"I did what?"

"Magic weapons." Fizzit said smugly. "You promised to make magic weapons for Chief Brackish."

"No." Ferret groaned. "A magic weapon?" He put his face in his hands.

"Weapons." Fizzit corrected. "That's multiple weapons." The homunculus had stretched out on the top of the rock outside of the goblin warren to enjoy the warm autumn sun.

"But how do I do that? I don't know the first thing about making magical weapons."

"It's called enchanting. You enchant magical weapons."

Ferret joined Fizzit on the rock and brooded at the unfairness of his situation. "Only the greatest of wizards could enchant stuff. Wizards and dwarves." The dwarves were famous for their magic weapons and armor.

"Dwarves don't actually enchant," Fizzit said offhandedly. "What they do is called rune crafting."

"What the hell is rune crafting?"

Fizzit shrugged. "It's like enchanting, only easier."

Ferret's ears perked up. "So, let's do runes then."

"It's not so simple." Fizzit expanded his wings, enjoying the stretch. "Dwarves apprentice with Rune Masters for decades, learning their craft. And it's only after a century they get access to the powerful ones."

But Ferret heard what he wanted to. "A simple way to enchant." he left to his feet and grabbed his satchel. " Let's go."

The reclining Fizzit didn't bother opening his eyes. "I said it takes years to learn."

Ferret waved his hand dismissively, grabbing his satchel with its all-important spell book. "If dwarves can work it out, how hard can it be? Come on."

Fizzit makes a surprised erk sound as Ferret grabbed him off the rock and stuffed him into the satchel with the spell book. Then the goblin started walking away from the warren.

"Hey, where you going?" a large goblin waved his pointed stick at Ferret.

"Don't worry," he waved back. "I'm off on important business. Important business for the chief," he added.

As soon as they were out of sight of prying eyes, Fizzit climbed to his usual position on Ferret's shoulder. "So, where are we going?"

"There's an old dwarf ruin a day's walk from here. No one goes there, so it's probably full of good stuff we can use."

"And why does no one go there?"

"Because no-one ever returns." When Fizzit did not show enthusiasm, Ferret said, "Whatever is in there must be nasty, so it must have good stuff."

The small homunculus did not react to this bit of adventuring wisdom, instead shifting on Ferret's shoulder trying to find a conformable position.

After an hour of Fizzit's shifting about, Ferret snapped. "Will you keep still?"

"I can't help it if your shoulders are so bony." Fizzit said. "Now you are a great wizard, you might want a better outfit."

Ferret tugged at the rag tied around his waist, feeling self-conscious. "What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing." Fizzit said quickly. "The dirty loincloth thing really works for you, with its yellow and brown stains. But a wizard of your stature might make a better first impression. Besides, more padding your shoulder might make you a more comfortable ride."

The goblin regarded himself critically. It might be nice to have new clothes to go with his new satchel. "I'll keep my eyes open for an opportunity," he promised.

"Like there's any chance of a decent haberdashery all the way out here." Fizzit muttered.

They walked for hours along the open strip between the Forest and the Wall.

"Why's it called the Wall?" Fizzit looked up. The sheer surface of the Wall stretched up hundreds of feet.

"A goblin shaman once said it had the first Dark Overlord raised it a thousand years ago to separate the Broken Lands from the fertile green lands." Ferret waved at the forest a mile or so away.

"So, the Broken Lands are just over there?" Fizzit leaned back to see the top. "I heard the Wall Mountains are not actually a mountain range, but an escapement, left over from when it was a giant volcano during the age of the lizard peoples."

"God knows." Ferret ignored the Wall to keep walking. "I just know it stretches like this for thousands of miles. And the Broken Lands on the other side are the ancestral lands of the orcs and goblins."

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"So why aren't you living there?"

"Because it's a shithole." Ferret said. "It's a volcanic wasteland full of horrible monsters. And at the center is the Black Fortress." he shuddered.

"Sorry." Fizzit said without sincerity. "So why aren't you there?"

"Technically, I'm a forest goblin. I'm not suited for living on ash and rocks."

Fizzit turned to look at the forbidding Forest of Shadows.

"And before you ask," Ferret interrupted his inevitable question. "The Forest is full of nasty spiders and other horrible things." he waved at the open area with its many rocks, tufts of grass, and patches of melting snow. "So, we live here, in this paradise."

"Paradise?" Fizzit repeated.

"It's a paradise because it has nothing any other race would want. And being sandwiched between the Black Wall and the Forest, there's no reason for anyone to come this way. So, it belongs to us goblins."

"So how did you end up in the battle, then?"

Ferret sighed. "Because one of the Overlord's minions came along and told us to follow him. When you're a goblin, either you are a minion, or you are dinner for something larger."

"Well, aren't you a little ray of sunshine?"

"Be quiet," Ferret hushed, halting in his tracks, and gesturing towards the Wall. In the distance, they made out a massive arch carved into the dark stone. It appeared to be a tunnel.

Fizzit propped himself against Ferret's large ear, and shielding his eyes from the bright sun, squinted at the tunnel. "For sure, dwarves," he declared. "But I thought no-one came out here?"

