Jaelin led their party northwest from Eisenberg, past the small settlements that had sprung up recently, until they reached Redblade’s fort. They brought weapons, armour, and other supplies for the new lord of the hill fort.

In return, Redblade gave them hospitality, making sure they were well fed—even Pecs, who ate for three people.

‘How goes things with the goblins?’ Ashlyn asked him.

‘They have been quieter of late. We found a battle site, where they fought against an orc band. There were many fatalities, on both sides. I think the goblins are weakened. For the time being, at least.’

They rested in safety at the hill fort. Jaelin had them leave in the middle of the night. ‘It’s a long walk to the barrow,’ he explained. ‘I want us to reach it while there’s still daylight.’

Ashlyn walked with him for a while, observing how he was able to navigate a route even in the darkness. He looked strained; on edge.

‘There might be creatures out there?’ she whispered.

‘Of course there might.’ He looked behind him with an irritated expression.

Ashlyn hadn’t registered until then, but there was an almost constant accompaniment of sound behind them, even if no one in particular was being loud. Scabbards scraped against armour; shields swung on their straps; boots clumped into the ground.

‘We’re so much louder than when you travelled alone,’ she realised.

‘Stiff just sent too many of us.’

Ashlyn nodded. They were well beyond the limits of civilization now. Who really knew what monsters had their home out here? She checked her sword, but Greenblade wasn’t warning her of danger yet.

Mila gave her a glare as she pushed by and took her place next to The Explorer. Ashlyn liked the girl, but she was a strange one. She’d spent the last two days staring dreamily at Pecs, and now acted jealous that Ashlyn and Jaelin had shared a brief, hushed conversation.

When the sun appeared, casting its first watery rays over the land, they could make speedier progress. The group’s half asleep stumbling gave way to a sense of anticipation. Like a group of children, the mercs began asking Jaelin how close they were to their destination.

Then Bletcher called a halt. Everyone turned to look at him. He stood there, a deep frown on his face; saying nothing.

‘Well?’ Twerk demanded.

‘There are enemies near.’

Knowing he held the staff from the first barrow, Ashlyn didn’t waste time. She unhooked her shield, and took her spear in hand.

Christoph followed her lead, stringing his bow.

Others looked at Bletcher doubtfully.

‘Where?’ Fortune demanded. He cast his gaze around.

There was a line of trees to the north and west, but it was still some distance away. To the east, a rise in the ground that could generously be called a hillock. Otherwise, they were in flat terrain—nowhere for enemies to ambush them.

‘The gods have not revealed their location to me.’

‘Probably because they aren’t here,’ Fortune sneered.

‘No harm in taking precautions, though,’ Ashlyn said. She didn’t trust Bletcher. But that didn’t mean she would disregard whatever powers he might have.

The Apples followed her advice, drawing their weapons.

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‘Come,’ said Jaelin, pointing towards the treeline. ‘We are close.’

They resumed their walk, wary now. They cast glances in Bletcher’s direction. He said nothing more, but his frown never left his forehead.

When they came within distance of the trees, Ashlyn received a warning of her own. ‘Wait.’ Shoving her spear blade into the ground, she slid Greenblade from its scabbard. Its gemstone glowed with a faint green light. ‘Monsters.’

‘In the trees,’ Jaelin said. ‘Must be.’

‘Shieldwall!’ Usa said, and four of them joined him to make a shieldwall of five, Ashlyn included.

As they did, there was sudden movement. They burst from the trees in several places, so quick Ashlyn’s mind reeled as it tried to assess the threat. Wargs. As big as those they had fought before. More of them. And something else. They had riders. Small, green-skinned figures.

Goblins.

While she processed the information, the great beasts raced towards their position. There were six mounted goblins in all—enough to present a real threat, despite their own numbers.

She overlapped her shield with Izil and The Hoffmeister, bracing herself for impact. But as soon as they readied themselves, the goblin riders changed direction, flowing around to the side.

Christoph’s arrow sailed into the empty space the wargs had vacated.

‘Move!’ Usa cried.

It was a mess. A simple change of direction from the goblins led their shieldwall to collapse. Spears clunked into shields, and no one turned in the same direction as anyone else.

No doubt seeing their simple tactic had worked, the goblins gave their mounts new orders, sending them into the disordered Apples.

ACTION ROUND

Goblin warg riders

Goblin

Rider

Action Stats

EXP Level

2

Action Points

3

Hit Points

17

Wargs

Warg

Mounted warg

Action Stats

Action Points

6

Hit Points

36

The wargs, fast and agile, dominated the first moments of the battle. Within two action points, five of them had got within range of an Apple. The sixth hung back, while its rider took a bow from its saddlebag.

The goblins atop the beasts again demonstrated a base cunning. They ignored the five spear wielders who had failed to present a defensive block. Instead, they targeted the others, just like a predator seeks the weakest animal of the herd.

Wade had placed himself between the first oncoming warg and Auntie. He now had to see off the creature and its rider, wielding only a dagger.

At least he was quick. He avoided two swipes from the creature’s deadly claws—only the enhancement from his necklace saving him from the second. The third clawed strike took six hit points. Having finally knocked him off balance, it sank its sharp teeth into his arm, holding him tight with its powerful jaw. Another eight hit points lost, and he was down to only eight left.

The second warg attacked Twerk. Despite his size and armour, it landed three of its four blows. It took the gnome in its jaw like he was dinner, and shook. Wounds of twelve, nine, and six, tore him to shreds, and demonstrated just how dangerous the creatures were. It let go of him, and Wilson’s bloody remains fell to the ground.

Next was Fortune. His chain mail did nothing to stop all four attacks getting through. Hits of six, eight, six, and three left him unconscious on the ground, and bleeding from several wounds.

Jaelin’s new leather armour saved him from only one of the four warg attacks. He was lucky to lose only sixteen hit points. Even that left him with terrible wounds, and only just able to stay on his feet.

Ashlyn felt her stomach turn to rock as the fifth warg targeted Christoph. Three of its hits got through. One too many for his meagre sixteen hit points. It took her a while to realise the screaming sound was coming from her, as his lifeless body fell to the ground.