A couple of hours after we followed Vral into the woods, Farvad yelped. Rushing back to him, I saw him lift his boot. Something was stuck in it.
"Hold up," I called to the others.
Offering my shoulder to the gnome, I watched as he wrenched on the thing. With a little effort, he pulled it free and held it up. It was a throwing dagger.
Vral walked back to us. "Yeah, that's mine." She reached out and took the dagger from Farvad and tucked it into the bandolier strapped around her waist.
I asked the question with my eyes.
"You'll see," she said with a wicked grin.
As she walked away, I turned back to Farvad. He'd been doing well today, but the further we went, the slower he'd gotten. I hoped there wouldn't be any more issues on the way to the temple, but my gut told me we wouldn't be that lucky. "You hurt?" I asked the gnome.\
"Not at all." The gnome smiled, but it was strained.
"You sure?"
"Don't baby me, boy. I've been around a long time. A little goblin knife won't put me down." He huffed and marched on.
Beyond him, Tristan's brows were furrowed. Our eyes met, and I shrugged. A small nod of her head told me she understood, and she turned on her foot and continued down the deer path Vral had us on. Tightening my pack, I followed.
I didn't make it a hundred paces before I saw that Vral had stopped and was crouched next to a fallen tree trunk.
"Something wrong?" I asked when I caught up.
"Just taking back my stuff." There were a half dozen daggers buried in the rotting bark. One by one, she was pulling them free and slipping them into her belt. When they were all secured, she straightened and turned around. "Well, let's get going." Without another word, she jumped on top of the large trunk and disappeared.
Not being as nimble, Tristan and I looked for a spot to walk through. Without luck, we walked up the tree's length, then walked back down the other side. When we reached the trail again, I heard Tristan gasp. Following her line of sight, I saw what upset my companion. A goblin was hanging from a nearby tree. A thick rope held him upside down by his leg, and his throat was slit from ear to ear. Maybe twenty feet beyond, one of the rat dog things lay in a pool of blood, its neck positioned at a precarious angle.
"Damn..." I muttered, and I saw Tristan shiver.
Vral snickered. "Dumb ass fell for a basic trap." She spat on the ground. "Deserved it too. He was a right cunt. Tried to cop a feel more than once. Broke every finger in his hand after the third time."
I looked at the goblin's hand. True to her word, the fingers on his right hand were gnarled and twisted. I wondered what kind of damage one would have to do to break a hand so badly that it couldn't be healed in a world with easily accessible magical healing. I vowed that I'd never try to find out. I also vowed to never piss off Vral and once again wondered how we possibly survived our fight with her. Potions or no potions, she was an absolute badass, and I was glad she was on our side. For the moment, anyway.
Farvad was grumbling as he caught up. When he saw the bodies, he grinned and pulled a knife out of his belt. Marching over to the animal, he cut its ears off and shoved them into his belt pouch. I didn't have it in me to ask why.
Vral continued on, but every hundred yards or so, another body greeted us. Each was in a similar state. Another goblin hung upside down like the first. One had fallen into a shallow pit filled with spikes. Another's chest had a hole in it. Some still held weapons and looked like they'd attempted to defend themselves, but many of them still had their weapons sheathed.
Vral had been efficient.
After seven such bodies, Vral chuckled. "That's the last of them. Half of the company down in one night. Not too bad if I say so." She puffed up like a peacock and side eyed me.
Taking the bait, I gave her the praise she was looking for. "You're incredible, Vral. Truly. Great work."
The little goblin's head practically doubled in size. "Go on."
Tristan shook her head. I knew she was bothered by the death, but I also knew she didn't pity the creatures. Her past and training told her what would have happened to us had we been found. After a moment, she laughed and dropped to her knees in mock prayer. "O great Vral, mighty murderer of murderers and slicer of scalawags. A warrior without peer." She bowed her head to the forest floor. "I praise thee for protecting the meek and innocent, and smiting those who would do us feeble travelers harm." When she lifted her head, there was a twinkle in her eye, and she couldn't hold back a grin. "How was that?"
