."

"And I hereby nominate you to night watch!"

"Yes. We will great new team member together!"

Peter only now trapped between those two regretted his actions. He looked around with his magic infused eyes. The forest was bright as a day for him, but there was no sign of any approaching mana users. The only two he could see was Curan's and Viper's. He felt them through the tent visualised as two swirling balls of light. Curan's was small and deep crimson. Viper's was bigger and slightly bluish in tint.

There was no goblin in sight. His smirk was gone as Fritz and Piper thrown a myriad of yes or no questions at him making him finally feel remorse.

It was going to be a long night.