Unseasonably cold weather had set in on the mountains. Wind whipped cruelly against the faces of the marching group. Adrianna muttered a charm to help resist the cold while the men pulled their cowls close. Well, most of them. Again she wondered what hidden magics Silverkin possessed. Even Samos hadn't come prepared with a spell to ward off the cold weather. Neither had she heard him casting a spell. Or perhaps he had some trinket. She shook her head and lead on. Alruic followed closely behind her while the other four hung back a ways. Silverkin had taken up a conversation with the priest while the former soldiers kept their heads down and their eyes covered. Their throbbing heads pulsed unpleasantly every time sunlight cut through the clouds.
"So you were a judge?"
"It's not an uncommon thing for a initiate of Lendys. I performed that service for two small cities and at least a dozen villages as I tracked that damnable chromatic dragon." he left his cowl down and his cloak open as if it were a pleasant spring day.
"You never explained what this wyrmling did to make you hold such a grudge."
"It's not a grudge. He broke the law."
"Dragons have laws?"
"Of course, even chromatic dragons." The turf was growing more frozen and solid with every step they took. Samos hitched his cloak tighter. Alruic motioned for the other four to catch up.
"Gentlemen, our guide informs me that goblinoid signs have appeared with increasing frequency in the last few hours. I need you two to keep an eye out as things grow darker. You two idiots will keep your heads down until you recover." he said pointedly to the to men from the Bloodstone lands. They groaned their assent.
"What about setting up camp? Who will take first watch?" Samos asked. Alruic looked at him like he was dim and produced a small figurine from under his robes. The little cottage statue was of exquisite detail.
"Such tedious details have been planned f-"the elf knocker her employer to the ground and threw herself the other way. A crudely made spear buried itself next to the wizard's booted feet. The elf's sharp eyes had caught sight of the hobgoblin as it popped above the hill to hurl the weapon.
"Run!" the elf shouted. She proceeded to take her own advice, hauling the short human mage to his feet and nearly dragging him along. The other four ignored her entirely and turned to face their enemies. Better than 2 dozen hobgoblin warriors came charging down the hill, yowling and hooting battle cries. The foursome drew out their weapons and prepared to meet the attack. Samos lifted his heavy iron mace and began a prayer. The bladed head of the weapon shone with a golden light and the warriors felt stronger, more confident, and substantially more aggressive. Garem and Barem charged the enemy group, their weapons upraised to smite the goblinkin. The great axe and two handed sword cleaved through the shoddy hide armor of the beasts and blood flew on the air. Two were dead at their feet, then four, then six. The heavy armor of the veterans turned aside or stopped short the strikes and stabs of crude spears and stone axes. After a few casualties the creatures rushed past the wild men to attack what they assumed were weaker fighters. The heavy mace smashed weapons and bones with equal disdain. Samos called out the name of his god and smote any hobgoblin stupid enough to come into his reach. The priest of war embraced his role with complete enthusiasm and his god was with him. If he felt any pain from the minor cuts and bruises being inflicted on him he didn't let it show.
Silverkin, being the least imposing of the warriors, had a mob swarming him moments after Samos began his rampage. The monster leading the charge sighted the young man and hooted in malefic joy. It's rusted sword upraised to cleave at the man's head. There was a blur of movement from it's target and the world began turning rapidly. It's head flew free of it's body and Silverkin danced around the falling corpse to meet it's brethren. His fighting style was bizarre compared to that of his compatriots. A sudden lunge to strike, blocking while twisting away with a serpentine grace. A goblin charged at his left shoulder not giving him enough time to turn his sword around. The plain, unadorned shield hid a secret. Though it was a shield it held an edge as wickedly sharp as any blade. The heavy blow half severed the creature's head and the battle went on. Garem and Barem claimed the bulk of the kills but also the bulk of the injuries. Mostly bruises thanks to the heavy nature of their armor. Samos had a fair share of nicks and cuts but he started a prayer to help heal the minor injuries. Silverkin, by virtue of his manner of fighting was unscathed. Only the goblin he killed with his shield had even managed to get within arm's length. Not one had managed a successful strike. But at the same time he only had 5 kills to stack up to Samos' 8 and the combined 17 of Barem and Garem. His method of combat wasn't suited to multiple enemies and had been inefficient when confronting superior numbers. The Vaasan men cheered a successful fight and clapped the suddenly sheepish priest on the back when they saw his handiwork. Silverkin turned and ran in the direction of the elf and wizard. The other three, much less accustomed to running for long distances only fell further behind.
Silverkin just kept moving in their general direction, hoping he would catch up before too long. Then he found the first of many bodies, an arrow protruding from it's skull. From there it was a simple matter of following bodies. He came upon the cave where the elf and wizard had taken up a defensive position. He heard their bickering immediately upon entering the natural shelter.
"-unnecessary. A simple spell and we would not have had to flee like rabbits."
"You brought me along to show be a guard and to keep you safe. I am fulfilling that contract. The others are here to fight so let them fight." she said. Clearly she wasn't happy about the mage's griping. She had saved his life after all.
"Fight's over." Silverkin walked unceremoniously into the shelter and was rewarded by having an arrow pointed in his face. "We're all alive, in case you were curious." He sheathed his weapon and put up his shield.
"And the hobgoblins?"Alruic asked. Adrianna was keeping silent.
"Let us say I am in need of some quality time with an oiled rag." Silverkin quipped. "And my compatriots can all say the same. Are we camping here for the night?" The answer was yes and Alruic revealed the tiny figurine. A few minutes later and there was a lovely little cottage inside the spacious cave and a fire in the hearth, already lit. Everyone found a comfortable spot inside and they bedded down for the night.
#
"I'm getting close." Silverkin whispered into the shallow pool of water. The face of a beautiful woman was reflected in the water. She had silver hair and piercing blue eyes. Her beauty was only enhanced by the intense anger on her face as she snarled back her reply. He held up a
"Just hurry and return. There are far more important matters that you need to attend to."
"Of course, tiichia. I'll bring a few choice pieces from his hoard to make up for the trouble." The half-elven woman, if the shape of her ears were to be believed, sighed and agreed.
"Take care." she said and her image disappeared from the still surface of the water. The mirror through which the wizard had listened in on the conversation went dark. He had been keeping a metaphorical eye on the boy since they had left port. Whatever spell he had used to screen himself from viewing back in Urmlaspyr had dissipated. Despite the seeming success the wizard still knew very little. No names were exchanged, nothing truly important had been said. The only thing that had seemed significant was the strange word Silverkin had used. He didn't recognize the word but he knew the language. Draconic, not particularly surprising. He had professed to worship the dragon's god of law. But who was the woman? So many questions. And so early in the morning for such puzzles. The sun hadn't even risen. He laid back in his bed and went back to sleep. Silverkin did not. He stayed awake as he had through the entire night. He wanted to but he couldn't. Blood thundered in his veins, as if his heart was too large and too strong for his feeble human frame. Excitement made sleep impossible. But he wouldn't diminish, either physically or mentally. The unusual vitality of his line would see to that. The battle was drawing closer, the kill. The drops of water left on his hands turned to ice.