Vral's grin doubled. "That's right, peasant. Bow down before the great and terrible Vral! Mercenary, thief, savior! Praise me, or face my wrath!" She jutted her chest out so far that she stumbled forward a step. I reached out to catch her before she could fall on her face, but I managed to almost entirely grab her chest. Her entire body weight followed. She yelped as her breasts filled my hand. As quickly as I could, I helped her back upright and took several steps backward. Her sharp red eyes darted to me, and her smile faded.
I was dead.
She was going to hang me by my feet and skin me alive.
Waiting for my death, I took several more steps back. In the corner of my eyes, I could see Tristan snickering. Bitch.
After the most intense ten seconds of my life, Vral's smile returned. "I am a forgiving Goddess. You shall live to see another sunrise for your act of service, mortal, though a fitting punishment will be meted upon you in time." She straightened herself up, flipped her braids over her shoulder, and strutted down the deer trail. Calling over her shoulder, she added, "Come along, peasants. We must get back to the trail lest the heretics catch up with us."
"I think that's enough praise, lest your ego carry you away, O great and powerful Vral." Tristan laughed. She patted me on the shoulder and walked past.
"There is no such thing as too much praise, Tris. You'll have to learn this lesson before you understand my teachings and your power as a woman. Without demanding praise, how will you keep the men in their proper place beneath us? It's their lot in life to gaze upon us women with adoration and wonder, to long for our touch and to crave our attentions. Never forget that a good woman..." Vral's voice faded as both women continued down the trail and disappeared behind a tree.
Farvad looked at me as if he expected me to translate what just happened.
"I think they just became friends."
"Friends? Can't be good. You're in danger, lad." The gnome was stuffing several more sets of ears into his belt pouch.
Where'd he even find more of them? "You're almost certainly right."
With a chuckle, he, too, patted my shoulder and marched down the trail.
With a groan, I pulled up the rear and contemplated how much of a bad influence Vral would be on Tristan.
***
We walked through the dense forest without pause for several hours, the terrain slowly changing from the rocky, gnarled trees we'd grown accustomed to seeing in the foothills surrounding Galden to the denser, lusher foliage of the deeper forest. Tall, ancient trees with trunks as wide as wagons rose up around us, their branches interlocking above our heads, forming a thick canopy that blocked out the evening light. It was honestly remarkable. I'd never seen the redwoods back on Earth, but I imagined this is what they must have looked like.
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As we neared a clearing, Tristan tapped my arm. "Let's stop here. Everyone looks beat."
She wasn't wrong. Farvad's grumbling had increased significantly, and he looked like he was walking under a bag of bricks. Tristan had slowed substantially, and I had a dozen blisters on my feet. Even Vral seemed to have slowed down, if only a little.
"It's not time to rest yet," Vral said, her nose twitching.
"Why?"
"Because of them." She pointed a green finger to the west.
Five goblins, each riding a dog-rat thing. The leader, a tall, thin, bald goblin, pointed a spear directly at us and sneered as his fellow blew a horn.
"Well, fuck." Tristan drew her mace and rested it on her shoulder. "Looks like we didn't lose them."
"And now I'm gonna have to fight tired," Vral sighed, pulling out her twin short swords and dropping her pack to the ground. She stretched, causing her back to pop several times, then began limbering up. "You think you can take me, Brak?" She eyed the leader and spit on the ground. "You might want to go back north a few hours. You'll find some of your best fighters dangling from some trees."
"Oh, Vral." The leader smirked, showing two rows of sharpened teeth. "Always so confident." He barked a few commands at his subordinates in goblinese. His companions nodded and began flanking us.
"Back to back," I ordered. My party fell into formation.
"Boy," Farvad whispered. "Take this." He handed me a vial. The contents inside were deep red and coagulated. A health potion. The old man's hand trembled as he grasped my wrist. "My life's in your hands. I'm trusting you." Before I could say anything, he shuffled back, positioning himself between me and Tristan.
The goblin who blew its horn did so again, and another answered its call in the distance.
