Chapter 1

"I got this one!"

The last thing the remainder of a goblin scout troop saw was an arrow deep in his forehead. He fell to the ground as blood ran from the wound, his body landing with a soft thud on the body of one of his fallen comrades.

"Haha! That was a beautiful shot, was it not?" said a man holding bow in an amused tone. He was wearing a shirt and pair of pants made of a light tan leather, to provide some small amount of protection. He had on black gloves with the fingers cut off, and boots made of the same material as his clothing. His long brown hair was drawn back into a ponytail so he didn't grab it while shooting an arrow, and his green eyes looked triumphantly at his small dwarven partner.

The dwarf grunted as he kicked a dead goblins body. "Aye, but I'm a might but upset ye killed my next target." He shot the human a semi-angry look. "Jericho, start searching thar worthless hides, would ya?" Jericho gave him a look of mock annoyance, but agreed none the less and began looting the bodies.

The dwarf began looking for any hidden enemies, moving as quietly as possible, which was kind of hard as his heavy plate armor shirt clanked with every step. He held a bastard sword in his hands, ready to strike down anything he found that he didn't like. His steel helmet was hanging from a loop in his belt, and the rest of his body was also covered in steel plate, down to his boots.

"Doesn't look like thar's anything else here Jericho. You find what we was sent to fetch?" He spit on the ground. He hated being used to retrieve peoples lost items, but it paid, and they had not much else to do.

The human grinned as he pulled an amulet off the body of a dead goblin. "This fits the description we were given Torgir!" He replied, holding the amulet towards the dwarf so he could further examine it. Torgir was always the final authority on these things, considering his expertise in metals and jewels.

After a short time he nodded, and said "Aye, this be it. Best be headin' back to town now, collect our reward." Jericho nodded in agreement, and they headed west, towards the road that lead to the town. Judging by the amount of light, he figured they wouldn't make it there tonight, but probably around midday tomorrow.

"So Torgir, how much do you think we'll get for that little jewel there?" Jericho asked as they left the forest and turned north on the road.

Torgir scratched his head for a moment. "Well…it looks like it'd sell for about five hundred gold pieces, so I'd wager around six hundred, a little more than it's worth to assure we don't go off and sell it for a better deal." Jericho nodded his understanding, and glanced up the sky.

The next hour or so passed in silence, both travelers tired and just wanting to get to Fayegoria, the town they were headed too. Torgir stopped where he stood and looked around. After a brief examination of the area, he nodded, and began to layout a bedroll tied to his back.

Jericho watched his companion and then said "Well, guess I'll go find something for us to have for dinner, right Torgir?" The dwarf nodded and continued setting up camp. Jericho grinned at his little friend, and headed off into the woods.

Jericho had returned within 15 minutes with two dead rabbits, one for each of them. Torgir had already set up the fire and had a stick ready for meat to be cooked.

"Aye!" Torgir laughed heartily, "Looks as if you've caught us another great meal lad! Just hand them to me and I'll start cooking so you can set up yer bed for the night." He reached up and took the two rabbits offered to him and stuck them on the stick.

The two spent the rest of the night talking and laughing, eating and drinking for a wineskin carried by Torgir. After they had had their fill of food and drink, they both closed their eyes, and slept peacefully.

The leaves on the trees ruffled as a foul wind blew past two sleeping adventures, then, as if deciding it changed it's mind about passing them by, it began to circle around them. It blew around them, it blew over them, it examined them. Then there was dark laugh, like the wailing of a thousand dying men, and the evil breeze departed.