"All I know is they appeared around a hundred years ago and started digging. Probably after gold or gems." The dwarves' lust for wealth was legendary. "I never met a dwarf." Ferret added. "I hear they taste like chicken."

A bundle of sticks swiftly bundled with dried moss made an improvised torch, which Ferret lit with a piece of flint.

They tiptoed forward, their footsteps echoing through the vast tunnel. The towering walls stretched up dozens of feet overhead, an impressive feat of construction that had stood the test of time. The remains of two large doors, now reduced to rubble and debris, lay haphazardly on the ground before them. Air, thick with dust and the musty scent of age, gave the impression they were stepping into a forgotten world. As they cautiously made their way further into the tunnel, their eyes darted around, taking in every detail, anticipating what lay ahead.

Ferret's grip on his satchel tightened as they ventured deeper. The air grew colder, causing their breath to hang before them like misty specters. Fizzit huddled closer to Ferret's neck, seeking warmth.

"What do you think we'll find in here?" Fizzit voiced his thoughts, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ferret glanced around, his eyes flickering with excitement. "Who knows? Maybe relics of ancient magic, powerful artifacts untouched for centuries... or maybe even a dragon's hoard!" His imagination ran wild with the possibilities.

As they continued down the tunnel, the darkness seemed to deepen, the light from their torch casting long shadows along the walls. Strange symbols and runes adorned the stone, hinting at the arcane secrets guarded within these walls. Ferret ran his fingers over one of the carvings, feeling a faint pulse of energy beneath his touch.

Suddenly, a terrible screech filled the air. Ferret spun around.

"I knew it!" Fizzit exclaimed as he took to the air. "It's a banshee."

Ferret's heart pounded in his chest as he strained to see through the darkness. The screech grew louder and more piercing, sending shivers down his spine.

A strange, green glow emerged from the shadows, casting an eerie light onto the carved stone hallway. Their curiosity battled with their fear as they stood frozen, as the light brightened as something approached the corner.

The light revealed the source of the screech—a ghostly figure floating above them, its hair flowing wildly and its eyes a haunting shade of silver. The banshee let out another bloodcurdling cry, causing Ferret to drop his torch to cover his ears to muffle the sound.

He closed his eyes and tried to recall the words to a spell. He muttered something, hoping inspiration would come, but the magic eluded him.

"I've got it!" he opened his eyes. "Run!"

As the banshee continued its relentless assault on their ears, Ferret tuned and sprinted for the exit.

Fizzit followed close behind, his tiny wings fluttering in desperation to keep up with Ferret's rapid pace. The ghostly wails echoed through the tunnel, growing louder with each step they took. Panic fueled their flight as they raced towards the open air.

They burst out of the tunnel, back into the blinding daylight. They stumbled to a halt, gasping for breath, and scanning their surroundings for any sign of the banshee. But there was no trace of the spectral figure or its haunting cries.

Ferret leaned against the Wall, his heart still racing from the adrenaline. Fizzit joined him, perched on his shoulder with a mixture of relief and exhaustion etched on his face.

"What... what was that thing?" Fizzit choked out between breaths.

Ferret shook his head, trying to catch his breath. "I have no idea," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "But as soon as we catch our breath, we have to go back in."

"Do what?" Fizzit's voice mixed with surprise and outrage.

"We need what's inside." Ferret fought to control his breath. The idea of returning filled him with terror, but he had no choice. "You saw those runes on the wall? If I can get a close look at them, I'm sure I can work them out."

"You're insane."

"No, I'm desperate." Ferret wiped the sweat off his forehead, still panting from their escape. He gestured towards the entrance they had just ran out of. "See, it hasn't followed us into the sunlight. My theory is it's hiding in the deepest part of the complex. If we sneak back in, we might be able to avoid it."

Fizzit stared at Ferret, disbelief etched across his face. "You honestly think we should go back in there? After what we just experienced? Are you out of your mind?"

Ferret's eyes narrowed with determination. "I didn't come all this way to turn back now. Whatever is down there is important, Fizzit. It could be the key to changing our fate, to escaping this wretched place."

"But Ferret, we barely made it out alive! You heard those screams! What if there are more monsters lurking in there? We won't stand a chance!" Fizzit pleaded with his friend, desperately trying to dissuade him from his reckless plan.

Ferret's gaze softened, sympathy and resolve shining through. "I know it's dangerous, Fizzit. But think about it—the banshee didn't follow us out here. It stayed hidden within the depths of the tunnel. Something must be in there."

When the homunculus said nothing, Ferret continued. "Besides, if there was anything else alive in there, the banshee would've sucked their soul out long ago."

Fizzit looked up at the sky. "It's going to be dusk in a few hours. If daylight is the only thing holding the monster here, then we have until then to get as far away from here as we can."

Ferret's heart raced as he turned to face the dark entrance of the dwarven complex. The thought of going back in filled him with dread, but he knew it was now or never.

"I'm going in," he said with false confidence. "Come, if you want to."