Goliath ran with everything he had. He had to reach the town before the pack of wolves. The people were defenceless; he bet no guard had been set when they went to sleep. Why would they? They probably trusted him as “Founder”.
Just as he almost thought he would make it, the wolves noticed him running towards the town. This may have swayed the pack at any other time, but the winter had been long and hard, and the war had exhausted much of the natural resources around the countryside. They became even more focused, now streaking towards the village with ferocious determination. He cursed the wind spirit that had gotten him into this and willed his legs to move faster. Also, where was Tia? Damn it, she should have still been watching him leave. Where did she go? At least she’ll become aware of the wolves as soon as they cross the settlement’s boundaries. His foot breached the boundary moments before he saw the first shape cross it, too. Tia momentarily materialised and then disappeared.
‘Danger, intruders!’ he heard her call as he angled his approach toward the wolves and drew his gladius.
‘Wolves! Wolves!’ he added to her yell, hoping to alert the sleeping visitors.
With a snarl, the lead wolf rounded on him and jumped. Goliath raised his sword just in time, ducking under its jaws and pushing his gladius into its belly with his outer arm as he rose. He reflexively struck backwards with his other elbow, anticipating the wolf attempting to bite him in the shoulder. His elbow struck the wolf’s jaw joint with a solid smack, and he felt the burn in his flesh as its incisors raked a path down his arm. And then the other two were upon him as the first fell to the side.
‘Oh my Gods, wolves! Help him!’ he heard Ana scream as he wildly fought. There was a yell as Manon charged into the fray, smacking at the wolves with her walking stick. He saw Gwyn plunging a knife into the hindquarters of one wolf and then jumping back as Isaac swung a pitchfork into its belly and tossed it back in a practised motion, where Alan smashed its head with a downward thrust of a staff. The last wolf fled, yelping into the night as everything quieted.
Goliath lowered his sword, meeting Isaac’s grim eyes, a shared acknowledgement passing between them of surviving the danger. Then they both stiffened, looking around at the sound of trundling wheels mixed in with a rhythmical squeak. It was the two automatons, respectively rolling and wobbling into view. Tia really had to fix that one’s wheel.
‘A bit tardy there, no?’ Isaac commented.
‘Mirabelle!’ Tia screamed. ‘Where’s Mirabelle? Wait, I can find her,’ and her image flickered and dematerialised.
‘Oh, Mirabelle!’ Ana gasped, ‘Where is she, Tia?’
‘Here we are, are the wolves gone?’ Benji answered, popping open a battered cellar door and peeking out with a scared-looking Mirabelle. Ana rushed over as Tia also materialised by Mirabelle’s side.
‘There you are,’ Grandma Manon scolded her grandson. ‘I should’ve known you would’ve saved yourself. But I guess you’re still alive, at least,’ she finished with a sigh.
Tia, however, looked thoughtfully at the hapless youth.
‘You kept Mirabelle safe,’ she stated. ‘I have revised my position. You may stay too.’
Benji blinked uncomfortably.
‘Injuries, injuries!’ Gwyn called as she appeared from a side street carrying a bag. She paused and assessed each one in the street with a practised glance before settling on Goliath.
‘You, first.’
Goliath became aware of the warm trail running down his arm as his battle awareness faded. Gwyn’s touch was gentle yet firm as she probed around the torn flesh of his bicep down to the tenderness that was developing in his elbow.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
‘Not too bad. I’ll have to treat these wounds to make sure they don’t become infected. It looks like your elbow has been sprained, but it doesn’t appear that any muscles were torn.’
It felt good to have her standing so close to him. After the night's panic, he could feel a reassuring quiet strength in her. She rose above him, about a head taller, and her long hair hung past his face. It had a slightly herbal fragrance.
‘Good thing you keep your knives sharp.’
Knives? Was that the best he could come up with?
‘Yes, indeed. Whether fighting or healing, a good knife is essential.’
‘Healing?’