"Are they trying to distract us?" I asked. They seemed so intent on their flanking movements but weren't making any movers. If they were confident, they would have attacked... It clicked. They were stalling. I guessed they weren't sure they could take on Vral, and even if they could, they didn't know exactly what we were capable of. They were waiting for reinforcements.
We didn't have time for that.
One of the riders made the mistake of circling a bit too close to Vral. "Oh no you don't," Vral grunted. Before the rider could move, she launched forward in a blur, slamming one of her swords into the mount's eye. The creature instantly fell to the ground. Before the goblin even touched the earth though, his head fell of his shoulders, and Vral was back in formation. The goblin's lower half hit the ground with a dull thump. "What's the matter?" She wiped her sword off on her pants. "You lot afraid of little old me? Alex here took me on alone, twice. He's more man than any of you." She spat on the ground and snarled at the remaining foes.
"Stop stalling, Brak!" The horn-blower shouted as he leveled a spear at Vral. "We can take her!" The rider charged forward, her speak leveled at Vral's head.
[Armor Up]
Tristan shouted words of power, and a shell of magical energy coated the four of us.
[Provoke]
As my ability took hold, the goblin's spear angled away from Vral and toward me, but she was too close, and the change in angle nearly threw her from her mount. Using the opportunity, I grabbed the shaft mid-charge and yanked the goblin off her mount. She shrieked as she flew through the air and landed face down on the ground. Without hesitation, Tristan smashed her mace into the back of the goblin's skull, and she was gone. Throwing the spear up and catching it like a javelin, I threw it with all my might at one of the others, but it flew wide.
As soon as the spear left my hand, the rider closest to me charged. The tip was aimed at my throat. I tried to move, but Farvad was too close. His stocky body halted my movement. All I could do was watch as death came for me.
"Don't touch him!" Vral exploded into action. Her sword cut the spear in half. The leader attacked her, but with ease, she dodged the incoming spear thrusts and launched herself into the air. Her left blade slammed into my attacker's chest, her right took his head off. By the time she landed and rolled to her feet, his headless body toppled to the ground beside her. When she did, the leader rushed her. His spear caught her shoulder, throwing her backward. The goblin dog snarled as it leapt on her pinning her to the ground as Brak dug his spear into her arm.
Seeing her hit the ground. spurred me into action. I dashed forward, my blade leveled. Both remaining opponents moved to intercept. The first tried to stab me with a spear. With a quick parry, I deflected the blow. Tristan engaged behind me, giving me time to get to Vral. Seeing a shield on the back of the goblin Vral had beheaded, I tore the wooden object free of the corpse and bolted toward my companion. Vral screamed as the dog creature snapped at her, her blades flailing wildly to protect herself. Just as the creature latched onto her forearm, I arrived, swinging my borrowed shield like a cudgel. It slammed into the side of the monster's head. Its jaw loosened on Vral's arm. A quick slash of her sword took out its eyes. A slash of my sword finished it off.
The rider threw himself from his dying mount and leaped at Vral. She turned just in time for the spear to embed itself into her abdomen and dove clear of me. Vral coughed up a mouthful of blood as the goblin rolled to his feet. He drew a sword and raised it high, his smile telling me exactly what he intended as he leaped for her. Before he could finish her off, I hacked his left arm off at the elbow. With a twist of my body, I decapitated him.
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You reach [Guardian] Level 2.
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Vral fell onto her back, groaning. Her body shook as blood trickled from her wounds and her mouth. A quick glance backward revealed that Tristan had killed the goblin rider, and its mount had scampered away. With Tristan safe, I rushed to Vral's side. Dropping my blade and shield, I fumbled the potion I received from Farvad out of my pouch and ripped out the stopper with my mouth. I thrust the vial into her blood-filled mouth and grabbed the back of her neck, angling her head so she could drink. Slowly, Vral sipped until the container was empty. Her breathing eased as color began to return to her face, but the wound in her shoulder and belly remained nearly open.
"Guess I'm not as good as I thought," she sputtered, blood trickling through her lips.
"You were incredible, Vral." I pressed my hand against the wound in her stomach, but despite my efforts, it wouldn't seal. It was still leaking. Something was wrong. Her blood spilled through my fingers. A horn blared in the distance.
