"Wake up mon!"
I rolled onto my side and pulled the blanket over my head. I heard a loud sigh, and then, I felt the blanket being swiftly pulled away from me. I instinctively tried to grab the blanket, but was only pawing away at the air. I opened my eyes to see Jin'za standing over me, a great big, leather satchel slung over her right shoulder. She grabbed for my "shorts" and then dropped it between my legs. "Unless ya' wantin' ta' be spendin' all day in da' swamp naked, I suggest ya' hurry and put ya' clothes on mon. Ya' gonna' be helpin' ole Jin'za gather some herbs." I groaned as I sat up in bed, blinking furiously to try and focus my vision. I was no longer in pain, but my ribcage was still a little sore. I prayed to the Light that this Jin'za wasn't a harsh taskmistress. "We 'dun have all day mon." She said, "'Da swamp be its safest in da' mornin'. All da' nasty lil' beasties are asleep." I nodded, crawling out of bed. My movements were slow and I nearly fell over trying to stand. Spending all that time in bed took a toll on my legs. "Good, good...Ya' can stand. Now get dressed mon."
I got dressed. Being goblin pants, it was a tight fit.
This is humiliating...
It was hot, but thankfully, the heat was a little more bearable this time without all that heavy armor weighing me down. I followed Jin'za as we traversed the swamp. I wanted to escape. A part of me wanted to just take off into the wilderness. But I didn't. I didn't know where I was in the Swamp of Sorrows and without my sword, I run the risk of being devoured by Light only knows what lurks beneath the surface of these muddy, foul-smelling waters. And, even if I did know where to go, I would more than likely be smote by the troll in-front of me. I also wasn't going to risk disabling her. I had my doubts she would pose a physical threat to me. What I was worried about was her magic. If I fail in disabling her, she'd probably kill me with but a wave of her hand.
"Ah! 'Dere we go..."
She gestured at an odd-looking weed growing next to a moss-covered rock. "Blindweed! An uncommon sight in da' swamp mon." She nodded at the weed, "Well? Go an' get it mon."
As though I have a choice...
My feet sank into the moist ground as I approached the weed. I bent down and grabbed it, wrapping my fingers 'round the stems. With a groan I pulled it out of the ground, leaving only its roots behind. That was a mistake.
Whack~!
I yelled in pain, dropping the weed to nurse the top of my head. "What do ya' 'tink ya' be doin' mon?" She asked, a hint of venom in her words, "I be needin' 'da roots mon, 'udderwise, it be useless ta' Jin'za!" I cringed, running my hand through my hair, "...I wish you would've told me." I said between clenched teeth. "So ya' finally speak up! 'Dat's good mon." She said, resting her staff on a slender shoulder, "Well, 'jes dun' be doin' it again mon. Else Jin'za be turnin' ya' into a toad!"
Morning soon turned to day and still we both trekked through the swamp. My skin now shone from sweat, Jin'za's too, her robe now sticking to her body. I was hungry, and, perhaps more-so, thirsty. I was beginning to pant, beads of sweat rolling down my forehead. The heat didn't seem to bother the troll, however. My throat was dry and every bone in my body ached. I was soon caked in muck from having to bend down to pick herbs whilst under the watchful eyes of Jin'za. My hands dug into the mud and moist earth while the sun beat down on my bare back. I was careful not to damage the roots, but it seemed to me that no matter how hard I try, I would, on occasion, fail, and as a consequence, I was made to endure another whack from Jin'za's staff, followed by a brief reprimand. It wasn't long until my head was sore from all the beatings. Worse still, I was beginning to smell worse than an unwashed ogre's backside.
A champion of the Alliance, now some troll's lowly servant.
The thought disgusted me. I turned my head to spit.