“But there’s only one!” Killian said for the third time by the time we reached the lobby again,

“Yes Killian, I know but it’s a good one and it doesn’t break!” I said, having explained this now for the second time.

“But ye have to go get tit!?” He said, still confused at the prospect,

“Killian,” I said and stopped this time, “it’s a really, really strong arrow. You only need to fire it once, okay?” He scoffed and rolled his eyes as I pressed forward to catch up with Drew who was standing looking out at the courtyard.

“Still no sign of life.” He said nervously and we shared a look, “you ready to do this?” he asked.

“Sure am.” I said with a waver in my voice that was undeniable.

We walked out into the orange early evening sun that bathed the courtyard in light. Large trees, bushes and even a small brook all occupied the green area that was the center of this castle. The high wall stretched above us but within this area it was open to the blue sky above.

We headed past a large willow tree and just beyond Silas said, “This is it.” I looked to Kappa who nodded and I turned to Jessica, “Well I’m going to pop in and get the files from the PC in the library so I guess sit tight for a few,” Killian did a curt nod and nudged Sarah who stood next to him.

“Ye ready for a fight should it come?” he said and she did a half laugh as if not really understanding what he meant.

“Shouldn’t someone come with you?” Jessica asked.

“Why?” I asked a bit unsure.

“Well the files need to be navigated and time is of the essence, one person can run for the USB and other can get the files,” she said very matter-of-factly and I could see Kappa nodding along. Despite having tried to put the thought from my mind, I was nervous of the creatures I had seen and failed to share with anyone. I swallowed and was about to tell them when a loud, familiar voice came from the lobby entrance.

“THIS is why I’m the brains of the operation,” Hestle walked slowly with Ergon in tow, his voice loud and pompous as he walked towards us across the fading light of the courtyard, “you know,” he said as he removed a glove from his right hand finger by finger, “I said to Ergon that these were wily ones,” he gestured to us with his now naked hand as Ergon grunted, “I told him that even though left you in the dungeon that you would find a way to escape.” He stopped walking and continued to remove his other glove. I turned to Drew to see if he could do something but remembered that he used time-lapse, his most powerful spell, less than 24 hours ago and they took over a day to recharge.

“This isn’t your fight Hestle…” I started to say but he cut me off.

“Oh but it is,” he put both gloves in his pocket, “see we get paid by leaving you in the cells, it doesn’t work if you escape.” He said and crossed his arms behind his back. Though I couldn’t see him, I knew he was feeling for his daggers.

“Why leave us in the cage?” I asked.

“Why? Cause the man paying wanted it that way; we’re told to leave you in the cages and the rest I couldn’t care less about…”

“What about my parents?” Silas said and Hestle’s eyes darted down towards him.

“Ahhh so that’s how you got out,” he said leaning over onto his knees as if talking to a child, “hey little guy!” Silas growled an admittedly cute growl, for the first time acting like a goblin, “but I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.” He said standing back up.

“He means my parents; two people, older, dark skin, they were bought from the Orcs in the mines near Largen…”

“My mines!” Killian shouted. His axe was in hand and he was ready for a fight as were Kappa, Drew and Jessica but Hestle and Ergon were uncomfortably calm.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“Riiiiiiight,” Hestle said as if earnestly remembering, “Yes that was more of a finder’s fee, Millicent came to get them himself that time.” I turned to Drew and we were both thinking the same thing. If Millicent came to them that means they were looking for us from the get go, even before my parents may have revealed information about me, about this world. My mind tried to stay in the moment as Hestle said, “Whatever the case we’re going to have to make you head back downstairs. The Goblin too this time.”

“You and what army?” Killian said and I slapped my face, as Hestle grinned but before he could answer I said.

“Killian!”

“What?” the dwarf said as if being scolded,

“You never say 'you and what army' in a moment like this!”

“Why?” He said, a pout on his face,

“Because he’s just gonna say this army and then a bunch of sweaty goons show up,” Jessica said and I nodded at her.

“Ya man, don’t give him that satisfaction,” I said as Hestle watched us with confusion,

“Well what would ye want me to say!” Killian barked.

“I dunno something bad ass like; let me axe you a question.” I said and Ergon turned his head as if a dog trying to understand. Drew made a sound that said that’s not that clever and Kappa gave me a so-so hand wave, “or – I dunno. What did you say again?” I turned to Hestle, prompting him for his line.

“Uhhh,” Hestle turned to Ergon who shrugged and said in a reciting tone, “We’re going to have to make you to head back downstairs?”

“Right, right,” I said and frantically thought, “then we could say something like, You can try.”

“Ya, ya or You can make me a cake but you can try to da da da,” Drew added and I shot a gross look his way, “What?” he said.

“Oh, oh, I have one,” Jessica said and I pointed to her, “Give me the line again,” she asked and I turned to Hestle and prompted him, with a confused and slow delivery he said it and Jessica shot back, “Remember when we asked what you wanted? Us neither.”

“Hey, not bad!” I said, “Kappa you got one?”

“You have your entire life to be a jerk. Why not take today off?” She said and Jessica, Drew and I made a reactive hoot.

“Oh wow, that had to sting!” I shouted from across the courtyard as I heard the movement on the balcony above. As our laughter died down I could see the people above readying their arrows and Hestle cleared his throat.

“If you’re quite done, I think I’d like to finish my thought?” He said as the creaking of the bowstrings above us sounded out. I swallowed hard and he continued, “What I was about to say is that we’re going to have to make you head downstairs. However, after that wonderful display of cleverness, I think I’ve reconsidered. Millicent has requested that anyone brought should remain alive however as far as I care, this is now personal. Both Ergon and I have travelled across the lands to track you down and now that we have you – I care less about appeasing Millicent and more about ending you once and for all.”

We shared a nervous look amongst each other; Jessica to me, then to Drew. I locked eyes with Kappa and Killian for a second before taking a deep breath and as I was about to throw down my bow I noticed Silas. He wasn’t looking at me, nor anyone else, he was gritting his teeth and before I could say anything he took a few steps forward and said, “Good story, but in what chapter do you shut the fuck up?”

What happened next was a combination of a few things I had failed to realize. The first being how, despite Jessica making valuable points about treating the game like reality and exploiting it, Silas kept playing. He did quests while on his own, before he met me and even on the way to Millicent’s. He’s so small and quiet that half the time we didn’t even realize he was gone. This wouldn’t be a big deal really except that Silas was the only one of us who realized the benefit to reaching the maximum level. See, and this was the second thing I realized; while other things worked like real life (damage, food, sleep) – magic didn’t. I knew this, Drew knew this, the others knew this but most importantly Silas knew this. He also knew that his Rogue class had one, bad-ass ultimate magical ability at max level that was game changing and what we experienced next was exactly that.

To say Silas moved quicker than light would be a mistake, but it was damn close. In his eyes, time must have stopped because all we could see was a green streak of light that ran between each of the dozen guards above us. As the green blur passed each fell over immobilized and in an instant we were face to face with Ergon and Hestle alone. Silas stopped right back where he started with the fight now in our favour.

“Well.” Hestle said after a long pause and drew both his daggers.

I turned to the others and said, “Leave the big one to me.”