"It's poisoned." Farvad was standing over my shoulder, his voice weary. "He must've known he couldn't beat her without an edge. It's shadowbane." His voice fell. "There's nothing I can do..."
"That asshole..." Vral coughed. "Figures." She laid back and closed her eyes. "I was stupid. Stupid." Another set of horns rang in the distance, closer this time. "Alex." Her crimson eyes locked onto mine. "You have to leave me." Her voice was pained, but determined. Blood dribbled out from the corner of her mouth.
Tristan dropped to the ground next to me and placed her hands on Vral.
[Healing Light]
Waves of white energy erupted from her hands and rolled around the goblin woman, coating her skin, seeping into her wounds.
Vral moaned in response but opened her mouth. "Leave me here. I'll be dead soon, and so will you if you stay." When I tried to object, she glared at me and yelled. "Go!"
More horns sounded through the woods. They were getting closer.
"Damnit!" I growled. I wasn't about to leave her.
Tristan stood up and backed away from me. "We can't wait."
"She'll die." I turned my attention to the gnome. "Do something, Farvad. Surely you have something."
"I don't, boy." The gnome's voice was somber.
Vral wobbled to her feet. Sword in hand, she readied herself for the coming onslaught. The trees around us rattled as dozens of creatures crashed through the woods.
"I can hold them off. Can make it count..." She groaned, her green skin clammy and pale. Tristan's healing had slowed the bleeding, but her wounds were still trickling blood. "I'll have finally done one good thing in my shit life." She looked at me and laughed, the sound weak and strained. She sheathed her blade and reached down, grabbing the one she'd dropped and brandishing it toward the trees.
Taking a deep breath, I knew there was only one choice I could make. I reached down and hoisted Vral onto my shoulders. Her little legs kicked as I positioned her on my shoulders and tightened my grip. Reaching down, I picked up my sword and shield and turned south.
"What are you doing? Put me down!" Vral shouted. She tried hitting me, but she barely had enough strength to do any damage.
"Nope." I nodded to the others. "Time to run."
Tristan shouted, "But she said—"
"No one gets left behind! I won't lose a single one of you!" I adjusted Vral on my shoulders and took off at a sprint. Footsteps behind me told me the others followed.
Another horn blared, much closer this time, accompanied by snarls and howling. The sounds echoed through the trees. We were running out of time. Every second counted.
"I hate you." Vral hissed between clenched teeth. "Why are you like this?" Despite her anger, her voice was weak, and her heart wasn't in it.
"Hate me all you want. You can beat me up later. Until then, don't talk. Save your strength." I forced myself to run faster. My pulse throbbed in my veins, pounding against my temples.
For once, Vral shut up, going slack against me. Her green arms wrapped around my neck.
"Hold tight!"
Through gaps in the dense brush and trees ahead, a clearing came into view.
It was covered in small, yellow flowers that stretched to the base of an ancient oak tree hundreds of meters away. Small, multi-colored mushrooms sprouted along its thick roots. And in the center of the field, just below a thick bough, was a white ball of fluff the size of a football. As we ran into the grove, the ball moved, and two red eyes fixed on us. Wings sprouted from its back, and it hissed in defiance at us.
Fluffy was here?
The little monster hissed a second time, then darted into a hole in the oak.
Shit.
That meant—
A thunderous roar erupted from somewhere close by.
I froze.
"A guardian beast," Vral murmured, her voice ragged. "Not good."
There was another roar, and a loud crash as a massive shape burst forth from behind a distant tree, flattening a large swath of brush as it careened toward us. Standing at least fifteen feet tall, Fluffy's mom had dark gray scales covering her body and two huge wings protruding from her back. Its tail thrashed about behind it, sending plumes of pollen into the air with each swipe.
When the beast spotted us, it slowed to a halt, its claws tearing the grass as it settled down, regarding us cautiously from afar before letting out a series of barking calls. A series of squeaks emitted from the tree. When the squeaks stopped, Fluffy's mom's red eyes narrowed on us.
Damn it, Fluffy.