Gwyn cut off a length of bandage, the threads seemingly melting away as the keen knife slid through the material.
‘Ah, I see.’
‘Useful for cutting herbs and lancing boils too.’
‘Shall we get the fire going again?’ Isaac asked as Gwyn tied up the ends of the sling for Goliath’s elbow.
‘Sure,’ Goliath nodded in thanks to Gwyn. ‘But shouldn’t Gwyn take a look at you as well?’
‘Nah, I’ve been throwing feed since I was a little chap. That wolf was nothing. All the same, I was glad for your help. Things could’ve gone differently with three starving wolves if we weren’t here with you.’
Goliath followed Isaac’s gaze over to Ana, who had Mirabelle back in her arms. Yes, it had been a good thing he came back. He still wasn’t happy about it, though.
<>
A cock crowed. After the wolves, they stayed awake for most of the night, and Goliath only slipped into sleep in the early morning. Wait, there were cocks now?
‘Golith, wake up Golith!’
Goliath opened one eye. The sun was sitting just above the mountains, casting its first rays into the valley. Mirabelle stood in front of him, vibrating with excitement.
‘Yes, wake up Goliath. We have a surprise for you.’
Goliath opened his other eye. It was Tia.
‘Come, Golith!’
He heard a muted laugh. Gwyn and Grandma Manon quickly averted their eyes, sipping from the cups in their hands. The fresh smell of brewed bitter beans wafted from a kettle over the fire.
‘Here you are,’ Ana said, handing him a cup. ‘The little ones get up so early, don’t they?’
‘Yes, they do. Thanks Ana, you’re a lifesaver.’
He critically eyed the kid and the holograph before getting up with his bitter brew.
‘Well? What is it the pair of you want to show me?’
Mirabelle squealed with excitement and ran in front as they led him to the administration building and round the back through the other entrance. He really needed to fix that porch. He couldn’t have Mirabelle stepping on it and possibly getting hurt. Wait, no! No porch fixing. None of them was staying here. He had to stay focused on that. They both paused in front of a door, looking at him expectantly.
Oh Gods, now he was getting nervous. A vision of the wind spirit crossed his mind. He hoped that one wasn’t involved. He reached for the handle, looking at both Mirabelle and Tia as he slowly pushed it down. Mirabelle’s grin was getting bigger by the second. The door swung open, leaving him stunned. The room had been transformed. A pink rug lay on a sparkling clean floor, with a bulky bed with pink covers against the wall. A sturdy desk and chair stood before an open window where pink curtains wafted in the breeze. He thought he heard a far-off giggle in the slight breeze.
‘Well?’ Tia said.
‘I, I don’t know what to say. What is this?’
‘A room. A room for Golith! Golith like?’
‘A room? A room for me? But how?’
Ding!
Quest completed: Fight big, bad wolves
Reward: A room for Goliath.
‘I taught Mirabelle how to use the settlement’s quest reward system,’ Tia said.
‘Golith like?’
Trepidation had entered Mirabelle’s voice. She watched him intensely as her bottom lip began quivering. A room. It was a room just for him, and Mirabelle had made it. Goliath’s knees buckled, which he turned into a kneel.
‘Like it? I have never received a better reward in my life. Thank you Mirabelle.’
Then he was almost run over as Mirabelle squealed and rushed at him, throwing her arms around his neck. He awkwardly hugged her back with his good arm, blinking back the moisture in his eyes. The dust in these old buildings sure got to one. He’d have to clean it at some point.
‘See, I told you Mirabelle could learn,’ Tia said, sounding smug.
Goliath opened his mouth to reply just as he heard voices calling outside. It sounded like a greeting. Tia flickered, staring into the distance for a moment. Then she blinked and fixed her gaze on Goliath.
‘Deception protocol activated. More people have arrived. The founder is needed outside.’
‘Well Mirabelle, I guess the founder had better get outside.’
‘No, not that founder. Our other “founder”. You.’
‘Yes, Tia. I knew what you meant.’
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